Abstract: A driving ability reduction determining apparatus comprising a virtual image display portion, an operation portion, a response detection portion and a driving ability determination portion is disclosed. The virtual image display portion emits a determination-usage display image toward a windshield, thereby displaying to the driver the determination-usage display image as a virtual image through the windshield. The operation portion is operated by the driver when the driver visually recognizes the determination-usage display image. The response detection portion detects a response situation of driver's operation of the operation portion in response to display of the determination-usage display image by the virtual image display portion. The driving ability determination portion determines the driving ability reduction of the driver based on a detection result of the response detection portion.

Abstract: In an evaluation process, a first muscle strength (i.e., muscle potential) of a first muscle responsible for a dorsiflexing action of the ankle joint of a leg manipulating an accelerator pedal is acquired using a first muscle potential sensor. A second muscle strength (i.e., muscle potential) of a second muscle responsible for a plantarflexing action of the ankle joint of the leg manipulating the accelerator pedal is acquired using a second muscle potential sensor. Then, on the basis of time-series variation of each of the muscle potentials acquired using the first and second muscle potential sensors, a synchronous activity level is calculated as an evaluation index. When the difference between the evaluation index and an evaluation standard pre-determined is not less than a prescribed value, it is evaluated that an occupant of a vehicle feels stress as a result of manipulating an in-vehicle information apparatus while driving the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens having, in order from an object, a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power, a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power, a third lens group (G3) having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group (G4) having positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group (G1), the second lens group (G2) and the third lens group (G3) move along the optical axis for zooming, and the conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied. 8.000<?2T/?2W<12.000??(1) 2.000<?3T/?3W<5.000??(2) where ?2T denotes the lateral magnification of the second lens group (G2) in the telephoto end state, ?2W denotes the lateral magnification of the second lens group (G2) in the wide-angle end state, ?3T denotes the lateral magnification of the third lens group (G3) in the telephoto end state, and ?3W denotes the lateral magnification of the third lens group (G3) in the wide-angle end state.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a multi-joint robot including, in at least one portion, a joint including a motor, a speed reducer connected to the motor, an input angle detecting unit configured to detect a rotational, angle of a rotating shaft of the motor, and an output angle detecting unit configured to detect an output rotational angle of the speed reducer, and a controller configured to diagnose a state of the speed reducer from an angle difference between the input rotational angle detected by the input angle detecting unit and the output rotational angle detected by the output angle detecting unit.

Abstract: A casing for housing an occupant protection device unit is composed of a metallic base with its plate surfaces facing upward and downward, respectively, and a main body that is put on and mounted on the surface of the base. A bracket formed integrally with the base is composed of a plate-like leg extending laterally from the edge in the base and a fastening member that is integrally formed at an end of the leg and is bolted to the vehicle body. The leg is composed of a through-hole vertically passing therethrough and the two weak portions. The two weak portions are composed of two branching portions separated by the through-hole in the leg. If an excessive collision load is exerted on the bracket from the vehicle body, the two weak portions are torn off, thereby allowing the occupant protection control unit to be protected.

Abstract: A casing for housing an occupant protection device control unit is mounted to a vehicle body. The casing is composed of a metallic base mounted on the vehicle body with its plate surfaces facing upward and downward, respectively, and a main body that is put on and mounted on the base. The base has a lock portion that is deformable according to a deformation of the vehicle body caused by a collision load from a vehicle front. The lock portion, when deformed, causes a front portion of the base to be locked with at least a part of a front wall of the main body.

Abstract: A casing for housing an occupant protection device control unit is mounted to a vehicle body. The casing is composed of a metallic base mounted on the vehicle body with its plate surfaces facing upward and downward, respectively, and a main body that is put on and mounted on the base. The base has a lock portion that is deformable according to a deformation of the vehicle body caused by a collision load from a vehicle front. The lock portion, when deformed, causes a front portion of the base to be locked with at least a part of a front wall of the main body.

Abstract: A projection lens PL comprises, in order from a projection side: a first lens component L1 which has positive refractive power and is biconvex; a second lens component L2 which has negative refractive power and is meniscus; and a third lens component L3 which has positive refractive power and has a convex lens surface facing the projection side, lens surfaces on the projection side and an object side of the first lens component L1 and lens surfaces on the projection side and the object side of the second lens component L2 being aspherical, and the following conditional expression being satisfied: 0.2<f/(?f2)<0.7 where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens component, and f denotes a focal length of the projection lens.

Abstract: A rose-like fragrance composition including methyl epijasmonate, provided that a natural jasmine fragrance containing methyl epijasmonate is excluded. The rose-like fragrance composition can also include 2-isopropyl-4-methyl thiazole.

Abstract: A stress evaluation apparatus, a stress evaluation method, and a program for evaluating stress received by an operator during when an in-vehicle device is operated by an upper limb are provided. The apparatus includes a detection sensor, a calculation process portion and an evaluation portion. The detection sensor detects a muscle potential of a measuring object muscle of the operator. The calculation process portion receives time series information of the muscle potential to calculate strength information. The evaluation portion compares the strength information with an evaluation standard to make an evaluation of stress of the operator. The method includes detecting a muscle potential of a measuring object muscle, receiving time series information of the muscle potential to calculate strength information, and comparing the strength information with an evaluation standard to evaluate stress.

Abstract: A driving ability reduction determining apparatus comprising a virtual image display portion, an operation portion, a response detection portion and a driving ability determination portion is disclosed. The virtual image display portion emits a determination-usage display image toward a windshield, thereby displaying to the driver the determination-usage display image as a virtual image through the windshield. The operation portion is operated by the driver when the driver visually recognizes the determination-usage display image. The response detection portion detects a response situation of driver's operation of the operation portion in response to display of the determination-usage display image by the virtual image display portion. The driving ability determination portion determines the driving ability reduction of the driver based on a detection result of the response detection portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oil-soluble deodorant composition that is highly safe, efficienctly eliminates odors of ammonia, amines and the like and is free of an irritant odor and the like. The present invention relates to an oil-soluble deodorant composition containing at least one of a dimer acids and a trimer acids as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A rose-like fragrance composition including methyl epijasmonate, provided that a natural jasmine fragrance containing methyl epijasmonate is excluded. The rose-like fragrance composition can also include 2-isopropyl-4-methyl thiazole.

Abstract: In a hand-free driving warning process for a vehicle, when a grip state of a steering wheel is in a hand-free driving state, and the vehicle is in a travel state stipulated previously, a danger degree is derived based on a position of a vehicle compartment where a non-grip hand exists. In deriving the danger degree, when the non-grip hand is in a high danger position, a high level is set; when the non-grip hand exists in a low danger position, a middle level or a low lever is set. In the low level, any warning is not outputted; in the middle level, a warning is outputted in a sound volume smaller than a usual sound volume; and in the high level, a warning is outputted in the usual sound volume or greater.

Abstract: Provided is a fragrance composition having a natural rose aroma with freshness, sweetness, and softness, which is hardly reproduced by combining aroma components conventionally known as rose aromas. Also provided is a fragrance composition having excellent rose-like naturalness, freshness, and richness. More specifically, provided are: a fragrance composition, having added thereto 2-isopropyl-4-methylthiazole alone or in combination with rose oxide; a method of manufacturing the same; and a method of imparting an aroma to a fragrance composition, the method including adding 2-isopropyl-4-methylthiazole to a base fragrance composition having a rose-like aroma as a main aroma.

Abstract: To provide a pharmaceutical composition comprising a ceramide-related substance having little adverse side effects as an active ingredient by using a raw material that is highly safe to a human body and is inexpensive. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one sphingoglycolipid derivative that is produced from a beer waste and is represented by the formula below as an active ingredient: wherein R3 represents H or OH; R4 is as defined by (a) or (b) (a) when R3 is H, R4 represents (CH2)13CH3 or (CH2)6CH?CHCH2CH?CH(CH2)4CH3; and (b) when R3 is OH, R4 represents (CH2)yCH3 (where Y represents an integer of 13 to 21) or (CH2)Z1CH?CH(CH2)Z2CH3 (where Z1 and Z2 independently represent 0 or a natural number, provided that Z1+Z2=19).

Abstract: A projection lens PL comprises, in order from a projection side: a first lens component L1 which has positive refractive power and is biconvex; a second lens component L2 which has negative refractive power and is meniscus; and a third lens component L3 which has positive refractive power and has a convex lens surface facing the projection side, lens surfaces on the projection side and an object side of the first lens component L1 and lens surfaces on the projection side and the object side of the second lens component L2 being aspherical, and the following conditional expression being satisfied: 0.2<f/(?f2)<0.7 where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens component, and f denotes a focal length of the projection lens.

Abstract: A detection unit obtains a position of a feature point of an occupant. A storage unit stores a model of all specific actions in each of physical feature classifications. The model defines a position or a locus of the feature point in each specific action, which an occupant may perform. A determining unit compares an in-action feature point with each model of a specific action, which is being performed, to determine a classification conformity weight indicating a possibility that the occupant belongs to the physical feature classification. An estimating unit compares the position of the feature point with each model to obtain a comparison result and generate a conformity value by incorporating the classification conformity weight into the comparison result. The estimating unit detects an estimated action, which is a specific action corresponding to the model, which has a highest conformity value.

Abstract: A storage unit stores a model defining a position or a locus of a feature point of an occupant in each specific action. An action estimation unit compares the feature point with each of the models to detect an estimated action. A detecting unit detects that a specific action is being performed as a definite action. A first generating unit generates a new definite model corresponding to the definite action by modifying a position or a locus of the feature point according to an in-action feature point when the definite action is being performed. A second generating unit generates a new non-definite model using the in-action feature point according to a correspondence between the feature point in the definite action and the feature point of a non-definite model other than the definite model. An update unit updates the definite action model and the non-definite action model.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sterilization method capable of killing not only microorganisms in water, but also microorganisms in a gas. Specifically, the present invention provide a method for sterilizing a gas or liquid, comprising contacting a microorganism in a gas or liquid with a material containing an amorphous carbon having a sulfo group introduced therein.