Abstract: A seismic isolation device includes a tabular base board having curved convex protrusions and a smooth sliding plate placed in such a way that a sliding contact surface thereof is made to abut the curved convex protrusions of the base board. An apparent friction coefficient (?) of only a high-friction portion on a sliding contact surface of the sliding plate with which the curved convex protrusion of the base board is in contact at rest initially is made higher than the apparent friction coefficient of a sliding surface as a portion other than the high-friction portion. Accordingly, the seismic isolation device is not swayed by minor vibrations such as mechanical vibrations, automobile traffic vibrations, and minor earthquakes, and the base board and the sliding plate are enabled when an earthquake of a seismic intensity of 5 or more occurs.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device has an imaging surface irradiated with an optical image of an object scene. A CPU executes an AF process based on output of an AF evaluating circuit to adjust a position of a focus lens to a position to be optically converged on a specific object present in an object scene. Upon completion of the AF process, the CPU detects a distance from a lens distal end to the specific object by referencing a current position of the focus lens, and further detects brightness information of the object scene based on output of an AE/AWB evaluating circuit. Moreover, the CPU adjusts an imaging parameter by determining whether or not an object scene attribute including the detected distance and brightness information satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device manufacturing method for forming a step-shaped structure in a substrate by etching the substrate having thereon a multilayer film and a photoresist film on the multilayer film and serving as an etching mask. The multilayer film is formed by alternately layering a first film having a first permittivity and a second film having a second permittivity different from the first permittivity. The method includes a first process for plasma-etching the first film by using the photoresist film as a mask; a second process for exposing the photoresist film to hydrogen-containing plasma; a third process for trimming the photoresist film; and a fourth process for etching the second film by using the trimmed photoresist film and the plasma-etched first film as a mask. The step-shaped structure is formed in the multilayer film by repeatedly performing the first process to the fourth process in this sequence.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a wooden board in which a functional component such as a green tea polyphenol can be efficiently and stably incorporated into a wooden board, and a wooden board produced using the method. The method is a method for producing a wooden board, including a moisture conditioning step after drying a wood mat obtained by forming a wood raw material, wherein the moisture conditioning is carried out by adding an aqueous solution containing the functional component to the wood mat after drying.

Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine, having a crown section. A wear-resistant ring is formed in the crown section to be used for forming a piston ring groove. The wear-resistant ring includes a porous formed body formed of a first material higher in hardness and larger in specific gravity than a base material of the piston, and a second material infiltrated in pores of the porous formed body and containing 20 weight % or more of magnesium.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a tape-shaped nonmagnetic support, and a vertical magnetic layer formed on a main surface of the nonmagnetic support by a vacuum thin-film forming technique, signals being recorded on and reproduced from the vertical magnetic layer in a linear system. In the magnetic recording medium, the dipulse ratio of the vertical recording layer is 0.36 or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antiviral agent comprising a non-naturally occurring, artificially synthesized peptide as the main ingredient. The antiviral agent comprises an antiviral peptide, wherein the antiviral peptide has at least one unit of an amino acid sequence constituted by at least five contiguous amino acid residues (which is known as a nuclear localization sequence (NLS)) or an amino acid sequence having a partial modification in the NLS and also having at least one unit of an amino acid sequence constituted by at least five contiguous amino acid residues (which is known as a nuclear export sequence (NES)) or an amino acid sequence having a partial modification in the NES.

Abstract: A gas laser oscillator includes a plurality of discharge tube arrays, each discharge tube array including a plurality of electrical discharge tubes, a support mechanism supporting the plurality of discharge tube arrays, and an optical part optically connecting the plurality of discharge tube arrays. The support mechanism includes a discharge tube linking holder and an elastic member. The elastic member joins the discharge tube linking holder to a first support rod arranged at an upper side as seen in a direction of gravity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a poultry vaccine containing a positive marker gene. More specifically, recombinant turkey herpesvirus modified by the presence of an extraneous antigen gene that may be used as a positive marker to identify and track vaccinated animals is provided. When inoculated into host animals, a poultry vaccine comprising the recombinant turkey herpesvirus provided in the present invention can elicit serological immune responses to the marker gene product that may be detected by serological assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serum agglutination test, thus enabling easy identification and tracking of vaccinated animals.

Abstract: To provide a seismic isolation apparatus which, as well as widening an applicable shaking range, can be easily configured and is low in height, a seismic isolation apparatus is configured of a low friction combination formed by a point contact between a planar hard base plate, which has a surface on which are disposed at least three convexly curved projections of a uniform height, and a glide plate which is a smooth, hard, flat plate.

Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus measures levels of a substrate at a predetermined position on the substrate at a first measurement point during the acceleration period and a second measurement point during the constant velocity period, obtains a correction value for a measurement error due to factors associated with acceleration based on the measurement results, corrects the measured level using the obtained correction value and exposes the substrate so that the level at a given position on the substrate becomes equal to the corrected level, when the substrate is exposed at the given position after the level is measured while the stage accelerates, and exposes the substrate so that the level at a given position on the substrate becomes equal to the measured level measured, when the substrate is exposed after the level of the substrate at the given position is measured while the stage moves at a constant velocity.

Abstract: An engine control device includes a governor lever, a centrifugal governor, a control lever operated to oscillate between a low-speed position and a high-speed position, and a governor spring expandedly provided between the control lever and the governor lever. An automatic choke device is connected to a choke valve of a carburetor. A play is provided between the governor lever and the governor spring. The play holds the governor spring in a free state during rotation of the control lever from the low-speed position to the high-speed position by a predetermined angle. A subsidiary spring is provided between a fixed structure and the governor lever so as to constantly urge the governor lever in a direction to open the throttle valve. A spring constant of the subsidiary spring is smaller than that of the governor spring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can establish the reliable connection between a printed circuit board and a semiconductor device in spite of the simple constitution thereof. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a printed circuit board arranged close to the liquid crystal display panel, and a semiconductor device arranged between the liquid crystal display panel and the printed circuit board in a striding manner. The semiconductor device includes a flexible printed circuit board and a semiconductor chip. The flexible printed circuit board includes a plurality of first terminals connected to the printed circuit board and a plurality of second terminals connected to a liquid-crystal-display-panel side.

Abstract: Disclosed are silver skin-containing paper and the production method thereof. Aqueous pulp slurry containing paper pulp fibers and ground silver skin is prepared, wherein the ground silver skin is provided by wet grinding of silver skin in the presence of water. The aqueous pulp slurry is then formed into a sheet. The silver skin-containing paper contains the ground silver skin at a ratio of 5 to 60% by mass of the paper.

Abstract: A carburetor control system includes: a governor device that is coupled to a throttle lever, opens a throttle valve when an operation of an engine is stopped, and opens or closes the throttle valve in accordance with a rotational number of the engine when the engine is in operation; a choke return spring urging a choke lever in a direction to close a choke valve; and an automatic choke device opening the choke valve in accordance with an increase in temperature of the engine. In the carburetor control system, the throttle lever is provided with a drive arm pivoting the choke lever, during a cold operation of the engine, to a position where the choke valve is at an intermediate degree of opening in operative connection with the throttle lever being pivoted by the governor device to a position where the throttle valve is at a degree of opening for idling or a position in a vicinity thereof.

Abstract: A carburetor control system includes: a governor device that is coupled to a throttle lever, opens a throttle valve when an operation of an engine is stopped, and opens or closes the throttle valve in accordance with a rotational number of the engine when the engine is in operation; a choke return spring urging a choke lever in a direction to close a choke valve; and an automatic choke device opening the choke valve in accordance with an increase in temperature of the engine. In the carburetor control system, the throttle lever is provided with a drive arm pivoting the choke lever, during a cold operation of the engine, to a position where the choke valve is at an intermediate degree of opening in operative connection with the throttle lever being pivoted by the governor device to a position where the throttle valve is at a degree of opening for idling or a position in a vicinity thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a solid-state imaging device, which including: a photoelectric conversion section; a charge transfer section having a charge transfer electrode; and an antireflection film covering a light-receiving region in the photoelectric conversion section, wherein forming the antireflection film includes: forming a sidewall on a lateral wall of the charge transfer electrode after forming the charge transfer electrode; forming an antireflection film on a substrate surface where the sidewall is formed; forming a resist on the antireflection film; melting and flattening the resist to expose the antireflection film on the charge transfer electrode; removing the antireflection film by using the resist as the mask; removing the sidewall; covering the charge transfer electrode with an insulating film; and forming a light-shielding film that reaches a level lower than the top surface of the antireflection film, and that surrounds the periphery of the antireflection film.

Abstract: A device for forming a tailored blank plate 12 having a thick plate 14 connected to a thin plate 16 to a desired configuration is provided with a press device 10 and a re-strike device 100. The press device 10 is provided with a first punch part 18, a first die part 20 and holder parts 22 and 22. Between the first punch part 18 and the first die part 20, the tailored blank plate 12 is mounted and positioned so that a stepped part 12b intersects orthogonally to punch protruding parts 50a and 50b of the first punch part 18 and punch recessed parts 72a and 72b of the first die part 20 to press-form the tailored blank plate 12. Then, the press-formed tailored blank plate 212 is moved to the re-strike device 100 to carry out a re-striking process by a second punch part 102 and a second die part 104, so as obtain the tailored blank plate 300 of a final shape.

Abstract: A conductive member is adapted to be attached onto a living tissue to detect a bioelectrical signal. A retainer retains the conductive member on the living tissue. A lead member is partly brought into contact with the conductive member to lead out the bioelectrical signal to a connector. A waterproof sheet covers the lead member in a watertight manner, while exposing a portion of the lead member from which the biological signal is led out.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a wide band retardation plate which gives uniform phase difference characteristics to incident light over the whole visible wavelength region, and which, as it permits selection of raw materials regardless of whether they have a positive or negative intrinsic double refraction value, allows a wide selection of raw materials.