Abstract: A defoaming agent which can effectively eliminate foams generated in the occasions of preparation, coating, drying and baking of water-based paint, by addition thereof by itself, without combined use of other kind(s) of defoaming agent(s), and furthermore without impairing appearance of baked coated film of the paint or recoatability of the paint is provided. Such a defoaming agent for water-based paint has the composition comprising (1) polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil triisostearates and (2) polyalkyl vinyl ether, polybutadiene, polybutene or polyisoprene, which are dissolved in (3) liquid normal paraffin, liquid isoparaffin or liquid cycloparaffin, at such a ratio that the blended amount of (1) occupies 2-90% by weight of the total composition.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine 2, a motor generator 4, a torque converter 6 with a lock-up clutch 5, and a ratio-change mechanism 7. A control system for the hybrid vehicle comprises a rotational sensor 22, which detects the slip ratio of the torque converter, and a hydraulic control valve 12, which controls the engagement of the lock-up clutch. While the vehicle is moving along with the accelerator pedal being released from its stepped down condition, a driving force from the wheels is transmitted to the motor generator 4 for energy regeneration. If the slip ratio of the torque converter is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value, then only the lock-up clutch is controlled into engagement. However, if the slip ratio is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, then additionally the motor generator is controlled in cooperative operation.

Abstract: A lamp including a plurality of light emitting devices and heat sinks can be configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of light emitting devices. The heat sinks can be branched into a generally Y-shaped configuration as viewed in a section that includes a primary optical axis of the vehicle lamp. One of the light emitting devices is connected to one of the branched parts of the heat sinks. Another light emitting device is connected to the other branched part of the heat sinks.

Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism 1 for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body 3 coupled to a rotating shaft 2; a coupling base body 5 coupled to a steering shaft 4 serving as a rotating shaft; and a pair of rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 which are disposed between the rotating shaft 2 and the steering shaft 4 by means of both coupling base bodies 3 and 5 and transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 to the steering shaft 4.

Abstract: A compound that promotes the ubiquitination of a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, or a salt thereof, a compound that promotes the degradation, by proteasome, of the protein or a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, or a salt thereof, and the like can be used as, for example, prophylactic/therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disease. Also, a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof and the like are useful for screening for a compound having prophylactic/therapeutic action on neurodegenerative disease and the like or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism 1 includes a coupling base body 3 coupled to a rotating shaft 2; a coupling base body 5 coupled to a steering shaft 4; rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 which are disposed between the rotating shaft 2 and the steering shaft 4 through the both coupling base bodies 3 and 5 and transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 in an R direction to the steering shaft 4; an intermediate interposed member 8 disposed between the rotation transmitting members 6 and 7; and a coupling means 9 for coupling the rotation transmitting members 6 and 7 to each other.

Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body coupled to a rotating shaft; a coupling base body coupled to a steering shaft serving as a rotating shaft; and a rotation transmitting member which is disposed between the both coupling base bodies and transmits the rotation of the coupling base body in a direction about the axis, i.e., in an R direction, to the coupling base body as rotation in the R direction.

Abstract: A sliding bearing for a steering column includes: a cylindrical bearing body; flat surfaces formed integrally on an inner peripheral surface of the bearing body; first slits extending from one end face of the bearing body to this side of the other end face of the bearing body; second slits extending from this side of the other end face of the bearing body to the one end face of the bearing body; grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface of the bearing body; and elastic rings which are respectively fitted in the grooves in such a manner as to project from the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body and to reduce the diameter of the bearing body.

Abstract: Provided is a flow-and-leveling agent for waterborne coatings which provides the coated surface with a flow-and-leveling property by blending into waterborne coatings taking a serious view of finishing and which improves coating defects such as ruptures and craters to contribute to a rise in the appearance of the coating film. The above flow-and-leveling agent is an acryl base copolymer containing a trimethylsilyl group in a proportion of 2 to 64% by weight and has a number average molecular weight of 500 to 30000.

Abstract: A protein, a polynucleotide, an antibody of the present invention, etc. are useful as, for example, a diagnostic marker for a neurodegenerative disease and so on. A compound promoting or inhibiting the activity of the protein, a compound promoting or inhibiting the expression of a gene for the above protein, etc., which are obtained by a screening method with the use of the protein, polynucleotide or antibody as described above, are usable as, for example, a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for a neurodegenerative disease and so on.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine 2, a motor generator 4, a torque converter 6 with a lock-up clutch 5, and a ratio-change mechanism 7. A control system for the hybrid vehicle comprises a rotational sensor 22, which detects the slip ratio of the torque converter, and a hydraulic control valve 12, which controls the engagement of the lock-up clutch. While the vehicle is moving along with the accelerator pedal being released from its stepped down condition, a driving force from the wheels is transmitted to the motor generator 4 for energy regeneration. If the slip ratio of the torque converter is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value, then only the lock-up clutch is controlled into engagement. However, if the slip ratio is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value, then additionally the motor generator is controlled in cooperative operation.

Abstract: The cell death inhibitor comprising a substance capable of binding to macrophage migration inhibitory factor is useful as a preventive/therapeutic agent for, e.g., heart diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, central nervous infections, traumatic diseases, demyelinating diseases, bone/joint diseases, kidney diseases, liver diseases, myelodysplastic diseases, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, failure accompanying rejection in organ transplantation, AIDS, cancer, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel protein, a DNA thereof, a screening method with the use of the same, and so on. A compound or a salt thereof regulating the activity of the present protein is useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for heart diseases and central nervous system diseases.

Abstract: Provided is a flow-and-leveling agent for waterborne coatings which provides the coated surface with a flow-and-leveling property by blending into waterborne coatings taking a serious view of finishing and which improves coating defects such as ruptures and craters to contribute to a rise in the appearance of the coating film. The above flow-and-leveling agent is an acryl base copolymer containing a trimethylsilyl group in a proportion of 2 to 64% by weight and has a number average molecular weight of 500 to 30000.

Abstract: A sliding bearing for a steering column includes: a cylindrical bearing body; flat surfaces formed integrally on an inner peripheral surface of the bearing body; first slits extending from one end face of the bearing body to this side of the other end face of the bearing body; second slits extending from this side of the other end face of the bearing body to the one end face of the bearing body; grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface of the bearing body; and elastic rings which are respectively fitted in the grooves in such a manner as to project from the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body and to reduce the diameter of the bearing body.

Abstract: Provided is a flow-and-leveling agent for waterborne coatings which provides the coated surface with a flow-and-leveling property by blending into waterborne coatings taking a serious view of finishing and which improves coating defects such as ruptures and craters to contribute to a rise in the appearance of the coating film. The above flow-and-leveling agent is an acryl base copolymer containing a trimethylsilyl group in a proportion of 2 to 64% by weight and has a number average molecular weight of 500 to 30000.

Abstract: A concrete coloring material and a process for coloring concrete by means of such a concrete coloring material capable of permitting concrete to exhibit natural color or aesthetic properties while preventing concrete from being substantially discolored. Polyethylene oxide is used as a water-soluble adhesive or gIue. The oxide is mixed with a composition such as dye, pigment, a mixture thereof or the like, to thereby permit the composition to penetrate into the concrete.

Abstract: A concrete coloring material and a process for coloring concrete by means of such a concrete coloring material capable of permitting concrete to exhibit natural color or aesthetic properties while preventing concrete from being substantially discolored. Polyethylene oxide is used as a water-soluble adhesive or glue. The oxide is mixed with a composition such as dye, pigment, a mixture thereof or the like, to thereby permit the composition to penetrate into the concrete.