Abstract: A microorganism capable of degrading an estrogenic substance contained in wastewater and the like; a method for the simple and effective degradation of an estrogenic substance contained in domestic wastewater, wastewater discharged from a livestock farm, or the like by using the microorganism; and an apparatus for achieving the degradation are provided. An estrogenic substance-degrading microorganism which belongs to the genus Pseudaminobacter, Gordonia, Nocardia, Zoogloea, Pandoraea, Cryptococcus or Trichosporon and has an ability to degrade an estrogenic substance; a method for the degration of an estrogenic substance by using the microorganism; and an apparatus for achieving the degradation are provided.

Abstract: A connecting wire extends from a first tooth to a second tooth so as to connect a plurality of coils. An extension portion is provided to an insulator so as to extend in the axial direction. The extension portion has a distal end in the axial direction, a proximal end, notches which extend from the distal end to the proximal end, and a radially outer surface. The connecting wire extends from the first tooth and is positioned by the bottom surface and the side surfaces of a notch. The connecting wire is led out from the notch in the radial direction of the extension portion, and arranged along the radially outer surface so as to run toward the second tooth. Accordingly, the connecting wire can be arranged with ease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ?-amylase activity inhibitor, and to food and beverages comprising the ?-amylase activity inhibitor. The ?-amylase activity inhibitor of the present invention exhibits remarkably excellent ?-amylase inhibitory activity as compared with guava extract. Accordingly, food and beverages containing the ?-amylase activity inhibitor are diet food and beverages suitable for people of high blood-sugar level or hyderlipidemia.

Abstract: A cylindrical mounting apparatus includes: a cylindrical mount having an elastic body elastically connecting an inner and outer sleeve disposed in mutually spaced-apart relation; and a bracket independent of the cylindrical mount and having a pair of support plates opposed to each other with a spacing therebetween. The mount is interposed between the pair of support plates and fastened to the bracket by a mounting bolt extending through a bore of the inner sleeve across the support plates. Two positioning protrusions protrude from an inside surface of one support plate toward the other, and a mounting plate is disposed on one axial end of the inner sleeve extending diametrically. A recessed engaging portion of the mounting plate is brought into engagement with the positioning projections to place the mounting plate in a predetermined position about its center axis on the support plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylindrical mounting apparatus including: a cylindrical mount having an elastic body elastically connecting an inner and outer sleeve disposed in mutually spaced-apart relation; and a bracket independent of said cylindrical mount and having a pair of support plates opposed to each other with a spacing therebetween. The mount is interposed between the pair of support plates and fastened to the bracket by a mounting bolt extending through a bore of the inner sleeve across the support plates. Two positioning protrusions protrude from an inside surface of one support plate toward the other, and a mounting plate is disposed on one axial end of the inner sleeve extending diametrically. A recessed engaging portion of the mounting plate is brought into engagement with the positioning projections to place the mounting plate in a predetermined position about its center axis on the support plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an &agr;-amylase activity inhibitor containing, as an effective component, polyphenols obtained through the following process: guava leaves and/or guava fruit are subjected to extraction with one or more solvents selected from among water and hydrophilic solvents; the resultant extract is subjected to ultrafiltration, to thereby remove substances having a molecular weight of less than 5,000; the remaining fraction is subjected to the butyl support hydrophobic chromatography. The elution (flow rate: 1 mL/min) of the sample was accomplished with the pH gradient by use of sodium dihydrogenphosphate and sodium phosphate solution (0.02 mol/L) and a fraction of the eluted substance is recovered, which fraction corresponds to the third single peak of an elution curve which is obtained when the absorbance of the substance is measured at 260 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a push-switch that comprises a tubular case, a fixed electrical contact in the tubular case, an operation shaft in the tubular case, a contact piece held by a holding part to the operation shaft, a resilient member for urging the operation shaft, and a cover for closing the tubular case. The holding part defines grooves and a recess between the grooves, and the contact piece has a fixing part positioned within the grooves and a protrusion positioned within the recess. The contact piece also includes an arm having an electrical contact thereon for sliding engagement with the fixed electrical contact upon depression of the operation shaft, and the cover includes an opening. The cover also includes a rib projecting downwardly from a lower side thereof, with an inner side of the rib being flush with a contact surface of the fixed electrical contact. To assemble the push-switch the contact piece is attached to the operation shaft via the holding part.

Abstract: In a laser beam machine tool, the problems of power losses, misalignment, high cost, and other problems associated with moving laser heads are eliminated by using a five-axis table in which a biaxial work holder, capable of rotating and tilting a workpiece is mounted on a three-axis table mechanism. In the three-axis table mechanism, an X-axis table is supported on linear motion bearings in overlapping relationship on a Y-axis table, which is, in turn, supported on linear motion bearings on a vertically movable Z-axis table, which is also supported in linear motion bearings. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis tables are driven by servo motors through ball screws so that backlash is avoided.

Abstract: A work rotating device for a laser beam machine utilizes a work-supporting bed rotatable by a speed reducer mounted on a frame adapted to rest on a table of the laser beam machine. In a first embodiment, the speed reducer is fixed to the frame, and the frame has two orthogonal surfaces alternatively engageable with the table so that the axis of rotation of the work can be either vertical or horizontal. In a second embodiment, the speed reducer is manually tiltable in the frame by direct manual rotation of a shaft on which the speed reducer is mounted. In a third embodiment, the speed reducer through which the work is rotated is mounted on a shaft which is connected to a handwheel through another speed reducer. In a fourth embodiment, the speed reducer through which the work is rotated is tilted by a servo motor operating through a speed reducer.

Abstract: Tap arithmetic units and first delay circuits are arranged alternately. Each of the tap arithmetic units has a full-adder array for multiplying an input signal which has been sampled at regular intervals and coefficients, a second pipeline delay circuit for delaying outputs of the full-adder array by a predetermined time and an adder circuit for adding outputs of the second delay circuits. The first and second delay circuits are timed to the preceding tap arithmetic unit for arithmetic operations. The use of the second delay circuit for the timing of arithmetic operations permits the arrangement of the first delay circuit to be simplified.

Abstract: A selector sequentially selects different coefficients during a time interval T. A plurality of coefficient multipliers multiply an input signal sampled at intervals T and coefficients selected by the selector. An input circuit selects, at interval T/2, an input signal supplied at intervals T. A pipeline type adder adds an output signal of the input circuit and output signals of the coefficient multipliers. An output circuit adds an output signal of the adder in an interval of T/2 and outputs the result of the addition as a signal of a period of T.

Abstract: A delay circuit comprising a plurality of clocked inverters coupled cascade form. Each clocked inverter includes a plurality of MOS FETs. The circuit further comprises delay time-controlling MOS FETs connected in parallel to the MOS FETs of the clocked inverters, which are controlled by clock signals. When the delay time-controlling MOS FETs are turned on, the clocked inverters function as ordinary inverters. Conversely, when the delay time-controlling MOS FETs are turned off, the clocked inverters perform their own functions. Hence, one of two different delay times can be selected.