Abstract: A 3D image data compression system, a method a program and a recording medium storing the program are provided for effectively compressing a data amount and obtaining a decompressed 3D image with little distortion. A recording medium also is provided for storing the compressed 3D image data. The system generates, a cut path based on a texture distribution of the surface of the 3D image so as to reduce the distortion of the 3D image reproduced from the compressed data. Geometric information and optical information of the 3D image data are correlated with points within a 2D planar figure based on the texture distribution of the surface of the 3D image so as to reduce the distortion of the 3D image reproduced from the compressed data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transformant having a gene expression inducing system having better responsiveness. The transformant of the invention has a galactose induction system and retains a coding region having a galactose induction system and encoding an assisting protein assisting transcription activation by a protein having the Gal4 activity under control of a constitutive promoter, and a coding region encoding an endogenous or exogenous desired protein under control of a galactose-inducible promoter.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes ink jet heads for recording an image on a recording medium, an ink bottle for holding ink, an ink supply path connecting the ink bottle to each ink jet head, and an electromagnetic valve provided on the path. In the printer, the bottle, the valve and the heads are arranged downward in this order in the vertical direction, the path constantly exists upwards in the vertical direction in such a manner that air entered into the path moves up above the valve due to a difference in the specific gravity between the air and the ink, the path is provided with a branching portion provided between the valve and the heads, and a sub ink tank is provided at an end of the branching portion so as to be positioned lower than the heads in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A foreign matter detecting system which can acquire a clear image and detect a foreign matter with high accuracy based on the acquired image regardless of whether a subject is located far or near from an image capturing device in spite of a depth variation or a level difference. An image capturing unit having an externally controllable focus position is disposed above or below a liquid surface, and a ray of light from an LED is illuminated toward the liquid surface from above or the side at least at a focus position of the image capturing unit so that a foreign matter on the liquid surface causes mirror reflection. The focus position of the image capturing unit is changed over the range from the top of a container containing a liquid to the bottom thereof. At each focus position, an input image from the image capturing unit is taken into an image input unit of an image processing section.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a ceramic porous material which has a high strength, though it has a high porosity, and which is excellent in permeability without dust generation. In a ceramic porous material having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton structure with a large number of substantially spherical adjacent cells communicating with each other via communication holes, the crystal particle size at the rim of each communication hole in the skeleton structure is provided substantially equal to the crystal particle size in the other parts.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises an inkjet head which includes a nozzle plate where a plurality of nozzles that shoot ink are arranged in a column and an ink chamber which retains ink and is connected to the plurality of nozzles, at least one maintenance suction section which has a suction area larger than the nozzles, a suction section driving mechanism which causes the suction area to face the nozzles and moves the suction section relatively in the nozzle arrangement direction, and a positive pressure applying section which applies a positive pressure to the ink chamber. The maintenance suction section sucks in ink near the nozzles as moving in the nozzle arrangement direction, while the positive pressure is being applied to the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes ink jet heads for recording an image on a recording medium, an ink bottle for holding ink, an ink supply path connecting the ink bottle to each ink jet head, and an electromagnetic valve provided on the path. In the printer, the bottle, the valve and the heads are arranged downward in this order in the vertical direction, the path constantly exists upwards in the vertical direction in such a manner that air entered into the path moves up above the valve due to a difference in the specific gravity between the air and the ink, the path is provided with a branching portion provided between the valve and the heads, and a sub ink tank is provided at an end of the branching portion so as to be positioned lower than the heads in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology is capable of stably and accurately performing measurement of the distance to the distance to an object without use of a highly accurate focus control mechanism. The distance measurement is performed by an apparatus having a mask for restricting light so as to pass light through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light that has passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating unit for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so that the light is able to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes four plate-like piezoelectric bodies each having a primary surface having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein in a predetermined direction, a end surface on which a one end of the groove is open, and an electrode formed on the inner surface of the groove. These piezoelectric bodies are stacked one upon the other on the primary surfaces under the state that the openings of these piezoelectric bodies are allowed to face the same direction, and that the primary surfaces of these piezoelectric bodies are allowed to face the same direction. Further, formed is a common liquid supply path allowing the plural grooves of the piezoelectric bodies to communicate with each other to form ink flow path.

Abstract: A method for optically immobilizing very small objects, where a material with the capability of photoinduced deformation to possibly immobilize very small objects is used at least as a surface layer of a carrier and where the very small objects are immobilized via irradiation light while they are arranged on the surface of the carrier. Very small objects particularly preferably include proteins, nucleic acids and the like. A very small object-immobilized carrier having immobilized very small objects in such manner, particularly a biosensor. A method for observing a very small object immobilized on the surface of a carrier by an appropriate approach giving displacement force to the very small object. The present invention provides a method for strongly immobilizing very small objects on the surface of a carrier with a simple tool.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a ceramic porous material which has a high strength, though it has a high porosity, and which is excellent in permeability without dust generation. In a ceramic porous material having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton structure with a large number of substantially spherical adjacent cells communicating with each other via communication holes, the crystal particle size at the rim of each communication hole in the skeleton structure is provided substantially equal to the crystal particle size in the other parts.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes four plate-like piezoelectric bodies each having a primary surface having a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein in a predetermined direction, a end surface on which a one end of the groove is open, and an electrode formed on the inner surface of the groove. These piezoelectric bodies are stacked one upon the other on the primary surfaces under the state that the openings of these piezoelectric bodies are allowed to face the same direction, and that the primary surfaces of these piezoelectric bodies are allowed to face the same direction. Further, formed is a common liquid supply path allowing the plural grooves of the piezoelectric bodies to communicate with each other to form ink flow path.

Abstract: Acetic anhydride is recovered from a mixture of acetic anhydride, acetic acid and water by contacting the mixture with at least one extraction solvent selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic, organic solvent, a ketone and an ester to extract and recover acetic anhydride.

Abstract: An anti-inflammatory ophthalmic solution containing (A) 2-(2-fluoro-4-biphenylyl)propionic acid or its ophthalmologically acceptable salt and (B) .beta.-cyclodextrin or .gamma.-cyclodextrin. The ophthalmic solution makes easy operations conducted for diseases in ophthalmic region, and is useful for early recovery or reduction of inflammation by pre- and post-operative topical instillation thereof or by intraocular perfusion with a perfusate to which the ophthalmic solution is added, or for treatment of inflammatory eye diseases.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes a pair of guide and field stabilizer members disposed adjacent to a transfer member and along a conveying path for a transfer sheet. A voltage is applied to the stabilizer members which is of the same polarity as a bias voltage applied to the transfer member. It is assured that transfer sheet reliably contacts the pair of field stabilizer members as it passes therebetween.

Abstract: A actuating apparatus for an electrophotographic device having a photosensitive drum mountable through an opening of a sidewall of the device, a detachable lid to close the opening, and a separator pawl adapted to separate a recording paper from tight contact with the drum. The actuating apparatus includes an actuator secured to the separator pawl so as to move the separator pawl between an operating position substantially in contact with the drum and a retarded position away from the drum, a bias device normally urging the separator pawl to the retarded position, and a stopper integrally secured to the lid in such a manner that when the lid is attached in position to the sidewall, the stopper automatically engages the actuator so as to keep the separator pawl at the operating position, whereas when the lid is detached from the sidewall, the stopper disengages from the actuator so as to automatically move the separator pawl to the retarded position for clearing the path of the drum.

Abstract: A sheet holding cassette comprising a box-shaped main body open at its base and closed by a sheet receiving plate pivoted to the main body, means for releasably locking the sheet receiving plate, and means for resiliently locating the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets charged into the main body at a given position irrespective of change of the number of the sheets.