Abstract: An expansion valve for a refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration apparatus is configured to depressurize a liquid refrigerant. The expansion valve includes a valve main body with a valve seat opening into a valve chest formed in the valve main body and a valve body movable relative to the valve chest in a reciprocating manner. An orifice is formed in the valve seat. The orifice has an orifice entrance with a smallest diameter, an orifice middle section widening in diameter along a direction of refrigerant outflow from the orifice entrance so as to form a first taper angle, and an orifice exit either widening in diameter or not in diameter along the direction of refrigerant outflow from the orifice middle section so as to form a second taper angle smaller than the first taper angle.

Abstract: Aliphatic polyester productivity is improved for production of aliphatic polyester using a recombinant microorganism. A recombinant microorganism prepared by introducing a gene encoding a protein having activity of converting lactic acid to lactic-acid CoA and a gene encoding a protein having activity of synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoate using hydroxyacyl CoA as a substrate into a host microorganism is cultured and then aliphatic polyester is recovered from the medium.

Abstract: This invention provides a recombinant microorganism exhibiting excellent aliphatic polyester productivity and a method for producing an aliphatic polyester with the use of the recombinant microorganism. In this invention, the Megasphaera elsdenii-derived pct gene (and/or the Staphylococcus aureus-derived pct gene) and the Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 strain-derived PHA synthase gene (phaC2 gene) (and/or the Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2 strain-derived PHA synthase gene) are introduced into a host microorganism.

Abstract: A bite-in type pipe connection structure is provided, the pipe connection structure being capable of, even if piping connection work is performed with a length of piping inserted insufficiently, minimizing deterioration of air-tightness at the joint portion, at which the piping is connected, due to an offset load acting on the piping. Also provided are a valve, a bite-in type pipe joint, and a refrigeration device using the bite-in type pipe connection structure. A ferrule 30 is provided with: a low-strength portion 34a which, when a coupling member becomes fastened to a joint body by manually rotating the coupling member, allows the distal end portion 36 of the ferrule 30 to deform so that the distal end portion 36 restrains a length of piping which is to be connected; a level changing portion 32b which connects a front tapered surface 32a, which corresponds to the low-strength portion 34a, and a rear tapered surface 32c; and a rearward portion 30A which is adjacent to the low-strength section 34a.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently producing a polylactate via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material.

Abstract: This invention is intended to improve the efficiency of organic acid fermentation in a simple manner without mutant breeding, DNA recombination breeding, or other means, when producing an organic acid via fermentation with the use of yeast that produces the organic acid of interest. The efficiency of the yeast's ability to produce organic acid is significantly improved by treating yeast that produces an organic acid in an organic-acid-containing medium having a low pH value.

Abstract: A guide tapered surface 17 of a pipe coupling port 16 has a small diameter portion 17a guiding to a distal end portion 3a of a bite type sleeve 3 to bite into a coupling pipe 5 and a large diameter portion 17b sealing a tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3 by making close contact with the tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3. A tilt angle ?1 of the small diameter portion 17a relative to a central axis of the guide tapered surface 17 is greater than a tilt angle ?2 of the large diameter portion 17b relative to the central axis. Therefore, even when a distal end portion of the coupling pipe 5 is not inserted up to an innermost portion of the pipe coupling port 16, excellent sealing performance is obtained in a portion coupled to the coupling pipe.

Abstract: A bite type pipe connection structure is used to connect a large diameter pipe that is previously set as a standard specification. The bite type pipe connection structure includes a spacer 71 that is used for connecting a small diameter pipe P3 and serves as insertion port adjusting means for adjusting a gap between the insertion port 16 and the small diameter pipe P3, a step portion 73 serving as a step portion for small diameter that regulates the position of the tip of the small diameter pipe P3, and insertion-through hole adjusting means for bridging a gap between the insertion-through hole for large diameter of a ferrule for large diameter and the small diameter pipe P3 to adjust the insertion-through hole. The insertion-through hole adjusting means is obtained by replacing the ferrule for large diameter 3 with a ferrule for small diameter 6. This makes it possible to connect the small diameter pipe P3 with a joint main body 1 attached to an apparatus.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a polyester copolymer consisting of 3HB and LA via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the ability to produce a desired product is significantly improved and the growth rate and the fermentation rate are maintained at excellent levels for yeast upon production of a desired product with the use of yeast A yeast used as a host is introduced with a foreign gene that encodes an enzyme involved in the production of a desired product and the HAP4 gene that can be constitutively expressed or a homologous gene thereof. Preferably a yeast mutant is a mutant strain having lowered alcohol productivity than that of a wild-type strain.

Abstract: A bite-in type pipe joint includes a first joint member having an internal thread and a second joint member having an external thread. An annular ferrule is formed integrally with the second joint member. By the time the first and second joint members are fastened to each other, the ferrule separates from the second joint member and bites into a pipe. The second joint member has a cylindrical cover that covers the ferrule. This structure prevents a distal portion and a tapered surface of the ferrule from being damaged when the joint member is handled. A refrigerating apparatus and/or a water heating device can include one or more of the pipe joints.

Abstract: A waterproof case for containing a portable device including at least one operation part offset in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the portable device into the case body of the waterproof case, includes at least one operation part that operatively cooperates with the at least one operation part of the portable device, and a moving and holding device that moves the portable device in a direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of the portable device after the portable device is inserted into the case body and that holds the portable device in a moved position so as to operatively cooperate the at least one operation part of the portable device with the at least one operation part of the case body.

Abstract: A pipe joint includes a joint body 1 into which a pipe 4 is to be inserted and a coupling member 2 which is arranged around the pipe 4 to be inserted into the joint body 1. The joint body 1 and the coupling member 2 include screw portions 14a, 21a, respectively. The coupling member 2 is fastened to the joint body 1 by mutually screwing the screw portions 14a, 21a. The coupling member 2 includes a holding portion 22. A pair of or a plurality of pairs of holding surfaces which are opposite to each other are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the holding portion 22 so that the holding portion 22 can be held by a fastening tool. A part of the coupling member 2 including at least the holding surfaces is disconnectable from the remaining part of the coupling member 2.

Abstract: A guide tapered surface 17 of a pipe coupling port 16 has a small diameter portion 17a guiding to a distal end portion 3a of a bite type sleeve 3 to bite into a coupling pipe 5 and a large diameter portion 17b sealing a tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3 by making close contact with the tapered outer circumferential surface 33 of the bite type sleeve 3. A tilt angle ?1 of the small diameter portion 17a relative to a central axis of the guide tapered surface 17 is greater than a tilt angle ?2 of the large diameter portion 17b relative to the central axis. Therefore, even when a distal end portion of the coupling pipe 5 is not inserted up to an innermost portion of the pipe coupling port 16, excellent sealing performance is obtained in a portion coupled to the coupling pipe.

Abstract: A fitting has a bite type tube connection structure with a bite type sleeve in cylindrical form. The bite type sleeve is formed of a primary deforming portion and a secondary deforming portion. The primary deforming portion bites into a connection tube 5 or is inserted between the fitting main body and the connection tube in a wedge-like fashion as a result of a first pressing force in the axial direction applied when a fastening nut is fastened. The secondary deforming portion is deformed by a second pressing force in the axial direction applied when the fastening nut is fastened and greater than the first pressing force. When the primary deforming portion bites into the connection tube, the connection tube is temporarily held against the fitting main body. Then, the fastening operation is completed by fastening the fastening nut.

Abstract: The invention provides a thread and counterfeit preventive paper satisfying the conditions that, when the micro-character of the thread is viewed from one side and opposite side of the paper or printed material, the image of micro-character can be recognized in the same direction from any side, not in opposite direction to each other, and that, when viewed from the opposite side, the image of the corresponding micro-character is not visible. The counterfeit preventive paper and counterfeit preventive printed material have a structure in which a thread having metal deposition layers formed in a pattern of micro-character and colored printed layers formed thereon provided on both sides of a strip-like and light permeable substrate is inserted between paper layers.

Abstract: A remote camera platform system 10 includes an image-capturing device 140 having an image-capturing unit; at least one remote camera platform 100 having a driving unit 130 that rotates the image-capturing device 140 in at least one of a pan direction and a tilt direction; an operation device 200 that operates the remote camera platform 100; and at least one mobile terminal 300 having a wireless communication unit 350 that communicates with the operation device 200. The wireless communication unit 350 receives a captured image, which is transmitted from the operation device 200. Thus, a person who carries the mobile terminal can confirm the captured image of the image-capturing device 140 while moving. The remote camera platform 100 may include a wireless communication unit 150 to directly transmit the captured image to the mobile terminal 300. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 300 may directly operate the remote camera platform 100.

Abstract: A waterproof case for containing a portable device including at least one operation part offset in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the portable device into the case body of the waterproof case, includes at least one operation part that operatively cooperates with the at least one operation part of the portable device, and a moving and holding device that moves the portable device in a direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of the portable device after the portable device is inserted into the case body and that holds the portable device in a moved position so as to operatively cooperate the at least one operation part of the portable device with the at least one operation part of the case body.

Abstract: A waterproof case for containing a portable device including at least one operation part offset in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the portable device into the case body of the waterproof case, includes at least one operation part that operatively cooperates with the at least one operation part of the portable device, and a moving and holding device that moves the portable device in a direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of the portable device after the portable device is inserted into the case body and that holds the portable device in a moved position so as to operatively cooperate the at least one operation part of the portable device with the at least one operation part of the case body.

Abstract: A basic antimicrobial protein is activated by a partner protein having an isoelectric point below pH 7 and a chaperon function, by expressing an antimicrobially inactive fusion protein between the basic antimicrobial protein and the partner protein, recovering the fusion protein and separating the two proteins from each other. In such manner, an advantageous mass expression system of the basic antimicrobial protein having an appropriate disulfide bond as an active type is realized at lost cost.