Abstract: There is provided a novel method for producing an optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid by allowing cells of a microorganism or a preparation obtained from cells of a microorganism having activity for stereoselectively hydrolyzing an optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid amide to act on a mixture of (4R)- and (4S)-enantiomers of a 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid amide to produce the optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and separating the optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A multi-layer application film formed by laminating at least two resin films, a top layer film (I) being formed from a crosslinkable resin coating composition (A), an under layer film (II) being formed from a thermoplastic resin (B), showing practically no stickiness per se, and having a tensile elongation at breakage in the range of 50 to 1000%, said multi-layer application film being applied onto a plastic substrate.

Abstract: An O2 amount in the intake air is determined based on a fresh air and an EGR gas. A consumed O2 amount is determined with a command injection amount Qr. Then, the consumed O2 amount is subtracted from the O2 amount in the intake air to obtain an exhaust O2 amount. An exhaust O2 concentration is estimated based on the exhaust O2 amount. According to the invention, the system is not affected by a delay for the exhaust gas to reach an O2 sensor and a delay of the chemical reaction in the O2 sensor. Therefore, the exhaust O2 concentration can be highly precisely estimated compare to the case in which the exhaust O2 concentration is detected by the O2 sensor.

Abstract: Even after initiation of a fuel cutting operation, an estimated coolant temperature value is continuously renewed based on an engine operating state until a predetermined time period elapses. Thus, an increase in the coolant temperature during the fuel cutting operation can be estimated. Furthermore, overestimation of the increase in the coolant temperature during the fuel cutting operation can be avoided since the renewal of the estimated coolant temperature after the elapse of the predetermined time period is prohibited. In this way, possible deterioration of coolant temperature estimation accuracy caused by the fuel cutting operation can be minimized, allowing more accurate coolant temperature estimation. As a result, when abnormality of a thermostat is judged based on a difference between an actual coolant temperature and the estimated coolant temperature value, misjudgment of a normal thermostat as an abnormal thermostat can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional urethane resin film formed from a water based urethane resin dispersion (A), showing practically no stickiness per se, anti having a tensile elongation at breakage of 50 to 1000%; and a laminated film by use of the resin film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional urethane resin film formed from a water based urethane resin dispersion (A), showing practically no stickiness per se, and having a tensile elongation at breakage of 50 to 1000%; and a laminated film by use of the resin film.

Abstract: A multi-layer application film formed by laminating at least two resin films, a top layer film (I) being formed from a crosslinkable resin coating composition (A), an under layer film (II) being formed from a thermoplastic resin (B), showing practically no stickiness per se, and having a tensile elongation at breakage in the range of 50 to 1000%, said multi-layer application film being applied onto a plastic substrate.

Abstract: A multi-layer application film formed by laminating at least two resin films, a top layer film (I) being formed from a crosslinkable resin coating composition (A), an under layer film (II) being formed from a thermoplastic resin (B), showing practically no stickiness per se, and having a tensile elongation at breakage in the range of 50 to 1000%, said multi-layer application film being applied onto a plastic substrate.

Abstract: An O2 amount in the intake air is determined based on a fresh air and an EGR gas. A consumed O2 amount is determined with a command injection amount Qr. Then, the consumed O2 amount is subtracted from the O2 amount in the intake air to obtain an exhaust O2 amount. An exhaust O2 concentration is estimated based on the exhaust O2 amount. According to the invention, the system is not affected by a delay for the exhaust gas to reach an O2 sensor and a delay of the chemical reaction in the O2 sensor. Therefore, the exhaust O2 concentration can be highly precisely estimated compare to the case in which the exhaust O2 concentration is detected by the O2 sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a novel method for producing an optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid by allowing cells of a microorganism or a preparation obtained from cells of a microorganism having activity for stereoselectively hydrolyzing an optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid amide to act on a mixture of (4R)- and (4S)-enantiomers of a 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid amide to produce the optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and separating the optically active (4R)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Even after initiation of a fuel cutting operation, an estimated coolant temperature value is continuously renewed based on an engine operating state until a predetermined time period elapses. Thus, an increase in the coolant temperature during the fuel cutting operation can be estimated. Furthermore, overestimation of the increase in the coolant temperature during the fuel cutting operation can be avoided since the renewal of the estimated coolant temperature after the elapse of the predetermined time period is prohibited. In this way, possible deterioration of coolant temperature estimation accuracy caused by the fuel cutting operation can be minimized, allowing more accurate coolant temperature estimation. As a result, when abnormality of a thermostat is judged based on a difference between an actual coolant temperature and the estimated coolant temperature value, misjudgment of a normal thermostat as an abnormal thermostat can be prevented.

Abstract: A molding sand reclaiming apparatus comprising an agitation tank which is provided with a fluidized bed at the inner bottom thereof and also provided with a charging port for used sand and a discharging port for reclaimed sand on the side wall thereof, a rotating shaft driven by a driving source disposed in the agitation tank; a rotating drum which is driven by the rotating shaft to agitate used sand charged into the agitation tank and peel off extraneous matters on the used sand; a classification tank which communicates with the upper part of the agitation tank via a regulating plate and is provided with a dust collecting port; and an air pressure source to fluidize the used sand charged on the fluidized bed in the agitation tank and classify, in the classification tank, the used sand into two parts of the extraneous matters peeled off by the rotating drum and the reclaimed sand, wherein scattering holes for scattering the used sand are formed in a cylinder portion constituting outside of the rotating drum.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a motion vector in moving images is based on evaluation of computational results of searches made by matching a target template and a group of pixel blocks each having a same size as the target template. The steps include: 1) searching in a wide area and obtaining a reference vector to indicate an overall image movement; 2) searching in narrow areas centered about the reference vector for all templates in the target image, and obtaining a displacement vector for each template in relation to the reference vector; and 3) summing the reference vector and the displacement vector for each template, and assigning a computed result as a motion vector in each template.

Abstract: In a fuel infection valve, a valve chamber of a three ways valve is selectively communicated to drain and high pressure conduits and also communicated, via a main orifice, to a control chamber for controlling valve opening and closing operations of a nozzle needle. The control chamber may be communicated via the main orifice and the valve chamber to the drain conduit or the high pressure conduit, when a valve body is driven by a piezo actuator to open or close the drain conduit and close or open the high pressure conduit. The control chamber is always communicated via a sub orifice to the high pressure conduit without bypassing the three ways valve. Accordingly, hydraulic pressure in the control chamber is slowly decreased at a valve opening time and is rapidly increased at a valve closing time so that a lift characteristic of the nozzle needle is improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to an atrichia mouse which grows juvenile hair but is deficient in the ability to grow pelage hair and, more particularly, to an atrichia mouse such that the spontaneous prevalence of wet and dry skin lesions is not less than 70%. at the 24th week of age, the number of mast cells in the skin is not less than about 50/linear mm at the 24th week of age, and the serum IgE level is not less than about 3500 ng/ml at the 24th week of age. The atrichia mouse of the invention finds application as an animal model of disease for the research and development of therapeutic drugs for dermatitis, among other kinds of drugs.

Abstract: A method for searching for a motion vector in a moving-video image about a template to be evaluated, by evaluating motion by a predetermined operation between the template and a group of pixel blocks of the same size as the template, which is comprised of a first step for assuming a first area having a size of more than one pixel block, and for performing a motion vector searching operation between pixel values of pixels consisting of the first area and pixel values of pixels consisting of the template; and a second step, if the operational result satisfying a predetermined condition, for obtaining a motion vector from the operational result, if the operational result not satisfying the predetermined condition, for assuming a second area of a size completely to cover the first area, and for performing a motion vector searching operation between pixel values of pixels consisting of the second area, and pixel values of pixels consisting of the template, to obtain a motion vector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements arrayed on acoustic absorption backing material with predetermined spaces, a plurality of acoustic matching members formed on the piezoelectric elements and arrayed with gaps smaller than array gaps of the piezoelectric elements, polymer resin with which only the gaps between the piezoelectric elements are filled and having hardness lower than material of the piezoelectric elements, and an acoustic lens formed on the plurality of acoustic matching members.

Abstract: A needle-like ultrasonic probe includes an inner needle received in a hollow, tubular outer needle for rotation about an axis thereof. The inner needle has a pointed distal end, and a notch is formed in an outer peripheral surface of that portion of the inner needle which is located adjacent to the distal end thereof. At least one ultrasonic transducer, as well as an acoustic lens for converging an ultrasonic wave, produced by the ultrasonic transducer, onto a point near to the outer peripheral surface of the inner needle, is provided in the notch. A filler, having an outer surface conforming to the outer peripheral surface of the inner needle, is fitted in the notch. With this construction, after the inner needle is smoothly stuck into a living tissue, even if it is rotated and axially moved, the living tissue is less affected or damaged by the inner needle.

Abstract: A recycling method and apparatus that almost completely removes paints and pigments on the surfaces of empty aluminum cans to recover aluminum with very few impurities. Pressed blocks of aluminum cans are shredded into small aluminum pieces (a) by shredding means (1, 2, and 3), and foreign matter mixed in the aggregate of aluminum pieces obtained is removed. The aggregate of small aluminum pieces (a) free from foreign matter is agitated by a paint removing device (20) using a rotating body (36) that rotates at a high speed, in order to remove paints and pigments coated on the surfaces of the aluminum pieces (a) employing frictional force caused by the difference in speed as well as adhesion. The small aluminum pieces (a) free from paints and pigments are molded again into aluminum compacts (b) by a compression molding machine.

Abstract: A repairing method using a lance for repairing an oven wall surface of a coke oven comprises the steps of arranging a distance sensor at a top end of the lance, quantitatively measuring a depth of a worn or a damaged area by the distance sensor, and blowing a repairing material from a repairing nozzle to the worn area in accordance with a measurement result to thereby repair the worn area. The lance used in this repairing method has a multistage structure having a polygonal cross section and is extendable. With this structure, the oven wall surface can be scanned in a linear fashion or along a plane. If the top end of the lance is movable in accordance with a basic motion pattern and/or a travelling pattern, it is possible to readily repair a repair range having a complicated shape.