Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a carotenoid-containing composition, comprising the steps of: subjecting a culture of a carotenoid-producing microorganism to an extraction treatment using a water-soluble organic solvent; dispersing the resulting extract solution in water for micellization; heat stirring the resulting micellized solution in a solvent break the micelles and precipitate the carotenoid component of interest to obtain the precipitate; collecting and heat washing the precipitate with ethanol; and further subjecting the precipitate to pulverization/drying; and food, a pharmaceutical composition and a cosmetic product comprising the carotenoid-containing composition.

Abstract: A cooling device for an acoustic apparatus includes a cooling fan that is turned on and off, and adjusted in quantity of airflow in accordance with an apparatus temperature, wherein when the apparatus temperature is lower than a value requiring immediate cooling, and when an audio output is in a mute state, the cooling fan is not changed in operating state.

Abstract: In a reservoir tank (5) of the present invention, a hydraulic fluid movement deterring wall (26) is disposed integrally with an upper half body (9) and extending toward a radial direction center of a cylindrical upper half body neck section (24) on a curved portion at a boundary between an inner peripheral surface (24a) of the cylindrical upper half body neck section (24) and an inner surface (25a1) of a ceiling portion (25a) of an upper half body trunk section (25) or on the inner peripheral surface (24a) of the upper half body neck section (24). The movement of the hydraulic fluid frontward (toward a hydraulic fluid inlet (10)) in a hydraulic fluid storage chamber 13 at a time when the reservoir tank (5) is tilted frontward is controlled by this hydraulic fluid movement deterring wall (26).

Abstract: In a conventional semiconductor device, there has been a problem that, in a region where a wiring layer to which a high electric potential is applied traverses a top surface of an isolation region, the withstand voltage is deteriorated. In a semiconductor device of the present invention, an epitaxial layer is deposited on a substrate, and an LDMOSFET is formed in one region divided by an isolation region. In a region where a wiring layer connected to a drain electrode traverses a top surface of the isolation region, a conductive plate having a ground electric potential and another conductive plate in a floating state are formed under the wiring layer. With this structure, electric field is reduced in the vicinity of the isolation region under the wiring layer, whereby a withstand voltage of the LDMOSFET is increased.

Abstract: A merchandise presentation method includes: a step of preparing a standard value relating to work data, which specifies work performed by a user; a step of obtaining actual work data, which specifies the work actually performed by each user with respect to the work; a step of comparing the actual work data with the standard value; a step of selecting any one of a plurality of merchandise or a combination thereof, based on the comparison result; a step of calculating increasing profit by using at least one of the selected merchandise; and a step of presenting to the user the content of at least one of the selected merchandise and the increasing profit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vibration sensor including forming a sacrifice layer at one part of a front surface of a semiconductor substrate of monocrystalline silicon with a material isotropically etched by an etchant for etching the semiconductor substrate, forming a thin film protective film with a material having resistance to the etchant on the sacrifice layer and the front surface of the semiconductor substrate at a periphery of the sacrifice layer, forming a thin film of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or amorphous silicon on an upper side of the sacrifice layer, opening a backside etching window in a back surface protective film having resistance to the etchant for etching the semiconductor substrate formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a through-hole in the semiconductor substrate by etching the semiconductor substrate anisotropically by using crystal-oriented etching by applying the etchant from the back surface window, then etching the sacrifice layer

Abstract: A vibration electrode plate 112 is formed on the upper face of a silicon substrate 32 with an insulating coat film 35 interposed in between. An opposing electrode plate 113 is placed on the vibration electrode plate 112 with an insulating coat film interposed in between, and acoustic holes 40 are opened through the opposing electrode plate 113. Etching holes 36 and 104, each having a semi-elliptical shape, are opened through the vibration electrode plate 112 and the opposing electrode plate 113 so as to face each other longitudinally. A concave section 37 having a truncated pyramid shape is formed in the upper face of the silicon substrate 32, by carrying out an etching process through the etching holes 36 and 104. The vibration electrode plate 112 is held in the silicon substrate 32 by a holding portion 112 placed between the etching holes 36.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a multiplier 1 for multiplying a pixel signal P(x) by a weighting factor ?0 (0??0?1), a delay element 2 for delaying the pixel signal P(x) which has not been multiplied yet by the weighting factor ?0 by the multiplier 1 by one pixel, and a multiplier 3 for multiplying the pixel signal P(x?1) delayed by the delay element 2 by a weighting factor ?1 (0??1?1), the total sum of the weighting factors ?0 and ?1 being larger than 1 and smaller than an upper limit ?max. An adder 4 adds the multiplication result ?0·P(x) of the multiplier 1 and the multiplication result ?1·P(x?1) of the multiplier 3, and a limiter 5 limits the addition result P?(x) of the adder 4 in such a way that P?(x) falls within a maximum density value Pmax.

Abstract: [Problem] There is provided a compound useful as a preventive or remedy for cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, metabolic disease, reproductive disease, and digestive disease. [Means for Resolution] A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the following Formula (I) wherein Z represents wherein n1, n2, and n3 are 0, 1, or 2, respectively; R1 represents C1-6 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, or the like; R2 represents aryl or heteroaryl; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like; and M1, M2, M3, and M4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like, or M1, together with M2, M3, or M4, forms —CH2— or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a high content of highly pure, low-cost, and safe carotenoid and a method for industrially producing the same. The present invention also provides functional food, a pharmaceutical composition and a cosmetic product comprising such a composition. The present invention further provides a method for producing a composition containing at least 80% of carotenoid, which is characterized in treating a microorganism culture with extraction using a lower alcohol at 80° C. at the lowest or a combination of water and a lower alcohol at 80° C. at the lowest, and then washing and filtrating the precipitate obtained from the extract solution with a combination of a lower alcohol and water.

Abstract: A display unit has an image presentation section 10 for receiving a plurality of monomedia data and presentation style data describing a presentation style of a frame of each of the individual monomedia data, for generating scaling/combining control information 111 for combining the individual monomedia data, and for generating a composite video frame 103 by combining the individual monomedia data; an image enhancing section 20 for obtaining a correction target region of designated monomedia data in the composite video frame 103 in response to the scaling/combining control information 111, for generating correction data by obtaining interframe difference in the correction target region, and for generating a display video frame 104 by carrying out image enhancing processing of the correction target region in response to the correction data generated; and an image display section 30 for displaying the display video frame 104.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a compound that is useful as an agent in the prevention and treatment of circulatory system, nervous system, metabolic, reproductive system, and gastrointestinal diseases. [Means for Resolution] A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the following Formula (I): [wherein, Z represents formula (II-1), (II-2), or (II-3), wherein m and n are 0, 1, or 2, Y represents CR3 or N, R1 represents a C1-6 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, etc., R2 represents phenyl or a heteroaryl, etc., R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl, etc., M1, M2, M3, and M4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl, etc.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for driving a motor in a feedback control system, capable of suppressing oscillation of the motor are disclosed. A motor drive controller includes a drive motor, a detector, and a motor drive controller. The drive motor drives a moving body around a target moving speed. The detector detects a current moving speed of the moving body and output it as a detector pulse signal. The controller calculates a difference between the current moving speed and the target moving speed, calculates a control value based on the difference, calculates a pulse rate of a drive pulse signal based on the control value after having controlled the control value to be within a predetermined value, and feedback controls the drive motor based on the pulse rate.

Abstract: A fluid quantity sensor is disposed on a reservoir body comprising a lower body, a middle body and an upper body that have been welded together. The fluid quantity sensor comprises a switch housing portion that is integrally molded with the middle body and a switch that is attached to the switch housing portion. A switch attaching portion that attaches the switch is formed in the switch housing portion. The fluid quantity sensor is covered by a volume-augmented chamber forming portion that is integrally molded in the middle body and the upper body. A tool insertion hole into which is inserted a tool that forms the switch attaching portion is disposed in this volume-augmented chamber forming portion.

Abstract: Hydraulic fluid is supplied from a hydraulic fluid supply opening to a hydraulic fluid supply portion. The hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid supply portion is supplied to a primary hydraulic fluid storage chamber and to a secondary hydraulic fluid storage chamber via a hydraulic fluid supply passage. An oblong cylinder-shaped portion that has a chamber is formed between the hydraulic fluid supply opening and the hydraulic fluid supply portion. Further, a volume-augmented chamber forming portion that has a volume-augmented chamber that is communicated with the chamber is disposed in this oblong cylinder-shaped portion. In that case, at least part of the volume-augmented chamber is positioned above a MAX line of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide compounds useful as preventives or remedies for circulatory diseases, nervous diseases, metabolic diseases, reproductive system diseases, and digestive diseases. [Means for Solving Problems] Compounds represented by the general formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: wherein R1 is C1-6 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, or the like; R2 is phenyl, heteroaryl, or the like; Q is N or CH; and M1, M2, M3 and M4 are each independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl, or alternatively M1 together with M2 or M3 forms —CH2-CH2- or the like, or M4 together with M2 or M3 forms —CH2-CH2- or the like, with the proviso that M1, M2, M3, and M4 are such that one —CH2- or —CH2-CH2- group is formed thereamong.

Abstract: A remote controller has a touch panel. Multiple items are shown on a display. A user draws a line on the touch panel in the direction where the item is desired to select by moving the finger, for example. The remote controller determines the direction of the drawn line, and transmits the signal indicating the direction to a control unit. The control unit determines the item disposed in the direction indicated by the signal, and executes a process associated with that determined item. The process is executed in this manner, and thus an instruction is made to given devices. The invention can be applied to a car navigation system.

Abstract: A vibrating electrode plate 24 that senses a sound pressure faces a counter electrode plate 25 to constitute a capacitance type acoustic sensor. In the counter electrode plate 25, acoustic perforations 31 are opened in order to pass vibration, and plural projections 36 are provided on a surface facing the vibrating electrode plate 24. An interval between the projections 36 is decreased in a region where the vibrating electrode plate 24 has high flexibility to easily generate local sticking with the counter electrode plate 25. The interval between the projections 36 is increased in a region where the vibrating electrode plate 24 has low flexibility to hardly generate local sticking with the counter electrode plate 25. The projections thus arranged prevent firm fixing of the vibrating electrode plate to the counter electrode plate and interruption of vibration of the vibrating electrode plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound represented by the formula (I) below and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This compound is useful for treatment of obesity, diabetes and the like. [In the formula (I), Ar represents a benzene ring or the like; X1 represents a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom or the like; R1 represents an aryl group or the like; X2 represents a group represented by the following formula (II): (wherein R4 and R5 respectively represent a lower alkyl group or the like, and m represents a number of 2-4) or the like; one of X and Y represents an oxygen atom and the other represents a sulfanyl group or the like; and X3-X6 respectively represent —CH—, a nitrogen atom or the like.

Abstract: A UV-curable ink-jet ink is provided, which has a high sensitivity and allows soft and highly fine patterns to be formed. The UV-curable ink-jet ink includes a mono-functional polymerizable monomer (A) having a hydroxyl group, a di(meth)acrylate ester (B) and a photo-polymerization initiator (C).