Abstract: An arterial-wall stiffness evaluation system of the present invention includes: a cuff to be attached to a part of a living body; a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the cuff; a cuff-pressure control section for controlling the pressure in the cuff to be increased or decreased up to a predetermined value, based on a value detected by the pressure sensor; and a data processing section for calculating, based on pulse waves detected by the pressure sensor, pulse-wave amplitudes of cuff-pressure pulse waves and blood-pressure pulse waves, and for evaluating arterial-wall stiffness based on the pulse-wave amplitudes. The arterial-wall stiffness is evaluated by a pressure-diameter characteristic curve, which represents a relationship between vascular diameter and transmural pressure applied to a vascular wall, or by estimation from shapes and amplitudes of the detected pulse waves.

Abstract: A vehicle grill shutter includes an actuator, a flap member which is configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position by the actuator, and an attachment position regulation mechanism which connects the actuator and the flap member, and is configured such that the flap member is connected to the actuator only when the flap member is positioned at a regular position with respect to the actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle grill shutter includes an actuator, a flap member which is configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position by the actuator, and an attachment position regulation mechanism which connects the actuator and the flap member, and is configured such that the flap member is connected to the actuator only when the flap member is positioned at a regular position with respect to the actuator.

Abstract: A simulation system includes an interface component connected to a public or shared network that has less restrictive access than networks inside the firewall, generating a simulation job and registering the simulation job in a database, a job control component accessing said database to retrieve the simulation job and scheduling the simulation job for execution, and a simulation execution component receiving the simulation job from the job control component, creating executable codes for numerical and parallel computing algorithms and distributing computing processes to multiple computers to execute the simulation job.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide an apparatus for measuring a vascular viscoelasticity index which is noninvasive, simple in structure and yet inexpensive. The present invention provides an apparatus for measuring a vascular viscoelasticity index, which measures a vascular viscoelasticity index ? by a formula ?={(Pb2?Pa2)?(Pb1?Pa1)}/(Va2?Va1) wherein Pb1 is the maximal value of the first pulse wave; Va1 is the local maximum value of a time derivative value of the first pulse wave; Pa1 is the pulse wave amplitude corresponding to the local maximum value Va1; Pb2 is the maximal value of the second pulse wave; Va2 is the local maximum value of a time derivative value of the second pulse wave; and Pa2 is the pulse wave amplitude corresponding to the local maximum value Va2.

Abstract: An arterial-wall stiffness evaluation system of the present invention includes: a cuff to be attached to a part of a living body; a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the cuff; a cuff-pressure control section for controlling the pressure in the cuff to be increased or decreased up to a predetermined value, based on a value detected by the pressure sensor; and a data processing section for calculating, based on pulse waves detected by the pressure sensor, pulse-wave amplitudes of cuff-pressure pulse waves and blood-pressure pulse waves, and for evaluating arterial-wall stiffness based on the pulse-wave amplitudes. The arterial-wall stiffness is evaluated by a pressure-diameter characteristic curve, which represents a relationship between vascular diameter and transmural pressure applied to a vascular wall, or by estimation from shapes and amplitudes of the detected pulse waves.

Abstract: Disclosed are a coating material for metal wherein a thin coating film without pinholes having excellent corrosion resistance, retort resistance, impact resistance, processing resistance, abrasion resistance, adhesiveness to a metal, flavor preservability for contents etc can be formed when applying on a metal plate or a metallic container, and a metallic container on which the coating material is applied. The coating material for metal includes thermoplastic resin particles having an average primary particle size of 10 to 800 nm obtained by cooling a solution of the thermoplastic resin. A process for preparing the coating material for metal comprises steps of (a) obtaining a solution wherein a thermoplastic resin is dissolved into an organic solvent, (b) obtaining a dispersion of particles of the thermoplastic resin having an average primary particle size of 10 to 800 nm by cooling the solution, (c) separating particles from the dispersion and (d) dispersing the separated particles in a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide an apparatus for measuring a vascular viscoelasticity index which is noninvasive, simple in structure and yet inexpensive. The present invention provides an apparatus for measuring a vascular viscoelasticity index, which measures a vascular viscoelasticity index ? by a formula ?={(Pb2?Pa2)?(Pb1?Pa1)}/(Va2?Va1) wherein Pb1 is the maximal value of the first pulse wave; Va1 is the local maximum value of a time derivative value of the first pulse wave; Pa1 is the pulse wave amplitude corresponding to the local maximum value Va1; Pb2 is the maximal value of the second pulse wave; Va2 is the local maximum value of a time derivative value of the second pulse wave; and Pa2 is the pulse wave amplitude corresponding to the local maximum value Va2.

Abstract: A face imaging device having an illumination light source for illuminating a visible light to a face is disposed in a casing having an opening formed at the front thereof for inserting the face as an object to be imaged. A light diffusion plate is disposed between the opening and the illumination light source for diffusing a light illuminated from the illumination light source to the front side of the face, and an imaging camera for imaging the face through a permeation hole formed in the light diffusion plate is located at the back thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coating material for metal wherein a thin coating film without pinholes having excellent corrosion resistance, retort resistance, impact resistance, processing resistance, abrasion resistance, adhesiveness to a metal, flavor preservability for contents etc can be formed when applying on a metal plate or a metallic container, and a metallic container on which the coating material is applied.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay for specifically measuring with high sensitivity PIVKA-II in serum or plasma through antigen-antibody reaction by adding an animal serum containing thrombin and/or an antibody reacting with human fibrin-like related substances to the reagents. The immunoassay of the invention comprises the steps of adding thrombin and/or an antibody reacting with human fibrin-like related substances to the reagents, and measuring PIVKA-II in serum or plasma.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of L-tryptophan comprises reacting indole with serine in the presence of tryptophan synthetase or tryptophanase, wherein DL-serine or D-serine is used and a serine racemizing enzyme is included in the reaction system and reacted with the serine.

Abstract: A luminous material includes a carrier and luminous bacteria dispersed in, admixed with, confined in or applied to the carrier, the material being useful in fishery, particularly as a fish bait.