Abstract: Silica having a large pore volume and specific surface area, controlled pore properties and also excellent hydrothermal resistance is provided. The silica has the following properties: (a) a pore volume of the silica is larger than 1.6 ml/g and is 3.0 ml/g or less; (b) a specific surface area of the silica is between 100 and 1000 m2/g; (c) a mode pore diameter (Dmax) of the silica is 5 nm or more; (d) a value of Q4/Q3 in a solid-state Si nuclear magnetic resonance (hereinafter called solid-state Si NMR) spectrum of the silica is 1.2 or more; and (e) the silica is amorphous; and (f) a total content of metal impurities in the silica is 100 ppm or less.

Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, a current measuring device and temperature detection circuit. The temperature sensor contains a thermal resistor that is disposed near a motor and outputs voltages acting to the thermal resistor. The current measuring device measures quantity of current that is applied to the motor. The temperature detection circuit detects temperature of the motor according to the output voltages from the temperature sensor. And, the temperature detection circuit judges whether a predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during a predetermined time. When the predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during the predetermined time, the temperature detection circuit compares a temperature detected by the current measuring device with a predetermined temperature. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the temperature detection circuit decides a wire of the thermal resistor breaks.

Abstract: A drive-force distribution controller for a four-wheel-drive vehicle having a torque distribution unit configured to distribute an output torque transmitted from a prime motor to a first set of wheels to a second set of wheels. The drive-force distribution controller includes a first judging device for judging which of the first set is an inner wheel with respect to a turning of the vehicle, a second judging device for judging whether the turning of the vehicle is a tight turn, a third judging device for judging whether the inner wheel is slipping, a fourth judging device for judging whether an outer wheel of the first set of wheels is slipping, and a controlling device for controlling the torque distribution unit.

Abstract: A calculator for calculating an opened amount of a throttle valve with high accuracy regardless of voltage fluctuation and noise. The calculator includes a valve sensor for detecting the opened amount of the throttle valve to generate a detection voltage. A memory stores an initial zero point detection value. A calculation circuit obtains the difference between the detection voltage and the initial zero point detection value and calculates the opened amount of the throttle valve with the difference. When a plurality of detection voltages that are less than the initial zero point detection value are generated, the calculation circuit calculates a new zero point detection value that is greater than a smallest one of the plurality of detection voltages by a predetermined value and updates the initial zero point detection value with the new zero point detection value.

Abstract: Mesostructured and microporous to mesoporous organofunctionalized silica compositions are described. The compositions incorporate the organofunctional group L as part of a LSiO3 unit in the framework of the compositions. In addition the compositions incorporate the organofunctional group R as part of a O3Si—R—siO3 unit in the framework of the compositions. The compositions are useful as molecular sieves, supports for catalysts and numerous other applications requiring an organo group on surfaces of a silica.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheet which is suitable for co-molding by injection molding or the like, wherein the retroreflective sheet can be laid within a mold and molded with a resin to form a molded product, and, after molding, the sheet retains a significant portion of its reflection luminance and appearance as compared with the reflection luminance value before molding. A retroreflective sheet used for a co-molding, comprising a metallic reflective layer, a microspherical lens layer disposed as a single layer, and a transparent focal resin layer disposed between the reflective layer and the microspherical lens layer, in which the focal resin layer comprises a mixture of cellulose ester and polyvinyl butyral resin.

Abstract: 2-Methyl-{4-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-&bgr;-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-dideoxy-&agr;-glucopyrano}(2,1-d)-2-oxazoline of the following formula or an acid addition salt thereof A 50% deacetylated chitin having a repeating structure represented by the following formula, an oligosaccharide thereof or an acid addition salt thereof wherein n is an integer.

Abstract: To provide a decorative sheet which has a three-dimensional decorative effect and, in addition, is free from separation of a decorated area upon being exposed to abrasion or impact conditions. A decorative sheet comprising: a substrate (1) formed of a transparent resin composition; and, laminated thereon in the following order, a color layer (2), an expandable layer (3), and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (5).

Abstract: A drive-force distribution controller for a four-wheel-drive vehicle which provides a torque distribution unit distributing an output torque transmitted from a prime motor to driving wheels to driven wheels, is composed of a wheel speed sensor for detecting a wheel speed in each of the driving and driven wheels; a first judging means for judging which of the driven wheel is an inner wheel based upon the detected wheel speeds; a second judging means for judging that the inner wheel of the driving wheels slips when the detected inner wheel speed of the driving wheel is larger than the detected outer wheel speed thereof; a third judging means for judging whether a slip of the outer driving wheel happens or not by comparing the detected wheel speed of the outer driving wheel with a calculated wheel speed thereof based upon the detected wheel speeds of the inner driving wheel and driven wheels; and a transmissible torque control means for controlling the torque distribution unit so as to increase the output torque

Abstract: A temperature sensing apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, a current measuring device and temperature detection circuit. The temperature sensor contains a thermal resistor that is disposed near a motor and outputs voltages acting to the thermal resistor. The current measuring device measures quantity of current that is applied to the motor. The temperature detection circuit detects temperature of the motor according to the output voltages from the temperature sensor. And, the temperature detection circuit judges whether a predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during a predetermined time. When the predetermined quantity of current is applied to the motor during the predetermined time, the temperature detection circuit compares a temperature detected by the current measuring device with a predetermined temperature. When the detected temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the temperature detection circuit decides a wire of the thermal resistor breaks.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheet which is suitable for co-molding by injection molding or the like, wherein the retroreflective sheet can be laid within a mold and molded with a resin to form a molded product, and, after molding, the sheet retains a significant portion of its reflection luminance and appearance as compared with the reflection luminance value before molding.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheet which is suitable for co-molding by injection molding or the like, wherein the retroreflective sheet can be laid within a mold and molded with a resin to form a molded product, and, after molding, the sheet retains a significant portion of its reflection luminance and appearance as compared with the reflection luminance value before molding. A retroreflective sheet used for a co-molding, comprising a metallic reflective layer, a microspherical lens layer disposed as a single layer, and a transparent focal resin layer disposed between the reflective layer and the microspherical lens layer, in which the focal resin layer comprises a mixture of cellulose ester and polyvinyl butyral resin.

Abstract: A chitin deacetylase gene encoding a protein, a plasmid vector containing said gene and a transformant transformed with the plasmid vector. An object of the present invention is to make contribution to the industrial production of said enzyme, by cloning the gene of said enzyme to elucidate the structure of the gene and express the gene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering energy from wastes is used for recovering energy by gasifying wastes such as municipal waste. The method comprises gasifying wastes in a fluidized-bed gasification furnace at a relatively low temperature; introducing gaseous material and char produced in the fluidized-bed gasification furnace into a melting furnace; gasifying the gaseous material and char in the melting furnace at a relatively high temperature; introducing gas produced in the melting furnace into a heat exchanging unit; and delivering heat recovered in the heat exchanging unit to a heat cycle to generate electric energy.

Abstract: Disclosed is p-nitrophenyl 2-acetylamino-4-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-.beta. -D-glucopyranoside of formula (1) and its acid-addition salts. ##STR1## The compound of formula (1) is produced by reacting a p-nitrophenyl derivative of chitin dimer with a microorganism-derived deacetylase. The compound and its salts do not act on exo-type chitinases, and are specific to only endo-type ones.

Abstract: A retroreflective sheet capable of exhibiting an excellent decorative effect during both daytime and nighttime, and particularly an excellent rainbow-colored decorative effect. The sheet comprises, in order, a binder in the back side of which a plurality of microspheres, arranged in a monolayer, are partially embedded, a focusing layer underlying some of the microspheres, and a reflective layer underlying the focusing layer and underlying microspheres which do not have a focusing layer therebehind. The focusing layer has a film thickness selection coefficient x in the range of 0.16 to 0.95 as defined by equation (II) of the following equations (I) and (II): ##EQU1## wherein f is the coefficient for the optimum layer thickness of the layer, d is the diameter of the microspheres, h is the thickness of the focusing layer, n.sub.b is the refractive index of the binder layer, n.sub.g is the refractive index of the microspheres, and n.sub.s is the refractive index of the focusing layer.

Abstract: Di-N-acetyl-D-chitobiose, which is easily available as a chitin decomposate or a chemical reagent, is reacted with a microorganisms-derived deacetylase to produce 2-acetylamino-4-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-D-gluc ose of formula (1). ##STR1## The method is quantitative and efficiently produces the compound (1). The compound (1) and its salts are usable as substrates for measuring enzymatic activities, and also as starting substances in the production of various food materials and in the field of glyco-chain engineering.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises an input shaft transmitting a rotation from a steering wheel and an output shaft rotatably connected to the input shaft through a torsion bar relative to the input shaft. A drive motor is coaxially arranged relative to both of the input shaft and the output shaft. A reduction mechanism coaxially provided in a housing relative to the input and output shaft transmits a rotation of the drive motor to the output shaft so as to reduce the rotation of the drive motor at a constant reduction rate. A torque sensor detects a torque added to the torsion bar as a relative rotational displacement between the input shaft and the output shaft. The drive motor is rotationally controlled in accordance with the detected torque by the torque sensor.

Abstract: A pressure switch includes a switch housing which has an accommodation bore extending inward from one end of the switch housing, and a slide bore extending between the accommodation bore and the other end of the switch housing. A piston is slidably disposed within the slide bore and is adapted to receive a pressure. A terminal serving as one electric contact is fixed to the accommodation bore via a holding ring made of an insulating material. A disk spring serving as the other electric contact is disposed between the piston and the terminal. The disk spring deforms due to a pressing force of the piston and comes in contact with the terminal. The pressure switch further comprises an annular elastic ring placed on the outer end of the holding ring. An end portion of the switch housing is deformed inward so as to elastically deform the elastic ring, thereby sealing the opening portion of the accommodation bore.

Abstract: Ink reservoirs are provided in a channel substrate correspondingly to various colors of ink. Two or more dummy nozzles which are not used for performing printing/recording are provided between printing/recording nozzles for jetting ink of different colors. A space wide enough to disposed therein at least two nozzles is provided between the dummy nozzles. Consequently, adjacent and different-color ink is not mixed, and nozzles having unstable operation and disposed near the side walls of the ink reservoirs are not used for performing printing/recording, so that images of high quality can be obtained.