Abstract: The invention provides a modular system that includes a composite tile, with or without integrated photovoltaic cells, a track system for assembly of the tiles to a structure, and a wiring system for the photovoltaic tile. The track and tiles are made of composite material. Molding and extrusion processes can be used for the manufacturing of the tile and track, including the integration of photovoltaic cells. The track lengths are fastened to the structure. The track and tile have mating features, such that the tile can be interlocked with the track. Adjacent tiles are installed with overlap. Photovoltaic cells can be molded into or assembled with the tile. A busbar or wire harness is assembled to the track. When the photovoltaic tile is interlocked with the track, the connectors of the photovoltaic cells engage the busbar or wiring harness to provide an electrical connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical piece having a structure comprising a substrate (1) and at least one surface coating layer (3) of nanometric thickness, for improving mechanical resistance, characterized in that it comprises between the substrate and the surface coating layer an essentially non ceramic, non porous adhesion layer of nanometric size; and said surface coating layer is an essentially non porous barrier layer (2) consisting essentially of an essentially stoechiometric titanium nitride layer.

Abstract: An electromagnetic stirrer for stirring molten steel of the liquid core in a width-wise direction of the slab includes an iron core disposed with its length-wise axis along a width-wise direction of slab, and a plurality of exciting coils wound around the outer circumference of and about a length-wise axis of the iron core, wherein two-phase or three-phase alternating current is passed through the coils. The phases of the current in the exciting coils are distributed to impart a stirring flow to the molten that includes flow from the minor sides to the center of the slab or from one minor side to the other minor side with a reversing flow at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optically determining the position of an object in a particular area of a substantially plane surface. According to the invention at least one directional single-point emitter associated with at least two directional single-point light receivers covering the particular area are disposed near said particular area, each light emitter and receiver having an axis substantially parallel to the particular area and on which maximum emission, respectively maximum sensing angle, is observed, so that the axes of the receivers intersect the axis of the emitter at different points. The light emitter is energized and the position of the object on the axis of the emitter is determined as a function of a comparison of the light signals reflected and diffused by the object toward each of the two light receivers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous method for functionalizing a carbon nanotube, and more specifically, to a continuous method for functionalizing a carbon nanotube by feeding functional compounds having one or more functional group into a functionalizing reactor into which a carbon nanotube mixture including oxidizer is fed under a pressure of 50 to 400 atm and a temperature of 100 to 600° C. to a subcritical water or supercritical water condition of a pressure of 50 to 40 atm by using a continuously functionalizing apparatus to obtain the functionalized products, such that the functional group of the functional compound can be easily introduced to the carbon nanotube, thereby increasing the functionalized effect of the carbon nanotube and increasing the dispersibility accordingly.

Abstract: A pontoon boat having enhanced handling characteristics includes a deck, a central pontoon mounted to said deck, two outer pontoons mounted to said deck on respective opposite sides of said central pontoon, and a motor, wherein the central pontoon extends below the outer pontoons to create a V-shaped hull, and the motor is capable of causing said center and outer pontoons to plane during normal operation.

Abstract: A production method of amorphous silicon oxide powder comprises a step of preparing a wood, agricultural crop or plant containing hexose and/or pentose and silicon oxide as a starting raw material, a step of hydrolyzing the starting raw material with nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or organic acid to reduce a content of the hexose to 10% by weight or less and/or a content of the pentose to 20% by weight or less, and a step of burning residue yielded in the hydrolyzing step at a temperature of 400° C. to 1200° C.

Abstract: In a high-tensile steel plate according to the invention, the carbon equivalent Pcm represented in Expression (1) is from 0.180% to 0.220%, the surface hardness is a Vicker's hardness of 285 or less, the ratio of a Martensite Austenite constituent in the surface layer is not more than 10%, the ratio of a mixed structure of ferrite and bainite inside beyond the surface layer is not less than 90%, the ratio of the bainite in the mixed structure is not less than 10%, the thickness of the lath of bainite is not more than 1 ?m, the length of the lath is not more than 20 ?m, and the segregation ratio as the ratio of the Mn concentration in the center segregation part relative to the Mn concentration at a part in a depth equal to ¼ of the thickness of the plate from the surface is not more than 1.3. Pcm=C+Si/30+(Mn+Cu+Cr)/20+Ni/60+Mo/15+V/10+5B . . . (1) where the element symbols in Expression (1) represent the % by mass of the respective elements.

Abstract: A rolling bearing (11) comprises a plurality of rollers, and retainer segments (15a) retaining the rollers and split along a split line extending in an axial direction. The retainer segment (15a) has a plurality of pillar parts (22a), (22b), (22c) and (22d) extending in the axial direction so as to form first pockets (23a) and (23c) and a second pocket (23b) for housing the rollers, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of pillar parts (22a) to (22d).

Abstract: Provided is a dynamic balancing apparatus using a simple harmonic angular motion, including a rotational shaft on which a rotational body having an unbalanced mass is installed; a simple angular motion generator for periodically vibrating the rotational shaft; a support for supporting both sides of the rotational shaft; an angular vibration measuring sensor for measuring the simple harmonic angular motion of the rotational shaft; and force or vibration transducers for measuring applied force acting on or vibration transferred to the support by means of the simple harmonic motion of the unbalance mass.

Abstract: An evaluation area of an evaluation object wafer is concentrically divided in a radial direction, an upper limit value to the number of COPs is set in each divided evaluation segment, and an acceptance determination of the single-crystal silicon wafer is made using the upper limit value as a criterion. Thereby, a quantitative and objective COP evaluation can be made, and a proper determination is made based on a clear criterion. The evaluation method of the present invention can sufficiently deal with automation of the COP evaluation (inspection) and the higher-quality wafer in the near future, and the evaluation method can be widely applied to production of the single-crystal silicon wafer and production of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying instruments using superheated steam is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber for receiving the instruments, a distribution means for distributing superheated steam within the chamber and an exhaust means for purging vaporized moisture from the chamber. The chamber has at least one inlet port which is connected to the distribution means. The method comprises sterilizing the instruments using saturated steam generated by the steam generation means and drying the instruments using superheated steam generated by the steam generation means to vaporize moisture within the chamber and purging the vaporized moisture from the chamber using the exhaust means.

Abstract: Used is a sample holder for MALDI mass spectrometry, which has a CuO secondary particle as a laser-beam-absorbing matrix and in which the secondary particle comprises an aggregate of CuO primary particles having an average particle diameter of 100 nm or smaller and has an uneven surface arising from the shape formed by the primary particles constituting the outermost surface of the secondary particle. As the CuO secondary particle, usable is one derived from a CuO powder produced by baking basic copper carbonate in air at 200 to 300° C., and the basic copper carbonate is produced in a process of mixing an aqueous ammonium hydrogencarbonate solution and an aqueous copper nitrate solution. The CuO secondary particle has an average particle diameter of, for example, from 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a martensitic stainless pipe includes heating the steel pipe until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not lower than A3 transformation point+20° C. and not higher than 980° C. The heated steel pipe is first water cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not lower than 350° C. The water cooled steel pipe is air cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches a predetermined temperature not higher than 250° C. The air cooled steel pipe is either water or air cooled until the external surface temperature thereof reaches normal temperature. The cooling rate of the steel pipe in the first cooling step is determined according to the wall thickness of the steel pipe so that the amount of heat recuperation for the external surface temperature of the steel pipe in the second cooling step is not higher than 50° C.

Abstract: A reducing mill includes a plurality of stands disposed along a rolling direction line. The stands each include n rolls (n?3) disposed around the rolling direction line, the n rolls are shifted by 180°/n around the rolling direction line from n rolls included in a preceding stand. The n rolls included in each of the stands excluding the last stand each have a groove having an arch shape. The bottom of the groove has a circular arc shape around the rolling direction line having a first radius in cross section. The distance between the surface of a roll flange portion between the bottom and the edge of the groove and the rolling direction line is longer than the first radius. The distance between the edge of the groove and the rolling direction line is longer than the first radius in the groove of a roll included in the preceding stand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for biologically combating the proliferation of Legionella pneumophila, with the exception of the treatment methods applied to the human or animal body, characterized in that it uses amoebic protozoa of the species Willaerita magna, corresponding to the strain deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-7824 or the strain deposited with the ATCC under number PTA-7825.

Abstract: In a four-seat coupe, it is inconvenient for a rear-seat occupant to get in/out of the vehicle while a front-seat occupant is seated. In the present invention, the length of each door of the four-seat coupe is set, so that the rear-seat occupant can get off/on the vehicle while the front-seat occupant is seated. The door is provided with detachable first opening/closing mechanisms at its front and rear end portions. The first opening/closing mechanism at the front end portion of the door is adapted to be released when the front-seat occupant gets off/on the vehicle to allow the first opening/closing mechanism at the rear end portion of the door to support the door so that opening/closing motion can be performed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device for a control station for determining the presence of defects on the image of the surface(s) of the collar of a transparent or translucent container. The inventive device comprises at least one illumination system quasi-constantly illuminating each point of a surface encompassing the collar surface(s) according to the totality or parts of incidences included in at least one part of a 2?-steradian solid angle and means for blocking at least one part of light beams which illuminate outside of the surface(s) of the collar and can bring about stray reflections in the collar image.

Abstract: A paper-ballot voting system is disclosed in which voters can retain symbols printed adjacent to the particular candidates or ballot question positions that they mark. Including ballot serial numbers on the forms allows voters to check online the symbols recorded for their ballots while maintaining ballot secrecy. In case of dispute, a physical resolution procedure lets voters establish whether the recorded symbols are correct with respect to the actual physical ballots. Some examples allow forms to be obtained online and voted by physical or facsimile delivery. Voters who cannot read ballots or cannot mark ballots can nevertheless vote while maintaining ballot secrecy. The overall integrity of the outcome is provided transparently.

Abstract: A martensitic stainless steel for welded structures including by mass %, C: 0.001 to 0.05%, Si: 0.05 to 1%, Mn: 0.05 to 2%, P: 0.03% or less, REM: 0.0005 to 0.1%, Cr: 8 to 16%, Ni: 0.1 to 9% and sol. Al: 0.001 to 0.1%; and further including one or more elements selected from among Ti: 0.005 to 0.5%, Zr: 0.005 to 0.5%, Hf: 0.005 to 0.5%, V: 0.005 to 0.5% and Nb: 0.005 to 0.5%; and O: 0.005% or less, N: 0.1% or less, with the balance being Fe and impurities; and the P and REM content satisfies: P?0.6×REM. This steel possesses excellent SCC (stress corrosion cracking) resistance in welded sections in Sweet environments.