Abstract: A server according to the present disclosure determines a vehicle dispatch schedule of a vehicle for delivery of a rental article to a user and/or for collection of a rental article rented out to a user from the user. The server includes a communication interface for acquiring, from a terminal apparatus used by the user, first information regarding the rental article, and at least one of second information regarding a rental date/time and a rental location and third information regarding a return date/time and a return location; and a controller for determining, according to the second information, a vehicle dispatch schedule for delivering the rental article indicated by the first information to the user by the vehicle, and/or for determining, according to the third information, a vehicle dispatch schedule for collecting the rental article rented out to the user from the user by the vehicle.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cathode active material which contains small-particle sized and low-crystalline lithium transition metal silicate and which undergoes charge-discharge reaction at room temperature. The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is characterized by containing a lithium transition metal silicate and exhibits diffraction peaks having half widths of 0.175 to 0.6°, the peaks observed through powder X-ray diffractometry within a 2? range of 5 to 50°.

Abstract: A particulate mixture etc., which can be used as a precursor of lithium transition metal silicate-type compound of small particle size and low crystallinity, is provided. Further, a cathode active material that can undergo charge-and-discharge reaction in room temperature, and comprises lithium transition metal silicate-type compound, is provided. It is a mixture of silicon oxide particulates, transition metal oxide particulates, and lithium transition metal silicate particulates, and its powder X-ray diffraction measurement shows diffraction peaks near 2?=33.1° and near 2?=35.7°, and said silicon oxide particulates and said transition metal oxide particulates are amorphous, and said lithium transition metal silicate particulates are in a microcrystalline or amorphous state. Furthermore, a cathode active material obtained by grinding the active material aggregate obtained by heat-treating this particulate mixture is provided.

Abstract: A particulate mixture which can be used as a precursor of lithium transition metal silicate-type compound of small particle size and low crystallinity, is provided. It is a mixture of silicon oxide particulates, transition metal oxide particulates, and lithium transition metal silicate particulates, and its powder X-ray diffraction measurement shows diffraction peaks near 2?=33.1° and near 2?=35.7°, and said silicon oxide particulates and said transition metal oxide particulates are amorphous, and said lithium transition metal silicate particulates are in a microcrystalline or amorphous state.

Abstract: A particulate mixture etc., which can be used as a precursor of lithium transition metal silicate-type compound of small particle size and low crystallinity, is provided. Further, a cathode active material that can undergo charge-and-discharge reaction in room temperature, and comprises lithium transition metal silicate-type compound, is provided. It is a mixture of silicon oxide particulates, transition metal oxide particulates, and lithium transition metal silicate particulates, and its powder X-ray diffraction measurement shows diffraction peaks near 2?=33.1° and near 2?=35.7°, and said silicon oxide particulates and said transition metal oxide particulates are amorphous, and said lithium transition metal silicate particulates are in a microcrystalline or amorphous state. Furthermore, a cathode active material obtained by grinding the active material aggregate obtained by heat-treating this particulate mixture is provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cathode active material which contains small-particle sized and low-crystalline lithium transition metal silicate and which undergoes charge-discharge reaction at room temperature. The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is characterized by containing a lithium transition metal silicate and exhibits diffraction peaks having half widths of 0.175 to 0.6°, the peaks observed through powder X-ray diffractometry within a 2? range of 5 to 50°.

Abstract: A multifilamentary oxide superconducting wire includes a metal matrix and a plurality of flat oxide superconductor filaments arranged in the metal matrix such that wide directions thereof are radially arranged in a section of the metal matrix. A method of manufacturing a multifilamentary oxide superconducting wire includes the steps of filling a raw material of an oxide superconductor in a through hole of a metal member to form a composite billet, subjecting the composite billet to a diameter reduction process to form a composite wire having a fan-like section, arranging composite wires so that larger arcs of the composite wires are located on the outer side, thus forming form a composite wire arrangement, covering the composite wire arrangement with a metal member to form a metal-covered composite wire arrangement, and performing a predetermined heating process of the metal-covered composite wire arrangement, thus forming the raw material into an oxide superconductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing superconductive products comprising heating a superconductive matter or incorporation including its precursor to a temperature higher than its or its precursor's melting point to melt it or its precursor, and then solidifying and cooling it in a direction in such a way that it is re-crystalized to have an orientation in the longitudinal direction of its incorporation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ceramic superconductor comprising a ceramic superconductive member, and a high-conductivity metal layer covering the ceramic superconductive member. At least one portion of the metal layer having low electrical conductivity or low thermal conductivity. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a ceramic superconductor, comprising the steps of filling a ceramic superconductor or a precursor thereof in a high-conductivity metal pipe, thereby forming a composite member, rolling the composite member into a ceramic superconductor element of a desired shape, which comprises a ceramic superconductive member and a high-conductivity metal layer covering the ceramic superconductive member, performing a predetermined heat treatment on the ceramic superconductor element, and alloying a predetermined portion of the high-conductivity metal layer, thereby rendering the portion less conductive either electrically or thermally.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor including (a) alternately laminating at least one first layer including an oxide superconductor or a precursor thereof with at least one second layer including a metal material to form a laminated body, (b) forming an outermost metal coating layer of the metal material on the laminated body to form a laminated structure, and (c) heating and cooling the laminated structure or elongating the laminated structure into a desired shape and then carrying out heating and cooling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor containing at least an alkaline earth metal and copper. This method comprises the steps of heating a material substance containing elements constituting the oxide superconductor, in an atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of at most 50 Torr at a temperature ranging from 500.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C., and then heating the material substance in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Also disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing composite oxide powder which is the precursor of the oxide superconductor. This method comprises the steps of heating the material substance in an atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of at most 50 Torr at a temperature ranging from 500.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C., and crushing the material substance into powder.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor having oxide superconductor layers and metal material layers, which are alternately laminated on each other by a desired number of times, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconductor includes the steps of filling a ceramic superconductor or a material mixture thereof in a metal container, elongating the metal container, slitting the metal container by a predetermined width to partially expose a material inside the metal container, and sintering the material inside the metal container.

Abstract: Boron nitride containing titanium nitride in an amount of 0.05 to 10 wt. % which is produced at a relatively low temperature, utilizing a chemical vapor deposition technique. In the deposition process, boron, titanium and nitrogen source gases are introduced into an evacuated reactor together with a carrier and/or diluent gas and contacted with a heated substrate previously mounted in the reactor, whereby boron nitride with titanium nitride is deposited onto the substrate. The deposit thus obtained has a high density, a significantly improved heat-shielding ability, a high degree of anisotropy with respect to thermal diffusivity and a high chemical stability. By using such anisotropic boron nitride with BN ceramics, very useful BN type composite ceramics can be produced.