Abstract: A sintered lithium titaniumphosphate is produced by subjecting the powder of a mixture consisting of a Li source, a Ti source, and a P source to spark plasma sintering under an increased pressure.

Abstract: A chitooligosaccharide residue is disclosed which is represented by the formula: wherein m=1-20, n=1-20, m+n=2-21, and m/n=5-0.05, and R represents a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acyl group of 3-24 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method for the formation of a zeolite membrane, which comprises preparing raw materials (a) and (b) for the synthesis of zeolite, at least one of the raw materials containing water, positioning the raw material (a) for the synthesis of zeolite so as to contact one lateral face of a porous body and the raw material (b) therefor so as to contact the other lateral face of the porous body, causing the two raw materials (a) and (b) to permeate the porous body thereby forming an interface of the two raw material in pores of the porous body, and inducing a reaction of hydrothermal synthesis at the interface, a porous body obtained by the method and having a zeolite membrane formed in the pores thereof, and a membrane used for separation and purification of gas and formed of the porous body.

Abstract: A crystal growth method for thin films of oxides wherein a vapor-phase deposition method is used to grow crystals for Bi2Sr2CanCun+1O6+2n oxide thin film 304, where n is an integer equal to 1 or greater, includes a first step of growing a Bi2Sr2CuO6 oxide thin film 302 to an arbitrary number of molecular layers by setting a growth environment to conditions in which oxides of bismuth alone are not formed, but intended multi-element oxide is formed, and supplying the growth environment with an excess of bismuth compared with other elements, thereby preventing deficiency of bismuth and also evaporating excess bismuth from the thin film, a second step of causing a layer 303 containing calcium atoms and copper atoms each in the amount of n/2 of the number of strontium atoms contained in the Bi2Sr2CuO6 oxide thin film to accumulate upon the Bi2Sr2CuO6 oxide thin film, and a third step of, in a state in which environmental temperature is set higher than the environmental temperature in the first step, caus

Abstract: A laser ablation type ion source including vacuum chambers provided with a retaining section for holding a solid raw material for the generation of ions, an ion extracting electrode, an ion accelerating electrode, and a mass spectrograph for ion separation. The ion source also includes a laser beam source for injecting a laser beam of high density into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A catalyst for producing acrolein by oxidizing ethane contains silicon, iron, an alkali metal, and oxygen. A method for producing acrolein includes the step of oxidizing ethane in the presence of the catalyst and a method for producing the catalyst includes the steps of mixing porous silicon oxide with an iron compound and an alkali metal compound and calcining the resultant mixture.

Abstract: A manganese oxide material has MnO.sub.3 as a matrix. It is an antiferromagnetic insulator and, when subjected to an electrical current or electric field, it is transformed into a ferromagnetic metal.

Abstract: A magnetoresistor with an ordered double perovskite structure is an oxide crystal which has an ordered double perovskite crystal structure represented by the general formula of A.sub.2 BB'O.sub.6, wherein A stands for Sr atoms, B for Fe atoms and B' for Mo or Re atoms and wherein the Fe atoms and the Mo or Re atoms are alternately arranged and which exhibits negative magnetoresistive characteristics.

Abstract: A manganese oxide material that can be used as a switching device or as a memory device or the like is formed of Mn-based oxide material. The Mn-based oxide material exhibits insulator-to-metal transitions induced by irradiating the material with laser light.

Abstract: A semiconductor magneto-optical material includes a semiconductor dispersed with fine magnetic material particles and is characterized by exhibiting magneto-optical effect at ordinary room temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing homoepitaxial diamond thin film is provided which includes a step of effecting plasma assisted CVD with the carbon source concentration of a mixed gas of a carbon source and hydrogen set to a first low level for depositing a high-quality homoepitaxial diamond thin film on a substrate at a low film forming rate and a step of thereafter effecting the plasma assisted CVD with said carbon source concentration set to a second level higher than the first level.

Abstract: A high sodium ion conducting inorganic composite solid electrolyte obtained by mixing Na.sub.4 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.12 with titanium oxide and sintering the resultant mixture and a method for the production of a high sodium ion conducting inorganic composite solid electrolyte, consisting essentially of the steps of mixing Na.sub.4 Zr.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.12 with titanium oxide and sintering the resultant mixture.

Abstract: An ultra-minute microscope for spectroscopy includes a rod-shaped lens having an index of refraction distribution gradient and capable of having a sample mounted on one end surface thereof, an element for projecting a laser beam into the rod-shaped lens from another end surface thereof and converging it to a focal point at an interface region between the one end surface of the rod-shaped lens and the sample, and a scanner for varying the incidence angle of the laser beam to scan the focal point two-dimensionally on the one end surface.

Abstract: An optical phantom of a living body includes a multiplicity of phantom layers shaped to the contours of a target part of a living body. A space portion is provided at a prescribed location inside the phantom. Inlet and outlet conduits enable liquid phantom to be supplied to the space portion and removed therefrom. This arrangement enables the space portion to be used to simulate dynamic change of physiological states, and for such changes to be measured optically.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing fine flaky alumina particles which are suitable as a raw material for ceramics, a pigment for paint, etc., wherein aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate having a particle size regulated to the order of submicron is subjected to a hydrothermal treatment in water or an aqueous alkali solution at a temperature of 350.degree. C. or above and under a pressure of 200 kg/cm.sup.2 or below. The present invention further provides an alumina-based plastic material which is produced by kneading the aforesaid fine flaky particles with an organic water holding material and water. Methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, etc. are preferably used as the organic water holding agent. The alumina-based plastic material has a high plasticity, so that there is no need of using a large amount of a binder. Thus a dense molded article having stable properties can be prepared.

Abstract: A Group III atomic layer required for fabrication of a semiconductor quantum nanostructure is grown to be properly restricted to a monolayer.A substrate is configured to have a fast-growth surface portion where growth of a Ga atomic layer proceeds at a relatively high rate and a slow-growth surface portion where the growth of the Ga atomic layer proceeds at a relatively low rate. Ga atoms are supplied to the fast-growth surface portion in an amount not less than that which grows one layer of the Group III atoms. Excess Ga atoms on the fast-growth surface portion are allowed to migrate to the slow-growth surface portion by surface migration, thereby growing only one layer of the Ga atoms on the fast-growth surface portion.

Abstract: An artificial heart pump includes a casing having a pump chamber inside the casing and a partition that closes, in a fluid-tight manner, the bottom portion of the pump chamber, an impeller disposed inside the pump chamber so that it is rotatable about the axis of rotation and including an impeller shaft portion having a shaft hollow part and an impeller portion having an impeller hollow part extending radially and communicating with the shaft hollow part, the shaft hollow part and the impeller hollow part constituting a blood flow channel, a magnetic supporter for rotatably supporting the impeller within the casing in a direction normal to the axis of rotation, a pivot bearing for rotatably supporting the impeller within the casing in a direction of the axis of rotation, a rotating device accommodated within the casing below the pump chamber for rotating the impeller, and a magnetic coupler for transmitting the rotating force of the rotating device to the impeller.

Abstract: A method of measuring physical properties using a cantilever comprises bringing a tip attached at one end of a cantilever into contact with a sample and causing a vibrational force of a frequency between 10 and 1000 times the fundamental resonance frequency of the cantilever to act on the cantilever.

Abstract: A method for the production of a superconducting oxide tape having a Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.10 (Bi-2223) structure interposed between silver sheets, which method consists essentially of preparing a sandwich structure having interposed between silver sheets a molded layer of a superconducting oxide precursor powder consisting essentially of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca, Cu, and O obtained from a raw material substance composed of, in atomic composition ratio, 1.00 of Bi, 0-0.2 of Pb, 0.9-1.1 of Sr, 0.9-1.1 of Ca and 1.3-1.7 of Cu, and O, heating the sandwich structure in an atmosphere consisting of oxygen and an inert gas, having an oxygen partial pressure in the range of 0-5%, and kept at a temperature in the range of 830-850.degree. C., thereby melting the molded layer, then causing the atmosphere to retain the heating temperature and meanwhile increasing the oxygen partial pressure, thereby inducing precipitation of crystal grains possessing a Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: A three-dimensional universal unit includes multiple identically configured assembly units, each having a central unit body, arms that can rotate relative to the unit body, the arms extending from the unit body in three orthogonal axes and having a connecting mechanism at the end of each arm. The assembly unit also has an information processing unit for controlling a motor in the unit body, an assembly unit operation, a rotary drive transmission system for transmitting arm drive motion from the motor, and a drive transmission system for engaging and disengaging the connecting mechanisms. Each connecting mechanism can mechanically connect with a connecting mechanism of another assembly unit and includes a communication device for exchanging information between information processing units of connected assembly units.