Abstract: A heat storage device comprises a heat storage tank 2 charged with a heat storage material 1 for storing the heat supplied from the outside, and a heat exchanger 3 for executing an injection and an extraction of heat between the inside of the storage tank 2 and the outside by the heat exchange between the heat storage material and a heat transfer medium. The heat exchanger 3 is disposed so as to execute a heat exchange between the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank 2 and the outside, and suppresses the natural convection of the heat storage material 1 of the outer portion 2b by, for example, dispersing a liquid-absorbent material 5 in the outer portion 2b surrounding the central portion in the heat storage tank 2, whereby reduces the influence of external environment on the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank, thereby suppressing the heat loss toward the outside.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an adjustment apparatus 5 and an optical unit 1 including a plurality of optical elements. The adjustment apparatus sequentially provides control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of a stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements to become parameters that cause the functions of the optical apparatus to satisfy stipulated specifications. A method of adjusting the optical apparatus includes sequentially providing control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of the stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements, and searching for optical values at which the functions of the optical apparatus the stipulated specification.

Abstract: A laser tracking interferometric length measuring instrument has a laser source and a tracking articulating optical lever provided on an optical path of an interferometric optical system. To track a retroreflector, the optical lever reflects a laser beam at the retroreflector, which reflects the beam back to the optical lever. This beam is reflected onto a quadrant photodiode. An attitude control means is used to control the attitude of the optical lever so that the laser beam reflected by the optical lever falls on the neutral point of the photodiode.

Abstract: The present invention provides low serum or serum free liquid culture media for human or animal cells, and the present invention relates to culture media containing antithrombin III and optionally heparin for the low-serum or serum-free culture of human or animal cells to suppress cell death. The antithrombin III is purified from human, bovine, or other animal serum, or antithrombin III derived from recombinant bacteria or cells containing the full length of the antithrombin III gene.

Abstract: A stimuli-responsive polymer derivative utilizing keto-enol tautomerization. Also disclosed are a simple process for producing an N-acyl(meth)acrylamide derivative which can be used as a monomer for the stimuli-responsive polymer, a process for the production of an intermediate thereof, and an intermediate thus produced.

Abstract: A stimuli-responsive polymer derivative utilizing keto-enol tautomerization. Also disclosed are a simple process for producing an N-acyl(meth)acrylamide derivative which can be used as a monomer for the stimuli-responsive polymer, a process for the production of an intermediate thereof, and an intermediate thus produced.

Abstract: A ultra fine particle film forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming a ultra fine particle film which has ultra fine particles sufficiently bonded together, sufficient density, flat surface and uniform density. A planarized ultra fine particle film forming method for forming a planarized ultra fine particle film from a deposited film of ultra fine particles formed by supplying the ultra fine particles to a substrate, the method comprising one or more of a planarizing step of planarizing a surface of the deposited film of the ultra fine particles supplied to the substrate.

Abstract: Multiple cell layers are formed with one cell layer formed on another cell layer. A carrier is provided having an alginate gel layer formed on a porous membrane. An extracellular matrix component gel layer or extracellular matrix component sponge layer may be formed on the alginate gel layer. A cell layer is formed on the alginate gel layer, or the extracellular matrix component gel layer or extracellular matrix component sponge layer. The alginate gel layer is solubilized such as with a chelating agent to exfoliate the cell layer from the porous membrane, and the exfoliated cell layer is placed on another cell layer on a carrier. The number of cell layers formed on each other may be 1-10, preferably 1-5, and more preferably 1-3.

Abstract: An optical sample includes a mask layer made of a material in which an aperture is produced by a chemical change, which is reversible, upon application of heat or light, and a recording layer provided at a position where an evanescent field produced in the aperture when light is applied to the mask layer can reach. Since the aperture is produced in the mask layer by a chemical change, it can be opened and closed at a high speed and hence a high-speed transfer of information can be achieved.

Abstract: A diamond semiconductor has an exciton light-emission intensity characteristic that varies nonlinearly.

Abstract: A novel method for separating a target substance, for example, metal ion, drug or biological component is provided. According to the method, the surface of a packing undergoes a chemical or physical environmental change under a physical stimulus so that the interaction of a substance interacting with the target substance is reversibly changed in an aqueous solution, thus effecting separation.

Abstract: A marine plant field survey method includes the step of using a submarine mobile video system capable of taking images underwater to measure degree of macrophyte coverage in a marine plant field by taking wide-field images of macrophytes from above and a step of using the submarine mobile video system to discriminate species of macrophytes by taking images of macrophytes from a direction other than from above. A marine plant survey system includes a camera for taking wide-field images of macrophytes from above and a camera for taking images of macrophytes from a direction other than from above.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillation circuit incorporates a crystal resonator having a natural oscillation frequency in a high-frequency area within a closed circuit including one or more logic elements. Therefore, this circuit copes with an oscillation frequency of 1 MHz to 2 GHz or more in basic oscillation frequency of a crystal resonator and it oscillates with stability at the basic oscillation frequency of the crystal resonator.

Abstract: A process for preparing olefinic living polymers having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1 to 1.3, comprising polymerizing an olefinic monomer having 2 to 20 carbon atoms at low temperatures in the presence of a catalyst comprising (A) a hafnium or zirconium-containing compound having one or two cyclopentadienyl backbones, (B) a triphenyl boron compound or a tetraphenyl borate compound and optionally (C) a specific mono-, di- or trialkylaluminum compound. When the catalyst comprising the zirconium-containing compound is prepared by further using a titanium-containing compound (D), the polymerization temperature can be raised.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an adjustment apparatus 5 and an optical unit 1 including a plurality of optical elements. The adjustment apparatus sequentially provides control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of a stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements to become parameters that cause the functions of the optical apparatus to satisfy stipulated specifications. A method of adjusting the optical apparatus includes sequentially providing control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of the stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements, and searching for optical values at which the functions of the optical apparatus the stipulated specification.

Abstract: The invention provides a titanium composite material comprising a bonded laminate having a layer of macromolecular material bonded to the modified surface of a titanium sheet or a titanium alloy sheet, and a process for preparing a titanium composite material, the process comprising the step of bonding a macromolecular material to a titanium sheet or a titanium alloy sheet having a modified surface to be bonded.

Abstract: A process produces a fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite. The resulting composite has a high toughness where bundles of a reinforcing fiber are densely covered with glassy carbon derived from a resin to avoid deterioration of the strength, and it can easily be produced even in complicated shapes. Specifically, a fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite is produced by preparing a fiber prepreg containing a powdered silicon and a resin and molding the prepreg to yield a green body having a desired shape, or laminating a fiber prepreg containing a resin and a woven fabric prepreg containing a powdered silicon and a resin in alternate order, and molding the laminate to yield a green body having a desired shape; carbonizing the green body at 900° C. to 1350° C. in an inert atmosphere; impregnating the carbonized body with a resin; firing the impregnated body again at 900° C. to 1350° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of increasing the reaction rate of an organic synthesis reaction by utilizing supply of OH− from water in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst in supercritical water or subcritical water of at least 350 ° C., and a method of generating alcohol and carboxylic acid with high reaction rate by performing a Cannizzaro reaction in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst in supercritical water, and to a method of synthesis of alcohol and carboxylic acid from an aldehyde in the absence of catalyst without adding a basic catalyst near the critical point (375 to 380 ° C., 22.5 to 25 MPa) of supercritical water.

Abstract: A heat storage device comprises a heat storage tank 2 charged with a heat storage material 1 for storing the heat supplied from the outside, and a heat exchanger 3 for executing an injection and an extraction of heat between the inside of the storage tank 2 and the outside by the heat exchange between the heat storage material and a heat transfer medium. The heat exchanger 3 is disposed so as to execute a heat exchange between the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank 2 and the outside, and suppresses the natural convection of the heat storage material 1 of the outer portion 2b by, for example, dispersing a liquid-absorbent material 5 in the outer portion 2b surrounding the central portion in the heat storage tank 2, whereby reduces the influence of external environment on the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank, thereby suppressing the heat loss toward the outside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon carbide-boron nitride composite material, which synthesised according to an in-situ chemical reaction between silicon nitride, boron carbide and carbon, and which contains fine boron nitride particles dispersed in a silicon carbide matrix, wherein aforementioned composite material is obtained by molding a powder mixture containing each of the components required in the in-situ reaction and sintering the mixture.