Abstract: An alkali metal-sulfur-based secondary battery, in which coulombic efficiency is improved by suppressing a side reaction during charge, and a reduction in discharge capacity by repetition of charge and discharge is suppressed and which has a long battery life and an improved input/output density, includes a positive electrode or a negative electrode containing a sulfur-based electrode active material; an electrolyte solution containing an ether compound such as THF and glyme and a solvent such as a fluorine-based solvent, wherein at least a part of the ether compound and the alkali metal salt forms a complex; and a counter electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a beta-type zeolite which has a high catalytic activity and is not easily deactivated. The beta-type zeolite of the invention has a substantially octahedral shape, has a Si/Al ratio of 5 or more, and is a proton-type zeolite. The Si/Al ratio is preferably 40 or more. This beta-type zeolite is preferably obtained by transforming a raw material beta-type zeolite synthesized without using a structure directing agent into an ammonium-type zeolite through ion exchange, then, exposing the beta-type zeolite to water vapor, and subjecting the exposed beta-type zeolite to an acid treatment.

Abstract: The multi-core fiber of the present invention uses a multi-core fiber configuration, compatible with the “coupled” operation mode in which coupling between cores is positively utilized, to carry out mode division multiplexing transmission via a multi-core fiber that contains multiple single-mode cores in one optical fiber. The multi-core fiber of the present invention uses a configuration in which mode multiplexing transmission is carried out using a multi-core fiber that contains multiple single-mode cores in one optical fiber, wherein multiple cores are strongly coupled intentionally to form a coupled multi-core fiber that makes the coupled modes correspond, one to one, to the transmission channels.

Abstract: An approximation processing method for approximating a point group using a curve or a surface defined by control points includes a step of forming an approximated curve (surface) using control points that retain features of a shape; a first calculation step of calculating a closest point closest to each of the data points on the approximated curve (surface); a second calculation step of calculating an error vector that joins the closest point, obtained in the first calculation step, to the data point; and a third calculation step of calculating a corrected control point by moving each of the control points based on the error vector obtained by the second calculation step. The step of forming an approximated curve (surface) and the first to third calculation steps are repeated to make the approximated curve (surface) respectively approximate the curve (surface) of an object configured by the data points.

Abstract: A multi-core fiber for accommodating multiple single mode cores in one optical fiber is provided with multiple types of non-identical cores having different propagation constants. Each of the multiple types of non-identical cores includes a core part and a cladding part covering an outer periphery of the core part. The cladding part has a double cladding structure including a first cladding for surrounding an outer periphery of the core part and a second cladding on the outer side of the first cladding. In the multiple types of non-identical cores, an optical electromagnetic profile in the core part and the first cladding is confined within a range of the core part and the first cladding, restricting a leakage thereof to the second cladding, and the propagation constant of each non-identical core is made different using the refractive index of the first cladding as a parameter.

Abstract: In a multicore fiber in which multiple single mode cores are stored in one optical fiber, the multicore fiber has a lattice-point arrangement in which multiple lattice points are periodically arranged two-dimensionally with translational symmetry and rotational symmetry or one of translational symmetry and rotational symmetry and, in that lattice-point arrangement, multiple cores are arranged with the lattice points of the lattice-point arrangement as reference positions. By giving different perturbations to the propagation constants of the cores, the propagation constants of the cores are each varied from the original propagation constants. Because of the variation in the propagation constants, the core-to-core coupling amount, which is dependent on the varied propagation constants, fall below a predetermined setting amount.

Abstract: A magnetic heating and cooling device is provided that comprises a heat exchanger that includes a magnetic body having a magnetocaloric effect; a magnetic field applying and removing unit that selectively applies to or removes from the magnetic body a magnetic field; and a liquid refrigerant moving unit that reciprocates a liquid refrigerant from one end to the other end, or from the other end to the one end, of the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the magnetic body inside the heat exchanger. The magnetic body is constituted by a plurality of flat magnetic members. At least one flat magnetic member has at least one slit that opens in the direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the liquid refrigerant, and the open end of each slit forms a corner to increase heat exchange efficiency.

Abstract: In the production equipment for a precipitation hardened alloy strip, a solution treatment unit includes a heating chamber provided to heat the material alloy strip having a precipitation hardening alloy composition to a temperature of not lower than a recrystallization temperature but not higher than a melting point, a cooling chamber located adjacent to the heating chamber, and a pair of cooling rolls incorporated in the cooling chamber to hold therebetween and cool down the material alloy strip heated in the heating chamber. This production equipment can quench the material alloy strip to form a solid solution supersaturated with precipitation hardening elements and thereby forming a precipitation hardened alloy strip having a good shape and a favorable surface condition.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound has excellent liquid crystal properties, particularly high phase transition temperature. Diamantane compounds are represented by the general formula (I): (I) wherein A and B are each a six-membered, saturated or unsaturated, carbo- or hetero-cycle, and these cycles may have substituents, which substituents may be united to form a ring; and R1 and R2 are each a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and part of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon group may be replaced by heteroatoms or heteroatom-containing groups, while part of the hydrogen atoms thereof may be replaced by halogen atoms or heteroatom-containing groups.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte membrane containing an ionic conductor. The ionic conductor includes: (a) a cation expressed by one of Formulae (1) and (2): R1R2R3HX+??(1) where, in Formula (1), X indicates any one of N and P, and R1, R2 and R3 each indicate any one of alkyl groups C1 to C18 except a structure in which R1=R2=R3, R1R2HS+??(2) where, in Formula (2), R1 and R2 each indicate any one of alkyl groups C1 to C18 except a structure in which R1=R2; and (b) an anion expressed by Formula (3): R4YOm(OH)n?1O???(3) where, in Formula (3), Y indicates any one of S, C, N and P, R4 indicates any one of an alkyl group and a fluoroalkyl group, and m and n each indicate any one of 1 and 2.

Abstract: A multi-core fiber of the present invention employs the multi-core fiber mode, which corresponds to the “uncoupled” operation aspect in which individual cores are used independently for single-mode transmission, to perform space division multiplexing transmission using a multi-core fiber in which multiple single-mode cores are stored in one optical fiber. More specifically, the multi-core fiber of the present invention forms an uncoupled multi-core fiber that makes individual cores correspond to single-mode, independent transmission channels.

Abstract: A rotary-type fluid machine which enables practical and effective operation in an extremely low specific speed range. The rotary-type fluid machine (1, 1?) has an impeller (10, 10?) integrally connected to a rotating drive shaft (2). The impeller is accommodated in a casing (3). Fluid (a) of a suction fluid passage (4) to be pumped flows into a center part (11) of the impeller. The fluid (b) is discharged from a peripheral portion (12) of the impeller by the effect of the centrifugal force of the rotating impeller, so that the fluid is delivered through a delivery fluid passage (5) outside of the casing. Many grooves (15) extending toward a peripheral edge of the impeller from the center part of the impeller are formed on the impeller. The groove opens on an outer circumferential surface (18) of the impeller, and causes strong recirculation vortices (R) to be formed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the impeller when the impeller rotates.

Abstract: In a multicore fiber in which multiple single mode cores are stored in one optical fiber, the multicore fiber has a lattice-point arrangement in which multiple lattice points are periodically arranged two-dimensionally with translational symmetry and rotational symmetry or one of translational symmetry and rotational symmetry and, in that lattice-point arrangement, multiple cores are arranged with the lattice points of the lattice-point arrangement as reference positions. By giving different perturbations to the propagation constants of the cores, the propagation constants of the cores are each varied from the original propagation constants. Because of the variation in the propagation constants, the core-to-core coupling amount, which is dependent on the varied propagation constants, fall below a predetermined setting amount.

Abstract: This invention provides a heat transfer device which can improve its heat transfer performance in a heat exchanger with a flow rate of heat carrier fluid being set at a relatively low velocity, while restricting increase in pressure loss of the fluid flow. Plural longitudinal vortex generator winglets (10) are arranged in a spanwise direction on each side of the heat transfer object (T). The winglets on each side are oriented substantially in the same direction for deflecting the fluid to the same direction and conducting the fluid to an area behind the object. Each of the winglets has a configuration gradually decreasing in its height toward an upstream side of a flow of the fluid. Longitudinal vortices are produced behind the winglets by the fluid flowing rearward beyond the winglets.

Abstract: When an interpolation point is interpolated using a curve/curved surface, represented by control points, such as a B-Spline curve/curved surface or a subdivision surface, interpolation processing is performed in such a way that a moving vector for moving each control point is calculated using position information on interpolation points constituting the point group, as well as vector information on the unit direction vector that is set for each interpolation point, and the control point is moved in the movement direction and for the movement amount of this moving vector. By, repeating the generation step of a curve/curved surface that interpolates the interpolation point and the movement step of the control point, the position of a new control point is found that fits the curve/curved surface to the positions and the unit direction vectors of the point group.

Abstract: An orientation of crystal axis <001> of the metallic material as a solid solution having a structure of body-centered cubic (BCC) is arranged along a work surface of the metallic material by hot rolling process in a temperature range of structuring the metallic material to be BCC single phase solid solution. For example, Fe-Si alloy as the metallic material is heated in the temperature range for BCC single phase solid solution, and processed so as to arrange the orientation of crystal axis <001> along the work surface by pressing the BCC single phase solid solution in a strain rate to maintain work condition for controlling motion of dislocation by atmosphere of solute atom generated in BCC single solid solution and migrating grain boundary by strain energy stored in a crystal grain as driving force.

Abstract: A voltage boost converter includes: a main voltage boost portion that has a first switch and a first coil, and that raises output voltage of a direct-current power source by using counter electromotive force of the coil caused by the switch performing a switching action on the coil; and a subsidiary voltage boost portion which has a capacitor that adjusts potential difference between two poles of the switch by amount of electricity stored, and which reduces switching loss of the switch by adjusting the amount of electricity in the capacitor during the switching action, and which has a second switch and a second coil. The second coil is formed by winding a wire around at least a portion of a core formed of a magnetic body. The core is provided with a gap formed of a non-magnetic body. A core region formed of a magnetic body is adjacent to the gap.

Abstract: A superconducting wire having at least a superconducting thin film and a stabilizing film formed one on top of another in order on a substrate having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, the superconducting wire having at least one cut made along a direction of the length of the superconducting wire, the superconducting wire being bendable at the cut in a width direction.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a hydrogen-producing bacterium, which excels in hydrogen yield and hydrogen production rate, and is usable for industrial hydrogen production from biomass as a production source. That is, it is intended to provide a bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium which has a property of producing hydrogen at a rate of 60 mmol or more per hour per liter of a culture liquid which contains glucose as a substrate, by batch cultivation in a YNU anaerobic culture medium at 47° C. and pH 6.0, and a hydrogen production method comprising the use of the bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium.

Abstract: An initial polygon obtained from a point group is used as a control polygon, and a control point of the control polygon is offset in a normal direction by the shortest distance from a limit surface generated by the control polygon, so that the position of new control point is determined to allow a subdivision surface to interpolate the initial polygon, thereby generating the subdivision surface which interpolates the point group. A first process to determine the point on the subdivision surface at the shortest distance from each control point, and a second process to move and offset the control point in the normal direction from the surface by the distance between the point on the surface and the initial control point, are iterated until the distance between the initial point group and the point on the surface satisfies the threshold or becomes smaller than the threshold, thereby generating the subdivision surface interpolating the initial polygon.