Abstract: A part where a creep void is recognized is observed at an arbitrary magnification by a scanning electron microscope, an optical microscope, and a laser microscope, and the maximum value of creep void crystal grain boundary occupancy is measured in the field of view. The maximum value is applied to a a master curve corrected from the results of a test of simulating an actual machine and a test piece of actual machine size, taking account of internal damage of the machine. Thus the creep lifetime consumption rate of a member is estimated easily with high accuracy.

Abstract: A customer support system for improving the technique of a person engaged in business is intended to reduce the cost for a technical training support and to enhance the training effect. The customer support system is constructed to comprise: a computer system for introducing training contents from a service providing side to a customer side through a computer network; an instructor training facility for training an instructor on the basis of the training contents; and a remote technique training support device for the instructor, for supporting the technical training of the customer side from the service providing side through the computer network.

Abstract: A superconductor having at least one Hg—M—Cu—O (M=Ba, Sr and/or Ca) superconducting film provided on a substrate and having a thickness of between 300 Å to 950 Å. The superconductor may be prepared by forming, on a substrate, a precursor laminate composed of a first, M—Cu—O film and a second, Hg—O film. The precursor laminate film-bearing substrate is placed in a closed vacuum chamber together with a first pellet of HgO, MO and CuO and a second pellet of MO and CuO. The contents in the chamber are heated to form, on the substrate, a superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film. The thickness of the first M—Cu—O film of the precursor is controlled so that the thickness of the superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film is in the range of between 300 Å to 950 Å.

Abstract: A production plan and a planning work to run resources for productions are so independent as to make it difficult to make an optimum administration plan as the entire enterprise activities. In a system for making an administration plan by a computer, an administration planning system comprises an inputting function, a risk calculating function, an optimizing function and an outputting function. The optimizing function makes the administration plan by optimizing and adjusting the distribution between the investment levels to plural investment item and the risk levels for a planning term.

Abstract: A superconductor having at least one Hg—M—Cu—O (M=Ba, Sr and/or Ca) superconducting film provided on a substrate and having a thickness of between 300 Å to 950 Å. The superconductor may be prepared by forming, on a substrate, a precursor laminate composed of a first, M—Cu—O film and a second, Hg—O film. The precursor laminate film-bearing substrate is placed in a closed vacuum chamber together with a first pellet of HgO, MO and CuO and a second pellet of MO and CuO. The contents in the chamber are heated to form, on the substrate, a superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film. The thickness of the first M—Cu—O film of the precursor is controlled so that the thickness of the superconducting Hg—M—Cu—O film is in the range of between 300 Å to 950 Å.

Abstract: The condensed water, as condensed by applying the VRC to a regeneration process, and the strong solution, as fed out of a regenerator, are employed as a heat source to preheat a weak solution so that the preheating amount of the weak solution is increased to improve the performance coefficient of a heat pump.

Abstract: A process for forming a thin oxide film on an underlying surface adapted for film formation thereon according to a radio frequency magnetron sputtering method using an oxide target(s). The excitation frequency is a frequency which is higher than 13.56 MHz and which provides a negative target self-bias voltage permitting of film formation.

Abstract: A process for forming a thin oxide film on an underlying surface adapted for film formation thereon according to a radio frequency magnetron sputtering method using an oxide target(s). The excitation frequency is higher than 13.56 MHz and provides a lower negative target self-bias voltage permitting improved film formation.

Abstract: A transmission line protection system arranged such that a leakage current detector is provided at an end of an insulating device such as an insulator connected at one end to a corresponding one of arms of a steel tower and connected at the other end to a transmission line of each phase, thereby detecting an arrester leakage current flowing in the transmission line of each phase, an output signal of the leakage current detector being led to a repeater through an optical fiber cable, an output of the repeater being transferred to a control/supervisory board in a substation through an optical fiber cable. In the control/supervisory board, preferably, a received digital signal which was converted from an analog signal at said leakage current detector is displayed on a cathode ray tube. In such an arrangement, it is possible to smoothly perform supervision of the status of the transmission lines without causing maloperations due to influences from the transmission lines.

Abstract: A number of sound detectors are provided on an external enclosure of a pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor. Output signals produced from the individual detectors are combined into a pattern in terms of time difference of the detector output signals relative to the time point at which the detected signal is first produced in response to the sound signal and relative peak values of the detector output signals relative to the magnitude of the output signal produced by the detector which detects the sound signal with the highest sensitivity. The pattern thus obtained is then compared with patterns which have been previously prepared by intentionally producing the sound signals at locations in interest within the pressure vessel, to thereby estimate the location within the pressure vessel at which the sound is produced.

Abstract: An annular guide rail is detachably mounted in enclosing relation around a tubular member of piping to be probed for any flaws that might be present therein, and a flaw detecting unit, a circumferentially driving unit and an axially driving unit are movably arranged on the annular guide rail and interconnected by connecting means. The flaw detecting means includes an arm movable axially of the tubular member and supporting ultrasonic flaw detecting means. The circumferentially driving unit includes first driving means for moving the flaw detecting unit, circumferentially driving unit and axially driving unit circumferentially along the guide rail. The axially driving unit includes second driving means for moving the arm axially of the tubular member. A transmission mechanism is provided for transmitting the operation of the second driving means to the arm.