Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device containing a silicon single crystal substrate 101, a silicon carbide layer 102 provided on a surface of the substrate, a Group III nitride semiconductor junction layer 103 provided in contact with the silicon carbide layer, and a superlattice-structured layer 104 constituted by Group III nitride semiconductors on the Group III nitride semiconductor junction layer. In this semiconductor device, the silicon carbide layer is a layer of a cubic system whose lattice constant exceeds 0.436 nm and is not more than 0.460 nm and which has a nonstoichiometric composition containing silicon abundantly in terms of composition, and the Group III nitride semiconductor junction layer has a composition of AlxGaYInzN1-?M? (0?X, Y, Z?1, X+Y+Z=1, 0??<1, M is a Group V element except nitrogen).

Abstract: The disclosed is an arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus capable of easily separating pulse wave data detected at one measurement site into an incident wave and a reflected wave and capable of easily determining and evaluating the degree of arteriosclerosis. The pulse wave transmitted through an artery is detected at one site of a living body by a pulse wave detection device, and the detected pulse wave is fitted with a fitting function by a breakdown device so that the detected pulse wave can be broken down into an incident wave and a reflected wave. The degree of arteriosclerosis is evaluated from the amplitude intensities (i.e., peak intensities) of the incident wave and the reflected wave broken down from the pulse wave.

Abstract: For a plurality of combinations of a plurality of operating states included in an operating range of an engine and for a plurality of combinations of a plurality of objective variables, a system, which calculates design variables, includes a calculating device for obtaining global optimal solutions of the design variables that minimize or maximize a sum of the plurality of objective variables, which respectively correspond to the plurality of combinations of the plurality of operating states; a receiving device for receiving designation of an upper limit or a lower limit of the plurality of objective variables; and a searching device for searching for global optimal solutions that result in the smoothest change in the design variables when changing the operating states in a range of the received upper limit to the received lower limit of the objective variables, with one of the global optimal solutions as an initial value set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical agent that is useful for preventing periodontal disease. The pharmaceutical agent contains a compound in which a mucin-type sugar chain-binding lectin is bound to a polypeptide having an integrin recognition sequence.

Abstract: The present invention includes a lighting control system provided with two or more lighting devices and one or more illumination comparing devices; wherein the illumination comparing device supplies to the lighting devices a comparison result in which a sampled illumination of an arbitrary position and a target illumination are compared; the two or more lighting devices carry out a judgment based on the comparison result obtained from the illumination comparing device and repetitively increase/decrease their respective light intensities; and the illumination of the arbitrary position is substantially controlled to the target illumination, and with this lighting control system, a predetermined position can be controlled to a desired illumination.

Abstract: Boron carbide ceramics produced by spark sintering methods have more desirable mechanical properties than conventionally produced carbides. The boron carbide ceramics include amorphous boron, amorphous carbon, and Al2O3 powder as a sintering aid. The boron carbides may also contain a carbon nano fiber in a nearly homogeneously dispersed state. The sintered compact has a relative density of a boron carbide ceramic of approximately not less than 99%. The boron carbide ceramics are prepared preferably by subjecting a mixed powder of the starting raw materials and the carbon nano fiber to simultaneous synthesis and sintering using the spark plasma sintering method.

Abstract: A method of controlling a regulating hole for regulating an amount of light, a flow rate of fluid, a pressure of fluid passing through a tubular passage is provided. A partition wall 5 formed by a viscoelastic solid containing magnetic particles is transversely disposed in the tubular passage 3 through which light or fluid passes. The partition wall 5 is provided with a regulating hole 6 for regulating an amount of the light, a flow rate of the fluid, or a pressure of the fluid so that the regulating hole 6 penetrates in an axial direction. Magnetic field gradient is generated the partition wall 5 in a radial direction in the tubular passage 3 to thereby change an opening degree of the regulating hole 6.

Abstract: In a rotation device using a hydraulic actuator, a rotation angle range is increased. A placement member rotatable coupled to a rotary member has a projecting part on an upper face, A hydraulic actuator is arranged on a projecting face of the projecting part; the actuator and the rotary member coupled with a wire material. The projecting part is formed such that it becomes higher from a leading edge on the side of the rotary member to an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, and becomes lower from the intermediate portion to a trailing edge. Thereby, when fluid is supplied to the actuator and shortens the actuator length, a tip of the actuator moves along the projecting face of the projecting part, and is located high, separated from the upper face of the placement member such that the rotation angle range of the rotary member becomes large.

Abstract: A method, computer, and recording medium storing a program are provided which, based on local optimal solutions, more efficiently calculate an optimal global optimal solution in a global operating area. System calculates the global optimal solution by solving, using a genetic algorithm based on the local optimal solutions and the initial values, an equation, which should be satisfied by the plurality of design variables, by obtaining the plurality of combinations of design variables composing local optimal solutions for each design variable respectively calculated for each of a plurality of combinations of a plurality of operating states, and by obtaining initial values for the plurality of combinations of design variables used for calculating the global optimal solution.

Abstract: An arteriosclerosis diagnostic device according to various embodiments is a simple device, resistant to an external factor, such as an error resulting from a skin surface, and capable of measuring the degree of hardness of an artery. The arteriosclerosis diagnostic device detects a heart sound and a pulse wave at least one location of a living body, the pulse wave propagating through an artery in relation to the heart sound, converts detected signals thereof into respective frequency signals, specifies the peak frequency of each of the frequency signals, and determines the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of the difference between the peak frequency of the heart sound and the peak frequency of the pulse wave. Accordingly, the degree of arteriosclerosis can be determined by comparison between the frequency signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a sleep-improving agent and a sedative agent containing, as an active ingredient, oxypinnatanine or its derivative represented by the following chemical formula (I):

Abstract: A CO2 cooling and heating apparatus and method permit simultaneous production of high-temperature heat source and low-temperature heat source having a temperature difference therebetween. The apparatus/method uses CO2 (carbon dioxide) as a refrigerant, and has a first refrigerating cycle circuit where the refrigerant is compressed to a supercritical zone and then decompressed via an expansion device to a pressure/temperature level of the CO2 triple point or below to thereby attain evaporation. The apparatus can include multistage compressors, intermediate cooler disposed in a first refrigerant flow path between a condenser and the expansion device.

Abstract: An X-ray generator comprises a container (1) for maintaining a high vacuum or low pressure gas atmosphere internally, a hemimorphic crystal (4), temperature raising/lowering means (3, 5-7), and a metal target (8) for generating X-rays. In this X-ray generator the metal target (8) has a pointed protrusion protruding toward the hemimorphic crystal (4). When X-rays are generated by raising/lowering the temperature of the hemimorphic crystal (4) by using the temperature raising/lowering means (3, 5-7), the intensity of an electric field formed between the hemimorphic crystal (4) and the metal target (8) increases at the pointed end of the protrusion and thus the intensity of X-rays generated through collision of electrons against the metal target (8) increases. Consequently, an X-ray generator employing a hemimorphic crystal, which is capable of generating X-rays with practically sufficient intensity can be provided.

Abstract: In optimum number of teeth setting method for a helical gear pair and the helical gear pair manufactured on the basis of the set optimum number of teeth of each helical gear of the helical gear pair, a sound pressure level of a gear sound is compared with the sound pressure level of an audible limit with respect to a meshing frequency of the helical gear pair at a predetermined vehicle speed of an automotive vehicle in which the helical gear pair is mounted to select a frequency region in which the calculated sound pressure of the gear sound is relatively low to the sound pressure level of the audible limit, and number of teeth of each helical gear of the helical gear pair corresponding to the selected frequency region is set to an optimum number of teeth of each helical gear of the helical gear pair.

Abstract: In order that an object can be warmed through the use of thermoacoustic effect, the acoustic heating apparatus includes a first stack 3a sandwiched between a high-temperature-side heat exchanger 4 and a low-temperature input-side heat exchanger 5 in a first tube portion 2a and a second stack 3b sandwiched between a low-temperature-side heat exchanger 6 and a high-temperature output-side heat exchanger 7 in a second tube portion 2b. A standing wave and a traveling wave are generated through self excitation in the first tube portion 2a by cooling the low-temperature input-side heat exchanger 5 to minus 20° C. to 60° C. A temperature gradient is generated in the second stack 3b by propagating the resulting standing wave and the traveling wave to the second tube portion 2b, and high-temperature heat is output due to this temperature gradient from the high-temperature output-side heat exchanger 7 disposed on the second stack 3b side.

Abstract: Boron carbide ceramics produced by spark sintering methods have more desirable mechanical properties than conventionally produced carbides. The boron carbide ceramics include amorphous boron, amorphous carbon, and Al2O3 powder as a sintering aid. The boron carbides may also contain a carbon nano fiber in a nearly homogeneously dispersed state. The sintered compact has a relative density of a boron carbide ceramic of approximately not less than 99%. The boron carbide ceramics are prepared preferably by subjecting a mixed powder of the starting raw materials and the carbon nano fiber to simultaneous synthesis and sintering using the spark plasma sintering method.

Abstract: A classification apparatus including a magnetic stirrer composed of main body (1) and rotor (2) and, arranged on the main body of the magnetic stirrer, classification tube (3). The interior of the classification tube is provided with classification compartments (A-E) partitioned from each other by divider plates (5a-5b). The lowermost classification compartment (A) is furnished with gas emission conduit (7). In the classification compartment (A), the rotor (2) of the magnetic stirrer is arranged. From gas supply source (8), a high-pressure gas is fed into the gas emission conduit. By means of the gas emitted from the gas emission conduit, a vortex flow rising from the lowermost classification compartment sequentially toward higher classification compartments is generated in the classification tube.

Abstract: An X-ray generator uses a high electrical field generated when a hemimorphic crystal is heated or cooled. The crystal may be lithium niobate polarized in one direction. An X-ray target is placed inside a housing inside which a vacuum is maintained. A tungsten line containing thorium is placed between the crystal and the target. When the crystal is heated or cooled by a Pelletier element, an intense electrical field is generated around the crystal. Thermoelectrons released from the tungsten line accelerate as a result of the electrical field and collide with the X-ray target. The X-rays released at this time radiate through a beryllium window exteriorly of the housing. Intense X-rays are generated without using large scale equipment, such as a high voltage power source.

Abstract: Provided is a method for molding a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material with good workability. The method enables to stably obtain articles having good quality at low cost. The method for molding a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material of the present invention includes placing, in molds (2, 3), a composite sheet (7) integrated by laminating and stitching together a reinforcing fiber (5) and a nonwoven fabric (6) composed of a thermoplastic resin and then molding by pressing and heating such that the temperature of the composite sheet (7) becomes higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic apparatus capable of reducing the time elapsed until an acoustic wave is generated and improving the energy conversion efficiency significantly is provided. In order to solve the above-described issues, in a thermoacoustic apparatus 1 including a pair of heat exchangers 41 and 43 separately set on the high temperature side and on the low temperature side, a second stack 42 which is sandwiched between the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and which has a plurality of transmission paths in the inside, and a loop tube 2 provided with the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and the stack 42, the thermoacoustic apparatus converting acoustic energy generated in the loop tube 2 with an acoustic wave generator 3 to thermal energy by using the heat exchangers 41 and 43 and the stack 42, a narrow portion 21 in which the inner diameter is relatively reduced is disposed at a position at which the particle velocity of a standing wave generated in the loop tube 2 is in the vicinity of a maximum.