Abstract: A method for molding capable of molding a piezoelectric polymer into polymer piezoelectric materials having various shapes is provided. A vibration generator using a polymer piezoelectric material and a speaker capable of generating a high sound pressure and achieving flat sound pressure-frequency characteristics are provided. A material formed from a piezoelectric polymer is molded at a temperature not less than the glass transition temperature and less than the crystallization temperature of the piezoelectric polymer and is then heat-treated at a temperature not less than the crystallization temperature of the piezoelectric polymer. A vibration generator comprising a piezoelectric portion formed from a piezoelectric polymer; a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric portion; and a second electrode disposed on a second main surface of the piezoelectric portion, which has a piezoelectric modulus of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric vibrator having a piezoelectric laminate in which oriented film layers made of a polylactic acid and conductive layers are laminated alternately and grippers gripping both ends of the piezoelectric laminate, wherein one of two conductive layers neighboring via an oriented film layer is short-circuited to a negative electrode and the other conductive layer is short-circuited to a positive electrode, the oriented film layers interposed between the respective conductive layers are laminated such that the oriented film layers expand and contract in the same direction when a current is applied, the piezoelectric laminate has two parallel surfaces which are parallel to the plane direction of the oriented film layers and two end faces A and B which are between the parallel surfaces and parallel to each other, and the gripped ends respectively include the end face A and the end face B.

Abstract: A flame-retardant lithium secondary battery is provided that has better battery performance and higher safety than conventional batteries. The lithium secondary battery uses a positive electrode that includes a positive electrode active material of the general formula (1) below, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution in which an ionic liquid that contains bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions as an anionic component is used as the solvent, (1) LiNixMnyO4, wherein x and y are values that satisfy the relations x+y=2, and x:y=27.572.5 to 22.577.5.

Abstract: A piezoelectric polymer material comprising a helical chiral polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and optical activity, the piezoelectric polymer material having: crystallinity as obtained by a DSC method of from 40% to 80%; a transmission haze with respect to visible light of 50% or less; and a product of the crystallinity and a standardized molecular orientation MORc, which is measured with a microwave transmission-type molecular orientation meter at a reference thickness of 50 ?m, of from 40 to 700.

Abstract: A catalyst adsorption method can sufficiently adsorb a catalyst to a lower portion of a recess formed in a substrate. A substrate 20 in which a recess 22 is formed is prepared. Then, a catalyst 23 formed of nanoparticles coated with a dispersant is adsorbed to a surface of the substrate 20 by bringing the substrate 20 into contact with a catalyst solution 12 containing the catalyst by a catalyst adsorption device 10. At that time, a high frequency vibration is applied to the catalyst solution 12.

Abstract: An actuator is provided which can be driven with a simple configuration and by simple control. The actuator comprises a thin film made of a shear piezoelectric material, a first electrode formed on a first main surface of the thin film, and a second electrode formed on a second main surface of the thin film. A driving force is generated on at least one end edge of the thin film by applying a predetermined AC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A specific region of a polylactic acid sheet is heated by a microwave. To allow the polylactic acid sheet to exhibit piezoelectricity in the thickness direction of the polylactic acid sheet, a high voltage is applied to the heated polylactic acid sheet in the thickness direction of the polylactic acid sheet, and thereby the screw axes of at least a part of the polylactic acid molecules are relatively aligned with the thickness direction. Then the polylactic acid sheet is rapidly cooled, and thereby the polylactic acid molecules are immobilized. The same step is executed for other regions of the polylactic acid sheet, and thereby piezoelectricity is imparted to a wide area of the polylactic acid sheet in the thickness direction. The resultant piezoelectric sheet is capable of exhibiting a high piezoelectricity in the thickness direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for imaging mass spectrometry using an ionization-assisting matrix of a test sample, wherein the ionization efficiency is high, migration and visual information reduction are inhibited, no interference peaks originating from the matrix occur, and the analysis can be performed at high spatial resolution. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for imaging mass spectrometry using a sample prepared by physical vapor depositing platinum nanoparticles on the surface of a test sample to be subjected to imaging mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic-acid-responsive gel which allows (i) a larger volumetric change through structural design, (ii) adjustment of its recognition ability to recognize a nucleic acid, (iii) improvement of sensitivity, and (iv) flexible design according to, e.g., a sequence of target DNA. The nucleic-acid-responsive gel includes a probe formed of two single-stranded nucleic acids which are hybridized with each other. The probe is fixed within a network structure of a polymer gel. The two single-stranded nucleic acids are bound reversibly with each other.

Abstract: A piezoelectric polymer material comprising a helical chiral polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and optical activity, the piezoelectric polymer material having: crystallinity as obtained by a DSC method of from 40% to 80%; a transmission haze with respect to visible light of 50% or less; and a product of the crystallinity and a standardized molecular orientation MORc, which is measured with a microwave transmission-type molecular orientation meter at a reference thickness of 50 ?m, of from 40 to 700.

Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric polymer material comprising a helical chiral polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and optical activity, the piezoelectric polymer material having: crystallinity as obtained by a DSC method of from 20% to 80%; a transmission haze with respect to visible light of 50% or less; and a product of the crystallinity and a standardized molecular orientation MORc, which is measured with a microwave transmission-type molecular orientation meter at a reference thickness of 50 ?m, of from 40 to 700.

Abstract: Provided is an electret having high piezoelectric properties. An electret sheet of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a synthetic resin sheet is electrified by injecting electric charges thereinto, that the synthetic resin sheet comprises two types of synthetic resins incompatible with each other, and that these synthetic resins form a phase separated structure and are cross-linked through a polyfunctional monomer. Therefore, positive and negative charges in an apparently polarized state are present in the interfacial portions between the two types of synthetic resins incompatible with each other. By applying an external force to the electret sheet to deform it, the relative positions of these positive and negative charges are changed, and these changes cause a favorable electrical response. Therefore, the electret sheet has high piezoelectric properties.

Abstract: A light source device repeatedly implements a first state and a second state in alternate shifts. The energy of a standing wave generated in a cavity resonator is absorbed by a rare gas or the like existing in a hollow member. This implements the first state in which plasma is generated and the electron temperature thereof is increased, and then the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the plasma is emitted out of the cavity resonator through a window. The supply of the electromagnetic wave to the cavity resonator is interrupted. This implements the second state in which the plasma is extinguished.

Abstract: A stress evaluation apparatus, a stress evaluation method, and a program for evaluating stress received by an operator during when an in-vehicle device is operated by an upper limb are provided. The apparatus includes a detection sensor, a calculation process portion and an evaluation portion. The detection sensor detects a muscle potential of a measuring object muscle of the operator. The calculation process portion receives time series information of the muscle potential to calculate strength information. The evaluation portion compares the strength information with an evaluation standard to make an evaluation of stress of the operator. The method includes detecting a muscle potential of a measuring object muscle, receiving time series information of the muscle potential to calculate strength information, and comparing the strength information with an evaluation standard to evaluate stress.

Abstract: A designing method of the present invention includes the steps of: measuring a golf swing to obtain a measured result; obtaining a swing model provided with a link model and joint torque data based on the measured result, the link model having at least two links; performing simulation for swing the golf club using the swing model; and obtaining head information in a specific situation during a swing based on a result of the simulation. In the designing method, a plurality of specifications of the golf club and/or the plurality of swing models are used to obtain the plurality of head information, and stability is evaluated using a difference between the head information. In the designing method, it was found that a great lateral moment of inertia of a head and a small depth of a center of gravity of the head contribute to the stability.

Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric polymer material including a helical chiral polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and having optical activity, the piezoelectric polymer material having a piezoelectric constant d14 at 25° C. of 10 pC/N or more, a degree of crystallinity obtained by X-ray diffraction of from 40% to 80%, and a haze of from 0.5 to 30.

Abstract: To achieve soft ionization more easily when a slight amount of substance is ionized under an atmosphere pressure. An ionization method for a substance contained in a liquid, including: supplying the liquid to a substrate from a probe and forming a liquid bridge made of the liquid containing the substance dissolved therein, between the probe and the substrate; oscillating the probe; and generating an electric field between an electrically conductive portion of the probe in contact with the liquid and an ion extraction electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image data processing device that is beneficial in order to reduce the patient's strain and botheration for the practitioner when performing the transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment, and a transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus utilizing the image data processing device.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to achieve soft ionization more easily when a slight amount of substance is ionized under an atmosphere pressure. The present invention provides an ionization method for a substance contained in a liquid, including: supplying the liquid to a substrate from a probe and forming a liquid bridge made of the liquid containing the substance dissolved therein, between the probe and the substrate; oscillating the substrate; and generating an electric field between an electrically conductive portion of the probe in contact with the liquid and an ion extraction electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides molecule-responsive gel particles which change in size in response to specific molecules and a method of production of the same. A polymer gel particle with a crosslinked structure has fixed thereto a plurality of clathrate compound-forming host molecules. Two or more of the plurality of host molecules clathrate different atomic groups in a target molecule so that the two or more host molecules and the target molecule can form a crosslink in the molecule-responsive gel particle.