Abstract: A wearable image pickup apparatus that eliminates manual change of an image pickup direction during picking up an image and can easily obtain an image that records experience while focusing attention on the experience. An image pickup apparatus includes an observation direction detection unit that is worn on a body other than a head of a user, an image pickup unit that is worn on the body of the user, a memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the set of instructions to: detect an observation direction of the user by the observation direction detection unit, pick up an image by the image pickup unit, and output an output image corresponding to the observation direction based on the image picked up by the image pickup unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device capable of performing a plurality of charge accumulation operations within the same time period of a vertical synchronization signal. A follow-up control value and a first predicted control value which is more distant from a current control value than the follow-up control value in a direction of change are set based on a photometry result using the current control value. When at least one of proper differences between the follow-up control value and the first predicted control and respective photometric values obtained therewith is not larger than a predetermined allowable value, the photometric value associated therewith is determined as a proper exposure. The current control value is an initial value or one of the photometric values in a case where the proper differences are both larger than the predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing device capable of performing a plurality of charge accumulation operations within the same time period of a vertical synchronization signal. A follow-up control value and a first predicted control value which is more distant from a current control value than the follow-up control value in a direction of change are set based on a photometry result using the current control value. When at least one of proper differences between the follow-up control value and the first predicted control and respective photometric values obtained therewith is not larger than a predetermined allowable value, the photometric value associated therewith is determined as a proper exposure. The current control value is an initial value or one of the photometric values in a case where the proper differences are both larger than the predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: A bis-terpyridine monomer includes a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the first terpyridyl substituent (A) and the second terpyridyl substituent (B). The bis-terpyridine monomer is represented by the following formula (10): where X1 is a halogen; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an aryl group or an alkyl group.

Abstract: A bis-terpyridine monomer includes a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the first terpyridyl substituent (A) and the second terpyridyl substituent (B). The bis-terpyridine monomer is represented by the following formula (10): where X1 is a halogen; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an aryl group or an alkyl group.

Abstract: Provided are (1) a terpyridine monomer that has a strong ability to coordinate with metal atoms, and (2) a polymer material that can be readily switched between a colored state and a colorless state by controlling the electrical potential applied to it and that can be processed. A bis-terpyridine monomer of a first invention comprises a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the substituents (A) and (B). A polymer material of a second invention comprises a bis-terpyridine derivative derived from the monomer according to the first invention, a metal ion and a counter anion, or comprise first to Nth bis-terpyridine derivatives (N is an integer of 2 or greater), first to Nth metal ions (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and first to Nth counter anions (N is an integer of 2 or greater).

Abstract: To provide an electrode catalyst for fuel cells, which is obtained efficiently by a simple process, without using a silica template, unlike in the conventional process, which is relatively large in mesopore diameter (5 nm or more), which enables catalyst particles deposited stably in the mesopores, and which can readily develop a highly triple-phase interface state. Such an electrode catalyst for a fuel cell is constituted with: a mesoporous carbon support obtained by heating and baking for carbonization a mixture of a surfactant and carbon precursors; and catalyst particles carried by the support. Further, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell, which has: a fuel electrode; an air electrode; and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the electrodes, in which at least one of the fuel electrode and the air electrode contains the electrode catalyst.

Abstract: Provided are (1) a terpyridine monomer that has a strong ability to coordinate with metal atoms, and (2) a polymer material that can be readily switched between a colored state and a colorless state by controlling the electrical potential applied to it and that can be processed. A bis-terpyridine monomer of a first invention comprises a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the substituents (A) and (B). A polymer material of a second invention comprises a bis-terpyridine derivative derived from the monomer according to the first invention, a metal ion and a counter anion, or comprise first to Nth bis-terpyridine derivatives (N is an integer of 2 or greater), first to Nth metal ions (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and first to Nth counter anions (N is an integer of 2 or greater).

Abstract: A self-standing mesoporous carbon membrane which is obtainable by combining the following steps and has an ordered mesoporous structure in which mesopores are oriented in a direction perpendicular to a surface plane: (i) applying a mixture of a surfactant and a carbon precursor composed of a thermosetting resin precursor and a crosslinking agent therefor, to the surface of a substrate, to form a membrane of the mixture; (ii) drying the membrane at 15 to 30° C. under the atmospheric pressure; (iii) heating the dried membrane, to cause polymerization of the carbon precursor; (iv) baking to carbonize the polymerized membrane; (v) peeling the baked and carbonized membrane from the substrate; and (vi) baking further to carbonize the peeled carbon membrane that is self-standing.