Abstract: A numerical controller acquires state information (machine condition) such as the current temperature of a drive unit to determine whether a machining operation based on a machining program can be started or not by comparing the state information with a machine condition history recorded in a recording unit. If determined that the machining operation can be started, a machining operation start command is output and if determined that the machining operation cannot be started, the machine condition is monitored to withhold outputting of the machining operation start command until the machine condition allowing to start the machining operation based on the machining program appears.

Abstract: A sperm selection unit structure for efficiently separating sperm having favorable motility includes: a storage part which stores semen acquired from an animal therein; a buffer solution flow passage which communicates with the storage part and in which a buffer solution flows in the direction toward the storage part as a laminar flow; and a swim-up passage which communicates with the storage part such that the sperm swim up in the buffer solution flow passage from the storage part, wherein a downstream part of the swim-up passage is formed of a flow passage having a wide width where the buffer solution flows as a slow flow while maintaining a laminar flow state of the buffer solution, and a downstream end portion of the flow passage is opened in a state where the downstream end portion faces a wall surface of the storage part.

Abstract: In a coated high-temperature superconducting wire 1 in which a superconducting yttrium-based wire (high-temperature superconducting wire) 2 having a rectangular cross section is coated by an insulating layer 6, the insulating layer 6 is an electrodeposited film made of block copolymerized polyimide which contains siloxane bonds in a polyimide main chain and which has molecules with anionic groups. A coil formed from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 is impregnated with epoxy resin, and the epoxy resin is cured. The coil is configured such that the epoxy resin is completely separated from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 by the insulating layer 6.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk having data tracks, a magnetic head, a motion mechanism for moving the magnetic head, and a controller. The controller adds a value to a rewrite parameter for a rewrite region based on a number of writes to data tracks related to the rewrite region, the value is chosen to reflect a degree of influence the number of writes have on the rewrite region, and the magnetic head rewrites data of the rewrite region when the rewrite parameter is greater than a threshold. In another embodiment, a method includes writing data tracks in a rewrite region, defining values reflecting a degree(s) of influence on the rewrite region, adding the values to a rewrite parameter upon writing data to the data tracks, determining that the rewrite parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold and rewriting data in the rewrite region.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus that cools an electronic apparatus accommodated in a cabinet, the cooling apparatus includes: a plurality of cooling fans attached to the cabinet; and a control unit that controls a rotation speed of the cooling fans that have been grouped into a plurality of groups, for each of the groups, depending on a group temperature that typifies each of the groups to which the cooling fans belong.

Abstract: A separator for non-aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries and a non-aqueous rechargeable lithium battery including the separator are provided. The separator includes a separator body and a composite including an organic compound and an inorganic compound supporting the separator body, where the organic compound has a higher melting point than that of the material composing the separator body, and the inorganic compound includes an element selected from the group consisting of 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 3B, and 5B elements from the periodic table, and combinations thereof, and at least one moiety selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, phosphates, sulfates, nitrates, alkoxides, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for activating lithium ion batteries related to the initial formation cycle (initial battery break in prior to use) is used to improve battery performance. The method involves charging the battery for the first time after being fabricated, to an initial voltage Vi that is above 4.25 Volts vs Li/Li+, but less than 5 Volts. The battery is discharged to a base voltage Vb that is from 4.15 to 4.25 Volts and held at Vb for a period of time that is at least one minute to at most several weeks. The battery is then charged to a final voltage Vf that is greater than Vb. The batteries activated by the method may have one or more improved properties such as longer cycle life, greater capacity at higher charge/discharge rates or consistent performance from battery to battery.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording, and a magnetic disk apparatus capable of preventing data erasure caused by alignment marks. In an embodiment, the magnetic head includes a head element including at least a main pole having a pole face on a flying surface and an auxiliary pole; alignment marks made of a magnetic material and used to detect the amount of lapping work when lapping the pole face of the main pole; and members made of a magnetic material, continuously extending in either direction with respect to the position of the main pole from within the alignment marks outward at least beyond the alignment marks.

Abstract: Provided are a particle separation device and a method of separating particles, each of which can easily separate particles for a short time without a great stress to the particles and easily collect the particles thus separated. The particle separation device includes at least: a separation flow path (i) to which a separation fluid and a particle group including two types of particles being different in density are supplied, and (ii) through which the separation fluid flows in a certain direction; a divergence section connected to at least an end of the separation flow path in the certain direction in which the separation fluid flows, a first flow path formed from the divergence section in a rising direction; and a second flow path formed from the divergence section in a falling direction, the separation flow path being formed in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: In a coated high-temperature superconducting wire 1 in which a superconducting yttrium-based wire (high-temperature superconducting wire) 2 having a rectangular cross section is coated by an insulating layer 6, the insulating layer 6 is an electrodeposited film made of block copolymerized polyimide which contains siloxane bonds in a polyimide main chain and which has molecules with anionic groups. A coil formed from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 is impregnated with epoxy resin, and the epoxy resin is cured. The coil is configured such that the epoxy resin is completely separated from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 by the insulating layer 6.

Abstract: In automatic programming for creating a multi-path program for a machine having a plurality of control paths performing one or more machining processes of a machining program for machining a workpiece, the machining time of each of the machining processes is calculated, workable paths are input for each of the machining processes, and then workable orders of the machining processes are input. For each of the machining processes, simultaneously workable machining processes are input if any among other machining processes. On the basis of the above results, machining programs that provide the shortest machining time are selected.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium ion battery including a positive electrode a positive active material and including a negative electrode having a negative active material. The positive active material includes a lithium-manganese-based compound core and a heat resistant polymer disposed on the lithium-manganese-based compound core. The heat resistant polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from about 80 to about 400° C. Alternatively, the positive active material may include a lithium-manganese-based compound core and an inorganic metal compound as well as the heat resistant polymer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from about 80 to about 400° C. disposed on the lithium-manganese-based compound core.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce generation of a magnetic field with a polarity reverse to that of the recording magnetic field, without deteriorating a gradient in the magnetic field. An embodiment of a magnetic disk device according to the present invention suppresses deviation and erase of already recorded data. In an embodiment, the perpendicular magnetic recording head includes the main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole, a trailing shield disposed on the trailing side of the main magnetic pole with a non-magnetic film placed in-between, and side shields disposed on both the sides of the main magnetic pole in the direction of the track width with a non-magnetic film placed in-between. The trailing shield has on the trailing side a portion where film thickness is thinner on the trailing side than the thickness of its element in the height direction in its position facing the main magnetic pole.

Abstract: A method for re-injecting low density gas into a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. The method includes providing a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. In addition, the method includes re-injecting low density gas from a hole penetrating the hermetically sealed disk enclosure from an exterior of the disk drive to an interior of the disk drive. Moreover, the method includes covering the hole with a sealing label including a metal layer and an adhesive layer.

Abstract: A head-slider configured to fly in proximity to a recording surface of a magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a write element including a main pole configured to generate a magnetic-recording field from a pole tip of the main pole in a first localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider also includes a magnetic-recording assistance element configured to provide energy to a second localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk in order to increase reversibility of a magnetization in a first localized portion of the magnetic-recording disk. A width of the pole tip of the main pole on a leading-edge side is wider than a width of the pole tip of the main pole on a trailing-edge side.

Abstract: The method of preparing a negative active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery includes mixing a vanadium compound and a lithium compound and then subjecting the mixture to first firing to obtain Li1.0(VxMy)1.0O2 having a layered halite type structure (where 0.5?x?1.0, 0?y?0.5, x+y=1, and M is selected from the group consisting of group 2 to 15 elements of the periodic table and combinations thereof); and adding a lithium compound to the Li1.0(VxMy)1.0O2 and then subjecting the resultant to second firing. The negative active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery prepared according to the preparing method has high crystallinity, and excellent charge and discharge characteristics at a high rate.

Abstract: A hard-disk drive. The hard-disk drive includes a magnetic-recording disk including tracks on which a plurality of patterned bit-cells that are isolated magnetically are aligned at predetermined alignment pitches. The hard-disk drive includes a magnetic-recording head which is configured to follow tracks, and to write and to read data. The hard-disk drive includes a signal-processing unit which is configured to generate a recording signal based on a write-clock signal with cycles corresponding to alignment pitches of patterned bit-cells, and to output a recording signal. The hard-disk drive includes a phase-detecting unit which is configured to detect a phase of the write-clock signal when the magnetic-recording head reaches an end point of a predetermined range. The hard disk drive includes a determination-processing unit which is configured to determine success of data writing based on a difference between an expected value and a detected value of the phase of the write-clock signal.

Abstract: A solid lithium ion secondary battery with high safety and high capacity, and an electrode for the solid lithium ion secondary battery. At least one of positive and negative electrodes of the solid lithium ion secondary battery includes a lithium salt of a cyclic imide compound.

Abstract: The positive electrode of a solid lithium ion secondary battery including a solid electrolyte and a positive active material that includes core particles and a coated layer at least partially covering the surfaces of the core particles. The core particles comprise a layered lithium composite oxide including a metal element having an oxidation number that remains constant during charging and discharging within a voltage range from about 2 V to about 5 V. The coated layer comprises a metal compound including a metal element having an oxidation number that remains constant during charging and discharging within a voltage range from about 2 V to about 5 V. The structure of the positive active material is stable over repeated charge and discharge cycles. Interfacial reaction between the positive active material and the solid electrolyte is suppressed. The solid lithium ion secondary battery has high output power and a long lifetime.

Abstract: A hard-disk drive. The hard-disk drive includes a magnetic-recording disk in which tracks adjacent to each other are magnetically separated, a spindle motor which drives the magnetic-recording disk, a magnetic-recording head equipped with write element and read element, an actuator for positioning the magnetic-recording head on a predetermined track on the magnetic-recording disk, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to store information about an over-write-only track that is provided for a plurality of tracks including n consecutive tracks in at least a partial radial area of the magnetic-recording disk and an offset amount. In a radial area of the magnetic disk where the over-write-only track is located, the control unit is configured to record with an offset by an offset amount from a center of a track toward the over-write-only track with respect to n?1 tracks of the plurality of n tracks, excluding the over-write-only track.