Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for accelerating calcium absorption containing a poorly absorbable L-form aldonic acid, a salt thereof, or a poorly absorbable L-form aldonolactone. The invention also relates to a food or beverage containing L-arabonic acid, a salt thereof, or L-arabonolactone. The invention also relates to a process for preparing L-arabono-?-lactone crystals, characterized by dissolving L-arabonic acid in an organic solvent and crystallizing L-arabono-?-lactone from the solution. According to the invention, a food or pharmaceutical product effective in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis can be provided.

Abstract: The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell temperature sensor for measuring the internal temperature of the fuel cell, a voltage sensor for measuring the power generation voltage of the fuel cell, a current sensor for measuring the current flowing from the fuel cell, a radiator for radiating heat generated by the fuel cell, a fan attached to the radiator for controlling the heat radiation amount, a cooling water pump for increasing the pressure of a cooling fluid, a bypass valve for controlling the cooling fluid amount entering the radiator, and a controller, on the basis of the voltage information measured by the voltage sensor, the temperature information measured by the temperature sensor, and the current information measured by the current sensor, for controlling at least one of the operation amount of the cooling water pump, the operation amount of the fan, and the cooling fluid amount flowing through the bypass valve.

Abstract: The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell having an anode supplied with fuel gas and a cathode supplied with oxidizing agent gas, a water penetration membrane-type moistening device for collecting moisture contained in cathode off gas discharged from a cathode exit of the fuel cell and moistening oxidizing agent gas, and a moisture regulating means for regulating moisture contained in cathode off gas between the cathode exit of the fuel cell and the water penetration membrane-type moistening device, wherein when operating the fuel cell at more than a predetermined rated load of the fuel cell, moisture contained in cathode off gas is reduced by the moisture regulating means.

Abstract: This invention provides carbon composite materials, which comprise metal carbide particles, at least the particle surfaces or the entirety of which are metal carbides, synthesized in situ from a metal source, i.e., at least one member selected from the group comprising metal particles, metal oxide particles, and composite metal oxide particles, and a carbon source, i.e., a thermosetting resin, dispersed in a carbon, carbon fiber, or carbon/carbon fiber matrix, and contain no free metal particles. This invention also provides a method for producing such composite carbon materials, which enables the production of carbon composite materials having a high coefficient of friction, high thermostability, and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: This invention provides an infrared diffractive lens capable of focusing infrared rays within a wide range of wavelength band effectively. According to the present invention, there is provided an infrared diffractive lens including a concave-convex shape with predetermined depth defined based on a predetermined standard wavelength in a wavelength band of incident infrared rays, wherein: the incident infrared rays are within the wavelength band of 1.1-16 ?m; a depth h of the concave-convex shape is defined by m?/(n?1) with regard to a refractive index n of material of lens, the standard wavelength ? and a harmonic order m; and the harmonic order m is an integer between 2 and 10. Using the infrared diffractive lens with such a configuration makes it possible to focus infrared rays within a wide range of wavelength band effectively.

Abstract: A plurality of collars are mounted on a takeup shaft for axially pressing and holding a plurality of spools which are mounted on the takeup shaft. The takeup shaft includes an axial thrust groove defined therein. The collars include respective rolling bearings inserted in the thrust groove for preventing the collars from rotating with respect to the takeup shaft. The rolling bearings are rotatably movable in and along the thrust groove.

Abstract: The present invention is to offer a fuel cell system that efficiently removes the moisture contained in the anode offgas with the aid of a gas-liquid separator, which is installed in the circulation line of fuel gas, by sensing the pressure of the anode offgas led into the gas-liquid separator and that of the dry gas for absorbing the contained moisture and controlling the pressures within a suitable range.

Abstract: Basalt filament is manufactured in such a manner that the fiber diameter can be controlled and the filament is not severed during the winding step. A network former and a glass modifier are formed and maintained with respect to basalt rock ore, and the crystallization and binding of basalt fiber are inhibited, the heat-resistance property of basalt fiber is greatly improved from the conventional 750° C. to 850 or 900° C., and significant cost reduction is achieved over conventional products. The method includes the steps of: grinding basalt rock as a material; washing a resultant ground rock; melting the ground rock that has been washed; transforming a molten product into fiber; and drawing the fiber in an aligned manner, and winding it. The temperature of the molten product in the melting step is 1400 to 1650° C., and log? is 2.15 to 2.35 dPa·s and preferably 2.2 to 2.3 dPa·s, where ? is the viscosity of the molten product.

Abstract: A network former and a glass modifier are formed and maintained by using basalt rock ore, and the crystallization and binding of basalt fiber are inhibited The heat-resistance property of basalt fiber is greatly improved from the conventional 750° C. to 850 or 900° C., and significant cost reduction is achieved over conventional products. Basalt fiber material having basalt rock as a raw material to which one or more kinds of oxide selected from Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, and MgO is added, and basalt fiber material having two kinds of basalt rock containing different amounts of elements as raw materials are provided.

Abstract: An optical transmitter and receiver module which can enhance a coupling comprises a light source emitting the first light, a light-receiving section receiving the second light, a diffraction device changing the direction of travel of at least one of the first light and the second light, a first lens which condenses the first light, outgoing from the light source and entering through the medium of the diffraction device, onto a light input/output face of the optical fiber and condenses the second light outgoing from the optical fiber onto the light-receiving section through the medium of the diffraction device, and a second lens which inhibits a beam of the first light outgoing from the light source from diverging and allows it to enter the first lens through the medium of the diffraction device.

Abstract: A lens element 1 is formed by making use of an optical substrate, and includes a lens portion 2, an edge portion 6 in the form of a circular arc provided along the circumference of the lens portion 2, and a handling portion 4 which is integrated with the lens portion 2 and the edge portion 6 as well and extends with a width wider than that of the lens portion 2. The handling portion 4 can be caught and held by chucking vacuum suction and so forth. The lens element 1 can be handled by catching the handling portion 4 without directly touching the lens element 1, and thus the lens element 1 is neither damaged nor contaminated, and stably handled with ease.

Abstract: A lens element 1 is formed by making use of an optical substrate, and includes a lens portion 2, an edge portion 6 in the form of a circular arc provided along the circumference of the lens portion 2, and handling portion 4 which is integrated with the lens portion 2 and the edge portion 6 as well and extends with a width wider than that of the lens portion 2. The handling portion 4 can be caught and held by chucking vacuum suction and so forth. The lens element 1 can be handled by catching the handling portion 4 without directly touching the lens element 1, and thus the lens element 1 is neither damaged nor contaminated, and stably handled with ease.

Abstract: To provide an optical transmitter and receiver module which can enhance a coupling efficiency between a laser diode and an optical fiber, and can enhance a photo-electrical conversion efficiency of light outgoing from an optical fiber in a photodiode, an optical transmitter and receiver module which is connected to an optical fiber and transmits a first light and receives a second light via the optical fiber, and this module comprises a light source emitting the first light, a light-receiving section receiving the second light, a diffraction device changing the direction of travel of at least one of the first light and the second light, a first lens which condenses the first light, outgoing from the light source and entering through the medium of the diffraction device, onto a light input/output face of the optical fiber and condenses the second light outgoing from the optical fiber onto the light-receiving section through the medium of the diffraction device, and a second lens which inhibits a beam of the fi

Abstract: A lens element 1 is formed by making use of an optical substrate, and includes a lens portion 2, an edge portion 6 in the form of a circular arc provided along the circumference of the lens portion 2, and a handling portion 4 which is integrated with the lens portion 2 and the edge portion 6 as well and extends with a width wider than that of the lens portion 2. The handling portion 4 can be caught and held by chucking vacuum suction and so forth. The lens element 1 can be handled by catching the handling portion 4 without directly touching the lens element 1, and thus the lens element 1 is neither damaged nor contaminated, and stably handled with ease.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical substrate having a first surface on which a lens element is formed, and a second surface with a projecting part or parts. The projecting part or parts are mated with a corresponding groove or grooves in the surface of a supporting substrate on which an optical element is mounted. The optical element is thereby optically aligned with the lens element. The projecting part or parts and groove or grooves are preferably formed by photolithography.

Abstract: A plurality of collars are mounted on a takeup shaft for axially pressing and holding a plurality of spools which are mounted on the takeup shaft. The takeup shaft includes an axial thrust groove defined therein. The collars include respective rolling bearings inserted in the thrust groove for preventing the collars from rotating with respect to the takeup shaft. The rolling bearings are rotatably movable in and along the thrust groove.

Abstract: A method for forming many microlenses comparatively easily and effectively is provided. On one end of an optical substrate is formed a plurality of lens planes at regular intervals. Lens areas containing the lens planes are partially covered by an etching mask and etching processing is performed on areas being exposed outside the etching mask to remove the areas to a specified depth. While the lens planes formed on one surface of the optical substrate are being held by a support substrate, polishing processing is performed on another end face of the optical substrate and each microlens formed in the lens areas is separated from the support substrate.

Abstract: An optical demultiplexer/multiplexer for wavelength division multiplex communication includes: a light irradiating unit for irradiating a spherical wave containing light waves of different wavelengths; optical fibers for respectively receiving the different wavelengths of the demultiplexed light wave; a converting lens for receiving the spherical wave and converting the spherical wave into a parallel wave; WDM filters each for selecting and reflecting the light wave in the parallel wave and transmitting the residual light waves; guide lenses for receiving the light waves reflected by the WDM filters, converging, and transmitting the light waves to the optical fibers; and reflecting mirrors for receiving the light waves and reflecting the light waves toward the WDM filters.

Abstract: A method for forming many microlenses comparatively easily and effectively is provided. On one end of an optical substrate is formed a plurality of lens planes at regular intervals. Lens areas containing the lens planes are partially covered by an etching mask and etching processing is performed on areas being exposed outside the etching mask to remove the areas to a specified depth. While the lens planes formed on one surface of the optical substrate are being held by a support substrate, polishing processing is performed on another end face of the optical substrate and each microlens formed in the lens areas is separated from the support substrate.

Abstract: A lens element 1 is formed by making use of an optical substrate, and includes a lens portion 2, an edge portion 6 in the form of a circular arc provided along the circumference of the lens portion 2, and a handling portion 4 which is integrated with the lens portion 2 and the edge portion 6 as well and extends with a width wider than that of the lens portion 2. The handling portion 4 can be caught and held by using a grasping means, a vacuum sucking means and so forth. With this, the lens element 1 can be handled by catching the handling portion 4 without directly touching the lens element 1, thus the lens element 1 being neither damaged nor contaminated, and being stably handled with ease.