Abstract: A rear wall of an instrument panel has an outlet port and an inclined wall. An angle defined by the inclined wall and a vertical plane is from 30° to 40°. An upper fin and a lower fin are both supported by fin pivots. The lower fin is configured to be inclinable downward by at most 30° with respect to a horizontal plane. When the lower fin is inclined downward by a maximum angle, an interlocking mechanism inclines the upper fin together with the lower fin in an interlocking manner such that an angle of the upper fin with respect to the lower fin is greater than that when in a horizontal state. A bottom wall of a retainer includes an inclined surface located under an upstream end of the lower fin. The inclined surfaced is inclined upward toward the downstream end.

Abstract: Provided is a novel heating system for an electric vehicle. A heating system for a vehicle compartment includes: a heat source storage chamber disposed below a vehicle compartment floor of an electric vehicle and configured to store at least one heat source element unit selected from an automotive battery, a motor, a converter, and an inverter; and a connection chamber configured to connect between the heat source storage chamber and the vehicle compartment. A heat exchange medium flows in the heat source storage chamber and the connection chamber. The heat source element unit and air in the vehicle compartment exchange heat with each other through the heat exchange medium.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sulfuric acid solution includes supplying a chloride ion-containing sulfuric acid solution as an initial electrolyte in an electrolyzer inside of which is divided into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber by a diaphragm; and subsequently taking out a metal dissolved electrolyte in which a metal constituting the anode is dissolved from the anode chamber while supplying a current to an anode and a cathode disposed in the electrolyzer.

Abstract: To activate communication between an autonomous operation body and a user. Providing an information processing device that includes: an application control unit that controls operation of an application relating to communication between an autonomous operation body and a user; and a reflection unit that causes the autonomous operation body to reflect an operation performed by the user in the application. In the information processing device, the application control unit controls operation of an avatar imitating the autonomous operation body, and the reflection unit causes the autonomous operation body to reflect a reward obtained by the avatar on the basis of the operation performed by the user.

Abstract: Provided are a metal electrodeposition cathode plate, the non-conductive film of which is not susceptible to failure and which can be used repeatedly, and a production method therefor. This cathode plate comprises a metal plate on which multiple disc-shaped protrusions are disposed, and a non-conductive film formed on the non-protrusion flat areas of the metal plate. The minimum film thickness Y of the non-conductive film at positions between the centers of adjacent protrusions is the same or greater than the height X of the protrusions. It is preferred that the height X of the protrusions is 50 ?m to 1000 ?m.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing satisfactory particles held in porous silica. The process comprises (a) the step of preparing porous silica, (b) the step of bringing the porous silica into contact with a liquid which contains either a metal or a compound that has the metal as a component element and infiltrating the liquid into the pores of the porous silica, and (c) the step of subjecting, after the step (b), the impregnated porous silica to a heat treatment to thereby form fine particles comprising the metal or the metal compound in the pores of the porous silica. When porous silica is synthesized by hydrolyzing an alkoxysilane in a solvent-free system, it is possible to synthesize porous silica having a fine pore diameter. Use of this porous silica as a template facilitates formation of particles (e.g., W, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni or an oxide of any of these metals) that show peculiar properties not observed in the bulk material.

Abstract: Provided is a reactive sputtering method and the like that are capable of making it unlikely for a particle deposit deposited on a non-erosion region or a nodule generated in an erosion region to be peeled off from a sputtering target, and of suppressing arc discharge and the like. A reactive sputtering method for performing deposition by using a sputtering device including magnetron sputtering cathodes 17, 18, 19, and 20 in a vacuum chamber 10, and by introducing a process gas containing a reactive gas into the vacuum chamber is wherein the reactive gas includes an oxygen gas or a nitrogen gas, and water is contained in the reactive gas. The action of water contained in the reactive gas makes it unlikely for a particle deposit and a nodule to be peeled off from a sputtering target, and also reduces the electric charges of the charged particle deposit or nodule, allowing arc discharge and the like to be suppressed.

Abstract: A cell catalyst composition according to the present invention includes a carbon catalyst granule and a binder resin, and at least a part of the binder resin includes a resin (B) including a hydrophilic functional group. The carbon catalyst granule is (i) a carbon catalyst granule wherein carbon catalyst (A) particles are bound to each other by using at least the resin (B), or/and (ii) a carbon catalyst granule wherein carbon catalyst (A) particles form a sintered body and are thereby bound to each other. The carbon catalyst (A) includes a carbon element, a nitrogen element, and a base metal element as constituent elements. Further, an average particle diameter of the carbon catalyst granule is 0.5 to 100 ?m, and a sphericity of the carbon catalyst granule is equal to or greater than 0.5.

Abstract: An attitude controller eliminates a skid motion of a banked vehicle when travelling through a curve. The attitude controller includes a lateral acceleration sensor that obtains lateral acceleration, as rightward or leftward accelerations, acting on a vehicle of a motorcycle, a bank angle detector that detects a bank angle of the vehicle, and a longitudinal force controller that decreases, independently of each of the wheels, an absolute value of a longitudinal force as the sum of forward and backward forces acting on front and rear wheels based on the obtained lateral acceleration and the detected bank angle.

Abstract: A cell catalyst composition according to the present invention includes a carbon catalyst granule and a binder resin, and at least a part of the binder resin includes a resin (B) including a hydrophilic functional group. The carbon catalyst granule is (i) a carbon catalyst granule wherein carbon catalyst (A) particles are bound to each other by using at least the resin (B), or/and (ii) a carbon catalyst granule wherein carbon catalyst (A) particles form a sintered body and are thereby bound to each other. The carbon catalyst (A) includes a carbon element, a nitrogen element, and a base metal element as constituent elements. Further, an average particle diameter of the carbon catalyst granule is 0.5 to 100 ?m, and a sphericity of the carbon catalyst granule is equal to or greater than 0.5.

Abstract: Provided is a storage box comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which are easily and firmly combined with each other without employing vibrational welding or screws. The outer panel and the inner panel are integrally combined by claw engagement portions. The claw engagement portions comprise at least one positioning claw engagement portion for determining relative positions of the outer panel and the inner panel, and at least one undetectable claw engagement portion for restricting the outer panel and the inner panel from moving in directions to be separated from each other.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing satisfactory particles held in porous silica. The process comprises (a) the step of preparing porous silica, (b) the step of bringing the porous silica into contact with a liquid which contains either a metal or a compound that has the metal as a component element and infiltrating the liquid into the pores of the porous silica, and (c) the step of subjecting, after the step (b), the impregnated porous silica to a heat treatment to thereby form fine particles comprising the metal or the metal compound in the pores of the porous silica. When porous silica is synthesized by hydrolyzing an alkoxysilane in a solvent-free system, it is possible to synthesize porous silica having a fine pore diameter. Use of this porous silica as a template facilitates formation of particles (e.g., W, Cu, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni or an oxide of any of these metals) that show peculiar properties not observed in the bulk material.

Abstract: An attitude controller eliminates a skid motion of a banked vehicle when travelling through a curve. The attitude controller includes a lateral acceleration sensor that obtains lateral acceleration, as rightward or leftward accelerations, acting on a vehicle of a motorcycle, a bank angle detector that detects a bank angle of the vehicle, and a longitudinal force controller that decreases, independently of each of the wheels, an absolute value of a longitudinal force as the sum of forward and backward forces acting on front and rear wheels based on the obtained lateral acceleration and the detected bank angle.

Abstract: A light-source driver for a light-source, detachable from an endoscope body includes a first switch, a pilot lamp, a warning lamp, a second switch, and a light switcher. The first switch switches between the On-state and Off-state in connection with the attachment and detachment of the light-source to the endoscope body. The pilot lamp indicates that the illumination light source is energized. The warning lamp indicates that the output voltage of a battery has dropped below a predetermined value. The second switch switches the warning lamp between the On-state and Off-state in connection with the On-state and Off-state of the first switch. The light switcher switches the pilot lamp to the Off-state and enables the second switch when the second switch is set to the On-state and the output voltage has declined to or below the predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is a storage box comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which are easily and firmly combined with each other without employing vibrational welding or screws. The outer panel and the inner panel are integrally combined by claw engagement portions. The claw engagement portions comprise at least one positioning claw engagement portion for determining relative positions of the outer panel and the inner panel, and at least one undetectable claw engagement portion for restricting the outer panel and the inner panel from moving in directions to be separated from each other.

Abstract: An air conditioning register includes a retainer having an elongated opening, a first fin, and a plurality of second fins. The first fin is arranged along long sides of the opening at a downstream position in the retainer. The second fins are arranged along short sides at an upstream position in the retainer. The retainer includes a pair of facing inner wall surfaces corresponding to the long sides of the opening. First inclined surfaces that are continuous with the long sides of the opening and second inclined surfaces that are continuous with the first inclined surfaces through ridges are each formed in the corresponding inner wall surface of the retainer.

Abstract: A porous silica which can be formed into various shapes excellent transparency, capable to be nanoparticulated, capable to be obtained at a high efficiency even when a cationic surfactant having 7 or less carbon atoms is used. Alkoxysilane is dispersed with a cationic surfactant in which a hydrophobic moiety has 2 to 7 of carbon atoms, and added water of which pH is adjusted to 0-2 with the amount of 2-4 equivalents to the alkoxysilane, and mildly hydrolyzed to obtain a monolithic mesoporous silica of which a pore diameter is not less than 0.5 nm and less than 2 nm. A pore diameter can be controlled by adding an organic silane to the system. By adding polyethylene glycol to the synthesis system, a monolithic mesoporous silica nanoparticle is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method and communication apparatus and method suitably for use in supplying the encoded data of accumulated music for example to a semiconductor memory or a portable device. In step S461, the content data enabled for check-in into an MS are identified. In step S462, a check-in process is executed. In step S463, it is determined whether or not the content data enabled for check-in have all been checked in. In step S464, an album to be checked out is determined. In step S465, one track is selected. In step S466, the selected track is determined whether or not it is enabled for check-out. In step S467, the capacity of the MS is confirmed. In step S468, a check-out operation is performed. In step S469, it is determined whether or not all tracks in the album to be checked out have been selected. The present invention is applicable to audio servers for example.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a transmission, an ECU, an engine and a transmission operating mechanism. The engine has a crank. The transmission operating mechanism includes a shift pedal and a load sensor. The load sensor detects an operation of the shift pedal by a driver, and applies a detected value to the ECU. The ECU decreases an output of the engine when a torque (driving force) having at least a predetermined value is transmitted from the crank to the transmission when a shift operation of the driver is detected by the load sensor. Moreover, the ECU does not decrease the output when the torque transmitted from the crank to the transmission is less than the predetermined value when the shift operation of the driver is detected by the load sensor.

Abstract: It is possible to enhance the luminance of a cold-cathode type discharge lamp and to contribute to a prolongation of service life thereof. A discharge lamp 1 is provided with an electrode 3 having a cup 4 with such a shape that a bottom is provided at each of both opposed ends of the glass tube 2. The cup 4 is connected to a lead-in wire 8 which is inserted through the end of the glass tube 2 and held thereby. The collision-preventing ring 5 covering an end surface of the cup 4 is provided to the open end 4a of the cup 4. The porous tungsten disk 6 impregnated with a ternary metal oxide composed of barium (Ba), aluminum (Al), and calcium (Ca) as an electron emission material is provided at a bottom in an inside of the cup 4.