Abstract: A server includes means for receiving a request for conversion from a first electronic value into a second electronic value from a user's terminal via a network, means for receiving an investment instruction to invest in the second electronic value obtained by the conversion from the user's terminal via the network, holding means for holding information regarding a type of merchandise corresponding to the second electronic value and a range of the second electronic value in association with each other, means for receiving a redemption instruction to redeem the second electronic value for the merchandise from the user's terminal via the network, the second electronic value being increased or decreased by the investment, and means for referring to the holding means and performing merchandise redemption processing on a basis of the received redemption instruction.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrocatalyst layers arranged to have the polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, at least one of the pair of electrocatalyst layers includes particles supporting a catalyst which is composed of a noble metal component, a polymer electrolyte, and a fibrous oxide-based catalytic material, and the fibrous oxide-based catalytic material includes at least one transition metal element selected from a group consisting of Ta, Nb, Ti, and Zr.

Abstract: An electrode catalyst layer has a first surface configured to be in contact with a polymer electrolyte membrane in a membrane electrode assembly, and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The electrode catalyst layer includes a first portion including the first surface, and a second portion having a layer shape and being laminated on the first portion. The electrode catalyst layer contains a first catalyst containing platinum and a second catalyst containing transition metal oxide. The first catalyst has catalytic activity higher than that of the second catalyst. A density of the first catalyst in the electrode catalyst layer is highest in a region including the first surface in the first portion. A maximum value of the density of the first catalyst in the second portion is smaller than a minimum value of the density of the first catalyst in the first portion.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that are capable of improving water release in a high current region, where a large amount of water is generated, without impairing water retention under low humidity conditions, and also capable of exhibiting high power generation performance and durability under high humidity conditions, and also reducing the production cost of the electrode catalyst layer. A membrane electrode assembly of the present embodiment includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrode catalyst layers sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane. At least one of the pair of electrode catalyst layers contains catalyst-supporting particles having a hydrophobic coating, hydrophobic polymer fibers, and a polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which improve drainage in a high current range where a large amount of water is produced, without hindering water retention under low humidification conditions, and exhibit high power generation performance and durability even under high humidification conditions. A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a polyelectrolyte film, and two electrocatalyst layers sandwiching the polyelectrolyte film. At least one of the two electrocatalyst layers includes catalyst support particles with a hydrophobic coating, a polyelectrolyte, and a fibrous material having an average fiber diameter that is 10 nm or more and 300 nm or less. The fibrous material has a mass that is 0.2 times or more and 1.0 times or less the mass of the carrier in the catalyst support particles.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which improve drainage in a high current range where a large amount of water is produced, without hindering water retention under low humidification conditions, and exhibit high power generation performance and durability even under high humidification conditions. A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a polyelectrolyte film, and two electrocatalyst layers sandwiching the polyelectrolyte film. At least one of the two electrocatalyst layers includes catalyst support particles with a hydrophobic coating, a polyelectrolyte, and a fibrous material having an average fiber diameter that is 10 nm or more and 300 nm or less. The fibrous material has a mass that is 0.2 times or more and 1.0 times or less the mass of the carrier in the catalyst support particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fibrous rutile-type oxide that contains an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, and a transition metal atom. The transition metal atom is at least one atom selected from the group consisting of a titanium atom, a tantalum atom, a niobium atom, and a zirconium atom. The rutile-type oxide is represented by the chemical formula MOxNy, where M represents the transition metal atom. In the chemical formula, x satisfies x = 2 - (y +j) (j ? 0).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of synthetic graphite particles having a BET specific surface area (SSA) of equal to or less than 4 m2/g, and further comprising between about 5 and about 75% (w/w) of at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of natural graphite particles coated with non-graphitic carbon and having a BET SSA of equal to or less than 8 m2/g. Such compositions are particularly useful as active material for negative electrodes in, e.g., lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their overall favorable electrochemical properties, particularly for automotive and energy storage applications. The present disclosure also relates to the use of said non-graphitic carbon-coated natural graphite particles for preparing compositions that are suitable for being used as an active material in a negative electrode of, e.g., a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrocatalyst layers arranged to have the polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, at least one of the pair of electrocatalyst layers includes particles supporting a catalyst which is composed of a noble metal component, a polymer electrolyte, and a fibrous oxide-based catalytic material, and the fibrous oxide-based catalytic material includes at least one transition metal element selected from a group consisting of Ta, Nb, Ti, and Zr.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for fuel cells including an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a pentavalent phosphorus atom, and a transition metal atom, in which when the transition metal atom is represented by M, the catalyst for fuel cells is represented by a chemical formula MOxNyPz, and the transition metal atom is at least one selected from the group consisting of a titanium atom, a tantalum atom, a niobium atom, and a zirconium atom.

Abstract: A device is provided, which controls a vehicle-mounted engine provided with an engine body with a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of independent intake passages, each connected to the engine body so as to communicate with a combustion chamber of each cylinder via an intake port, and a surge tank connected to an upstream end of each independent intake passage. The device includes a phase changer, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller configured to acquire an amount of condensate water existing in the surge tank. When the engine is stopped in a situation where the ambient temperature is lower than a given reference temperature and the condensate water amount is above a given reference amount, the controller controls the phase changer so that a lift amount of an intake valve in each cylinder of the stopped engine becomes outside a given minute lift range.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that are capable of improving water release in a high current region, where a large amount of water is generated, without impairing water retention under low humidity conditions, and also capable of exhibiting high power generation performance and durability under high humidity conditions, and also reducing the production cost of the electrode catalyst layer. A membrane electrode assembly of the present embodiment includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of electrode catalyst layers sandwiching the polymer electrolyte membrane. At least one of the pair of electrode catalyst layers contains catalyst-supporting particles having a hydrophobic coating, hydrophobic polymer fibers, and a polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: To provide a control device for a vehicle capable of controlling the torque of a drive source so as to appropriately balance the suppression of body vibrations and the securing of a transient response during acceleration or deceleration. This control device for a vehicle includes an accelerator position sensor that detects the accelerator opening, a torque adjustment mechanism such as a throttle valve that adjusts the torque of an engine as the drive source of the vehicle, and a powertrain control module (PCM) that controls the torque adjustment mechanism based on the accelerator opening. The PCM sets the target acceleration of the vehicle based on the accelerator opening, sets the target torsion angle of the drive shaft based on the target acceleration, sets the target torque of the engine based on the target torsion, and controls the torque adjustment mechanism based on the target torque.

Abstract: A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which improve drainage in a high current range where a large amount of water is produced, without hindering water retention under low humidification conditions, and exhibit high power generation performance and durability even under high humidification conditions. A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a polyelectrolyte film, and two electrocatalyst layers sandwiching the polyelectrolyte film. At least one of the two electrocatalyst layers includes catalyst support particles with a hydrophobic coating, a polyelectrolyte, and a fibrous material having an average fiber diameter that is 10 nm or more and 300 nm or less. The fibrous material has a mass that is 0.2 times or more and 1.0 times or less the mass of the carrier in the catalyst support particles.

Abstract: To provide a control device for a vehicle capable of controlling the torque of a drive source so as to appropriately balance the suppression of body vibrations and the securing of a transient response during acceleration or deceleration. This control device for a vehicle includes an accelerator position sensor that detects the accelerator opening, a torque adjustment mechanism such as a throttle valve that adjusts the torque of an engine as the drive source of the vehicle, and a powertrain control module (PCM) that controls the torque adjustment mechanism based on the accelerator opening. The PCM sets the target acceleration of the vehicle based on the accelerator opening, sets the target torsion angle of the drive shaft based on the target acceleration, sets the target torque of the engine based on the target torsion, and controls the torque adjustment mechanism based on the target torque.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least two different carbonaceous components, at least one being a surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material typically having a relatively high spring-back, and at least one other component being a carbonaceous particulate material (such as graphite) generally having a lower spring-back and/or a higher BET specific surface area than the surface-modified carbonaceous material component. Such compositions are particularly useful for making negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their beneficial electrochemical properties, particularly in automotive and energy storage applications.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for fuel cells including an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a pentavalent phosphorus atom, and a transition metal atom, in which when the transition metal atom is represented by M, the catalyst for fuel cells is represented by a chemical formula MOxNyPz, and the transition metal atom is at least one selected from the group consisting of a titanium atom, a tantalum atom, a niobium atom, and a zirconium atom.

Abstract: A supercharging device for an engine is provided, which includes a supercharger provided to an intake passage of the engine, an actuator configured to drive the supercharger, and a controller including a processor configured to control the actuator to drive the supercharger when an operating state of the engine is in a given supercharging range, and to stop the supercharger when the operating state is in a non-supercharging range. The controller causes the actuator to forcibly drive the supercharger in the non-supercharging range when a temperature of the supercharger is lower than a preset temperature, and prohibits the forcible drive of the supercharger when a rotation speed of the supercharger during the forcible drive of the supercharger is lower than a preset rotation speed.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises: an engine 10 capable of switching between a reduced-cylinder operation mode in which combustion is stopped in a part of a plurality of cylinders 2 and an all-cylinder operation mode in which combustion is performed in all the plurality of cylinders 2; and a PCM 50 configured to stop fuel supply to the cylinders 2 when a given fuel cut-off condition is satisfied. The PCM 50 is operable, during a transition from a state in which the engine 10 is operated in the reduced-cylinder operation mode to a state in which the fuel cut-off condition is satisfied, to stop the fuel supply to the cylinders 2 at a timing earlier than that during a transition from a state in which the engine 10 is operated in the all-cylinder operation mode to the state in which the fuel cut-off condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A supercharging device for an engine is provided, which includes a supercharger provided to an intake passage of the engine, an actuator configured to drive the supercharger, and a controller including a processor configured to control the actuator to drive the supercharger when an operating state of the engine is in a given supercharging range, and to stop the supercharger when the operating state is in a non-supercharging range. The controller causes the actuator to forcibly drive the supercharger in the non-supercharging range when a temperature of the supercharger is lower than a preset temperature, and prohibits the forcible drive of the supercharger when a rotation speed of the supercharger during the forcible drive of the supercharger is lower than a preset rotation speed.