Abstract: A stacked PTC thermistor 1 comprises a body 4 obtained by alternating lamination of a semiconductor ceramic layer 2 and an internal electrode 3, and a pair of external electrodes 5a, 5b provided at the edge faces 4a, 4b of the body 4 and electrically connected with the internal electrode 3. The semiconductor ceramic layer 2 is composed of a porous sintered compact containing crystal grains of a barium titanate-based compound, and an alkali metal element is preferentially distributed in at least one of the grain boundaries and voids of the sintered compact.

Abstract: A remote maintenance apparatus is provided. The remote maintenance apparatus includes: a first obtaining part which obtains configuration information of terminals sent from the terminals; a storing part which stores the configuration information while bringing the configuration information into correspondence with generation information; a second obtaining part which obtains configuration information of a failed terminal; and an extraction part which extracts difference information between configuration information obtained by the second obtaining part and configuration information stored in the storing part which has older generation.

Abstract: A core material-including organic core board or inorganic sintered board 1 having a plurality of band-shaped conductor patterns 2 formed on its front and rear surfaces is sliced in a direction crossing the band-shaped conductor patterns 2. End portions of the band-shaped conductor patterns 2 exposed on each of cut surfaces of the core board 1 are connected to one another by bridging conductor patterns formed on the cut surfaces. In this manner, at least one helical coil is provided. The inner diameter of the helical coil can be kept constant while coil pitch accuracy can be kept good.

Abstract: An HM reservoir for storing hydrogen includes a housing and a plurality of storage units. The storage units are stacked in the interior of the housing. Each storage unit includes a pair of plate-like molded bodies and a flat heat exchanger. The plate-like molded bodies are formed by compressing powder of hydrogen storage material. The heat exchanger is provided between the molded bodies. Each molded body includes a first side and a second side, which is opposite to the first side. The first side contacts the heat exchanger. A plurality of flat hydrogen passages are formed in the interior of the housing to face the second sides of the associated molded bodies. The structure of the HM reservoir is thus simple. Further, the molded bodies of the HM reservoir smoothly absorb hydrogen and smoothly release the same.

Abstract: A core material-including organic core board or inorganic sintered board 1 having a plurality of band-shaped conductor patterns 2 formed on its front and rear surfaces is sliced in a direction crossing the band-shaped conductor patterns 2. End portions of the band-shaped conductor patterns 2 exposed on each of cut surfaces of the core board 1 are connected to one another by bridging conductor patterns formed on the cut surfaces. In this manner, at least one helical coil is provided. The inner diameter of the helical coil can be kept constant while coil pitch accuracy can be kept good.

Abstract: Methods for making hydrogen storage tanks may include disposing a substantially solid block of hydrogen-absorbing alloy within an activation vessel. Hydrogen gas may then be introduced into the activation vessel under conditions that will cause the hydrogen-absorbing alloy to absorb hydrogen and crack or break apart. Preferably, a substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy is formed thereby. Thereafter, the substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy can be transferred from the activation vessel to a hydrogen storage tank without substantially exposing the powered hydrogen-absorbing alloy to oxygen. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably ingot-shaped when introduced into the activation vessel. Further, the substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably produced by continuously breaking the ingot-shaped hydrogen-absorbing alloy within the activation vessel due to volume expansion caused by the hydrogen-absorbing alloy having absorbed hydrogen.

Abstract: Methods for making hydrogen storage tanks may include disposing a substantially solid block of hydrogen-absorbing alloy within an activation vessel. Hydrogen gas may then be introduced into the activation vessel under conditions that will cause the hydrogen-absorbing alloy to absorb hydrogen and crack or break apart. Preferably, a substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy is formed thereby. Thereafter, the substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy can be transferred from the activation vessel to a hydrogen storage tank without substantially exposing the powered hydrogen-absorbing alloy to oxygen. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably ingot-shaped when introduced into the activation vessel. Further, the substantially powdered hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably produced by continuously breaking the ingot-shaped hydrogen-absorbing alloy within the activation vessel due to volume expansion caused by the hydrogen-absorbing alloy having absorbed hydrogen.

Abstract: An HM reservoir for storing hydrogen includes a housing and a plurality of storage units. The storage units are stacked in the interior of the housing. Each storage unit includes a pair of plate-like molded bodies and a flat heat exchanger. The plate-like molded bodies are formed by compressing powder of hydrogenstorage material. The heat exchanger is provided between the molded bodies. Each molded body includes a first side and a second side, which is opposite to the first side. The first side contacts the heat exchanger. A plurality of flat hydrogen passages are formed in the interior of the housing to face the second sides of the associated molded bodies. The structure of the HM reservoir is thus simple. Further, the molded bodies of the HM reservoir smoothly absorb hydrogen and smoothly release the same.

Abstract: A remote maintenance apparatus is provided. The remote maintenance apparatus includes: a first obtaining part which obtains configuration information of terminals sent from the terminals; a storing part which stores the configuration information while bringing the configuration information into correspondence with generation information; a second obtaining part which obtains configuration information of a failed terminal; and an extraction part which extracts difference information between configuration information obtained by the second obtaining part and configuration information stored in the storing part which has older generation.

Abstract: Steam is contacted with a hydrogen absorbing alloy in a temperature range from 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. With a contact catalytic reaction of water, a metal contained in the hydrogen absorbing alloy is changed to an oxide or a hydroxide. Hydrogen produced causes the Ni compound to be reduced and thereby the Ni metal that is catalytically active is produced. Thus, the surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy is activated. The steam is contained in an inert gas or a reductive gas. This treatment method is suitable as an activation treatment for a hydrogen absorbing alloy used as an active material of a negative electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: For the high-speed data access machine, data is distributed in a plurality of hard disk drives coupled to slave processors to achieve ever-higher data reliability and maintenance. One master processor is provided with a plurality of slave processors, each of which is coupled to two hard disk drives containing the same data. A synchronous signal permits two hard disk drives to operate in synchronous rotation in half-a-turn phase difference from each other. The hard disk controller writes the same data in both hard disk drives but reads data from whichever hard disk drive requires less access time to obtain the data. A plurality of hard disk drives holding exactly the same data improves data reliability. Also, by rotating a plurality of hard disk drives in different phase, the rotational delay in data access is cut by half.

Abstract: For the high-speed data access machine, data is distributed in a plurality of hard disk drives coupled to slave processors to achieve ever-higher data reliability and maintenance. One master processor is provided with a plurality of slave processors, each of which is coupled to two hard disk drives containing the same data. A synchronous signal permits two hard disk drives to operate in synchronous rotation in half-a-turn phase difference from each other. The hard disk controller writes the same data in both hard disk drives but reads data from whichever hard disk drive requires less access time to obtain the data. A plurality of hard disk drives holding exactly the same data improves data reliability. Also, by rotating a plurality of hard disk drives in different phase, the rotational delay in data access is cut by half.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information. When a disk fails and is replaced with a standby disk, only the data in areas indicated to be in use are reconstructed. Check information can be stored on a solid-state disk.

Abstract: In a redundant array of disks, the disks are divided into areas of different sizes, so that small amounts of data can be stored in an area of an appropriate size on a single disk, instead of being spread over multiple disks. A usage status table indicates which areas are in use. Check information is generated and stored only for areas indicated to be in use. When new check information is generated, it is therefore possible to omit the reading of unnecessary old data and old check information.

Abstract: A drying device, for use with an electrostatic recording apparatus arranged such that an electrostatic latent image of an image to be recorded is formed on a surface of a recording paper moving through a predetermined moving path and the latent image is developed by applying a liquid toner to the surface of the recording paper and for drying the recording paper after application of the liquid toner, includes an air blower or suction unit for supplying or drawing an air; and an air guiding mechanism for guiding the air from the air blower to outside or from outside to the air suction unit through an area adjacent to the surface of the recording paper, wherein the air guiding mechanism includes an air passage extending from the air blower or the air suction unit to the predetermined moving path and an opening defined between at least by a part of a side wall of the air passage and the surface of the recording paper moving through the predetermined path for allowing the air to pass therethrough to outside or the

Abstract: A kit for the immunological assay of the human tissue plasminogen activator-human plasminogen activator inhibitor complex in a human specimen, which kit comprises(i) a monoclonal antibody (first antibody) against a human plasminogen activator inhibitor linked onto an insoluble solid carrier having a specular surface,(ii) a polyclonal antibody (second antibody) against a human tissue plasminogen activator labelled by an enzyme,(iii) a substrate and a reaction-discontinuing agent for the assay of the enzyme activity,(iv) a diluent, and(v) a detergent containing a nonionic surfactant having an HLB (Hydrophile Lipophile Balance) value of at least 16,and a method for the immunological assay of the above complex and a method for the immunological assay of the active human plasminogen activator inhibitor, respectively in a human specimen using this kit.

Abstract: An electron beam emitted from an electron gun is applied to an object whose crystal structure is being examined in a vacuum, and electron beams diffracted by the object are introduced into an energy discriminator of an energy analyzer which discriminates an electron beam or beams having a predetermined energy. The thus discriminated electron beams is converted by an electron beam detector into an electric signal for measuring the diffracted electron beam intensity.