Abstract: An air flow measuring device includes an air flow meter (AFM), a straightening grid, and a mesh member. The AFM includes an air inlet and is configured to measure a flow rate of air flowing into the air inlet. The straightening grid includes a straightening plate having only one crossing region and is disposed on an upstream side of the AFM in a flow direction of air to straighten a flow of air toward the AFM through the straightening plate. The mesh member is formed in a netted manner and is disposed between the straightening plate and the AFM.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element capable of being sintered at low temperatures and high in piezoelectric properties is provided. The laminated piezoelectric element comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers each comprising a composite oxide as a main constituent thereof and a plurality of internal electrode layers formed between the piezoelectric layers and containing Ag, wherein the piezoelectric layers are each comprised of a sintered body comprising the composite oxide, as a main constituent thereof, represented by (Pba-bMb) [(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xTiyZrz]O3 with the proviso that 0.96?a?1.03, 0?b?0.1, 0.05?x?0.15, 0.25?y?0.5, 0.35?z?0.6, x+y+z=1, and M represents at least one selected from Sr, Ca and Ba, and Ag in a content of 1.0% by weight or less (not inclusive of 0) in terms of Ag2O in relation to the main constituent.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition capable of being sintered at low temperatures and in a low-oxygen reductive atmosphere and capable of attaining a sufficient displacement even at high voltages of 1 kV/mm or more. The piezoelectric ceramic composition includes: a composite oxide, as a main constituent thereof, represented by the following composition formula; Cu and/or Ag, each as a first additive, Cu being included in a content ?, in terms of Cu2O, falling within a range 0<??0.5% by mass and Ag being included in a content ?, in terms of Ag2O, falling within a range 0<??0.4% by mass, in relation to the main constituent; wherein: composition formula: Pba[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xTiyZrz]O3, where 0.96?a?1.03, 0.005?x<0.05, 0.42?y?0.53, 0.45?z?0.56, and x+y+z=1.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition capable of being sintered at low temperatures and in a low-oxygen reductive atmosphere and capable of attaining a sufficient displacement even at high voltages of 1 kV/mm or more. The piezoelectric ceramic composition includes: a composite oxide, as a main constituent thereof, represented by the following composition formula; Cu and/or Ag, each as a first additive, Cu being included in a content ?, in terms of Cu2O, falling within a range 0<??0.5% by mass and Ag being included in a content ?, in terms of Ag2O, falling within a range 0<??0.4% by mass, in relation to the main constituent; wherein: composition formula: Pba[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xTiyZrz]O3, where 0.96?a?1.03, 0.005?x<0.05, 0.42?y?0.53, 0.45?z?0.56, and x+y+z=1.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element capable of being sintered at low temperatures and high in piezoelectric properties is provided. The laminated piezoelectric element comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers each comprising a composite oxide as a main constituent thereof and a plurality of internal electrode layers formed between the piezoelectric layers and containing Ag, wherein the piezoelectric layers are each comprised of a sintered body comprising the composite oxide, as a main constituent thereof, represented by (Pba-bMb)[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xTiyZrz]O3 with the proviso that 0.96?a?1.03, 0?b?0.1, 0.05?x?0.15, 0.25?y?0.5, 0.35?z?0.6, x+y+z=1, and M represents at least one selected from Sr, Ca and Ba, and Ag in a content of 1.0% by weight or less (not inclusive of 0) in terms of Ag2O in relation to the main constituent.

Abstract: An oxide of a transition metal element having at least two valences less than 4 is contained in a spherical dielectric ceramic powder. According to a composite dielectric material using the dielectric ceramic powder, the electric resistivity can be made to take such a high value as 1.0×1012 ?·cm or more while satisfactory dielectric properties are being maintained.

Abstract: In a cooling mechanism for an engine electronic control module, a base plate of the engine electronic control module is attached to an intake pipe, and includes air rectifier fins. The air rectifier fins have an air rectification function for concentrating suction-air streams at a position while rectifying the suction-air streams, and a cooling function for cooling the engine electronic control module. Suction air flows into an intake duct, in which an air flow meter is provided, through the air rectifier fins. Therefore, eddies of air can be restricted from being generated at an upstream side of the air flow meter, thereby obtaining stable air-flow signals from the air flow meter.

Abstract: In a cooling mechanism for an engine electronic control module, a base plate of the engine electronic control module is attached to an intake pipe, and includes air rectifier fins. The air rectifier fins have an air rectification function for concentrating suction-air streams at a position while rectifying the suction-air streams, and a cooling function for cooling the engine electronic control module. Suction air flows into an intake duct, in which an air flow meter is provided, through the air rectifier fins. Therefore, eddies of air can be restricted from being generated at an upstream side of the air flow meter, thereby obtaining stable air-flow signals from the air flow meter.

Abstract: Manganese oxide and tantalum oxide are added to a piezoelectric ceramic composition based on lead zinc-niobate titanate zirconate. The composition is suitable for piezo-electric transformers since its mechanical quality factor (Qm) is improved without reducing its electromechanical coupling coefficient (k31), and good high-power properties and high mechanical strength are obtained. In another embodiment, manganese oxide and at least one of antimony oxide and niobium oxide are added to a piezoelectric ceramic composition based on lead zinc-niobate titanate zirconate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing 5-cyclohexadecen-1-one continuously from 1,2-divinylcyclododecanol in a short time in an efficient manner without side reactions. In the process, 1,2-divinylcyclododecanol as a starting material is supplied from a raw material container 1 by a dosage pump 2 to a flash unit 3 which is set under a vacuum of 5 mm Hg or less by a vacuum pump 8 and is heated. 1,2-Divinylcyclododecanol which is flashed in the flash unit is supplied to a reactor 4 which is heated to 400 to 650° C. and is set under a vacuum of 5 mm Hg or less whereby 1,2-divinylcyclododecanol is converted into 5-cyclohexadecen-1-one. The reaction product is discharged from the top of the reactor and is cooled to recover the objective 5-cyclohexadecen-1-one in the recovery container 6. The reduction in the pressure of the apparatus is preferably performed by a vacuum pump 8 via a hydrochloric acid trap 7 comprising, for example, sodium methylate/methanol cooled to −78 to −100° C.

Abstract: A gradual releasing capsule having large mechanical strength, a large grain size and excellent gradual-releasability and its production method are disclosed. The capsule comprises a polymer core body containing a hydrophobic oil and a shell body formed of a cured body with which the surface of the core body is covered. The capsule is produced by dripping a core body-forming composition containing a hydrophobic oil and a reactive monomer and a curable polymer-containing solution from a multiple nozzle into a coagulating solution to form a primary capsule and then polymerizing the reactive monomer in the primary capsule.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; m and n each represent 1 or 2 provided that they do not simultaneously represent 1; and C.sup.*1 and C.sup.*2, both represent an optically active carbon atom, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are disclosed. The compound exhibits chiral nematic and smectic phases and are excellent as a chiral dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions or nematic liquid crystal compositions.