Abstract: A composite material includes an aggregate which contains a first metal particle constituting a core and second metal oxide particulates surrounding the first metal particle and having an average primary particle diameter ranging from 1 to 100 nm.

Abstract: The thickness in the width direction of a pair of side wall sections 4 is made as uniform as possible. In use, a load is applied to the pivot 3 from the side of the first and second connecting sections 5, 6 which connect the pair of side wall sections 4. A crimped section 13a is formed on the outer periphery at the opposite end surfaces of the pivot 3b, on the half on the side of the connecting sections 5, 6. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the opposite ends of the pivot 3b comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 11 on the load support side. Consequently, the load is sufficiently supported by the contact surface, and even after being used for a long time of period, lost motion is prevented from occurring on the support section at the opposite ends of the pivot 3 with respect to the pair of side wall section 4.

Abstract: This composite oxide powder can secure a large pore volume even after calcination at high temperature and, when a catalyst is formed by loading a noble metal on this composite oxide powder, noble metal grain growth can be suppressed. The composite oxide powder comprises particles of an oxide of a metal M1 and an oxide of a metal M2 which does not dissolve in the oxide of the metal M1, the oxide of the metal M1 and the oxide of the metal M2 being dispersed at the nanometer level. Since different oxides serve as a barrier to each other, sintering is suppressed. Therefore, in the case of composite oxide powder comprising Ce as a metal M1 and Al as a metal M2, grain growth is small even after exposed to high temperature and pores of 3.5-100 nm secure a volume of 0.07 cc/g or more after calcination at 600° C. for 5 hours and a volume of 0.04 cc/g or more after calcination at 800° C. for 5 hours.

Abstract: A photomask with a dummy pattern is inspected in a predetermined detection sensitivity by using photomask pattern data designating a photomask with a dummy pattern to detect defects in the photomask. Coordinates indicating the positions of the defects are also determined. The defects in a design pattern area and those in a dummy pattern area are discriminated by using defect-discriminating data. The defects in the design pattern area and those in the dummy pattern area are examined on the basis of respective inspection specifications.

Abstract: The thickness in the width direction of a pair of side wall sections 4 is made as uniform as possible. In use, a load is applied to the pivot 3 from the side of the first and second connecting sections 5, 6 which connect the pair of side wall sections 4. A crimped section 13a is formed on the outer periphery at the opposite end surfaces of the pivot 3b, on the half on the side of the connecting sections 5, 6. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the opposite ends of the pivot 3b comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 11 on the load support side. Consequently, the load is sufficiently supported by the contact surface, and even after being used for a long time of period, lost motion is prevented from occurring on the support section at the opposite ends of the pivot 3 with respect to the pair of side wall section 4.

Abstract: Substrate-selecting equipment selects substrates used for objective products from among a group of substrates with photosensitive material layers used for the production of photomask. The substrate-selecting equipment comprises one or more of the defect-registering part(s) for registering the results of the inspection of defects of substrates with photosensitive material layers in database, the photosensitive material layer lot check result-registering part for registering the results of check of lots of photosensitive material layers in database and the substrate-selecting part for selecting substrates used for the production of objective products from among a group of substrates with photosensitive material layers, on the basis of the results of inspection of defects and the results of check of lots of photosensitive materials registered in database.

Abstract: A practical catalyst exhibiting especially high CO shift reaction activity in a low temperature region where CO is favorably converted to H2 in equilibrium includes a carrier which is composed of titania as a main component, a noble metal which is supported on the carrier, and a sulfur-containing material which adheres to the carrier. The titania carrier to which the sulfur-containing material adheres exhibits high solid acid strength, and accordingly acts to absorb electrons from noble metal so that noble metal becomes partially oxidized. This results in the CO adsorbing ability decreasing to restrain poisoning of noble metal due to CO, whereby the CO shift reaction activity in a low temperature region is improved.

Abstract: A photomask with a dummy pattern is inspected in a predetermined detection sensitivity by using photomask pattern data designating a photomask with a dummy pattern to detect defects in the photomask. Coordinates indicating the positions of the defects are also determined. The defects in a design pattern area and those in a dummy pattern area are discriminated by using defect-discriminating data. The defects in the design pattern area and those in the dummy pattern area are examined on the basis of respective inspection specifications.

Abstract: Substrate-selecting equipment selects substrates used for objective products from among a group of substrates with photosensitive material layers used for the production of photomask. The substrate-selecting equipment comprises one or more of the defect registering part(s) for registering the results of the inspection of defects of substrates with photosensitive material layers in database, the photosensitive material layer lot check result registering part for registering the results of check of lots of photosensitive material layers in database and the substrate-selecting part for selecting substrates used for the production of objective products from among a group of substrates with photosensitive material layers, on the basis of the results of inspection of defects and the results of check of lots of photosensitive materials registered in database.

Abstract: A practical catalyst exhibiting especially high CO shift reaction activity in a low temperature region where CO is favorably converted to H2 in equilibrium includes a carrier which is composed of titania as a main component, a noble metal which is supported on the carrier, and a sulfur-containing material which adheres to the carrier. The titania carrier to which the sulfur-containing material adheres exhibits high solid acid strength, and accordingly acts to absorb electrons from noble metal so that noble metal becomes partially oxidized. This results in the CO adsorbing ability decreasing to restrain poisoning of noble metal due to CO, whereby the CO shift reaction activity in a low temperature region is improved.

Abstract: A titania-based porous substance includes titania as a principal ingredient, and exhibits an x-ray diffraction peak resulting from lattice planes whose spacing falls in a range of 0.290±0.002 nm. Thus, it includes crystals other than the anatase phase crystal. Therefore, a large number of crystal planes exist therein. As a result, when a catalytic ingredient is loaded on it, the catalytic ingredient is loaded with a lowered rate within the identical crystal plane.

Abstract: This composite oxide powder can secure a large pore volume even after calcination at high temperature and, when a catalyst is formed by loading a noble metal on this composite oxide powder, noble metal grain growth can be suppressed. The composite oxide powder comprises particles of an oxide of a metal M1 and an oxide of a metal M2 which does not dissolve in the oxide of the metal M1, the oxide of the metal M1 and the oxide of the metal M2 being dispersed at the nanometer level. Since different oxides serve as a barrier to each other, sintering is suppressed. Therefore, in the case of composite oxide powder comprising Ce as a metal M1 and Al as a metal M2, grain growth is small even after exposed to high temperature and pores of 3.5-100 nm secure a volume of 0.07 cc/g or more after calcination at 600° C. for 5 hours and a volume of 0.04 cc/g or more after calcination at 800° C. for 5 hours.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a porous support, at least one catalyst ingredient selected from Pt and Pd, and additional ingredients including (1) at least two rare-earth elements including La, (2) at least one rare-earth element including La and at least one transition element selected from Fe, Ni, Co and Mn, (3) at least two alkali metals, (4) at least one alkali metal and at least one rare-earth element including La, (5) at least one alkali metal and at least one transition element selected from Fe, Ni, Co and Mn, (6) at least two alkaline-earth metals, (7) at least one alkaline-earth metal and at least one rare-earth element including La, or (8) Ba, Li, La, Ce and Zr. A process for purifying an exhaust gas, by contacting the catalyst with an exhaust gas, is also provided.

Abstract: A spectacle frame which is low in height when folded, which is made up of a smaller number of parts and can be assembled efficiently at a low cost. Each auxiliary temple is connected to a mounting piece fixed to a lens frame so that it can be folded downward from the position in which it extends rearwardly from the mounting piece. When it is bent downward, it is resiliently urged upward. A main temple is connected to the rear end of each auxiliary temple so that it can be bend downward from the position in which it extends rearward from the auxiliary temple. Each auxiliary temple houses mechanisms for keeping the auxiliary temple in a predetermined position relative to the mounting piece and for keeping the main temple in a predetermined position relative to the auxiliary temple. It is thus possible to use the same parts for both these mechanisms and thus to reduce the number of parts of the entire spectacles.

Abstract: A direct current voltage is applied between an anodic portion containing an oxidizing catalyst provided on one surface of a proton conductive solid electrolyte which separates the flow path of the gas to be treated into two parts, and a cathodic portion containing a reducing catalyst provided on the other surface of the solid electrolyte, the reducing catalyst comprising at least one selected from oxides of elements of Group 5A, Group 6A, and Group 7A of the periodic table, palladium, palladium alloys, transition elements carried on alumina, cerium oxide, and La.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x Co.sub.1-y Fe.sub.y O.sub.3 (where, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1), while bringing a gas containing water vapor into contact with the anodic portion and bringing a gas containing nitrogen oxides into contact with the cathodic portion.

Abstract: A recording apparatus such as a facsimile machine records information on recording paper having a curved characteristic, such as a roll of recording paper. After recording, the recording paper is cut by a cutting device. A wedge-shaped plate, which functions as a jam prevention device, supports the rear end of stacked sheets of cut recording paper below the cutting position of the cutting device. Since the rear end of the lower side of the cut recording paper is supported by the jam prevention device along at least a portion of its curled length, even if the cut recording paper has a strong tendency to curl, the next sheet of recording paper slides on the previously cut recording paper because it is securely supported by the jam prevention device. This significantly reduces the likelihood of interference between the previously cut recording paper and the next sheet of recording paper, even if the recording paper has a strong tendency to curl.