Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a metal by a direct oxide reduction process with Ca. A CaCl2-based molten salt containing Ca is held in a reduction chamber 1, a metal oxide is introduced into the molten salt in the reduction chamber 1, and the metal oxide is reduced with the Ca in the molten salt to form said metal. The metal formed in the molten salt is separated from the molten salt in a separation means 2, and the molten salt deprived of the metal is introduced into a chlorination chamber 7 and subjected to chlorination treatment with chlorine gas to eliminate the byproduct CaO in the molten salt. The molten salt after chlorination treatment is introduced into an electrolysis chamber 8 and electrolyzed for the formation of Ca and chlorine from CaCl2, and the thus-formed Ca or Ca-containing molten salt is transferred from the electrolysis chamber 8 to the reduction chamber 1. The chlorine obtained in the electrolysis chamber 8 is used in the chlorination chamber 7.

Abstract: A 3D model deformation program is provided capable of performing deformation processing of a 3D model using clusters in each drawing period in a video game. A CPU 21 finds for each cluster with which a vertex is associated the product of a weighting matrix expressing weightings representing the degree of association of a vertex in any desired frame with a cluster with which this vertex is associated, a co-ordinate transformation matrix for transforming the local co-ordinate system of the vertex in this frame to a world co-ordinate system, and an inverse transformation matrix which is the transformation matrix of the co-ordinate transformation matrix for transforming the local co-ordinate system of the vertex in the specified frame to the world co-ordinate system and finds an addition matrix by adding these products.

Abstract: A fluid volume measuring apparatus for measuring volume of fluid flowing out of a measured object includes a passage member that defines a measurement passage. The measurement passage is filled with fluid, which is capable of moving in the measurement passage in accordance with volume of fluid flowing out of the measured object. The fluid filled in the measurement passage forms a bubble. The passage member has a translucent portion in a predetermined measurement range, in which the bubble displaces in accordance with volume of fluid flowing out of the object to be measured. The translucent portion is formed of a translucent material. Volume of fluid, which flows out of the measured object, is measured in accordance with displacement of the bubble.

Abstract: A system is communicably coupled to an external device at least when rewriting, at least in a module, a first application program stored in a first memory of the system into a second application program stored in the external device. In the system, a receiving unit is configured to receive an identifier sent from the external device. The identifier decides a sending timing of the second application program from the external device. In the system, an identification unit is configured to identify that write target data sent from the external device is at least a module of the second application program after the identifier is received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: A sealed case includes an elongated trunk member including an overlapped part made by overlapping parts of an inside end portion and an outside end portion apart from each other in a vertical axis direction of a sheet material and first and second end portions each provided with an opening and apart from each other. The overlapped part has a fixing area to fix the inside and outside end portions. First and second cover members are fixed to the first and second open end portions of the trunk member, closing the openings.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that the onset of galactosamine hepatopathy is suppressed by nutritional compositions comprising as essential ingredients: whey protein hydrolysates; lecithin and oils and fats high in oleic acid, which are able to improve the lipid metabolism; and palatinose having an insulin-sparing effect. Furthermore, the whey protein hydrolysate included in the nutritional compositions was found to suppress endotoxin-induced TNF-a and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production in macrophages.

Abstract: A fluid volume measuring apparatus for measuring volume of fluid flowing out of a measured object includes a passage member that defines a measurement passage. The measurement passage is filled with fluid, which is capable of moving in the measurement passage in accordance with volume of fluid flowing out of the measured object. The fluid filled in the measurement passage forms a bubble. The passage member has a translucent portion in a predetermined measurement range, in which the bubble displaces in accordance with volume of fluid flowing out of the object to be measured. The translucent portion is formed of a translucent material. Volume of fluid, which flows out of the measured object, is measured in accordance with displacement of the bubble.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus, microphones are arranged parallel to one side of a display screen so as to be spaced apart from each other on the front surface of a display whose display screen is exposed. Together with the microphone, a microphone is arranged parallel to other side different from one side of the display screen. Of the microphones, the microphones are selected when one side of the display screen serves as a bottom, and the microphones are selected when other side of the display screen serves as the bottom. A voice input process is then executed.

Abstract: A nutritional composition for controlling blood sugar level comprising a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. The composition is useful as an oral or tube feeding nutrient for nutritional management or blood sugar level control of patients suffering from diabetes and glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention, a therapeutic diet, a diet for diabetic patients at home, an obesity preventive diet or a food with health claims.

Abstract: A spark plug having a tubular metallic shell (1), an insulator (2) fitted into the metallic shell (1), a center electrode (3) provided in the insulator (2), and a ground electrode (4), one end of the ground electrode (4) being joined to the metallic shell (1) by means of welding or a like process, and a spark discharge gap (g) being formed between the other end portion of the ground electrode (4) and the center electrode (3), the spark plug being further characterized in that: the ground electrode (4) has an electrode base metal (4a), a Cu-based heat transfer acceleration element (4c) embedded in the electrode base metal (4a) and formed predominantly from Cu, and a noble metal chip (32) welded to the electrode base metal (4a) at a position facing the spark discharge gap (g); and the electrode base metal (4a) is an Ni alloy containing Cr in an amount of 14%-17% by mass, Mo in an amount of 0.8%-3.5% by mass, and Ni in an amount of 68%-85.2% by mass.

Abstract: A low-alloy heat-resistant steel may be used to manufacturing a large element which has uniform superior high temperature properties through a surface layer to a center part. The low-alloy heat-resistant steel comprises carbon in an amount of 0.20 to 0.35% by weight, silicon in an amount of 0.005 to 0.35% by weight, manganese in an amount of 0.05 to 1.0% by weight, nickel in an amount of 0.05 to 0.3% by weight, chromium in an amount of 0.8 to 2.5% by weight, molybdenum in an amount of 0.1 to 1.5% by weight, tungsten in an amount of 0.1 to 2.5% by weight, vanadium in an amount of 0.05 to 0.3% by weight, phosphorus in an amount not greater than 0.012% by weight, sulfur in an amount not greater than 0.005% by weight, copper in an amount not greater than 0.10% by weight, aluminum in an amount not greater than 0.01% by weight, arsenic in an amount not greater than 0.01% by weight, tin in an amount not greater than 0.01% by weight, antimony in an amount not greater than 0.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide a practical method for the purification and isolation on a commercial scale of said compound (1) or compound (2) in good yield and with high quality. The present invention provides a purification/isolation method of a (2S,3S)-1-halo-2-hydroxy-3-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-phenylbutane (1) or a (2R,3S)-1-halo-2-hydroxy-3-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-phenylbutane (2) which comprises, for the purpose of removing contaminant impurity from a mixture containing at least one of said compounds (1) and (2), causing the objective compound (1) or compound (2) to be crystallized in the presence of a solvent comprised of a hydrocarbon solvent and then collecting the obtained crystals.

Abstract: In a helical antenna operable at a plurality of frequencies, a radiation element includes a first pitch portion which is connected to a feeding point and in which the electric conductor is wound around or folded back at a first pitch, and a second pitch portion which is connected to the first pitch portion and in which the electric conductor is wound around or folded back at a second pitch different from the first pitch. A tip end stab element extended from the tip end of the radiation element is placed in close proximity of the radiation element. The radiation element and the tip end element form frequency selection means or a parallel resonant circuit at an intermediate point of the radiation element.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a metal shell defining a front side having an outer periphery formed with a screw section which has a nominal size smaller than or equal to M12; a center electrode; a conductive seal layer; a terminal metal fitting fixed to the center electrode via the conductive seal layer; and an insulator formed with a through hole. The terminal metal fitting has a Vickers hardness in a range from 150-300 Hv. The terminal metal fitting includes: a front end section having an outer diameter, and embedded in the conductive seal layer, and a small diameter section disposed on a rear side of the front end section and having an outer diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the front end section. The through hole has an inner diameter different from the outer diameter of the small diameter section in a range from 1.0-1.4 mm.

Abstract: A spark plug having a tubular metallic shell (1), an insulator (2) fitted into the metallic shell (1), a center electrode (3) provided in the insulator (2), and a ground electrode (4), one end of the ground electrode (4) being joined to the metallic shell (1) by means of welding or a like process, and a spark discharge gap (g) being formed between the other end portion of the ground electrode (4) and the center electrode (3), the spark plug being further characterized in that: the ground electrode (4) has an electrode base metal (4a), a Cu-based heat transfer acceleration element (4c) embedded in the electrode base metal (4a) and formed predominantly from Cu, and a noble metal chip (32) welded to the electrode base metal (4a) at a position facing the spark discharge gap (g); and the electrode base metal (4a) is an Ni alloy containing Cr in an amount of 14%-17% by mass, Mo in an amount of 0.8%-3.5% by mass, and Ni in an amount of 68%-85.2% by mass.

Abstract: An ignition system has a spark plug and a positive voltage applying unit. The spark plug includes a central electrode, a porcelain insulator for holding the central electrode, a main metallic shell for holding the porcelain insulator, and a ground electrode electrically connected to the main metallic shell. The positive voltage applying unit applies a positive voltage to the central electrode of the spark plug in comparison with the ground electrode, so that an ignition high voltage is applied between the central electrode and the ground electrode. In the spark plug, a spark discharge gap is formed between the ground electrode and a distal end portion of the central electrode. The ground electrode is positioned so that a rear edge of a mating face opposed to a peripheral side of the central electrode is positioned in the side of the distal end of the central electrode in comparison with an end face of the porcelain insulator.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a metal shell defining a front side having an outer periphery formed with a screw section which has a nominal size smaller than or equal to M12; a center electrode; a conductive seal layer; a terminal metal fitting fixed to the center electrode via the conductive seal layer; and an insulator formed with a through hole. The terminal metal fitting has a Vickers hardness in a range from 150-300 Hv. The terminal metal fitting includes: a front end section having an outer diameter, and embedded in the conductive seal layer, and a small diameter section disposed on a rear side of the front end section and having an outer diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the front end section. The through hole has an inner diameter different from the outer diameter of the small diameter section in a range from 1.0-1.4 mm.

Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a prism holder for holding a synthesizing prism, the prism holder including a first positioning portion and being positioned and fixed to one end plane and the other end plane of the synthesizing prism opposite to each other, except for incidence planes of the synthesizing prism on which respective color light beams are incident and an outgoing plane of the synthesizing prism for outputting a synthesized light flux to the side of a projection optical unit, and a lens holder for holding the prism holder and a projection lens, the lens holder including a second positioning portion which is fitted to the first positioning portion of the prism holder to make positioning and fixing. Thus, assembling can be made with accuracy and without fail while positioning is made to the optical modulation element, the synthesizing prism, and the projection lens.

Abstract: A 3D model deformation program is provided capable of performing deformation processing of a 3D model using clusters in each drawing period in a video game. A CPU 21 finds for each cluster with which a vertex is associated the product of a weighting matrix expressing weightings representing the degree of association of a vertex in any desired frame with a cluster with which this vertex is associated, a co-ordinate transformation matrix for transforming the local co-ordinate system of the vertex in this frame to a world co-ordinate system, and an inverse transformation matrix which is the transformation matrix of the co-ordinate transformation matrix for transforming the local co-ordinate system of the vertex in the specified frame to the world co-ordinate system and finds an addition matrix by adding these products.

Abstract: In a helical antenna operable at a plurality of frequencies, a radiation element includes a first pitch portion which is connected to a feeding point and in which the electric conductor is wound around or folded back at a first pitch, and a second pitch portion which is connected to the first pitch portion and in which the electric conductor is wound around or folded back at a second pitch different from the first pitch. A tip end stab element extended from the tip end of the radiation element is placed in close proximity of the radiation element. The radiation element and the tip end element form frequency selection means or a parallel resonant circuit at an intermediate point of the radiation element.