Abstract: A discharge lamp drive device includes a discharge lamp driver adapted to supply a drive current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode, a control section adapted to control the discharge lamp driver, and a storage section adapted to store a plurality of drive patterns of the drive current. The control section is adapted to select one drive pattern of the plurality of drive patterns based on machine learning, and execute the selected drive pattern.

Abstract: An interactive processing device according to an embodiment acquires one/more items' information for predetermined operation through interaction with a user, and includes one/more itemized-processing-units and an interaction-control-unit. The itemized-processing-units corresponds to the items. The interaction-control-unit controls the interaction collaboratively with the itemized-processing-units. The interaction-control-unit transmits user-input information to each itemized-processing-unit. Each itemized-processing-unit extracts a candidate for to-be-acquired information and transmits the candidate to the interaction-control-unit with likelihood information of being the to-be-acquired information. The interaction-control-unit determines a candidate having first-threshold-satisfying likelihood as information of an item corresponding to the candidate-transmitted itemized-processing-unit. When undetermined information item exists, the interaction-control-unit outputs inquiry for the item information.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a silicon carbide layer; a gate electrode; and a gate insulating layer which is provided between the silicon carbide layer and the gate electrode and includes a first silicon oxide layer and a second silicon oxide layer provided between the first silicon oxide layer and the gate electrode, the first silicon oxide layer having a first nitrogen concentration and a first thickness, the second silicon oxide layer having a second nitrogen concentration lower than the first nitrogen concentration and a second thickness. The second thickness between an end portion of the gate electrode and the silicon carbide layer is greater than the second thickness between a central portion of the gate electrode and the silicon carbide layer.

Abstract: A small watercraft includes an input, a second storage, and a controller. The input receives an operation to switch the small watercraft into one of a plurality of control states, and includes a first storage that stores first control information indicating the one of the plurality of control states associated with the operation received by the input. The second storage stores second control information indicating one of the plurality of control states. The controller is able to write to one of the first and second storages. The input is supplied with electric power by supplying the controller with the electric power.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a motorized vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery, a rotary electric machine electrically connected to the rechargeable battery, and electrical loads electrically connected to the rechargeable battery, a machine operating point setter is configured to, when current is passing between the rechargeable battery and the rotary electric machine, set operating points of the rotary electric machine, each specifying a system efficiency representing a ratio of input/output dynamical power of the rotary electric machine to input/output power of the rechargeable battery, a torque of the rotary electric machine, and a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine that are taken as parameters, based on the amount of current flowing through the rechargeable battery. A rotary electric machine controller is configured to control the rotary electric machine to operate at the operating points of the rotary electric machine set by the machine operating point setter.

Abstract: A program, a game control method, and an information processing apparatus, which are capable of improving operability of a game. A program causing an information processing apparatus to execute a step of causing an object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set, a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen while the first user operation is being detected, and a moving step of moving the object according to a first user operation.

Abstract: An annular valve in which the shape of a sealing surface of a valve body is optimized thus suppressing the occurrence of pressure loss in gas on the periphery of the sealing surface and extending the service life of the annular valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing furfural, including: obtaining a sugar solution containing at least one of a monosaccharide having 5 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide containing the monosaccharide having 5 carbon atoms by carrying out a reaction with a specific resource as a raw material in the presence of a catalyst in a solvent; converting at least one of the monosaccharide and the polysaccharide containing the monosaccharide in the sugar solution into furfural by a dehydration reaction, so as to obtain a reaction solution; and separating the reaction solution into an organic layer and an aqueous layer, wherein an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent having a density of from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.1 g/cm3 at 25° C. and under atmospheric pressure is used, and wherein the reaction solution is separated at a temperature higher than 90° C. and lower than 150° C.

Abstract: An inverter unit with reduced wiring impedance that includes a switching element unit and a capacitor unit is implemented. A capacitor unit 4 includes first portions 41 with a first length L1 which is a length in a first direction D1 orthogonal to a reference plane R1 of an inverter unit; and second portions 42 with a second length L2 shorter than the first length L1, and the first portions 41 and the second portions 42 are disposed adjacent to each other along the reference plane R1. The switching element unit 3 is disposed so as to overlap the second portions 42 as viewed in the first direction D1, and overlap the first portions 41 as viewed in a second direction D2 which is a direction in which the first portions 41 and the second portions 42 are arranged along the reference plane R1.

Abstract: A program, a game control method, and an information processing apparatus, which are capable of improving operability of a game. A program causing an information processing apparatus to execute a step of causing an object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set, a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen while the first user operation is being detected, and a moving step of moving the object according to a first user operation.

Abstract: Provided is a communication device capable of performing Internet communication by any of a first wireless communication method and a second wireless communication method. The communication device comprises a communication performing unit for performing the Internet communication by combined communication in combination of the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, in accordance with establishment of a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer that is formed on the electroconductive substrate and that contains an inorganic oxide and a lubricant resin. When light having a wavelength of 780 nm is irradiated onto a slurry containing 20% by mass of the inorganic oxide in a predetermined solvent to provide an inorganic oxide slurry, the inorganic oxide slurry has a luminous transmittance that is 40% or more. The photosensitive layer may be a negatively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer, a monolayer type photosensitive layer, or a positively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer. The electrophotographic photoreceptor is less worn upon long-term use, allows no filming, and can realize stable images. A method for producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor and an electrophotographic apparatus including the electrophotographic photoreceptor are disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a silicon carbide layer; a gate electrode; and a gate insulating layer which is provided between the silicon carbide layer and the gate electrode and includes a first silicon oxide layer and a second silicon oxide layer provided between the first silicon oxide layer and the gate electrode, the first silicon oxide layer having a first nitrogen concentration and a first thickness, the second silicon oxide layer having a second nitrogen concentration lower than the first nitrogen concentration and a second thickness. The second thickness between an end portion of the gate electrode and the silicon carbide layer is greater than the second thickness between a central portion of the gate electrode and the silicon carbide layer.

Abstract: A compound is provided which is effectively adsorbed to a substrate surface, such as an immune reaction vessel, has extremely high protein adsorption inhibitory effect that inhibits non-specific adsorption of protein or the like, and has excellent washability to retain the inhibitory effect before and after washing operation of the substrate. Also provided are a protein adsorption inhibitor using the compound, a phosphorylcholine-modified substrate, and a method for inhibiting protein adsorption. The compound is a phosphorylcholine group-containing polyethylene glycol derivative represented by formula (1). The method for inhibiting protein adsorption of the present invention includes the step of forming an adsorbed layer of the derivative on a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a galvannealed steel sheet includes: annealing a steel strip by conveying the steel strip through a heating zone including a direct fired furnace, a soaking zone, and a cooling zone in this order in an annealing furnace; hot-dip galvanizing the steel strip discharged from the cooling zone; and heat-alloying a galvanized coating formed on the steel strip. Mixed gas of humidified gas and dry gas is supplied into the soaking zone from at least one gas supply port located in a region of lower ½ of the soaking zone in a height direction so that a dew point measured in a region of upper ? of the soaking zone in the height direction and a dew point measured in a region of lower ? of the soaking zone in the height direction are both 20° C. or more and 0° C. or less.

Abstract: A method for treating a metal substrate surface before coating or printing thereof, the method including: preheating to 40° C. or above a specific metal substrate having a thermal conductivity of 10 W/mK or higher, and thereafter continuously performing a flame treatment on the substrate surface, prior to coating or printing of the surface of the substrate with a coating material or an ink.

Abstract: A method for treating a metal substrate surface before coating or printing thereof, the method including preheating to 40° C. or above a specific metal substrate having a thermal conductivity of 10 W/mK or higher, and thereafter performing a flame treatment on the substrate surface, prior to coating or printing of the surface of the substrate with a coating material or an ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a honeycomb structured body containing a ceria-zirconia composite oxide and being less susceptible to ring-off cracking. The honeycomb structured body of the present invention includes a honeycomb fired body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween, wherein the honeycomb fired body contains ceria-zirconia composite oxide particles and inorganic fibers, and a b-axis thermal expansion coefficient measured in a direction along a b-axis representing a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb structured body is higher than an a-axis thermal expansion coefficient measured in a direction along an a-axis representing the longitudinal direction of the honeycomb structured body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a honeycomb structured body containing a ceria-zirconia composite oxide and not easily breakable under stress in an a-axis direction. The honeycomb structured body includes a honeycomb fired body in which multiple through-holes are arranged longitudinally in parallel with one another with a partition wall therebetween, wherein the honeycomb fired body contains ceria-zirconia composite oxide particles and inorganic fibers, and 60 to 80% of inorganic fibers observed in a cross-sectional image of the honeycomb structured body cut in a cross-sectional direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction have a ratio of the length of a long axis to the length of a short axis (long axis/short axis) of 1.00 to 1.30, the length of the long axis being the length of a long axis of a cross section of an inorganic fiber shown in the cross-sectional image, the length of the short axis being the length of a perpendicular bisector of the long axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a service providing system capable of providing an information processing function effective for a variety of system constructions as a service. The service providing system of the present embodiment realizes an information retrieval function, a knowledge base construction function, and a knowledge presentation function. The information retrieval function retrieves information on an analysis target and information indicating a condition of the analysis target; the knowledge base construction function constructs a knowledge database for acquiring knowledge corresponding to the condition of the analysis target based on the information retrieved by the information retrieval function. The knowledge presentation function presents knowledge corresponding to the condition of the analysis target from the knowledge database.