Abstract: An anisotropically shaped powder composed of oriented grains with a specific crystal plane {100} of each crystal grain being oriented, a related manufacturing method and a method of manufacturing a crystal oriented ceramics using such an anisotropically shaped powder are disclosed. The anisotropically shaped powder includes a principal component of an isotropic perovskite-based pentavalent metal acid alkali compound represented by a general formula (1): (KaNa1?a)(Nb1?bTab)O3 (wherein 0?a?0.8 and 0.02?b?0.4). In manufacturing the anisotropically shaped powder, a bismuth-layer-like perovskite-based compound of a specific composition is acid treated; a source of K or the like is added to the resulting acid-treated substance; and the resulting mixture is heated.

Abstract: According to a process for hot-dip galvanization of the present invention, a steel sheet is treated by the oxidization/reduction method for better quality of galvanization and then hot-dip galvanized. An annealing line of equipment for hot-dip galvanization is composed of a non-oxidizing zone, an oxidizing zone, and a reducing zone, in his order. A steel sheet containing elements liable to oxidize more easily than iron is oxidized by blowing flames onto it in the oxidizing zone according to the oxidization/reduction method. Further, the steel sheet is reduced and annealed in the reducing zone.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator 1 includes a piezoelectric element 2, which has a pair of electrodes formed on the surface of a piezoelectric ceramic member, as a drive source. The piezoelectric actuator 1 satisfies at least one of the following requirements (a) to (c): (a) the variation width WC in an apparent dynamic capacity C [F] due to a change in temperature should fall within ±11% over a specific temperature range from ?30° C. to 80° C.; (b) the variation width WL in a displacement L [?m] due to a change in temperature should fall within ±14% over the specific temperature range from ?30° C. to 80° C.; and (c) the variation width WL/C in a quotient L/C due to a change in temperature should fall within ±12% over the specific temperature range from ?30° C. to 80° C., wherein C [F] denotes the apparent dynamic capacity and L [?m] denotes the displacement.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor capable of preventing fluctuation in the sensitivity of the piezoelectric sensor over a wide temperature range is provided. This is a piezoelectric sensor comprising a piezoelectric element and a holding member for holding the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element comprising a piezoelectric ceramic having formed on the surfaces thereof a pair of electrodes. The piezoelectric ceramic satisfies the following requirement (a) and/or requirement (b): (a) in the temperature range from ?30° C. to 160° C., the thermal expansion coefficient is 3.0 ppm/° C. or more, and (b) in the temperature range from ?30° C. to 160° C., the pyroelectric coefficient is 400 ?Cm?2K?1 or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric actuator that enjoys excellent practicality. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element (2) including a sheet of piezoelectric ceramic and electrodes formed at least part of the surface of the sheet of piezoelectric ceramic, and a holding member (4) holding the piezoelectric element (2). The piezoelectric at least one of the requirements (a) to (e) described below. (a) The bulk density shall be equal to or smaller than 5 g/cm3, and the Young's modulus Y11E calculated according to a resonance-antiresonance method shall be equal to or larger than 90 GPa. (b) The coefficient of thermal conductivity shall be equal to or larger than 2 Wm?1K?1. (c) The coefficient of thermal expansion shall be equal to or larger than 3.0 ppm/° C. over a temperature range from ?30° C. to 160° C. (d) The pyroelectric coefficient shall be equal to or smaller than 400 ?Cm?2K?1 over the temperature range from ?30° C. to 160° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel dioxin analogue for use in the search for organisms capable of degrading dioxin.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for spinal cord injury, a modulator of differentiation of neural stem cells and an inhibitor of differentiation into glia cells comprising an interleukin-6 antagonist as an active ingredient.

Abstract: To provide a production method of a polycrystalline ceramic body with excellent density, a preparation step, a mixing step, a forming step and a heat-treating step are performed. In the preparation step, a coarse particle ceramic powder, and a fine particle powder having an average particle diameter of ? or less of the average particle diameter of the coarse particle ceramic powder are prepared. In the mixing step, the coarse particle ceramic powder and the fine particle powder are mixed to produce a raw material mixture. In the forming step, the raw material mixture is formed to a shaped body. In the heat-treating step, the shaped body is heated and thereby sintered to produce a polycrystalline ceramic body. In the heat-treating step, a temperature elevating process and a first holding process are performed and at the same time, a second holding process and/or a cooling process are performed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stacked piezoelectric element with excellent durability, which exhibits an excellent piezoelectric performance irrespective of containing or not containing Pb in the ceramic layer, ensures sufficiently suppressed segregation of the electrically conducting base metal material in the ceramic layer and allows for no segregation of a strengthening substance itself.

Abstract: To provide a grain oriented ceramic capable of exerting excellent piezoelectric properties, a production method thereof, and a piezoelectric material, a dielectric material, a thermoelectric conversion element and an ion conducting element each using the grain oriented ceramic, there is provided a grain oriented ceramic comprising, as the main phase, an isotropic perovskite-type compound which is represented by formula (1): {Lix(K1?yNay)1?x}(Nb1?z?wTazSbw)O3 in which x, y, z and w are in respective composition ranges of 0?x?0.2, 0?y?1, 0?z?0.4, 0?w?0.2 and x+z+w>0. The main phase comprises a polycrystalline body containing from 0.0001 to 0.15 mol of any one or more additional element selected from metal elements, semimetal elements, transition metal elements, noble metal elements and alkaline earth metal elements belonging to Groups 2 to 15 of the Periodic Table, per mol of the compound represented by formula (1).

Abstract: A method for creating a monkey model of spinal cord injury, which includes exposing the dura mater of the cervical cord of a monkey and applying a load on the dura mater; the thus-created monkey model of spinal cord injury; and a method for evaluating a therapeutic drug for spinal cord injury by use of this model. According to the present invention, it is possible to create a monkey which is close to the human and thus useful as a model of human spinal cord injury. This model enables proper evaluation of therapeutic effects of various drugs on spinal cord injury. Through use of this model, it has been confirmed for the first time that transplantation therapy of human neural stem cells is efficacious against spinal cord injury.

Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus 100 performs the purification process of the exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine 10 of a forklift. The exhaust emission purifying apparatus 100 elevates the temperature of the exhaust gas for the purpose of reprocessing a collection section 14 on the predetermined temperature condition using a fuel injection adjustment section 20, an engine load adjustment section 30, and an air intake restriction adjustment section 40. Thereby the temperature of the exhaust gas is set at the predetermined temperature, while keeping low the engine speed and the engine load. This construction makes it possible to improve the fuel consumption in reprocessing the collection section 14.

Abstract: The present invention provides crystal oriented ceramics, and a production method of the same, having a basic composition of isotropic perovskite-based potassium sodium niobate, demonstrating superior piezoelectric characteristics, and having a specific crystal plane oriented to a high degree of orientation. The crystal oriented ceramics as claimed in the present invention is composed of a polycrystalline substance of an isotropic perovskite compound represented by the general formula: {Lix(K1−yNay)1−x}{Nb1−z−wTazSbw}O3 (wherein, 0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦0.4, 0≦w≦0.2, x+z+w>0), and a specific crystal plane of each crystal grain that composes said polycrystalline substance is oriented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel dioxin analogue for use in the search for organisms capable of degrading dioxin.

Abstract: Disclosed are a degradable laminated body which comprises a biodegradable resin layer and a metallic thin layer, which is high in strength, excellent in degradability, high in a property for shielding from the sunlight, temperature, and moisture, not apt to charge static electricity, being readily printed, and a method for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: A compressor has an odd number of aligned pairs of cylinder bores. A double-headed piston is accommodated in each aligned pair of bores. The time at which gas is discharged from each cylinder bore is different from that of all of the other cylinder bores. The compressor has a pair of reducing devices, one reducing the pulsation amplitude of the gas discharged from the front cylinder bores and the other reducing the pulsation amplitude of the gas discharged from the rear cylinder bores. The reducing devices reduce the gas pulsation amplitudes of the front and rear cylinder bores at a substantially equal rate. Each reducing device includes a discharge chamber for receiving the gas discharged from the associated cylinder bores and a discharge passage connected to the discharge chamber. The discharge chambers of the reducing devices have equal volumes, and the discharge passages of the reducing devices have equal lengths and equal cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: A rectangular case of a battery has cover, which is inserted into an open end of the case with the peripheral edge thereof butted against an inner periphery of the case, forming an interface to be welded. In order to form an equal weld penetration depth, the welding of the corners of the weld interface and straight sides thereof is carried out differently. For example, when the corner of the weld interface is welded, the laser beam is aimed at a portion offset outside the corner of the weld interface while the laser beam is applied right on the weld interface when the straight side is welded. Each portion on the straight sides is, preferably, welded before the above main welding for temporary setting.

Abstract: A variable capacity refrigerant compressor has a rotating drive shaft, a plurality of single headed pistons reciprocating in respective cylinder bores for sucking, compressing and discharging refrigerant gas, a rotor element mounted on the drive shaft to be rotated with the drive shaft, a swash plate element engaged with the rotor element via a hinge unit and with the pistons via shoes, the swash plate element rotating with the rotor element and reciprocating the pistons. The swash plate changes its angle of inclination to vary the discharge capacity of the compressor, and the maximum angular position of inclination of the swash plate element is limited by an inclination limiting unit formed by a first contacting area formed in the rotor element, and a second contacting area formed in the swash plate so as to come into contact with the first contact area when the swash plate element reaches the maximum angle position of inclination.

Abstract: A reciprocating type compressor such as a swash plate type compressor includes single headed pistons movably arranged in the cylinder bores formed in the cylinder block. The cylinder block has an extension wall laterally extending therefrom to form a first muffling chamber and the cylinder head has an extension wall laterally extending therefrom to form a second muffling chamber. A valve plate or a gasket has an extension seal portion integrally formed therewith and arranged between the extension walls of the cylinder block and the cylinder head to seal the end rims around the end openings of the first and second muffling chambers together.

Abstract: A sunlight sensor for use in control of vehicle air conditioners, and provides which detects the sunlight thermal load. A light-cutoff film is formed on the upper surface of the transparent substrate (intermediate element) of the light-sensing element, and at the center of this light-cutoff film is formed a light-guiding hole. Left and right light-detection sections and are formed on the lower surface of the transparent substrate.