Abstract: An exemplary building traffic analyzer for an elevator includes: a video camera arranged in an elevator car; a traffic analyzer unit for collecting traffic data of passengers through the video camera; and a data storage unit for storing the traffic data of passengers collected by the traffic analyzer unit. The traffic analyzer unit is configured to identify and track each passenger for collecting the traffic data of each passenger including a boarding floor with boarding time and a destination floor with exiting time. The building traffic analyzer is configured to be temporarily attachable in the elevator car, such as on the ceiling or proximity to the elevator control panel.

Abstract: A high-temperature fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that includes an anode and a cathode and that generates power by using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, a fuel-gas path along which the fuel gas flows, an oxidant-gas path along which the oxidant gas flows, an anode-off-gas path along which an anode off-gas flows, a cathode-off-gas path along which a cathode off-gas flows, a combustion space in communication with the anode-off-gas path and the cathode-off-gas path and in which the anode off-gas and the cathode off-gas are burned, a flue-gas path along which a flue gas flows, a cathode-off-gas branch portion disposed on the cathode-off-gas path between the combustion space and the cathode and at which some of the cathode off-gas is branched from the cathode-off-gas path, and a first heat exchanger that enables heat exchange between the oxidant gas, the flue gas, and the cathode off-gas.

Abstract: In a first aspect this invention provides methods comprising administering an aqueous contrast agent to the vascular system of a subject, and performing a magnetic resonance scan to detect the MR signal enhancement effects of the aqueous contrast agent. In embodiments the magnetic resonance scan comprises applying at least one pulse sequence selected from a PD-weighted pulse sequence, a T1-weighted pulse sequence, a T2-weighted pulse sequence, and a D-weighted pulse sequence. In embodiments the magnetic resonance scan comprises applying a T1-weighted pulse sequence. A system for performing perfusion MRI comprising an aqueous contrast solution and an injection apparatus configured to provide a maximum injection rate of the aqueous contrast solution to a subject vascular system of at least about 5 ml/s. is also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator passenger interface device includes a passenger communication component that facilitates communications between a passenger and an elevator system. Such communications include passenger input to request elevator service and information provided to the passenger. A controller controls the passenger communication component to control its functionality including providing selected information to the passenger. The controller includes a customization module configured to change the functionality of the passenger communication component responsive to authorized user input that is distinct from the passenger input. The authorized user input includes a selection of at least one of a feature used to present information to a passenger or a feature used to allow a passenger to request elevator service.

Abstract: A hydrogen purifier includes an electrolyte membrane including a proton conductive polymer, an anode having an anode catalyst layer disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode having a cathode catalyst layer disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, a separator which has a fluid channel and through which carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the anode, and a power supply that energizes the anode and the cathode, the anode catalyst layer including Pt, the cathode catalyst layer including Pt and Ru.

Abstract: An exemplary system for communicating with an elevator passenger includes a plurality of elevator passenger interface devices configured to allow an elevator passenger to indicate at least an elevator service request. The interface devices are configured to communicate at least elevator service information to an elevator passenger. A server communicates with the plurality of interface devices. The server is configured to determine when there is input at any of the interface devices. The server is configured to determine a meaning of such input. The server is also configured to determine output to provide at the corresponding interface device and to communicate the determined output to the corresponding interface device. The determined output is responsive to the determined meaning of the input.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a reformer generating a reformed gas using a raw material; a fuel cell generating electric power; a raw material supply passage; a hydro-desulfurizer operative to remove sulfur component in the raw material; a recycle passage through which the reformed gas is supplied to the raw material supply passage provided upstream of the hydro-desulfurizer; a temperature detector detecting a temperature of the hydro-desulfurizer; and a controller, wherein: when the temperature of the hydro-desulfurizer reaches a predetermined temperature, the controller increases a flow rate of the raw material from a predetermined flow rate by a flow rate corresponding to a flow rate of the recycled gas, and then, the controller starts supplying the recycled gas to the recycle passage; and after the recycled gas reaches an upstream end of the recycle passage, the controller returns the flow rate of the raw material to the predetermined flow rate.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system includes: an igniting portion configured to ignite a raw material when starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system; a raw material supply portion configured to supply the raw material; a reforming air supply portion configured to supply reforming air; and an electric power generation air supply portion configured to supply electric power generation air. When starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system, the raw material supply portion supplies the raw material, and the electric power generation air supply portion supplies the electric power generation air. The igniting portion ignites the raw material. After the ignition, the reforming air supply portion supplies the reforming air. With this, the safety can be increased in consideration of characteristics in respective phases from the start-up of the solid oxide fuel cell system until the electric power generation.

Abstract: A discharge plasma machining device that includes punches as a pressing unit for applying a pressure with respect to a machined item, a direct current pulse current generator as a pulse current applying unit for applying a pulse current with respect to the machined item, a spectroscope as a detection unit for detecting a spectrum of light of plasma generated by application of a pulse current, and a control unit for controlling a pulse current in accordance with a detection result of the detection unit.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator passenger interface device includes a passenger communication component that facilitates communications between a passenger and an elevator system. Such communications include passenger input to request elevator service and information provided to the passenger. A controller controls the passenger communication component to control its functionality including providing selected information to the passenger. The controller includes a customization module configured to change the functionality of the passenger communication component responsive to authorized user input that is distinct from the passenger input. The authorized user input includes a selection of at least one of a feature used to present information to a passenger or a feature used to allow a passenger to request elevator service.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sustainedly drug-releasing hydrogel contact lens which can sustainedly release an anionic medicament such as an allergy-treating agent in a mildly irritating and effective manner while achieving vision correction. Specifically disclosed is a hydrogel comprising ionic monomers composed of at least a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer, wherein the component ratio of the ionic monomers is 5 to 20 mol % inclusive relative to the total amount of monomers that constitute the gel, and the content of the anionic monomer is 15 to 25 mol % inclusive relative to the content of the cationic monomer.

Abstract: An exemplary system for communicating with an elevator passenger includes a plurality of elevator passenger interface devices configured to allow an elevator passenger to indicate at least an elevator service request. The interface devices are configured to communicate at least elevator service information to an elevator passenger. A server communicates with the plurality of interface devices. The server is configured to determine when there is input at any of the interface devices. The server is configured to determine a meaning of such input. The server is also configured to determine output to provide at the corresponding interface device and to communicate the determined output to the corresponding interface device. The determined output is responsive to the determined meaning of the input.

Abstract: A controller (15) performs a stop operation of stopping electric power generation by a fuel cell (3); then performs an activity recovery operation of stopping the supply of a fuel gas by a fuel gas supply unit (10) to an anode (2a), causing an anode inert gas supply unit (13) to supply an inert gas to the anode (2a), and causing an oxidizing gas supply unit (11) to supply an oxidizing gas to a cathode (2b); and performs control such that the fuel gas supply unit (10) resumes supplying the fuel gas to the anode (2a) to resume the electric power generation by the fuel cell (3) after the cell voltage of the fuel cell (3) which is detected by a voltage detector (14) has decreased to a first voltage or lower.

Abstract: A hydrogen separator comprising a porous substrate composed mainly of a ceramic having a large number of pores connecting from one surface of the substrate to other surface, and a hydrogen-separating layer made of a hydrogen permselective metal formed on the porous substrate via an intermediate layer made of an electron-conductive ceramic. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as peeling, cracks or the like in the hydrogen-separating layer and is suitable for use even when the hydrogen separator is exposed to a heat cycle, used under high temperature conditions or/and used for long-term.

Abstract: There is disclosed a permselective membrane reactor which efficiently forms hydrogen by use of a water-gas shift reaction and which is excellent in an aspect of manufacturing cost. In a permselective membrane reactor, a permselective membrane is a Pd membrane or a Pd alloy membrane, and a catalyst layer includes a first catalyst layer on the side of the permselective membrane and a second catalyst layer disposed apart from the permselective membrane. The first catalyst layer has a noble metal-based catalyst, and the second catalyst layer has an iron-based catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sustainedly drug-releasing hydrogel contact lens which can sustainedly release an anionic medicament such as an allergy-treating agent in a mildly irritating and effective manner while achieving vision correction. Specifically disclosed is a hydrogel comprising ionic monomers composed of at least a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer, wherein the component ratio of the ionic monomers is 5 to 20 mol % inclusive relative to the total amount of monomers that constitute the gel, and the content of the anionic monomer is 15 to 25 mol % inclusive relative to the content of the cationic monomer.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell power generation system that exhibits superior efficiency of power generation and durability. The fuel cell power generation system includes: a fuel cell 4 including a fuel electrode 2, an oxidant electrode 3, and an electrolyte 1 on which the fuel electrode 2 and the oxidant electrode 3 are formed; an output control unit 11 that controls an output of the fuel cell 4; and a determination unit 12 that determines, based on an integrated amount of impurities contained in an oxidant gas and supplied to the oxidant electrode 3, a time at which the fuel cell 4 is brought into an open circuit state. The output control unit 11 halts power generation of the fuel cell 4 for a predetermined period of time every time determined by the determination unit 12, thereby bringing the fuel cell 4 into the open circuit state.

Abstract: A hydrogen separator comprising a porous substrate composed mainly of a ceramic having a large number of pores connecting from one surface of the substrate to other surface, and a hydrogen-separating layer made of a hydrogen permselective metal formed on the porous substrate via an intermediate layer made of an electron-conductive ceramic. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as peeling, cracks or the like in the hydrogen-separating layer and is suitable for use even when the hydrogen separator is exposed to a heat cycle, used under high temperature conditions or/and used for long-term.

Abstract: A hydrogen separator comprising a porous substrate composed mainly of a ceramic having a large number of pores connecting from one surface of the substrate to other surface, and a hydrogen-separating layer made of a hydrogen permselective metal formed on the porous substrate via an intermediate layer made of an electron-conductive ceramic. The hydrogen separator hardly generates defects such as peeling, cracks or the like in the hydrogen-separating layer and is suitable for use even when the hydrogen separator is exposed to a heat cycle, used under high temperature conditions or/and used for long-term.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (10) having a fuel gas internal channel (11) and an oxidizing gas internal channel (12); oxidizing gas supplying passages (62) and (64); an oxidizing gas supplying device (31); oxidizing gas discharging passages (65) and (66) each having an upstream end communicated with the oxidizing gas internal channel (12) and a downstream end connected to the oxidizing gas supplying passage (64); a moisture exchanger (32) disposed on both the oxidizing gas supplying passage (62) and the oxidizing gas discharging passage (65); a gas circulating passage forming/canceling device (34) disposed on the oxidizing gas discharging passage (66); an air blower (35) configured to circulate a gas in a gas circulating passage; and an atmosphere communicating/closing device (33) disposed on the oxidizing gas supplying passage (62).