Abstract: A branched vapor-grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.5 ?m or less and an aspect ratio of at least 10, the carbon fiber having a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 ?·cm or less, each fiber filament having a hollow cylindrical structure, preferably the carbon fiber containing boron and having a compressed specific resistance of 0.018 ?·cm or less. An electrically conductive transparent composition comprising a resin binder and carbon fiber incorporated into the binder, having transparency and comprising vapor grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.01–0.1 ?m, an aspect ratio of 10–15,000, and a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 ?·cm or less, and surface resistivity of 10,000 ?/? or less. An electrically conductive transparent material formed from the aforementioned electrically conductive transparent composition.

Abstract: What are disclosed are a purified novel enzyme protein, UGPPase, which naturally occurs in animal cells, its production by means of recombinant technology, an antibody to the enzyme protein, a method of carrying out ELISA for measurement of the amount of UGPPase in an analyte and a method for determination of UDPG in a sample. The one-way enzyme protein catalyses hydrolysis of UDP-glucose, the precursor molecule of glycogen, into glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) and uridine 5?-monophosphate (UMP).

Abstract: (1) A carbonaceous material for forming an electrically conductive composition, comprising a vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 2 to 500 nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000, or the carbon fiber containing boron in an amount of 0.01 to 5 mass %, and graphitic particles and/or amorphous carbon particles, wherein the amount of the vapor grown carbon fiber is 10 to 90 mass %, the amount of the graphitic particles is 0 to 65 mass %, and the amount of the amorphous carbon particles is 0 to 35 mass %; (2) an electrically conductive composition comprising the carbonaceous material for forming an electrically conductive composition, and a producing method thereof; (3) an electrically conductive coating material comprising, as an electrically conductive material, the electrically conductive composition, and an electrically conductive coating film and electric device using the electrically conductive coating material.

Abstract: A fine carbon fiber mixture produced through a vapor-growth process, which comprises fine carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the fiber having an outer diameter of 1 to 500 nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000 and comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis and a multi-layer sheath structure consisting of a plurality of carbon layers; and non-fibrous carbon such as flake-like carbon, granular carbon, or sheet-like carbon. A composition comprising a resin or a rubber and a fine carbon fiber mixture as above contained therein. An electrically conductive article or a sliding article comprising the composition.

Abstract: A power circuit outputs and applies an AC voltage and a DC voltage to respective terminals of a capacitor, so as to obtain an AC output voltage shifted in accordance with the DC voltage component. The power circuit comprises a first voltage adjuster for outputting an AC voltage and a first DC voltage, and a second voltage adjuster for outputting a second DC voltage. For a predetermined duration after turning on power, the power circuit supplies the first DC voltage from the first voltage adjuster and the second DC voltage from the second voltage adjuster, for application to respective terminals of the capacitor. After the predetermined duration has passed, the power circuit changes the voltage output from the first voltage adjuster to the AC voltage, and supplies the AC voltage and the second DC voltage for application to the respective terminals of the capacitor. With this arrangement a required potential can be quickly achieved at the time of turning on power.

Abstract: A power circuit outputs and applies an AC voltage and a DC voltage to respective terminals of a capacitor, so as to obtain an AC output voltage shifted in accordance with the DC voltage component. The power circuit comprises a first voltage adjuster for outputting an AC voltage, a second voltage adjuster for outputting a DC voltage, a first output terminal which outputs the AC voltage from the first voltage adjuster, and a second output terminal which outputs the DC voltage from the second voltage adjuster. The first output terminal is connected to one end of the capacitor, while the second output terminal is connected to the other end of the capacitor.

Abstract: A fine carbon fiber, the main body of each fiber filament of the fiber having an outer diameter of about 1 to about 500 nm and an aspect ratio of about 10 to about 15,000 and comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis and a multi-layer sheath structure consisting of a plurality of carbon layers, the layers forming concentric rings, wherein the fiber filament has a nodular portion which is formed of outwardly protruding carbon layers or formed of a locally increased number of carbon layers. A similar fine carbon fiber, in which the fiber filament has repeatedly enlarged protruding portions and the filament diameter varies along with the length of the filament, the ratio of the diameter (d?) of a fiber filament of the fiber as measured at the outwardly enlarged portions to the diameter (d) of a fiber filament of the fiber as measured at a position at which no outwardly enlarged portions is present; i.e., d?/d, being about 1.05 to about 3, is also provided.

Abstract: A vapor grown fine carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber comprising, in its interior, a hollow space extending along the fiber filament, and having a multi-layer structure, an outer diameter of 2 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of 1 to 100, wherein the fiber filament comprises a cut portion on its surface along the hollow space, a production method therefor, and electrically conductive material, a secondary battery and a gas occlusion material using the carbon fiber. The fine carbon fiber of the present invention is excellent in properties such as occlusion of gases such as hydrogen and methane, smoothness, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, and also excellent in dispersability, wettability and adhesion with a matrix such as resin.

Abstract: A fine carbon fiber mixture produced through a vapor-growth process, which comprises fine carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the fiber having an outer diameter of 1 to 500 nm and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000 and comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis and a multi-layer sheath structure consisting of a plurality of carbon layers; and non-fibrous carbon such as flake-like carbon, granular carbon, or sheet-like carbon. A composition comprising a resin or a rubber and a fine carbon fiber mixture as above contained therein. An electrically conductive article or a sliding article comprising the composition.

Abstract: An abrasive composite material containing a matrix, abrasive grains, and carbon fiber having a multi-layer structure, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having an outer diameter of about 2 to about 500 nm and an aspect ratio of about 5 to about 15,000, and including a hollow space extending along its center axis. Preferably, the carbon fiber has a BET specific surface area of about 4 m2/g or more; the carbon fiber has, at a carbon (002) plane, an interlayer distance (d002) of about 0.345 nm or less as measured by means of X-ray diffractometry; and the ratio of the peak height (Id) of the band at 1,341 to 1,349 cm−1 in a Raman scattering spectrum of the carbon fiber to the peak height (Ig) of the band at 1,570 to 1,578 cm−1 in the spectrum; i.e., Id/Ig, is about 1.5 or less. More preferably, the carbon fiber contains branched vapor grown carbon fiber; boron is contained, in an amount of about 0.

Abstract: A vapor grown fine carbon fiber including a hollow space along the fiber in its interior, and having a multi-layer structure, an outer diameter of 2 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000 is disclosed. The fiber has a center portion and a peripheral portion, and the center portion having a carbon structure different from that of the peripheral portion. A method for producing the fine carbon fiber, and a battery and gas occlusion material containing the fine carbon fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: (1) A method for producing vapor grown carbon, comprising mixing a raw material gas containing an organic compound and an organo-transition metallic compound preliminarily heated preferably to a temperature 100 to 145° C. with a carrier gas heated preferably to a temperature 700 to 1,600° C., and introducing the resultant gas mixture into a carbon fiber production zone, wherein preferably a mixture of an aromatic compound and acetylene, ethylene, or butadiene is used as an organic compound; (2) a method in which a transition metallic compound is dissolved in a solvent, the resultant solution is atomized into fine droplets, the solvent in the droplets is evaporated to thereby obtain fine particles of the transition metal compound, the drifting particles are introduced with an organic compound gas into the carbon fiber production zone; (3) an apparatus used in the production methods; and (4) vapor grown carbon fiber thereby produced.

Abstract: A vapor grown fine carbon fiber including a hollow space along the fiber in its interior, and having a multi-layer structure, an outer diameter of 2 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000 is disclosed. The fiber has a center portion and a peripheral portion, and the center portion having a carbon structure different from that of the peripheral portion. A method for producing the fine carbon fiber, and a battery and gas occlusion material containing the fine carbon fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: A graphitized fine carbon fiber comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis, and a plurality of graphene sheets, wherein the fiber has an end surface comprising a portion of discontinuity in which ends of graphene sheets are not bonded to one another and at least one portion of continuity comprised of at least one group of graphene sheets in which one graphene sheet is bonded to another graphene sheet adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A branched vapor-grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.5 &mgr;m or less and an aspect ratio of at least 10, the carbon fiber having a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 &OHgr;·cm or less, each fiber filament having a hollow cylindrical structure, preferably the carbon fiber containing boron and having a compressed specific resistance of 0.018 &OHgr;·cm or less. An electrically conductive transparent composition comprising a resin binder and carbon fiber incorporated into the binder, having transparency and comprising vapor grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.01-0.1 &mgr;m, an aspect ratio of 10-15,000, and a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 &OHgr;·cm or less, and surface resistivity of 10,000 &OHgr;/□ or less. An electrically conductive transparent material formed from the aforementioned electrically conductive transparent composition.

Abstract: A fine carbon fiber, the main body of each fiber filament of the fiber having an outer diameter of about 1 to about 500 nm and an aspect ratio of about 10 to about 15,000 and comprising a hollow space extending along its center axis and a multi-layer sheath structure consisting of a plurality of carbon layers, the layers forming concentric rings, wherein the fiber filament has a nodular portion which is formed of outwardly protruding carbon layers or formed of a locally increased number of carbon layers. A similar fine carbon fiber, in which the fiber filament has repeatedly enlarged protruding portions and the filament diameter varies along with the length of the filament, the ratio of the diameter (d″) of a fiber filament of the fiber as measured at the outwardly enlarged portions to the diameter (d) of a fiber filament of the fiber as measured at a position at which no outwardly enlarged portions is present; i.e., d″/d, being about 1.05 to about 3, is also provided.

Abstract: A vapor grown fine carbon fiber including a hollow space along the fiber in its interior, and having a multi-layer structure, an outer diameter of 2 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of 10 to 15,000 is disclosed. The fiber has a center portion and a peripheral portion, and the center portion having a carbon structure different from that of the peripheral portion. A method for producing the fine carbon fiber, and a battery and gas occlusion material containing the fine carbon fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical insulating vapor grown carbon fiber containing a vapor grown carbon fiber having a fiber diameter of 0.01 to 0.5 &mgr;m, wherein the surface thereof is partially or entirely coated with an electrical insulating material and a method of producing thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A band-pass filter device includes a band-pass filter having a characteristic for sufficiently passing signals belonging to a passing frequency band to be passed, a first trap circuit having a Q factor sufficiently higher than that of the BPF and attenuating signals belonging to a frequency band ranging frequencies higher than the passing frequency band, a second trap circuit for attenuating signals belonging to a frequency band ranging frequencies lower than the passing frequency band, a third trap circuit having a Q factor lower than that of the first trap circuit and attenuating an unnecessary component generated in the first trap circuit from the signal, a fourth trap circuit having a Q factor lower than that of the second trap circuit and attenuating an unnecessary component generated in the second trap circuit from the signal.

Abstract: Recorded features on a recording medium have inter-feature pauses which must be reliably detected in order to control the selective replay of the features. Certain noise signals located within an inter-feature pause complicate the detection of the latter. These noise signals include low-frequency signals which have high voltage levels at playback speed, and middle- and high-frequency signals which have high voltage levels at fast forward or rewind speed. These high voltage levels of the noise signals could be mistaken for audio signals. A signal-processing circuit filters the noise signals from the audio signals. A control circuit changes the impedance of the signal-processing circuit such that the signals are filtered according to a first predetermined filter characteristic when the recording medium advances at playback speed, and according to a different second predetermined filter characteristic when the recording medium advances at fast forward or rewind speed.