Abstract: A short-circuit prediction device for predicting the presence or absence of occurrence of an internal short circuit in a secondary battery is provided. The secondary battery has a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode that contains a lithium alloy. The short-circuit prediction device includes a measurement instrument that measures AC impedance of the secondary battery and a controller that predicts the internal short circuit in the secondary battery. The measurement instrument calculates electrolyte resistance of the secondary battery and reaction resistance of the secondary battery from the AC impedance. When a change rate of the electrolyte resistance per a predetermined period is within a predetermined range and the reaction resistance becomes higher than a predetermined upper limit, the controller predicts that there is a possibility of occurrence of the internal short circuit.

Abstract: An object is to provide an acid-type carboxymethylated cellulose nanofiber in which the viscosity is not excessively high at the time of preparing a dispersion liquid and the introduced carboxymethyl group is desalted to convert the acid type, and the acid-type carboxymethylated cellulose nanofiber has 0.01 to 0.50 of the degree of substitution with carboxymethyl group per glucose unit, wherein the B-type viscosity in an aqueous dispersion with a concentration of 0.95 to 1.05% by mass is 1000 mPa·s or more under the condition of 60 rpm and 20° C., and 7000 mPa·s or more under the condition of 6 rpm and 20° C.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber having a high viscosity in a low shear region, or to provide an acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber having a very short fiber length, and the acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber has a carboxy group at least in part of a constituent unit constituting a cellulose molecular chain, wherein a viscosity of water dispersion with a content from 0.95 to 1.05% by mass is 400 Pa·s or higher at a shear velocity from 0.003 to 0.01 s?1 at 30° C., or an average fiber length is from 50 to 500 nm and a ratio of fibers having a fiber length of 300 nm or shorter is 50% or higher.

Abstract: A short-circuit prediction device for predicting the presence or absence of occurrence of an internal short circuit in a secondary battery is provided. The secondary battery has a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode that contains a lithium alloy. The short-circuit prediction device includes a measurement instrument that measures AC impedance of the secondary battery and a controller that predicts the internal short circuit in the secondary battery. The measurement instrument calculates electrolyte resistance of the secondary battery and reaction resistance of the secondary battery from the AC impedance. When a change rate of the electrolyte resistance per a predetermined period is within a predetermined range and the reaction resistance becomes higher than a predetermined upper limit, the controller predicts that there is a possibility of occurrence of the internal short circuit.

Abstract: A cellulose nanofiber with little contaminants and a high transparency is provided. A filtration method of a cellulose nanofiber dispersion including a step of filtering a cellulose nanofiber dispersion under elevated or reduced pressure by at least one of the filtration processes: (A) a filtration process using a filter aid; (B) a filtration process using a filter media selected from the group consisting of a metal porous filter media, an inorganic material porous filter media, and a polymer porous filter media; and (C) a filtration process using both the filter aid and the filter media.

Abstract: A catalyst deterioration recovery device in a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell including a membrane electrode assembly configured to include an electrolyte membrane and anode and cathode catalysts between which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched from both sides and anode and cathode separators respectively including an anode gas flow channel and a cathode gas flow channel, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between the anode and cathode separators. The catalyst deterioration recovery device recovers performance decreased by adsorption of carbon monoxide to the anode catalyst. The catalyst deterioration recovery device includes a recovery control unit configured to supply at least a part of oxygen to be supplied to the cathode gas flow channel to the anode catalyst via the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A cathode electrode for a fuel cell, includes a conductive carrier having pores and a catalyst having a platinum alloy supported in the pores of the conductive carrier, wherein the catalyst has in a pore diameter range of 2 to 6 nm when diameters of the pores is plotted in relation with volumes of the pores a peak value of more than 1 cm3/g and also a BET specific surface area of 1300 m2/g.

Abstract: A catalyst deterioration recovery device in a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell including a membrane electrode assembly configured to include an electrolyte membrane and anode and cathode catalysts between which the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched from both sides and anode and cathode separators respectively including an anode gas flow channel and a cathode gas flow channel, the membrane electrode assembly being sandwiched between the anode and cathode separators. The catalyst deterioration recovery device recovers performance decreased by adsorption of carbon monoxide to the anode catalyst. The catalyst deterioration recovery device includes a recovery control unit configured to supply at least a part of oxygen to be supplied to the cathode gas flow channel to the anode catalyst via the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dispersion liquid of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers and a composition of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers that are not colored when heated. Specifically, the dispersion liquid contains anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; an anti-coloring agent selected from the group consisting of borate salts and sulfite salts, or combinations thereof in an amount of 1 to 30 mass % based on an absolute dry mass of the anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; and a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber having a high viscosity in a low shear region, or to provide an acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber having a very short fiber length, and the acid type carboxylated cellulose nanofiber has a carboxy group at least in part of a constituent unit constituting a cellulose molecular chain, wherein a viscosity of water dispersion with a content from 0.95 to 1.05% by mass is 400 Pa·s or higher at a shear velocity from 0.003 to 0.01 s?1 at 30° C., or an average fiber length is from 50 to 500 nm and a ratio of fibers having a fiber length of 300 nm or shorter is 50% or higher.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dispersion liquid of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers and a composition of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers that are not colored when heated. Specifically, the dispersion liquid contains anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; an anti-coloring agent selected from the group consisting of borate salts and sulfite salts, or combinations thereof in an amount of 1 to 30 mass % based on an absolute dry mass of the anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; and a solvent.

Abstract: An object is to provide an acid-type carboxymethylated cellulose nanofiber in which the viscosity is not excessively high at the time of preparing a dispersion liquid and the introduced carboxymethyl group is desalted to convert the acid type, and the acid-type carboxymethylated cellulose nanofiber has 0.01 to 0.50 of the degree of substitution with carboxymethyl group per glucose unit, wherein the B-type viscosity in an aqueous dispersion with a concentration of 0.95 to 1.05% by mass is 1000 mPa·s or more under the condition of 60 rpm and 20° C., and 7000 mPa·s or more under the condition of 6 rpm and 20° C.

Abstract: A method for producing an anionically-modified cellulose nanofiber dispersion, the method comprising: preparing a dispersion containing anionically-modified cellulose; and defibrating the cellulose in the dispersion, wherein at least a part of hydroxyl groups in pyranose rings in the anionically-modified cellulose is modified by oxidation or substitution, and an electrical conductivity of the anionically-modified cellulose aqueous dispersion that is subjected to defibration is 500 ?S/cm or lower at a concentration of 1.0 wt %. The dispersion has high transparency.

Abstract: A cellulose nanofiber with little contaminants and a high transparency is provided. A filtration method of a cellulose nanofiber dispersion including a step of filtering a cellulose nanofiber dispersion under elevated or reduced pressure by at least one of the filtration processes: (A) a filtration process using a filter aid; (B) a filtration process using a filter media selected from the group consisting of a metal porous filter media, an inorganic material porous filter media, and a polymer porous filter media; and (C) a filtration process using both the filter aid and the filter media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dispersion liquid of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers and a composition of anion-modified cellulose nanofibers that are not colored when heated. Specifically, the dispersion liquid contains anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; an anti-coloring agent selected from the group consisting of borate salts and sulfite salts, or combinations thereof in an amount of 1 to 30 mass % based on an absolute dry mass of the anion-modified cellulose nanofibers; and a solvent.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) of the present invention includes a fuel cell stack (10) including plural single fuel cells (11) stacked on each other, each single fuel cell being supplied with hydrogen gas and air to an anode electrode (14) and a cathode electrode (13), respectively, to generate electricity. The system (1) further includes a voltage applying device (C9) that applies voltage to the fuel cell stack (10) after oxygen present in the cathode electrode (13) is reduced. The system (1) further includes a cross-leakage diagnosis device (C12) that diagnoses, based on voltage of the single fuel cells (11) when the voltage applying device (C9) applies the voltage to the fuel cell stack (10), whether hydrogen gas in the anode electrode (13) is cross-leaked to the cathode electrode (14) in each single fuel cell (11).

Abstract: A cathode electrode for a fuel cell, includes a conductive carrier having pores and a catalyst having a platinum alloy supported in the pores of the conductive carrier, wherein the catalyst has in a pore diameter range of 2 to 6 nm when diameters of the pores is plotted in relation with volumes of the pores a peak value of more than 1 cm3/g and also a BET specific surface area of 1300 m2/g.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) of the present invention includes a fuel cell stack (10) including plural single fuel cells (11) stacked on each other, each single fuel cell being supplied with hydrogen gas and air to an anode electrode (14) and a cathode electrode (13), respectively, to generate electricity. The system (1) further includes a voltage applying device (C9) that applies voltage to the fuel cell stack (10) after oxygen present in the cathode electrode (13) is reduced. The system (1) further includes a cross-leakage diagnosis device (C12) that diagnoses, based on voltage of the single fuel cells (11) when the voltage applying device (C9) applies the voltage to the fuel cell stack (10), whether hydrogen gas in the anode electrode (13) is cross-leaked to the cathode electrode (14) in each single fuel cell (11).

Abstract: An oxygen-concentrating equipment comprising an oxygen-concentrating means for separating oxygen from air and concentrating the oxygen, a humidifying means for humidifying the oxygen-concentrated air produced by said oxygen-concentrating means, and an oxygen-supplying means for supplying the humidified oxygen-concentrated air to a user, characterized in that said humidifying means has at least a cation-conducting solid electrolyte membrane equipped with electrodes on both the sides of the membrane and an electric source for applying an electric current to said electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for treating joint diseases. In order to lower a matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity which has been enhanced in accompany with a joint disease such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and to improve the joint disease, the apparatus lowers the MMP activity at the joint site by applying ultrasonic waves on it. The apparatus is a means provided with at least an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic generator and a means for mounting the ultrasonic transducer on the joint site, and applying ultrasonic waves having a frequency of 1.3 to 2 MHz, a repeating frequency of 100 to 1,000 Hz, a burst width of 10 to 2,000 &mgr;s and an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 or less (SATA: Spatial Average-Temporal Average).