Abstract: A circle rotator of a motor grader includes a worm, a worm wheel and a shaft. The worm wheel has an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion enclosing the inner peripheral portion from outside, and a plurality of first clutch discs to be spline-coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral portion. The inner peripheral portion is made of a material harder than a material of which the outer peripheral portion is made.

Abstract: A microscope includes: an objective lens having an optical system; a correction collar provided on the objective lens and configured to move the optical system in a direction of an optical axis of the optical system by rotating around the objective lens to correct aberration; a switching unit to which the objective lens is attachable and which switches a position of the objective lens; a supporting unit for supporting the switching unit; and a focusing unit that holds the supporting unit such that the supporting unit is movable along the optical axis of the objective lens. A correction collar operating device is detachably attached to the supporting unit and includes: an input unit for inputting rotary force to rotate the correction collar; and a correction collar driving unit for rotating the correction collar according to the rotary force while the correction collar driving unit has contact with the correction collar.

Abstract: There is provided an X-ray diffraction apparatus configured to irradiate a sample S on a sample stage with X-rays generated from an X-ray source and detect the X-rays diffracted by a sample using a detector, including a virtual mask setting section and a signal processing section. The detector outputs detection signals according to intensity of the X-rays received by detection elements, for each of the plurality of detection elements forming a detection surface. The virtual mask setting section is capable of setting a virtual mask on the detection surface of the detector, and setting at least an opening dimension of the virtual mask as an opening condition of the virtual mask independently in an X direction and a Y direction. The signal processing section processes the detection signals outputted from the detector according to the opening condition of the virtual mask set in the virtual mask setting section.

Abstract: At least two values of an X-ray irradiation width are set for a single specimen. A rocking curve is measured for each of the X-ray irradiation widths. A rocking curve width value is determined for each of the rocking curves. The values of the X-ray irradiation width and the values of the rocking curve width are plotted on a planar coordinate system having a vertical axis representing the rocking curve width value and a horizontal axis representing the X-ray irradiation width value, and a rocking curve width shift line is determined based on the plotted points. A gradient of the rocking curve width shift line is determined. A curvature radius of the specimen is determined based on the gradient. The amount of bowing of a single-crystal substrate under measurement can be measured without a need to move the single-crystal substrate for reliable measurement with a small amount of error.

Abstract: The present invention provides that powder is mainly constituted from secondary particles of hydroxyapatite. The secondary particles are obtained by drying a slurry containing primary particles of hydroxyapatite and aggregates thereof and granulating the primary particles and the aggregates. A bulk density of the powder is 0.65 g/mL or more and a specific surface area of the secondary particles is 70 m2/g or more. The powder of the present invention has high strength and is capable of exhibiting superior adsorption capability when it is used for an adsorbent an adsorption apparatus has.

Abstract: The present invention is powder constituted from particles of a compound represented by the following general formula (1), (Ca1-aMa)10(PO4)6((OH)1-bFb)2 (1), where in the formula M is a divalent metal element, and the following relations are satisfied: 0<a?1 and 0?b?1. Each of the particles has a surface, a central part, a specific distance part in which a distance from the surface toward the central part is 15 nm, and an area part from the specific distance part to the central part. An amount of the divalent metal element is 3.2 wt % or more in the area part.

Abstract: The furnace of the present invention includes a body of a furnace having a cylindrical shape; a steel shell which is arranged at an inside surface of the furnace; and a lining refractory which is arranged at an inside of the steel shell and includes a plurality of refractory blocks, wherein: each of the refractory blocks includes a hot-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape exposed to a middle of the furnace, and a cold-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape larger than the hot-face end surface, the cold-face end surface being arranged at an outer periphery side of the furnace; the refractory blocks are arranged such that each position of the hot-face end surface is positioned along the radial direction of the furnace at a predetermined reference position; and the refractory blocks are arrayed along the circumferential direction of an inside surface of the steel shell, thereby being stacked in a honeycomb manner.

Abstract: A method of purifying a virus or viral antigen from a sample solution containing the virus or viral antigen is provided. The method comprises: preparing sintered powder of hydroxyapatite, wherein a specific surface area of particles of the sintered powder is in the range of 2.0 to 11.0 m2/g; bringing the sample solution into contact with the sintered powder to thereby adsorb the virus or viral antigen to the particles of the sintered powder; and supplying an eluant to the sintered powder to thereby elute the adsorbed virus or viral antigen from the particles of the sintered powder. The method is capable of purifying the virus from the sample solution with an uniform yielding ratio and good repeatability. Furthermore, a method of producing a vaccine of the virus or viral antigen by using the method of purifying the virus or viral antigen is provided.

Abstract: In an adsorbent of the present invention, at least a surface and its vicinity thereof is composed of an apatite represented by the formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1-xAx)2, where A represents a halogen element and 0?x?1, and a phosphate group contained in the apatite is bonded to a trivalent metal ion. Further, preferably, the trivalent metal ion is Fe3+. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an adsorbent capable of specifically adsorbing an object compound, an adsorption apparatus capable of separating and purifying the object compound easily and reliably, and a method capable of manufacturing such an adsorption apparatus easily in a short time.

Abstract: An adsorption apparatus comprising a column filled with an adsorbent, wherein the surface of the adsorbent and its vicinity mainly comprise an apatite which is represented by the formula (Ca1-aMa)10(PO4)6((OH)1-bXb)2, where the M represents at least one kind of rare earth metal elements, the X represents at least one kind of halogen elements, 0<a?1, and 0?b?1. Preferably, the M comprises a lanthanide-based metal element mainly comprising Sm, and the ratio of Sm is no less than 70% to the total amount of the M. The adsorbent apparatus may be manufactured by passing a solution containing ions of at least one kind of rare earth metal elements through the adsorbent filling space of the column filled with the apatite represented by the formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1-bXb)2, where the X represents at least one kind of halogen elements and 0?b?1.

Abstract: A method for producing an adsorbent which is stable toward a liquid such as an eluant and which shows excellent reproducibility in selectively adsorbing and separating an object compound, the method includes the steps of: preparing a base material having a surface, in which at least part of the surface of the base material is formed of a material containing as its major component apatite which is represented by the composition formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1-aXa)2; preparing a solution containing ions of at least one metal element; substituting at least part of Ca of the apatite by the at least one metal element by bringing the base material into contact with the solution to obtain a substituted base material; and subjecting the substituted base material to heat treatment at 50 to 400° C. for 0.5 to 10 hours, wherein the base material and the substituted base material are not exposed to a temperature exceeding 500° C. for 4 hours or longer from the substitution step to the completion of production of the adsorbent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a particle production method whereby spherical fine particles of a crystalline calcium phosphate-based compound can be efficiently produced at low cost, fine particles (especially, spherical particles) with good flowability produced by the particle production method, and a high-quality sintered body obtained by sintering a molded body of the particles.

Abstract: A method of separating at least one phycobilino-based pigment from a sample containing a plurality of phycobilin-based pigments is provided. The method is capable of separating a specific phycobilin-based pigment with high purity by a simple operation.

Abstract: In an adsorbent of the present invention, at least a surface and its vicinity thereof is composed of an apatite represented by the formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1-xAx)2, where A represents a halogen element and 0?x?1, and a phosphate group contained in the apatite is bonded to a trivalent metal ion. Further, preferably, the trivalent metal ion is Fe3+. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an adsorbent capable of specifically adsorbing an object compound, an adsorption apparatus capable of separating and purifying the object compound easily and reliably, and a method capable of manufacturing such an adsorption apparatus easily in a short time.

Abstract: A method for producing an adsorbent which is stable toward a liquid such as an eluant and which shows excellent reproducibility in selectively adsorbing and separating an object compound, the method includes the steps of: preparing a base material having a surface, in which at least part of the surface of the base material is formed of a material containing as its major component apatite which is represented by the composition formula Ca10(PO4)6((OH)1?aXa)2; preparing a solution containing ions of at least one metal element; substituting at least part of Ca of the apatite by the at least one metal element by bringing the base material into contact with the solution to obtain a substituted base material; and subjecting the substituted base material to heat treatment at 50 to 400° C. for 0.5 to 10 hours, wherein the base material and the substituted base material are not exposed to a temperature exceeding 500° C. for 4 hours or longer from the substitution step to the completion of production of the adsorbent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for producing particles whereby dense particles (especially, spherical particles) composed of a calcium phosphate-based compound can be efficiently produced at low cost, particles which are produced by the method, and an adsorption apparatus which is produced by using the particles as an adsorbent. The method for producing particles comprises preparing a liquid containing primary particles composed of a calcium phosphate-based compound and a dispersion medium; feeding the liquid into a heated atmosphere in the form of droplets to obtain aggregates of the primary particles by removing the dispersion medium from each of the droplets and then bring the aggregates into a molten state so that each of the aggregates is formed into a spherical shape; and solidifying the aggregates in the molten state to obtain dense secondary particles. The heated atmosphere preferably contains plasma produced by ionization of an ambient gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a particle production method whereby spherical fine particles of a crystalline calcium phosphate-based compound can be efficiently produced at low cost, fine particles (especially, spherical particles) with good flowability produced by the particle production method, and a high-quality sintered body obtained by sintering a molded body of the particles.

Abstract: An adsorption apparatus has a column having an adsorbent filling space filled with an adsorbent. The adsorbent has a surface and its vicinity mainly comprises an apatite which is represented by the formula (Ca1-aMa)10(PO4)6((OH)1-bXb)2, where the M represents at least one kind of rare earth metal elements, the X represents at least one kind of halogen elements, 0<a?1, and 0?b?1. Preferably, the M comprises a lanthanoid-based metal element mainly comprises Sm, and the ratio of Sm is no less than 70% to the total amount of the M. This ensures that an object compound having a portion capable of bonding to the M with a high affinity is specifically bonded to the adsorbent. As a result, the adsorbent can exhibit high selectivity with respect to such a compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a robot used in a clean room and adapted to transport a wafer cassette containing semiconductor wafers. The robot includes: a guide rail disposed in the clean room; a robot body slidably connected to the guide rail for movement along the guide rail; and a first drive mechanism for driving the robot body along the guide rail. The robot body includes: a clamping hand for releasably clamping the wafer cassette; an arm assembly, extending between the guide rail and the clamping hand, for controlling the position of the clamping hand; and a wrist assembly, interposed between the arm assembly and the clamping hand, for adjusting the orientation of the clamping hand.

Abstract: A railway carrier apparatus for semiconductor wafers which are contained in a wafer cassette is disclosed. This railway carrier apparatus includes: a carrier for carrying the wafer cassette; a guide rail, disposed along a line of travel of the carrier, for supporting the carrier to guide the carrier along the line of travel; and a drive mechanism for driving the carrier along the line of travel. The carrier includes; a carrier body slidably connected to the guide rail for movement along the guide rail; and a bedplate member, mounted on the carrier body, for supporting the wafer cassette on its upper face. The upper face of the bedplate member is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in such a manner that one of its opposite side edges is positioned at a higher level than the other side edge.