Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel strain that is capable of effectively inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and Staphylococcus aureus, is safe, and does not influence the flavor and taste of foods. The present invention relates to a strain of Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis WB1006 (FERMABP-11246), and also relates to a food produced with the use of the strain.

Abstract: A power-supply control device includes a high-frequency component detecting unit, a machining voltage level detecting device, a no-load time detecting device, and a pulse control device. The high-frequency component detecting unit detects a high-frequency component of discharge voltage at a machining gap. The machining voltage level detecting device detects a discharge voltage level at the machining gap. The no-load time detecting device detects delay time of discharge of the discharge voltage at the machining gap. The high-frequency component is compared with a reference value to obtain a first comparison result. The discharge voltage level is compared with a reference level to obtain a second comparison result. The pulse control device controls pulse off time based on the first comparison result and the detected delay time, and cuts off a discharge pulse based on the second comparison result.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel strain that is capable of effectively inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as fungi and Staphylococcus aureus, is safe, and does not influence the flavor and taste of foods. The present invention relates to a strain of Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis WB1006 (FERM ABP-11246), and also relates to a food produced with the use of the strain.

Abstract: A power-supply control device includes a high-frequency component detecting unit, a machining voltage level detecting device, and a pulse control device. The high-frequency component detecting unit detects a high-frequency component of discharge voltage at a machining gap. The machining voltage level detecting device detects a discharge voltage level at the machining gap. The high-frequency component is compared with a reference high-frequency component to obtain a first comparison result. The discharge voltage level is compared with a reference voltage level to obtain a second comparison result. The pulse control device controls pulse off time based on the first comparison result, and cuts off a discharge pulse based on the second comparison result.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.

Abstract: An R-T-B type alloy (wherein R is at least one member selected from rare earth elements, T is a transition metal including Fe, and B includes boron) which is a raw material for use in a rare earth-based permanent magnet, wherein the volume percentage of the region containing an R2T17 phase having an average grain diameter of 3 ?m or less in the short axis direction is from 0.5 to 10%.

Abstract: A power-supply control device includes a high-frequency component detecting unit, a machining voltage level detecting device, a no-load time detecting device, and a pulse control device. The high-frequency component detecting unit detects a high-frequency component of discharge voltage at a machining gap. The machining voltage level detecting device detects a discharge voltage level at the machining gap. The no-load time detecting device detects delay time of discharge of the discharge voltage at the machining gap. The high-frequency component is compared with a reference value to obtain a first comparison result. The discharge voltage level is compared with a reference level to obtain a second comparison result. The pulse control device controls pulse off time based on the first comparison result and the detected delay time, and cuts off a discharge pulse based on the second comparison result.

Abstract: The present invention is an alloy lump for R-T-B type sintered magnets, including an R2T14B columnar crystal and an R-rich phase (in which R is at least one rare earth element including Y, T is Fe or Fe with at least one transition metal element except for Fe, and B is boron or boron with carbon), in which in the as-cast state, R-rich phases nearly in the line-like or rod-like shape (the width direction of the line or rod is a short axis direction) are dispersed in the cross section, and the area percentage of the region where R2T14B columnar crystal grains have a length of 500 ?m or more in the long axis direction and a length of 50 ?m or more in the short axis direction is 10% or more of the entire alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rare earth magnet in the R—T—B (rare earth element-transition metal-boron) system that is made from an improved composition and properties of main phase alloy in the R—T—B system containing Pr and a boundary alloy. Disclosed also is a manufacturing method of the rare earth magnet alloy flake by a strip casting method with improved rotating rollers such that the alloy flake has a specified fine surface roughness and has a small and regulated amount of fine R-rich phase regions. Consequently, the alloy flake for the rare earth magnet does not containing ?-Fe and has a homogeneous morphology so that the rare earth magnet formed by sintering or bonding the alloy flakes exhibits excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing an alloy, including: a casting device which casts a molten alloy using the strip cast method; a crushing device which crushes the cast alloy after casting; and a heating device which keeps the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing at a predetermined temperature or which heats the thin laminas of the cast alloy after crushing, wherein the heating device is equipped with a container and a heater.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rare earth magnet in the R-T-B (rare earth element-transition metal-boron) system that is made from an improved composition and properties of main phase alloy in the R-T-B system containing Pr and a boundary alloy. Disclosed also is a manufacturing method of the rare earth magnet alloy flake by a strip casting method with improved rotating rollers such that the alloy flake has a specified fine surface roughness and has a small and regulated amount of fine R-rich phase regions. Consequently, the alloy flake for the rare earth magnet does not containing ?-Fe and has a homogeneous morphology so that the rare earth magnet formed by sintering or bonding the alloy flakes exhibits excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: A power-supply control device includes a high-frequency component detecting unit, a machining voltage level detecting device, and a pulse control device. The high-frequency component detecting unit detects a high-frequency component of discharge voltage at a machining gap. The machining voltage level detecting device detects a discharge voltage level at the machining gap. The high-frequency component is compared with a reference high-frequency component to obtain a first comparison result. The discharge voltage level is compared with a reference voltage level to obtain a second comparison result. The pulse control device controls pulse off time based on the first comparison result, and cuts off a discharge pulse based on the second comparison result.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rare earth magnet in the R-T-B (rare earth element-transition metal-boron) system that is made from an improved composition and properties of main phase alloy in the R-T-B system containing Pr and a boundary alloy. Disclosed also is a manufacturing method of the rare earth magnet alloy flake by a strip casting method with improved rotating rollers such that the alloy flake has a specified fine surface roughness and has a small and regulated amount of fine R-rich phase regions. Consequently, the alloy flake for the rare earth magnet does not containing ?-Fe and has a homogeneous morphology so that the rare earth magnet formed by sintering or bonding the alloy flakes exhibits excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: The present invention is an alloy lump for R-T-B type sintered magnets, including an R2T14B columnar crystal and an R-rich phase (in which R is at least one rare earth element including Y, T is Fe or Fe with at least one transition metal element except for Fe, and B is boron or boron with carbon), in which in the as-cast state, R-rich phases nearly in the line-like or rod-like shape (the width direction of the line or rod is a short axis direction) are dispersed in the cross section, and the area percentage of the region where R2T14B columnar crystal grains have a length of 500 ?m or more in the long axis direction and a length of 50 ?m or more in the short axis direction is 10% or more of the entire alloy.

Abstract: An R-T-B type alloy (wherein R is at least one member selected from rare earth elements, T is a transition metal including Fe, and B includes boron) which is a raw material for use in a rare earth-based permanent magnet, wherein the volume percentage of the region containing an R2T17 phase having an average grain diameter of 3 ?m or less in the short axis direction is from 0.5 to 10%.

Abstract: Rare-earth alloy is cast into a sheet (6) or the like by using a tundish (3, 13). The refractory material of the tundish used for casting does not necessitate preheating for improving the flowability of the melt (2). The refractory material used essentially consists of 70 wt % or more of Al2O3 and 30 wt % or less of SiO2, or 70 wt % or more of ZrO2 and 30 wt % or less of one or more of Y2O3, Ce2O3, CaO, MgO, Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2. The refractory material has 1 g/cm3 or less of bulk density, has 0.5 kcal/(mh° C.) or less of thermal conductivity in the temperature range of from 1200 to 1400° C., and has 0.5 wt % or less of ratio of ignition weight-loss under the heating condition of 1400° C. for 1 hour.

Abstract: An R-T-B based permanent magnet material alloy according to the present invention is an alloy in the shape of a thin plate including R2T14B columnar crystals and R-rich phases (where R is at least one of the rare-earth elements including Y, T is Fe with or without at least one nonferrous transition metal element, and B is boron with or without carbon). In a structure of the alloy as viewed on an arbitrary cross section including a normal to the thin plate, the ratio of the combined area of some of the R-rich phases, which have aspect ratios of 10 or more and the major axes of which define angles of 90±30 degrees with respect to the surface of the thin plate, to the overall area of the R-rich phases included in the alloy is at least 30%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rare earth magnet in the R-T-B (rare earth element-transition metal-boron) system that is made from an improved composition and properties of main phase alloy in the R-T-B system containing Pr and a boundary alloy. Disclosed also is a manufacturing method of the rare earth magnet alloy flake by a strip casting method with improved rotating rollers such that the alloy flake has a specified fine surface roughness and has a small and regulated amount of fine R-rich phase regions. Consequently, the alloy flake for the rare earth magnet does not containing ?-Fe and has a homogeneous morphology so that the rare earth magnet formed by sintering or bonding the alloy flakes exhibits excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: Rare-earth alloy is cast into a sheet (6) or the like by using a tundish (3, 13). The refractory material of the tundish used for casting does not necessitate preheating for improving the flowability of the melt (2). The refractory material used essentially consists of 70 wt % or more of Al2O3 and 30 wt % or less of SiO2, or 70 wt % or more of ZrO2 and 30 wt % or less of one or more of Y2O3, Ce2O3, CaO, MgO, Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2. The refractory material has 1 g/cm3 or less of bulk density, has 0.5 kca/(mh° C.) or less of thermal conductivity in the temperature range of from 1200 to 1400° C., and has 0.5 wt % or less of ratio of ignition weight-loss under the heating condition of 1400° C. for 1 hour.

Abstract: An alloy used for the production of a rare-earth magnet alloy, particularly the boundary-phase alloy in the two-alloy method is provided to improve the crushability. The Alloy consists of (a) from 35 to 60% of Nd, Dy and/or Pr, and the balance being Fe, or (b) from 35 to 60% of Nd, Dy and/or Pr, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of 35% by weight or less of Co, 4% by weight or less of Cu, 3% by weight or less of Al and 3% by weight or less of Ga, and the balance being Fe. The volume fraction of R2Fe17 phase (Fe may be replaced with Cu, Co, Al or Ga) is 25% or more in the alloy and the average size of an R2Fe17 phase is 20 &mgr;m or less. The alloy can be produced by a centrifugal casting at an average accumulating rate of melt at 0.1 cm/second or less.