Abstract: A heat-storage material that provides a sufficiently large amount of thermal energy as a latent-heat storage material including a semiclathrate hydrate and that improves hysteresis between the solidifying temperature and the melting starting temperature and a refrigerator and a cooling container that include the heat-storage material are provided. The heat-storage material that changes phase at a predetermined temperature includes water, a main agent including a quaternary ammonium salt that forms a semiclathrate hydrate, a pH adjuster that maintains alkaline properties, and a nucleating agent that generates a cation that exhibits positive hydration. In such an aqueous solution maintained to be alkaline, the nucleating agent becomes a nucleus in solidification, and thus, the temperature difference between the solidifying temperature and the melting temperature can be decreased.

Abstract: A controller controls a first device, one of an endoscope and a treatment instrument being the first device, a remaining one of the endoscope and the treatment instrument being a second device, the endoscope comprising an insertion tube and a self-propelled mechanism adapted to generate force for insertion or removal of the insertion tube. The controller includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the second device is functioning; and a control unit configured to restrict an operation of the first device if the second device is determined to be functioning.

Abstract: A protecting cover includes a body and an opening. The body covers a case that has an outer surface and that includes components connected to each other at least one connecting portion to house a circuit board in an inner side of the case opposite to the outer surface. The body is to cover at least part of the at least one connecting portion. The opening exposes at least part of the outer surface of the case.

Abstract: This flocking powder coated article comprises a base material (10) and a flocking coating layer (11). The flocking coating layer (11) includes: a coating film (110) constituted by a powder coating, and a portion of a flocking organic filler (13) buried in the powder coating; and a flocking layer (111) constituted by another portion of the flocking organic filler (13) projecting from the coating film (110). This flocking powder coated article does not have an adhesive layer for fixing the flocking organic filler (13).

Abstract: There is a need to provide an image generator and an image generation method capable of avoiding wasting a normal printed matter if any in sheets of paper output after an occurrence of waste paper. When paper contains an abnormal image, the paper is detected as waste paper based on a read result from an image read sensor. Detection of the waste paper allows an image generator to perform reprint from a print job for the waste paper. Normal-image paper may be contained in sheets of paper output between detection of the waste paper and the reprint to be performed. In this case, the normal-image paper is used as a normal printed matter and is avoided from being consumed wastefully.

Abstract: An endoscope insertion shape observation apparatus includes an endoscope, a magnetic field generation coil provided at an insertion portion of the endoscope and configured to generate a magnetic field, an antenna unit configured to receive a coil signal from the magnetic field generation coil, a bending portion configured to bend the insertion portion, a bending drive section configured to drive the bending portion to bend, an insertion shape processing circuit configured to generate an insertion shape of the endoscope inserted into a subject according to a signal received from the antenna unit, a touch panel configured to display a generation result of the insertion shape processing circuit and be able to perform touch operation, and a drive section control circuit configured to control a drive amount of the bending drive section based on the touch operation on a desired location of the insertion shape displayed on the touch panel.

Abstract: This flocking powder coating method comprises: a powder coating attachment step for attaching a powder coating to a base material; a flocking step for attaching, by electrostatic force, a flocking organic filler to the attached powder coating layer; and a fixing step for forming a coating film by curing or hardening a resin included in the powder coating and thereby fixing a portion of the flocking organic filler to the coating film. According to this flocking powder coating method, coating and flocking can be performed without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a paper transport unit, a paper position measuring unit, a deviation compensating unit in preparation to image forming, a control unit for controlling the image formation and the deviation compensation, wherein the control unit includes a function that receives the results measured by the paper position measuring unit and compensates the deviation of the paper in accordance with the measured results, wherein, the control unit shifts the paper toward a predetermined position in the direction across the paper transporting direction and shift the image forming position in the main scanning direction in accordance with the predetermined position of the paper, wherein, the control unit decides the predetermined position so that the image area based on the image forming position being shifted does not go out of the range of the image formable area.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for scleroderma. The present invention also aims to provide a Th2 promotion inhibitor or a vascular stabilizing agent. Glycyrrhetinic acids and/or salts thereof are applied for prevention of scleroderma, treatment of scleroderma, inhibition of Th2 promotion, or stabilization of blood vessels.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat storage capsule capable of being readily produced and a heat storage member using the same. A heat storage capsule 10 includes a heat storage material 20 reversibly changing into a hydrate of a salt and an aqueous solution of the salt and also includes a capsule coating 22 encapsulating the heat storage material 20. The capsule coating 22 includes an inner sub-coating 24 and an outer sub-coating 26. The inner sub-coating 24 is a hydrogenated oil layer. The outer sub-coating 26 is made of a hydrophilic gel. The heat storage capsule 10 has a W/O/W three-layer structure.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a long and thin insertion section, a rotating housing that is provided to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a drive shaft that is connected to a motor rotating the rotating housing, and that transmits a rotation of the motor, a rotor that is provided at a distal-end side of the drive shaft and that is provided to be movable in relation to the rotating housing in axial direction of the insertion section, and that transmits the rotation to the rotating housing via a coating of the insertion section, a sensor that detects that the rotor moves a predetermined amount in either forward or backward direction relative to the axial direction of the insertion section, and a control unit that controls, according to the detection by the sensor, a state of the motor including a positive rotation, a negative rotation, and rotation halt.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a drive current detector detecting a drive current value driving the motor to drive a rotation body, and a controller controlling the motor in a speed control method which controls the motor so that a rotation speed of the motor reaches a targeted rotation speed until the drive current value reaches a predetermined switching value, and, when the drive current value reaches the switching value, controlling the motor by switching to a torque control method which controls the motor so that the drive current value reaches a targeted current value.

Abstract: There is provided an exhaust purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which a catalyst capable of adsorbing and oxidizing hydrocarbon is provided in an exhaust pipe, the exhaust purification apparatus including temperature detection means for detecting a temperature of the catalyst, estimation means for accumulating a time during which the temperature of the catalyst detected by the temperature detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature, and estimating an amount of hydrocarbon adsorbed on the catalyst from the accumulated time, and control means for controlling fuel ejection of the internal combustion engine in a first ejection mode in which the temperature of the catalyst is increased to a temperature where hydrocarbons adsorbed on the catalyst are oxidized, in a case in which the amount of hydrocarbons estimated by the estimation means exceeds a predetermined upper limit.

Abstract: A soundproofing material 1 includes: a first sheet-like acoustic material 10; a second sheet-like acoustic material 20 stacked on the first acoustic material 10 in a thickness direction; and a coating member 30 covering the second acoustic material 20 from a side opposite to the first acoustic material 10, and adhered to the first acoustic material 10.

Abstract: A method for forming a wire into a coil spring includes winding the wire around a coiling mandrel to form the wire into a cylindrical coil shape, clamping one end of the wire formed into the cylindrical coil shape, clamping an intermediate portion of the wire spaced from the clamped one end of the wire; and moving the clamped one end of the wire relative to the clamped intermediate position at least in an axis direction of the cylindrical coil shape, whereby a pigtail having a desired shape is formed.

Abstract: An object to be cooled is quickly brought to a suitable temperature. An object to be cooled is quickly brought to a suitable temperature. A thermal energy storage pack 1 according to the present invention is a thermal energy storage pack that performs temperature management of food and/or beverage, and includes a first deep-drawn container filled with a first thermal energy storage material that exhibits phase change at a predetermined temperature, a second deep-drawn container that is overlaid by the first accommodation portion and that is filled with a second thermal energy storage material that maintains a liquid phase state at the phase change temperature of the first thermal energy storage material, and a cover material that closes off the first deep-drawn container. The second deep-drawn container comes into contact with a wine bottle.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including (1) a first power source section that includes a first power source output terminal and a second power source output terminal that output voltages at mutually different voltage levels, (2) a first output section that includes a first output stage switch that is provided between the first power source output terminal and a first voltage output terminal, and a second output stage switch that is provided between the second power source output terminal and the first power source output terminal, and (3) a controller that performs ON/OFF control of the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch such that both the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch are in an OFF state over a predetermined period encompassing a point in time when a signal level of the first signal switches.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide cooling equipment which can reduce power consumption. Cooling equipment 1 includes a storage chamber 30 that stores storage goods; latent heat storage materials 101 to 106 disposed inside the storage chamber 30; a compressor 40 that configures a refrigerating cycle for cooling the inside of the storage chamber 30; a temperature sensor 60 that detects a temperature of the latent heat storage materials 101 to 106; and a control unit 100 that controls the compressor 40, based on a state of the latent heat storage materials 101 to 106.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide cooling equipment which can reduce power consumption. Cooling equipment 1 includes a storage chamber 30 that stores storage goods; latent heat storage materials 101 to 106 disposed inside the storage chamber 30; a compressor 40 that configures a refrigerating cycle for cooling the inside of the storage chamber 30; a temperature sensor 60 that detects a temperature of the latent heat storage materials 101 to 106; and a control unit 100 that controls the compressor 40, based on a state of the latent heat storage materials 101 to 106.

Abstract: A door hole seal includes: a sheet body configured to operably couple to a door inner panel for covering an opening on the door inner panel; a synthetic resin film for joining the sheet body to the door inner panel, the synthetic resin film being transparent, the synthetic resin film including: an internal circumferential end which sticks to the sheet body; and an outer circumferential end which sticks to an inner-cabin side of the door inner panel by adhesive; and a sheet separation provided at a distance from the sheet body and between an outer circumferential end of the sheet body and the outer circumferential end of the synthetic resin film, the sheet separation adhering to the synthetic resin film.