Abstract: A state estimation device includes an information acquisition unit acquiring at least one of (i) electrode acquisition information indicating an electromagnetic time series that is a time series of an electromagnetic quantity that is an electromagnetic force, field, or energy applied to an electrode from which a signal indicating a state of a heart of an estimation target is acquirable or (ii) environment information that is information on a time series of an environmental quantity that is an amount related to one or both of a state of motion of the estimation target and an environment in which the estimation target is present; and an estimation unit using at least one of the electrode acquisition information or the environment information to determine whether an electrode event, which is an abnormality in acquisition of a signal indicating the state of the heart of the estimation target by the electrode, has occurred.

Abstract: The disclosed is a carbon fibrous conjunct in a granule form which comprises carbon fibrous structures and a binder by which the carbon fibrous structures are bound together, wherein mean diameter of the carbon fibrous conjunct is in the range of 0.03 mm-5 mm, and density of the carbon fibrous conjunct is in the range of 0.003-0.5 g/cm3, and wherein each of the carbon fibrous structures comprises carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm and a carbon granular part with which the carbon fibers are bound in the state that the carbon fibers extend outwardly from the granular part to form a three dimensional network of the carbon fibers, and wherein the granular part and the carbon fibers are bound together by carbon-carbon bonds.

Abstract: In dispersing a fine carbon fiber in a thermosetting resin, the invention disperses and disentangles the fine carbon fiber being aggregates form in the thermosetting resin solution, maintains the stable dispersed state, lowers the viscosity of the thermosetting resin solution in which the fine carbon fiber is dispersed, and provides a thermosetting resin formed article containing the fine carbon fiber by curing the fine carbon fiber dispersion solution and a production method thereof. The thermosetting resin-containing solution in which a fine carbon fiber is dispersed, comprises a thermosetting resin, the fine carbon fiber and a viscosity-decreasing agent for fine carbon fiber having a chemical structure represented by the following general formula (1), wherein R1 to R7 are hydrogen atoms or the like, R5 and R6 may be bonded together to form a ring, and all of them have not more than 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fine carbon fibrous structure which comprises carbon fibers and granular parts, wherein at least two granular parts connect by at least one of the carbon fibers; wherein the fine carbon fibrous structure have a D2/D1 ratio of 1.3 to 10, wherein the D1 is the median diameter of outer diameters of the carbon fibers and the D2 is the area-based circle-equivalent median diameter of the particles; wherein the granular parts have a D2 of 0.05 to 0.4 ?m; wherein the carbon fibers have a median length of not more than 20 ?m; wherein the granular parts are produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers; and wherein at least a graphene layer which exists on and constitutes the surface of each granular part is continued on a graphene layer which exists on and constitutes the surface of the carbon fiber which connects between the granular parts.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon fibrous structure having a plurality of granular parts, to which a plurality of carbon fibers are bound, includes heating a mixture of a carbon source and a catalyst at a temperature between 800 ° C. and 1300 ° C. to produce aggregates of a first intermediate, heating the aggregates of the first intermediate to remove hydrocarbons, at a temperature between 800 ° C. and 1200 ° C. to produce aggregates of a first product, heating the aggregates of the first product at a temperature between 2400 ° C. and 3000 ° C. to produce aggregates of a final product; and pulverizing the aggregates of the final product such that area-based circle-equivalent mean diameter of each aggregate of the carbon fibrous structure of the product is 50-100 ?m, bulk density of the carbon fibrous structure is 0.0001-0.02 g/cm3, and powder resistance under pressed density of 0.8g/cm3 is not more than 0.02 ?·cm.

Abstract: Upon dispersing fine carbon fibers into water, by using an anionic surfactant having a high electrostatic repulsion effect, an nonionic surfactant having a high stereoscopic repulsion effect, and an anionic surfactant having high electrostatic and stereoscopic repulsion effects, in combination, an aqueous dispersion of fine carbon fibers which shows a high dispersibility without causing significant cohesion of mutual fine carbon fibers, and maintains a mean particle diameter (d50) of not more than 350 nm in a wide concentration range from a relatively low concentration to a relatively high concentration is provided.

Abstract: An composite material is disclosed, which includes carbon fibrous structures which are capable of being included in a relatively large amount in the composite material, and which are capable of improving the physical properties, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties. The carbon fibrous structure comprises (a) carbon fibrous structures each of which comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each of the carbon fibers having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part, at which the carbon fibers are bound in a state that the carbon fibers are extended outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, and (b) an material other than the carbon fibrous structures, wherein the amount of carbon fibrous structures added is more than 30% and not more than 100% by weight of the total weight of the composite.

Abstract: An composite material is disclosed, which includes carbon fibrous structures which are capable of being included in a relatively large amount in the composite material, and which are capable of improving the physical properties, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties. The carbon fibrous structure comprises (a) carbon fibrous structures each of which comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each of the carbon fibers having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part, at which the carbon fibers are bound in a state that the carbon, fibers are extended outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, and (b) an material other than the carbon fibrous structures, wherein the amount of carbon fibrous structures added is more than 30% and not more than 100% by weight of the total weight of the composite.

Abstract: [Problems] To produce planar heating elements having high exothermic efficiency and provide energy-saving electric carpets, floor heating, wall surface heating appliances and heaters for thawing on roads and/or roofs or antifogging for mirrors. [Means for Solving] To provide a planar heating element produced by applying, to an insulating substrate or the like, an electrically conductive fine carbon fiber film that is fabricated using an aqueous dispersion of fine carbon fibers in which the fine carbon fibers are evenly dispersed in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon fibrous structure which comprises a granular part and 2-20 pieces of carbon fibers each of which has an outside diameter of 15-100 nm and which are extend outwardly from the granular part, wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, wherein the size of granular part is 1.3 or more of times larger than the outside diameter of the carbon fibers, and wherein the mean length of the carbon fibers is not more than 20 ?m. The carbon fibrous structure improves the physical properties of the matrix, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties, while maintaining the other properties of the matrix, even when added at a small amount.

Abstract: A rotary powder compression molding machine configured to compression-mold powder filled in a die bore of a die mounted on a turret between a lower end face of an upper punch and an upper end face of a lower punch, is provided including powder lubricant jet means for jetting powder lubricant, the powder lubricant jet means including: jet nozzles, each of which has a concave surface, faces a respective one of end faces of the upper and lower punches at a respective powder lubricant jet position, and is configured to guide the powder lubricant along the concave surface and jet the powder lubricant in substantially one direction; an air stream providing mechanism configured to jet an air stream to adjacent the lower end face of the upper punch for preventing the powder lubricant jetted from the jet nozzles from scattering upwardly; and a charger device configured to charge the powder lubricant electrostatically upon jetting from the jet nozzles.

Abstract: A three dimensional network of carbon fibrous structure includes a granular part formed by thermal decomposition of carbon in peripheral directions of a catalyst; and a plurality of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm and bound to the granular part and extending outwardly from the granular part, wherein an outside diameter of the granular part is larger than an outside diameter of each carbon fiber, and wherein the plurality of carbon fibers are fused together at the granular part during the formation of the carbon fibrous structure. The granular part may look like a knot of the plurality of carbon fibers. The carbon fibers may be tubular carbon fibers that are bound to the granular part, but are not entangled with each other.

Abstract: A composition for injection molding by which a reactive injection molded article of good mechanical strength and electrical conductivity is prepared is provided. The disclosed is a composition for injection molding which includes carbon fibrous structures in a liquid curing resin composition, at a rate of 0.1-20% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers.

Abstract: A method for forming a carbon fibrous structure having a granular part, to which a plurality of carbon fibers are bound, includes heating a mixture of a carbon source and a catalyst at a temperature between 800 and 1300° C. to produce a first intermediate, and heating the first intermediate to remove hydrocarbons, at a temperature between 800 and 1200° C. to produce a first product. The method further includes heating the first product at a temperature between 2400 and 3000° C. to produce a final product. The carbon source includes at least two compounds having different decomposition temperatures or a compound that can produce, when heated at a temperature between 800 and 1300° C., at least two components having different decomposition temperatures. The catalyst may include an iron-containing catalyst, which may be introduced into a reaction chamber in a gaseous state, without being deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: The disclosed is an electrically conductive sheet which includes carbon fibrous structures in polymer matrix, at a rate of 0.01-30% by weight based on the total weight of the sheet, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. The electrically conductive sheet shows a high electrical conductivity while possessing a good film strength.

Abstract: An recycled composite material is disclosed, which is prepared by using as a raw material a waste composite material which comprises a matrix component and carbon fibrous structures added to the matrix, and adding an additional matrix component which is homogeneous and/or heterogeneous with the matrix of the spent composite material, and then kneading them together; wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each carbon fiber having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, and a granular part, at which the fibers are bound in a state that the carbon fibers extend outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. The recycled composite material performs much the same with the original composite material, and is produced briefly at a low cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon fibrous structure which comprises a granular part and 2-20 pieces of carbon fibers each of which has an outside diameter of 15-100 nm and which are extend outwardly from the granular part, wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, wherein the size of granular part is 1.3 or more of times larger than the outside diameter of the carbon fibers, and wherein the mean length of the carbon fibers is not more than 20 ?m. The carbon fibrous structure improves the physical properties of the matrix, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties, while maintaining the other properties of the matrix, even when added at a small amount.

Abstract: The disclosed is a conductive coating material which includes an organic binder component and carbon fibrous structures, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers; and wherein the carbon fibrous structures are contained at a rate of 0.01-50% by weight based on the total weight of the coating material. The conductive coating material gives a coated film which shows a high electrical conductivity and a good film strength, and also coordinates its color as an intended one easily.

Abstract: The disclosed is a colored polymer composition which includes carbon fibrous structures and a coloring agent in a polymer matrix, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. It is the colored polymer composition which includes novel carbon fibrous structures having preferable physical properties as a filler for composite material, and of being able to improve electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of a matrix while maintaining other properties of the matrix, in a small adding amount, and which can show a color as pleases.

Abstract: An electron emission Source is disclosed, in which the fine carbon fibers included are uniformly dispersed as compared with those in the conventionally known electron emission sources, and the manufacturing of which is also easy. The electron emission source is manufactured by preparing a carbon fibrous structures' dispersion which comprises at least carbon fibrous structures and a binder resin, wherein carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each of which having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part, at which two or more carbon fibers are bound in a state that the carbon fibers extend outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers; applying the carbon fibrous structures' dispersion onto the substrate; and solidifying the applied carbon fibrous structures' dispersion.