Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst is used to produce the hydrorefining catalyst which contains an inorganic oxide carrier and a hydrogenation-active metal and which has such a bimodal pore characteristic that pores having pore diameters of not more than 50 nm have a pore volume of not less than 0.4 cm3/g, pores having pore diameters of not less than 50 nm have a pore volume of not less than 0.2 cm3/g, and pores having pore diameters of not less than 1000 nm have a pore volume of not more than 0.1 cm3/g. The method comprises the steps of mixing and forming a pseudo-boehmite powder having a dispersibility index of 0.13 to 0.28, and calcinating the formed pseudo-boehmite under a condition in which the pseudo-boehmite is converted into &ggr;-alumina. The hydrorefining catalyst, which has the bimodal pore characteristic, can be produced easily at low cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing apparatus which includes a first rotatable member having an endless configuration, a second rotatable member in pressure contact with the first rotatable member which causes a recording material bearing an image to be nipped and conveyed at a pressure contact portion between the first and second rotatable members, a temperature raising unit for raising temperature of a local portion of the first rotatable member by reception of electric power supply, a temperature detecting unit for detecting temperature of a location different from the pressure contact portion with respect to a rotational direction of the first rotatable member, a first control unit for feedback-controlling electric power to be supplied to the temperature raising unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit, a setting unit for variably setting a set value corresponding to electric power to be supplied to the temperature raising unit, based on a temperature rise speed detected by the temperatu

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a heating member, a backup member that cooperates with the heating member to form a nip for nipping and conveying the recording material, and a conveying member provided downstream of the nip in the traveling direction of the recording material. In such a construction, the conveying member is provided closer to the backup member than the heating member.

Abstract: A hydrocracking catalyst has a carrier that has particles of a compound oxide and a binder present between these particles, and at least one metal component selected from Group 6, Group 9 or Group 10 of the Periodic Table supported on the carrier. The catalyst has a median pore diameter of 40 to 100 Å and the volume of pores whose pore diameter falls within a range of 40 to 100 Å is at least 0.1 mL/g. Moreover, the volume of pores of the catalyst whose pore diameter falls within a range of 0.05 to 5 &mgr;m is 0.05 to 0.5 mL/g, and the volume of pores whose pore diameter is 0.5 to 10 &mgr;m is less than 0.05 mL/g. This catalyst is mechanically strong enough for practical use and has a high conversion rate and middle distillate selectivity in hydrocracking of hydrocarbon oils, particularly vacuum gas oil.

Abstract: A road traffic information output apparatus includes: a road traffic information obtaining device that obtains road traffic information; a decision-making device that determines in advance a specific area for which road traffic information will need to be output; and a control device that implements control to output road traffic information that has been obtained by the road traffic information obtaining device for the specific area determined in advance, when the road traffic information for the specific area determined in advance by the decision-making device is required.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material includes a heating member, a backup member that cooperates with the heating member to form a nip for nipping and conveying the recording material, and a conveying member provided downstream of the nip in the traveling direction of the recording material. In such a construction, the conveying member is provided closer to the backup member than the heating member.

Abstract: There is provided an in-vehicle mount type navigation device in which a user can freely set a desired destination or via-places through which a route extending to the destination passes. A memory is provided with a destination/via-place table for storing data representing the destination and the via-places through which the route extending to the destination passes. A destination/registration place setting unit in a microprocessor stores data representing a place to be added in association with any specified one of a position between a via-place and another via-place or destination, and a position next to the destination into the destination/via-place table. On the basis of the data stored in the destination/via-place table, the guide route calculator of the microprocessor calculates a guide route which successively passes through the via-places and extends to the destination.

Abstract: Windmill generator sets, each including a windmill and a generator driven by the windmill, are installed on a floating body floating on water. The floating body is formed as a triangular truss structure. Each side of the triangle of the floating body is formed by a hollow beam having a rectangular cross section. The windmill generator sets are disposed on the floating body at the respective corners of the triangle. The distance between the centers of windmills, adjacent to each other, is set at a value smaller than four times, preferably smaller than two times, the diameter of the rotors of the windmills. By setting the distance between the centers of the windmills at a value smaller than four times of the rotor diameter, the construction cost of the floating body can be reduced without any accompanying reduction in the power generation efficiency of the windmill generator sets, whereby the unit power generating cost of the plant can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ITO sputtering target and a method of cleaning the target. ITO ground powder which is deposited on a surface of the target requires removal to increase the cleanness of the target surface. This prevents the production of nodules caused by sputtering in order to restrain abnormal discharge and prevent the production of particles. Particles deposited on a sputtered surface of an ITO sintered target are removed by subjecting the sputtered surface to multiple-oscillation ultrasonic washing, or alternatively, by sticking an adhesive tape to the sputtered surface, sufficiently rubbing the tape against the surface, and then peeling the tape off the surface. Both methods result in 400 or fewer deposited particles of 0.2 .mu.m or more average particle diameter being present in a 100 .mu.m.times.100 .mu.m area of the sputtered surface.

Abstract: A dustproof suit for a clean room is provided. The dustproof suit includes a garment, a pair of inner pants disposed inside the garment, a hood detachably mounted on the garment and a suction unit attached to the garment for decompressing an interior of the garment. The suction unit consists of a suction belt arranged inside the garment and an air cleaner arranged outside the garment so as to associate with the suction belt. The suction belt is provided with a hollow passage and a plurality of suction holes communicating with the hollow passage. In operation, owing to sucking operation of the air cleaner, air in the garment is firstly sucked into the suction belt through the suction holes. Then, dust contained in the air is then filtrated by the air cleaner and sequentially discharged to an outside of the garment.

Abstract: A heat-exchange element has a plurality of heat-exchange components each having a circular heat-exchange plate. The circular heat-exchange plate has a plurality of ribs projecting from a surface thereof and extending generally in one direction. The outer circumferential edge of the circular heat-exchange plate is divided into four substantially equal edges. The circular heat-exchange plate includes a pair of sealing ribs extending respectively along two diametrically opposite ones of the edges substantially parallel to the ribs, and a pair of end walls extending respectively along two other diametrically opposite ones of the edges substantially transversely to the ribs. The heat-exchange components are stacked into a cylindrical shape in which the end walls of each of the circular heat-exchange plates fittingly engage the sealing ribs of another one of the circular heat-exchange plates.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a process for preparing tetracalcium phosphate particles, the process comprising the steps of (1) sintering or fusing a powder mixture at a temperature of not lower than 1,400.degree. C., the mixture comprising a powder of calcium source and a powder of phosphorus source in a Ca/P molar ratio of 2/1, and about 0.005 to about 5 parts of an aluminum compound, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a process for preparing tetracalcium phosphate particles, the process comprising the steps of (1) sintering or fusing a powder mixture at a temperature of not lower than 1,400.degree. C., the mixture comprising a powder of calcium source and a powder of phosphorus source in a Ca/P molar ratio of 2/1, and about 0.005 to about 5 parts of an aluminum compound, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides (i) a process for preparing tetracalcium phosphate particles, the process comprising the steps of (1) sintering or fusing a powder mixture at a temperature of not lower than 1,400.degree. C., the mixture comprising a powder of calcium source and a powder of phosphorus source in a Ca/P molar ratio of 2/1, and about 0.005 to about 5 parts of an aluminum compound, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: An indium oxide-tin oxide powder for ITO display devices etc. with only slight variance in properties such as average particle diameter and apparent density is prepared stably with good controllability and at low cost: (1) by electrolyzing indium as an anode, calcining or roasting the indium hydroxide obtained and combining the resulting indium oxide powder with a tin oxide powder; (2) by electrolyzing tin as an anode, calcining or roasting the metastannic acid obtained and combining the resulting tin oxide powder with an indium oxide powder; (3) by simultaneously electrolyzing indium and tin as separate anodes and then calcining or roasting the resulting mixed precipitate of indium hydroxide and metastannic acid to produce an indium oxide-tin oxide powder; or (4) by electrolyzing an alloy of indium and tin as an anode and then calcining or roasting the resulting precipitate of indium hydroxide and metastannic acid to produce an indium oxide-tin oxide powder.

Abstract: Tetracalcium phosphate particles are prepared by sintering or fusing at a temperature of at least 1,400.degree. C. a mixture of a powder of calcium source and a powder of phosphorous source in a Ca/P molar ratio of 2:1 and about 0.05 to about 5 parts of aluminum compound per 1 parts of tetracalcium phosphate to be produced in terms of the theoretical amount and finely-dividing the product obtained.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for supplying power during EDMing in which reverse polarity pulses are used to inhibit electrolytic activity. A main voltage pulse of a certain polarity and an auxiliary voltage pulse, preceding the main voltage pulse of the same or reverse polarity, are applied across a machining gap during the on time of a main gate signal and until a discharge is detected. The ratio of the number of auxiliary voltage pulses of regular polarity to those of reverse polarity is set to a desired value depending upon machining conditions, to thereby obtain a good compromise between the conflicting requirements of achieving a high machining rate, while inhibiting undesirable electrolytic activity.

Abstract: An address management system which is integrally compatible to an plurality of communication services and a plurality of communication application programs, and a communication terminal which utilizes such an address management system are disclosed.

Abstract: A communication control unit for integrated service digital network (ISDN) is disclosed. The ISDN communication control unit includes a data communication adapter for transmitting and receiving data to and from the ISDN and a voice adapter for transmitting and receiving voice data received from the ISDN, through the data communication adapter. The voice adapter includes a memory for storing voice data, a compression and expansion circuit for voice data, a temporary storage circuit for voice data, a monitor unit for voice data, a communication path change-over circuit for changing over a communication path between said temporary storage circuit, said monitor circuit and the ISDN, and a control unit for controlling these. A communication path is changed over by the communication path change-over circuit, to mutually transmit and receive voice data between the temporary storage circuit, the monitor circuit and the ISDN.