Abstract: Probability of prize occurrence is easily controlled without provision of a blank between symbols on a reel. A gaming machine comprises: a lower image display panel configured to variably display a plurality of symbol arrays with a plurality of symbols including normal symbols and specific symbols more advantageous than the normal symbols, and then display a game result by rearranging the symbols in a symbol display region containing a matrix of cells; bet buttons capable of receiving a bet; and a controller configured to run a normal game which rearranges symbols on the symbol display device on condition that a bet is placed, the controller is configured to modify the symbols arrayed in the plurality of symbol arrays, so that the ratios of the specific symbols to the total number of the symbols in all the symbol arrays increases with an increase in the bet amount.

Abstract: Probability of prize occurrence is easily controlled without provision of a blank between symbols on a reel. A gaming machine comprises: a lower image display panel configured to variably display a plurality of symbol arrays with a plurality of symbols including normal symbols and specific symbols more advantageous than the normal symbols, and then display a game result by rearranging the symbols in a symbol display region containing a matrix of cells; bet buttons capable of receiving a bet; and a controller configured to run a normal game which rearranges symbols on the symbol display device on condition that a bet is placed, the controller is configured to modify the symbols arrayed in the plurality of symbol arrays, so that the ratios of the specific symbols to the total number of the symbols in all the symbol arrays increases with an increase in the bet amount.

Abstract: A steam reforming apparatus (21) is configured to be placed in an industrial furnace (100) sintering an article to be sintered with a heat generated by fusing a fuel and to use a fed hydrocarbon and fed steam as raw materials. The apparatus (21) includes a low-temperature reforming section (23) and a high-temperature reforming section (22). The low-temperature reforming section (23) includes a metal tubular reactor (25) or a ceramic tubular reactor each housing a reforming catalyst for accelerating a steam reforming reaction, and the high-temperature reforming section (22) includes a ceramic tubular reactor (24) to cause a steam reforming reaction inside thereof. There is provided a steam reforming apparatus capable of recovering waste heat by using part of the combustion heat (waste heat) of the industrial furnace efficiently in accordance with the temperature range thereof.

Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell, operating method of the fuel cell, sintering furnace equipped with the fuel cell, and power generator, wherein a cathode gas with a high carbon dioxide concentration can be obtained without a process of increasing the carbon dioxide concentration, and the heat of furnace exhaust gas can be effectively reclaimed and the fuel consumption can be reduced. The cathode gas is a gas containing a furnace exhaust gas discharged from an industrial furnace for heating materials, a mixed gas of the furnace exhaust gas and a gas for cathode use or a preheated gas for cathode use, which is a gas for cathode use preheated using the furnace exhaust gas as a heating source, or the preheated gas for cathode use, and the carbon dioxide concentration of the cathode gas is 0.1-50 vol %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a firing furnace (100) comprising a combusting means (2) for combusting a fuel (11), a firing furnace main body (1) for firing a member to be fired and exhausting a combustion gas, and a methane reforming device (3) for reacting a reforming material (23) composed of a methane sub fuel for reformation (21) and steam (22) with a methane reforming catalyst (6) filled therein while heating the same by the combustion gas for producing a reformed gas (24) containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, capable of cutting back the fuel cost.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell having a prolonged life by uniformly causing a hydrogen ionization reaction to occur at a fuel electrode, a fuel cell power generation device using the same, and the system using the same as well. There is also provided a method for operating a fuel cell in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked, each of the unit cells including a fuel electrode to which a fuel containing hydrogen as a major component is supplied, an air electrode to which air is supplied as an oxidizing agent, and an electrolyte provided between the fuel electrode and the air electrode. This operation method is characterized in that the number of moles of oxygen contained in air supplied to the air electrode is controlled based on the measured value such as number of moles of hydrogen contained in the incoming or outgoing fuel from the cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a firing furnace (100) comprising a combusting means (2) for combusting a fuel (11), a firing furnace main body (1) for firing a member to be fired and exhausting a combustion gas, and a methane reforming device (3) for reacting a reforming material (23) composed of a methane sub fuel for reformation (21) and steam (22) with a methane reforming catalyst (6) filled therein while heating the same by the combustion gas for producing a reformed gas (24) containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, capable of cutting back the fuel cost.

Abstract: Granulated powder for molding produced by granulating material powder, whose variation factor (the standard deviation of strength/average strength) of the compressive strength of each granular particles composing granulated powder is 0.3 or less. By using granulated powder for molding of the present invention, sintered bodies with preferred properties, in particular with high strength can be produced stably.

Abstract: A high-strength silicon nitride sintered body wherein the halogen element content in the silicon nitride sintered body is 200 ppm or higher. The silicon nitride sintered bodies have high strength at near room temperature. Therefore, such sintered bodies may be used favorably as a structural material for mechanical parts and the like, such as sliding members, whose strength at near room temperature is important.

Abstract: An excellent corrosion resistant member of a ceramic heater for semiconductor production apparatuses to be exposed to a halogen series corrosive gas is provided. The corrosion resistant member uses one of an aluminum nitride and alumina sintered body as a substrate. A ceramic heater using the corrosion resistive member is also disclosed as well as a semiconductor heating device using the ceramic heater.