Abstract: A method of producing fluoroapatite powder by using a calcium compound, a phosphate compound, and a fluorine compound as a raw material is provided. The method comprises: preparing a slurry containing fluoroapatite produced from the raw material by using a wet process; applying an ultrasonic wave to the slurry; and drying the slurry to obtain the fluoroapatite powder mainly constituted of the fluoroapatite. The method provides fluoroapatite powder having improved particle strength. Further, an adsorption apparatus including the fluoroapatite powder is also provided.

Abstract: To solve an uneven light quantity caused in a case where a light guide plate, in which light from a spot light source such as an LED enters an surface, changes by 90 degrees and exits the light to the outside, is used as a backlight. The light guide plate of the invention includes a light flux unifying region. The light flux unifying region has an incident surface, a first surface, and an exit surface. Light fluxes emitted from a light source enter the incident surface. The first surface is almost perpendicular to the incident surface and the intensity distribution of the light fluxes having entered is unified at the first surface. The exit surface is disposed almost parallel with the incident surface and the unified light fluxes exit from the exit surface. A boundary line between the incident surface and the first surface has a zigzag surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a fluoroapatite is provided. The method comprises preparing a slurry containing a hydroxyapatite which has at least one hydroxyl group, preparing a hydrogen fluoride-containing solution containing a hydrogen fluoride, mixing the hydrogen fluoride-containing solution with the slurry to obtain a mixture to thereby adjust a pH of the mixture in the range of 2.5 to 5, and reacting the hydroxyapatite with the hydrogen fluoride in the mixture in a state that the pH of the mixture is adjusted within the above range to thereby obtain the fluoroapatite by substituting the at least one hydroxyl group of the hydroxyapatite with fluorine atom of the hydrogen fluoride. The method can produce the fluoroapatite having improved acid resistance by reducing an impurity, such as ammonia, derived from a raw material to a low or very low level. Further, a fluoroapatite having high acid resistance is also provided. Furthermore, an adsorption apparatus using such a fluoroapatite is provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a fluoroapatite is provided. The method comprises preparing a slurry containing a hydroxyapatite which has at least one hydroxyl group, preparing a hydrogen fluoride-containing solution containing a hydrogen fluoride, mixing the hydrogen fluoride-containing solution with the slurry to obtain a mixture to thereby adjust a pH of the mixture in the range of 2.5 to 5, and reacting the hydroxyapatite with the hydrogen fluoride in the mixture in a state that the pH of the mixture is adjusted within the above range to thereby obtain the fluoroapatite by substituting the at least one hydroxyl group of the hydroxyapatite with fluorine atom of the hydrogen fluoride. The method can produce the fluoroapatite having improved acid resistance by reducing an impurity, such as ammonia, derived from a raw material to a low or very low level. Further, a fluoroapatite having high acid resistance is also provided. Furthermore, an adsorption apparatus using such a fluoroapatite is provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sintered compact having high density, and a sintered compact manufactured by the manufacturing method are provided. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing hydroxyapatite powder, molding a green compact, shaping the green compact, and sintering the green compact. Further, a method for manufacturing a sintered compact having high light permeability, and a sintered compact manufactured by the manufacturing method are provided. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing hydroxyapatite powder, molding a green compact, shaping the green compact, primary sintering, and secondary sintering. Furthermore, a cell culture base formed from the sintered compact described above is provided, by which affinity of various cells with bone can be properly determined. Moreover, a cell culture base by which affinity of various cells with bone can be properly determined is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media mixing mill, which is capable of obtaining a high-quality product while ensuring adequate pulverization/dispersion functions. The media mixing mill of the present invention comprises a grinding container having a material inlet and a spherical-shaped grinding chamber, an agitating member rotatably installed inside the grinding chamber and in adjacent relation to an inner wall of the grinding container, grinding media contained in the grinding chamber, and a centrifugal-type media-separating member rotatably disposed inside the grinding chamber and in opposed relation to the agitating member.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a medium agitation mill which is responsive to the standstill of the mill for preventing the pulverizing medium from invading the inside space of the longitudinal hollow space of the drive shaft of the impeller. In the medium agitation mill the medium separating impeller is arranged in the inside space of the agitating member, and the impeller has a plurality of vanes circumferentially arranged at intervals, and is driven by the hollow drive shaft, one end of which opens to the inside of the impeller to provide the raw material discharging port. The discharging port is provided with an on-off valve of a resilient material to open and close the discharging port.

Abstract: An MIM capacitor using a high-permittivity dielectric film such as tantalum oxide. The MIM capacitor includes an upper electrode, a dielectric film, and a lower electrode. A second dielectric film and the dielectric film are formed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, at the end of the MIM capacitor. The second dielectric film is formed to have an opening at the top of the lower electrode. The dielectric film abuts the lower electrode via the opening. The upper electrode is formed on the dielectric film. The upper electrode and the dielectric film are formed in such a manner as to embrace the opening entirely, and the second dielectric film and the lower electrode are formed so that the respective widths are the same as, or greater than, the widths of the upper electrode and the dielectric film.

Abstract: A cold roll forming method for reducing a diameter of a metal pipe and a metal pipe product having a diameter reduced by such a method are disclosed, wherein the method includes: passing a raw metal pipe through a set of pre-forming rolls so that it can be pre-formed into an intermediate metal pipe having an elliptical, elongated circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape; and then passing the intermediate metal pipe through a set of diameter-reducing rolls disposed on a downstream side of the set of pre-forming rolls so that it can have its outer circumferential length reduced to be smaller than an outer peripheral length of the raw metal pipe, while at the same time being re-formed into a circular cross-sectional shape or any other cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate metal pipe.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sintered compact having high density, and a sintered compact manufactured by the manufacturing method are provided. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing hydroxyapatite powder, molding a green compact, shaping the green compact, and sintering the green compact. Further, a method for manufacturing a sintered compact having high light permeability, and a sintered compact manufactured by the manufacturing method are provided. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing hydroxyapatite powder, molding a green compact, shaping the green compact, primary sintering, and secondary sintering. Furthermore, a cell culture base formed from the sintered compact described above is provided, by which affinity of various cells with bone can be properly determined. Moreover, a cell culture base by which affinity of various cells with bone can be properly determined is provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a fluoroapatite is provided. The method comprises preparing a slurry containing a hydroxyapatite which has at least one hydroxyl group, preparing a hydrogen fluoride-containing solution containing a hydrogen fluoride, mixing the hydrogen fluoride-containing solution with the slurry to obtain a mixture to thereby adjust a pH of the mixture in the range of 2.5 to 5, and reacting the hydroxyapatite with the hydrogen fluoride in the mixture in a state that the pH of the mixture is adjusted within the above range to thereby obtain the fluoroapatite by substituting the at least one hydroxyl group of the hydroxyapatite with fluorine atom of the hydrogen fluoride. The method can produce the fluoroapatite having improved acid resistance by reducing an impurity, such as ammonia, derived from a raw material to a low or very low level. Further, a fluoroapatite having high acid resistance is also provided. Furthermore, an adsorption apparatus using such a fluoroapatite is provided.

Abstract: Fluoroapatite dried particles are obtained by reacting hydroxyapatite primary particles having hydroxyl groups and hydrogen fluoride molecules having fluorine atoms so that at least one of hydroxyl groups of hydroxyapatite primary particles are substituted by the fluorine atoms of the hydrogen fluoride molecules. The fluoroapatite dried particles can exhibit superior acid resistance. Further, an adsorption apparatus using such fluoroapatite dried particles is provided.

Abstract: A method of producing fluoroapatite by using a calcium-based compound containing calcium, hydrogen fluoride and phosphoric acid is provided. The method can be produced fluoroapatite having improved acid resistance by reducing an amount of an impurity derived from a raw material to a low or very low level, and ability capable of separating a large amount of a protein due to a large specific surface area thereof. Further, fluoroapatite having high acid resistance and a large specific surface area is also provided. Furthermore, an adsorption apparatus using such fluoroapatite is also provided.

Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine provides a valve timing controller capable of continuously and variably controlling the overlap period of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine. A driving-state determination mechanism determines the driving state of the internal combustion engine and an overlap-period setting apparatus sets the overlap period with the valve timing controller. The overlap-period is set during the start of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the determinations of the driving-state determination mechanism which vary as the internal combustion engine starts.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a medium agitation mill which is responsive to the standstill of the mill for preventing the pulverizing medium from invading the inside space of the longitudinal hollow space of the drive shaft of the impeller. In the medium agitation mill the medium separating impeller is arranged in the inside space of the agitating member, and the impeller has a plurality of vanes circumferentially arranged at intervals, and is driven by the hollow drive shaft, one end of which opens to the inside of the impeller to provide the raw material discharging port. The discharging port is provided with an on-off valve of a resilient material to open and close the discharging port.

Abstract: A cold roll forming method for reducing a diameter of a metal pipe and a metal pipe product having a diameter reduced by such a method are disclosed, wherein the method includes: passing a raw metal pipe through a set of pre-forming rolls so that it can be pre-formed into an intermediate metal pipe having an elliptical, elongated circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape; and then passing the intermediate metal pipe through a set of diameter-reducing rolls disposed on a downstream side of the set of pre-forming rolls so that it can have its outer circumferential length reduced to be smaller than an outer peripheral length of the raw metal pipe, while at the same time being re-formed into a circular cross-sectional shape or any other cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate metal pipe.

Abstract: A circulation type media agitator mill includes a cylindrical vessel, and an agitating member arranged rotatably in the cylindrical vessel. A grinding media is contained in a grinding chamber defined between a cylindrical wall of the agitating member and a surrounding cylindrical wall of the vessel. A media-separating member is arranged coaxial with the agitating member in the inner space of the agitating member. An inlet is provided for leading material to be ground to the grinding chamber, and an outlet leads the material separated from the grinding media to the outside of the mill via the media separating member. The vessel may have a length to diameter ratio smaller than one. The cylindrical wall and hub of the agitatihg member have openings to allow the grinding chamber to communicate with the media separating chamber.

Abstract: A cold roll forming method for reducing a diameter of a metal pipe and a metal pipe product having a diameter reduced by such a method are disclosed, wherein the method includes: passing a raw metal pipe through a set of pre-forming rolls so that it can be pre-formed into an intermediate metal pipe having an elliptical, elongated circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape; and then passing the intermediate metal pipe through a set of diameter-reducing rolls disposed on a downstream side of the set of pre-forming rolls so that it can have its outer circumferential length reduced to be smaller than an outer peripheral length of the raw metal pipe, while at the same time being re-formed into a circular cross-sectional shape or any other cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate metal pipe.

Abstract: An engine idle speed control device set a target idle speed NsetN for a non-traveling range is set to a high value to activate the catalytic converter early, after the engine is started. Upon detecting that the automatic transmission has been shifted from a non-traveling range to a traveling range, the target idle speed is lowered to a first traveling idle speed Nset1. A feedback gain G used for feedback control of the ignition timing is then set to a larger gain value. The larger gain value is set such that it varies based on the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid or other parameter indicative of the engine friction and/or automatic transmission friction. As a result, the ignition timing is retarded in a precise manner, the engine speed is reduced, and the clutch engagement shock is reduced.

Abstract: There is provided a very thin light guide plate for a surface light source device and a method of manufacturing it without the use of high-precision molding machine. A surface light source device using this light guide plate generates outgoing light having high uniformity. According to the manufacturing method, a light guide plate free from a weld line or warp can be manufactured with good transferring characteristics. The light guide plate is thick on an incident surface 1 side and thin on a lower surface 4 side. At the central portion of an incident surface 1 in a longitudinal direction, a projecting portion obtained by cutting an overhang portion 7 at a position a distance D apart from the incident surface 1 is formed. The cut surface of the projecting portion is not made specular and is kept rough. In molding of the light guide plate, a molten material is supplied from the position of a gate mark 9.