Abstract: The present invention provides a humidifying unit, a humidification method, and a humidification system, whereby the efficiency of diffusing water vapor into the air, the absorption amount (absolute humidity), and the water supply utilization can be enhanced.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a lighting apparatus having a solid-state light emitting element as a light source; and a dimmer including a bidirectional switching element having a self-sustaining function and connected to a serial circuit of the lighting apparatus and an external power source. The dimmer varies a conduction angle of the bidirectional switching element by controlling a phase of an AC voltage of the external power source, wherein the lighting apparatus performs dimming of the light source based on the conduction angle of the bidirectional switching element, and the dimmer continues to apply driving current to the bidirectional switching element during a first period, which is a part of a second period, the bidirectional switching element being allowed to conduct throughout the second period.

Abstract: Provided is a branching device (D), which includes a branch line side guide rail (20c) that is disposed from a near side main line travel track (Ra) to a branch line travel track (Rc) at an inner side of these travel tracks, a main line side guide rail (10b) that is disposed from the near side main line travel track (Ra) to a far side main line travel track (Rb) at an outer side of these travel tracks, and a switching mechanism (40) that switches a position of a movable rail (25c) of the branch line side guide rail (20c) and a position of a movable rail (25b) of the main line side guide rail (20b) to a branch line guide position (BP) and a main line guide position (MP).

Abstract: The production system includes: an item feeding device having transfer mechanisms provided alongside and respectively transferring containers each storing an item to item feeding positions; a carrier device holding and carrying the container and the item at the feeding position; and a control device making: the item feeding device operate to select only one of the transfer mechanisms and to transfer the container of the selected transfer mechanism to the feeding position; the carrier device operate to hold the item from the container transferred to the feeding position and to carry the item to a transfer position; and the carrier device operate to hold the container transferred to the feeding position and to carry the container from the feeding position to a transfer position over an item feeding position for a different one of the transfer mechanisms.

Abstract: A vehicle pick-up and delivery device includes: two mainline tracks including a pair of first guide portions which guide a pair of first guide wheels provided on a vehicle on an outer side of each of the first guide wheels; a pick-up and delivery travel path on which the vehicle is capable of traveling and which is provided between the two mainline tracks and is configured to pick up and deliver the vehicle between the two mainline tracks; a second guide portion which is provided inside the pick-up and delivery travel path and guides a second guide wheel disposed below the vehicle; and a switching unit which is provided on the mainline tracks and is capable of switching a direction of the vehicle between a direction along the mainline tracks and a direction along the pick-up and delivery travel path.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a touch panel sensor: a preparation step of preparing a substrate on which a transparent conductive layer is formed; an installation step of installing a patterning member that has patterns in which a first region covering the transparent conductive layer and a second region causing the transparent conductive layer to be exposed are formed; a patterning step of forming an insulation part by implanting at least one of irradiation object out of oxygen, oxygen ions, nitrogen, nitrogen ions, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen oxide ions into the transparent conductive layer in the portion corresponding to the second region, and for patterning the transparent conductive layer in the portion covered by the first region as a conductive part; and a removing step of removing the patterning member from the transparent conductive layer.

Abstract: Provided is a branching device (D), which includes a branch line side guide rail (20c) that is disposed from a near side main line travel track (Ra) to a branch line travel track (Rc) at an inner side of these travel tracks, a main line side guide rail (10b) that is disposed from the near side main line travel track (Ra) to a far side main line travel track (Rb) at an outer side of these travel tracks, and a switching mechanism (40) that switches a position of a movable rail (25c) of the branch line side guide rail (20c) and a position of a movable rail (25b) of the main line side guide rail (20b) to a branch line guide position (BP) and a main line guide position (MP).

Abstract: A main line movable rail is disposed between a near-side main line rail and a forward-side main line rail which are disposed as a center guide rail so as to sandwich a branching section. The main line movable rail is supported so as to swing at the center of a first end at a position at which the first end is continuous to the forward-side main line rail. A locking action mechanism allows a second end of the main line movable rail to be engaged with an engagement member, thereby locking the second end so as not to undergo displacement at a guide position at which the second end of the main line movable rail is continuous to the near-side main line rail.

Abstract: The production system includes: an item feeding device having transfer mechanisms provided alongside and respectively transferring containers each storing an item to item feeding positions; a carrier device holding and carrying the container and the item at the feeding position; and a control device making: the item feeding device operate to select only one of the transfer mechanisms and to transfer the container of the selected transfer mechanism to the feeding position; the carrier device operate to hold the item from the container transferred to the feeding position and to carry the item to a transfer position; and the carrier device operate to hold the container transferred to the feeding position and to carry the container from the feeding position to a transfer position over an item feeding position for a different one of the transfer mechanisms.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a lighting apparatus having a solid-state light emitting element as a light source; and a dimmer including a bidirectional switching element having a self-sustaining function and connected to a serial circuit of the lighting apparatus and an external power source. The dimmer varies a conduction angle of the bidirectional switching element by controlling a phase of an AC voltage of the external power source, wherein the lighting apparatus performs dimming of the light source based on the conduction angle of the bidirectional switching element, and the dimmer continues to apply driving current to the bidirectional switching element during a first period, which is a part of a second period, the bidirectional switching element being allowed to conduct throughout the second period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment for ischemic heart disease administering a scar formation accelerator containing at least one selected from SFRP2, SFRP4, Midkine, Pleiotrophin and Thymosin beta-10 as an effective ingredient to promote scar formation less fibrosis and retaining elasticity, and thereby improving cardiac function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment for ischemic heart disease administering a scar formation accelerator containing at least one selected from SFRP2, SFRP4, Midkine, Pleiotrophin and Thymosin beta-10 as an effective ingredient to promote scar formation less fibrosis and retaining elasticity, and thereby improving cardiac function.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a solution having activity to induce differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell, which comprises culturing a stromal cell in a culture comprising a polyanionic compound and recovering the culture; a solution having activity to induce differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell, which is obtainable by the method; and an agent for inducing differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a solution having activity to induce differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell, which comprises culturing a stromal cell in a culture comprising a polyanionic compound and recovering the culture; a solution having activity to induce differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell, which is obtainable by the method; and an agent for inducing differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into an ectodermal cell or ectoderm-derived cell.

Abstract: A thin film EL device having high electroluminescent efficiency, a low operating voltage, and a long lifetime. A thin film EL device of the present invention uses, as a luminescent layer, a charge-transport luminescent material that has, within a molecule, a portion contributing to charge transport and a portion contributing to luminescence where at least two molecular orbitals contributing to luminescent transition are localized.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operation apparatus includes an AC power supply (10), a voltage converting circuit (11), an inverter circuit (13), a load circuit (15), a controller (1), and a pulse voltage superimposing section (3). The pulse voltage superimposing section (3) controls the switching elements (Q3, Q4) of the inverter circuit (13) to superimpose a pulse voltage to the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA). The period until the discharge lamp (LA) is lighted is divided into a preheating period to preheat the discharge lamp and a startup period to start the discharge lamp. During the startup period, the controller (1) raises gradually the output voltage (Vdc) of the voltage converting circuit (11), and the voltage superimposing section (3) superimposes the pulse voltage on the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA).

Abstract: A dished head and a wall part are integrally formed in one body by spinning, using a flat aluminum based material, and then a corrosion-proof protective coating is formed on the whole surface by the Irridite process to complete the canister. The combination of appropriate material selection and production process saves the processing time (man-hour) needed for forming resonator canisters and its surface treatment, improves the thermal conductivity, and consequently decreases individual differences of the radio frequency loss in resonator canisters.

Abstract: A discharge lamp operation apparatus includes an AC power supply (10), a voltage converting circuit (11), an inverter circuit (13), a load circuit (15), a controller (1), and a pulse voltage superimposing section (3). The pulse voltage superimposing section (3) controls the switching elements (Q3, Q4) of the inverter circuit (13) to superimpose a pulse voltage to the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA). The period until the discharge lamp (LA) is lighted is divided into a preheating period to preheat the discharge lamp and a startup period to start the discharge lamp. During the startup period, the controller (1) raises gradually the output voltage (Vdc) of the voltage converting circuit (11), and the voltage superimposing section (3) superimposes the pulse voltage on the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA).

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film EL device having high electroluminescent efficiency, a low operating voltage, and a long lifetime. A thin film EL device of the present invention uses, as a luminescent layer, a charge-transport luminescent material that has, within a molecule, a portion contributing to charge transport and a portion contributing to luminescence where at least two molecular orbitals contributing to luminescent transition are localized.

Abstract: A thin film EL device having high electroluminescent efficiency, a low operating voltage, and a long lifetime. The thin film EL device uses, as a luminescent layer, a charge-transport luminescent material that has, within a molecule, a portion contributing to charge transport and a portion contributing to luminescence where at least two molecular orbitals contributing to luminescent transition are localized.