Abstract: Flaky alumina particles including mullite in a surface layer of the flaky alumina particles. A method for producing flaky alumina particles including forming a mixture by mixing together an aluminum compound that contains elemental aluminum, a molybdenum compound that contains elemental molybdenum, and silicon or a silicon compound that contains elemental silicon, the aluminum compound being in an amount greater than or equal to 50 mass %, calculated as Al2O3, the molybdenum compound being in an amount less than or equal to 40 mass %, calculated as MoO3, the silicon or the silicon compound being in an amount of 0.5 mass % or greater and less than 10 mass %, calculated as SiO2, relative to a total mass of the flaky alumina particles taken as 100 mass %; and firing the mixture.

Abstract: A transfer function measuring method includes: outputting a first signal to each of a plurality of loudspeakers to cause the plurality of loudspeakers to simultaneously output sounds with mutually different frequencies; acquiring second signals output from a microphone as a result of acquiring the sounds with the mutually different frequencies; and calculating a transfer function of each of the sounds with the mutually different frequencies based on the first signal and the second signals.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first substrate having a plurality of avalanche diodes, a second substrate having a plurality of pixel circuits, and a third substrate having a signal processing circuit. The second substrate and the third substrate are stacked in such a manner that a third wiring structure is provided between two semiconductor layers of the second substrate and the third substrate. The apparatus includes first through-hole wiring going through the semiconductor layer of the third substrate.

Abstract: A method for recycling a rare earth magnet is described. The rare earth magnet has a film containing Ni on the surface thereof, and the method involves immersing the rare earth magnet in a stripping solution containing a derivative of nitrobenzene, ethylenediamine, and ammonia. This strips the Ni on the surface of the rare earth magnet without deteriorating the characteristics of the rare earth magnet, thereby improving its product yield.

Abstract: A transfer function measuring method includes: outputting a first signal to each of a plurality of loudspeakers to cause the plurality of loudspeakers to simultaneously output sounds with mutually different frequencies; acquiring second signals output from a microphone as a result of acquiring the sounds with the mutually different frequencies; and calculating a transfer function of each of the sounds with the mutually different frequencies based on the first signal and the second signals.

Abstract: A noise reduction device reduces noise occurring in a space inside a mobile apparatus. The noise reduction device includes: a status signal receiver to which a status signal indicating a status of a movable component provided for the mobile apparatus is inputted; and a controller that, when the status signal inputted indicates that the movable component is not in a predetermined base status, performs control over the output of the cancelling sound differently in each case, depending on whether or not the status signal includes information indicating a shift amount of the movable component.

Abstract: A dust solidification system includes: a preduster for sucking dust with a negative pressure generated by a negative pressure generating source, removing solidification-inhibiting substances from the dust, and making the dust with a reduced solidification-inhibiting substance content rate flow toward the source; a dust capturing mechanism for capturing the dust flowing from the preduster and allowing the dust to fall; a storage tank for storing the dust captured by and falling from the capturing mechanism; and a dust solidifying mechanism for solidifying the dust in a forming chamber; and further includes one or more of the following: a dust re-scattering prevention mechanism for preventing re-scattering of the dust falling from the capturing mechanism; a stirring mechanism for stirring the dust loaded into the solidifying mechanism; and an air releasing mechanism for preventing air from entering the forming chamber by releasing air flowing into the storage tank from the solidifying mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a layer that has a light incident surface and includes elements, and a wiring structure. Each of the elements includes a photodiode. The photodiode includes first and second regions of first and second conductivity types. A voltage is supplied to the second region through a second-conductivity-type region. The wiring structure includes a first wiring positioned closest to the layer among wirings to supply the voltage to the second-conductivity-type region, a plug connecting the first wiring and the second-conductivity-type region, and a second wiring supplying a voltage to the first region. The second wiring covers the first region when viewed in plan, and a distance between the second wiring and the layer is shorter than a distance between the first wiring and the layer.

Abstract: The distance between an upper end of a light-shielding portion and a photoelectric conversion layer is longer than the distance between the lower surface of a light-shielding film and the photoelectric conversion layer. The distance between a lower end of the light-shielding portion and the photoelectric conversion layer is shorter than the distance between the lower surface of the light-shielding film and the photoelectric conversion layer. In a plane including the light-shielding film and the light-shielding portion, an opening defined by the light-shielding portion and a gap between the light-shielding portion and the light-shielding film are provided, and the width of the gap is smaller than the width of the opening.

Abstract: A method for treating water including: passing water to be treated containing organic matters and ammonia nitrogen through a reaction tank containing a carrier for treatment under aerobic conditions, wherein a water content of the carrier is 50% or more and 96% or less; the carrier has continuous pores with a pore size of 30 ?m or less; an organic matter concentration in the water to be treated is 100 mg/L or less as a BOD5, and an ammonia nitrogen concentration is 50 mg/L or less; a retention time of the water to be treated in the reaction tank is 2 hours or less; and the organic matters and the ammonia nitrogen in the water to be treated are treated in the same tank.

Abstract: A noise reduction device reduces noise occurring in a space inside a mobile apparatus. The noise reduction device includes: a status signal receiver to which a status signal indicating a status of a movable component provided for the mobile apparatus is inputted; and a controller that, when the status signal inputted indicates that the movable component is not in a predetermined base status, performs control over the output of the cancelling sound differently in each case, depending on whether or not the status signal includes information indicating a shift amount of the movable component.

Abstract: A microphone unit in which a microphone body is built in a housing is provided. The microphone body detects a sound entering the housing via a sound hole of the housing. An optical detector that detects light entering the housing via the sound hole is disposed in the housing. Therefore, a detection can be made that the sound hole is blocked by monitoring a detection level of the optical detector, based on a change in the detection level of the optical detector.

Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine power generating apparatus including a wind turbine rotor having a wind turbine blade includes: a step of obtaining a load applied to the wind turbine blade; and a step of selecting an operation mode of the wind turbine power generating apparatus on the basis of the load, from among a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and at least one load-suppressing operation mode in which the load applied to the wind turbine blade is smaller than in the normal operation mode.

Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine power generating apparatus includes a step of obtaining a wind direction of a wind; a step of obtaining at least one of a wind velocity of the wind or an index of turbulence degree of the wind velocity; and a step of selecting an operation mode of the wind turbine power generating apparatus from among a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and at least one load-suppressing operation mode in which a load applied to a wind turbine blade is smaller than in the normal operation mode, on the basis of whether the at least one of the wind velocity or the index of turbulence degree is at least a threshold. The threshold of the at least one of the wind velocity or the index of turbulence degree is variable in accordance with the wind direction.

Abstract: A noise reduction device includes a second corrector that generates a correction signal by correcting an output signal or a standard signal by a predetermined parameter and adds the generated correction signal to an error signal, to generate a corrected error signal approximating the error signal to an error signal indicating a residual sound occurring in a sound reception location.

Abstract: A method of controlling a floating-body wind turbine power generating apparatus including a wind turbine generator disposed on a floating body includes a pitch-angle increasing step of increasing a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine generator when the wind turbine generator is stopped, so that an aerodynamic braking force is applied to a rotor of the wind turbine generator. In the pitch-angle increasing step, a first change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a first period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward an upwind side from a vertical direction due to sway of the floating body, is smaller than a second change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a second period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward a downwind side from the vertical direction due to the sway of the floating body.

Abstract: A noise reduction device includes a second corrector that generates a correction signal by correcting an output signal or a standard signal by a predetermined parameter and adds the generated correction signal to an error signal, to generate a corrected error signal approximating the error signal to an error signal indicating a residual sound occurring in a sound reception location.

Abstract: A microphone unit in which a microphone body is built in a housing is provided. The microphone body detects a sound entering the housing via a sound hole of the housing. An optical detector that detects light entering the housing via the sound hole is disposed in the housing. Therefore, a detection can be made that the sound hole is blocked by monitoring a detection level of the optical detector, based on a change in the detection level of the optical detector.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst for a lean burn engine having sufficient NOx purification performance. The exhaust gas purification catalyst for a lean burn engine according to the present invention has a catalyst component including noble metal and ceria supported on a three-dimensional structure. In the whole catalyst, the supported amount of ceria per 1 L of catalyst is 140 to 300 g/L, and in the whole catalyst, is 50 to 98% by mass with respect to the whole coated amount. Furthermore, it is characterized that 50% by mass or more of ceria is included in the same catalyst layer in which noble metal is included, and the amount of noble metal included in the catalyst layer is 0.1% by mass or more with respect to the amount of ceria included in the catalyst layer.

Abstract: A noise reduction device reduces noise at a second position by using a canceling sound emitted from a first position. The noise reduction device corrects, to a second transfer characteristic, a first transfer characteristic for when the first position and the second position are in a reference positional relationship, according to a signal indicating the positional relationship between the first position and the second position, and corrects a base signal based on the second transfer characteristic.