Abstract: A lead member includes a lead conductor having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. The lead member includes a resin portion that covers the first main surface, the second main surface, and two side surfaces that are between both ends of the lead conductor, while exposing the both ends of the lead conductor in a first direction. The lead conductor includes a metal substrate and a surface treatment layer formed on at least a portion of a surface of the metal substrate, the surface treatment layer including chromium, oxygen, and fluorine. A moisture content of a portion of the surface treatment layer exposed from the resin portion, as measured by coulometric Karl Fischer titration at a vaporization temperature of 220° C., is 5.0 ?g/cm2 or less.

Abstract: A large current electron beam is stably emitted from an electron gun of a charged particle beam device. The electron gun of the charged particle beam device includes: a SE tip 202; a suppressor 303 disposed rearward of a distal end of the SE tip; a cup-shaped extraction electrode 204 including a bottom surface and a cylindrical portion and enclosing the SE tip and the suppressor; and an insulator 208 holding the suppressor and the extraction electrode. A shield electrode 301 of a conductive metal having a cylindrical portion 302 is provided between the suppressor and the cylindrical portion of the extraction electrode. A voltage lower than a voltage of the SE tip is applied to the shield electrode.

Abstract: A water-retaining support for plants comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer (A) having a calcium ion absorption of 0-100 mg per 1 g of the dry weight thereof, having a chlorine ion content of 0.07-7 mmol per 1 g of the dry weight thereof and having a water absorption magnification in ion-exchanger water at 25° C. of 1.0×101 to 1.0×102; or a plant body-growing water-retaining material comprising a molded product of a mixture of such a polymer (A) and a plant body-growing support (B). The water-retaining support for plants and the plant body-growing water-retaining material are those which have an excellent water-retaining property and they substantially do not cause inhibition of root generation or inhibition of root elongation.