Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive head has a magnetoresistive sensor film between a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer. The magnetoresistive sensor film is formed by stacking at least a pinning layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an intermediate layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer, in which a sense current flows so as to pass through an interface between the intermediate layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, and a resistance change of the magnetoresistive sensor film in accordance with the change of an external magnetic field is detected. Also, a lateral side metal layer having an electric resistivity lower than the electric resistivity of the pinning layer is disposed at least on a side wall of the pinning layer among side walls of layers constituting the magnetoresistive sensor film, the lateral side metal layer being in contact with the lower shield layer. Other embodiments are described as well.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a CPP magnetoresistive head includes a magnetoresistive film comprising a free layer above a non-magnetic intermediate layer and a fixed layer below the non-magnetic intermediate layer, wherein the magnetoresistive film is between a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer. The CPP magnetoresistive head also includes a domain control film on each side of the magnetoresistive film, wherein a sense current flows through the magnetoresistive film between the upper magnetic shield layer and the lower magnetic shield layer. The CPP magnetoresistive head also includes a high heat conductivity layer, and a heat dissipation layer having a high heat conductivity and a low linear expansion coefficient, the heat dissipation layer being disposed at the back in a device height direction of the magnetoresistive film and on each side of the domain control film.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus composed of a light source that emits primary light and a phosphor that absorbs the primary light and emits secondary light offers high brightness, low power consumption, and a long lifetime while minimizing adverse effects on the environment. The phosphor is formed of a III-V group semiconductor in the form of fine-particle crystals each having a volume of 2 800 nm3 or less. The light emitted from the fine-particle crystals depends on their volume, and therefore giving the fine-particle crystals a predetermined volume distribution makes it possible to adjust the wavelength range of the secondary light.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a slider, and a thin-film magnetic-recording head. The thin-film magnetic-recording head includes: a read element; a write element; a non-magnetic insulating protective layer disposed around both read and write elements; a resist disposed at a position further away from an air-bearing surface than the read element; and, a hard-material member including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and tungsten, which is disposed at a position further away from the air-bearing surface than the read element and the write element. Both an end of the resist and an end of the hard-material member overlap the write element when viewed in a stacking direction. A ratio of a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the hard-material member to a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the resist is at least 0.9.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus composed of a light source that emits primary light and a phosphor that absorbs the primary light and emits secondary light offers high brightness, low power consumption, and a long lifetime while minimizing adverse effects on the environment. The phosphor is formed of a III-V group semiconductor in the form of fine-particle crystals each having a volume of 2 800 nm3 or less. The light emitted from the fine-particle crystals depends on their volume, and therefore giving the fine-particle crystals a predetermined volume distribution makes it possible to adjust the wavelength range of the secondary light.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds useful as intermediates for the production of polymethine compounds containing a desired counter ion with high purity and in high yields. Thus provided are polymethine ether compounds of the general formula (I) given below and a method of producing polymethine compounds which comprises bringing those compounds into contact with an acid. In the above formula, R represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group or an aryl group which may optionally be substituted, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, nitro group, alkyl group, alkoxyalkyl group, alkoxy group or alkoxyalkoxy group and R1 and R2 may be bound to each other to form a ring; R3 represents an alkyl group, which may optionally be substituted; L is an alkylene group required for the formation of a ring structure; and X represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, alkylthio group, arylthio group or substituted amino group.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus composed of a light source that emits primary light and a phosphor that absorbs the primary light and emits secondary light offers high brightness, low power consumption, and a long lifetime while minimizing adverse effects on the environment. The phosphor is formed of a III-V group semiconductor in the form of fine-particle crystals each having a volume of 2 800 nm3 or less. The light emitted from the fine-particle crystals depends on their volume, and therefore giving the fine-particle crystals a predetermined volume distribution makes it possible to adjust the wavelength range of the secondary light.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive head has a magnetoresistive sensor film between a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer. The magnetoresistive sensor film is formed by stacking at least a pinning layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an intermediate layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer, in which a sense current flows so as to pass through an interface between the intermediate layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, and a resistance change of the magnetoresistive sensor film in accordance with the change of an external magnetic field is detected. Also, a lateral side metal layer having an electric resistivity lower than the electric resistivity of the pinning layer is disposed at least on a side wall of the pinning layer among side walls of layers constituting the magnetoresistive sensor film, the lateral side metal layer being in contact with the lower shield layer. Other embodiments are described as well.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a CPP magnetoresistive head includes a magnetoresistive film comprising a free layer above a non-magnetic intermediate layer and a fixed layer below the non-magnetic intermediate layer, wherein the magnetoresistive film is between a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer. The CPP magnetoresistive head also includes a domain control film on each side of the magnetoresistive film, wherein a sense current flows through the magnetoresistive film between the upper magnetic shield layer and the lower magnetic shield layer. The CPP magnetoresistive head also includes a high heat conductivity layer, and a heat dissipation layer having a high heat conductivity and a low linear expansion coefficient, the heat dissipation layer being disposed at the back in a device height direction of the magnetoresistive film and on each side of the domain control film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of searching for a ligand capable of binding to a target biomacromolecule, comprising the step of: (1) subjecting a number of low-molecular compounds to docking simulation, based on three-dimensional structural data concerning the low-molecular compounds and three-dimensional structural data concerning a ligand-binding region of the target biomacromolecule, to calculate a docking score for each of the low-molecular compounds, and simultaneously acquire three-dimensional positional data which enable each of the low-molecular compounds to stably bind within the ligand-binding region, (2) acquiring, from among the three-dimensional positional data obtained, all three-dimensional positional data concerning one or more molecular fragments, with respect to each of low-molecular compounds belonging to a higher group based on docking scores, (3) counting the three-dimensional positional data concerning each molecular fragment obtained, for each of the molecular fragments, (4) selecting the type

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a spark plug, the spark plug being defined herein, the method including a center electrode position measuring step of measuring an X-directional position of the front end of the center electrode; a regulation member positioning step of positioning an X-directional position of a regulation member based on the X-directional position of the front end of the center electrode measured in the center electrode position measuring step, the regulation member regulating an X-directional position of a front end surface of the ground electrode when the ground electrode is pressed and bent in a Y direction; and a gap forming step of using the regulation member to regulate the X-directional position of the front end surface of the ground electrode while pressing and bending the ground electrode in the Y direction so as to form the spark discharge gap; wherein: the X direction and the Y direction are as defined herein.

Abstract: A fluorescent material excellent in emission efficiency in white emission and a light-emitting apparatus employing this fluorescent material and having excellent color rendering are provided with a fluorescent material comprising a two-layer structure of a core of a particle size having a quantum effect and a shell covering this core in which the ground state energy of the core is in the range of 1.85 to 2.05 eV, the high order energy of the core is not in the ranges of 2.3 to 2.5 eV and 2.65 to 2.8 eV, or the ground state energy of the core is in the range of 2.3 to 2.5 eV, the high order energy of the core is not in the range of 2.65 to 2.8 eV an light-emitting apparatus employing these fluorescent materials.

Abstract: A novel nonsolvate-form crystal of polymethine compound is provided which has good stability in solution, shows a high gram extinction coefficient, is excellent in storage stability, is easy to handle and is highly sensitive to general-purpose semiconductor lasers. Thus is provided a nonsolvate-form crystal of polymethine compound of the formula (I) given below as well as a process for producing the nonsolvate-form crystal of polymethine compound of formula (I) which comprises reacting a polymethine ether compound of the formula (II) given below with hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid. (In the above formula, X represents Cl or Br.) (In the above formula, R represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds useful as intermediates for the production of polymethine compounds containing a desired counter ion with high purity and in high yields. Thus provided are polymethine ether compounds of the general formula (I) given below and a method of producing polymethine compounds which comprises bringing those compounds into contact with an acid. In the above formula, R represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group or an aryl group which may optionally be substituted, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, nitro group, alkyl group, alkoxyalkyl group, alkoxy group or alkoxyalkoxy group and R1 and R2 may be bound to each other to form a ring; R3 represents an alkyl group, which may optionally be substituted; L is an alkylene group required for the formation of a ring structure; and X represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, alkylthio group, arylthio group or substituted amino group.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a pair of transfer frames, a belt member, a pair of transfer roller levers which are respectively arranged on inner sides of the transfer frames pivotably, a transfer roller which is provided between first ends of the transfer roller levers rotatably, a pair of first urging members, which are respectively provided on second ends of the transfer roller levers to energize the transfer roller toward the belt member, and a pair of transfer pressure controlling members which are respectively provided on the transfer frames movably to control urging power of the first urging members.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds useful as intermediates for the production of polymethine compounds containing a desired counter ion with high purity and in high yields. Thus provided are polymethine ether compounds of the general formula (I) given below and a method of producing polymethine compounds which comprises bringing those compounds into contact with an acid. In the above formula, R represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group or an aryl group which may optionally be substituted, R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, nitro group, alkyl group, alkoxyalkyl group, alkoxy group or alkoxyalkoxy group and R1 and R2 may be bound to each other to form a ring; R3 represents an alkyl group, which may optionally be substituted; L is an alkylene group required for the formation of a ring structure; and X represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkoxy group, aryloxy group, alkylthio group, arylthio group or substituted amino group.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus composed of a light source that emits primary light and a phosphor that absorbs the primary light and emits secondary light offers high brightness, low power consumption, and a long lifetime while minimizing adverse effects on the environment. The phosphor is formed of a III-V group semiconductor in the form of fine-particle crystals each having a volume of 2 800 nm3 or less. The light emitted from the fine-particle crystals depends on their volume, and therefore giving the fine-particle crystals a predetermined volume distribution makes it possible to adjust the wavelength range of the secondary light.

Abstract: The object is to provide a novel nonsolvate-form crystal of polymethine compound which has good stability in solution, shows a high gram extinction coefficient, is excellent in storage stability, is easy to handle and is highly sensitive to general-purpose semiconductor lasers. Thus are provided a nonsolvate-form crystal of a polymethine compound of the formula (I) and a process for producing the nonsolvate-form crystal of polymethine compound of formula (I) which comprises reacting a polymethine ether compound of the formula (II) given below with p-toluenesulfonic acid. (In the above formula, TsO represents the p-toluenesulfonic acid residue.) (In the above formula, R represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group.

Abstract: The invention provides a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprising gallium nitride semiconductor layers formed on a heterogeneous substrate, wherein light emissions having different light emission wavelengths or different colors are given out of the same active layer. Recesses 106 are formed by etching in the first electrically conductive (n) type semiconductor layer 102 formed on a substrate with a buffer layer interposed between them. Each recess is exposed in plane orientations different from that of the major C plane. For instance, the plane orientation of the A plane is exposed. An active layer is grown and joined on the plane of this plane orientation, on the bottom of the recess and the C-plane upper surface of a non-recess portion. The second electrically conductive (p) type semiconductor layer is formed on the inner surface of the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image carrier adapted to support a toner image: a transfer roller; a contact/separation mechanism, operable to bring the transfer roller into contact with the image carrier to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium and operable to separate the transfer roller from the image carrier after the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium; and a rotation applier, operable to apply a first rotation to the transfer roller in a state that the transfer roller is separated from the image carrier. The rotation applier and the transfer roller are mechanically separated from each other when the transfer roller is in contact with the image carrier. When the contact/separation mechanism brings the transfer roller into contact with the image carrier, a circumferential speed of the transfer roller is made coincident with a circumferential speed of the image carrier.