Abstract: 2,3-Epoxypropyl ethers valuable as intermediates for preparing medicaments and the like are prepared from the corresponding allyl ethers by means of epoxide-producing microorganisms belonging to Nocardia, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Arthrobacter or Micrococcus.

Abstract: A process for forming a single crystal superconducting LnA.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x film, wherein Ln is at least one rare earth element and A is at least one alkaline earth element, is disclosed, which comprises simultaneously evaporating Ln, A and Cu in an atomic ratio of about 1:2:3 from discrete evaporation sources of Ln, A and Cu onto a heated substrate in a vacuum vessel while blowing an oxygen gas onto the substrate to form an oxygen-containing atmosphere, thereby forming the single crystal superconducting film on the substrate.

Abstract: A Zn-Ni alloy having a high Ni content is used for supplying Ni.sup.2+ and Zn.sup.2+ ions into an acidic plating bath and for supplying Ni and Zn into a hot dip galvanizing bath. This alloy is characterized by being produced by using a flux consisting of a fused-salt former, which forms a salt having a melting temperature of 700.degree. C. or less, and Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7 and occasionaly additionally Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3. By using the inventive alloy, the bath can be quickly prepared, and Zn and Ni can be supplied to the bath without leaving the undissolved residue.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element including a substrate and at least two magnetic thin layers which are laminated with interposing a non-magnetic thin layer therebetween on said substrate, wherein adjacent magnetic thin layers through the non-magnetic thin layer have different coercive forces and each of the magnetic thin layers and the non-magnetic layer has a thickness of not larger than 200 .ANG., which has a large magnetoresistance ratio of several % to several ten % at a small external magnetic field of several Oe to several ten Oe and can provide a MR sensor having a high sensitivity and a MR head which achieves high density magnetic recording.

Abstract: A laminated magnetic core is characterized in that core-forming thin sheets each having a surface roughness such that the maximum height Rmax is at least 1 .mu.m are laminated together with a sheet-to-sheet distance of 2 to 10 .mu.m, desirably 3 to 6 .mu.m and that at least a part of protruded portions of the opposite roughed surfaces is diffusion-bonded to each other at the interface between adjacent thin sheets. The laminated magnetic core may have innumberable voids present at the diffusion-bonded interface between the adjacent thin sheets. This invention further provides a method of manufacturing a laminated magnetic core comprising the steps of providing a plurality of core-forming thin sheets each having a surface roughness such that the maximum height Rmax is at least 1 .mu.m; laminating and bonding said core-forming thin sheets one upon another through an organic adhesive, desirably at a sheet-to-sheet distance of 2 to 10 .mu.

Abstract: A Gunn diode in which the conversion efficiency can be improved without lowering the reliability, by reducing the dead zone while maintaining n.sup.+ nn.sup.+ structure. In this Gunn diode, the donor impurity concentration in the n-type active layer is graded along a direction perpendicular to a contact plane between the n-type active layer and the n.sup.+ -type layers, and an average concentration gradient of the donor impurity concentration in the n-type active layer simultaneously satisfies the following two inequalities: G>(A.sub.1 N/L)exp(-NL/S.sub.1) and G<(A.sub.2 N/L)exp(-NL/S.sub.2), where L is a thickness of the n-type active layer, N is an average concentration of the donor impurity, S.sub.1 =0.87.times.10.sup.12 cm.sup.-2 is a constant, S.sub.2 =1.32.times.10.sup.12 cm.sup.-2 is a constant, A.sub.1 =2.0 is a constant, and A.sub.2 =9.0 is a constant.

Abstract: A method of producing a superconductor of metal oxides having the following composition:(M.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8wherein M stands for a rare earth element, x is 0 or a positive number of less than 1 and y is 0 or a positive number of less than 1, is disclosed, which includes hydrdolyzing an organic solvent solution or dispersion containing (a) alkoxide or fine particulate of a hydroxide of the rare earth element M, (b) alkoxides orfine particulate of hydroxides of Ca, Ba and Sr and (c) alkoxide, nitrate or fine particulate of hydroxide of copper in presence of water and nitrate ions. The alkoxides or hydroxides of Ca and Sr are present only when x and y are not zero, respectively. The hydrolyzed product is then dried, shaped and pyrolyzed to obtain the superconductor.

Abstract: A vapor-phase epitaxial process enabling easy growth of a III-V compound semiconductor layer including a .delta.-doped layer requires essentially no change or rearrangement of the conventional vapor-phase epitaxial reactor system but only a simple change in the method of controlling the system. The epitaxial process includes the step of feeding an epitaxial growth gas into a reactor vessel containing a III group element as a raw material and an epitaxial substrate made of a semiconductor to epitaxially grow a layer made of a III-V compound semiconductor on the substrate by the chloride CVD process.

Abstract: This present invention provides a novel imidazole-silane compound which has an excellent heat resistance and a high corrosion preventive effect on metal surface and is capable of remarkably improving the adhesion of a metal to a resin substrate, a process for preparing such a compound, and a new metal surface finishing agent comprising the same. The novel imidazole-silane compound is represented by the general formula (1), (2) or (3) as defined in claims and produced by reacting an imidazole compound of the general formula (4) with a 3-glycidoxypropylsilane compound of the general formula (5) at a temperature of 80.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A semi-insulating InP single crystal, semiconductor device with a substrate of crystal and processes of producing the same are disclosed. Crystal is derived from an undoped InP single crystal intermediate. The intermediate has a concentration of all native Fe, Co and Cr of 0.05 ppmw. The crystal has a resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm or more and a mobility of above 3,000 cm.sup.2 /V.multidot.s both at 300K. A process of producing the crystal includes a step of heat-treating the intermediate under 6 kg/cm.sup.2 of phosphorus vapor pressure. The produced semiconductor device is a MIS device operating in essentially the same high-speed manner as a HEMT.

Abstract: A laminated film comprising at least two thin films of single crystal LnBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x wherein Ln is Y or one of lanthanoids except Pr and Tb having the (001) plane in the direction parallel with the film surface and at least one continuous thin film of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 which has a thickness of not larger than 100 .ANG. and the (001) plane in the direction parallel with the film surface and is interposed between a pair of said thin films of single crystal LnBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x, wherein the thin films of single crystal LnBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x has good superconductive properties.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetoresistance effect element which is a multilayer structure body wherein a first magnetic film layer made of Ni-rich Ni-Co-Fe having a thickness of 10 to 100 .ANG. and a second magnetic film layer made of Co-rich Co-Ni-Fe having a thickness of 10 to 100 .ANG., which are different from each other in coercive force, are integrally laminated with a non-magnetic metal film layer having a thickness of 10 to 100 .ANG. interposed therebetween. The non-magnetic metal film layer is of a metal, for example, Cu, Ag, Au, Pt, Ru or Re. (Ni.sub.A Co.sub.1-A).sub.B Fe.sub.1-B, Ni.sub.A Fe.sub.1-A or Ni.sub.A Co.sub.1-A is used as a material of the first magnetic film, and (Co.sub.C Ni.sub.1-C).sub.D Fe.sub.1-D is used as a material of the second magnetic film.

Abstract: A non-magnetic substrate for use in a magnetic head, consists of the basic composition consisting of CoO and NiO or NiO, and (a) from 0.1 to 7% by weight of ZrO.sub.2 and HfO.sub.2 based on 100% of the basic composition, or (b) from 0.1 to 7% by weight of ZrO.sub.2, and from 0.1 to 2% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Cracking of the magnetic-layer structure is prevented.

Abstract: A method of producing a superconductor of metal oxides which includes subjecting an organic solvent solution containing (a) an alkoxide of a rare earth element, (b) an alkoxide of an alkaline earth metal and (c) copper alkoxide or cupric nitrate to hydrolysis in the presence of water and nitrate ions, thereby forming a mixture containing a gel-like substance. The gel-like substance is, after being dried and formed into a desired shape, pyrolyzed at a temperature of 600.degree.-950.degree.C. to form a superconductor of oxides of the rare earth, the alkaline earth metal and copper.

Abstract: A non-magnetic substrate used for a magnetic head comprising a pair of non-magnetic substrates, and a magnetic layer structure sandwiched between the pair of non-magnetic substrates. The magnetic layer structure is comprised, of alternately laminated magnetic layers and intermediate insulating layers. The invention discloses for the substrate material a composition expressed by Zn.sub.x M.sub.y Co.sub.2-x-y O.sub.2, with the proviso that M is Mn or Ni, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.4, 0.4.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.0, 0.8.ltoreq.x+y.ltoreq.1.0, or Co.sub.x Ni.sub.2-x O.sub.2, with the proviso that 0.2.ltoreq.x .ltoreq.1.8, and having a rock-salt structure.

Abstract: An inventive process for producing a semiconductor device has the steps of: putting a compound semiconductor substrate, an element of the substrate elements having a higher vapor pressure in a quartz ampoule, evacuating the ampoule, introducing oxygen gas into the ampoule and then sealing the ampoule; heating the ampoule to produce an oxide layer on the surface of the compound semiconductor substrate; and forming an electrode metal layer on the oxide layer to produce a MOS diode with a low interface trap density or a Schottky diode with a high barrier height and small ideal factor. Thus, the process produces a Schottky diode of a good forward current/voltage characteristic, low reverse current and superior rectification performance and a MESFET of a low dispersion at threshold voltage.

Abstract: This invention provides novel ester compounds represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups and may be the same or not, A and B are selected from a single bond and --COO--, X is selected from ##STR2## optically active bodies thereof and liquid crystal compositions containing at least one of these compounds.

Abstract: Zinc powder, which contains a coloring element, e.g., Ti, Mn, or V, is heated to a temperature of from 350.degree. to 700.degree. C. so as to oxidize the surface of the powder and hence to develop such colors as brown, navy blue, blue, greenish-brown, green, and coffee brown. The colored zinc powder is sprayed onto a steel, aluminum, or ceramic article to produce a colored article. The colored zinc powder is also used as a pigment.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an operating condition of an internal-combustion engine, particularly a knocking condition of a four stroke cycle gasoline engine including a black body light radiating member formed by an opaque film of a noble metal, a sapphire rod which is arranged to be inserted into a hole formed in an engine head block, the black body light radiating member being arranged on one end of the sapphire rod such that the black body light radiating member is positioned within a combustion chamber, an optical fiber having one end optically coupled with the other end of the sapphire rod, a light detector arranged to receive light emanating from the other end of the optical fiber to produce a temperature signal which represents the heat flux within the combustion chamber, and a signal processing circuit for processing the temperature signal to detect the operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: .omega.-Hydroxy fatty acids usable for the synthesis of medicaments, perfumes and polymers are produced by subjecting an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of long-chain dicarboxylic acid monoester to a reduction with a borohydride compound or catalytic hydrogenating reduction treatment.