Abstract: A swollen composition containing starch as a main component, and maintaining the swollen state after heating and having a characteristic texture inherent to a swollen food imparted thereto is provided. A starch content of the entire composition is 15 mass % or more in terms of dry mass. A moisture content of the composition is less than 150 mass % in terms of dry matter. A degree of gelatinization of the starch in the composition is 50 mass % or more. A dietary fiber content of the composition is 3.0 mass % or more in terms of dry mass. A ratio of the area under the curve within the logarithmic molecular weight range of 3.5 or more and less than 6.5 to the total area under the curve is more than 60%. Particle diameter d50 of the composition subjected to a starch and protein degradation treatment followed by ultrasonication is less than 450 ?m.

Abstract: A ceramic member is produced by performing a laser treatment on a ceramic substrate as a pretreatment for a surface treatment such that grooves that can be substantially uniformly filled with a surface treatment material are formed in the surface of the ceramic substrate. Through laser irradiation of the surface grooves with recessed surfaces formed to extend in at least one direction are provided. Flat surfaces are formed at areas between the grooves that are adjacent to each other. Pitches between the adjacent grooves are set to a range of 0.05 mm to 0.30 mm. One of the grooves has a width that progressively decreases as the depth increases and is opened on one side in the depth direction at a maximum width. The one of the grooves has an aspect ratio in a range of 0.5 to 1.3 and an opening ratio of equal to or greater than 70%.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal spray powder for forming an abradable thermal spray coating. The thermal spray powder includes NiCr alloy particles and synthetic mica particles. The synthetic mica particles are contained at 40 volume % or less with respect to a total volume of the thermal spray powder.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal spray powder for forming an abradable thermal spray coating. The thermal spray powder includes NiCr alloy particles and synthetic mica particles. The synthetic mica particles are contained at 40 volume % or less with respect to a total volume of the thermal spray powder.

Abstract: The exhaust of stocked copying paper and the failure in feeding copying paper are detected so that means for driving a feeding system may be immediately stopped, and no failure in feeding copying paper is detected and failure in discharging copying paper is detected so that every operation in the photocopying machine may be stopped and also the power supply to the photocopying machine may be interrupted. The highly efficient and safeguarded operation of the photocopying machine may be ensured.