Abstract: It is difficult for a Cr—Si-based sintered body composed of chromium silicide (CrSi2) and silicon (Si) to have high strength. Provided is a Cr—Si-based sintered body including Cr (chromium) and silicon (Si), in which the crystal structure attributed by X-ray diffraction is composed of chromium silicide (CrSi2) and silicon (Si), a CrSi2 phase is present at 60 wt % or more in a bulk, a density of the sintered body is 95% or more, and an average grain size of the CrSi2 phase is 60 ?m or less.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a converting portion having a plurality of electrical conductors to be arranged in mutual separation and a medium arranged so as to mutually connect the plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the converting portion is the information processing apparatus to convert an input signal to an output signal. The medium includes the electrolyte and is configured to be capable of controlling an electrical conductivity of an electrically conductive path mutually electrically connecting the plurality of electrical conductors, and the medium is selected such that the electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive path changes over time with the input signal not being present.

Abstract: A conductive member includes an adhesive layer and a metal foil layer. The adhesive layer consists of an adhesive composition containing conductive particles. The metal foil layer is disposed on the adhesive layer. The conductive member can be used to form, for example, a predetermined metal film.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus for measuring a thickness of a semiconductor wafer includes: an optical system configured to perpendicularly irradiate a sample wafer and a reference wafer with light, and receive interference signals of the light reflected on front and back surfaces of the respective wafers; a signal processor configured to perform frequency analysis of the interference signals received by the optical system to obtain peak positions of a point spread function of the respective wafers; and a calculator configured to calculate a thickness “tsample” of the sample wafer based on the peak position “x” of the sample wafer and the peak position “y” of the reference wafer obtained by the signal processor, and a thickness “treference” of the reference wafer.

Abstract: The present invention focuses on a silicon nitride substrate having high mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity and the like, and takes advantage of such properties to provide: a ceramic substrate capable of providing improvement in a bonding property between a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer which uses a dielectric ceramic material capable of being simultaneously sintered with a low-resistance conductive material such as a low-melting metal (Ag or Cu); and a method for producing the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate of the present invention is obtained by stacking and bonding a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer composed of a dielectric ceramic material, wherein: the dielectric ceramic material contains Mg, Al, and Si as main ingredients, and Bi or B as an accessory ingredient; and the ceramic layer includes a region with a high Si element concentration at a bonding interface with the silicon nitride substrate.

Abstract: In order to address the problem in that, by increasing the gate resistance of a power semiconductor element, while variation of switching time can be controlled, loss due to the gate resistance becomes larger and power efficiency for the entire system is lowered, the present invention provides an insulating substrate capable of uniformizing switching speeds of circuit elements while suppressing influence on power efficiency of the circuit elements. In the insulating substrate according to the present invention, part of a wiring layer is formed as a control signal circuit layer, and part of the control signal circuit layer is formed as a resistance layer that increases input resistance when the circuit element receives a control signal.

Abstract: In order to address the problem in that, by increasing the gate resistance of a power semiconductor element, while variation of switching time can be controlled, loss due to the gate resistance becomes larger and power efficiency for the entire system is lowered, the present invention provides an insulating substrate capable of uniformizing switching speeds of circuit elements while suppressing influence on power efficiency of the circuit elements. In the insulating substrate according to the present invention, part of a wiring layer is formed as a control signal circuit layer, and part of the control signal circuit layer is formed as a resistance layer that increases input resistance when the circuit element receives a control signal.

Abstract: The present invention focuses on a silicon nitride substrate having high mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity and the like, and takes advantage of such properties to provide: a ceramic substrate capable of providing improvement in a bonding property between a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer which uses a dielectric ceramic material capable of being simultaneously sintered with a low-resistance conductive material such as a low-melting metal (Ag or Cu); and a method for producing the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate of the present invention is obtained by stacking and bonding a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer composed of a dielectric ceramic material, wherein: the dielectric ceramic material contains Mg, Al, and Si as main ingredients, and Bi or B as an accessory ingredient; and the ceramic layer includes a region with a high Si element concentration at a bonding interface with the silicon nitride substrate.

Abstract: A transmitting device that transmits light to another transmitting device, includes: a variable attenuator configured to attenuate intensity of light; a drive circuit configured to control an amount of attenuation of the light in the variable attenuator at given intervals; and a detector configured to detect a failure of the drive circuit based on whether or not the amount of attenuation of the light in the variable attenuator changes at the given intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of failure detection in optical amplifier is disclosed. The optical amplifier includes an optical amplifying fiber configured to receive input light so that the input light travels through the optical amplifying fiber, an excitation light generator configured to supply excitation light to the optical amplifying fiber to optically amplify the input light as the input light travels through the optical amplifying fiber, and a processor configured to determine whether a failure has occurred in the optical amplifier, based on a change in power of the excitation light and a change in power of the input light.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a probiotic(s) which can activate an aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and can consequently prevent inflammatory damage in the digestive tract. The present invention relates to; a probiotic(s) capable of activating an AhR; an anti-inflammatory agent comprising the probiotic(s); an orally ingestible composition containing the anti-inflammatory agent; and a method for screening for the probiotic(s).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head includes the steps of: forming a pole-layer-encasing layer having a pole-layer-encasing section; and forming a pole layer in the pole-layer-encasing section. The pole layer includes a first layer, and a second layer formed thereon. The step of forming the pole layer includes the steps of: forming an initial first layer by physical vapor deposition; etching the surface of the initial first layer by dry etching so that the initial first layer becomes the first layer; and forming the second layer on the first layer.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes: a rare-earth doped fiber configured to amplify signal light to thereby produce a amplified signal light; a gain control circuit configured to control an optical gain of the rare-earth doped fiber; a photodetector configured to detect intensities of different wavelength of light obtained from the amplified signal light; and an abnormality detection circuit configured to detect an abnormality of the signal light in accordance with a ratio or a difference between the intensities of the different wavelength.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes an optical amplifying fiber configured to receive input light so that the input light travels through the optical amplifying fiber; an excitation light generator configured to supply excitation light to the optical amplifying fiber to optically amplify the input light as the input light travels through the optical amplifying fiber; and a processor configured to determine whether a failure has occurred in the optical amplifier, based on a change in power of the excitation light and a change in power of the input light.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a pole layer accommodated in a groove. The pole layer has a track width defining portion and a wide portion. The pole layer includes a plurality of magnetic films stacked. At least one of the plurality of magnetic films includes a first portion included in the track width defining portion, a second portion included in the wide portion, and a third portion coupling the first and second portions to each other. In a cross section passing through the center of the pole layer taken in the track width direction, the second portion is smaller than the first portion in thickness and the top surface of the third portion is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to a medium facing surface.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes: a rare-earth doped fiber configured to amplify signal light to thereby produce a amplified signal light; a gain control circuit configured to control an optical gain of the rare-earth doped fiber; a photodetector configured to detect intensities of different wavelength of light obtained from the amplified signal light; and an abnormality detection circuit configured to detect an abnormality of the signal light in accordance with a ratio or a difference between the intensities of the different wavelength.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a probiotic(s) which can activate an aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and can consequently prevent inflammatory damage in the digestive tract. The present invention relates to; a probiotic(s) capable of activating an AhR; an anti-inflammatory agent comprising the probiotic(s); an orally ingestible composition containing the anti-inflammatory agent; and a method for screening for the probiotic(s).

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer, a first coil, a second coil, and a shield. The shield incorporates: a first portion located backward of the pole layer along the direction of travel of a recording medium; a second portion located forward of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium; and two coupling portions. The first portion has an end face located in a medium facing surface. The two coupling portions couple the first and second portions to each other without touching the pole layer. Part of the first coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer and the first portion. Part of the second coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer and the second portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetic head comprises the steps of: selectively exposing through the use of a photomask a photoresist layer unpatterned; forming a pattern for forming a pole layer by developing the photoresist layer after the exposure; and forming the pole layer through the use of the pattern. The photomask includes first to third regions. The first region has such a perimeter that a projection image thereof is shaped along a perimeter of an ideal shape of the top surface of the pole layer. The second region touches the perimeter of the first region, and is located outside the first region. The third region is located inside the first region without touching the perimeter of the first region. The third region suppresses deviation of the pole layer from its desired shape which may be caused by the effect of light reflected while the photoresist layer is exposed.

Abstract: A magnetic layer for writing incorporates: a pole layer having an end face located in a medium facing surface and a lower yoke layer. A first magnetic layer for flux concentration is connected to the lower yoke layer at a location away from the medium facing surface, and passes a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a first coil. A second magnetic layer for flux concentration is connected to the pole layer at a location away from the medium facing surface, and passes a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a second coil. A nonmagnetic layer is disposed between the pole layer and the lower yoke layer. The lower yoke layer is connected to the pole layer at a location closer to the medium facing surface than the nonmagnetic layer.