Abstract: An estimation system generates, from a value of a time series of an estimation object in a past period, a plurality of patterns of a transition of a value of the estimation object. Based on the plurality of generated patterns and a value of a time series of a factor in the past period, the estimation system specifies a dependency relationship between a transition pattern and a value of the factor and a transition pattern at a past (or future) time point and identifies a model in accordance with the specified dependency relationship. By inputting a value of a time series of the factor in a future period to the estimation model, the estimation system specifies a time series of a value in the future period of the estimation object using at least one transition pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device formed by performing bonding at room temperature with respect to a wafer in which bonded electrodes and insulating layers and are respectively exposed to front surfaces, including a bonding interlayer which independently exhibits non-conductivity and exhibits conductivity by being bonded to the bonded electrodes, between the front surfaces.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate bonding method for bonding a first substrate (11) and a second substrate (12) by sputter-etching, the substrate bonding method comprising: an activation step in which the surface of a first substrate (11) is irradiated with a beam (2) of ion particles of a gas (1) such as Ar and sputter-etched to thereby deposit sputtered particles (Ms) from the first substrate (11) on the surface of a second substrate (12), the first substrate (11) comprising at least one among a semiconductor material, a compound semiconductor material, and a metal material; and a bonding step in which the surface of the second substrate (12), on which the sputtered particles (Ms) from the first substrate (11) are deposited, and the surface of the substrate (11), which is sputter-etched, are overlapped and bonded with each other.

Abstract: An inter-substrate material layer is formed between a first substrate and a second substrate to generate a bonding strength. A plurality of metal elements are present in the inter-substrate material layer. An interface element existence ratio of the plurality of metal elements is 0.07 or above. A device can be obtained in which substrates difficult to bond (for example, SiO2 substrates) are bonded at room-temperature to have practical bonding strength.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device formed by performing bonding at room temperature with respect to a wafer in which bonded electrodes and insulating layers and are respectively exposed to front surfaces, including a bonding interlayer which independently exhibits non-conductivity and exhibits conductivity by being bonded to the bonded electrodes, between the front surfaces.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding apparatus includes a first beam source, a second beam source, and a press bonding mechanism. The first beam source emits a first activation beam that irradiates a first surface of a first substrate. Independently from the first beam source, the second beam source emits a second activation beam that irradiates a second surface of a second substrate. The press bonding mechanism bonds between the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting between the first surface and the second surface after the first surface is irradiated with the first activation beam and the second surface is irradiated with the second activation beam. Thus, a plurality of the substrates made of different materials is appropriately bonded.

Abstract: A novel method that enables prostate cancer testing that is noninvasive and more accurate than conventional methods is disclosed. The present inventors intensively analyzed urine samples from prostate cancer patients, and non-cancer subjects, who are free of prostate cancer, and, as a result, newly discovered urinary peptides that can be used as indicators in prostate cancer testing. Use of these urinary peptides as indicators enables various prostate cancer-related tests including detection of prostate cancer, discrimination between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, monitoring of a therapeutic effect of prostate cancer therapy and monitoring of postoperative recurrence.

Abstract: An inter-substrate material layer is formed between a first substrate and a second substrate to generate a bonding strength. A plurality of metal elements are present in the inter-substrate material layer. An interface element existence ratio of the plurality of metal elements is 0.07 or above. A device can be obtained in which substrates difficult to bond (for example, SiO2 substrates) are bonded at room-temperature to have practical bonding strength.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding apparatus includes a first beam source, a second beam source, and a press bonding mechanism. The first beam source emits a first activation beam that irradiates a first surface of a first substrate. Independently from the first beam source, the second beam source emits a second activation beam that irradiates a second surface of a second substrate. The press bonding mechanism bonds between the first substrate and the second substrate by contacting between the first surface and the second surface after the first surface is irradiated with the first activation beam and the second surface is irradiated with the second activation beam. Thus, a plurality of the substrates made of different materials is appropriately bonded.

Abstract: A room-temperature bonding apparatus includes a vacuum chamber; a first holding mechanism; a second holding mechanism; a beam source; and a pressure bonding mechanism which bonds first and second substrates. At least one of the above members is formed of a first material which is difficult to be sputtered or which does not obstruct a function of a device obtained by bonding the first and second substrates even if the first material is in the bonding surfaces, or a surface of the at least one is covered with the first material.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding apparatus includes angle adjustment means supporting a first sample stage holding a first substrate so as to be able to change a direction of the first sample stage; a first driving device driving the first stage in a first direction; a second driving device driving a second sample stage holding a second substrate in a second direction not parallel to the first direction; and a carriage support table supporting the second sample stage in the first direction when the second substrate and the first substrate are brought into contact. The apparatus can impose a load exceeding a withstand load of the second driving device on the first and second substrates. Further, the apparatus uses angle adjustment means to change direction of the first substrate to be parallel with the second substrate and uniformly impose the larger load on a bonding surface.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding machine is provided with an evacuation apparatus, a gas supply apparatus, a pressure gauge, a cleaner apparatus, a pressure controller and a pressing mechanism. The evacuation apparatus evacuates gas from the chamber. The gas supply apparatus supplies introduction gas into the chamber. The pressure gauge measures the pressure in the chamber. The cleaner apparatus cleans first and second substrates in the chamber when said pressure is at a predetermined degree of vacuum. The pressure controller controls both of the evacuation apparatus and the gas supply apparatus so that the pressure is regulated to a target pressure. The pressing mechanism presses and bonds the first and second substrates when the pressure is set to said target pressure.

Abstract: A novel method that enables prostate cancer testing that is noninvasive and more accurate than conventional methods is disclosed. The present inventors intensively analyzed urine samples from prostate cancer patients, and non-cancer subjects, who are free of prostate cancer, and, as a result, newly discovered urinary peptides that can be used as indicators in prostate cancer testing. Use of these urinary peptides as indicators enables various prostate cancer-related tests including detection of prostate cancer, discrimination between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, monitoring of a therapeutic effect of prostate cancer therapy and monitoring of postoperative recurrence.

Abstract: A device is provided with: a first substrate mainly containing silicon dioxide; a second substrate mainly containing silicon, compound semiconductor, silicon dioxide or fluoride; and a bonding functional intermediate layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is bonded to the second substrate thorough room temperature bonding in which a sputtered first surface of the first substrate is contacted with a sputtered second surface of the second substrate via the bonding functional intermediate layer. Here, the material of the bonding functional intermediate layer is selected from among optically transparent materials which are oxide, fluoride, or nitride, the materials being different from the main component of the first substrate and different from the main component of the second substrate.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a load lock chamber having an internal space which is pressure-reduced; and a cartridge arranged in the load lock chamber. The cartridge includes an island portion formed to contact a substrate when the substrate is put on the cartridge. A flow passage is formed for the island portion to connect a space between the cartridge and the substrate to outside when the substrate is put on the cartridge. Therefore, in the room temperature bonding apparatus can prevent making the substrate is moved to the cartridge due to gas when the internal space is pressure-reduced.

Abstract: A room temperature bonding apparatus includes: an angle adjustment mechanism that supports a first sample stage holding a first substrate to a first stage so as to be able to change a direction of the first sample stage; a first driving device that drives the first stage in a first direction; a second driving device that drives a second sample stage holding a second substrate in a second direction not parallel to the first direction; and a carriage support table that supports the second sample stage in the first direction when the second substrate and the first substrate are brought into press contact with each other. In this case, the room temperature bonding apparatus can impose a larger load exceeding a withstand load of the second driving device on the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A method of room-temperature bonding a plurality of substrates via an intermediate member, includes: forming the intermediate member on a surface to be bonded of the substrate by physically sputtering a plurality of targets; and activating the surface to be bonded by an ion beam. In this case, it is preferable that the target composed of a plurality of types of materials is physically sputtered. Since the materials of the intermediate member are sputtered from the plurality of targets arranged in various directions from the surface to be bonded of the substrate, the intermediate member can be uniformly formed on the surface to be bonded. Further, since the intermediate member is composed of the plurality of types of materials, the room-temperature bonding of substrates difficult to bond together when an intermediate member is composed of a single type of material can be performed without heating and excessively pressing the substrates during bonding.

Abstract: A method of room-temperature bonding a plurality of substrates via an intermediate member, includes: forming the intermediate member on a surface to be bonded of the substrate by physically sputtering a plurality of targets; and activating the surface to be bonded by an ion beam. Preferably, the target composed of a plurality of types of materials is physically sputtered. Since the materials of the intermediate member are sputtered from the plurality of targets arranged in various directions from the surface to be bonded of the substrate, the intermediate member can be uniformly formed on the surface to be bonded. Further, since the intermediate member is composed of the plurality of types of materials, the room-temperature bonding of substrates difficult to bond together when an intermediate member is composed of a single type of material can be performed without heating and excessively pressing the substrates during bonding.

Abstract: A device is provided with: a first substrate mainly containing silicon dioxide; a second substrate mainly containing silicon, compound semiconductor, silicon dioxide or fluoride; and a bonding functional intermediate layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is bonded to the second substrate thorough room temperature bonding in which a sputtered first surface of the first substrate is contacted with a sputtered second surface of the second substrate via the bonding functional intermediate layer. Here, the material of the bonding functional intermediate layer is selected from among optically transparent materials which are oxide, fluoride, or nitride, the materials being different from the main component of the first substrate and different from the main component of the second substrate.

Abstract: A therapeutic drug for psychoneurotic disorders, which is useful for therapies of psychoneurotic disorders, especially restless legs syndrome is disclosed. The therapeutic drug for psychoneurotic disorders according to the present invention comprises as an effective ingredient an opioid ? receptor agonist compound (excluding pentazocine) such as (?)-17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-3,14?-dihydroxy-4,5?-epoxy-6?[N-methyl-trans-3-(3-furyl)acrylamide]morphinan hydrochloric acid salt.