Abstract: Emitted light from a light source 1 is separated into two parts through an optical fiber coupler 2, one is entered in a measured optical module 3 as measurement light, and the other is given a group delay by means of an optical fiber delay line 5, a reflector 25, etc., as local light signal, then the local light signal is combined with reflected light signal from the measured optical module 3 through an optical fiber coupler 21 and the reflected light signal and the local light signal are caused to interfere with each other. A polarization controller 100 comprising a polarizer and a polarization rotation device for arbitrarily rotating the polarization state 0 degrees and 90 degrees at the time is used to generate beat signals at the polarization rotation angles, and the sum of the intensities of the beat signals is found, making it possible to measure the light power of the reflected light signal regardless of the polarization state of the local light signal or reflected light signal.

Abstract: A silicon substrate is prepared by furnishing a silicon substrate (10) having a step (11) of at least 5 &mgr;m high on one surface, forming by high pressure heat oxidation an oxide film (12) which is thinner than the step, and removing the oxide film on the higher surface region until the silicon surface is exposed in the higher surface region while leaving the oxide film on the lower surface region. Because of excellent electrical properties, minimized warpage, a substantially constant oxygen concentration, and a definitely ascertainable oxide-silicon boundary, the silicon substrate is suitable for use in optical waveguide devices.

Abstract: Fine and homogeneous oxide particles for superconductors which can be sintered at a low temperature are prepared in a liquid phase by the sol-gel method using alkoxides as starting materials. By forming a buffer layer between a substrate and a superconducting film, good-quality and oriented superconducting film can be fabricated. Highly c-axis-oriented superconducting film and bulk products can be prepared from particular starting compositions in Ln-Ae-Cu-O and Bi-Ae-Cu-O systems. The oriented film can be produced by painting a paste of such starting compositions on a substrate followed by sintering, and the bulk form can be produced by pressing the pre-sintered powder of such starting compositions.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or alleviating the effects of acute alcoholism, in particular liver disturbances in mammals, which comprises a mixture of alanine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof capable of effectively acting as alanine in vivo or a mixture thereof, and ornithine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof capable of effectively acting as ornithine in vivo or a mixture thereof in a ratio such that the amount of ornithine present in said mixture is at least about 1/1000 the amount of alanine present, both of said ornithine and alanine being present in an amount effective to prevent or alleviate said effects.

Abstract: An eccentric core optical waveguide comprising at least one glass core having relatively large refraction index disposed in an outer cylindrical glass jacket having larger diameter than that of the glass core and relatively small refraction index. The one or more glass core being so arranged as to made tangential contact with the inner wall of the glass jacket or a dielectric thin film coated inside the jacket at a small area. The space between the glass core and the outer glass jacket or said thin film is filled by air.