Abstract: The present invention provides a position detection apparatus including a first obtaining unit configured to obtain imaging characteristics of an imaging optical system for a plurality of light beams, having different wavelength with each other, of the light having the wavelength width, a second obtaining unit configured to obtain optical images of a target object for the plurality of light beams, a restoration unit configured to restore optical images of the target object for the plurality of light beams by correcting, deterioration in the obtained optical images of the target object attributed to the imaging optical system, based on the obtained imaging characteristics of the imaging optical system, and a generation unit configured to generate an optical image of the target object for light including the plurality of light beams by synthesizing the restored optical images of the target object for the plurality of light beams.

Abstract: There are disclosed insulated ultrafine powder comprising electroconductive ultrafine powder which is in the form of sphere, spheroid or acicular each having a minor axis in the range of 1 to 100 nm and an insulating film applied thereto; a process for producing the same which is capable of covering the surfaces of the insulated ultrafine powder with the insulating film having a thickness in the range of 0.3 to 100 nm without causing any clearance or vacancy; and a resin composite material which uses the same. A high dielectric constant of the material is assured by adding a small amount of insulated ultrafine powder wherein an insulating film is applied to the electroconductive ultrafine powder, while maintaining the processability and moldability that are the characteristics inherent in a resin material.

Abstract: A surface shape measuring apparatus includes an illumination system and a light receiving system. The illumination system splits wide-band light from a light source into measurement light and reference light, illuminates the measurement light to obliquely enter a surface of the film, and illuminates the reference light to obliquely enter a reference mirror. The light receiving system combines the measurement light reflected by the surface of the film and the reference light reflected by the reference mirror with each other and introduces the combined light to a photoelectric conversion element. An incident angle of the measurement light upon the surface of the film and an incident angle of the reference light upon the reference mirror are each larger than the Brewster's angle. S-polarized light and p-polarized light included in the measurement light entering a surface of the substrate have equal intensity on the photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A novel pyrrolopyridine derivative which is a compound represented by the formula wherein Ring A represents an optionally substituted pyridine ring; X represents an electron-attracting group; Y represents an optionally substituted divalent C1-6 chain hydrocarbon group; R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; and R2 and R3 each independently represents hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally-substituted heterocyclic group, or R2 and R3 may form an optionally substituted ring in cooperation with the adjacent nitrogen atom, or a salt of the compound. The pyrrolopyridine derivative has vanilloid receptor agonist activity and is useful as medicines such as a preventive/therapeutic agent and analgesic for overactive bladder.

Abstract: A method for calculating a position of an image of an alignment mark formed on an object to be detected includes the steps of obtaining first information indicative of a center position in the alignment mark based on a detection signal, obtaining a waveform characteristic of the detection signal as second information, and correcting the first information based on the second information that has been obtained, and a measurement error of the center position of the alignment mark, which result from an optical system for detecting the alignment mark.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus has a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a reticle onto a wafer, a wafer stage to hold and to move the wafer, and a position detecting system to detect a position of the wafer in an optical-axis direction. The position detecting system has (i) an irradiation unit for irradiating plural lights having different wavelengths from each other onto the wafer, oblique to a surface of the wafer, the irradiation unit irradiating the plural lights onto plural places on a shot on the wafer, (ii) a detector for detecting the plural lights reflected on the plural places on the wafer, and (iii) a controller for calculating the position of the wafer in the optical-axis direction based on a detection result of the detector, the controller having a memory to store the detection, a selector to select one of the plural lights based on the stored detection result in the memory, and a calculator to calculate the position of the wafer in the optical-axis direction.

Abstract: A vehicle locking device locking a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer, equipped with rollers allowing driving wheels of the vehicle placed thereon, while keeping the driving wheels thereof placed on the rollers, was configured so as to detect angles of traction, to determine traction forces optimum for hauling the vehicle based on the detected angles, and to control the vehicle locking device based on thus-determined traction forces so as to take up a belt, aiming at readily and stably locking a test vehicle under optimum traction forces.

Abstract: The position detection apparatus includes a light projecting optical system which has an optical axis, and which cause two light beams symmetrical about the optical axis to enter a substrate, a light receiving optical system which receives the two light beams which have emerged from the light projecting optical system and are reflected by the substrate, a light receiving unit which is arranged at a position shifted in the optical axis direction, a detection unit which respectively detects the positions of the two light beams which have entered the light receiving unit, and a calculator which calculates the surface position of the substrate in the normal direction based on the positions of the two light beams, which are detected by the detection unit. At least one of the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system is shared for the two light beams.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula (I) or a salt thereof; and an agent for protecting a brain/neuronal cell or a therapeutic agent for sleep disorder comprising the compound or salt: wherein Z represents an oxygen or sulfur; R1 represents an aryl or heterocyclic group which may be substituted, provided that R1 is not a 3-ethyl-6-methoxy-2-methyl-5-naphthalen-1-yl group; R1a represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, a hydroxyl group or the like; R2 represents a piperidin-1,4-diyl or piperazin-1,4-diyl which may be substituted; R3 represents a bivalent group which is formed by removing two hydrogen atoms from a benzene ring or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent, provided that R3 is not a pyridazin-3,6-diyl; and R4 represents a group which is formed by removing one hydrogen atom from a benzene ring or 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring which may be substituted, provided that the substituent on the heterocyclic ring is not a phenylethyl group whic

Abstract: There is provided a FAAH inhibitor and a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for cerebrovascular disorders or sleep disorders comprising it. The prophylactic or therapeutic agent comprises a compound of the formula (I0): R1—C—R2—R3—R4 (I0) wherein Z is oxygen or sulfur; R1 is aryl which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted; R1a is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, hydroxyl, etc.; R2 is piperidin-1,4-diyl which may be substituted, or piperazin-1,4-diyl which may be substituted; R3 is a group formed by eliminating two hydrogen atoms from a 5-membered aromatic heterocyclic group having 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, which may be further substituted, —CO—, etc.; and R4 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus for measuring the shape of a measurement target surface includes an interferometer and computer. The interferometer senses interference light formed by measurement light from the measurement target surface and reference light by a photoelectric converter, while changing the light path length of the measurement light or the reference light. The computer Fourier-transforms a first interference signal sensed by the photoelectric converter to obtain a phase distribution and an amplitude distribution, shapes the amplitude distribution, inversely Fourier-transforms the phase distribution and the shaped amplitude distribution to obtain a second interference signal, and determines the shape of the measurement target surface based on the second interference signal.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a microwave resonator (2) for generating a standing microwave in the internal space, and a gas cell (6) enclosing a medium is disposed in the internal space of the microwave resonator 2. The lighting system excites the medium in the gas cell (6) by the standing microwave to generate light. The gas cell (6) is replaceably mounted on the microwave resonator (2). The generated light is output to the outside of the microwave resonator (2) through a light lead-out hole (26). Thereby, it is possible to provide a lighting system (including a gas laser) capable of emitting light efficiently with a compact and inexpensive device configuration and of achieving a long life. Moreover, it can also be used as a lighting system in the THz-wave region by enclosing the medium for generating light in the far-infrared region in the gas cell (6).

Abstract: Disclosed is a new type of immunostimulating agent including an immunostimulating oligonucleotide complexed with a carrier which is safe and has a high transfection effect. The carrier complexed with the immunostimulating oligonucleotide to form the immunostimulating agent is a polysaccharide having ?-1,3-bonds (preferably ?-1,3-glucan such as schizophyllan). A preferred example of the immunostimulating oligonucleotide is one containing an unmethylated CpG motif. The polysaccharide for use is preferably modified with nucleic acid-binding functional group and/or cell membrane-affinitive functional group.

Abstract: Provided is a surface plasmon resonance sensor device having excellent measurement accuracy. The device is equipped with an optical fiber 2,32 for introducing a light incident from one end thereof to the other end, a core exposed portion 3,33a formed to expose core 5,33 of the optical fiber 2,32, and a thin metal film 4,35 formed on the core exposed portion 3,33a and capable of exciting surface plasmon. The core exposed portion 3 is a first microsphere 3 disposed at the other end portion of the optical fiber 2 and the thin metal film 4 is formed on the surface of the microsphere 3. The thin metal film may be a first fine-metal-particle thin film 25 in which fine metal particles 24 have been distributed uniformly. The core exposed portion 33a is disposed in the midway of the optical fiber 32 and the thin metal film 35 is formed to cover therewith the entire surface of the core exposed portion 33a.

Abstract: The position detection apparatus includes a light projecting optical system which has an optical axis, and which cause two light beams symmetrical about the optical axis to enter a substrate, a light receiving optical system which receives the two light beams which have emerged from the light projecting optical system and are reflected by the substrate, a light receiving unit which is arranged at a position shifted in the optical axis direction, a detection unit which respectively detects the positions of the two light beams which have entered the light receiving unit, and a calculator which calculates the surface position of the substrate in the normal direction based on the positions of the two light beams, which are detected by the detection unit. At least one of the light projecting optical system and the light receiving optical system is shared for the two light beams.

Abstract: A shape measuring method for measuring a surface shape of a measurement target includes dividing light from a light source into measurement light and reference light, the measurement light being obliquely incident upon a surface of the measurement target, the reference light being incident upon a reference mirror, introducing the measurement light reflected by the measurement target and the reference light reflected by the reference mirror to a photoelectric conversion element, detecting interference light formed by the measurement light and the reference light by the photoelectric conversion element while moving the measurement target, and measuring the surface shape of the measurement target based on an interference signal obtained from the measurement light that has been reflected at the same position on the surface of the measurement target.

Abstract: A method of making a gap between first and second objects have a predetermined value includes steps of introducing light to an entry window on the first object, detecting an intensity of light from an exit window on the first object, and positioning the second object, with respect to a direction concerning the gap, based on an intensity of light detected in the detecting step. The exit window is positioned so that light enters through the entry window of the first object, reflects off the second object, and then enters the exit window of the first object if the gap has the predetermined value.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus measures a substrate on which a registration mark is formed. The measuring apparatus includes an acquisition unit which acquires the edge interval information of an image of the registration mark sensed under a measurement condition which is changed to make the edge interval of the image of the registration mark have an extreme value corresponding to a different focus position of a projection exposure apparatus, and a calculation unit which calculates a defocus value on the basis of the edge interval information of the image of the registration mark sensed under each measurement condition.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus performs AGA measurement by using a predetermined sample shot group formed on a wafer, and decides an alignment parameter. The exposure apparatus executes wafer alignment processing and exposure processing by using the alignment parameter. The exposure apparatus notifies a central processing unit of AGA measurement results and the alignment parameter. An overlay inspection apparatus measures an actual exposure position on the exposed wafer, and notifies the central processing unit of the measurement result. The central processing unit optimizes alignment processing on the basis of the AGA measurement results, alignment parameter, and actually measured exposure position.

Abstract: In a superconducting magnets for MRI configured to generate a homogeneous magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field in a space between a top superconducting magnet and a bottom superconducting magnet, the bottom superconducting magnet is provided with a supporting member that supports a helium vessel, and the supporting member is fixed to a vacuum vessel of the bottom superconducting magnet at one end, and is fixed to the floor surface in the vicinity of the end fixed to the vacuum vessel. A high-quality MR image can be thus obtained by preventing direct transmission of oscillation of the gradient coils to the superconducting magnet and reducing oscillation of the gradient coils while achieving a reduction of the overall superconducting magnet in size.