Abstract: A terminal connection portion has a plate shape extending in an axial direction and has a constant width dimension. A terminal front end edge thereof has a convex shape at a front end side in the axial direction and has a circular-arc shape with a radius from 0.5 times to 0.8 times the width dimension, and is arranged in the center between a first pad side edge and a second pad side edge, on an electrode pad. A brazing material portion has a form spreading to a front end side in the axial direction away from the terminal connection portion. A brazing material front end edge which is a front end edge of the brazing material portion has a convex and circular-arc shape at the front end side in the axial direction, and is configured to be apart from a pad front end edge.

Abstract: A terminal connection portion has a plate shape extending in an axial direction and has a constant width dimension. A terminal front end edge thereof has a convex shape at a front end side in the axial direction and has a circular-arc shape with a radius from 0.5 times to 0.8 times the width dimension, and is arranged in the center between a first pad side edge and a second pad side edge, on an electrode pad. A brazing material portion has a form spreading to a front end side in the axial direction away from the terminal connection portion. A brazing material front end edge which is a front end edge of the brazing material portion has a convex and circular-arc shape at the front end side in the axial direction, and is configured to be apart from a pad front end edge.

Abstract: A ceramic joining unit, ceramic heater and gas sensor, the ceramic joining unit including: a ceramic base member; an electrode pad provided on a surface of the ceramic base member; a coupling terminal; and a joining portion, wherein the electrode pad includes: a first layer in contact with the ceramic base member; and a second layer laminated on a surface of the first layer and in contact with the joining portion, wherein each of the first and second layers contains a ceramic material as a main component, a content of the ceramic material in the first layer is greater than that of the second layer, and a contour of the first layer is located outside of a contour of the second layer at an entire periphery of the first layer.

Abstract: A ceramic heater including: a ceramic substrate having a heater element which generates heat when energized and an electrode pad disposed on a surface of the ceramic substrate, the electrode pad being electrically connected to the heater element, and a connection terminal electrically connected to the electrode pad through a braze part bonded to the electrode pad, the braze part being made of an alloy of copper and gold and the connection terminal being made of nickel or a nickel alloy, wherein a first region of the braze part within a distance of 15 ?m from a contact face between the braze part and the connection terminal has a gold content of more than 6 wt % and less than 10 wt %.

Abstract: A ceramic heater including: a ceramic substrate having a heater element which generates heat when energized and an electrode pad disposed on a surface of the ceramic substrate, the electrode pad being electrically connected to the heater element, and a connection terminal electrically connected to the electrode pad through a braze part bonded to the electrode pad, the braze part being made of an alloy of copper and gold and the connection terminal being made of nickel or a nickel alloy, wherein a first region of the braze part within a distance of 15 ?m from a contact face between the braze part and the connection terminal has a gold content of more than 6 wt % and less than 10 wt %.

Abstract: A ceramic joining unit, ceramic heater and gas sensor, the ceramic joining unit including: a ceramic base member; an electrode pad provided on a surface of the ceramic base member; a coupling terminal; and a joining portion, wherein the electrode pad includes: a first layer in contact with the ceramic base member; and a second layer laminated on a surface of the first layer and in contact with the joining portion, wherein each of the first and second layers contains a ceramic material as a main component, a content of the ceramic material in the first layer is greater than that of the second layer, and a contour of the first layer is located outside of a contour of the second layer at an entire periphery of the first layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agent for protecting a motor nerve of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which comprises a combination of (a) (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid or a salt thereof and (b) a therapeutic agent for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis such as riluzole. An agent comprising a combination of (a) (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid which is orally administered once a day in an amount per dose of about 1200 mg and (b) riluzole which is orally administered twice a day in an amount per dose of about 50 mg is useful for protecting a motor nerve in a patient(s) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The agent can also suppress the respiratory disability associated with the progression of the disease condition and improve the survival rate of the patient(s).