Abstract: A catalyst for producing aromatic compounds from lower hydrocarbons while improving activity life stability of methane conversion rate; benzene formation rate; naphthalene formation rate; and total formation rate of benzene, toluene and xylene is formed by loading molybdenum and copper on metallo-silicate serving as a substrate and then calcining the metallo-silicate. When the catalyst is reacted with a reaction gas containing lower hydrocarbons and carbonic acid gas, aromatic compounds are produced. In order to obtain the catalyst, it is preferable that molybdenum and copper are loaded on zeolite formed of metallo-silicate after the zeolite is treated with a silane compound larger than a pore of the zeolite in diameter and having an amino group and a straight-chain hydrocarbon group, the amino group being able to selectively react with the zeolite at a Bronsted acid point of the zeolite. It is preferable that a loaded amount of molybdenum is within a range of from 2 to 12 wt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for designing a light transmission device, which adjusts a wavelength region of a spectrum of transmitted light without expanding a width of a transmission spectrum and without lowering the transmittance. The method for designing a light transmission device having a metal thin film, and a rectangular aperture which is formed in a plane of the metal thin film, has a long side and a short side and makes light pass therethrough, wherein the short side has a dimension smaller than a wavelength of incident light, and the long side is determined to have such a dimension that a peak wavelength at which the transmittance of light passing through the rectangular aperture is maximal can be a predetermined value.

Abstract: An optical filter includes a light-shielding conductive layer provided with a plurality of apertures on a substrate surface that selectively transmits light of a first wavelength, and a dielectric layer in contact with the conductive layer. A size of the apertures is a size equal to or less than the first wavelength, and a ratio of a surface area of the conductive layer to a surface area of the substrate surface is within a range of equal to or greater than 36% and equal to or less than 74%. A transmissivity of the first wavelength is increased by surface plasmons induced in the apertures by light falling on the conductive layer.

Abstract: A SrTiO3:Pr phosphor includes a SrTiO3:Pr phosphor material and an additive having one or more elements selected from the group consisting of W, Mo and V in a form of an elemental substance and/or a compound. A total amount of one or more elements included in the additive is in a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % of the SrTiO3:Pr phosphor. The additive is WO3 and a particle size distribution of WO3 is such that a weight of WO3 whose particle diameters are in a range from 0.2 to 0.4 ?m is not less than 70% of a total weight of WO3. A fluorescent luminous tube includes the SrTiO3:Pr phosphor.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus including a recording medium that includes at least a substrate, a reflection layer disposed on the substrate, and a recording layer disposed so as to interpose the reflection layer between the substrate and the recording layer, and a near-field optical head, disposed close to the recording medium, for irradiating the recording medium with near-field light to effect recording and reproduction of information. The near-field optical head includes a light-blocking metal film which includes a dielectric base material provided with a small opening and which is disposed opposite to the reflection layer disposed on the substrate, so that the light-blocking metal film and the reflection layer constitute an optical resonator to increase intensity of the near-field light.

Abstract: An exposure mask in which exposure of an exposure object is carried out on the basis of near field light leaking from a plurality of openings provided in a light blocking member in a mutually adjoining relation, in which the spacing between adjacent openings is not greater than the wavelength of light used for the exposure, and an end portion of the opening at the exposure object side has a structure effective to reduce scatter of a surface plasmon polariton wave going around to the exposure object side of the light blocking member.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for enabling an automatic creation of a parts list and 3-dimensional illustrations of a product based on 3-dimensional CAD or XVL data of an industrial product consisting of a plurality of parts. A method for generating a parts catalog consisting of a parts list and corresponding disassembly illustrations is provided. This method comprises the steps of (a) assigning reference numerals/symbols based on the parts list; (b) building a disassembly algorithm based on the parts list; and (c) generating disassembly illustrations based on the disassembly algorithm, wherein minimum disassembly units of the disassembly illustrations are parts and parts groups assigned with the reference numerals/symbols, and displaying the reference numeral/symbol for each of the parts and parts groups in the disassembly illustrations.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor piezoelectric actuator element uses a primary longitudinal mode and a secondary bending mode and includes a stacked piezoelectric element in which piezoelectric layers and electrode layers are stacked alternately in such a manner that the electrode layers divide the piezoelectric layers into two approximately equal portions. A piezoelectric inactive region is formed from the surface portion to the center portion in the thickness direction of the stacked piezoelectric element. The migration resistance of the piezoelectric actuator element is improved while suppressing a decrease in displacement so that a short circuit can be prevented and portions generating heat during alternating polarization can be dispersed, whereby reliability is increased. Moreover, the amount of electrode material used can be reduced, whereby cost can be reduced.

Abstract: An IP telephone determines, in making a telephone call, whether a called party's telephone is an IP telephone or not (S17). If determination result is affirmative, a flag 2 is turned on (S19). Then, a marker indicating that the called party is an IP telephone is added to telephone control information for the called party registered in a telephone directory within a memory (S59, S65). This makes it possible to know, in making a telephone call to the called party from next time onward, whether the called party's telephone is an IP telephone or not prior to establishment of connection with the called party, from the presence or absence of the marker in the telephone directory.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a piezoelectric element includes first-inspection-signal application step of applying to the piezoelectric element a first inspection signal Vp(1) having a first predetermined voltage waveform; first-characteristic-value measurement step of measuring, as a first characteristic value, an electrical characteristic value of the piezoelectric element after application of the first inspection signal; second-inspection-signal application step of applying to the piezoelectric element a second inspection signal Vp(2) having a second predetermined voltage waveform and an electrical power greater than that of the first inspection signal; second-characteristic-value measurement step of measuring, as a second characteristic value, the electrical characteristic value of the piezoelectric element after application of the second inspection signal; and anomaly determination step of determining whether or not the piezoelectric element is anomalous on the basis of a value corresponding to the difference

Abstract: A target substance detecting device, which is a device that has a substrate, a structure disposed on a substrate surface in isolation using a metal, and a target substance trapping substance disposed on the structure, and which is for detecting a target substance using localized plasmon resonance, characterized in that the above-mentioned structure is constructed by stacking at least two metal layers, sandwiching a non-conductive layer between the metal layers.

Abstract: A substrate for forming a target substance detecting device includes a supporting member, an underlying layer disposed on a surface of the supporting member, and a metal pattern layer, disposed on a surface of the underlying layer, for being bound to a target substance trapping substance capable of trapping a target substance in a specimen solution at least containing water as a liquid medium to detect the target substance by utilizing plasmon resonance. The underlying layer has a refractive index nb satisfying the following relationship: 0.90na?nb?1.05na, wherein na represents a refractive index of water.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a piezoelectric element includes first-inspection-signal application step of applying to the piezoelectric element a first inspection signal Vp(1) having a first predetermined voltage waveform; first-characteristic-value measurement step of measuring, as a first characteristic value, an electrical characteristic value of the piezoelectric element after application of the first inspection signal; second-inspection-signal application step of applying to the piezoelectric element a second inspection signal Vp(2) having a second predetermined voltage waveform and an electrical power greater than that of the first inspection signal; second-characteristic-value measurement step of measuring, as a second characteristic value, the electrical characteristic value of the piezoelectric element after application of the second inspection signal; and anomaly determination step of determining whether or not the piezoelectric element is anomalous on the basis of a value corresponding to the difference

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane type sensor 20 provided with a ceramic base body 1 and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 12. The ceramic base body is provided with a thin diaphragm portion 3, a thick portion 2 and a cavity 10 formed by the portions. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is arranged on the ceramic base body 1 and includes a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body 5, and an upper electrode 6 and a lower electrode 4 sandwiching the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body 5. In the piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane type sensor 20, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body 5 contains an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal, and the upper electrode 6 and the lower electrode 4 contain gold or platinum. When there is a change in the atmosphere at a place where the sensor is used, the sensor copes with such change and at least prevents continuation of low-quality measurement.

Abstract: An optical element 4 of the present invention includes a conductive microstructure 6 having a conductive property, and detects an optical spectrum signal varied by the binding of measured molecules on the surface of the conductive microstructure 6. The optical element 4 has a distribution in the direction to the electric displacement vector generated inside the conductive microstructure 6 by the binding capacity of the measured molecules on the surface of the conductive microstructure 6. As a result, it is possible to provide an optical element capable of measuring the density at high accuracy without depending on the binding position of the measured molecules.