Abstract: An optical combiner includes: a plurality of first input optical fibers that each include a core; a bridge fiber that includes a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers, a diameter reduction portion having a diameter that decreases away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis of the optical combiner, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along the optical axis; an intermediate optical fiber that includes a core connected to the bridge output surface of the bridge fiber; a second input optical fiber that includes a core; and an output optical fiber that includes a first optical waveguide connected to the core of the intermediate optical fiber, and a second optical waveguide connected to the core of the second input optical fiber.

Abstract: A memory system includes a memory controller configured to write data in a first mode to a first block of a first area of a non-volatile memory. The first mode is a write mode for writing data with a first number of bits per memory cell. The memory controller is further configured to execute copy processing on the data written in the first mode to the first block, by writing system data written in the first block to a second block of the first area in the first mode and writing user data written in the first block to a third block of a second area of the non-volatile memory in the second mode. The second mode is a write mode for writing data with a second number of bits larger than the first number of bits per memory cell.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions for suppressing the progression of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis, which contain an antibody against IL-31 receptor A as an active ingredient. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions for suppressing Th2 polarization to suppress the progression of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis, which comprise an antibody against IL-31 receptor A as an active ingredient. In a certain embodiment, the above-mentioned antibody is an antibody having a neutralizing activity against IL-31 receptor A.

Abstract: An optical signal to be detected enters single photon avalanche diode cells (SPAD) in a SPAD array and triggers photo event currents. Optical waveguides in the sensor carry an internal optical signal and a 1xN splitter divides the optical power into waveguide branches 206, 206?, . . . 206N-1. At the coupling structure, comprising 207, 207?, . . . 207N-1 positive-intrinsic-negative diode photodetector/waveguide structures, photo event currents from SPAD cells are converted to a change in the internal optical signal, by modifying internal optical signals 208, 208?, . . . 208N-1. A waveguide combiner further integrates the modified internal optical signals resulting from the photo event currents from all the cells in the sub-array. After all waveguide branches' signals are combined, a photodetector detects the internal optical signal and outputs an electrical signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decomposing polyfluorocarboxylic acids, characterized in that a mixture containing polyfluorocarboxylic acids, water, and a basic compound is heated.

Abstract: An optical combiner includes: first optical input portions each including a first optical input waveguide; and an optical output portion to which the first optical input portions are connected and that includes a first core that allows light to propagate therethrough, and a cladding layer disposed outside of the first core and that has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the first core. The first optical input portions are connected to a connection end face of the optical output portion such that the first optical input waveguide of at least one of the first optical input portions is optically coupled to the first core of the optical output portion.

Abstract: An electric pump provided with a pump unit configured to discharge working oil by being rotationally driven by an electric motor includes: a drive shaft configured to transmit rotational driving force from the electric motor to a rotor of the pump unit; a rotation-detection shaft provided coaxially with the drive shaft, the rotation-detection shaft being configured to be rotated together with the rotor; and a rotation detector unit configured to detect rotation of the rotation-detection shaft. The rotation-detection shaft has: an engagement portion configured to engage with the rotor; and a detection-target portion facing the rotation detector unit, and an outer diameter of the detection-target portion is set so as to be larger than an outer diameter of the engagement portion.

Abstract: An optical combiner includes: a plurality of first input optical fibers that each include a core; a bridge fiber that includes a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers, a diameter reduction portion having a diameter that decreases away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis of the optical combiner, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along the optical axis; an intermediate optical fiber that includes a core connected to the bridge output surface of the bridge fiber; a second input optical fiber that includes a core; and an output optical fiber that includes a first optical waveguide connected to the core of the intermediate optical fiber, and a second optical waveguide connected to the core of the second input optical fiber.

Abstract: A fiber laser includes: a gain fiber; a first low-reflective mirror and a second high-reflective mirror disposed in an optical path of laser light that is emitted from a first end of the gain fiber; a second low-reflective mirror and a first high-reflective mirror disposed in an optical path of laser light that is emitted from a second end of the gain fiber; a first delivery fiber that accepts the laser light emitted from the first end; a second delivery fiber that accepts the laser light emitted from the second end; and an operation mode switching mechanism that switches between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. A first resonator is constituted by the first low-reflective mirror and the first high-reflective mirror. A second resonator, which is constituted by the second low-reflective mirror and the second high-reflective mirror.

Abstract: A vane pump is provided with: a pump housing having an accommodating concave portion; and a pump cartridge accommodated in the accommodating concave portion, wherein the pump cartridge has: a rotor; a plurality of vanes received in a plurality of slits formed in the rotor; a cam ring formed with a cam face on an inner circumference of the cam ring; and a first side plate provided at the opposite side from a bottom surface of the accommodating concave portion such that the cam ring is located therebetween, the first side plate has a first projected portion projected radially outward, and the pump cartridge is anchored to the pump housing via the first projected portion.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a perfluoroacyl peroxide which can suppress formation of solid matters in a reaction apparatus, and a method for producing a fluoroalkyl iodide. The method for producing a perfluoroacyl peroxide of the present invention is a method for producing a perfluoroacyl peroxide, which comprises: mixing an organic solvent solution containing a perfluoroacyl halide and an organic solvent which is at least one perfluoroalkyl iodide selected from the group consisting of C2F5I, C4F9I and C6F13I, a first aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide, and a second aqueous solution containing a basic alkali metal compound, to obtain a mixed liquid, and reacting the perfluoroacyl halide and the hydrogen peroxide in the mixed liquid to produce a perfluoroacyl peroxide, wherein the pH of the aqueous phase of the mixed liquid is adjusted to be from 7 to 14.

Abstract: An electric pump provided with a pump unit configured to discharge working oil by being rotationally driven by an electric motor includes: a drive shaft configured to transmit rotational driving force from the electric motor to a rotor of the pump unit; a rotation-detection shaft provided coaxially with the drive shaft, the rotation-detection shaft being configured to be rotated together with the rotor; and a rotation detector unit configured to detect rotation of the rotation-detection shaft. The rotation-detection shaft has: an engagement portion configured to engage with the rotor; and a detection-target portion facing the rotation detector unit, and an outer diameter of the detection-target portion is set so as to be larger than an outer diameter of the engagement portion.

Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber protection structure capable of mitigating deterioration of optical characteristics of an optical fiber under a high-temperature environment and a method of manufacturing an optical element using the same. An optical combiner structure protects bare fiber exposure portions in which bare fibers are exposed from the coverings of optical fibers. The optical combiner structure has a fiber accommodation portion having a fiber accommodation groove that accommodates the bare fiber exposure portions therein, fixation resins filled within the fiber accommodation groove for fixing a portion of the coverings within the fiber accommodation groove, and seal resins for sealing spaces between the bare fibers and the coverings on ends of the bare fiber exposure portions. The seal resins are formed so as to be spaced from an inner surface of the fiber accommodation groove.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device which can control a beam quality of outgoing light. An optical device (10) includes an entrance fiber bundle (12), an exit fiber (13), and a reduced diameter part (11). The reduced diameter part (11) has (i) an entrance end surface (11a) and (ii) an exit end surface (11b) which is narrower in area than the entrance end surface (11a). In a case where the entrance end surface (11a) is viewed from a normal direction of the entrance end surface (11a), a center (C2) of the exit end surface (11b) deviates from a center (C1) of the entrance end surface (11a).

Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber protection structure capable of mitigating deterioration of optical characteristics of an optical fiber under a high-temperature environment and a method of manufacturing an optical element using the same. An optical combiner structure protects bare fiber exposure portions in which bare fibers are exposed from the coverings of optical fibers. The optical combiner structure has a fiber accommodation portion having a fiber accommodation groove that accommodates the bare fiber exposure portions therein, fixation resins filled within the fiber accommodation groove for fixing a portion of the coverings within the fiber accommodation groove, and seal resins for sealing spaces between the bare fibers and the coverings on ends of the bare fiber exposure portions. The seal resins are formed so as to be spaced from an inner surface of the fiber accommodation groove.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device which can control a beam quality of outgoing light. An optical device (10) includes an entrance fiber bundle (12), an exit fiber (13), and a reduced diameter part (11). The reduced diameter part (11) has (i) an entrance end surface (11a) and (ii) an exit end surface (11b) which is narrower in area than the entrance end surface (11a). In a case where the entrance end surface (11a) is viewed from a normal direction of the entrance end surface (11a), a center (C2) of the exit end surface (11b) deviates from a center (C1) of the entrance end surface (11a).

Abstract: An optical fiber protection structure has a fiber accommodation portion having a fiber accommodation groove formed therein for accommodating at least a portion of optical fibers and first resins filled in the fiber accommodation groove. The first resins are to fix a portion of the optical fibers within the fiber accommodation groove. The optical fiber protection structure has a cover member disposed above the fiber accommodation portion so as to cover the fiber accommodation groove, second resins for allowing the first resins to expand toward the cover member to reduce a stress applied to the optical fibers, and a third resin for fixing the cover member onto the fiber accommodation portion. The second resins have a Young's modulus lower than those of the first resins.

Abstract: An absorbent article has a planar direction and a thickness direction. The absorbent article includes a volatile first functional component, a volatile second functional component, water-disintegrable microcapsules that contain the second functional component, and a solvent that keeps the second functional component contained inside the microcapsules. Between a liquid-permeable layer and an absorption layer, the absorbent article has functional composition coated regions that extend in the planar direction and that are coated with the functional composition, and has adhesive coated regions that extend in the planar direction and that are coated with an adhesive. The adhesive coated regions have an adhesive region that directly or indirectly joins the liquid-permeable payer and the absorption layer.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device which can control a beam quality of outgoing light. An optical device (10) includes an entrance fiber bundle (12), an exit fiber (13), and a reduced diameter part (11). The reduced diameter part (11) has (i) an entrance end surface (11a) and (ii) an exit end surface (11b) which is narrower in area than the entrance end surface (11a). In a case where the entrance end surface (11a) is viewed from a normal direction of the entrance end surface (11a), a center (C2) of the exit end surface (11b) deviates from a center (C1) of the entrance end surface (11a).

Abstract: Provided is an optical device which can control a beam quality of outgoing light. An optical device (10) includes an entrance fiber bundle (12), an exit fiber (13), and a reduced diameter part (11). The reduced diameter part (11) has (i) an entrance end surface (11a) and (ii) an exit end surface (11b) which is narrower in area than the entrance end surface (11a). In a case where the entrance end surface (11a) is viewed from a normal direction of the entrance end surface (11a), a center (C2) of the exit end surface (11b) deviates from a center (C1) of the entrance end surface (11a).