Abstract: Curable resinous compositions which comprise (a) a metal element-containing inorganic filler which has been treated with an oxo acid of pentavalent phosphorus or a derivative thereof, which has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein A.sub.1 is an organic group having at least one ethylenic double bond capable of radical polymerization and containing 5 to 60 carbon atoms, A.sub.2 is a hydroxyl or mercapto group, a halogen atom or an organic group containing 1 to 60 carbon atoms, at least one of A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 contains at least one hydrocarbyl group containing 4 to 60 carbon atoms, X.sub.1 is an oxygen or sulfur atom and X.sub.2 is a hydroxyl or mercapto group of a halogen atom, and (b) at least one monomer capable of radical polymerization which is selected from the group consisting of methacrylates and acrylates, are useful for the production of cured articles which may be used in dentistry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehydes including industrial important fragrances such as citral and sinensal, starting materials for preparing pharmaceutical drugs such as senecioaldehyde, farnesal, 8-acetoxy-2,6-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal and the like, directly and in high yield, from formic acid esters of allylic alcohols in the presence of a catalytic amount of aluminum alkoxide by the oxidation of the corresponding alehyde.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of conjugated diene polymers having alcoholic hydroxyl groups, is provided. In the process, reduced nickel is used as a catalyst and an ether or a mixture of an ether and a hydrocarbon is used as a solvent for the hydrogenation reaction whereby elimination of the group rarely occurs with a very high hydrogenation rate being attained.

Abstract: A hydrated gel of high water content and high porosity containing an immobilized microorganism is prepared by dropwise addition of an aqueous solution containing a microorganism, polyvinyl alcohol and a polysaccharide to an aqueous solution containing polyvalent metal ions to gel the polysaccharide and form spherical gel beads, and subjecting the beads to at least one cycle of freezing and thawing to gel the polyvinyl alcohol. The polysaccharide can be sodium alginate and the polyvalent metal ions can be provided by calcium chloride. Freezing is at a temperature not higher than -5.degree. C., and the cycle of freezing and thawing is preferably repeated at least two times.

Abstract: A purification process for methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a recovery process for methanol are disclosed. A mixture, which contains water, methanol and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as principal components along with at least one of methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and methacrylic acid, is azeotropically distilled together with hexane to obtain MMA in a form substantially free of water, methanol methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and hexane and a low boiling-point fraction. The low boiling-point fraction is cooled and separated into a water phase and an oil phase. Methanol can be recovered from the water phase by adding an alkaline substance to it and then distilling the resultant mixture. A preparation process of MMA is also disclosed. MMA can be prepared by esterifying methacrylic acid or methacrylamide with methanol and then applying the above purification process.

Abstract: An optical low pass filter for use in an imaging device including an objective lens and a solid state image sensor forming a plurality of picture elements thereon, which filter comprises a diffraction grating disposed between the objective lens and the solid state image sensor. The diffraction grating is of a type which the periodicity of an image of the diffraction grating projected onto the solid state image sensor by the objective lens is selected to be twice or 1/n of the periodicity of the picture element, wherein n represents an integer.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided which comprises a tri-block copolymer (a) consisting of aromatic vinyl block-conjugated diene block-aromatic vinyl block in which the conjugated diene moiety is hydrogenated and a block copolymer (b) consisting of an aromatic vinyl block and a conjugated diene block in which the conjugated diene moiety is hydrogenated. The adhesive composition is significantly improved in low temperatures characteristics, adhesion and processability with good adhesion.

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising a plastic substrate having a surface of minutely roughened structure and a thin metal film formed on the substrate is capable of strongly absorbing laser light of a specific wavelength region, thereby writing data on the medium. The optical recording medium is characterized in that the thin metal film comprises a metal of the platinum group and a second metal or semi-metal such that the thermal conductivity of the thin metal film is not higher than 80% of the thermal conductivity of the platinum group pure metal. The optical recording medium is, since jitter has been decreased, capable of a high-sensitivity and high-CNR recording.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of a substrate and a thin metal film laminated thereon formed of a noble metal (A), a chalcogen (B) and bismuth (C) as essential components in amounts within the region of the phase diagram of FIG. 1 defined by the points: a; (A.sub.80 B.sub.15 C.sub.5), b; (A.sub.15 B.sub.80 C.sub.5), c; (A.sub.2 B.sub.80 C.sub.18), d; (A.sub.2 B.sub.49 C.sub.49) and e; (A.sub.80 B.sub.10 C.sub.10), said medium capable of absorbing a laser beam of a specific wavelength region thereby recording information by the pits of cavities formed in the film by the laser beam.

Abstract: There is provided an industrial process for the advantageous preparation of high-purity lithium diphenylphosphinobenzene-m-monosulfonate.

Abstract: A skin depigmental agent characterized by comprising a resorcinol derivative having a linear alkyl group is provided.

Abstract: A novel and useful method for treating and/or preventing ulcer in human beings is provided which comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one of the conjugated .gamma.-oxybutenolide compounds represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same or different and represent hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, hydroxyl groups, alkoxy groups, nitro groups, cyano groups or halogen atoms; and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Provided are novel polycarbonate or polyestercarbonate resins having excellent performances including excellent transparency and thermal resistance, very small warping or deformation caused by water absorption, and the like.

Abstract: A pullulan derivative having one or more active sites resulting from introduction of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, a sulfonic acid or a carboxylic acid, wherein one hydrogen atom of the group of the formula ##STR1## occurring at said active sites is partly substituted by a group of the general formula ##STR2## wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each independently is ammine or a unidentate ligand amine or combinedly represent a bidentate ligand amine and Y is an anionic ligand, and/or two hydrogen atoms of the group ##STR3## or of two ##STR4## groups bound to one and the same carbon atom or to two neighboring carbon atoms as occurring at said active sites are, each independently, partly substituted by a group of the general formula ##STR5## wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are as defined above, and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.The above compound has anticancer activity and is useful as anticancer agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing halogenated sulfones by reacting a halogenating agent with a salt of a hydroxysulfone. The halogenated sulfones are useful as an intermediate for vitamin A or its carboxylic acid esters employed as medicines or feed additives.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing vitamin A or its carboxylic acid ester by treating inexpensive and readily available industrial starting materials with potassium hydroxide which is widely employed industrially and is inexpensive.

Abstract: A fastener component is provided with hook-like interlocking elements on the front side of a substrate sheet and an anchor member on the back side. The fastener component is provided with at least one flat portion void of the interlocking elements on the front side to make the fastener component flexible or pliable to fit a curved or bent portion of a molded cushion body or other molded structures on which the fastener component is to be anchored. The fastening element-free flat portions may be provided along the longitudinal side edges of the fastener component for mounting thereon magnetic metal strips which are attracted by magnets embedded in a mold to fix the fastener component in position in the mold during a molding process.

Abstract: Novel phosphonium salts of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted; R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted; R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each is a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted; X is a hydroxyl group, a hydroxycarbonyloxy group or a lower alkylcarbonyloxy group, and processes for production of the salts are described. Telomerization catalysts containing said phosphonium salts and processes for production of straight-chain alkadienyl compounds using the same catalysts are also provided.

Abstract: A present invention provides a process for preparing a mixture of cyclic terpenoids of general formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and general formula (II), ##STR2## wherein R is defined as above, containing (I) predominant over (II) by the reaction of an acid with a cyclic terpenoid of general formula (II), or a mixture of cyclic terpenoids of general formulas (I) and (II), containing (II) predominant over (I).

Abstract: Described herein is a male fastener strip having a multitude of hooking elements on one side of substrate cloth, which is characterized in that the individual hooking elements are spaced from adjacent hooking elements by X(mm) and Y(mm) in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the fastener strip, respectively, such that X is between 2.0 and 4.0 mm, inclusive and X/Y is in the range of 0.5 to 3.5.