Abstract: A varnish composition which comprises a solvent and a polymer component comprising a polyamic acid (B) (having residues which are derived from tetracarboxylic acids and a diamine respectively and which are residues having no side chains or residues having a pendant C1-2 alkyl group or are residues having a composition comprising a mixture of these), a polyamic acid (A) (having residues which are derived from tetracarboxylic acids and a diamine respectively and at least either of which is a residue having a pendant C3+ alkyl group or is a residue having a composition containing that residue), and a soluble polyimide, and in which the proportion of the polyamic acid (A) to the soluble polyimide is 1/99 to 99/1 by weight, the, sum of the polyamic acid (A) and the soluble polyimide accounts for 1 to 80 wt. % of the polymer component, the polyamic acid (B) accounts for 99 to 20 wt. % of the polymer component, and the proportion of the polymer component in the whole varnish composition is 0.1 to 40 wt. %.

Abstract: Provided is a varnish composition which can achieve well-balanced electrical characteristics such as a residual charge, a voltage-holding ratio and image sticking and various characteristics such as a pretilt angle, a coating property and an aligning property, which are desired to a liquid crystal alignment film which is prepared therefrom. The above varnish composition comprises a polymer component comprising a polyamide acid represented by Formula (1), a polyamide represented by Formula (2) or the polyamide represented by Formula (2) and a soluble polyimide represented by Formula (3), and a solvent, wherein the above polymer component contains 1 to 60% by weight of the polyamide represented by Formula (2), and the above varnish composition contains 0.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound is represented by the formula (I): Q1—L1—Cy1—(CH═CH)n—CO—NR1—Cy2—L2—Q2  (I) in which each of Q1 and Q2 independently is a polymerizable group; each of L1 and L2 independently is a divalent linking group; each of Cy1 and Cy2 independently is a divalent cyclic group; R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for utilizing a combination of ultrasonic energy and an echo contrast agent containing microbubbles, for substantially dissolving blood clots or other fistula obstructions. One embodiment of the present invention alternatively utilizes a selected dose of thrombolytic agent in combination with an echo contrast agent, for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a fistula.