Abstract: A method for producing a polymer is provided. The polymer improves variations in the content ratio and molecular weights of a copolymer's constitutional units, solvent solubility, and the sensitivity of a resist composition using such a polymer. The method includes polymerizing two or more monomers while adding with a polymerization initiator to obtain the polymer, feeding a first solution containing first composition monomers in an initial polymerization stage, and starting dropwise addition of a second solution containing second composition monomers after or simultaneously with the feeding of the first solution. The second composition is equal to a target composition ratio of the polymer to be obtained. The first composition is calculated in advance based on a target composition ratio and the reactivity of the monomers. The above dropping rate is set to high.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer of the present invention includes the following steps (a) and (b): step (a): producing a polymer in the presence of an acid or base catalyst; and step (b): contacting a solution containing the polymer obtained in step (a) to a mixed resin of an anion-exchange resin and a cation-exchange resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating lithographic characteristics of a lithographic composition containing a copolymer for lithography without actually preparing the composition. The method comprises the steps of: dissolving the copolymer for lithography in a solvent to prepare a test solution; separating a gel-like substance from the test solution; determining a rate of change of a composition ratio, wherein the rate of change of the composition ratio rate refers to a ratio of a difference obtained by subtracting a composition ratio of constitutional units in the copolymer for lithography from a composition ratio of constitutional units in a gel-like substance to the composition ratio of the constitutional units in the copolymer for lithography.

Abstract: Provided is a resist copolymer which has favorable sensitivity, enables a resist pattern to be formed to have a favorable shape, has favorable dry etching resistance when a dry etching is carried out using the resist pattern as a mask, and suppresses the surface roughness of a pattern formed by carrying out a dry etching process to a substrate. A resist copolymer including a constituent unit (1) based on a (meth)acrylic acid ester derivative having a cyclic hydrocarbon group such as an adamantane ring and two or more cyano groups bonded to the cyclic hydrocarbon group, a constituent unit (2) having a lactone backbone and a cross-linking cyclic structure, and a constituent unit (3) having an acid leaving group.

Abstract: A magazine box is provided for removably storing a plurality of disc-storing magazines used in a disc apparatus for feeding a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The magazines each include a tray for storing the disc, a case for removably storing the tray, and a first locking mechanism for releasably locking the tray to the case. The magazine box further includes a second locking mechanism for releasably locking the case of each of the plurality of magazines to the magazine box, and the second locking mechanism maintains the locked state at least during the automatic tray-ejection from the case in the disc apparatus is conducted.

Abstract: An x-ray CT image processing method which carries out a statistical estimate in prior knowledge relating to the movement and the x-ray absorption coefficient of a measurement subject comprises: a step of hypothesizing that the measurement subject changes smoothly over time, and defining a first probability model (prior knowledge of the measurement subject over all times) relating to movement and a second probability model (projected image observation model over all times) relating to observation; and a step of carrying out a statistical estimate dependent on both the first probability model and the second probability model. The first probability model relating to the movement of the measurement subject and the second model relating to observation are defined as probability models with which statistical estimates are carried out at the outset, and motion and CT images are simultaneously estimated by carrying out induction based on the probability models.

Abstract: A charge-transporting varnish containing either a charge-transporting substance consisting of a charge-transporting oligoaniline or a charge-transporting organic material consisting of the charge-transporting substance and a charge-accepting dopant and at least one polymer selected from among polyimides and polyimide precursors; and charge-transporting thin films and organic EL devices, made by using the varnish. The varnish can give thin films which little suffer from defects and have high uniformity and flatness and excellent mechanical strengths, heat resistance, and transparency. In particular, the varnish realizes excellent EL characteristics such as low driving voltage, high emission efficiency, and long service life, when used in organic EL devices.

Abstract: To provide a coating fluid for a gate insulating film, which can be baked at a low temperature of at most 180° C.; a gate insulating film having excellent solvent resistance and further having good characteristics in e.g. specific resistance or semiconductor mobility; and an organic transistor employing the gate insulating film. A coating fluid for a gate insulating film, which comprises a polyimide obtainable by cyclodehydration of a polyamic acid having repeating units of a specific structure, a gate insulating film employing the coating fluid, and the organic transistor employing the gate insulating film.

Abstract: Provided is a turntable for rotatably supporting a disc member on a disc support surface in a state where the disc member is sandwiched and held between the turntable and a clamp member placed opposite thereto, wherein the disc support surface is provided with an elastic layer having a predetermined width, and configured to project from the disc support surface, and at least one of an outer peripheral part and an inner peripheral part of the elastic layer is provided with a high contact pressure portion of which a contact pressure generated by pressing the clamp member thereto is higher than that of other portion.

Abstract: There is provided a polyimide precursor which can alter the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the surface of a cured film formed readily even by a low level of ultraviolet ray irradiation; and a polyimide produced from the polyimide precursor. The polyimide precursor having a structure represented by the following formula (1): where A represents a tetravalent organic group; B represents a bivalent organic group having a thiol ester bond in its main chain; R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a univalent organic group; and n represents a natural number.

Abstract: To provide an alcohol compound containing fewer impurities at a high yield by conducting the following steps: a hydroboration process in which a reaction mixture is obtained by reacting in a solvent a compound represented by formula (C) and a boron agent selected from a group of diborane and borane complexes; and an oxidation process in which the pH of the reaction mixture is set at 0.5 to 4, which is conducted after treating the reaction mixture with hydrogen peroxide. In the formula, A1 to A6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, methyl group or ethyl group, and X is an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, methylene group or ethylene group.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a novel forming agent for a gate insulating film that not only provides high insulating properties for the gate insulating film but also takes account of the electric characteristics of a thin film transistor element. A forming agent for a gate insulating film of a thin film transistor characterized by comprising an oligomer compound or a polymer compound including a structural unit containing a pyrimidinetrione ring having a hydroxyalkyl-containing group as a substituent on a nitrogen atom; a gate insulating film formed by the forming agent; and a thin film transistor.

Abstract: There is provided a polyimide precursor which can alter the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the surface of a cured film formed readily even by a low level of ultraviolet ray irradiation; and a polyimide produced from the polyimide precursor. The polyimide precursor having a structure represented by the following formula (1): (where A represents a tetravalent organic group; B represents a bivalent organic group having a thiol ester bond in its main chain; R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a univalent organic group; and n represents a natural number).

Abstract: There is provided a novel composition for forming a gate insulating film taking into consideration also electrical characteristics after other processes such as wiring by irradiation with an ultraviolet ray and the like during the production of an organic transistor using a gate insulating film. A composition for forming a gate insulating film for a thin-film transistor comprising: a component (i): an oligomer compound or a polymer compound containing a repeating unit having a structure in which a nitrogen atom of a triazine-trione ring is bonded to a nitrogen atom of another triazine-trione ring through a hydroxyalkylene group; and a component (ii): a compound having two or more blocked isocyanate groups in one molecule thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a magazine box for removably storing a plurality of disc-storing magazines used in a disc apparatus for feeding a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives; wherein the magazines each include a tray for storing the disc, a case for removably storing the tray, and a first locking mechanism for releasably locking the tray to the case; the magazine box further includes a second locking mechanism for releasably locking the case of each of the plurality of magazines to the magazine box, and the second locking mechanism maintains the locked state at least during the automatic tray-ejection from the case in the disc apparatus is conducted.

Abstract: A copolymer obtained by polymerizing two or more types of monomers, wherein among fractions obtained by dividing an eluate showing peaks relative to the copolymer, in an elution curve obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), into eight fractions in order of fractionation, such that each fraction has the same volume, a difference between a monomer composition ratio of a copolymer contained in a first eluted fraction and a monomer composition ratio of all copolymers is ?3 mol % to +3 mol % in any of the constitutional units derived from the respective monomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toner binder which has high storage stability and can achieve both of good low-temperature fixability and good hot offset resistance (a broadened fixing temperature range). Specifically disclosed is a toner binder comprising, as constituting units, a carboxylic acid component (x) and a polyol component (y), wherein the component (x) comprises two or more kinds of dicarboxylic acids (X1), selected from among aromatic dicarboxylic acids and ester-forming derivatives of the same, in a total amount of 80 mol % or more and a trivalent or higher polycarboxylic acid (x2); the component (y) comprises a polyester resin (P) which is constituted by a polyester resin (A) comprising 80 mol % or more of an aliphatic diol (y1) having 2 to 10 carbon atoms optionally together with a linear polyester resin (B); and the storage modulus at 150° C. [G?150] of resin (A) is 20000 dyn/cm2 or more and the ratio of [G?150] to the storage modulus as 180° C. [G?180] thereof, i.e., [G?150]/[G?180], is 15 of less.

Abstract: The invention provides a precursor composition for forming an amorphous metal oxide semiconductor layer, containing a metal salt, a primary amide, and a water-based solution. An amorphous metal oxide semiconductor layer is formed by use of the composition.

Abstract: There is provided a novel gate insulating film forming material in consideration of not only initial electric properties immediately after the production of a gate insulating film, but also electric properties after other steps are performed while producing a thin-film transistor using the gate insulating film, and even reliability in the electric properties of the produced element. A gate insulating film forming agent for a thin-film transistor comprising an oligomer compound or a polymer compound, both of which contain a repeating unit having a triazinetrione ring containing a hydroxyalkyl-containing group as a substituent on a nitrogen atom, and a solvent; a gate insulating film produced from the gate insulating film forming agent; a thin-film transistor having the gate insulating film; and a method for producing the gate insulating film or thin-film transistor.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to maintain a generation-preventing effect of a relative slip between a disc support surface and a disc member even when dust attaches to a surface of an elastic layer provided on the disc support surface of a turntable, and to suppress a surface deflection when the disc member rotates when the elastic layer is provided on the disc support surface. Provided is a turntable for rotatably supporting a disc member on a disc support surface in a state where the disc member is sandwiched and held between the turntable and a clamp member placed opposite thereto, wherein the disc support surface is provided with an elastic layer having a predetermined width, and configured to project from the disc support surface, and at least one of an outer peripheral part and an inner peripheral part of the elastic layer is provided with a high contact pressure portion of which a contact pressure generated by pressing the clamp member thereto is higher than that of other portion.