Abstract: A plant metabolism regulating agent comprising as an active ingredient an alpha,beta or beta,gamma-un-saturated carboxylic acid or its derivative. It is useful for controlling the metabolism of a plant, facilitating the growth of a beneficial plant such as cereals by inhibiting the growth of undesirable plants or eradicating them, regulating the growth of a plant and dwarfing a plant.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A novel phenoxycarboxylic acid of formula (I) is disclosed. The compound is effective as herbicide for eradicating broad-leaved weeds. A combination of the phenoxycarboxylic acid and a N-phosphonomethylglycine or a glufosinate which is known as a herbicide is very effective for eradicating both broad-leaved weeds and narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: An organo-phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3 or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms; Z represents CH or N; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 l and R.sup.3 l are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and n is zero or 1. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A phenoxyacetic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X represents a halogen atom or CF.sub.3, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group, a benzyl group, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SCH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH(CH.sub.3)OH, --CH.sub.2 SH, --CH.sub.2 COOCH.sub.3, ##STR2## or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together may form --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(OH)--, and n is 0, 1 or 2, or a salt at the carboxyl group of the phenoxyacetic acid of the above formula in which R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A plant growth promoter comprising as an active ingredient for plant growth promotion at least one phenylglycine selected from the group consisting of(1) monomeric phenylglycines,(2) N-phenylglycylphenylglycines, and(3) cyclic dimers of phenylglycines.

Abstract: A module comprising a plurality of members for obtaining a gas having a specified gas concentrated therein from a mixture of at least two gases, each of said members comprising (a) a solid support plate and (b) a composite film comprised of a porous sheet-like material and one or a plurality of ultrathin solid membranes supported on the porous sheet-like material with a thickness of about 50 to about 5000 .ANG..

Abstract: A phenoxyalkanoylaminomethylphosphonic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3 or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, Z represents CH or N, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially narrow-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A benzoylaminoalkylphosphonic acid represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X and Y are identical or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, CF.sub.3, or an alkyl group having not more than 5 carbon atoms, Z is CH or N, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The compound is useful, as a herbicide, for eradicating weeds, especially broad-leaved weeds.

Abstract: A heat-and-moisture exchanger including a thin film-like porous material as a partitioning element for heat and moisture exchanges between two gases, said porous material containing numerous pores having an average diameter of not more than 5 microns and opened to both surfaces thereof, and having a thickness of not more than 500 microns, a specific surface area of at least 0.3 m.sup.2 /g, and a gas permeability having a value of at least 50 seconds/100 cc. This heat-and-moisture exchanger is used in a ventilating device and an air-conditioner.

Abstract: A process for producing ultrathin solid membranes from a solvent solution of an addition polymer derived from an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer or a conjugated unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer in a solvent composed mainly of a volatile, substantially water-immiscible organic liquid medium capable of dissolving the addition polymer and another organic compound having a distribution coefficient k, which is the ratio of the concentration of the other organic compound in the organic liquid medium to that in water, of from 0.5 to 35. The solvent satisfies the equationc.sub.1 -(a.sub.1 +b.sub.1).gtoreq.25wherein c.sub.1 is the surface tension (dynes/cm) of water, a.sub.1 is the surface tension (dynes/cm) of the solution of the addition polymer in the solvent, and b.sub.1 is the interfacial tension (dynes/cm) between the solvent solution and water.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte having high electron conductivity and high oxide ion conductivity, which is composed of a sintered body consisting substantially of (a) an oxide of cobalt, (b) an oxide of at least one metal selected from strontium and lanthanum, and (c) an oxide of at least one metal selected from bismuth and cerium. This solid electrolyte is useful for selectively separating oxygen from a gaseous atmosphere having a high oxygen partial pressure into a gaseous atmosphere having a low oxygen partial pressure.

Abstract: A novel composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an aromatic polyester, 5 to 150 parts by weight of powdery feldspar and optionally 5 to 120 parts by weight of a plate-like inorganic filler such as glass flakes and/or 1 to 100 parts by weight of a rubbery elastomer such as acrylic rubber. Up to a half of the powdery feldspar may be replaced by another pulverulent inorganic filler such as talc. The composition is useful as engineering plastics because it gives molded articles having high impact strength and heat distortion temperatures and reduced warping.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a linear polyester having a high degree of polymerization which comprises first preparing a prepolymer of polyester and then polycondensing the prepolymer. In the first step, a prepolymer having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.2 is prepared, and the subsequent polycondensation is carried out in the presence of an organic boron compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and M represents a monovalent metal. According to this method, the polycondensation can be performed at atmospheric pressure, and a substantially linear polyester having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.5 and superior thermal stability can be obtained rapidly.