Abstract: The invention provides a dispersion of particles of rutile titanium oxide wherein the particles of rutile titanium oxide have a D50 in a range of 1 to 15 nm and a D90 of 40 nm or less in particle size distribution as determined by a dynamic light scattering method; a specific surface area in a range of 120 to 180 m2/g as determined by a BET method; and a rate of weight loss of 5% or less as obtained by heating the particles of rutile titanium oxide from 105° C. to 900° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an aqueous dispersion of zirconium oxide comprising: reacting a zirconium salt with an alkali in water to obtain a slurry of particles of zirconium oxide; filtering, washing, and repulping the slurry; adding an organic acid to the resulting slurry in an amount of one mole part or more per mole part of the zirconium in the slurry; hydrothermally treating the resulting mixture at a temperature of 170° C. or higher; and washing the resulting aqueous dispersion of particles of zirconium oxide. The invention also provides a process for producing an aqueous dispersion of solid solution of zirconium oxide containing at least one stabilizing element selected from aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and rare earth elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispersion of zirconium oxide having a content as high as 20% by weight or more, but a low viscosity, and having a high transparency, which has a transmittance of 35% or more at a wave length of 400 nm, a transmittance of 95% or more at a wave length of 800 nm, and a viscosity of 20 mPa·s or less at a temperature of 25° C. Such a dispersion of zirconium oxide can be obtained by reacting a zirconium salt with an alkali in water to obtain a slurry of particles of zirconium oxide; filtering, washing, and repulping the slurry; adding an organic acid to the resulting slurry in an amount of one mole part or more per mole part of the zirconium in the slurry; hydrothermally treating the slurry at a temperature of 170° C. or higher; and washing and concentrating the resulting aqueous dispersion of particles of zirconium oxide.

Abstract: A computer (30) obtains a facial image acquired by picking up an image of a person subjected to image pickup from a camera (10), and estimates a facial expression of the person subjected to image pickup based on the obtained facial image. Next, the computer obtains an eye open level of the person subjected to image pickup based on the facial image, and sets a threshold of the eye open level based on the estimated facial expression of the person subjected to image pickup. When the eye open level exceeds the threshold, the computer (30) determines that the eye of the person subjected to image pickup is opened. Moreover, when the eye open level does not exceed the threshold, the computer determines that the eye of the person subjected to image pickup is closed.

Abstract: An eyelid opening level determination device includes a face image taking unit; an upper eyelid detection unit for detecting an upper eyelid in the face image; a lower eyelid area setting unit for setting an area for searching a lower eyelid based on the upper eyelid; an edge group detecting unit for detecting an edge group where brightness changes from dark to bright as a lower eyelid candidate by scanning the area from an upper side to a lower side; a reliability value obtaining unit for obtaining a reliability value of the edge group; a lower eyelid determination unit in which the edge group having the reliability value exceeding a predetermined value in the edge group is determined to be the lower eyelid; and an eyelid opening level obtaining unit for obtaining opening level of the eyelid based on positions for the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid.