Abstract: A cell cultivating platform includes a substrate having a surface, at least one actuator moveable relative to the substrate, and a deformable material layer positioned above at least a portion of the supporting surface and the at least one actuator. The deformable material layer positioned opposite the substrate surface includes a biocompatible supportive surface suitable for supporting cultivated cells. The supportive surface deforms or otherwise deflects in response to activation of the at least one actuator, effectively releasing at least a portion of the cultured cells from the supportive surface. Suitable actuators include piezoelectric actuators that can be selectively energized according to one or more patterns to facilitate separation of cells from the supportive surface. Such activation cycles can be repeated.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a metalloporphyrin for detecting oxygen levels. The oxygen sensors may also include a light source and a detector. The sensors are configured to measure changes in spectra in response to the redox reaction. They can detect a variety of samples for presence and changes in oxygen concentration in both solution and gaseous form.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal in which the aforementioned rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is doped at a high concentration, and control of quenching and optical transparency are assured thereby; and an optical amplifier, a light control optical element, and luminescent device utilizing the same. The organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is one in which at least one species of rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is dispersed in an organic polymer, with the aforementioned composite containing an optically transparent organic polymer and an inorganic dispersion phase comprising: (1) a rare earth metal and (2) another element coordinated thereto via an oxygen atom(s).

Abstract: A water resistant aluminum pigment dispersion includes an aluminum pigment covered with a silica film, which is dispersed in an aqueous solution containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a copolymer A including a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) or the following formula (2) and a structural unit represented by the following general formula (3), a copolymer B including a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) or the following formula (2) and a structural unit represented by the following general formula (4), and a copolymer C including a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) or the following formula (2) and a structural unit represented by the general formula (5)

Abstract: A method for producing a water-resistant aluminum pigment dispersion includes (a) adding a treatment agent containing a compound of general formula (1) described below to an aluminum pigment dispersion containing aluminum pigment particles dispersed in an organic solvent and reacting a hydroxy group present on a surface of each of the aluminum pigment particles with the compound of general formula (1) described below to form a film on the surface of each aluminum pigment particle, (b) removing at least a portion of the organic solvent, and (c) adding an aqueous solution containing at least one selected from polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate and salts thereof, (wherein p represents an integer of 1 to 3, q represents an integer that satisfies the equation p+q=3, r represents an integer of 2 to 10, R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R3 represents an acrylic group, an acryloyl group, or a methacryloyl group).

Abstract: A metal particle dispersion liquid comprises: a compound including a sulfur atom; metal particles whose diameter ranges from 1 to 100 nm and made of a material including a precious metal material; and a dispersion medium. The metal particles is covered by the compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal in which the aforementioned rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is doped at a high concentration, and control of quenching and optical transparency are assured thereby; and an optical amplifier, a light control optical element, and luminescent device utilizing the same. The organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is one in which at least one species of rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is dispersed in an organic polymer, with the aforementioned composite containing an optically transparent organic polymer and an inorganic dispersion phase comprising: (1) a rare earth metal and (2) another element coordinated thereto via an oxygen atom(s).

Abstract: A metal particle dispersion liquid comprises: a compound including a sulfur atom; metal particles whose diameter ranges from 1 to 100 nm and made of a material including a precious metal material; and a dispersion medium. The metal particles is covered by the compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a homogeneous complex oxide sol comprising Si and a metal other than Si as metal elements, and a method for producing a Si-containing hologram recording material using a homogeneous complex oxide sol. A method for producing a complex oxide sol comprising Si and a metal other than Si as metal elements, the method comprising: mixing a silanol compound with an alkoxide compound of a metal other than Si so that the silanol compound is reacted with the alkoxide compound, thereby yielding a precursor of a complex oxide, and adding water to the complex oxide precursor so as to hydrolyze an alkoxyl group bonded to the metal other than Si, and then making the resulting hydrolysate undergo a condensation reaction, thereby forming a complex oxide. A hologram recording medium (11) having a hologram recording layer (21) comprising the hologram recording material obtained by the production method.

Abstract: A metal particle dispersion liquid comprises: a compound including a sulfur atom; metal particles whose diameter ranges from 1 to 100 nm and made of a material including a precious metal material; and a dispersion medium. The metal particles is covered by the compound.

Abstract: An optical element for controlling light propagation including: transparent material; and inorganic fine particles dispersed in the transparent material, wherein the transparent material and the inorganic fine particles meet at least one of following a) and b): a) a rate of change of a refractive index of the transparent material with temperature and a rate of change of a refractive index of the inorganic fine particles with temperature are opposite in sign; b) a thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material and a thermal expansion coefficient of the inorganic fine particles are opposite in sign.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal in which the aforementioned rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is doped at a high concentration, and control of quenching and optical transparency are assured thereby; and an optical amplifier, a light control optical element, and luminescent device utilizing the same. The organic/inorganic composite containing a rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is one in which at least one species of rare earth metal or/and Period IV transition metal is dispersed in an organic polymer, with the aforementioned composite containing an optically transparent organic polymer and an inorganic dispersion phase comprising: (1) a rare earth metal and (2) another element coordinated thereto via an oxygen atom(s).

Abstract: A metal particle dispersion liquid compries: a compound including a sulfur atom; metal particles whose diameter ranges from 1 to 100 nm and made of a material including a precious metal material; and a dispersion medium. The metal particles is covered by the compound.

Abstract: An oxide composite particle of the present invention is composed of at least one fine gold particle contained in a matrix of an oxide particle or at least one fine gold particle supported fixedly on the surface of an oxide particle, and absorbs a visible light having a specific wavelength. A phosphor of the invention has a thin film which is composed of such oxide composite particles on the surface of a phosphor particle of red or the like. The phosphor can be obtained by mixing phosphor particles into a dispersion of gold colloid/oxide composite particles, agitating the resultant mixture, and taking out the precipitated phosphor particles, followed by drying. Further, in a color filter of the invention, a filter layer of at least one color formed on an inner surface of a panel is a thin film composed of the above-described oxide composite particles.

Abstract: An optical element for controlling light propagation including: transparent material; and inorganic fine particles dispersed in the transparent material, wherein the transparent material and the inorganic fine particles meet at least one of following a) and b): a) a rate of change of a refractive index of the transparent material with temperature and a rate of change of a refractive index of the inorganic fine particles with temperature are opposite in sign; b) a thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent material and a thermal expansion coefficient of the inorganic fine particles are opposite in sign.

Abstract: An oxide composite particle of the present invention is composed of at least one fine gold particle contained in a matrix of an oxide particle or at least one fine gold particle supported fixedly on the surface of an oxide particle, and absorbs a visible light having a specific wavelength. A phosphor of the invention has a thin film which is composed of such oxide composite particles on the surface of a phosphor particle of red or the like. The phosphor can be obtained by mixing phosphor particles into a dispersion of gold colloid/oxide composite particles, agitating the resultant mixture, and taking out the precipitated phosphor particles, followed by drying. Further, in a color filter of the invention, a filter layer of at least one color formed on an inner surface of a panel is a thin film composed of the above-described oxide composite particles.

Abstract: An element having certain superior piezoelectric characteristics at all times and of which process control in production of the element is relatively easy. In a piezoelectric element in which electrodes 6, 8 are arranged on both face sides of a piezoelectric film 7 respectively, the piezoelectric film is provided with an oxide layer 7a containing 0 or not more than 15 weight percent of Pb arranged on a face of the piezoelectric film, the face being in contact with the electrode, and the oxide layer being formed of a composite oxide expressed by a chemical formula ABO3 or of a solid solution of one or not less than two kinds of composite oxides respectively expressed by the chemical formula ABO3.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element capable of improving piezoelectric characteristics of a piezoelectric film is provided, and performance and durability of an ink-jet printer head are improved. A piezoelectric film 7 sandwiched between a lower electrode 6 and an upper electrode 8 is formed of PZT expressed by a chemical formula, Pb(Zr1—xTix)O3 (0.3≦x≦0.9) or formed of a material mainly composed of PZT, and concentration ratio of titanium to zirconium in the piezoelectric film is gradually increased or gradually decreased from upper electrode side to lower electrode side.

Abstract: Provided are a piezoelectric element by which a pressure of a better displacement is obtained, a process for producing the same and an ink jet recording head having the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Provided are a piezoelectric element by which a pressure of a better displacement is obtained, a process for producing the same and an ink jet recording head having the piezoelectric element. A piezoelectric element comprising a substrate (2), a lower electrode (3) formed on the substrate (2), piezoelectric film (7)[(4)(5)(6)] each containing Pb (Zr1-x Tix)O3 (0<x<1) and a valence compensation-type perovskite represented by formula Pb(A1/3 B2/3)O3 (wherein A and B each represent a valence compensation-type perovskite) as basic components formed on the lower electrode (3), and an upper electrode (8) formed on the piezoelectric film (7). In the piezoelectric film, the concentration of A and/or B is changed in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric film, and the maximum value of the concentration of A and/or B is shown in a region within 60% from the upper electrode side in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric film. It is suited for an ink jet recording head.