Abstract: To provide a disposable diaper enabling reduction in re-wet amount and having an excellent speed of incorporating liquid regardless of concentration and configuration of a water-absorbing agent in an absorbent material. A water-absorbing agent having excellent Gel Capillary Absorption (GCA) and Free Gel Bed Permeability (FGBP) is obtained by crushing a crosslinked hydrogel polymer obtained in a polymerization step to have a specific weight average particle diameter while fluid retention capacity and a surface tension of a water-absorbing agent are adjusted in a specific range, drying the crushed crosslinked hydrogel polymer, and then adding a liquid permeability enhancer thereto during surface crosslinking or after surface crosslinking.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when a computer has been locked, a password for unlocking the computer can be acquired while maintaining a high security level. The invention provides a locking system and a locking method for the same, the locking system comprising a portable device, which includes first storage means (103) for storing a first authentication code, a first control section (101) for generating a rolling value and for creating an ID code by using the rolling value and the first authentication code, and transmitting means (105) for transmitting the ID code, and a computer, which includes second storage means (203) for storing a second authentication code, receiving means (254) for receiving the ID code, and second control means (201) for recovering the rolling value and the first authentication code from the ID code, creating a spare code by using the second authentication code and the recovered rolling value, and storing the spare code.

Abstract: An amorphous sialic acid powder is disclosed. It is prepared by rapidly freezing an aqueous solution of sialic acids and freeze-drying the frozen product. It has a melting point of 131.degree.-136.degree. C. (decomposed) and exhibits no peaks inherent to crystals in differential scanning thermal analysis (at 165.degree.-200.degree. C.) and X-ray diffractiometric pattern (in the range of 5.degree..ltoreq.2.theta..ltoreq.40.degree.). The amorphous sialic acid powder is highly reactive and can be used as a raw material for drugs and the like.

Abstract: A lactulose syrup suitable for use in the production of foods and drugs is produced by the alkali isomerization of lactose. Elimination of monosaccharides formed in the reaction mixture, such as galactose, is conducted by passing the reaction mixture through a column packed with beads of a strongly-acidic chromatographic cation-exchange resin, said beads having substantially the same crosslinking degree, and then collecting lactulose-containing eluate fractions. This process is suitable for the industrial production of a high-purity lactulose syrup.