Abstract: A fibrous support for immobilizing enzymes and cells is prepared as a roll formed by winding a braid on a tubular frame member. The braid is formed in a tubular shape with a plurality of rovings containing very thin long filaments. The roll is formed by cross-winding of the braid to crush intersecting portions of the tubular braid flat. The roll of braid has an external void ratio of 15 to 30%. The thin long filaments of the tubular braid are obtained by spinning a mixture of polymers to form a plurality of fibers containing a soluble component and an insoluble component, joining the fibers to form a roving, forming a tubular braid from a plurality of the rovings and washing the braid to dissolve out the soluble component to produce separated thin long filaments of the insoluble component.

Abstract: Fine particles including volatile components and combustible non-volatile components are removed from exhaust gas by a method comprising providing at least two paths for the gas each with a filter capable of trapping the particles and conducting a process of trapping the particles and a process of burning the trapped particles separately and alternately in different filters with an apparatus including at least two fine particle trapping apparatus each constituted as a pipe-like structure having its one end connected with a pipe for untreated exhaust gas, its other end connected with a pipe for treated exhaust gas and a filter made of incombustible material and capable of trapping the particles disposed between the two ends, switchover valves for selectively opening and closing the two ends, and heaters for heating the filters to a prescribed temperature.

Abstract: A metal is dissolved by being brought into contact with at least one halogenated hydrocarbon in the presence of a cationic surfactant.

Abstract: A crack shear displacement gage for use in determining the critical load of a composite laminate by providing the laminate with a crack at one end, applying a load to near the center of the laminate, and measuring the shift in the longitudinal direction between the end portions of the laminate above and below the crack. The gage comprises a frame, a fixing member mounted on the frame and having a head for clamping the end portion of the laminate above the crack, a contact for contacting the end face of the end portion below the crack, a spring member for urging the contact against the end face, and a strain gage mounted on the spring member for detecting the strain of the spring member.

Abstract: A sintered article of diamond is obtained by coating the surface of diamond particles with 30 to 0.1% by volume, based on the total volume of the diamond particles and aids, of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the transition metals of Groups 4a, 5a, and 6a in the Periodic Table of Elements and boron and silicon, and sintering the coated diamond particles under conditions of high pressure and high temperature, which sintered article consists of 70 to 99.8% by volume of diamond and 30 to 0.2% by volume of the carbide of the coating substance. A method for the production of the sintered article of diamond is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thiophene derivative polymer comprising repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein R stands for one member selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## and a polymer composition having the polymer doped with an anion and consequently possessing a semiconducting characteristic.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising a photosensitive saponified poly(vinyl acetate) derivative containing in the backbone thereof at least one of a first group of photosensitive units which are represented by the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein represents a vinyl alcohol residue in the backbone of the saponified poly(vinyl acetate) derivative; Y represents a member selected from the group consisting of the following general formulae (II) and (III) ##STR2## m denotes an integer of 1-6; n denotes 0 or 1; R.sub.1 represents a member selected from a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl and an unsubstituted aralkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a carbamoyl group, an ether bond and an unsaturated bond; R.sub.2 represents a member selected from a hydrogen atom and a lower alkyl group; and X.sup.

Abstract: A peptide is disclosed which is represented by the formula:H-X-Gly-Trp-Lys-His-Trp-Val-Tyr-Tyr-Thr-Cys-Cys-Pro-Asp-Thr-Pro-Tyr-Leu-Asp -Y -Zwherein one of X and Y stands for a single bond, an amino acid residue selected from the class consisting of Asp, Glu, Lys and a divalent group represented by the formula, ##STR1## (wherein n stands for an integer in the range of 1 to 17), or a peptide residue formed by peptide linkage of two to ten amino acid residues of at least one species selected from the class mentioned above, the other of X and Y stands for an amino acid residue selected from the class consisting of Asp, Glu, Lys and a divalent group represented by the formula, ##STR2## (wherein n stands for an integer in the range of 1 to 17), or a peptide residue formed by peptide linkage of two to ten amino acid residues of at least one species selected from the class mentioned above and Z stands for a hydroxyl group or an amino group, and two cysteinyl mercapto groups in the Cys-Cys moiety may be interlinked to

Abstract: A visualizing method for three dimensional standing wave sound field comprises the steps of mixing into a liquid medium a large number of fine particles of the same density as said liquid medium and exposing the liquid medium containing the fine aparticles to a three dimensional standing wave sound field produced by ultrasonic waves thus causing the fine particles to move to positions where the amplitude of the sound pressure is minimum, the sound pressure distribution of the three dimensional standing wave sound field being visualized by the distribution of the fine particles.

Abstract: A high-strength low-ductility material is formed by a method which comprises treating a bulk or powder of the material thereby converting coarse grains thereof into hyperfine grains capable of manifesting superplasticity when the strain rate is higher than 5.times.10.sup.-3 s.sup.-1, enclosing the treated material with a metallic insulating member, heating the material to a temperature for manifestation of superplasticity, and forging the material by the use of a die in a state heated to a temperature beyond which the die yields to heat.

Abstract: An X-ray CT scanner comprises a plurality of X-ray generators which are arranged radially on a circle concentric with an object for measurement and each consists of a cathode electrode, an anode electrode constituting a target and a grid between the cathode and anode electrodes. For X-ray tomography, X-rays are projected onto the objects from the circle concentric therewith by sequentially temporarily removing a bias voltage applied to the grids of the respective X-ray generators for suppressing an electron beam directed from the cathode electrode to the anode electrode of each X-ray generator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an InSb device that uses an anodic oxide layer as a structural element, utilizing a voltage-controlled mechanism to control the thickness of the anodic oxide layer formation, and in which the anodization time under an anodization limiting voltage is not less than 10 seconds and not more than 20 minutes.

Abstract: An oxidation-resistant silicon nitride material possessing a surface layer of a phase of closely packed crystals is produced by a procedure which comprises covering the surface of a silicon nitride substrate with a layer of an alkali metal compound, firing the coated substrate at a temperature of between 800.degree. C. and 1,300.degree. C., thereby forming an alkali metal-containing vitreous coating layer on the surface of the silicon nitride substrate, and thereafter removing the coating layer.

Abstract: An oxidation-resistant sialon material and an oxidation-resistant silicon carbide material each containing a phase of closely packed crystals in the surface region are produced by coating a sialon substrate and a silicon carbide substrate with a layer of an alkali metal compound and a layer of a mixture of an alkali metal compound and a carbonaceous substance respectively, firing the resultant coated substrate at a temperature in the range of 800.degree. to 1,300.degree. C. thereby forming an alkali metal-containing vitreous coating layer on each substrate, and thereafter removing the each coating layer.

Abstract: A double-path interferometer comprises first and second polarized beam splitters disposed side by side on a light path from a light source, a half-wave plate interposed between the first and second polarized beam splitters, a cube corner prism, a reflecting mechanism disposed on the light path of the cube corner prism ahead of the two splitters, and a quarter-wave plate for causing a 90-degree rotation of the polarization plane in forward and backward light paths with respect to the reflecting mechanism.

Abstract: A method for the saccharification of a cellulosic material comprises the steps of culturing a microorganism of Acremonium cellulolyticus in a medium containing carbon sources and nitrogen sources, collecting a cellulolytic enzyme from the resultant culture broth, and causing the cellulolytic enzyme to act on the cellulosic material.

Abstract: An expansible macromolecular material is produced by a method which comprises mixing an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution, an acidic aqueous macromolecular electrolyte solution, and a basic aqueous macromolecular electrolyte solution thereby preparing a composite polymer and subjecting this composite polymer to at least one cycle of alternate freezing and defrosting treatments. A macromolecular membrane constituted of said expansible macromolecular material and containing numerous through holes is obtained by mixing, freezing, and defrosting the aforementioned three mixed aqueous solutions under specific conditions.

Abstract: A wave gear drive comprises a rigid gear, a flexible gear engaging at a plurality of bulged regions thereof with the rigid gear, and a wave generator for causing the flexible gear to perform wave motion. The number of gear teeth between adjacent bulged regions differs between the two gears and the relative motion between the two gears is caused by shifting of the engagement regions. The teeth of the two gears are formed to satisfy the conditions that the shapes of imaginary rolling contact plate which performs the same motion as the aforementioned relative motion are determined to correspond to the loci described on planes fixed on the respective teeth by the respective momentary centers of relative tooth motion and that the common normal of the respective teeth at the meshing point passes through the momentary contact point of the rolling contact plates.

Abstract: A moisture-sensitive element is produced by applying an ultraviolet-setting alkali-elution type resist ink on a prescribed part of a cation-exchange membrane, curing and drying the applied layer of the resist ink, chemically plating the cation-exchange membrane thereby forming electrode layers thereon, and thereafter removing the resist ink from the cation-exchange membrane.

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell has a two-layered transparent electrode formed on a transparent substrate, a photoelectric conversion section formed on the transparent electrode, and a back electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion section. The first layer of the transparent electrode is formed on the transparent substrate and is constituted of crystal grains having a large average diameter, while the second layer thereof is formed on the first layer and is constituted of crystal grains having a small average grain diameter. The sharp pointed tips of the coarse crystal grains of the first layer are covered by the fine crystal grains of the second layer so that the side of the transparent electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion section presents a relatively smooth surface with rounded irregularities. Each layer is separately deposited on the respective transparent substrate.