Abstract: A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition has minimal temperature dependency of the natural pitch and temperature dependency of the wavelength selective reflection and low temperature storage stability thereof is excellent. A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition with a broad liquid crystal temperature range is used in a bistable liquid crystal display element, and a bistable liquid crystal display element comprising the liquid crystal composition. The chiral nematic liquid crystal composition comprises optically active compounds represented by general formula (I-a) and general formula (II-a): R2P1-L1SP2-L2-P3—R3??(II-a) wherein the general formula (II-a) has the same helical twisting direction as the general formula (I-a), and shows a positive temperature dependency for the natural pitch, and a HTP value of at least 3. A bistable liquid crystal display element comprises the liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: The treatment of spirulina by a process which includes placing spirulina that has not been previously heat-sterilized, lactic acid bacteria and sugar in water, then culturing the lactic acid bacteria provides treated spirulina in which the distinctive taste and odor of spirulina are minimized, in which active ingredients such as phycocyanin remain intact, and which contains a reduced level of bacteria other than lactic acid bacteria.

Abstract: A method of increasing helical twisting power (HTP) in an optically active compound used in a liquid crystal material is provided. An optically active compound which exhibits a large HTP value is also provided. Furthermore, a liquid crystal composition which exhibits a high upper temperature limit of the liquid crystal after the addition of the optically active compound, and a liquid crystal display device using the same are provided. In a method, an HTP of a compound having a partial structure represented by formula (A), which has an asymmetric carbon atom, is increased by replacing the partial structure represented by formula (A) by a partial structure represented by formula (B) (wherein * represents the position of an asymmetric carbon atom, Y1 represents a substituent such as an alkyl group and a halogen).

Abstract: Concave grooves for forming a receiving layer for inkjet printing are provided at the inner peripheral and outer peripheral boundary portions of an application region on a disk substrate. The concave grooves are formed with a substantially V-shaped cross section, and with a depth d that is at least equal to the film thickness of the coating film within a central region between the concave grooves. A plurality of nozzles of a supply device is arrayed in a radial direction across the central region between the concave grooves, and a substantially constant quantity of coating liquid per unit of surface area is applied so as to form a coating film of a predetermined thickness. The applied coating liquid portions are flattened by a mutual leveling effect.

Abstract: In the technical field where a difunctional epoxy resin having increased molecular weight is used to impart flexibility or improving dielectric properties, the present invention has remarkably improved moisture resistance and water resistance when used to produce a cured epoxy resin article. The epoxy resin composition comprises a difunctional epoxy resin (A) having a structure wherein an aromatic hydrocarbon group (a1) having a bonding site in an aromatic nucleus and a hydrocarbon group (a2) having an ether bond or the other hydrocarbon group (a3) are bonded via an acetal bond (a4), and also has a structure wherein a glycidyloxy group is bonded to the aromatic hydrocarbon group (a1); and a curing agent (B) as essential component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing sporangia of Bacillus popilliae containing spores and parasporal bodies in large numbers per unit volume of medium. In a process for producing sporangia of Bacillus popilliae containing spores and parasporal bodies by culturing Bacillus popilliae in a liquid medium containing an adsorbent, the liquid medium contains 0.1–0.7% by weight of proline.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition includes at least one of liquid crystal compounds containing a trans-4-trifluoromethoxycyclohexyl group in a backbone, in which the number of an intramolecular cyclohexane ring is 2 to 4; at least one of compounds in which ?? is less than 1 in absolute value; and at least one selected from liquid crystal compounds containing a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2, 6-diyl group in a backbone, in which ?? is 1 or more in absolute value, and a liquid crystal compound in which the number of a six-membered ring is 2 to 4, and ?? is 1 or more in absolute value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal compound which has negative dielectric anisotropy and a large absolute value thereof; and a liquid crystal display element which contains the compound as a constituent element and has a negative value of dielectric anisotropy in the vertical alignment mode, IPS, or the like. The liquid-crystal display element has a structure including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween, and includes at least an alignment control layer, a transparent electrode, and a polarizing plate, in which the liquid crystal includes at least one compound having a partial structure represented by general formula (A): (wherein W1 and W2 each independently represents fluorine, chlorine, —CF3, —CF2H, —OCF3, or —OCF2H) and has negative dielectric anistropy.

Abstract: The present invention provides 1,7,8-trifluoro-2-naphthol and a derivative thereof as intermediates for efficiently producing a trifluoronaphthalene liquid crystal material. A method for efficiently producing a trifluoronaphthalene liquid crystal material using such intermediates is also disclosed. A naphthol derivative having the following general formula (I) is disclosed. A method for producing a trifluoronaphthalene compound having the following general formula (IV), (VI) or (VIII) using the naphthol derivative as a raw material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A quinolinone derivative pharmaceutical composition comprising a quinolinone derivative represented by the structural formula (I): wherein the quinolinone derivative is in the form of particles, which have an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 10 ?m and such a particle size distribution that particles having a particle diameter of 15 ?m or less account for 90% or more of the totality of the particles, and also have a fusion enthalpy of 30 J/g or more, and the surface of the particles are coated with a water-soluble composition containing a water-soluble polymer, can quickly dissolve an active ingredient in the digestive tract and is also superior in long-term storage stability.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing fuel cell bipolar plates involves heating and softening a nonwoven fabric including an electrically conductive powder and thermoplastic resin fibers of 0.1 to 20 ?m diameter, and shaping the softened nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A novel compound represented by the general formula (I), and a nematic liquid crystal composition incorporating the same. A compound represented by the general formula (I) can be produced industrially extremely easily, as shown in the examples, displays superior compatibility with current general purpose host liquid crystals as a nematic phase, and also shows little crystal precipitation at low temperatures. Moreover, by addition of a small amount of such a compound to a host liquid crystal, the liquid crystal temperature range at low temperatures can be effectively widened without any significant worsening of the various characteristics of the liquid crystal material. Consequently, a compound of the present invention is an extremely useful liquid crystal material which is suitable for various liquid crystal display elements which require a broad operating temperature range.

Abstract: A styrene resin composition is provided which has a high molecular weight enabling a molded product obtained therefrom to have satisfactory strength, has a high melt mass-flow rate, high melt tension, and hence excellent moldability, and is less apt to gel during production, and a process for producing such a styrene resin composition. The styrene resin composition comprises a linear polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 to 350,000 and a multibranched polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000, has an average molecular weight of 250,000 to 700,000, and a melt mass-flow rate (MFR) and melt tension (MT) which satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2) respectively: MFR?45×exp(?0.1×Mw×10?4)??(1) MT?0.07Mw×10?4+1.8.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resol-type phenol resin composition which can be cured even in a low temperature range, using a curing accelerator which has no adverse effect on other materials or substances with which the resulting cured article is in contact, or a curing accelerator which requires a small amount of an additive. The composition comprises a resol-type phenol resin (A), an alkali earth metal oxide and/or an alkali earth metal hydroxide (B) (e.g. magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, etc.), and a salt (C) of a sulfur atom-containing oxo acid and a nitrogen atom-containing base (e.g. ammonium thiosulfate, etc.). This composition is cured at 10 to 110° C.

Abstract: Through screening using an antibody to a polypeptide that constitutes a parasporal body in sporangia of Bacillus popilliae and has a larvae growth inhibiting or insecticidal effect on a Scarabaeidae insect and through polymerase chain reaction, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptide and polypeptides similar thereto are isolated.

Abstract: Through screening using an antibody to a polypeptide that constitutes a parasporal body in sporangia of Bacillus popilliae and has a larvae growth inhibiting or insecticidal effect on a Scarabaeidae insect and through polymerase chain reaction, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptide and polypeptides similar thereto are isolated.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyurethane foam sheet, and a laminated sheet that uses such a foam sheet, that can be applied to artificial leather, synthetic leather, and cushioning materials used in all manner of applications. A polyurethane foam sheet is produced by applying a liquid mixture, obtained by mixing together a heated and melted hot melt urethane prepolymer (A) containing isocyanate groups at molecular terminals, and a compound (B) containing at least 2 active hydrogen atom-containing groups, onto a substrate in a sheet-like manner, and then water foaming the liquid mixture by bringing the sheet-like liquid mixture into contact with water vapor or moisture (water). A laminated sheet is produced by bonding a third substrate to the polyurethane foam sheet.

Abstract: An ultraviolet-curable white ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which has good dispersibility and good redispersibility and has excellent ejection stability, and provides excellent visibility of printed matter having a base material which forms a black or dark background. In an ultraviolet-curable ink composition for ink jet recording comprising titanium oxide, a polymeric dispersant having a basic functional group, a photopolymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, the titanium oxide is surface-treated with silica and alumina and the weight of the silica, which coexists with the titanium oxide, is larger than that of the alumina.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic transfer film which has a transfer layer capable of forming a cured resin layer having excellent surface properties on a hydraulic transfer body and is less likely to cause blocking, a method for producing a hydraulic transfer film, capable of forming a clear decorative layer on a curable resin layer, and a method for producing a hydraulic transfer body having excellent surface properties and a clear pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable unsaturated resin composition, which has less odor characteristics and high safety and is also superior in thin film coating characteristics in a coating film. The curable unsaturated resin composition contains a polymerizable unsaturated resin (A) having two or more polymerizable unsaturated double bonds in a molecule, a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate (B), and an unsaturated compound (C) having one or more cyclohexene rings and two or more allyl ether groups in a molecule, which is liquid at normal temperature.