Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the content of a metal catalyst in a biodegradable and absorbable polymer that can be applied on an industrial scale and a method for producing a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer having a metal catalyst content of less than 1 ppm in terms of a metal. The method includes the steps of (1) copolymerizing lactide and ?-caprolactone at a molar ratio ranging from 40/60 to 60/40 or 65/35 to 85/15 in the presence of the metal catalyst to produce a copolymer; and (2) washing the copolymer with a mixed solvent comprising acetic acid and isopropanol at a volume ratio ranging from 25/75 to 45/55 or 45/55 to 55/45 at less than 40° C., and drying the copolymer.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a touch switch that enables reduction in the low-sensitivity region where the contact by fingers cannot be detected. The touch switch of the present invention comprises an insulating layer; sensor electrodes as a plurality of first electrodes provided on one surface of the insulating layer; a plurality of wire portions provided on one surface of the insulating layer, individually connected to the sensor electrodes; and auxiliary electrodes as a plurality of second electrodes provided on the other surface of the insulating layer, each auxiliary electrode being provided in a portion opposite each sensor electrode, wherein a boundary of adjacent auxiliary electrodes is provided in a region between adjacent sensor electrodes.

Abstract: There is provided a biosensor which includes: a substrate formed of an insulator; a set of electrodes provided on the substrate; a reaction part provided on the set of electrodes; a supply port for introducing blood (a specimen) to the reaction part; an attachment part for connecting the set of electrodes to a terminal of a measurement display; and a picking plate having a picking part to be picked up, the picking plate extending to a side opposite from the attachment part with respect to the reaction part and being bent in a cross-sectional direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

Abstract: A sliding cable is provided that basically includes a cable main body and a mesh structural body. The cable main body is made of a plurality of steel wires bundled together. The mesh structural body is arranged on an outer surface of the cable main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the content of a metal catalyst in a biodegradable and absorbable polymer that can be applied on an industrial scale and a method for producing a biodegradable and bioabsorbable polymer having a metal catalyst content of less than 1 ppm in terms of a metal. The method includes the steps of (1) copolymerizing lactide and ?-caprolactone at a molar ratio ranging from 40/60 to 60/40 or 65/35 to 85/15 in the presence of the metal catalyst to produce a copolymer; and (2) washing the copolymer with a mixed solvent comprising acetic acid and isopropanol at a volume ratio ranging from 25/75 to 45/55 or 45/55 to 55/45 at less than 40° C., and drying the copolymer.

Abstract: The scaffold for culturing a cardiovascular tissue of the present invention is a scaffold for culturing a cardiovascular tissue, which is tubular, and comprises a foamed polymer comprising a bioabsorbable material reinforced with a reinforcing material comprising a bioabsorbable material, the foamed polymer comprising lactide (D, L, DL isomer)-?-caprolactone copolymer containing lactide (D, L, DL isomer) in a content of 50 to 54 mole % and ?-caprolactone in a content of 50 to 46 mole %, and the reinforcing material being covered with the foamed polymer.

Abstract: A multilayer stretched film with barrier property that is free from deterioration of barrier properties attributable to dimensional change caused by moisture absorption, and bending, etc. A multilayer stretched film with barrier property obtained by biaxially stretching a multilayer laminate including at least three layers, namely, a polyester-based resin layer (Layer A), a polyamide-based resin layer (Layer B), and a polyester-based resin layer (Layer A), in this order (wherein the two Layers A may be the same or different) to obtain a biaxially stretched multilayer film; and providing a deposition layer (Layer C) on at least one surface of the biaxially stretched multilayer film; both of the Layers A containing a crystalline polyester; Layer B containing 70 to 99 wt % of aliphatic polyamide and 1 to 30 wt % of aromatic polyamide; and Layer C containing an inorganic substance.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer belt for image-forming devices and a method for producing the intermediate transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt having excellent image transfer to rough paper and resistance to abrasion and being free from problems such as filming, by forming a surface layer that has excellent resistance to abrasion and in which defects such as pinholes are not likely to occur even when the surface layer is thinned.

Abstract: A transparent touch panel comprises a transparent first substrate (110) and a second substrate (130) that each has a transparent electro-conductive layer (111, 131) on one surface and that are arranged with a predetermined interval between each other such that the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) are facing each other. Each of the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) has a pair of electrodes (112, 112) and (132, 132) disposed on each end. Lead-out terminals (114, 114) and (134, 134) are connected to each electrode (112, 132) through surrounding circuits (113, 133) formed on the peripheral edges of the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130). Lead-out terminals (114, 134) are arranged on each of the opposing surfaces of the transparent first substrate (110) and of the transparent second substrate (130), and a plurality of holding members (80, 80), (81, 81) for holding the edges of the transparent first substrate (110) is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a high-quality nonconductive or semi-conductive seamless (jointless) tubular polyimide film in a simple, efficient, and economical manner, and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to an electrically non-conductive or electrically semi-conductive seamless tubular polyimide film comprising polyimide having at least two aromatic tetracarboxylic acid derivatives comprising 15 to 55 mol % of asymmetric aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component and 85 to 45 mol % of symmetric aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component and at least one aromatic diamine component, in which, as required, a specific amount of carbon black is dispersed, and relates to a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution composition that utilizes carbon black excelling in safety and environmental adaptability and excels in the dispersion stability and fluidity of carbon black dispersed in polyamic acid solution, and that realizes high solid content and high carbon black content. An intermediate transfer belt of polyimide, which produces a transfer image of high quality in a color image-forming apparatus, produced from the polyamic acid solution composition. In particular, a carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution composition containing a polyamic acid solution obtained by reaction of approximately equimolar amounts of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and an aromatic diamine, and containing a carbon black of 2 to 6% volatile content produced by oil furnace process, wherein the solid content of the solution composition is 23 wt. % or more and wherein the carbon black content of the solid is in the range of 20 to 30 wt. %.

Abstract: A freely cuttable garment is provided. The freely cuttable garment is capable of being cut by a consumer into any design shape for use. The garment is formed of a fray-preventing knitted fabric woven with heat-welding elastic yarn. Sizes of opening parts of the neck, side, and bottom of the garment are smaller than those of a standard product; a total length and sleeve length of the garment are larger than those of the standard product; and a body width, cuff, waist, and lower bottom edge of the garment are equal to those of the standard product. The garment can be cut into any design shape and can be used with the opening parts left cut-off.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging that is free from blocking in a Layer (C), and that has an excellent adherence to processed meat or like packaged food. The present invention provides a multilayered polyamide-based tube for food packaging comprising a Layer (A), a Layer (B) and a Layer (C); the multilayered polyamide-based tube having a low-temperature shrinkage ratio of 2 to 10%, and exhibiting heat shrinkage properties and gas barrier properties; the Layer (A) containing a polyamide-based resin; the Layer (B) containing a polyolefin-based resin; and the Layer (C) that comes in contact with the packaged food, the Layer (C) being a Layer (C-1) that contains a polypropylene-based resin having a heat distortion temperature (ISO 75B-1 or ISO 75B-2) of not less than 60° C. and a Vicat softening point of not less than 120° C.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for hydrophilic treatment of cellulose fibers that can prevent coloring or decrease in fiber strength. The hydrophilic treatment method comprises a first oxidation step of oxidizing cellulose fibers in a first reaction solution containing an N-oxyl compound and a re-oxidizing agent for the N-oxyl compound; and a second oxidation step of oxidizing oxycellulose fibers obtained in the first oxidation step in a second reaction solution containing an oxidizing agent for oxidizing aldehyde groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material suitable for use in automatic suturing devices that are widely used in surgical operations, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tubular suture reinforcement material with which a tubular shape is easily obtained to thereby increase its productivity, and removal of thread is easily achieved. The present invention provides a tubular suture reinforcement material for an automatic suturing device formed by stacking two sheet-like materials and sewing together both ends of the two sheet-like materials using two chain stitches (intralooping stitches) each thread end at each sewing end is suitably extended, and the thread end is passed through an anterior loop continuous to the thread end, thereby preventing the thread from unraveling.

Abstract: The invention resides in enabling biodegradable filament of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and the like to manufacture biodegradable micro-filament by simple and convenient means without needing special, high-accuracy and high-level apparatus; it is characterized in that highly molecular oriented micro-filament those of 12 ?m or less and generally from 2 ?m to 3 ?m can be obtained by heating biodegradable filament by infrared beam and the heated original filament is drawn to 100 times or more by tension of 10 MPa or less.

Abstract: A polyurethane elastomeric filament-containing weft knit fabric is obtained by plating a bare yarn of highly fusible, alkali-resistant polyurethane elastomeric filament having at least 50% retention of tenacity following dry heat treatment under 100% extension at 150° C. for 45 seconds, a melting point of 180° C. or below, and at least 60% retention of tenacity following treatment in a 2 g/L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution under 100% extension at 100° C. for 60 minutes at every loop of a weft knit fabric having a 1×1 rib knit structure or a center yarn-containing reversible knit structure composed of at least one type of non-elastomeric yarn, then heat setting the plated structure so as to thermally fuse the highly fusible, alkali-resistant polyurethane elastomeric filaments to each other or to the non-elastomeric yarns at crossover points therebetween.

Abstract: A primary object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer heat-shrinkable styrene-based film that makes it possible, even when the film is transparent, to confirm that the film is correctly applied on a drink bottle and the like as a label. The present invention provides a heat-shrinkable styrene-based film having at least one layer containing a styrene-based resin containing a copolymer b1 of 98 to 40% by weight vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and 2 to 60% by weight aliphatic unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and/or a block copolymer b2 of 70 to 85% by weight vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and 15 to 30% by weight conjugated diene hydrocarbon, and a fluorescent brightening agent in an amount of 100 to 2,000 weight ppm with respect to the total weight of the styrene-based resin. The present invention also provides a heat-shrinkable film having a three-layer structure containing front and back layers and a core layer, wherein the above-mentioned copolymer b1 and/or copolymer b2 forms the core layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic wave shielding material that has high electromagnetic wave shielding effects, excellent transparency, and excellent see-through property, and a simple and inexpensive production process for the electromagnetic wave shielding material. Specifically, the present invention provides a process for producing an electromagnetic wave shielding material, the process comprising screen-printing in a geometric pattern a conductive paste containing a particulate silver oxide, a tertiary fatty acid silver salt, and a solvent, onto a transparent porous layer surface of a transparent resin substrate having a transparent porous layer containing as a main component at least one member selected from the group consisting of oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics, and metals; and performing heat treatment to form a conductive region with a geometric pattern on the transparent porous layer surface; and an electromagnetic wave shielding material produced by the production process.

Abstract: A multilayer stretched film with barrier property that is free from deterioration of barrier properties attributable to dimensional change caused by moisture absorption, and bending, etc. A multilayer stretched film with barrier property obtained by biaxially stretching a multilayer laminate including at least three layers, namely, a polyester-based resin layer (Layer A), a polyamide-based resin layer (Layer B), and a polyester-based resin layer (Layer A), in this order (wherein the two Layers A may be the same or different) to obtain a biaxially stretched multilayer film; and providing a deposition layer (Layer C) on at least one surface of the biaxially stretched multilayer film; both of the Layers A containing a crystalline polyester; Layer B containing 70 to 99 wt % of aliphatic polyamide and 1 to 30 wt % of aromatic polyamide; and Layer C containing an inorganic substance.