Abstract: A process for preparing olefinic living polymers having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1 to 1.3, comprising polymerizing an olefinic monomer having 2 to 20 carbon atoms at low temperatures in the presence of a catalyst comprising (A) a hafnium or zirconium-containing compound having one or two cyclopentadienyl backbones, (B) a triphenyl boron compound or a tetraphenyl borate compound and optionally (C) a specific mono-, di- or trialkylaluminum compound. When the catalyst comprising the zirconium-containing compound is prepared by further using a titanium-containing compound (D), the polymerization temperature can be raised.

Abstract: A butadiene polymer (i) having a cis bond unit content of at least 50% based on the total butadiene units, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 1,000 to 10,000,000, and at least 80%, based on the total molecular chains, of living chains containing a transition metal of group IV of the Periodic table at a terminal thereof; a polymer (ii) obtained by modifying terminals of the polymer (i); and a polymer (iii) obtained by coupling the polymers (i). These polymers (i), (ii) and (iii) are obtained by polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer alone or with a copolymerizable monomer at a specific temperature in the presence of a catalyst comprising a compound (A) of a transition metal of group IV of the periodic table having a cyclopentadienyl structure and a co-catalyst (B) selected from organoaluminum-oxy compound (a) and others and optionally further by contacting the resultant polymer with a terminal modifier or a coupling agent.

Abstract: It is detected whether an automobile is running in a direction departing from a traffic lane, has already departed from the lane, or is running in a direction recovering from departure, by mounting on the automobile a steering angle detecting device for detecting an actual steering angle based on steering wheel operation of a driver, a television camera for taking pictures of the lane and a computer for processing the pictures taken by the television camera. The television camera is used to take pictures of markers on the lane while the automobile is running on the lane, and video signals are input into the computer.

Abstract: A tool for grinding and polishing diamond and a method for polishing diamond in which a single crystal diamond, a diamond thin film, a sintered diamond compact and the like can be polished at low temperatures without causing cracks, fractures or degradation in quality therein. The tool and method provide a polishing operation which is easy to accomplish, provides stable polishing quality, and provides decreased costs while maintaining stable grinder performance. The grinder is formed of a main component which is an intermetallic compound consisting of one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt and one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. The diamond polishing method includes pushing the above stated grinder against the diamond, and rotating or moving the grinder relative to the diamond while keeping the portion of the diamond subjected to polishing at room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the Schizochytrium genus SR21 strain and a microorganism belonging to the same species as does said SR21 strain or having substantially the same fungological properties as does said SR21 strain, the said SR21 strain and microorganism having the ability to produce the (n-3) series of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the (n-6) series of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and the invention also relates to a process for preparing the (n-3) series of DHA and the (n-6) series of DPA utilizing said microorganisms. The microorganisms according to the present invention are superior in their proliferation character and their propensity to produce fat, and have the ability to produce the (n-3) series of DHA and the (n-6) series of DPA very well. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively produce the (n-3) series of DHA and/or the (n-6) series of DPA, which are useful in the fields of foods and pharmaceuticals, using the microorganisms according to the present invention.

Abstract: A ball step gauge includes a gauge framework that is H-shaped in cross-section and has a horizontal frame. A plurality of holes are formed at predetermined intervals in the horizontal frame in an axial direction of the horizontal frame. A plurality of grooves are formed around each of the holes. A plurality of balls are inserted under pressure in the holes, with centers of the balls existing on a neutral axis of moment of inertia of an area of the gauge framework. Since the ball intervals are less liable to change, the ball step gauge can be used as a reliable standard gauge for calibrating coordinate measuring machines.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising an organoaluminum compound and a vanadium chelate compound having the lability to cause olefins to undergo living coordination polymerization is contacted with a terminal diolefin to obtain a catalyst for living polymer production. When the above contact is:conducted in the presence of a cycloolefin or an internal olefin, the yield of a living polymer can be improved. By modifying all ends of the living polymer obtained, a telechelic olefin polymer is obtained in which all the polymer chains are modified with functional groups.

Abstract: A simple and efficient method is proposed for the preparation of a &bgr;-lactam compound such as 1-phenyl-4-ethoxy-2-azetidinone which can be produced by mixing an isocyanate compound such as phenyl isocyanate and a vinyl ether compound such as ethyl vinyl ether and heating the mixture at a moderate temperature under a superatmospheric pressure of up to 12000 atmospheres.

Abstract: A composition containing less than 95 mol % of a trihydrofluorinated saturated hydrocarbon represented by the following formula (I) Rf1—R1—Rf2  (I) (wherein R1 represents a carbon chain in which CHF and CH2 are bound, and Rf1 and Rf2 are bound to each other to form a ring by a perfluoroalkylene chain of 2 to 4 carbon atoms) and the balance of a tetrahydrofluorinated saturated hydrocarbon having the same carbon number and the same carbon structure as the trihydrofluorinated saturated hydrocarbon, as represented by the following formula (II) Rf1—R2—Rf2  (II) (wherein R2 represents a carbon chain in which CH2 and CH3 are bound, and Rf1 and Rf2 are as defined above) is provided as a composition containing, in a high proportion, trihydrofluorocarbon, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) known to have a small global heating coefficient, which has less influence on the global environment, shows less toxicity to animals, and is chemically stable.

Abstract: A substrate to be etched is subjected to dry etching by using a dry etching gas containing a perfluorocycloolefin while a plasma with a high density region of at least 1010/cm3 is generated. As the perfluorocycloolefin, those having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, especially 4 to 6 carbon atoms are preferably used.

Abstract: Magnets comprising main magnets formed by arranging a single main magnet or plural main magnets, and auxiliary magnets for uniformalizing the magnetic force of the main magnets in a predetermined space. The magnets uniformalize the magnetic force in space.

Abstract: The invention provides an ammonia elimination reagent in solution, comprising a thermo-resistant isocitrate dehydrogenase with prominent stability under conditions at high alkaline pHs. For example, the isocitrate dehydrogenase is preferably derived from the genus Thermus. For an assay system of biological substances generating a reaction product ammonia, an ammonia elimination reagent can be prepared by selecting and using the enzyme; the resulting ammonia elimination reagent can be stored in solution; additionally, the assay system can be designed in combination with both the coenzymes NAD+ and NADP+. The ammonia elimination reagent is novel and can eliminate ammonia in an extremely short time.

Abstract: A gaseous composition for dry etching, comprising a perfluorocycloolefin and 1 to 40% by mole, based on the perfluorocycloolefin, of at least one oxygen ingredient selected from oxygen gas and oxygen-containing gaseous compounds. As the perfluorocycloolefin, those having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, especially 4 to 6 carbon atoms, are preferably used.

Abstract: A photocatalytic powder for environmental clarification, comprising finely divided titanium dioxide particles having a coating of porous calcium phosphate formed on at least part of the surface of each titanium dioxide particle, wherein an anionic surface active agent is present at least on the interface between said coating of porous calcium phosphate and the titanium dioxide particle. This photocatalytic powder is produced by dispersing finely divided titanium dioxide particles in an aqueous slurry containing an anionic surface active agent, and then forming a coating of porous calcium phosphate on at least part of the surface of each titanium dioxide particle. This photocatalytic powder is used, for example, by supporting it in an organic polymer shaped article.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel ceramic materials with excellent electrostrictive property, and the present invention relates to electrostrictive ceramics consisting of solid solution ceramics which can be obtained by combining about 30 molar % of primitive perovskite-type compound PbTiO3 with a composite perovskite compound Pb(Ni⅓Nb⅔)O3.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring particle size distribution comprises an electric mobility classifying section (11) that comprises an outside electrode (12), an inside electrode (13) and an annular cylindrical hollow portion (14) defined by the outside and inside electrodes, a particle size measuring section (21) that is disposed under the electric mobility classifying section for measuring particle size distribution, and a guide frame (31) that allows the electric mobility classifying section and the annular cylindrical hollow section to communicate with each other. A sample gas containing charged particles under measurement is supplied from above into the annular cylindrical hollow section of the electric mobility classifying section to classify the particles according to their electric mobilities. The gas containing the classified particles is supplied into the particle size measuring section via the guide frame to directly obtain approximate particle sizes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel structured body of carbon in the form of a particle having electric conductivity comparable with graphite, which has a frustum-formed protrusion formed from a top flat consisting of a single carbon pentagon and a lateral surface consisting of a plurality of carbon hexagons. The structured body of carbon is prepared by a two-stage heat treatment of a carbonaceous material having a carbon pentagon to form a crystalline structure, such as a fullerene compound, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The first stage heat treatment is conducted at 800 to 1200° C. to effect complete degradation of the crystalline structure of the starting material into an amorphous state and the second stage heat treatment is conducted at 1800 to 2500° C. to effect re-crystallization but not to cause graphitization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel optical recording medium which is a multi-layered body comprising: (a) a substrate disk of a transparent material; (b) a first protective layer formed on one surface of the substrate disk; (c) a recording layer formed on the first protective layer, which is made from a material capable of causing a change in the optical properties in response to light or heat; (d) a second protective layer formed on the recording layer; (e) a transmissivity-controlling layer formed on the second protective layer, which is made from a material capable of reversibly and continuously causing a change in the optical properties in response to light or heat at a speed higher than the speed of changes in the recording layer; and, optionally, (f) a third protective layer formed on the transmissivity-controlling layer. Method and apparatus for recording of signals and reproduction of recorded signals by using the above defined optical recording medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a process for preparing a fluorinated olefin having a carbon—carbon double bond, the carbon atoms of which have a fluorine atom, by reacting a halogenated olefin having at least one carbon—carbon double bond, a carbon atom or the carbon atoms of which bond have a chlorine atom or atoms bound thereto, and, in which the carbon atom or atoms with a single bond in the molecule have no halogen atom other than a fluorine atom, with an alkali metal fluoride, said reaction of the halogenated olefin with the alkali metal fluoride is conducted in the presence of an organic halogen-containing compound having a carbon—carbon single bond, a carbon or the carbons of which have at least one halogen atom other than fluorine atom.

Abstract: This invention relates to highly toughened alumina sintered bodies, and the highly toughened alumina sintered bodies are fabricated by sintering an &agr;-aluminum oxide powder which is obtained by employing an aluminum hydroxide produced by the Bayer's process as a starting material, and calcining at 900-1200° C. a mixture obtained by adding abrasion powder worn from pulverizing alumina balls or another product to the material, in an amount of 0.01-20 mass % as seed crystals for &agr;-aluminum oxide.