Abstract: A photorecording element consists essentially of a transparent substrate, a layer of a macromolecular compound capable of undergoing a reversible change in structure upon exposure to light, deposited by adsorption on the transparent substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed directly on the layer of macromolecular compound. A method for the production of the photorecording element comprises applying on a transparent substrate a mixture of a liquid crystal substance with a macromolecular compound capable of undergoing a reversible change in structure upon exposure to light and allowing the applied layer of the mixture to stand at rest or by first applying the macromolecular compound on the transparent substrate and then adding the liquid crystal substance thereto. A liquid crystal cell incorporating the photorecording element is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of absolute alcohol from aqueous alcohol, whereby saving of energy to a greater extent is rendered possible in a more simple process, as compared with the prior art azeotropic distillation method using benzene or cyclohexane. That is, aqueous alcohol is subjected to extractive distillation in a first distillation column under such a condition that a liquid and gas of a solvent simultaneously coexist using low pressure propane, propylene and butane as the solvent, absolute alcohol substantially free from water is recovered from the bottom of the distillation column and subjected to stripping of hydrocarbons in a second distillation column, during which the gaseous phases of the first and second distillation columns are mixed and compressed, utilized through recompression as a heat source of a reboiler of the first distillation column, subjected to separation of water content and recycled to the upper parts of the first and second distillation columns.

Abstract: A photoelectric element includes a first region having a light-receiving surface. A second region having a short side length not greater than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region is provided on at least one portion of the first region to form a photovoltaic mechanism in conjunction with the first region. A barrier layer is provided to cover at least those portions of the light-receiving surface of the first region not covered by the second region, and a transparent conductive film is provided on the barrier layer and electrically connected to at least one second region. The voltage of the second region generated by incident light is applied through the transparent conductive film to the light-receiving surface of the first region to produce an electric field in the direction inducing majority carriers.

Abstract: A fibrinolytic enzyme such as urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase is covalently bounded to a bioadaptable porous crystalline glass to produce a thrombolytic material. Production of the glass involves combining 40-50 mol% calcium oxide, 20-30 mol% titanium dioxide and 25-35 mol% diphosphorous pentoxide to form a mixture, and combining the mixture with 0.5-4.0 mol% disodium oxide. A bioreactor for converting plasminogen in blood into plasmin can be prepared by packing the material in a column. When finely comminuted, the material can be administered into the blood of a patient for removing blood clots.

Abstract: Needlelike single crystal particles of .alpha.- alumina, .theta.-alumina, mullite, sillimanite, etc. are produced by adding a silicon-containing substance to needlelike alumina precursor particles and heating the resultant product of addition.

Abstract: A method for producing an oxide superconductor comprises obtaining a cyclic voltammogram using an oxide material containing an element having a redox charge as an electrode, determining an electrolytic potential for the oxide material on the basis of the voltammogram, and electrolyzing the oxide material at the determined potential.

Abstract: Disclosed is a purification process for removing lipophilic impurities coined in an aqueous crude ethanol solution, in particular, for efficiently removing impurities consisting of C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alcohols. The process involves (a) a first extraction step wherein the aqueous crude ethanol solution is extracted with an extractant for removing the lipophilic impurities, except for the C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alcohols, contained in the aqueous crude ethanol solution by subjecting the aqueous crude ethanol solution to extraction with the extractant in a pressurized state containing carbon dioxide in a liquidized state or carbon dioxide gas in a supercritical state; (b) a concentration-distillation step wherein a raffinate obtained in the first extraction step is fed to a distilling column to thereby obtain a highly concentrated aqueous ethanol solution from a top of the distilling column and withdraw fraction containing C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: A method of making a probe electrode includes the steps of kneading a mixture of 75-80% by weight of a carbon material, 10-14% by weight of an organic binder and 7-9% by weight of mineral oil, forming the kneaded mixture into a predetermined shape, heating the shaped mixture in air the temperature of up to 300.degree. C. and raising the temperature in an atmosphere of inert gas up to 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: A coating film of a carbon allotrope is formed on a substrate by continuously supplying a fine carbon powder onto the substrate and simultaneously irradiating the fine carbon powder with a laser beam of a high output level thereby inducing sublimation of the fine carbon powder, and quenching the sublimated fine carbon powder to cause deposition thereof on the substrate.

Abstract: An actuator element comprises an ion exchange membrane and a pair of electrodes attached to opposite surfaces of the ion exchange membrane; the ion exchange membrane in a water-containing state being caused to bend and/or deform by application of an electric potential difference thereacross.

Abstract: A quaternary ammonium trihalide, a novel compound, represented by the formula:[A--R'].sup.+ .multidot.X.sub.3.sup.-(wherein A stands for a trialkyl-amino radical or a pyridyl radical, R' for an alkyl radical of 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and X for a halogen atom) and a method for the dissolution of a metal with a liquid consisting essentially of an organic solvent and the quaternary ammonium trihalide.

Abstract: A gas leak detection system comprises a flow sensor for detecting the amount of gas flowing through a gas flow passage, a flow signal generator for producing a flow signal representing the quantity of gas flow detected by the flow sensor, a pressure sensor installed in the gas flow passage at a point upstream of the flow sensor for detecting the gas pressure in the gas flow passage, a pressure signal generator for producing a pressure signal representing fluctuations in the pressure detected by the pressure sensor and a computing device electrically connected with the flow signal generator and the pressure signal generator. When it is found that no flow signal is being produced, the pressure fluctuation is compared with a prescribed pressure fluctuation range and a leak signal is produced when the pressure fluctuation value falls within the prescribed range.

Abstract: One or more superconducting memory cells capable of storing binary values as the presence or absence of a persisting loop current in their superconducting memory loops are connected in series by a circuit current line. This arrangement is provided with a set gate which switches to the voltage state and outputs circuit current from its output terminal to one end of the circuit current line when write command current is supplied to its control terminal and is further provided with a sense gate whose control terminal is series coupled though a capacitance element with the same one end of the circuit current line and whose ground side terminal is connected with the other end of the circuit control line thereby forming through the sense gate a read-out loop for receiving as differential current persisting loop current selectively discharged from the memory loop. The differential current causes the sense gate to switch itself to the voltage state and output a sense current.

Abstract: A nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkanoyl peroxide is provided which is represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 independently stand for an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, provided that Rf.sub.1 and Rf.sub.2 are joined to each other in one of the three patterns of union, 1) direct union, 2) union through the medium of an oxygen atom or 3) union through the medium of a nitrogen atom to form one of the three rings, i.e. five membered ring, six-membered ring or seven-membered ring.

Abstract: A macromolecular mitomycin derivative excellent in antitumor ability is produced by causing a specific divinyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer to react with a specific aminocarboxylic acid and causing mitomycin C to react on the resultant reaction product. The derivative is optionally converted into a pharmacologically acceptable salt.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material can be obtained by co-pulverizing and mixing a material containing at least bismuth and a material containing at least tellurium, without being alloyed by melting, and then molding and sintering. This thermoelectric material has high performance and can be utilized in a variety of fields such as thermoelectric power generation and thermoelectric cooling, a temperature sensor, space development, marine development, and electric power generation in the remote areas. Since metal elements are used as a starting material, the starting material can be easily prepared. Moreover, in the production steps, the thermoelectric material can be produced in a high yield at a low energy consumption level by a simplified manner, without a complicated operation or special apparatus, and its production cost can be decreased.

Abstract: A three-dimensional woven fabric for use in a battery is composed of three groups of filaments interlaced to form a three-dimensional weave, the filaments of one of the groups being formed of two kinds of electrode materials for a battery arranged parallely and alternately and the filaments of the other two groups serving as separators and being arranged so as to fix the filaments made of the electrode materials.

Abstract: A C/C composite including a carbon matrix and carbon fibers and exhibiting a crystal structure of the carbon matrix differing between (a) the portion at and in the vicinity of the interface between the carbon fibers and the carbon matrix and (b) the other portion of the carbon matrix and excelling in strength and thermal conductivity is produced by a method which includes intercalating a carbonizing catalyst in carbon fibers, causing said carbon fibers having said carbonizing catalyst intercalated therein to be impregnated with a precursor of a carbon matrix, and then firing the product of impregnation.

Abstract: An interlayer cross-linked smectite is produced by a method which includes the steps of preparing a smectite suspension containing a dissolved water-soluble macromolecular compound, adding a cationic hydroxide oligomer to the suspension thereby subjecting the exchangeable cation in the smectite to ion exchange, allowing the resultant smectite suspension to stand at a fixed temperature for a fixed time thereby allowing the cationic hydroxide oligomer of the smectite to age, separating a solid smectite from the resultant suspension, and heating the separated solid smectite. The interlayer interval of the produced smectite can be controlled by adjusting the amount of the cationic hydroxide oligomer.

Abstract: A holographic recording material consisting of diethylene glycol-bis(allyl carbonate), 2,2-bis[3,5-dibromo-4-(2-methacryloyloxyethoxy)phenyl]propane, and a photopolymerization initiator. A method for holographic recording, which comprises interposing the holographic recording material between two opposed surface materials, heating the interposed holographic recording material thereby solidifying the recording material and giving rise to a dry plate, and then exposing the dry plate to a coherent light.