Abstract: To provide an expandable rubber-modified styrene resin composition that is enabled to obtain a molded foam having a high expansion ratio, an excellent impact resistance and pliability and satisfactory appearance. The expandable rubber-modified styrene resin composition comprises 85 to 99% by weight of a rubber-modified styrene resin containing a rubber particle of a diene polymer dispersed in a continuous phase of a styrene resin and 1 to 15% by weight of a volatile blowing agent whose boiling point is 80° C. or lower, wherein: the weight-average molecular weight of said continuous phase of styrene resin is 150,000 to 300,000; the graft ratio of the styrene resin to the diene polymer is 70 to 135%; and, the swelling index of the gel fraction of said diene polymer in toluene at 25° C. is 12 to 25.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising (a) an ethylenically unsaturated double bond-containing compound, (b) a sensitizing dye and (c) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the sensitizing dye is a phthalocyanine compound showing the maximum absorption within a range of from 750 to 1,200 nm.

Abstract: A high-density optical disk comprises a transparent substrate having a guide groove having a depth of 100 to 200 nm, width of 0.2 to 0.4 &mgr;m arranged with a track pitch of 0.7 to 1.0 &mgr;m. A recording layer is made of an organic pigment exhibiting a specific main weight reduction in a thermogravimetric analysis and a specific exothermic peak in a differential thermal analysis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode, and associated fabrication process, for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrode has an active material comprising a transition metal oxide. A lithium salt having an organic component is associated with the surface of the transition metal oxide so as to increase compatibility with an associated electrolyte. In another embodiment, a lithium salt of saccharin may be adsorbed onto the surface of the transition metal oxide.

Abstract: A surface treatment composition containing a complexing agent as a metal deposition preventive in a liquid medium, in which the complexing agent is an ethylenediaminephenol derivative of the following general formula (1) or its salt: wherein X1 and X2 are hydroxyl groups; Y1 to Y8 are respectively independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, a phosphonic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a carbonyl group, a nitro group, a nitroso group, an amino group, an imino group, a nitrilo group, a nitrile group, a thiocyanate group, a hydroxyamino group, a hydroxyimino group, or an alkyl or alkoxy group which may have a substituent, provided that at least one of Y1 to Y8 is not a hydrogen atom; Z1 to Z4 are respectively independently a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group; and R1 to R4 are respectively independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent.

Abstract: A protein having a labeling compound attached to its C-terminal, in which the compound comprises a label portion comprising a label substance and an acceptor portion comprising a compound having an ability of binding to a C-terminal of a synthesized protein when protein synthesis is carried out in a cell-free protein synthesis system or in a living cell is provided. Also, a method for producing the protein comprising the step of performing synthesis of a protein in a cell-free protein synthesis system or in a living cell in the presence of a labeling compound comprising a label portion comprising a label substance and an acceptor portion comprising a compound having an ability of binding to a C-terminal of a synthesized protein when protein synthesis is carried out in the cell-free protein synthesis system or in the living cell, the labeling compound being present at a concentration effective for the labeling compound to bind to the C-terminal of the synthesized protein is provided.

Abstract: A method for treating the surface of a substrate with a surface treatment composition, wherein the surface treatment composition comprises a liquid medium containing a complexing agent as a metal deposition preventive, the complexing agent comprising at least one member selected from Group A complexing agents and at least one member selected from Group B complexing agents defined hereinafter.

Abstract: A battery apparatus comprising a casing, at least two stacked lithium ion cells a member for maximizing the utilization of the casing and a member for precluding inadvertent deformation of the casing. The casing includes a non-uniform inner periphery. Each of at least two stacked lithium ion cells is positioned within the casing. The utilization maximizing member maximizes the utilization of the inner periphery of the casing by facilitating the independent shaping of each of the at least two stacked lithium ion cells to confirm to the inner periphery. As a result, the shape of one cell does not limit or dictate the shape of any other cell. The deformation precluding member is associated with each of the at least two lithium ion cells, and, substantially precludes inadvertent deformation of the casing by the at least two lithium ion cells, during cell cycling and storage. The invention further includes a process for fabricating a battery apparatus.

Abstract: A novel protein having inhibitory activity on the protease activity of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activator was purified and isolated, and its molecular weight (ca. 40,000 daltons) and its N-terminal and partial amino acid sequences were determined. A gene coding for the protein was cloned, and the gene DNA was incorporated into a vector, for transforming host cells. Cultivation of the transformant gave the desired protein. The protein can be used as an in vivo or in vitro control factor for HGF or HGF activator. It is also useful as an antigen to be used in producing an antibody to be used as means for kinetic studies of the protein, or as a standard in assay systems therefor.

Abstract: A sulfonamide compound of the formula (1): wherein X is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy group which may be substituted, or a halogen atom, Y Is an alkyl group having at least two fluorine atoms, and each of R1 and R2 which are independent of each other, is an alkyl group which may be substituted, or R1 may be bonded to X or R2 to form a ring.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having a recording layer containing an organic colorant as the main component, whereby recording is carried out by changing the reflectivity by irradiation of a laser beam for recording having a wavelength of at most 700 nm, wherein when a light having substantially the same wavelength as the laser beam for recording and having an intensity selected from a range of from 1 to 4.5 mW and a pulse length of about 382 nsec, is irradiated while moving a portion to be irradiated of the medium at a relative velocity of 0.3 m/s to the light, the time required for the reflectivity to change and reach a saturated level, is at most 130% of said pulse length.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: a) associating a current collector with an active material having a surface; b) applying an overlayment material to a substrate; c) associating the overlayment material with at least a portion of the surface of the active material; d) at least alternatively partially curing the active material; and e) removing the substrate and, in turn transferring at least a portion of the overlayment material to at least a portion of the active material. The electrode produced is used in an electrochemical cell comprising a current collector, an electrode active material having a surface, and an overlayment material associated with at least a portion of the active material. The electrode further includes means for increasing compatability of the electrode with an associated electrolyte.

Abstract: A synthetic quartz powder obtained by calcining a powder of silica gel, characterized in that white devitrification spots having sizes of larger than 20 &mgr;m in diameter formed in an ingot obtained by vacuum melting the synthetic quartz powder at a temperature of from 1780 to 1800° C. to form an ingot, followed by maintaining the ingot at a temperature of 1630° C. for 5 hours, are at most 10 spots/50 g.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a current collecting substrate, an electrode active material cluster having at least one particle wherein the particle includes at least one inclusion, an elastomer binder surrounding at least a portion of the at least one particle, and means associated with the elastomer binder for precluding mechanical degradation of the electrode active material cluster and, in turn, loss of electrical continuity between the at least one particle therein.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, an electrolyte, and a dopant associated with the electrolyte, wherein the dopant comprises a reservoir for controllably releasing salt into the electrolyte. The dopant further comprises means for controllably regulating internal pressure of the electrochemical cell as well as means for substantially precluding dendrite formation within the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a culture medium used to efficiently propagate and acclimatize tissue cultured plantlets and thereafter obtain mature plantlets, a method to produce said medium, and a tissue culture method using said medium. The plant tissue culture medium is a novel plant tissue culture medium comprised in the main of vermiculite with an average particle diameter between 0.1-10 mm and cellulose fibers of an average fiber length between 0.01-5 mm. The culture method uses said culture medium in a light-transmissible container equipped at least in part with a porous gas permeable film, preferably having an air permeability between 1-50 sec/100 ml as measured in accordance with JIS standard P8117. The solid culture medium formed from a specific type of vermiculite and cellulose fibers enables the culturing process as a whole to be performed easily and efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxial wafer having compound semiconductor epitaxial layer provided on a substrate, a total thickness of a portion of the compound semiconductor epitaxial layers comprises Ga, As and P as constituent elements being not less than 80 &mgr;m and in the epitaxial layer a low carrier concentration region with a carrier concentration of from 0.5 to 9×1015 cm−3 doped with nitrogen being formed.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a magnetic recording medium having at least a magnetic layer, optionally by means of an under layer, on a non-magnetic substrate, wherein projections formed by irradiation of an energy beam and each having a height from 1 to 60 nm are provided at the number of 102 to 108 per 1 mm2 on the surface of any one of the non-magnetic substrate, the under layer, the magnetic layer and the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The essence of the present invention lies in an optical sheet made of transparent resin having a visible light transmittance of not less than 80%, a glass transition temperature of not lower than 150° C. and a thickness of from 0.2 to 1.5 mm, which exhibits a birefringence index of not higher than 15 nm, a surface roughness Ra of not more than 0.1 &mgr;m and an impact strength of not less than 600 gf·cm as calculated in terms of dropping ball breakdown energy determined by Du Pont process impact resistance test.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member, including: a conductive substrate; an undercoat layer formed on the conductive substrate, which contains a binder resin and metal oxide particles treated with an organic metal compound represented by formula (1): where M is —Si3, —TiR3 or Al; R is a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group; R1 and R2 are each, independently, a C1 to C6 alkyl group; R3 is a C1 to C6 alkyl group which may be substituted with an alkoxy group or a C1 to C6 alkoxy group which may be substituted with an alkoxy group; and a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer.