Abstract: This is disclosed novel intermediates, i.e. 17.beta.-ethynylsteroids, which are useful for the preparation of corticoids such as hydrocortisone and prednisolone, and a process for preparing the same.

Abstract: Novel 6-oxygenated corticoid 17.alpha.-carbonates are disclosed. These compounds have strong topical anti-inflammatory activity which are accompanied by extremely weak systemic adverse reaction. The present compounds are useful for the treatment of acute and chronic eczema, eczema seborrhoicorum, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, etc.

Abstract: A process for producing a carbon fiber from pitch material, which comprises melt spinning pitch material through spinning nozzles to form precursory pitch fibers and oiling the precursory pitch fibers, followed by infusible treatment and carbonization and optionally by graphitization, characterized in that an oiling agent composed essentially of a silicone oil is applied to the precursory pitch fibers prior to or during the oiling operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for observing and/or repairing damages on a wall of a coke oven or combustion chamber is disclosed. The damages on the wall are detected by positioning a heat resisting lance which includes an optical system for observing an image on the wall and conduit having a nozzle for spraying repairing materials onto damaged areas on the wall in the inside of the coke oven and moving the lance horizontally and vertically within the coke oven along its wall while observing the image on the wall at an outside of the coke oven through the optical system. When the damages are detected, the damages are repaired by spraying the repairing material onto the damaged area on the wall from the nozzle.

Abstract: 2-(4-Methylaminobutoxy)diphenylmethane or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof have been found to be useful as a pharmaceutical composition for improvement and/or treatment of mental symptoms caused by an organic disorder in the brain.

Abstract: A calcium silicate shaped product comprises heat-resistant particles having a radiation energy absorptivity of at least 20% throughout the entire range of the wavelength of from about 2 to about 5.mu., as measured by a 0.1 wt. % KBr disc method.

Abstract: 2-Substituted-1-(omega-aminoalkoxy)benzenes are prepared and found useful as pharmaceutical agents, particularly as antidepressants.

Abstract: A process for producing dimethyl ether useful as a propellant by dehydrating methanol and recovering dimethyl ether from the dehydrated product by distillation, which comprises(A) a reaction step wherein the dehydration reaction of methanol is conducted in a vapor phase under pressure of from 2 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2 G in the presence of a solid acid catalyst,(B) a first distillation step wherein the reaction mixture formed by the above reaction step is cooled and introduced into a pressurized distillation column under pressure of at least 5 kg/cm.sup.

Abstract: A specular product of bronze-like tone particularly suitable for use as a decorative material. The specular product uses, as a substrate, a composite board comprising a synthetic resin sheet and metal sheets laminated thereon, and includes a nickel deposit plated on the metal sheet and a specular film of Sn-Ni alloy electroplated on the nickel deposit using a specific electroplating bath.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel organophosphoric acid ester represented by the following formula, a process for its production and a pesticidal composition containing this ester as an active ingredient: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is an alkyl group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group or a thioalkyl group, each of R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkylthio group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an alkyl group, an alkylsulfinyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, and X is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.

Abstract: A process for producing polycarbonate resin particles from a methylene chloride solution of a polycarbonate resin obtained by the polycondensation of a dihydroxydiaryl compound and phosgene, which comprises continuously supplying the methylene chloride solution of the polycarbonate resin to a particle-forming vessel, heating it while maintaining it in a suspended state in water to evaporate methylene chloride and to form an aqueous slurry containing polycarbonate resin particles, subjecting at least a part of the resulting aqueous slurry withdrawn from the particle-forming vessel and containing the polycarbonate resin particles to wet pulverization treatment and recycling at least a part of the treated polycarbonate resin particles to the particle-forming vessel.

Abstract: A method for increasing the porosity of a cross-linked copolymer composed essentially of at least one monovinyl aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of styrene, vinyl toluene and ethyl vinyl benzene, at least one polyvinyl aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of divinyl benzene, trivinyl benzene, divinyl toluene and divinyl xylene, and an aliphatic vinyl compound, wherein the proportion of the polyvinyl aromatic compound relative to the total vinyl compounds is from 8 to 80% by weight, and the proportion of the aliphatic vinyl compound relative to the total vinyl compounds is from 0 to 20% by weight, which method comprises treating particles of said copolymer with a Lewis acid catalyst in an amount of from 0.05 to 1 part by weight relative to 1 part by weight of the copolymer particles, in the presence of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for converting coal, comprising, subjecting a slurry composed essentially of coal, a hydrocarbon solvent and a hydrogenation catalyst to primary hydrogenation to liquify the coal, separating the ash content of said coal from the reaction product thereby obtaining a liquified product, subjecting at least a portion of the liquified product to secondary hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby converting the liquified product to light oil product, the secondary hydrogenation step being a point of supply of hydrogenation catalyst to the coal conversion system, separating the hydrogenation catalyst from the reaction product of the secondary hydrogenation step, and returning said separated hydrogenation catalyst to the primary hydrogenation step where it is used as the catalyst for primary hydrogenation of said slurry.

Abstract: A polyurethane elastomer and a metal are strongly adhered by using (1) a composition containing a polyepoxy compound and a polyamine compound and (2) a composition containing an isocyanate compound having a concentration of isocyanate group of 15-50% by weight. An adhered composite article thus obtained has excellent water resistance and heat resistance.

Abstract: A method for reducing the phytotoxicity of agricultural machine oil in its application to an agricultural or horticultural plant to exterminate noxious insects and acarines, characterized in that, prior to or at the same time as the application of the machine oil, a sucrose fatty acid ester is applied to the agricultural or horticultural plant in an amount of from 0.1 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the machine oil, in the form of an aqueous solution containing from 0.001 to 1 wt/v % of the ester.

Abstract: .DELTA.'-Tetrahydrophthalimides having a substituted oxy group at 3-position and, if necessary, a halogen atom at 4-position and/or at 2-position of phenyl group as N-substituent have excellent herbicidal activity and are useful as selective herbicides.

Abstract: A process for preparing solid titanium trichloride useful for the polymerization of an .alpha.-olefin, which comprises precipitating violet-colored fine solid particles of titanium trichloride at a temperature of not higher than 150.degree. C. from a liquid of titanium trichloride liquefied in the presence of an ether, characterized in that after the amount of the precipitated violet-colored fine solid particles of titanium trichloride reaches at least 80% based on the total amount of titanium trichloride in the system, titanium tetrachloride is added in an amount within a molar ratio of from 0.2 to 10 based on the total amount of titanium trichloride in the system, followed by aging at a temperature of from 60.degree. to 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process which comprises hydroformylating an olefinic compound by reacting it with water gas in a catalyst solution containing rhodium and an oxide of an organic trivalent phosphorus compound; adding an organic trivalent phosphorus compound to the reaction mixture, followed by distillation to separate a distillate containing the hydroformylation product from a high-boiling residue containing rhodium; oxidizing the high-boiling residue at the same time as or subsequent to the distillation, to convert the organic trivalent phosphorus compound to its oxide; and recycling the oxidized residue to the hydroformylation reaction zone.

Abstract: In a process for polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a catalyst system combining an organoaluminum compound with a hydrocarbon insoluble solid catalytic component prepared by treating a hydrocarbon solution containing a magnesium compound, and a titanium compound with an aluminum halide having the formulaAlR.sub.l.sup.1 X.sub.3-l.sup.1(R.sup.1 represents an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl group and X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, and l is 1.ltoreq.l.ltoreq.2),an improvement characterized in that the magnesium compound is a compound having the formulaMg(OR.sup.2).sub.m X.sub.2-m.sup.2(R.sup.2 represents an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl group; X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom; and m is 1 or 2) and the titanium compound is a compound having the formulaTi(OR.sup.3).sub.n X.sub.4-n.sup.3(R.sup.3 represents an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl group; X.sup.3 represents a halogen atom; n is 1, 2 or 3).

Abstract: An aromatic polyester comprising two structural units represented by the following formulas A and B in a molar ratio of the structural unit A to the structural unit B being from 70:30 to 90:10 or four structural units represented by the following formulas A, B, C and D in a molar ratio of the total of the structural units A and C to the total of the structural units B and D being from 10:90 to 95:5 and the total of the structural units C and D being less than 50 molar %, and having a reduced viscosity .eta.sp/C of from 0.6 to 4 dl/g as measured at 30.degree. C. at a concentration of 1.