Abstract: A process for producing a highly water absorptive polymer comprising the steps of subjecting a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising as the main component acrylic acid and/or an alkali metal or ammonium salt thereof, and optionally containing a crosslinking agent to a water-in-oil type of reverse-phase polymerization in the presence of water, a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator, a dispersant and a hydrophobic hydrocarbon solvent to form a slurry of water-containing particles of a highly water absorptive polymer in the solvent, adding a polymerizable monomer to the slurry, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomer to obtain agglomerates of the particles of the highly water absorptive polymer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention comprises on a conductive support a photosensitive layer containing an arylamine hydrazone compound which has --O--A substituent on aryl moiety. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention exhibits a very high sensitivity and a lowering in residual potential. It is excellent in durability.

Abstract: Easily dispersible coloring carbon black obtained by compacting carbon black powder material to have a bulk density of from 0.10 to 0.50 g/cm.sup.3 and having an initial dispersion of at most 5.0%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel drug for treating glaucoma. The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for glaucoma which comprises an aminoalkoxybibenzyl represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## or a hydrate or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: 3-Phenylpyrrolidine compounds of the formula ##STR1## effectively inhibit phosphodiesterase (PDE) IV activities and can be used as medicaments for conditions such as asthma.

Abstract: An electrostatic image-developing toner comprising at least a resin and a colorant, which further contains at least one compound of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1-24 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, each of R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is a C.sub.2-24 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, and A is an aromatic ring residue which may have substituents.

Abstract: A recording liquid containing carbon black dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein the volume ratio of carbon black having a particle size of at least 0.2 .mu.m to the total carbon black is at least 50% by volume, and the volume ratio of carbon black having a particle size of at least 0.6 .mu.m to the total carbon black is at most 20% by volume.

Abstract: A process for producing a powdered carboxyl-containing polymer comprising mixing a solution of a water-insoluble polymer containing a carboxyl group per molecule in a hydrophilic organic solvent (e.g., ethanol) and an aqueous solution of a dispersant comprising a neutralized copolymer of a carboxyl-containing unsaturated monomer and a (meth)acrylic ester to precipitate the water-insoluble polymer. Fine polymer particles free from adhesion or agglomeration are obtained efficiently. Since any residual unreacted carboxyl-containing monomers are dissolved out in water as a precipitating solvent, the resulting powdered polymer has a reduced residual content of the unreacted monomers which may be poisonous and is therefore useful as a base resin of cosmetics or a coating resin for applications involving contact with the skin.

Abstract: A monoazo compound of the general formula ##STR1## wherein; Y is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, acetylamino, or nitro, or Y, cojointly with the carbon atom located in the benzene ring B at the 3-position with respect to the N.dbd.N group, may form a benzene ring; X is acetyl, benzoyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, or 4-chloro-6-hydroxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl; and M.sup.1, M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 each are a base selected from alkali metal atom, ammonium cation and amine salt cation. A recording liquid comprising a coloring matter, which is an image-forming component, and a liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the coloring matter, said recording liquid being characterized by containing as coloring matter the above-mentioned monoazo compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen using as a catalyst a specified catalyst system containing palladium and cerium compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing the following compounds:(A) at least one selected from palladium and palladium compounds;(B) at least one of trivalent or tetravalent cerium compounds;(C) at least one selected from quaternary ammonium salts and quaternary phosphonium salts;(D) at least one selected from quinones and reduction products thereof, i.e., aromatic diols; or(A) and (B) components of the above; and(E) at least one inorganic halide selected from alkali metal halides and alkali earth metal halides.

Abstract: There are disclosed a process for preparing an ambient temperature molten salt, which comprises treating an ambient temperature molten salt consisting essentially of 20 to 50 mole % of an aluminum halide and 80 to 50 mole % of an onium halide, containing oxygen-containing impurities originating from water with thionyl chloride anda process for preparing an ambient temperature molten salt for effecting aluminum electroplating, which comprises treating mixed ambient temperature molten salts consisting essentially of 30 to 50 mole % of an aluminum halide and 70 to 50 mole % of an onium halide, containing oxygen-containing impurities originating from water with thionyl chloride, and then adding aluminum halide to the molten salt to prepare an ambient temperature molten salt composition consisting essentially of 50 to 80 mole % of an aluminum halide and 50 to 20 mole % of an onium halide.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition comprising (a) a polyphenylene sulfide resin, (b) a polyphenylene ether resin, (c) a specific organophosphorus compound, and (d) a basic compound is disclosed. The composition exhibits improved compatibility between resinous components (a) and (b) and therefore provides a molded article having high mechanical strength and excellent appearance.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy wiring layer comprising 0.01 to 1.0 wt. % of scandium, or 0.01 to 1.0 wt. % of scandium and 0.01 to 3.0 wt. % of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, titanium, copper, boron, hafnium and rare-earth elements other than scandium, and the balance aluminum having a purity of not less than 99.99%. A process for producing the same and an aluminum alloy sputtering target used therefor are also disclosed. The aluminum alloy wiring layer of the present invention is suitable as an advanced large-scale integrated circuit.

Abstract: The lubricant layer according to the present invention is used in a thin film magnetic recording medium in which a solid surface sliding at a high speed is required to retain its lubricating performance and abrasion resistance for a long period of time, comprising a host-guest complex composed of a lubricant molecule as a guest molecule and a multidentate ligand as a host compound to form the complex with the guest molecule.

Abstract: A dichroic dye represented by the formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## wherein the substituents are as described in the specification. The dichroic dyes (I) and (II) exhibit excellent dichroism and can be prepared from 2,2'-ditrifluoromethylbenzidine having no toxicity, such as mutagenicity.

Abstract: A novel 4-acylaminopyridine derivative represented by the following formula (I) is disclosed. ##STR1## The 4-acylaminopyridine derivative of the present invention is useful as a medicine for treating disturbances of memory such as senile dementia and Alzheimer's disease, since it has an action of directly activating malfunctioned cholinergic neuron.

Abstract: An equipment diagnosis system for diagnosing the functional state, the deterioration state, the remaining life time state, etc, of various equipment, and comprising an equipment state model portion for modelling the state of a diagnosis target equipment and for outputting information of the functional state, deterioration, remaining life time, etc, of the diagnosis target equipment on the basis of input information; stress information supply means for supplying the equipment stage model portion with appropriate information on stress which is applied to the diagnosis target equipment; comparison means for comparing information outputted from the equipment state model portion with information which is obtained on the basis of an actual maintenance result; and model correction means for correcting a parameter of the equipment state model portion on the basis of the comparison result.

Abstract: A method for producing a nitrile by a gas phase catalytic oxidation reaction of an alkane with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises supplying the alkane and ammonia to an upper stream inlet of the catalyst layer, and separately supplying at least a part of the total amount of ammonia to a downstream position of the catalyst layer located downstream from the upper stream inlet of the catalyst layer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording and readout method involves making a tape-type magneto-optical recording medium run in front of at least a single pole of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet at a position forwards of an optical head relative to the running direction of the recording medium, without contacting the magnet so as to cross at a substantial right angle to magnetic force lines, thereby initializing the recording medium or erasing information therein. The tape-type magneto-optical recording medium has at least a magneto-optical recording layer on one side of a base film having a thickness of not more than 50 .mu.m. Recording of information is effected by irradiating beams to the recording medium under application of an external magnetic field of not more than 24 kA/m.

Abstract: An azo metal chelate compound of an azo compound of the formula (I) with a metal: ##STR1## wherein A is a residue forming a heterocyclic ring together with the carbon atom and the nitrogen atom to which it is bonded, X is a residue forming an aromatic group together with the two carbon atoms to which it is bonded, R.sup.1 is an alkyl group which may be substituted, an aryl group which may be substituted, an alkenyl group which may be substituted, or a cycloalkyl group which may be substituted, Y is a hydrogen atom or a cation, and n is an integer of from 1 to 3.