Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-conjugated cyclic diene and a non-conjugated cyclic diene composition which enable the production of a polymer based on non-conjugated cyclic diene which makes it possible to produce a (co)polymer at a high degree of polymerization activity, and a method of producing a polymer based on non-conjugated cyclic diene which makes it possible to produce a (co)polymer at a high degree of polymerization activity. A non-conjugated cyclic diene is used which meets at least one of the following requirements: (1) it contains a compound having a seven-membered cyclic triene hydrocarbon structure in a specific amount or less and (2) it contains a conjugated polyene compound having an eight-membered bicyclic hydrocarbon structure in a specific amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pellicle, wherein a peel strength is from 0.004 N/mm to 0.10 N/mm when a non-surface-treated polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 125 ?m is peeled in a direction of 180 degrees at a temperature of 23° C. after the polyethylene terephthalate film has been adhered to the mask adhering surface of the pellicle.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a binder resin for a toner which is excellent in fixing properties and offset resistance even when used in a high-speed copier and is also excellent in suitability for grindability, development durability and the like, and a toner for electrophotography. The binder resin for a toner comprises a resin which is obtained by mixing a vinyl polymer with a crosslinked resin obtained by reacting a vinyl polymer having a specific molecular weight and a specific content of a functional group with a crosslinking agent, and which has a specific gel portion. As a result, the above object has been achieved. A toner using the binder resin is excellent in performances including fixing properties and the like even when used in a high-speed copier. Even when continuously used for a long time in a copier, the toner gives electrophotographic prints with satisfactory reproduction.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical material being excellent in balance between the heat resistance, Abbe number and refractive index by providing a compound represented by the general formula (1): in the formula, k and n representing integers of 0 to 2 and 0 to 1, respectively, with the proviso that k and n are not simultaneously zero, and k=0 meaning that —(CH2)k- is not included in the formula.

Abstract: A sulfur-containing compound has a structure represented by formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a reactive terminal group, a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and a reactive terminal group or its thia derivative thereof, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom, or a tellurium atom; R represents a substituted or unsubstituted bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which may be thianated; n represents an integer of 0 to 3; X1 is substituted for any one of groups R2 to R7 of a partial structure represented by formula (2) in which the groups R2 to R7 other than the group substituted by X1 are independently a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R1 is not a group having a (meth)acryl group when Y is an oxygen atom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a propylene polymer composition having excellent transparency, flexibility, heat resistance, scratch resistance and rubber elasticity with a good balance. The propylene polymer composition comprises 1 to 40 parts by weight of isotactic polypropylene (i) and 60 to 99 parts by weight of a propylene/ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (ii) which contains 45 to 89% by mol of a propylene component, 10 to 25% by mol of an ethylene component, and optionally, 0 to 30% by mol of constituent units (a) derived from an ?-olefin of 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel gluconate dehydratase derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a gene encoding the gluconate dehydratase are provided. By reacting the gluconate dehydratase or a transformed cell containing the gene with an aldonic acid, the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid can be efficiently produced.

Abstract: A novel method has been found to produce 2,2?-anhydro-1-(?-L-arabinofuranosyl)thymine as a novel useful intermediate compound. A novel method has been further found to produce thymidine from 2,2?-anhydro-1-(?-L-arabinofuranosyl)thymine. A novel method has been further found to L-2?-deoxyribose derivatives as a useful synthetic intermediate through L-2,2?-anhydro-5,6-dihydrocyclouridine derivative. According to these methods, synthesis of various L-nucleic acid derivatives, synthesis of which has been difficult till now.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous suspension formulation containing (RS)—N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)thiophene-3-yl]-1-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide and having high rain resistance and stable residual effectiveness. A aqueous suspension formulation for foliar application fungicide of the present invention contains a fungicidal active ingredient, (RS)—N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)thiophene-3-yl]-1-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, and a polyoxyalkylene rosin acid ester or liquid paraffin, and has improved rain resistance on plant leaves and excellent residual effectiveness.

Abstract: The expanded product of the present invention is an expanded product having a density of from 0.02 to 0.7 g/cm3, which is obtained by expanding ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having a viscosity average molecular weight of from 300,000 to 10,000,000. This expanded product can be prepared by adding carbon dioxide to ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene in the molten state in an extruder, and expanding the resin by extrusion such that each of the surface temperature and the central part temperature of the resin immediately after discharge from the die may be a predetermined temperature, while at the same time setting the residence time and pressure of the resin at the die section to specific values.

Abstract: A soft resin pellet is provided comprising at least one liquid (B) having a kinematic viscosity at 25° C. ranging from 0.5 to 100,000 cSt (centistokes) and a surface tension at 25° C. ranging from 10 to 50 dyn/cm, and at least one fine powder (C) of an average particle diameter of not more than 50 ?m, which fine powder adheres to the surface of pellets of at least one soft resin having a tensile modulus determined according to ASTM D-658 not higher than 1600 Mpa.

Abstract: A binder resin for toner which is excellent in low-temperature fixing property and offset resistance as well as smear resistance, while responding to the demand of the market from the perspectives of environmental protection, such as being free from a bisphenol A structure and tin, and a toner using the same. The binder resin for toner can be obtained using a catalyst containing titanium or germanium, preferably comprises the structure derived from branched or alicyclic alcohols, and comprises the structure derived from terephthalic acid as the acid component, which represents greater than or equal to 60 mol % with respect to the number of moles of all acid components, and a toner using the same.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention a polyester resin composition containing a copolyester having hydroxy carboxylic acid units as constituent units or a polyoxycarboxylic acid, wherein hydroxy carboxylic acid units of 5 or less carbon atoms are contained in amounts of 2 to 75% by mol based on 100% by mol of all the constituent units contained in the composition, and a molar ratio SAA of hydroxy carboxylic acid units both of whose neighboring units are hydroxy carboxylic acid units to all the hydroxy carboxylic acid units contained and a molar ratio SBB of hydroxy carboxylic acid units neither of whose neighboring units is a hydroxy carboxylic acid unit to all the hydroxy carboxylic acid units contained satisfy the following formula: 0.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a reflector using a metal thin film layer, particularly a reflector having higher reflectance than in the prior art. Specifically, studies have been made to provide a reflector which exhibits a superior reflection-increasing effect. As a result, it has been found that if the thickness of a low refractive index thin film layer (B) which comes in contact with a metal thin film layer (A) is controlled so that it is within a range of 0.7?/8nL-1.3?/8nL, a reflector having an arrangement of metal layer (A)/low refractive index thin film layer (B)/high refractive index thin film layer (C) exhibits reflectance which is extremely superior than in the prior art over a wide wavelength range. More specifically, it exhibits higher reflectance than a pure silver single film does, and a reflector superior in durability can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel olefin polymerization catalyst having excellent olefin polymerization activity and, in polymerization with the catalyst comprising a transition metal compound, a polymerization process for preparing a polymer having a low molecular weight with high polymerization activity. The process comprises polymerizing olefin in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising (A) a transition metal compound represented by the following [M: a Group 4 or 5 transition metal atom in the Periodic Table, m: 1–4, R1: H, a C1–C5 linear hydrocarbon group, 3- to 5-membered alicyclic hydrocarbon group, bicycloaliphatic hydrocarbon group wherein two alicyclic rings share one or more carbon atoms, R2 to R6: H, a halogen atom, hydrocarbon group etc, X: H, a halogen atom etc, and n is a valence of M], and (B) at least one compound selected from (B-1) an organometallic compound, (B-2) an organoaluminum oxy compound and (B-3) an ionizing ionic compound.

Abstract: An ink jet printing paper which has a degree of bulk equal to or higher than that of non-coated paper, retains the same quality as that of coated type sheet with respect to surface smoothness, sharpness of print images, ink absorbability and water resistance, and shows improved ink strike-through and cockling while being bulky. The ink jet printing paper has an ink receiving layer provided on the base paper with the base paper containing synthetic fiber having a branched form.

Abstract: This invention provides a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and capable of suppressing the blooming, which is observed in the compounding of the resorcin or the RF resin, as far as possible while maintaining the workability and high humidity-aged adhesion of the rubber composition obtained by compounding with rubber, reducing the deterioration of the adhesiveness during the storage of the rubber composition and stably developing the adhesiveness as well as the composition containing the above-mentioned compound as a main component: (wherein R represents a divalent aliphatic group having a carbon number of 1-16).

Abstract: A binder resin for a toner comprises a polyester component having a specific structure which is not soluble in tetrahydrofuran, and a polyester component having a specific branched structure which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran. The binder resin can provide a toner, which is superior in low-temperature fixation and offset resistance and can be used in high speed printing in response to the recent market demands owing to its specific structure.

Abstract: An automobile part comprising a polypropylene resin composition, the polypropylene resin composition comprising a propylene homopolymer (A1), an elastomer (B) and an inorganic filler (C) in specified proportions. The polypropylene homopolymer (A1) exhibits an MFR (230° C.) of 20 to 300 g/10 min, a ratio of position irregular units derived from 2,1-insertion or 1,3-insertion of propylene monomer relative to all propylene structural units, determined from a 13C-NMR spectrum, each of 0.05% or less, and an Mw/Mn, determined by GPC, of 1 to 3.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having an organic dye layer as a recording layer on a substrate, wherein at least one benzobisazole-based compound represented by a general formula (1) is contained in the recording layer: (wherein substituents X and Y each independently represent an aryl group or a heteroaryl group, rings A and B each independently represent an oxazole ring or a thiazole ring, and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group, with a proviso that, aryl group(s) or heteroaryl group(s) represented by the substituents X and Y each independently may be substituted by a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, an amino group or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkoxy, aralkyloxy, aryloxy, alkenyloxy, alkylthio, aralkylthio, arylthio, alkenylthio, mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aralkyloxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, alkenyloxycarbonyl, mono-substituted aminocarbonyl, di-substituted aminoc