Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous silicon solar cell is disclosed which comprises forming on a substrate, in the following order, a first electrode, a first conductive film, a thin first substantially intrinsic film, a thicker second substantially intrinsic film, a second conductive film and a second electrode.the method being characterized in that at least the thicker second substantially intrinsic film is formed by the sequential steps of:(a) depositing a semiconductor film containing 20 atom % or less of bound hydrogen and/or bound deuterium to a thickness of from 5 to 1000 .ANG., and then (b) modifying the deposited film, the sequence of steps being repeated multiple times.The solar cell formed by the above-mentioned method is particularly excellent in long-term stability.

Abstract: A method for preparing a biaxially stretched polyether ether ketone (PEEK) film having excellent precision in thickness, insulating properties and heat shrinkage from an amorphous PEEK film which includes a first stretching step of roll-stretching the amorphous PEEK film in a temperature range of from 50.degree. C. to (Tg-10).degree. C. in a stretching ratio of from 150% to 350% in the progress direction of the film while a necking phenomenon is caused in the film; a second stretching step of stretching the film in the temperature range of from Tg to 170.degree. C. in a direction at right angles to the stretching direction in the first stretching step in a stretching ratio of from 150% to 350%; and a heat set step of thermally setting the stretched film at two stages in the temperature range of 210.degree.-330.degree. C. and the temperature range of 180.degree.-210.degree. C.

Abstract: Application of a rice blast control agent containing an isothiazolecarboxylic acid derivative of the below-described formula, which shows excellent activity against rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) in rice cultivation, to the water surface of a paddy rice field results in the absorption of the derivative through roots of rice plants, so that the resistance of the rice plants can be enhanced. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently mean a hydrogen or halogen atom or a particular group, and Y stands for an OR.sub.3 group (R.sup.3 being a hydrogen or alkali metal atom or a particular group), an NHR.sup.4 group (R.sup.4 being a hydrogen atom or a particular group), or a morpholino group.

Abstract: A hydrazone compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are an aryl group or collectively with the carbon to which they are attached form a polycyclic group; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl or phenyl group; and R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is an aryl group, is useful as a charge-transporting material in an electrophotographic photoreceptor and are produced by condensing the corresponding aldehyde with the corresponding H.sub.2 N--NR.sub.4 R.sub.5 hydrazine.

Abstract: According to the present invention, molded articles can be provided in which a melting point attributed to a syndiotactic polypropylene and measured at a temperature rise rate of 10.degree. C./minute by differential scanning thermal analysis is indicated by a substantially single peak, the aforesaid molded articles being obtained by heating, melting and molding a substantially syndiotactic homopolymer of propylene, a substantially syndiotactic copolymer of propylene and a small amount of another olefin, or a mixture of these polymers and a small amount of a substantially isotactic polypropylene, and then subjecting the molded products to a heat treatment. Furthermore, a method for preparing the above-mentioned molded articles is also provided. The molded articles have high stiffness and impact resistance.

Abstract: An insulated wire having excellent thermal resistance and good surface appearance is obtained by coating a condutor with a specific polyimide in a temperature range of 300.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. and controlling moisture content to 200 ppm or less.

Abstract: Catechol derivatives which produce nerve growth factor in particular tissues of the brain are disclosed. These derivatives provide preventive and therapeutic effects for regressive disorders of the central nervous system including senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrophotographic toner composition produced by using a low-melt-viscosity and high-strength resin. The present invention provides a toner which fixes at low heat and has high strength and therefore, is suitable for high-speed copying machines and lower-heat copying machines. The resultant benefits of the present invention are that the lowest limit of the fixing temperature is low, non-offset range is wide and picture properties are good. The electrophotographic toner composition can, therefore, provide stable pictures even when fixed at low heat.

Abstract: A novel aromatic diamine; a polyimide comprising 1,3-bis(3-aminobenzoyl)benzene or 4,4'-bis(3-aminobenzoyl)biphenyl as a diamine component and having recurring structural units represented by the formula (III): ##STR1## wherein R is a tetravalent radical selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic radical having from 2 to 27 carbon atoms, alicyclic radical, monoaromatic radical, condensed polyaromatic radical, and noncondensed aromatic radical connected each other with a direct bond or a bridge member, and X is a divalent radical of ##STR2## and a polyimide having a terminal aromatic group which is essentially unsubstituted or substituted with a radical having no reactivity with amines or dicarboxylic acid anhydrides or a composition comprising said polyimide.

Abstract: Resin compositions having excellent mechanical strength, especially at high temperatures are disclosed. The resin compositions comprise 95-60 wt. % of an aromatic polyetherketone having recurring units represented by the following formula: ##STR1## 5-40 wt. % of a polyetherimide having recurring units represented by the following formula: ##STR2## Also disclosed are fiber-reinforced resins, which comprise 75-55 wt. % of one of the above compositions and 25-45 wt. % of carbon fibers obtained by coating starting carbon fibers with an aromatic polysulfone resin and then heating the thus-coated carbon fibers at 300.degree.-400.degree. C., and mechanical components made of desired one of the fiber-reinforced resins which are suitable for use in internal combustion engines or auxiliary equipment.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a method for preparing an alkoxyphthalocyanine represented by the formula (1): ##STR1##

Abstract: By screening an animal cell transformant, which has been obtained by introducing into wild-type animal cells a wild-type DHFR gene and a structural gene which codes a desired useful substance, with a medium containing methotrexate (MTX) at a concentration of 50 .mu.M or lower, both genes can be amplified effectively within an MTX resistant strain and a stable amplified transformant can also be obtained. The screening may be repeated using an increasing concentration of MTX. It is also possible to obtain stably the desired foreign gene product in a high yield by using the thus-obtained amplified transformant.

Abstract: A synthetic resin emulsion whose polymer particles are solid core-shell particles in which form pores spontaneously upon drying is produced by the steps of preparing as core particles from 2 to 60 parts by weight of polymer (A) by emulsion polymerization of from 10 to 80 parts by weight of acrylate ester (a.sub.1) having an alkyl group of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and from 90 to 20 parts by weight another of vinyl-type monomer (a.sub.2) copolymerizable therewith, forming a shell of a polymer (B) on the surface of the core particles of polymer (A) by emulsion polymerization in the presence thereof of from 98 to 40 parts by weight of vinyl-type monomer (b), different from polymer (a.sub.1) and successively hydrolyzing the core portion of the particles with an alkaline material. Organic pigments prepared from the synthetic resin emulsion can improve the hiding power, brightness, gloss and other properties of articles coated therewith.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for recovering 2-chloropropionic acid so that this compound can be separated in a high-purity form. According to the method, crude 2-chloropropionic acid is heat-treated in the presence of a metal compound at a temperature in the range of 130.degree.-180.degree. C. where dichloro derivatives are contained as impurities or at a temperature not exceeding 160.degree. C. where no dichloro derivatives are contained. The metal compound is then removed at 160.degree. C. or lower. Final purification is thereafter conducted to obtain 2-chloropropionic acid as a high-purity product.

Abstract: Catechol derivatives which relate to the production of nerve growth factor in particular tissues of brain are disclosed.Methods for the synthesis, data on the physiological activity, and data on the toxicity of these derivatives as well as examples of preparation for their administration are also disclosed.The disclosed derivatives provide preventive and remedial effect for regressive disorders in the central nervous system including senile dementia of Alzheimer type.

Abstract: A method for preparing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (.alpha.-APM), substantially free from acid ion contamination, is disclosed which comprises the steps of contacting a solution of a mineral acid salt or an organic sulfonic acid salt of .alpha.-APM in an aqueous solvent with an anion exchange resin in free base form, separating the resin from the thus-produced solution of .alpha.-APM; and isolating the .alpha.-APM therefrom, preferably with regeneration and recycling the resin.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a method for obtaining high-purity cinnamic acid containing less metals from crude cinnamic acid containing a metallic catalyst which is a mixture prepared by the synthetic reaction of a cinnamic acid ester. A disclosed purifying means is the combination of alkali hydrolysis, active carbon adsorption, solvent extraction and precipitation with an acid.

Abstract: A process is provided for the purification of methacrylic acid. The process can easily remove dibasic acids and aldehydes containing in trace amounts as impurities. According to the process, crude methacrylic acid obtained as an aqueous solution by vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of isobutylene, tertiary butanol, methacrolein or isobutyl aldehyde is treated with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of m-aminophenol, m-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene and 2,4-diamino-diphenylamine, followed by distillation, optionally, in the presence of a p-phenylene diamine.

Abstract: Novel aminoketones useful as central muscle relaxants and their preparation processes are disclosed. The disclosed processes are novel processes which do not use any heavy metal in view of the facts that their products are will be used as drugs and which require no complex purification step such as liberation of the aminoketones from their hydrochlorides or the like.

Abstract: A transparent heat-resistant styrene-base copolymer comprising specific amounts of units derived respectively from (a) a styrene-type monomer, (b) a (meth)acrylonitrile monomer and/or (meth)acrylic ester type monomer and (c) a phenylmaleimide monomer, in which the weight ratio (b)/(c) and the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight fall within their respective specific ranges and the amount of the phenylmaleimide-type monomer still remaining in the copolymer is below a certain specific concentration.