Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a laminated iron core from a thin sheet, the method includes coining the thin sheet from above to form a thinned bridge portion on an outer peripheral portion of an iron core piece, blanking the iron core piece downwardly from the thin sheet using a set of an outer-shape blanking punch and a die after forming the bridge portion, wherein the outer-shape blanking punch includes a projection portion fitted into the bridge portion when blanking, and laminating the iron core piece on another iron core piece to manufacture the laminated iron core.

Abstract: Means for Solving the Problems The thermoplastic resin composition (X1) of the present invention comprises (A1), (B1), (C1), and optionally (D1) below: 1 to 90 wt % of an isotactic polypropylene (A1); 9 to 98 wt % of a propylene/ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (B1) containing 45 to 89 mol % of propylene-derived structural units, 10 to 25 mol % of ethylene-derived structural units, and optionally, 0 to 30 mol % of C4-C20?-olefin-derived structural units (a1); 1 to 80 wt % of a styrene-based elastomer (C1); and 0 to 70 wt % of an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (D1) whose density is in the range of 0.850 to 0.910 g/cm3, wherein (A1)+(B1)+(C1)+(D1)=100 wt %.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy is provided which has an extremely low Co content, and can maintain the drain (power) performance (especially pulse discharge characteristics), activity (degree of activity), and life performance at high levels. The hydrogen storage alloy is manufactured by weighing and mixing every material for the hydrogen storage alloy so as to provide an alloy composition represented by the general formula MmNiaMnbAlcCod or MmNiaMnbAlcCodFee, and controlling the manufacturing method and manufacturing conditions so that both the a-axis length and the c-axis length of the crystal lattice are in a predetermined range. Although it is sufficient if the a-axis length of the crystal lattice is 499 pm or more and the c-axis length is 405 pm or more, by further specifying the a-axis length and c-axis length depending on the values of ABx, a hydrogen storage alloy having high durability can be provided.

Abstract: Provided is a display device containing a crystalline piezoelectric polymer layer having a helical chiral polymer (A) that has a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and has optical activity, an optical compensation layer satisfying the following expression (1), and a linear polarizer. In expression (1), Xc represents a degree of crystallinity (%) of the crystalline piezoelectric polymer layer obtained by a DSC method; MORc represents a standardized molecular orientation of the crystalline piezoelectric polymer layer measured by a microwave transmission molecular orientation meter when a reference thickness is 50 ?m; d represents a thickness (?m) of the crystalline piezoelectric polymer layer; and Rth represents a phase difference (nm) in a thickness direction of the optical compensation layer at a wavelength of 550 nm. |0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a freshness-retentive film having high antibacterial characteristics. In the freshness-retentive film according to the present invention, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of palmityldiethanolamine, stearyldiethanolamine, glycerol monolaurate, and diglycerol monolaurate is present on at least one surface of the film at 0.002 to 0.5 g/m2.

Abstract: This invention relates to DNA encoding a novel enzyme having activity of synthesizing D-serine from formaldehyde and glycine, recombinant DNA constructed by integrating such DNA into a vector, a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA, and a method for producing D-serine from formaldehyde and glycine with the use of the enzyme.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an ophthalmic lens comprising at least one regressive and at least one non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design element. The regressive and non-regressive optical design elements can be combined so as to form a desired optical power profile for the lens while simultaneously exploiting the different relative orientation of the astigmatic vectors of the constituent regressive and non-regressive design elements, thereby resulting in reduced unwanted astigmatism. The regressive and non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design elements can be positioned on different lens surfaces and in optical communication or can be collapsed onto the same lens surface. The regressive and non-regressive rotationally symmetric optical design elements can each contribute to the total add power of an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing a sultone compound represented by the Formula 1 below (wherein R1 to R4 respectively represent a hydrogen, a fluorine, a hydrocarbon group with 1 to 12 carbon atoms that may contain fluorine atom(s), n represents an integer of 0 to 3, and when n is 2 or 3, the two or three R3 groups are independent from each other and the two or three R4 groups are independent from each other), and an ethylene carbonate having a hydrogen atom substituted by a fluorine atom. Also disclosed is a lithium secondary battery employing the nonaqueous electrolyte solution. This nonaqueous electrolyte solution does not cause an increase in the internal resistance of a nonaqueous electrochemical device and improves the lifespan characteristics of the device. The lithium secondary battery containing the nonaqueous electrolyte solution exhibits greatly improved cycle charge/discharge characteristics at high temperature, and has excellent charge/discharge load characteristics.

Abstract: The cyclic olefin copolymer of the present invention contains (A) a repeating unit derived from one or more kinds of olefins represented by the following General Formula (I), (B) a repeating unit derived from a cyclic non-conjugated diene represented by the following General Formula (III), and (C) a repeating unit derived from one or more kinds of cyclic olefins represented by the following General Formula (V), wherein when a total mole number of the repeating units is regarded as 100 mol %, the (B) repeating unit derived from a cyclic non-conjugated diene is contained in an amount of 19 mol % to 36 mol %.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing ?-mercaptocarboxylic acid represented by the following General Formula (3) comprising step of reacting hydrogen sulfide, alkali hydroxide represented by a formula: XOH (X represents Na or K), and unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by the following General Formula (1) under atmospheric pressure to obtain a reaction solution including a compound represented by the following General Formula (2) and step of neutralizing the reaction solution in an acid. An amount of the alkali hydroxide is equal to or greater than total moles of the unsaturated carboxylic acid and the hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: Provided are an exhaust gas purification catalyst including a carrier containing substituted aluminum borate in which 2.5 to 11.5 at. % of aluminum atoms contained therein are substituted by Fe, Co, Ga, or Ni, and Pd supported on the carrier; and an exhaust gas purification catalyst product including a catalyst support made of a ceramic or metallic material, and a layer of the aforementioned exhaust gas purification catalyst and which is supported on the catalyst support.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a stable production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising thin fibers and having extremely few thick fibers [number of fusion-bonded fibers] formed by fusion bonding of thermoplastic resin fibers to one another, and an apparatus for the same. The present invention relates to a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising polyolefin fibers and having (i) a mean fiber diameter of not more than 2.0 ?m, (ii) a fiber diameter distribution CV value of not more than 60%, and (iii) 15 or less fusion-bonded fibers based on 100 fibers; a production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric characterized by feeding cooling air of not higher than 30° C. from both side surfaces of outlets of slits 31 from which high-temperature high-velocity air is gushed out and thereby cooling the spun molten resin; and a production apparatus for the same.

Abstract: A polyurethane dispersion is obtained by aqueously dispersing an aqueous polyurethane resin obtained by reaction of an isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer with a chain extender. The isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer contains an adhesive urethane prepolymer for imparting adhesion and a gas-barrier urethane prepolymer for imparting gas barrier properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to flexible thin films for use in electro-active optical systems. Embodiments of the invention include thin films having diffractive structures on at least one surface of the film, and methods of making such films. Embodiments of the invention also include lens blanks that comprise such thin films. Embodiments of the invention also include methods of making lens blanks that comprise such thin films.

Abstract: Demyelinated axons were remyelinated in the demyelinated rat model by collecting bone marrow cells from mouse bone marrow and transplanting the mononuclear cell fraction separated from these bone marrow cells.

Abstract: A polymeric piezoelectric material is provided that includes an aliphatic polyester (A) with a weight-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and having optical activity, and a stabilizing agent (B) with a weight-average molecular weight of from 200 to 60,000 having at least one kind of functional group selected from the group consisting of a carbodiimide group, an epoxy group and an isocyanate group, wherein the crystallinity of the material obtained by a DSC method is from 20% to 80%, a content of the stabilizing agent (B) is from 0.01 part by mass to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the aliphatic polyester (A), and internal haze with respect to visible light is 50% or less, as well as a process for producing the same.

Abstract: Provided are an efficient method for producing 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives and useful production intermediates thereof. Provided is a method for producing 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives represented by general formula (1), comprising converting a compound represented by general formula (3) in the presence of acid after reacting with an aniline derivative, or converting a compound represented by general formula (3) by reacting with an aniline derivative in the presence of an acid.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence device having a long lifetime and a higher emission efficiency and a specific aromatic amine derivative which provides such an organic electroluminescence device are provided. In the specific aromatic amine derivative, a dibenzofuranyl group or a dibenzothiophenyl group is bonded via a p-phenylene and a heteroaryl group is bonded via a m-phenylene. The organic electroluminescence device includes a cathode, an anode and an organic thin film layer including one or more layers which is disposed between the cathode and the anode. The organic thin film layer includes at least one light emitting layer and at least one layer of the organic thin film layer includes the aromatic amine derivative singly or in combination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition having adequate foamability, uses thereof, a copolymer contained in the rubber composition, a rubber composition capable of providing a cross-linked foam, which has a low specific gravity and an excellent shape-retaining property even when the usage of a nonconjugated polyene is reduced, and a cross-linked rubber and a cross-linked foam, which are produced from the rubber composition.