Abstract: This invention relates to carboxylic acid ester compounds or liquid crystal compounds represented by the following formula [A], liquid crystal compositions and liquid crystal elements using these compounds, the method of producing said liquid crystal elements, and other uses. ##STR1## wherein R represents one radical selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 6-18 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 6-18 carbon atoms, and a halogenated alkyl group having 6-18 carbon atoms, X represents --CF.sub.3 or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3, m is an integral number of 1-10 when X is --CF.sub.3, and an integral number of 2-10 when X is --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.3, and C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyolefin fiber having an improved initial elongation, which comprises a strongly drawn body of a composition comprising ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and an ultra-high-molecular-weight copolymer of ethylene with an olefin having at least 3 carbon atoms at such a ratio that the content of the olefin having at least 3 carbon atoms in the entire composition is such that the number of side chains per 1000 carbon atoms in the composition is 0.2 to 5.0 on the average, and having an intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) of at least 5 dl/g as the entire composition, wherein the strongly drawn body has at least two crystal melting endothermic peaks, close to each other, in the region of temperature higher by at least 15.degree. C. than the inherent crystal melting temperature (Tm) of the composition determined as the main melting endothermic peak at the second temperature elevation when measured in the restrained state by a differential scanning calorimeter.

Abstract: A naphthalene compound having the following formula (I) and a liquid crystal composition containing the same: ##STR1## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, Y and Z independently represent a monovalent group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## wherein W represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R represents an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, provided that Y and/or Z represent the alkyl group, which is an optically active group including an asymmetric carbon having the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein A is a group or atom selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, halogen atoms and fluoroalkyl groups, n is an integer of 0 to 3, m is an integer of 3 to 6, and *C represents an asymmetric carbon.

Abstract: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) species having a specific molecular weight can be isolated in a purified form from a crude tPA preparation containing various tPA species having different molecular weights by bringing the crude tPA preparation into contact with hydroxyapatite and then separately eluting the adsorbed tPA species with eluents having different pHs and/or salt concentrations.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock device consists of a striker and a lock body. The striker has a pair of straight leg portions and arc shape portions, respectively formed at end portions of the leg portions. The lock body has a guide groove through which the striker proceeds or moves, a latch adapted to engage with the striker entering the guide groove, a ratchet keeping an engaged condition of the latch and striker, and a resilient stopper positioned at an end of the guide groove. The stopper has a first abutting portion against which the straight leg portion abuts and an arc shape second abutting portion against which the arc shape portions of the striker abuts. The leg portion abuts against the first abutting portion when the latch of the lock device situates at its mid position between the half latched position or condition and the full latched position or condition of the latch.

Abstract: A process for the production of a cycloolefin-based random copolymer, which comprises:(A) copolymerizing (a) ethylene and (b) at least one cycloolefin,(B) in the presence of a catalyst comprising a vanadium compound soluble in a mixed solvent described below and an organoaluminum compound.(C) in a mixed solvent comprising (a) a hydrocarbon-based solvent having a solubility parameter (.delta. value) of not less than 7.7 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 and (b) a hydrocarbon-based solvent having a solubility parameter (.delta. value) of not more than 7.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2, the mixed solvent having a volume ratio (a)/(b) of 90/10 to 50/50. The said process permits the production of a copolymer in a higher concentration when copolymers having an identical molecular weight to that of conventional copolymers are produced, and permits the production of a copolymer having a higher molecular weight when copolymers are produced in an identical concentration to that of conventional copolymers.

Abstract: Escherichia coli carrying a hybrid plasmid having been constructed by inserting a desired foreign gene into an expression vector so as to permitting expression of said desired foreign gene therein was cultured in a medium containing a sugar component utilizable by the E. coli as a carbon source at a concentration of 0.3% or more so that the expression of said desired foreign gene was suppressed. This E. coli (i.e., transformant) was cultured in the medium in which the sugar concentration was maintained at 0.3% or more in a first process so as to supress the suppression of the foreign gene and to support sufficient cell growth and thereafter at less than 0.3% in a second process to release the suppression of the expression so as to permit effective production of the foreign gene product, which resulted in high concentration of the foreign gene product in the final culture.

Abstract: A foamable polymer composition comprising[A] at least one cyclo-olefin resin selected from the group consisting of(A-1) ring-opened polymers derived from cyclo-olefins represented by the following general formula [I],(A-2) ring-opened copolymers derived from the cyclo-olefins of general formula [I],(A-3) hydrogenation products of the ring-opened polymers (A-1),(A-4) hydrogenation products of the ring-opened copolyers (A-2), and(A-5) addition polymers of the cycloolefins of general formula [I] with ethylene, and[B] a blowing agent, ##STR1## wherein n is 0 or a positive integer; R.sup.1 to R.sup.12, independently from each other, represent an atom or a group selected from the class consisting of a hydrogen atom, halogen atoms and hydrocarbon groups; R.sup.9 to R.sup.12 may be linked to each other to form a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group; and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10, or R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may each form an alkylidene group.

Abstract: A method for producing goethite having an axial ratio of at least 7 and a specific surface area of 20-80 m.sup.2 /g and suitable for use in the production of .alpha.-iron powder, which method comprises intermittently feeding an oxidizing gas into a suspension of ferrous hydroxide, which has been obtained by reacting a ferrous salt with an alkali hydroxide, preferably while controlling the oxidation rate of ferrous hydroxide below 7% per each feeding-feed-stopping cycle of the oxidizing gas and also controlling the feeding time period of the oxidizing gas within 10 minutes and shorter than a quarter of the feed-stopping time period per each feeding-feed-stopping cycle of the oxidizing gas.

Abstract: The effective ingredient in the inventive medicament against infection with influenza virus is tea, e.g., black tea, or a tea polyphenol as a constituent of tea including epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epicatechin, (+)catechin and the isomer thereof, free theaflavin, theaflavin monogallates A and B and theaflavin digallate.

Abstract: A method for preparing methacrolein comprises subjecting isobutylene or a tertiary butanol to gas phase catalytic oxidation with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a mixture of a composition (I) represented by the following general formula I:Mo.sub.a Bi.sub.b Fe.sub.c X.sub.d Y.sub.e Z.sub.f O.sub.g Iwherein X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co; Y represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, Cs and Tl; Z represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of those belonging to Group 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Periodic Table in accordance with IUPAC nomenclature (1989); and a, b, c, d, e, f and g each represents an atomic ratio of each corresponding element, when a is assumed to be 12, b is 0.

Abstract: A method for preparing an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile comprises bringing an .alpha.-oxycarboxylic acid amide represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R' and R" each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R' and R" represents an alkyl group, into contact with a solid acid catalyst with heating in the presence of water in a molar ratio of not more than 15 with respect to the .alpha.-oxycarboxylic acid amide. The method makes it possible to directly produce an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile at high yield and high selectivity utilizing an .alpha.-oxycarboxylic acid amide as a starting material, which can easily be obtained from an .alpha.-oxynitrile.

Abstract: A composition comprising polypropylene and a small amount of polyethylene can be shaped into an obliquely oriented film, and if obliquely oriented films shaped from this composition are laminated so that the molecular orientation directions cross one another, an obliquely oriented cross film having excellent heat resistance and mechanical strength is obtained. This cross film is suitably used as a base of a fastening tape for a paper diaper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the preparation of a thiazolecarboxylic acid chloride represented by the following general formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, or a lower alkyl group substituted by a halogen atom or lower alkoxy group, and R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a lower alkyl group substituted by a halogen atom or lower alkoxy group, which comprises reacting a thiazolecarboxylic acid represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the same meanings as defined with respect to formula (II), with phosgene or trichloromethyl chloroformate in the presence or absence of a catalyst.

Abstract: This invention is an industrially efficient and improved process for the preparation of aliphatic polyisocyanates by using esters as the solvent for converting aliphatic polyamines to isocyanates.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient suffering from tinea comprising applying to an affected part of the skin of the patient an anti-tinea effective amount of at least one tea polyphenol.

Abstract: A resin composition for sealing semiconductors which shows high heat resistance and is suitable for sealing semiconductor devices, etc., and which comprises an organic component containing a polymaleimide compound represented by the general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is a m-valent organic group having at least 2 carbon atoms and m is a positive integer of 2 or more, epoxy compounds mainly consisting of an epoxy compound represented by the general formula: ##STR2## where n is a positive integer of 3-16 and a compound having two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups, and an inorganic filler.

Abstract: A stretched film of polypropylene which is excellent in transparency, substantially free of an antiblocking agent and at least uniaxially stretched and which is characterized in that it has uniformly distributed projections having a height ranging from 0.05 to 0.50 .mu. and a width ranging from 10 to 100 .mu. at least on the surface thereof as well as a method for preparing the foregoing stretched film of polypropylene which comprises the steps of forming, into a sheet, polypropylene which comprises a nucleating agent in an amount selected so that the crystallization temperature of polypropylene is increased by 1.degree.to 10.degree. C. by the addition thereof and then stretching the sheet at a temperature ranging from 140.degree. to 165.degree. C. are herein disclosed.

Abstract: A preparation process of a phenol-based resin composition by conducting a crosslinking reaction of a specific silicone compound in the phenol-based resin in the presence of a specific emulsifier, crosslinking agent and catalyst and by the addition of water to disperse resulting silicone rubber as fine particles in the phenol-based resin.The phenol-based resin of the invention has no time-dependent variation in molding processability and molded products are stable and has no time-dependent change in impact resistance, flexural strength and thermal shock resistance (heat crack resistance), and hence the phenol-based resin composition is used for various molding materials and friction materials which require excellent mechanical strength, crack resistance, thermal shock resistance, stress relaxation resistance or abrasion resistance.

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.