Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical near-field probe for optical near-field microscopy or optical near-field recording having an effective aperture diameter variable to comply with different applications. The improvement comprises attaching, to the aperture end opening of an optical fiber-based probe, a thin film made from a substance which is opaque but capable of being rendered transparent, such as antimony or photo-chromic compounds, by irradiation with light so that the center area only of the end opening becomes transparent and transmits the laser beam to serve as an effective aperture of a diameter variable depending on the intensity of the light.

Abstract: In a method of analyzing a concentration of a target substance contained in a fluid using a quartz oscillator having a surface covered with a layer capable of absorbing the target substance, the temperature of the fluid and the quartz oscillator is controlled at substantially the same predetermined temperature selected according to the concentration of the target substance in said fluid, so that the analysis can be made with optimum sensitivity. A device for analyzing a concentration of a target substance contained in a fluid, includes a contacting chamber accommodating a quartz oscillator, a temperature controller, disposed in a feed passage for feeding the fluid into said contacting chamber, for adjusting a temperature of the fluid at a desired predetermined temperature; and a detector of a frequency of the quartz oscillator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monolayer sheet structure of primary hepatocytes that could not be formed by conventional cell layer formation technology, along with a simple method of forming such a monolayer sheet structure, and this invention is a monolayer sheet structure formed as a confluent monolayer of primary hepatocytes cultured on a culture substrate, said monolayer sheet structure is formed by treating the hepatocytes with a protein-phosphorylation inhibitor having an indolo [2,3-a] carbazole or other similar structure in the monolayer formation stage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical recording layer in which the microaperture for reproducing optical near-field light is controllable so as to read out the optical near-field signals with stability by keeping the signal-reproducing head at a height safe from crashing with the recording medium even when the recording marks are smaller than 100 nm. The optical recording medium is a layered body comprising: (a) a transparent substrate; (b) a first protective layer formed on the substrate; (c) an optically or thermally active layer, which is capable of reversibly generating a micro-aperture by application of light or heat, formed on the first protective layer; (d) a second protective layer, which is under a compressive stress of 200 MPa to 1 GPa, formed on the active layer; (e) an optical recording layer formed on the second protective layer; and (f) a third protective layer formed on the optical recording layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which when a semi-finished product requiring cleanliness is transported between a processing and treating apparatus and a sealed vessel, maintains cleanliness of atmosphere without cleaning outside. When the transported sealed vessel is connected to an air lock means provided on the processing and treating apparatus, space of the air lock means is blocked from the outside such as cleanroom. After that, the air lock space is removed of contaminated external atmosphere. Then, transfer of the semi-finished product is performed between the vessel and the processing and treating apparatus. During this time, the sealed vessel and the processing and treating apparatus is maintained in the cleanliness. This invention localizes and saves the clean plenum needed for clean fabrication, which realizes the reduction of environmental cleanliness in a clean factory. Also, compared with the minienvironment method, this invention saves the footprints of fabrication apparatuses.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of efficiently manufacturing an oil-containing product including long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid or an high added value oil containing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, by using microorganisms.

Abstract: A device for capturing negatively or positively charged fine particles dispersed in a liquid includes a rotor having an outer surface charged in a polarity opposite to the particles and arranged to be rotated. By rotating the rotor while being maintained in contact with the liquid, the particles are captured on the outer surface thereof. Control of the rotational speed of the rotor makes it possible to selectively separate particles with desired particle sizes.

Abstract: A ruthenium (II) complex having a dipyridophenazine or tetrapyridophenazine ligand and being represented by the formula (1) or (2) shown in the specification. Upon absorption of light, the complex emits fluorescence for a longer life time in a protic solvent as compared with known analogous compounds.

Abstract: A biocidal material comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by General Formula (1)

Abstract: Disclosed is a high-efficiency stress-luminescent material capable of emitting luminescence by receiving a mechanical stress such as compression, shearing and rubbing. The stress-luminescent material is an alkaline earth aluminate of a non-stoichiometric composition deficient in the content of the alkaline earth element by 0.01 to 20% by moles from stoichiometry. The efficiency of stress-luminescence emission can be further enhanced when the non-stoichiometric alkaline earth aluminate contains 0.01 to 10% by moles of rare earth metal ions or transition metal ions. The stress-luminescent material is prepared by subjecting a non-stoichiometric composite oxide of aluminum oxide and an alkaline earth oxide to a calcination treatment at 800 to 1700° C. in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of preparing a crystalline or amorphous material, wherein a droplet of a melt of a metal-containing material is cooled in the atmosphere of an inert gas or in vacuum and in a microgravity environment to solidify the droplet. The cooling is performed by impingement of the droplet prior to solidification against a cooling surface.

Abstract: A novel triphenodioxazine compound represented by the formula (1), a process for preparing the same, use of the compound as a dichroic dye, and liquid crystal composition containing the compound are disclosed. The compound is useful as a dichroic dye having a narrow light absorption band and a high dichroic ratio. (In the formula, each of Y1 to Y4 stands for a group represented by the formula (2) or (3); h is an integer of 1 to 2; A stands for phenylene or the like; E stands for phenylene or the like; G stands for H, F, or the like; i is an integer of 1 to 2; j is an integer of 0 to 2, each of J and M stands for phenylene or the like; and Q stands for H, F or the like.

Abstract: An aliphatic copolyester having a plurality of first: ester units of the formula: —CO—[R1]t—CO—O—R2—O— wherein R1 represents a divalent aliphatic group, R2 represents a divalent aliphatic and t is an integer of 0 or 1, and a plurality of second ester units of the formula: wherein R1 and t are as defined above and R3 represents an aliphatic group. The molar ratio of the first ester unit to the second ester unit is 90:10 to 99.9:0.1. The copolyester is produced by reacting an aliphatic diester with an aliphatic glycol and with a monoacylated glycerin under ester exchanging conditions.

Abstract: A process of producing a polyester or copolyester, wherein at least one cyclic lactone of the following formula (I): wherein n is an integer of 1-4 provided that n is not 2 when only one cyclic lactone is used, is polymerized under a pressure of at least 200 MPa in the absence of any catalyst or in the presence of a metal-free polyesterification catalyst.