Abstract: An electrode binder for a nonaqueous secondary battery; and a nonaqueous secondary battery electrode. The electrode binder for a nonaqueous secondary battery contains a resin component and is water-soluble. The surface free energy ?B at 23° C. is 70 mJ/m2 or less, and the dipole component ?pB of the surface free energy is 26 mJ/m2 or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a butanediol includes a step of culturing a microbe that contains a gene that codes acetoacetyl-CoA synthase that catalyzes a reaction that irreversibly produces acetoacetyl-CoA from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase that catalyzes a reaction that produces 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA from acetoacetyl-CoA, and an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction for producing a butanediol from 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA.

Abstract: A silicon substrate for a magnetic recording medium in which the substrate has a chamfered surface between its data-carrying surface (surface) having layers including a magnetic layer and its outer peripheral end surface (straight surface) is provided. The silicon substrate is characterized in that a dub-off value at an outer peripheral side of the data-carrying surface is not more than 120 ? wherein when a first position (A) is a point on the data-carrying surface radially and inwardly positioned at 1 mm from the outer peripheral end surface of the substrate, a second position (B) is a point on the data-carrying surface radially and inwardly positioned further at 1.