Abstract: An ultrathin solid membrane is composed substantially of a silicon-containing copolymer consisting substantially of recurring units derived from a silicon-containing allyl monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and/or a diene monomer. The ultrathin solid membrane is useful for obtaining a specified gas, such as oxygen, in a concentrated state, from a mixture of two or more gases, such as air.

Abstract: A solid heat-generating composition utilizing the heat of hydration of calcium oxide, comprising calcium oxide and a solid substance supplying water capable of reacting with calcium oxide such as a solid substance having water of absorption, adsorption or crystallization, and an organic compound which yields water by an intramolecular or intermolecular reaction at elevated temperature. The composition can be utilized in various applications utilizing heat generation, for example for thawing and heating frozen foods, controlled releasing of agricultural chemicals such as insecticides or repellents, warming human body, etc.

Abstract: A melt-molded film of a wholly aromatic polyester, said film having in its plane two perpendicularly crossing directions in each of which the Young's modulus and strength of the film at 25.degree. C. are at least about 200 kg/mm.sup.2 and at least about 5 kg/mm.sup.2 respectively, the product of the Young's moduli of the film in the two directions being at least 8.times.10.sup.4 (kg/mm.sup.2).sup.2, and said wholly aromatic polyester being substantially linear, having a melt viscosity at about its melting point of at least about 10000 poises, and being composed substantially of recurring units derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, recurring units derived from a m- or p-oriented aromatic dicarboxylic acid and recurring units derived from a m- or p-oriented aromatic dihydroxy compound, the proportion of said recurring units derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid being about 30 to about 70 mole % based on the entire recurring units.

Abstract: A novel 7-hydroxyprostaglandin E.sub.1, or a stereoisomer thereof, or a protected derivative thereof, having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.8 represents H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5, R.sup.9 represents H or CH.sub.3, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are identical or different, and each represents H, tetrahydropyranyl or t-butyldimethylsilyl. Also provided is a process for producing an adjacently disubstituted ketone including the above compounds, i.e. 7-oxoprostaglandin, etc. which comprises reacting an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compound with a cuprous salt and an organolithium compound in an aprotic inert organic medium in the presence of trialkylphosphine, the amounts of said cuprous salt and said organolithium compound being substantially equimolar, and reacting the product with a protected acetal derivative of an organic carbonyl compound or an aldehyde in the presence of a Lewis acid, if necessary, followed by reacting the product with a proton donor.

Abstract: This invention provides a commercially advantageous process for producing a foamed article of an aromatic polyester, especially a large-sized foamed article of aromatic polyester having a high expansion ratio. The process comprises mixing an aromatic polyester, a polyepoxy compound, a compound of a metal of Group Ia, IIa or IIIa of the periodic table and a blowing agent in a melt extrusion molding machine optionally with a fibrous filler while introducing the blowing agent thereinto under pressure, extruding the molten mixture from the molding machine, further expanding the foamed unsolidified extrudate in an atmosphere maintained at reduced pressure, and solidifying it by cooling in an atmosphere maintained at reduced pressure. The resulting aromatic polyester foamed article has numerous fine cells having uniform volumes, shapes and distribution.

Abstract: A process for producing wholly aromatic polyamide fibers by extruding a spinning solution of a wholly aromatic polyamide in an amide solvent into an aqueous coagulating bath containing inorganic salts, said process comprising feeding an aqueous coagulating liquid containing calcium chloride and having an amide solvent concentration of not more than 3% by weight to the vicinity of a spinneret, flowing the coagulating liquid in said bath at an average velocity not more than 0.1 time the velocity of yarn take-up in the yarn advancing direction, discharging the coagulating liquid having an amide solvent concentration of not less than 4% by weight from said bath, treating the coagulating bath with an organic solvent consisting substantially of methylene chloride, and extracting and recovering the amide solvent from the coagulating liquid.