Abstract: A method of thinning lateral flowers of apples, comprising applying of flower thinning effective amount of a pyrazole compound represented by general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; andR.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which are the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,to flowers of apples. A compound in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each a methyl group, and R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom is preferred. The pyrazole compounds are applied at a flowering stage of apples, preferably in a period from immediately after full bloom to terminal flowers of apples to 2 days thereafter, typically in a proportion of from about 5 mg to about 75 g per tree at a coverage in a range of from about 20 mg/10a to about 2,000 g/10a.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte gas sensor and a method for the measurement of a concentration of a gas to be detected in a gas mixture. The sensor has (A) a screen for controlling a permeation rate of the gas, which comprises (a1) a first solid electrolytic membrane selectively permeable to ions derived from a specific gas, and (a2) a plurality of first porous conductors being present on both front and reverse surfaces of the first solid electrolytic membrane and electrically connected with each other so as to give a potential required for oxidation and reduction of the gas, and (B) a detection portion for detecting a permeation amount of ions derived from the gas, which comprises (b1) a second solid electrolytic membrane, (b2) a plurality of second porous conductors, and (b3) means of electrically measuring an amount of ions derived from the gas which permeates the second solid electrolytic membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound represented by the following general formula(I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a substituted amino group, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be the same or different, represent an alkyl group, or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together form a nobornylidene group or bicyclo (3, 3, 1) 9-nonylidene group which may have a substituent, and ##STR2## represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or divalent unsaturated heterocyclic group which may have a substituent, with the proviso that when R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent an alkyl group, ##STR3## represents a bicyclic aromatic fused ring which is substituted with at least one substituent selected form the group consisting of a halgoen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, --R.sub.5 --S--R.sub.6 and ##STR4## (in which R.sub.5 represents an alkylene group or --O--R.sub.8).sub.n (in which R.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hardening material comprising (a) a powder component composed of a powdery mixture of tetracalcium phosphate and calcium phosphate having a Ca/P atomic ratio lower than 1.67 and (b) a liquid component composed of a colloidal aqueous solution comprising solid colloid particles dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein said components (a) and (b) are independently packed and both the components are mixed for hardening.This hardening material can give a hardened body having a high strength without showing any harmful action on a living body. Accordingly, this hardening material is especially effectively used for the restoration of a hard tissue of a living body.

Abstract: A process for producing a sintered body of aluminum nitride, which comprises(1) forming a raw molded article from a homogeneous mixture of(A) a fine powder of aluminun nitride, and(B) a sintering aid composed substantially of (a) at least one halogen compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, lanthanum group metals and yttrium, and (b) at least one halogen-free compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, lanthanum group metals and yttrium; and(2) sintering the raw molded article at a temperature of 1600.degree. to 2100.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A sintered body having a high thermal conductivity and a high density of at least 3.2 g/cm.sup.3 is prepared by the process.

Abstract: Disclosed in a cement composition comprising an unsaturated carboxylic acid polymer and an alkaline earth metal aluminofluorosilicate glass, wherein the alkaline earth metal aluminofluorosilicate glass comprises (a) 50 to 95% by weight of coarse particles having a spherical shape and an F/Si ratio of at least 0.1 but lower than 0.6 and having a particle size larger than 3 .mu.m but not larger than 50 .mu.m and (b) 5 to 50% by weight of fine particles having an F/Si ratio of 0.6 to 5 and a particle size of up to 3 .mu.m.This cement composition gives a cured body having a good surface gloss and a high strength, and this cement composition has a good flowability and a good workability. Accordingly, the cement composition is valuable as a dental cement composition.

Abstract: A thermistor element composed substantially of a vanadium-containing titania having dissolved therein 0.01 to 10 at. %, based on titanium, of vanadium and optionally 10 at. % or less, based on titanium, of at least one element selected from the group containing of cobalt, copper, manganese, iron, nickel, bismuth, strontium, barium, lead and zinc. A gas sensor using the thermistor element as a temperature sensor is described.

Abstract: An electrode is arranged in an integrally formed, seamless, self-supporting tubular ion exchanger, and a liquid supply and discharge mechanism for circulating an electrolyte is arranged in the tubular ion exchanger to construct an electrode apparatus for the dialysis. When this apparatus is used for the dialysis of an electrodeposition coating solution, leakage of the coating solution into the electrode portion and leakage of the electrolyte into a tank are prevented.

Abstract: An alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate sintered body is obtained by molding a starting mixture of a zeolite having an alkaline earth metal form and an SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio not higher than 3.0 and a boron compound such as boron oxide, and firing the molded body at a temperature lower than 1,000.degree. C. An amorphous calcination product formed by calcining the zeolite may also be used in the starting mixture with the boron compound. This process allows the range of firing temperatures suitable for formation of a sintered body to be varied over a range of from about 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. or more while also allowing lower firing temperatures than in the absence of the boron compound to be used while still obtaining the desired densified sintered body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a perfluoroorganic compound, which comprises fluorinating a partially fluorinated or unfluorinated organic compound having carbon-to-fluorine bonds under mild conditions and then, contacting the resulting reaction mixture with a fluorine gas at a temperature of 110.degree. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane for the separation of a water-alcohol mixed liquid by the pervaporation method, which is composed of a chitosan having a molecular weight of 80,000 to 150,000 and a deacetylation degree adjusted to 80 to 95%. This separating membrane has an excellent selective permeability to water in the separation of a water-alcohol mixed liquid, and the mechanical strength of this separating membrane is very high. This separating membrane can be prepared by a process comprising dissolving a chitosan having a molecular weight of 80,000 to 150,000 and a deacetylation degree adjusted to 80 to 95% in an acidic aqueous solution to form a dope having a chitosan concentration of 9 to 12% by weight, shaping the dope into a membrane and immersing the membrane in an alkaline solution.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula [I] ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## represents a norbornylidene group or an adamantylidene group each of which may have a substituent, andX represents an oxygen atom, the group >N--R.sub.2, the group >N--A.sub.1 --B.sub.1 --A.sub.2).sub.m (B.sub.2).sub.n R.sub.3, the group >N--A.sub.3 --A.sub.4, or the group >N--A.sub.3 --A.sub.4, provided that when ##STR3## is an adamantylidene group, X is selected from the above groups excepting the oxygen atom and the group >N--R.sub.2 ; and plastic lens containing the compound of the above formula [I].

Abstract: A process for producing a sintered body of aluminum nitride, which comprises mixing an aluminum nitride powder with (A) an alkaline earth metal aluminate, or both of (A-1) an oxide or oxide-forming compound of aluminum, and (A-2) an oxide or oxide-forming compound of an alkaline earth metal, and (B) an oxide or oxide-forming compound of yttrium or an element of the lanthanide series, and firing the resulting mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a perfluorinated copolymer having a predetermined ratio of monomer units, which comprises copolymerizing 99.5 to 50 mole % of (I) tetrafluoroethylene with 0.5 to 50 mole % of (II) a monomer represented by the following general formula:CF.sub.2 =CFOCH.sub.2 C.sub.n F.sub.l X.sub.m H.sub.(2n+1-l-m) (II)wherein X stands for --Cl or --Br, n is an integer of at least 0, l is an integer of from 0 to (2n+1), m is 0 or 1, and the relation of l+m.ltoreq.2n+1 is established, in the state where both the monomers are dissolved at a predetermined monomer ratio in an organic solvent, to thereby form a copolymer comprising units of the monomers at a ratio substantially equal to said predetermined monomer ratio, and fluorinating said copolymer with molecular fluorine.The heat resistance is highly improved in the copolymer obtained according to this process without degradation of other physical properties, and generation of hydrogen fluoride by heat is hardly caused.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a perfluoro organic compound, which comprises fluorinating a partially fluorinated or unfluorinated organic compound having carbon-to-fluorine bonds under mild conditions and then, contacting the resulting reaction mixture with a fluorine gas at a temperature of 110.degree. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anion-exchange membrane prepared by subjecting a membrane composed of a resin containing a high-molecular-eight compound having haloalkyl groups chemically bound thereto to ultraviolet radiation or ionizing radiation to thereby decrease the amount of the haloalkyl groups present in its surface portion less than 0.1 micrometer deep from its surface by 10 to 95% from that of the haloalkyl groups present in the interior of the membrane, and the converting the haloalkyl groups present in the membrane into anion-exchange groups.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adhesive composition comprising (a) 100 parts by weight of a monomer mixture comprising a vinyl monomer having an acidic group in the molecule and a vinyl monomer copolymerizable with said vinyl monomer, (b) 10 to 500 parts by weight of a filler, (c) 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of a polymerization initiator and (d) 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of ascorbic acid or a derivative thereof.This adhesive composition has a high bonding force and an excellent durability even in a severe environment, for example, in the environment in the oral cavity. Accordingly, this adhesive composition is especially valuable used as a dental adhesive.

Abstract: A haloacetamide compound of the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 heteroaryl group having one or two hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N,R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, independently from each other, represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy group, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, taken together, represent a C.sub.2 -C.sub.16 alkylene group,R.sub.4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 aryl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkenyl grup or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkynyl group, andY represents a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I;and its use as herbicide.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula [I] ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## represents a norbornylidene group or an adamantylidene group each of which may have a substituent, andX represents an oxygen atom, the group >N-R.sub.2, the group >N-A.sub.1 -B.sub.1 --A.sub.2).sub.m (B.sub.2).sub.n R.sub.3, the group >N-A.sub.3 -A.sub.4, or the group >N-A.sub.3 -R.sub.4, provided that when ##STR3## is an adamantylidene group, X is selected from the above groups excepting the oxygen atom and the group >N-R.sub.2 ; and plastic lens containing the compound of the above formula [I].

Abstract: A curable composition comprising an unsaturated polyether having terminal alkenyl groups, a linear or branched siloxane-substituted polyether having terminal polyorganosiloxane residues and at least two Si-H groups in the molecule and a catalyst having platinum as the main component has an excellent deep portion curing property and provides a cured body having a good hydrophilic property and a good dimensional reproducibility. This curable composition is especially valuable as a dental impression material.