Abstract: [Problem]To provide a method for producing an electrocatalyst having no compositional scatter, wherein nano-level alloy catalyst molecules with an ordered particle size are supported in a highly dispersed state. [Means of Solution] The method includes the steps of preparing a reverse micelle solution by mixing two or more catalyst precursors selected from among metal salts and/or metal complexes, a solvent having hydrophilic groups and a non-aqueous solvent, forming alloy particles in the reverse micelle by adding a non-aqueous solution having a reducing action to the reverse micelle and heating, and supporting the alloy particles on a carrier.

Abstract: A lubricant additive comprising a rod-like liquid crystal compound possessing a cation group and an anion is disclosed. The rod-like liquid crystal compound is typically a specific type of 4-(1,3-diox-2-yl)pyridinium salt and exhibits an effect of reducing the coefficient of friction if added in a small amount. A lubricant composition and a grease composition comprising the lubricant additive are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: An liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material practical as an organic semiconductor is provided. The material is a liquid crystal composition having a smectic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material has a distyrylbenzene structure of formula (1). When heated to a temperature range for the smectic liquid crystal phase followed by being cooled, the material takes on a solid state as a result of phase transition from the smectic phase. Wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a group of general formula (2): Wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and B represents —(CH2)m—, —(CH2)m—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)m, —CO—O—(CH2)m—O—, —C6H4—CH2—O— or —CO—.

Abstract: A memory device of the present invention is characterized by a memory device for storing information by making use of molecular alignment of a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystalline state formed by spot irradiation with a laser beam to carry out a selective heat treatment on an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer containing a liquid crystal compound, comprising: a first electrode group including a plurality of linear electrodes which are parallel to each other; an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer formed in such a manner that the layer covers the first electrode group, the layer containing a liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structural moiety and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase; and a second electrode group formed on the electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer and including a plurality of linear transparent electrodes being parallel to each other and extend in a direction intersecting

Abstract: The vinyl-type conducting polymer precursor is dissolved in solution containing volatile solvent such as methanol, and the precursor fibers are produced by electrospinning. The vinyl-type conducting polymer fibers are produced by heat treatment of the precursor fibers at certain temperature and time in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere, or by zone reaction method, followed by doping with dopant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a zinc oxide thin film with high transparency and high conductivity on a surface of a flexible substrate such as plastic without the indispensable requirement of doping impurities. In the method of forming a zinc oxide thin film by reacting oxygen radicals and zinc atoms on a surface of a substrate placed in a film-forming chamber evacuated to a vacuum, the density of crystal defects that are defects of the atomic arrangement of the zinc oxide thin film is controlled by the temperature of the substrate, and the zinc oxide thin film is thereby formed. It is suitable to form the film while maintaining the temperature of the substrate at 400° C. or less to intentionally disturb the regularity of the atomic arrangement of the zinc oxide thin film.

Abstract: The invention provides an allergy prevention method or treatment method, diets and oral drugs enabling prevention/treatment of allergic symptoms without trouble such as systemic adverse reaction, immune deficiency and the like caused by transdermal/intravenous administration of TGF-?. The allergy prevention method or treatment method is to orally administer 100 ?g/kg or more of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) relative to a weight of an administration target body and thereby selectively suppress Th2 immune response, while with respect to the diets and oral drugs, the content is set to contain an effective amount of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-?) therein.

Abstract: A memory device includes first electrodes, second electrodes, third electrodes, heaters, and memory cells between the first electrodes and the heaters. Each third electrode is provided on the heaters, and each second electrode is provided at a side portion of the heaters. Each memory cell contains an electroconductive liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structure and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase. Information can be written in the memory cells by selectively heating the heaters to cause the corresponding memory cells to have both electroconductivity and optical anisotropy.

Abstract: A plasmid comprising a gene, which is reactive with dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to thereby be activated (hereinafter referred to as DRE gene), and a secretory marker protein expressing gene disposed understream of the DRE gene. Further, there is developed a transgenic cell having this plasmid introduced therein which when exposed to dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, secretes a secretory marker protein. Still further, there is developed a biosensor utilizing this transgenic cell.

Abstract: What is provided is a method and an apparatus for easily forming a multilayer structure of conductive metal thin films while forming a metal oxide thin film regardless of the conductivity of a substrate. A thin film of conductive metal is laminated by: dissolving metal precursors for a metal oxide to be formed and an oxidant to oxidize the metal precursors in a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid; forming a metal oxide thin film by an oxidation reaction on the surface of a substrate in the supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid; then, dissolving a reducing agent and conductive metal precursors in a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid; while reducing the metal oxide thin film formed on the surface of the substrate to a metal thin film, reducing the conductive metal precursors on the reduced metal thin film.

Abstract: An liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material practical as an organic semiconductor is provided. The material is a liquid crystal composition having a smectic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material has a distyrylbenzene structure of formula (1). When heated to a temperature range for the smectic liquid crystal phase followed by being cooled, the material takes on a solid state as a result of phase transition from the smectic phase. Wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a group of general formula (2): Wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and B represents —(CH2)m—, —(CH2)m—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)m, —CO—O—(CH2)m—O—, —C6H4—CH2—O— or —CO—.

Abstract: A lubricant additive comprising a rod-like liquid crystal compound possessing a cation group and an anion is disclosed. The rod-like liquid crystal compound is typically a specific type of 4-(1,3-diox-2-yl)pyridinium salt and exhibits an effect of reducing the coefficient of friction if added in a small amount. A lubricant composition and a grease composition comprising the lubricant additive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline styryl derivative represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group, a cyano group, a nitro group, F, —C(O)O(CH2)m—CH3, —C(O)—(CH2)m—CH3, or general formula (2); wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; B represents —(CH2)m—, —(CH2)m—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)m—, —CO—O—(CH2)m—O—, —C6H4—CH2—O— or —CO—; and m represents an integer of 1 to 18. R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each preferably represent a branched alkyl or alkoxy group represented by CH3—(CH2)x—CH(CH3)—(CH2)y—CH2— or CH3—(CH2)x—CH(CH3)—(CH2)y—CH2—O—, respectively, wherein x is an integer of 0 to 7, and y is an integer of 0 to 7. The styryl derivative is suitable for use as an organic semiconductor material.

Abstract: A memory device of the present invention is characterized by a memory device for storing information by making use of molecular alignment of a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystalline state formed by spot irradiation with a laser beam to carry out a selective heat treatment on an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer containing a liquid crystal compound, comprising: a first electrode group including a plurality of linear electrodes which are parallel to each other; an electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer formed in such a manner that the layer covers the first electrode group, the layer containing a liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structural moiety and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase; and a second electrode group formed on the electroconductive liquid crystal semiconductor material layer and including a plurality of linear transparent electrodes being parallel to each other and extend in a direction intersecting

Abstract: A memory device includes first electrodes, second electrodes, third electrodes, heaters, and memory cells between the first electrodes and the heaters. Each third electrode is provided on the heaters, and each second electrode is provided at a side portion of the heaters. Each memory cell contains an electroconductive liquid crystal compound having a long linear conjugate structure and exhibiting a smectic phase as a liquid crystal phase. Information can be written in the memory cells by selectively heating the heaters to cause the corresponding memory cells to have both electroconductivity and optical anisotropy.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a method for producing an electrocatalyst having no compositional scatter, wherein nano-level alloy catalyst molecules with an ordered particle size are supported in a highly dispersed state. [Means of Solution] The method includes the steps of preparing a reverse micelle solution by mixing two or more catalyst precursors selected from among metal salts and/or metal complexes, a solvent having hydrophilic groups and a non-aqueous solvent, forming alloy particles in the reverse micelle by adding a non-aqueous solution having a reducing action to the reverse micelle and heating, and supporting the alloy particles on a carrier.

Abstract: An acceleration protection suit having a sparingly extensible outer layer with veins running essentially along a bodily axis of a wearer which deforms when pressurized in such a way as to generate a tension in the sparingly extensible outer layer, with which pressure can be exerted on the wearer to offset G-forces. Means are provided for tightening and adjusting the protective suit to the wearer. At least part of the veins are permeable to gas at least in spots on a side facing the wearer so that the wearer can be air-conditioned by exiting gas when the veins are pressurized.

Abstract: A plasmid comprising a gene, which is reactive with dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to thereby be activated (hereinafter referred to as DRE gene), and a secretory marker protein expressing gene disposed understream of the DRE gene. Further, there is developed a transgenic cell having this plasmid introduced therein which when exposed to dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, secrets a secretory marker protein. Still further, there is developed a biosensor utilizing this transgenic cell.