Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a fundus image acquisition unit which acquires a plurality of fundus images acquired by imaging fundus of a subject's eye at different times and at least one fundus image that is fewer than the plurality of fundus images and acquired by imaging fundus of the subject's eye at a different time from those for the plurality of fundus images, a unit which generates a new fundus image by averaging the plurality of fundus images, an extraction unit which extracts a feature region from the generated new fundus image, and a unit which tracks the fundus such that positions of a first polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the new fundus image and a second polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the at least one fundus image may be corrected based on the extracted feature region and the at least one fundus image.

Abstract: A highly active and environment-friendly catalyst for use in a living radical polymerization is provided. A catalyst for use in a living radical polymerization method is provided. The catalyst comprises a central element, which is selected from nitrogen and phosphorus, and at least one halogen atom, which is bound to the central element. A monomer having a radical reactive unsaturated bond is subjected to a radical polymerization reaction in the presence of the catalyst, thereby it is possible to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The present invention has the merits such as low toxicity of the catalyst, a small amount of the catalyst being required, high solubility of the catalyst in the polymerization media, mild reaction conditions, no coloration, no odor (unnecessary post-treatment of molded products). The method of the present invention is more environment-friendly and economical than other living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are an aqueous pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, water, a high-molecular dispersant, and an alkali. The high-molecular dispersant is a diblock polymer having a formula (1) of A-B or a triblock polymer having a formula (2) of A-B-C. The diblock or triblock polymer is a diblock or triblock polymer obtained by polymerizing addition-polymerizable monomers with a radical generator while using an organic iodide as a polymerization initiating compound and an organic phosphorus compound, organic nitrogen compound or organic oxygen compound as a catalyst. Also disclosed are a production method and use of the aqueous pigment dispersion. With the high-molecular dispersant obtained by a simple living radical polymerization process free of the problems of conventional living radical polymerization and having a precisely-controlled molecular structure, the aqueous pigment dispersion can be obtained with the pigment dispersed in it.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsion binder containing an A-B block copolymer. The A-B block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, and a polydispersity index (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) of not greater than 1.7. The polymer block A has an acid value of 0 to 30 mgKOH/g and a glass transition point of not higher than 60° C. The polymer block B has an acid value of 75 to 250 mgKOH/g. The A-B block copolymer has been neutralized with an alkaline material, and has been allowed to self-emulsify in an aqueous medium to form emulsion particles having an average particle size of 30 to 300 nm.

Abstract: A nonmetallic compound having an ionic bond with a halide ion is used as a catalyst for living radical polymerization. Even if a radical initiator is not used, a monomer can be subjected to a radical polymerization to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced, and it is made possible to prevent adverse effects of using a radical initiator (such as side reactions). The present invention is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically excellent than conventional living radical polymerization methods, due to advantages such as low toxicity of the catalyst, low amount of the catalyst necessary, high solubility of the catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and no coloration/no odor, etc. The catalyst can be applied to various monomers and enables synthesis of high molecular weight polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are a resin-treated pigment characterized in that the resin-treated pigment comprises a pigment and a polymer of an unsaturated bond-containing monomer, a weight ratio of the pigment to the polymer (pigment:polymer) is from 50 to 95 to from 5 to 50, and the polymer is a block copolymer comprising from 5 to 70 mass % of an addition-polymerizable monomer having a UV-absorbing group; a production process of the resin-treated pigment; and a pigment dispersion using the resin-treated pigment.

Abstract: A nonmetallic compound having an ionic bond with a halide ion is used as a catalyst for living radical polymerization. Even if a radical initiator is not used, a monomer can be subjected to a radical polymerization to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced, and it is made possible to prevent adverse effects of using a radical initiator (such as side reactions). The present invention is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically excellent than conventional living radical polymerization methods, due to advantages such as low toxicity of the catalyst, low amount of the catalyst necessary, high solubility of the catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and no coloration/no odor, etc. The catalyst can be applied to various monomers and enables synthesis of high molecular weight polymers.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a lens, a lens frame that holds the lens, and a bonding member that water-tightly fixes the lens to the lens frame, the bonding member composed of Sn-alloy solder containing at least one of Zn, Sb, Al and In, having a melting point not higher than 200° C. and forming a chemical bond via oxygen, and the lens, the lens frame and the bonding member are provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, a liquid medium and a high-molecular dispersant. The high-molecular dispersant is a block polymer represented by A-B or A-B-C, in which A, B and C each represent a polymer block and the A and C blocks may be the same or different. The block polymer and its production process are also disclosed. The high-molecular dispersant is free of problems of a smell, coloration, a heavy metal and cost, and its use can provide a pigment dispersion excellent in the dispersion stability of a pigment.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a fundus image acquisition unit which acquires a plurality of fundus images acquired by imaging fundus of a subject's eye at different times and at least one fundus image that is fewer than the plurality of fundus images and acquired by imaging fundus of the subject's eye at a different time from those for the plurality of fundus images, a unit which generates a new fundus image by averaging the plurality of fundus images, an extraction unit which extracts a feature region from the generated new fundus image, and a unit which tracks the fundus such that positions of a first polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the new fundus image and a second polarization tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the at least one fundus image may be corrected based on the extracted feature region and the at least one fundus image.

Abstract: Provided is a method of living radical polymerization which does not necessitate complicated and intricate synthesis of a dormant species and which is highly efficient. A halogenated derivative compound is used as a dormant species for initiating living radical polymerization. The derivative compound is obtained by halogenating an alcohol compound having a non-conjugated structure or an amine compound having a non-conjugated structure with a halogenating agent capable of halogenating an alcohol or amine. A radical produced by elimination of halogen from the halogenated derivative compound is allowed to react with the unsaturated bond of the monomer. Thus, the monomer, which has a radical-reactive unsaturated bond, is polymerized by living radical polymerization. Preferably, the halogenating agent is a compound (NIS or the like) which also has a function as a catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a low-cost, highly active, environmentally friendly living radical polymerization method which does not require a radical initiator. Even if a catalyst is not used, a living radical polymerization method can be conducted by controlling the amount of the oxygen in the gaseous phase in the reaction vessel within a suitable range. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond can be subjected to a radical polymerization reaction to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional catalysts such as toxicity, low solubility, coloring/odor and the like, and is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically efficient than conventional living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsion binder containing an A-B block copolymer. The A-B block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, and a polydispersity index (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) of not greater than 1.7. The polymer block A has an acid value of 0 to 30 mgKOH/g and a glass transition point of not higher than 60° C. The polymer block B has an acid value of 75 to 250 mgKOH/g. The A-B block copolymer has been neutralized with an alkaline material, and has been allowed to self-emulsify in an aqueous medium to form emulsion particles having an average particle size of 30 to 300 nm.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion including an image pickup section, an illumination section, and a light guide inserted inside the insertion portion, the light guide including a plurality of fibers made of a glass not containing lead, the plurality of fibers guiding illuminating light from a light source apparatus to the illumination section, the light guide having a numerical aperture of 0.46 to 0.90. A core glass of a fiber have a refractive index nd of 1.56 to 1.74, and a composition of (A) 20 to 55 wt % SiO2, (B1) 0 to 4.0 wt % B2O3, (B2) neither P2O5 nor GeO2 contained, (C) 25 to 72 wt % (BaO+SrO+La2O3+Lu2O3+Ta2O5+Gd2O3+WO3), (D) 0 to 30 wt % ZnO, (E) no Al2O3 contained, (F) no ZrO2 contained, (G) neither PbO nor As2O3 contained, (H) 0 to 15 wt % (Na2O+K2O), (I) 0 to 0.050 wt % Sb2O3 and (J) 0.26 to 1.63 wt % (Na2SO4+K2SO4).

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst used for a living radical polymerization method, which contains a central element consisting of carbon and at least one halogen atom binding to the central element. Further, a hydrocarbon compound can be used as a catalyst precursor. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond is subjected to a radical polymerization reaction in the presence of the catalyst, consequently a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained, and thus the cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically excellent than conventional living radical polymerization methods, due to advantages such as low toxicity of the catalyst, low amount of the catalyst used, high solubility of the catalyst, mild reaction conditions, and no coloration/no odor (no need of any post-treatments for a molded article), and the like.

Abstract: Flow rate control valve includes: a target probe formed of a magnetically-responsive substance and mounted to one end of a spool; a sensor housing mounted to the one end of the sleeve and having a cylinder section defining an inner space to permit entry therein of the target probe; and first and second coils provided around the cylinder section and axially spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. The probe is constructed so that magnetic response of the coils gradually varies in one direction in response to a linear position of the target probe. The first coil responds to the target probe, while the second coil does not respond to the target probe. Impedance of the first coil varies with a linear position of the probe (31), and the linear position of the probe is detected through differential synthesis performed between outputs of the first and second coils.

Abstract: Provided is a low-cost, highly active, environmentally friendly living radical polymerization method which does not require a radical initiator. Even if a catalyst is not used, a living radical polymerization method can be conducted by controlling the amount of the oxygen in the gaseous phase in the reaction vessel within a suitable range. A monomer having a radical-reactive unsaturated bond can be subjected to a radical polymerization reaction to obtain a polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution. The cost of the living radical polymerization can be remarkably reduced. The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional catalysts such as toxicity, low solubility, coloring/odor and the like, and is significantly more environmentally friendly and economically efficient than conventional living radical polymerization methods.

Abstract: To determine an opening degree of a chamber angle with higher accuracy compared to that of a conventional technology, provided is an anterior ocular segment tomographic image analysis method including: a first determination step of determining an approximated line that approximates a shape of an anterior surface of an iris along the anterior surface of the iris in an anterior ocular segment tomographic image; a second determination step of determining an approximated line extended part obtained by extending the approximated line until the approximated line crosses a baseline in contact with an inner surface of a cornea and an inner surface of a sclera of an anterior ocular segment in the anterior ocular segment tomographic image; and a calculation step of calculating an opening degree of an anterior chamber angle of the anterior ocular segment through use of the approximated line and the approximated line extended part.