Abstract: To provide an electrode for a polymer electrolyte membrane having high gas diffusion performance, a membrane/electrode assembly, and a process for producing a nonwoven structure for a catalyst layer, which can produce the membrane/electrode assembly inexpensively and easily. The catalyst layer 11 of the electrode comprises a nonwoven structure of an ion-exchangeable fluoropolymer fiber, wherein the fiber diameter of the fiber is from 0.1 to 30 ?m, and the bulk density of the nonwoven structure is from 0.1 to 1.1 g/cc. The nonwoven structure is produced by forming fiber from a fiber spinning stock solution containing the ion-exchangeable fluoropolymer by an electrical field fiber spinning method, followed by gathering the fiber. A catalyst is blended in the fiber spinning stock solution or is adhered on the nonwoven structure.

Abstract: A shape memory resin of the present invention contains a network polymer and a thermoplastic polymer, and the thermoplastic polymer is dissolved in the network polymer. The shape memory resin of the present invention can be produced by a simple process of simply dissolving the thermoplastic polymer in a network polymer precursor and cross-linking this network polymer precursor. In the present invention, an epoxy compound is preferably used as the network polymer precursor.

Abstract: A lactic acid component (e.g., lactic acid or oligo (lactic acid)) can be obtained by extraction from a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less, using at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and mineral spirit. Furthermore, oligo (lactic acid) can be obtained, by heating a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less under reduced pressure, and washing, with water, the fermentation liquor containing a produced oligo (lactic acid). Hence, a method is provided for separating a lactic acid component from a lactic acid fermentation liquor, which is free from incorporation of impurities and which includes simple steps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hyaluronidase inhibitor containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) as an active ingredient, a composition for maintaining skin elasticity and a composition for improving allergy, wherein each of the compositions contains PGA as an active ingredient. The inventive compositions containing PGA are effective in maintaining skin moisturization and skin elasticity by effectively inhibiting the activity of hyaluronidase which is an enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid present in the skin dermis. Also, the compositions can relieve allergic symptoms by inhibiting the permeability of inflammatory cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to PGA-vitamin complex containing poly-?-glutamic acid(PGA), vitamin preparations containing said PGA-vitamin complex or cosmetic compositions. The inventive PGA-vitamin complex having excellent hygroscopicity, moisturizing property and skin compatibility, which is a complex of poly-?-glutamic acid and vitamin, has the effect of sustained-release as well as improves stability of vitamin having the functions, such as promotion of metabolism, anti-oxidation effect, protection of cell wall, increasing immunity, prevention of dry skin and keratinization, anti-wrinkles and moisturizing skin, thereby being useful as cosmetic compositions and sustained-release vitamin preparations for various applications.

Abstract: A curable resin composition, which comprises a resin formed, in the presence of a transition metal complex, by polymerizing an oxidative-polymerizable compound that contains a phenol-compound-containing vegetable oil. A method for producing a curable resin composition comprising a resin formed, in the presence of a catalyst, by polymerizing an oxidative-polymerizable compound that contains a phenol-compound-containing vegetable oil, wherein the catalyst is a transition metal complex. The curable resin composition is useful as a raw material for a urushi-like coating, a friction material, a brake lining material, a brake pad material, a material for forming a coating film, a compound for a recording material, a raw material for an ink, a raw material for a coating,.a raw material for a adhesive, a raw material for an epoxy resin, a raw material for a photoresist or antioxidant, and a starting material for a functional polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable resin compound which is soluble in organic solvents and easy to use, and a method for producing the same. The curable resin compound comprises a structure and crosslinkable groups which end-cap the structure, the structure comprising three or four non-substituted benzene rings each of which is joined with each adjacent benzene ring by an ether or ketone linkage so that both types of linkages are present in the structure. Though the curable resin compound exhibits satisfactory solubilities in organic solvents, a composition comprising the compound can be cured by a crosslinking reaction to be insoluble in the organic solvents while being provided with improved solvent resistance and chemical resistance. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a cured-resin material derived from the aforementioned curable resin compound, the cured-resin material being excellent in solvent resistance, chemical resistance and thermal resistance.

Abstract: Phenols are reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a solution comprising an organic solvent compatible with water, water, a peroxidase and a dispersing agent to obtain spherical polyphenol particles.

Abstract: In a method for ring opening polymerization in which the polymerization proceeds with the ring opening of a cyclic compound as a monomer, a hydrolase is used as a catalyst.

Abstract: A copolymer of the present invention is produced by copolymerization of an electron-donating monomer having an electron-accepting group and an electron-accepting monomer having an electron-accepting group. The copolymer thus exhibits a high dielectric constant, a low level of hygroscopicity and good adhesion.

Abstract: A polyfunctional polymerization initiator suitable to cationic ring-opening polymerization of heterocyclic monomers, having at least one carbon atom bonded directly to a carbon-carbon double bond in a linear or cyclic organic group and, further, having at least two following groups containing the above said carbon atoms and represented by the general formula:--CH.sub.2 Xwhere X represents an electron attracting group such as I, Br, Cl, F, --OSO.sub.2 R, --SOR, --OCOR, --OPO(OR).sub.2 and --OP(OR)R and R is optionally selected from (substituted) alkyl groups or (substituted) aryl groups.Various types of telechelic polymer, block copolymer, comb-like polymer and star-like polymer having controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution can be produced efficiently from the heterocyclic monomer as the starting material.