Abstract: A method for producing an alkaline earth metal carbonate crystal comprising allowing an alkaline earth metal ion that is present at an ion concentration of 0.5 mol/L or less and a carbonate ion to react under an alkali condition to generate an alkaline earth metal carbonate crystal having an aspect ratio of 1.5 or more. An alkaline earth metal carbonate crystal produced by the method is preferably blended with an optical resin and can sufficiently reduce the birefringence and prevent deterioration of the original optical resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for extracting magnetically hard alloy nanoparticles, which comprises preparing a magnetic alloy nanoparticle dispersion by heating an organometallic compound containing a metal constituting a magnetically hard ordered alloy with a polyol compound having a boiling point of 150 to 350° C. and extracting magnetically hard alloy nanoparticles from the dispersion into a hydrophobic organic solvent in the presence of a hydrophobic surface modifying agent. The method can provide magnetically hard alloy nanoparticles showing almost no particle aggregation and markedly reduced load for drying.

Abstract: A knockout mouse whose genome includes an inactivated CRTH2 gene. The knockout mouse is obtained by subjecting to a serial passage a chimeric mouse originating from an early embryo to which a CRTH2-gene-knocked-out mouse embryonic stem cell has been introduced. Also disclosed is a detection method which includes employing, as an index, pathological condition of the knockout mouse to which the test substance has been administered, to thereby detect, in vivo, characteristics of a test substance in relation to CRTH2, or functions of CRTH2 in the living body.

Abstract: A fabricating method of a wiring board provided with passive elements is disclosed. The fabricating method includes coating one or both of resistive paste and dielectric paste on at least any one of first surfaces of a first metal foil and a second metal foil each of which has a first surface and a second surface; arranging an insulating board having thermo-plasticity and thermo-setting properties so as to face the first surface of the first metal foil, and arranging the first surface side of the second metal foil so as to face a surface different from a surface to which the first metal foil faces of the insulating board; forming a double-sided wiring board by stacking, pressurizing and heating the arranged first metal foil, insulating board, and second metal foil, and thereby integrating these; and patterning the first metal foil and/or the second metal foil.

Abstract: A doped-type metal sulfide phosphor nanoparticle, whose surface is modified with a surface modifier, the surface modifier being a compound of formula [I]: HS-L-W??Formula [I] wherein L is a divalent linking group; and W is COOM or NH2, in which M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, or NX4, in which X is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; a dispersion containing the nanoparticle; and a method of producing the nanoparticle or the dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-shielding film arranged in a display device and shading a part of a display screen as a part of a color filter, which film includes fine metallic compound particles having an average particle diameter of 60 to 3000 nm and a high-molecular-weight binder, and has an optical density of 2.0 or more in a light-shaded region.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of identifying a substance which acts on a newly found second human prostaglandin D2 receptor subtype that differs from the DP receptor, and is useful for treating or preventing various diseases. In order to attain the object, the present invention provides a method of identifying properties of a test substance with respect to a human prostaglandin D receptor, by establishing correlation between the effect of a test substance on human CRTH2 with the effect of the test substance on the human prostaglandin D receptor.

Abstract: A novel method for producing a structure having cavities is disclosed. The method comprises a first step of coating a colloidal dispersion liquid on a substrate and then drying to thereby form a layer of colloidal beads on said substrate; a second step of forming a film comprising a metal and/or metal compound on surfaces of said colloidal beads placed on said substrate; and a third step of removing said colloidal beads thereby to form cavities in place of said colloidal beads.

Abstract: A fabricating method of a wiring board provided with passive elements is disclosed. The fabricating method includes coating one or both of resistive paste and dielectric paste on at least any one of first surfaces of a first metal foil and a second metal foil each of which has a first surface and a second surface; arranging an insulating board having thermo-plasticity and thermo-setting properties so as to face the first surface of the first metal foil, and arranging the first surface side of the second metal foil so as to face a surface different from a surface to which the first metal foil faces of the insulating board; forming a double-sided wiring board by stacking, pressurizing and heating the arranged first metal foil, insulating board, and second metal foil, and thereby integrating these; and patterning the first metal foil and/or the second metal foil.

Abstract: A light-emitting element comprising a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a back electrode, on a substrate, wherein the light-emitting layer comprises photoluminescent metal oxide nanoparticles having an average particle size of 1 to 50 nm; and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: A process for producing a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which comprises polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersant, a stabilizer and a polymerization initiator, wherein the polymerization initiator is a redox polymerization initiator comprising a halogen acid salt YXO3/a sulfite Z2SO3 wherein X is a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom, Y is a hydrogen atom, ammonium, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and Z is ammonium, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. By this process, it is possible to obtain a tetrafluoroethylene polymer which is suitable for a stretching operation after paste extrusion.

Abstract: An audio decoding device includes a playback speed change device for changing, with respect to a decoded audio signal obtained by a decoding device, the playback speed thereof; an output buffer for temporarily storing a digital audio signal outputted from the playback speed change device; a read out device for reading out the digital audio signals stored in the output buffer at predetermined time intervals; a playback speed control device for controlling the playback speed change device on the basis of the number of packets stored in the jitter buffer; and decoding timing control means for controlling the timing of decoding by the decoding device on the basis of the amount of data stored in the output buffer.

Abstract: A process for producing a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which comprises polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous medium in the presence of a water-soluble initiator, wherein the water used for the polymerization is regulated to have a TOC of 100 ppb or lower and/or an electrical conductivity of 1.0 &mgr;S/cm or lower. When this process for producing a tetrafluoroethylene polymer is employed, a decrease or fluctuation in the polymerization rate during the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene will be minimal, and a deterioration in the physical properties of the obtained tetrafluoroethylene polymer will be minimal.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is produced by drawing a pattern on a substrate by an ink comprising a dispersion of fine particles of a metal oxide or hydroxide; and reducing at least part of the fine particles of a metal oxide or hydroxide to a metal to form a conductive pattern.

Abstract: A tetrafluoroethylene polymer is produced by polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in the presence of an aqueous medium and a polymerization initiator, wherein the content of impurities (e.g. a saturated compound such as CH2F2 or CHF3 and an unsaturated compound such as CF2═CFH, CF2═CH2, CF2═CFCl or CF2═CHCl) in the tetrafluoroethylene is not more than 100 ppm. By this method, PTFE which is uniform and stretchable at a high stretch ratio and which is excellent in the fibrillation property and has a high break strength, can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a transparent conductive film comprising a coating step for coating a coating solution containing metal nanoparticles on a substrate to form a coated layer, a drying step for drying the coated layer and a baking step for baking the coated layer to obtain a transparent conductive film, wherein a metal in the metal nanoparticles is oxidized to a metal oxide during at least one of the coating step, the drying step and the baking step. According to this method, a transparent conductive film having a low specific resistance and a high light transmittance can be produced by coating.

Abstract: A method of producing a paraffin wax for aqueous dispersion polymerization of TFE which allows high speed aqueous dispersion polymerization of TFE with excellent polymerization behavior such as excellent dispersion stability and consistent production of PTFE having excellent physical properties, and a method of producing PTFE using the paraffin wax. Aqueous dispersion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as TFE) is conducted in the presence of a paraffin wax, a polymerization initiator and an emulsifier at least once and then the paraffin wax is recovered. The recovered paraffin wax is used for aqueous dispersion polymerization of TFE in the presence of a polymerization initiator and an emulsifier.

Abstract: A novel method for producing a structure having cavities is disclosed. The method comprises a first step of coating a colloidal dispersion liquid on a substrate and then drying to thereby form a layer of colloidal beads on said substrate; a second step of forming a film comprising a metal and/or metal compound on surfaces of said colloidal beads placed on said substrate; and a third step of removing said colloidal beads thereby to form cavities in place of said colloidal beads.

Abstract: A light-emitting element comprising a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a back electrode, on a substrate, wherein the light-emitting layer comprises photoluminescent metal oxide nanoparticles having an average particle size of 1 to 50 nm; and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: A rewritable or write-once medium with increased recording density and sensitivity is disclosed, the medium having at least a first dielectric layer, a recording layer and a second dielectric layer in this order on a substrate, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric layers is formed by applying a colloidal dispersion which comprises inorganic dielectric nanoparticles having an average particle size of 1 to 50 nm and having the surface thereof modified with an adsorptive compound, and the recording layer is formed by applying a colloidal dispersion which comprises metal chalcogenide nanoparticles having an average particle size of 1 to 20 nm and having the surface thereof modified with an adsorptive compound. The dielectric layer and the recording layer are formed by spin coating or web coating.