Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a processor. The processor is configured to: reconstruct, by employing a plurality of time-series images acquired by an endoscope, three-dimensional information of an imaging subject containing relative dimensions; calculate, on the basis of focus information of each of the plurality of images, scale information for converting the relative dimensions of the three-dimensional information to absolute dimensions; convert, by employing the scale information, the relative dimensions to the absolute dimensions; and output three-dimensional information containing the absolute dimensions.

Abstract: To provide an anionic surfactant powder comprising a polyoxyalkylene ether sulfate which powder has high stability in hard water, high low-temperature solubility and is improved in powder characteristics such as caking characteristics, and a method of producing the anionic surfactant powder. An anionic surfactant powder comprising polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates in which the average addition mol number of alkylene oxides is 0.05 to 2, wherein the content of the polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates provided with alkylene oxides added thereto in an amount of 4 mol or more is 30 % by weight or less based on the total anionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant powder further comprising a water-soluble inorganic salt, a method of producing each of these anionic surfactant powders, and a detergent composition and a cement additive comprising these anionic surfactant powders.

Abstract: The invention provides a granular anionic surfactant and a detergent composition blended with the same. Disclosed are a process for producing a granular anionic surfactant, which including stirring particles containing 50 to 100 wt % of an anionic surfactant at a temperature at which the anionic surfactant exhibits thermoplasticity at a stirring Froude number as defined below by equation (i) of 0.1 or more and less than 2.0; a granular anionic surfactant obtained by the process; a granular anionic surfactant having a surface roughness (Ra) of 1.0 ?m or less; and a detergent composition comprising the granular anionic surfactant. Fr=V/[(R×g)0.5]??(i) wherein Fr is Froude number, V is the peripheral speed at the top of a stirring blade [m/s], R is the radius of gyration of a stirring blade [m], and g is the acceleration of gravity [m/s2].

Abstract: A process for producing an emulsion, including adding a mixture (1) comprising a water-soluble inorganic salt (a) and/or an aqueous solution containing (a) to a mixture (2) containing a surfactant (b), a surfactant-emulsifying agent (c) for emulsifying the surfactant (b), and a hydrophilic powder (d), and mixing mixtures (1) and (2) to emulsify the surfactant (b), wherein water-soluble inorganic salt (a) may be a carbonate, surfactant (b) may be an anionic surfactant and/or a nonionic surfactant, surfactant-emulsifying agent (c) may be a water-soluble polymer, and hydrophilic powder (d) may be an inorganic chelating agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a granular anionic surfactant, including the steps of carrying out drying and granulation simultaneously while adding an anionic surfactant paste to a powder raw material under reduced pressure in a granulator provided with a stirring blade and a cracking blade to obtain granules.

Abstract: The invention relates to anionic surfactant powder granules having an average particle diameter of 0.1 mm or more to less than 0.5 mm, a loose bulk density of 400 to 1000 kg/m3 and a compaction degree of 3 to 25%, containing an anionic surfactant in an amount of 80 to 100 wt % based on the total amount of the powder granules.

Abstract: An anionic surfactant powder prepared by subjecting a mixture of an anionic surfactant and a solvent to microwave irradiation to remove at least a part of the solvent, and a process for preparing the anionic surfactant. The anionic surfactant powder can be suitably used for laundry detergents, detergents for tableware and kitchenware, foaming agents for toothpastes, powdery shampoos, emulsifying agents for polymerization, foaming agents for cement plaster and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing an emulsion, including the steps of adding a mixture (1) comprising a water-soluble inorganic salt (a) and/or an aqueous solution containing (a) to a mixture (2) containing a surfactant (b), a surfactant-emulsifying agent (c) for emulsifying the surfactant (b), and a hydrophilic powder (d), and mixing mixtures (1) and (2) to emulsify the surfactant (b).

Abstract: The invention provides a granular anionic surfactant and a detergent composition blended with the same. Disclosed are a process for producing a granular anionic surfactant, which including stirring particles containing 50 to 100 wt % of an anionic surfactant at a temperature at which the anionic surfactant exhibits thermoplasticity at a stirring Froude number as defined below by equation (i) of 0.1 or more and less than 2.0; a granular anionic surfactant obtained by the process; a granular anionic surfactant having a surface roughness (Ra) of 1.0 ?m or less; and a detergent composition comprising the granular anionic surfactant. Fr=V/[(R×g)0.5]??(i) wherein Fr is Froude number, V is the peripheral speed at the top of a stirring blade [m/s], R is the radius of gyration of a stirring blade [m], and g is the acceleration of gravity [m/s2].

Abstract: To provide an anionic surfactant powder comprising a polyoxyalkylene ether sulfate which powder has high stability in hard water, high low-temperature solubility and is improved in powder characteristics such as caking characteristics, and a method of producing the anionic surfactant powder. An anionic surfactant powder comprising polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates in which the average addition mol number of alkylene oxides is 0.05 to 2, wherein the content of the polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfates provided with alkylene oxides added thereto in an amount of 4 mol or more is 30 % by weight or less based on the total anionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant powder further comprising a water-soluble inorganic salt, a method of producing each of these anionic surfactant powders, and a detergent composition and a cement additive comprising these anionic surfactant powders.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a granular anionic surfactant, including the steps of carrying out drying and granulation simultaneously while adding an anionic surfactant paste to a powder raw material under reduced pressure in a granulator provided with a stirring blade and a cracking blade to obtain granules.

Abstract: An anionic surfactant powder prepared by subjecting a mixture of an anionic surfactant and a solvent to microwave irradiation to remove at least a part of the solvent, and a process for preparing the anionic surfactant. The anionic surfactant powder can be suitably used for laundry detergents, detergents for tableware and kitchenware, foaming agents for toothpastes, powdery shampoos, emulsifying agents for polymerization, foaming agents for cement plaster and the like.

Abstract: A method for producing a monoalkanol amide comprising the steps of (a) treating an entire amount of fatty acid with a monoalkanol amine in an amount of 0.7 to 0.95 times by mole of the amount of the fatty acid and more than 70% and not more than 90% by weight of the entire amount of the monoalkanol amine to yield a mixture mainly containing a monoalkanol amide and an amido monoester; and (b) treating the mixture obtained in step (a) with the remaining portion of the monoalkanol amine, wherein the molar ratio of the entire amount of the monoalkanol amine to that of the fatty acid is 1.0 to 1.3.

Abstract: Crude 2-methyleneglutaronitrile containing as impurities a metal halide, a trialkylamine, and the trimer or a higher polymer of acrylonitrile can be effectively purified by treating the crude 2-methyleneglutaronitrile with hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid of a concentration of 1 to 30% by weight and then subjecting the treated methyleneglutaronitrile to vacuum distillation.

Abstract: A herbicidal compound having the following formula ##STR1## wherein n is 0 or 1; a herbicidal composition comprising said compound as an active ingredient; a process for producing said composition; and a herbicidal method employing said compound.

Abstract: A urethane photosensitive resinous composition composition comprising (a) at least one urethane prepolymer having in the middle of the molecule thereof at least two polyol compound monomer units linked through a diisocyanate compound monomer unit, and having only in the terminals of the molecule thereof at least 1.6 carboxyl groups on the average per molecule and acrylic residues with a vinyl group, each one of said acrylic residues being substantially present in each terminal of the molecule of said at least one urethane prepolymer, (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound, and (c) at least one photopolymerization initiator. If desired, the urethane photosensitive resinous composition may further comprise at least one heat polymerization inhibitor.

Abstract: A novel method of removing surface tack of a cured free radical polymerized resin composition which comprises impregnating the surface layer of the cured free radical polymerized resin composition with a specific organic carbonyl compound and irradiating the impregnated layer of the cured resin composition with specific actinic rays. The method of the present invention is applicable for effectively removing surface tack of cured photopolymerized or heat-polymerized resin compositions, especially photopolymer type printing plates manufactured therefrom.