Abstract: An air filter medium includes a first porous PTFE membrane and a second porous PTFE membrane. An average fiber diameter of fibers included in the first porous PTFE membrane is 0.24 to 0.45 ?m, an average fiber diameter of fibers included in the second porous PTFE membrane is 0.04 to 0.23 ?m, the air filter medium has a first main surface and a second main surface, and the first porous PTFE membrane and the second porous PTFE membrane are arranged so that an air flow moving from the first main surface to the second main surface passes through the first porous PTFE membrane and subsequently through the second porous PTFE membrane.

Abstract: The polymer film of the present invention has through holes extending from one principal surface of the polymer film to the other principal surface of the polymer film. The through holes are straight holes having a central axis extending straight, and have a shape in which the area of a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the central axis increases from the one principal surface of the polymer film toward the other principal surface. This polymer film has passages in its thickness direction, has an unconventional structure, and can be used in various applications, such as in a waterproof sound-permeable membrane, in a waterproof gas-permeable membrane, and in a suction sheet. The ratio a/b of the opening diameter a of the through holes at the one principal surface to the opening diameter b of the through holes at the other principal surface is 80% or is less than 80%.

Abstract: The air filter medium of the present invention is an air filter medium including a stack of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and an air-permeable support member, a repulsive force generated in the medium when the medium is compressed in a thickness direction thereof is equal to or greater than 30 kPa and equal to or less than 150 kPa at a compression ratio of 30%, and at least one main surface of the air filter medium is formed by the air-permeable support member and has a maximum coefficient of friction of 24 gf or less. The air filter medium of the present invention is an air filter medium that uses a porous PTFE membrane and in which a decrease in collection efficiency due to pleating is inhibited.

Abstract: A method for producing alkane and a recombinant microorganism with good alkane productivity in a reaction system for synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase activity are provided. Alkane productivity is significantly improved in a system for synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase in the presence of ferredoxin. Specifically, the method for producing alkane according to the present invention comprises synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase in the presence of ferredoxin.

Abstract: The sound-permeable membrane of the present invention is adapted, when placed over an opening for directing sound to or from a sound transducer, to prevent entry of foreign matters into the sound transducer through the opening while permitting passage of sound, the sound-permeable membrane including a non-porous film or a multilayer membrane including the non-porous film. The non-porous film is formed of oriented polytetrafluoroethylene. This sound-permeable membrane has an unconventional configuration and exhibits various excellent properties. At least one principal surface of the non-porous film may have a region subjected to a surface modification treatment.

Abstract: An air filter medium includes a first porous PTFE membrane and a second porous PTFE membrane. The air filter medium has a first main surface and a second main surface, and the first porous PTFE membrane and the second porous PTFE membrane are arranged so that an air flow moving from the first main surface to the second main surface passes through the first porous PTFE membrane and subsequently through the second porous PTFE membrane. A proportion of areas occupied by the plurality of nodes on a surface of the first porous PTFE membrane is in the range of 1.5 to 3.0% and an average of the areas of the plurality of nodes is 200 ?m2 or more.

Abstract: A waterproof sound-transmitting membrane of the present disclosure includes: a non-porous resin film having formed therein a plurality of through holes extending through a thickness of the non-porous resin film; and a liquid-repellent layer formed on a principal surface of the resin film and having openings at positions corresponding to positions of the plurality of through holes. The through holes have a diameter of 4.0 ?m or more and 12.0 ?m or less, and the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane has a through-thickness air permeability of 2.0 cm3/(cm2·second) or more and 50 cm3/(cm2·second) or less in terms of Frazier number as measured according to JIS L 1096. With this waterproof sound-transmitting membrane placed over an opening of a housing of an electronic device or the like, entry of water into the housing from outside can be prevented, in addition to which the characteristics of sound transmitted through the membrane can be kept even when the membrane has a reduced effective area.

Abstract: An air filter medium includes a first porous PTFE membrane and a second porous PTFE membrane. The air filter medium has a first main surface and a second main surface, and the first porous PTFE membrane and the second porous PTFE membrane are arranged so that an air flow moving from the first main surface to the second main surface passes through the first porous PTFE membrane and subsequently through the second porous PTFE membrane. A contact angle of the first porous PTFE membrane with water is in the range of 154° to 165°.

Abstract: An air filter medium includes a first porous PTFE membrane and a second porous PTFE membrane. The air filter medium (10) has a first main surface and a second main surface, and the first porous PTFE membrane and the second porous PTFE membrane are arranged so that an air flow moving from the first main surface to the second main surface passes through the first porous PTFE membrane and subsequently through the second porous PTFE membrane. A thickness of the first porous PTFE membrane is in the range of 4 to 40 ?m and a specific surface area of the first porous PTFE membrane is 0.5 m2/g or less.

Abstract: An acoustic resistor for use in an audio device includes a resin film having air permeability in a thickness direction of the resin film, and the resin film is a non-porous film having through holes formed to extend straight through the resin film in the thickness direction. This acoustic resistor is used in an audio device including: a transducing part that performs conversion between sound and an electrical signal and that includes an acoustic element; a housing enclosing the transducing part and having at least one opening; and a passage for gas that is present inside the housing and communicates with the opening and in which the acoustic element is placed. The acoustic resistor is placed between the opening and the acoustic element in the passage. The variation in properties of the acoustic resistor of the present disclosure can be made smaller than that of conventional acoustic resistors.

Abstract: A waterproof member (20) includes a first adhesive layer (22), a second adhesive layer (24), and a porous layer (26). The porous layer (26) is disposed between the first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24). The first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24) each have a frame shape in plan view. When the first adhesive layer (22), the second adhesive layer (24), and the porous layer (26) are seen in plan view, the outer boundary of the porous layer (26) lies within the outer boundary of the first adhesive layer (22) and the outer boundary of the second adhesive layer (24). The first adhesive layer (22) is bonded directly to the second adhesive layer (24) in a region outside the outer boundary of the porous layer (26). The porous layer (26) has a peripheral surface that is shielded from outside by the first adhesive layer (22) and the second adhesive layer (24).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel packaging material for sterilization which has processing suitability as a packaging material, is compatible with all sterilization processing methods such as those performed under high-temperature conditions, has small variation in shapes and dimensions, and is capable of maintaining an internal sterilized condition. This packaging material for sterilization is configured from at least two layers of laminated non-woven fabrics comprising a non-woven fabric layer (I) formed of continuous long fibers having an average fiber diameter of 5-30 ?m and a non-woven fabric layer (II) formed of ultra-fine fibers having an average fiber diameter of 0.1-4 ?m.

Abstract: An air filter medium includes a first porous PTFE membrane and a second porous PTFE membrane. An average fiber diameter of fibers included in the first porous PTFE membrane is 0.24 to 0.45 ?m, an average fiber diameter of fibers included in the second porous PTFE membrane is 0.04 to 0.23 ?m, the air filter medium has a first main surface and a second main surface, and the first porous PTFE membrane and the second porous PTFE membrane are arranged so that an air flow moving from the first main surface to the second main surface passes through the first porous PTFE membrane and subsequently through the second porous PTFE membrane.

Abstract: The sound-transmitting structure (100) of the present invention includes a sound-transmitting membrane (1) that allows passage of sounds and prevents passage of foreign matters and a case (120) having a sound-transmitting opening (122). This sound-transmitting membrane (1) includes a supporting member (12) that is a nonwoven fabric containing an elastomer and a porous resin membrane (11) disposed on the supporting member (12) and containing polytetrafluoroethylene as a main component. The sound-transmitting membrane (1) covers the sound-transmitting opening (122) with the supporting member (12) welded to the case (120).

Abstract: A waterproof sound transmission structure of the present disclosure includes: a wall separating a first space from a second space where water can be present, the wall being provided with a sound transmission port for transmission of sound between the first and second spaces; and a waterproof sound-permeable membrane placed to cover the sound transmission port, the waterproof sound-permeable membrane being adapted to permit transmission of sound between the first and second spaces and being further adapted to prevent ingress of water from the second space into the first space through the sound transmission port. The first space is sealed when the second space is filled with water, the sealed first space having a volume of 300 mm3 or less. The waterproof sound transmission structure of the present disclosure has higher levels of both waterproofness and sound permeability than conventional waterproof sound transmission structures.

Abstract: Provides is a waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) adapted to permit passage of sound and prevent entry of water. The waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) includes a sound-permeation region (11) having a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane (20). The polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (20) has an average pore diameter of 0.02 ?m or more and 0.1 ?m or less as measured according to ASTM F316-86 and has a porosity of 5% or more and 25% or less. The waterproof sound-permeable membrane (10) is suitable for application to an electronic device containing an acoustic device.

Abstract: An acoustic resistor for use in an audio device includes a resin film having air permeability in a thickness direction of the resin film, and the resin film is a non-porous film having through holes formed to extend straight through the resin film in the thickness direction. This acoustic resistor is used in an audio device including: a transducing part that performs conversion between sound and an electrical signal and that includes an acoustic element; a housing enclosing the transducing part and having at least one opening; and a passage for gas that is present inside the housing and communicates with the opening and in which the acoustic element is placed. The acoustic resistor is placed between the opening and the acoustic element in the passage. The variation in properties of the acoustic resistor of the present disclosure can be made smaller than that of conventional acoustic resistors.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods in the context of Kawasaki disease including measuring the level of at least one of lipopolysaccharide binding protein, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, angiotensinogen and retinol binding protein 4 in a sample derived from a subject.

Abstract: The polymer film of the present invention has through holes extending from one principal surface of the polymer film to the other principal surface of the polymer film. The through holes are straight holes having a central axis extending straight, and have a shape in which the area of a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the central axis increases from the one principal surface of the polymer film toward the other principal surface. This polymer film has passages in its thickness direction, has an unconventional structure, and can be used in various applications, such as in a waterproof sound-permeable membrane, in a waterproof gas-permeable membrane, and in a suction sheet. The ratio a/b of the opening diameter a of the through holes at the one principal surface to the opening diameter b of the through holes at the other principal surface is 80% or is less than 80%.

Abstract: The sound-permeable membrane of the present invention is adapted, when placed over an opening for directing sound to or from a sound transducer, to prevent entry of foreign matters into the sound transducer through the opening while permitting passage of sound, the sound-permeable membrane including a non-porous film or a multilayer membrane including the non-porous film. The non-porous film is formed of oriented polytetrafluoroethylene. This sound-permeable membrane has an unconventional configuration and exhibits various excellent properties. At least one principal surface of the non-porous film may have a region subjected to a surface modification treatment.