Abstract: A spinning die for producing ultrafine fiber nonwoven fabric is made miniaturized and its productivity thereof is enhanced. The spinning die has a substantial cuboid shape and a plurality of nozzle holes is disposed in a longitudinal direction. A slit for jetting hot air is disposed only in one side of the nozzle holes. Thermoplastic polymer is melt blown from the nozzle of the spinning die to obtain ultrafine fibers. Hot air is jetted from the slit disposed at only one side of the nozzle holes. The result is that the ultrafine fibers melt blown in a direction inclined with respect to an axis direction of the nozzle. The blown ultrafine fibers are accumulated by sucking to downward to obtain ultrafine fiber nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: Low friction coating of the present invention includes a boron-doped zinc oxide thin film, wherein piezoelectric polarization in a vertical direction perpendicular to a film surface and a lateral direction horizontal to the film surface occurs and a magnitude of the piezoelectric polarization in the vertical direction is within 150 pm and a magnitude of the piezoelectric polarization in the lateral direction is within 100 pm at 90% or more of measurement points. This makes it possible to greatly decrease the friction in a nanometer order.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer nanowire which contains nanoparticles so as to have new functionalities. A thin film is formed on a substrate and includes functional nanoparticles and polymers, and further includes a photosensitive pigment as required. The thin film is irradiated with a pulsed laser. This causes a polymer nanowire containing the functional nanoparticles to grow from a surface of the thin film.

Abstract: A transdermally absorbable base material including: a lipid peptide compound including at least one of compound of Formula (1) below and the similar compounds or pharmaceutically usable salts thereof; a surfactant; a specific polyhydric alcohol; a fatty acid; and water, wherein R1 is a C9-23 aliphatic group; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group that optionally has a branched chain having a carbon atom number of 1 or 2; R3 is a —(CH2)n—X group; n is a number of 1 to 4; and X is amino group, guanidino group, —CONH2 group, or a 5-membered cyclic group optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, a 6-membered cyclic group optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, or a condensed heterocyclic group constituted by a 5-membered cyclic group and a 6-membered cyclic group which optionally have 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: Provided are: an extractant which is capable of quickly and highly efficiently extracting zirconium from an acidic solution that is obtained by acid leaching a material containing zirconium and scandium such as an SOFC electrode material; and a method for extracting zirconium, which uses this extractant. A zirconium extractant according to the present invention is composed of an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, R1 and R2 respectively represent the same or different alkyl groups, each of which may be linear or branched; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group other than an amino group, said arbitrary group being bonded, as an amino acid, to the ? carbon.

Abstract: Provided is a system for efficiently recovering trace metal from a large amount of a raw material, such as when trace metal is recovered from nickel oxide ore. This ion exchange resin has, on a carrier, an amide derivative represented by the following general formula. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group, other than an amino group, bonded to ? carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably a glycinamide derivative. The carrier preferably includes a primary amine and/or a secondary amine.

Abstract: A moisturizing base material that contains a lipid peptide compound including at least one of compounds of Formula (1) below and simulated compounds thereof or pharmaceutically usable salts thereof, a surfactant, a specific polyhydric alcohol, a fatty acid, and water. (wherein R1 is a C9-23 aliphatic group; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group that optionally has a branched chain having a carbon atom number of 1 or 2; and R3 is a —(CH2)n—X group; n is a number of 1 to 4; and X is amino group, guanidino group, —CONH2 group, or a 5-membered cyclic group optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, a 6-membered cyclic group optionally having 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms or a condensed heterocyclic group constituted by a 5-membered cyclic group and a 6-membered cyclic group which optionally have 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms.

Abstract: A semi-transmissive reflection sheet (20) includes: a first optical shape layer (22) including unit optical shapes (30); and a second optical shape layer (23) laminated on the first optical shape layer from a side of a surface formed by the unit optical shapes. The unit optical shape has: a first surface (30a) that is inclined with respect to a light emergent side surface (23b) of the second optical shape layer, the light emergent side surface being opposed to the first optical shape layer; and a second surface (30b) that is not parallel to the light emergent side surface. A reflection layer (25) that reflects at least a part of image light traveling in the semi-transmissive reflection sheet is provided on the first surface.

Abstract: Provided are an extraction agent and extraction method that selectively extract and, at a low cost, recover gallium from an acidic solution containing gallium and zinc. The gallium extraction agent comprises an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, R1 and R2 each indicate the same or different alkyl group, R3 indicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 indicates a hydrogen atom or any given group, other than an amino group, bonded to the ?-carbon as an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. By extracting gallium from an acidic solution containing gallium and zinc by means of solvent extraction using the extraction agent, it is possible to selectively extract gallium.

Abstract: In the present invention, nickel is selectively extracted from an acidic solution that contains a high concentration of manganese. This valuable metal extraction agent is represented by the general formula. In the formula, R1 and R2 are alkyl groups that may be the same or different, R3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 is a hydrogen atom or any group, other than an amino group, bonded to an ? carbon atom of an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit or a n-methylglycine unit. When extracting nickel by using this extraction agent, it is preferable to adjust the pH of the acidic solution to 2.3 to 5.5 inclusive.

Abstract: Provided is a system for efficiently recovering trace metal from a large amount of a raw material, such as when trace metal is recovered from nickel oxide ore. This ion exchange resin has, on a carrier, an amide derivative represented by the following general formula. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an arbitrary group, other than an amino group, bonded to ? carbon as an amino acid. The amide derivative is preferably a glycineamide derivative. The carrier preferably includes a primary amine and/or a secondary amine.

Abstract: A drive device includes a shaft rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing. The first bearing is disposed in a shaft hole of an output frame end. The second bearing is disposed in a bearing box of an opposite-to-output frame end. An oil seal is fixed in the shaft hole and is closer to an output end than the first bearing is, and is in sliding contact with an outer circumference of the shaft. A biasing member is housed in the bearing box and biases an outer race of the second bearing toward the output end. Accordingly, a deflection amount and a bend amount of the shaft at the location where the oil seal is disposed may be reduced.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic or external skin preparation that has an improved feel in use, e.g., excellent stretching on the skin surface, excellent permeation into the skin, and no stickiness, or crinkles. A cosmetic or an external skin preparation, and a medical instrument, comprising at least one lipid peptide-based gelator that contains a low-molecular lipid peptide of Formula (1): (where R1 to R3 are independently an organic group) or a pharmaceutically usable salt thereof.

Abstract: A light guide plate has a light exit surface, a back surface opposed to the light exit surface, and a light entrance surface consisting of at least part of a side surface. The light guide plate also has a body portion, and a light exit-side layer formed from an ionizing radiation curable resin. The light exit-side layer includes an optical element portion which defines the light exit surface. The optical element portion includes unit shaped elements arranged in one direction intersecting a light guide direction, each unit shaped element extending linearly in a direction intersecting the one direction.

Abstract: In order to selectively extract copper and/or lead from an acidic solution containing high concentrations of manganese, etc., the valuable-metal extracting agent of the present invention is expressed by general formula (1). In the formula, R1 and R2 each represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a given group, other than an amino group, that bonds with an ? carbon as an amino acid. In general formula (1), the inclusion of a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an asparagine acid unit, or a normal methylglycine unit is preferred. When using the extracting agent to extract copper/and lead, it is preferable that the pH of the acidic solution be adjusted to 1.0-5.5 inclusive.

Abstract: Provided is a method for selectively extracting and inexpensively recovering scandium from an acidic solution containing calcium, magnesium, and scandium. The scandium extraction method according to the present invention involves subjecting an acidic solution containing calcium, magnesium, and scandium to solvent extraction using an extraction agent consisting of an amide derivative represented by the general formula below. In the formula, R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups, and R3 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group. The amide derivative preferably consisting of one or more derivatives selected from glycine amide derivatives, histidine amide derivatives, lysine amide derivatives, and aspartic acid amide derivatives. The pH of the acidic solution is preferably pre-adjusted to between 1 and 4.

Abstract: There is provided a gel sheet that has high biocompatibility and safety, can contain both a hydrophilic medicinal agent and a hydrophobic medicinal agent, and provides an excellent feel in use during the application onto human skin or others. A gel sheet including: a lipid peptide gelator including a low molecular weight lipid peptide having a molecular weight of 1,000 or less or a pharmaceutically usable salt of the lipid peptide; and a polymeric compound, wherein the polymeric compound is included in an amount of more than 1% (w/w) and less than 50% (w/w) with respect to the total mass of the gel sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently separating nickel, cobalt and/or scandium, and impurities from an acidic solution containing impurities such as manganese, iron, zinc, and aluminum. A valuable-metal extracting agent of the present invention is expressed by general formula (1). In the formula, R1 and R2 each represent the same or different alkyl groups, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a given group, other than an amino group, that bonds with an ? carbon as an amino acid. In general formula (1), the inclusion of a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an asparagine acid unit, or a normal methylglycine unit is preferred.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes an extracting light guide layer having a pair of main surfaces. The extracting light guide layer includes a base portion having a pair of main surfaces, and a plurality of light diffusing portions provided in the base portion. The light guide plate can obscure extracting elements for extracting light.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] To provide a ZnO coating having low friction not only in a vacuum but in a liquid such as oil. [Solution] The low-friction ZnO coating, comprising (002) and (103) planes, and further comprising (100), (101), (102), and (104) planes in lower proportions than those of the (002) and (103) planes, has been prepared by sputtering using a zinc target in a sputter gas environment, wherein the sputter gas comprises an inert gas and oxygen gas, and the oxygen gas ratio is controlled. This coating has a specifically good low friction coefficient due to the piezoelectric effect, and this friction reduction mechanism is maintained even in oil such as n-hexadecane. Thus, this coating has been found to have excellent low-friction properties.