Abstract: An order-reception system has: an order-reception subsystem which receives, from a customer, customer order information including order-reception information and/or support request information and customer information; a business management subsystem having a customer-information database storing the customer information including information regarding a price of a commodity purchased frequently by the customer, and a cost of a support requested frequently by the customer, the price and the cost set by a seller; an order-entry subsystem which performs an order-reception processing based on the customer order information; and a delivery subsystem which arranges delivery of the commodity and providing of the support.

Abstract: There is provided a process for efficiently and economically producing a polymer which is superior in transmittances of visible light and far-ultraviolet light, has a high molecular weight and is light-colored. A process for producing a light-colored vinylphenol-based polymer by subjecting p-vinylphenol to homopolymerization or subjecting p-vinylphenol and a vinyl compound copolymerizable with p-vinylphenol to copolymerization, in the presence of a cationic polymerization catalyst or a radical polymerization initiator, which process comprises subjecting a p-vinylphenol-containing raw material to vacuum flash distillation in the presence of a phenolic compound having no unsaturated side chain and water and subjecting the resulting p-vinylphenol-containing fraction to polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel soluble polyimide resin which is superior in solubility in solvents and transparency, which is useful particularly in electronics and optronics fields, and which has good processability; a process for production of the resin; and a solution composition of the resin. A soluble polyimide resin containing, as part or the whole of the diamine units, a 2,5(or 6)-bis(aminomethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and having a light transmittance of 60% or more in a range of wavelength larger than 400 nm in an ultraviolet-visible light spectrum measured for a film of 10-.mu.m thickness; a process for production of the resin; and a solution composition of the resin.

Abstract: The method of making the metal fiber sintered body includes making a coiled material by coiling a thin sheet of Fe--Cr--Al--La, Fe--Cr--Al--Y or Fe--Cr--Al--Ce stainless steel; making a tow of Fe--Cr--Al--La, Fe--Cr--Al--Y or Fe--Cr--Al--Ce continuous fibers by lathe turning an end face of the coiled material at a tool feed speed of from 5 to 40 .mu.m/rev; extending the tow in a width direction and cutting the tow with a roller type cutting assembly to form Fe--Cr--Al--La, Fe--Cr--Al--Y or Fe--Cr--Al--Ce stainless steel fibers having a fiber length of 20 to 200 mm; feeding the Fe--Cr--Al--La, Fe--Cr--Al--Y or Fe--Cr--Al--Ce stainless steel fibers having the fiber length of 20 to 200 mm to a conveyor; dropping the stainless steel fibers onto the conveyor and dispersing the stainless steel fibers by making an air current act on the stainless steel fibers; transporting the resulting sheet-shaped accumulation on the conveyor and compressing it to form a web and sintering the web.

Abstract: Vinylphenol polymers are useful materials having many applications, vinylphenol polymers possessing an appropriate molecular weight corresponding to each of the applications are desired. However, it is very difficult to control the molecular weight of vinylphenol polymers, because vinylphenol monomer exhibits a very high reaction rate in the presence of a radical initiator, and it is very difficult to obtain vinylphenol polymers having molecular weight of from eight thousand to one hundred thousand. Further, vinylphenol monomer is very difficult to store, because it is rapidly polymerized even at room temperature. A simple process for preparing vinylphenol polymers having the molecular weight range mentioned above by simply adding methanol to the polymerization system is disclosed. A stabilized composition of vinylphenol suitable for use to prepare vinylphenol polymers, comprising vinylphenol-containing polymerization raw material and methanol as the indispensable constituents is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit device is provided with: a microcomputer, a plurality of peripheral circuit elements, and a non-volatile memory which is positioned adjacent to the microcomputer, all of which are interconnected by a plurality of specified conductive paths; pair of integrated circuit substrates on which is formed the conductive paths and a casing provided with the pair of integrated circuit substrates secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the casing, forming a sealed space between these surfaces. The microcomputer and the peripheral circuit elements are positioned in the sealed space and only the non-volatile memory is positioned in an exposed space. The hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention has a compact and simple form with a high degree of mounting density as well as superior handling capabilities and reliability.

Abstract: A method for measuring oxygen concentration using a probe comprising an immobilized polypyridine metal complex is disclosed, which can be used even in a case where the exciting ray to be used and luminescence are visible rays and which can stably be used even when it is directly immersed in a liquid to be examined without a protective membrane, which makes miniaturization of a probe possible.

Abstract: In a position closest to the mounting position of a microcomputer in a casing of a hybrid integrated circuit device on which is mounted the microcomputer and its peripheral circuit elements, an insertion hole is formed for a non-volatile memory which feeds data to the microcomputer. A socket for connecting the non-volatile memory is provided at the bottom of this insertion hole. Because of this configuration it is possible to connect the microcomputer and the non-volatile memory at an extremely short distance and the mounting efficiency of the integrated circuit device is increased. In addition, the non-volatile memory can detachably be mounted. Furthermore, the external shape of the insertion hole for the non-volatile memory is essentially the same as the external shape of the non-volatile memory so that when the non-volatile memory is inserted, the entire surface of this hybrid integrated circuit device is almost flat, providing excellent handling characteristics.

Abstract: A probe for measuring oxygen concentration including an immobilized polypyridine metal complex, which can be used for measurement of oxygen concentration even in a case where the exciting ray to be used and luminescence are visible rays and which can stably be used even when it is directly immersed in a liquid to be examined without a protective membrane, which makes miniaturization of a probe possible.

Abstract: A luminescent probe complex for measuring pH comprising, polypyridine ligands having ion dissociable substituents on their carbon rings and a transition metal ion selected from the elements of the VIII group of the periodic table.Also disclosed is a luminescent probe membrane for measuring pH wherein the probe complex is contained in a macromolecular membrane. Further disclosed is a device for measuring pH wherein the probe membrane is immobilized at the tip of an optical fiber.A method for measuring pH using the above are also disclosed. The present invention enables measurement of pH of microenvironments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for alternating copolymerization of propylene and butadiene in the absence of a polymerization solvent. The disclosure contains information relative to commercial production of the said copolymer and detailed teachings relative to the preparation of catalyst for use in the said process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing hydrogen by reducing proton with viologen cation radical using metal complex of macrocyclic polydentate compound as catalyst.

Abstract: In a radioactive ray gauge system, a measuring head continuously detects the thickness of coated material on an advancing sheet. The head has a non-contact type sheet surface-to-head distance detector thereon. The distance detector continuously detects the distance so as to maintain the distance constant thereby eliminating error in the thickness measurement caused by sheet thickness variation, sheet-bending, warping or fluttering.

Abstract: A thickness standard sample consisting of a base plate and an even thick foil fixed on the base plate. The foil has a uniform standard thickness for calibrating an X-ray fluorescence thickness gauge or the like. The sample is very inexpensive and serves as an excellent uniform thickness standard sample so that an operator may set any point on the sample surface to the calibrating gauge axis.