Abstract: The present invention provides such a production process that a low-cost water-absorbent resin having excellent quality can be obtained by reasonable steps in aqueous solution polymerization. The production process for a water-absorbent resin comprises a polymerization setup that includes the steps of: supplying an aqueous solution of a water-soluble unsaturated monomer component including a major proportion of acrylic acid and/or its salt into a polymerization vessel causing shearing action; and then carrying out polymerization, involving crosslinking, of the water-soluble unsaturated monomer and at the same time carrying out fine division of the resultant hydrogel; with the production process being characterized in that the aqueous solution of the water-soluble unsaturated monomer component as supplied into the polymerization vessel has a temperature of not lower than 40° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible that: a high-concentration hydrogel sheet, which is suitable for production of high-performance water-absorbent resin particles, is cut efficiently without involving the adhesion to such as cutting-blades; and the subsequent disintegration operation is also successfully carried out; and hydrogel particles excellent in the quality and performances are efficiently produced.

Abstract: A dispersant for an organic pigment contains a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 may be the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phthalimidomethyl group, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and n means an average number of introduced sulfonic groups and stands for a number of from 0.5 to 3; or at least one salt selected from the group consisting of its metal salt, ammonium salt, organic amine salt, and organic quaternary ammonium salt. Also disclosed are a readily-dispersing pigment composition, a pigment dispersion, a colored coating fluid for color filters, a fabrication process of a color filter and a color filter, all of which make use of the dispersant.

Abstract: A logical path establishing method establishes a logical path between peer-to-peer in a peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) function. The logical path establishing method uses a step of including a link control frame for controlling a link in a frame which is used as a unit of information transfer, so as to include information necessary for establishing the logical path in the link control frame.

Abstract: A method for mixing a water-absorbent resin and a surface cross-linking agent-containing solution to repress aggregates is equipped. The water-absorbent resin and the surface cross-linking agent-containing solution is mixed with a plow-shaped mixing device which is equipped with an inner wall formed of material manifesting an interfacial contact angle of not less than 60° to water and possessing a temperature of heat distortion of not lower than 70° C., a plow-shaped stirring vane and a disintegrating blade.

Abstract: A surface crosslinking treatment method of a water-absorbing resin powder is disclosed that can overcome various problems in production encountered in the production of surface crosslinked water-absorbing resin powders on an industrial scale and can produce a water-absorbing resin powder having excellent physical properties without causing deterioration in physical properties of resin.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a gas diffusion layer having excellent water retention capability is to be provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell is capable of suppressing the deterioration and instability in the performance which result from the plugging of water in separators as well as the reduction of the service life of cell units, and further the single fuel cell is capable of preventing the reactant gas from flowing into the adjacent gas flow channels via gas diffusion layers, so that the reaction uniformly takes place in the surface of electrodes, thereby enabling a rated electric power to be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides such a production process that a low-cost water-absorbent resin having excellent quality can be obtained by reasonable steps in aqueous solution polymerization. The production process for a water-absorbent resin comprises a polymerization setp that includes the steps of: supplying an aqueous solution of a water-soluble unsaturated monomer component including a major proportion of acrylic acid and/or its salt into a polymerization vessel causing shearing action; and then carrying out polymerization, involving crosslinking, of the water-soluble unsaturated monomer and at the same time carrying out fine division of the resultant hydrogel; with the production process being characterized in that the aqueous solution of the water-soluble unsaturated monomer component as supplied into the polymerization vessel has a temperature of not lower than 40° C.

Abstract: There is provided: a production process for a water-absorbing agent having stable properties in a short time; and a water-absorbing agent. The production process comprises the step of blending an acid-group-containing water-absorbent resin powder with a noncrosslinkable water-soluble inorganic base and/or an irreducible alkaline-metal-salt pH buffer and further with a dehydratable crosslinking agent reactable with the acid group, thereby subjecting the resin powder to crosslinking treatment, or comprises the step of blending an acid-group-containing water-absorbent resin powder with the above base and/or pH buffer and further with a crosslinking agent reactable with the acid group, thereby subjecting the resin powder to crosslinking treatment, wherein the resin powder has a weight-average particle diameter of 300 to 600 &mgr;m wherein the ratio of fine powders having particle diameters of not larger than 150 &mgr;m in the resin powder is not more than 10 weight %.

Abstract: A method and apparatus conduct a performance evaluation test for a vehicle in which an actuator that applies a depressing force to a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator is controlled by a controller. The controller controls the actuator to automatically apply the depressing force to the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle, and changes control of the actuator in accordance with an actual state of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a production process for a basic water-absorbent resin to be a main component of a water-absorbing agent which exhibits an excellent water absorption capacity under a load with high productivity; a production process for a water-absorbing agent; and use thereof. The production process for an irregular shape basic water-absorbent resin comprises the step of reacting a basic resin and a crosslinking agent in order to obtain the basic water-absorbent resin, with the process forwarding a crosslinking reaction and pulverizing the resultant product at the same time. The first production process for a water-absorbing agent comprises the step of blending an acidic water-absorbent resin with the basic water-absorbent resin obtained by the above-mentioned process.

Abstract: The present device is equipped with a measurement site holder 3 that is constructed using a negative impression of the measurement site 10. As a result, variation in the measured values caused by the non-uniform distribution of components in the measurement site 10 is reduced, so that variation in the measured values caused by variations in the light path length accompanying variations in the shape of the measurement site 10, and by variations in blood flow or the like that accompany differences in the contact pressure, can be reduced. Since living-body information and measurement parameters for the patient are recorded on a recording medium 11 mounted on a measurement site holder 3 for the exclusive use of the individual patient, the erroneous acquisition of living-body information for individual patients can be prevented, and reproducible measurements can be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a vehicle performance evaluation test by automatically depressing a control member of the vehicle to be depressed by a vehicle operator uses an actuator of a vehicle performance evaluation test apparatus. The actuator depresses the control member, the actuator having a first end and a second end. The first end of the actuator is fixed to a seat of the vehicle. The second end of the actuator is engaged with the control member of the vehicle. The actuator is caused to exert a depressing force to depress the control member relative to the seat so as to automatically depress the control member.

Abstract: The present device is equipped with a measurement site holder 3 that is constructed using a negative impression of the measurement site 10. As a result, variation in the measured values caused by the non-uniform distribution of components in the measurement site 10 is reduced, so that variation in the measured values caused by variations in the light path length accompanying variations in the shape of the measurement site 10, and by variations in blood flow or the like that accompany differences in the contact pressure, can be reduced. Since living-body information and measurement parameters for the patient are recorded on a recording medium 11 mounted on a measurement site holder 3 for the exclusive use of the individual patient, the erroneous acquisition of living-body information for individual patients can be prevented, and reproducible measurements can be performed.

Abstract: A water-retaining layer is formed to coat the top of ribs of a ribbed plate which is to be disposed, as a component of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, on at least one surface of a cell which includes an electrolyte membrane and two electrodes disposed on two surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. The water-retaining layer is formed by: generating a mixture by dissolving a resin-carbon mixture into a solvent; applying the mixture using a spray to a surface of the ribbed plate having the ribs; and drying the applied mixture at a certain temperature. The ability to retain water in the water-retaining layer per unit active area of the electrodes is desirably in the range of 0.002 to 0.035 g/cm2, and more desirably, in the range of 0.01 to 0.03 g/cm2.

Abstract: An ophthalmic treatment apparatus uses therapy and diagnostic laser light sources whose beams are deflected two-dimensionally via an optical deflector and a galvanomirror and directed on the eye fundus to produce a fundus image on a display monitor. A photosensitive substance that accumulates specifically in neovascular regions is administered to the patient to define the region where the neovascular tissues are located. When the region is to be treated, the therapy laser light source is activated and its intensity is amplified by a controller and a driver for driving a light modulator. This arrangement assures a reliable definition of the affected region and enables only the neovascular tissues to be destroyed or sealed off because the laser intensity can be amplified at the region concerned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a vehicle performance evaluation test by automatically depressing a control member of the vehicle to be depressed by a vehicle operator uses an actuator of a vehicle performance evaluation test apparatus. The actuator depresses the control member, the actuator having a first end and a second end. The first end of the actuator is fixed to a seat of the vehicle The second end of the actuator is engaged with the control member of the vehicle. The actuator is caused to exert a depressing force to depress the control member relative to the seat so as to automatically depress the control member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus conduct a performance evaluation test for a vehicle in which an actuator that applies a depressing force to a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator is controlled by a controller. The controller controls the actuator to automatically apply the depressing force to the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle, and changes control of the actuator in accordance with an actual state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake apparatus has a good brake operation feel provided by a combination of a link mechanism and a brake booster. The link mechanism changes a lever ratio so that the lever ratio is gradually decreased as a pedal stroke is increased after the pedal stroke reaches a predetermined point. The brake booster increases a rate of increase of an output force so that the rate of increase is increased as an input force is increased. A brake characteristic of the brake apparatus as a whole exhibits a linear relationship relative to the deceleration of the vehicle, the brake characteristic being defined as an inclination of the deceleration against the pressing force input to the link mechanism. One of the link mechanism and the brake booster may be used alone in a brake apparatus to provide their respective effect to a brake apparatus.