Abstract: To provide a toner for developing electrostatic images which is not easily cause the phenomenon of toner-spent, constituent materials are so selected that a charge control resin has hardness which is the same as the hardness of a binder resin or the charge control resin is harder than the binder resin, as measured with a scanning probe microscope in a viscoelasticity evaluation mode in respect to the binder resin and the charge control resin which are present in the particle interiors or particle surfaces of the toner.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyester adapted for use in a charge control agent for a toner for an electrophotographic process, having a charge stability, a high charge amount, an improved dispersibility and a biodegradability, and a producing method and an application technology therefore.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing structure, at least a part of a base material surface of the structure being coated with polyhydroxyalkanoate, the method comprises the steps of immobilizing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase on the base material surface, synthesizing, on the base material surface, polyhydroxyalkanoate using a 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A to become the substrate of the synthase and the synthase and coating at least a part of the base material surface with the synthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate, wherein the synthase contains an amino acid sequence capable of binding to the base material.

Abstract: The invention provides a particulate construct comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate to serve as microcapsules containing a drug, and serving a slow releasing preparation not associated with a practically unacceptable initial burst release but showing a practically acceptable zero-order release for a certain period and a producing method for such particulate construct, and a slow releasing preparation of a high drug content capable of stably incorporating the drug in the particulate construct such as microcapsules, and a producing method for such preparation.

Abstract: A structure containing polyhydroxyalkanoate and a magnetic substance includes an external phase part containing polyhydroxyalkanoate and an internal phase part contained in the external phase part, at least one of the external phase part and the internal phase part containing a magnetic substance. Accordingly, provided is a microcapsule, which can be suitably used for formation of an active ingredient of a sustained release pharmaceutical preparation or an ultrasonic contrast agent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing structure, at least a part of a base material surface of the structure being coated with polyhydroxyalkanoate, the method comprises the steps of immobilizing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase on the base material surface, synthesizing, on the base material surface, polyhydroxyalkanoate using a 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A to become the substrate of the synthase and the synthase and coating at least a part of the base material surface with the synthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate, wherein the synthase contains an amino acid sequence capable of binding to the base material.

Abstract: A construct in which at least a part of the magnetic material is coated with a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and a method for producing a construct by immobilizing a PHA synthesizing enzyme on the surface of the magnetic material, thereby biosynthesizing and coating a PHA.

Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit represented by the formula (1), the unit having a carboxyl group substituting a ring structure at the end of side chain, obtainable by oxydizing vinyl or methyl group substituting a ring structure at the end of the side chain. The polyhydroxyalkanoate has high thermal stability, charge stablity, a high charge amount, improved dispersibility and biodegradability together, and therefore, suitable for resin moldings, and binders and charge controlling agents for toners used in the electrophotographic process.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprises one kind of unit of —[OCH((CH2)x—SOC6H5R)CH2CO]— (n=1-7)??(1) (wherein R is any one of H, halogen, CN, NO2, COOR?, SO2R? (R? is any one of H, Na, K, CH3 and C2H5; R? is any one of OH, ONa, OK, halogen, OCH3 and OC2H5), CH3, C2H5, C3H7, (CH3)2—CH and (CH3)3—C) and —[OCH((CH2)x—SO2C6H5R)CH2CO]— (n=1-7)??(2) (wherein R is any one of H, halogen, CN, NO2, COO R?, SO2R? (R? is any one of H, Na, K, CH3 and C2H5; R? is any one of OH, ONa, OK, halogen, OCH3 and OC2H5), CH3, C2H5, C3H7, (CH3)2—CH and (CH3)3—C) and at least one unit of chemical formulae (3) to (6): —[OCH((CH2)m—Rz)CH2CO]— (n=1-8) ??(3) (wherein Rz comprises a residue having either a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure), —[OCH((CH2)k—C6H11Ra)CH2CO]— (n=1-8)??(4) (wherein Ra is any one of H, CN, NO2, halogen, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5 and C3F7) —[OCH((CH2)n—CH?CH2)CH2CO]— (n=1-8), and??(5) —[OCH((CH2)n—COORb)CH2CO]— (n=1-8)??(6) (wherein Rb is any one of H, Na and K).

Abstract: The invention provides a PHA copolymer including at least a 3-hydroxy-?-carboxyalkanoic acid represented by a formula (19) or (32) and simultaneously at least a unit represented by a formula (2) or a formula (3) in a molecule, a precursor PHA copolymer having a corresponding vinyl group or a corresponding alkoxycarbonyl group, a biosynthesis method thereof by microorganisms, and a method of producing a desired PHA copolymer from the precursor PHA copolymer: (wherein k, m, n are integers; R18 represents H, Na, K, R27? represents (A); R1 represents a substituent on a cyclohexyl group and represents H, CN, NO2, a halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7; R includes a residue including a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; these being independent for each unit).

Abstract: An assay method for determining presence of a target antibody or antigen in a specimen qualitatively or quantitatively by mixing the specimen with an antigen or antibody immunologically reactive with the target antibody or antigen, and assaying the level of the immunological agglutination reaction, wherein the reactive antigen or antibody is effectively immobilized on the carrier via an amino acid sequence capable of binding to the carrier.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing in a molecule at least one unit represented by the chemical formula (1). The polyhydroxyalkanoate is a biodegradable plastic with enhanced melt-processability and exhibits excellent charging stability, high chargeability, and enhanced dispersibility when used as a charge control agent of a toner in an electrophotographic process. (R denotes -A1(—SO2R1)x. R1 is selected from OH, a halogen atom, ONa, OK, and OR1a. R1a and A1 are selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon structure, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring structure, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic structure. Further, m and x are integers selected from 1 to 8, and when two or more units exist, each of R, R1R1a, A1, m, and x is defined as above independently for each of the units.

Abstract: A large amount of a medium containing a volatile chlorinated organic compound (VOC) with a low concentration is passed through an adsorber filled with an adsorbent which adsorb and desorb the VOC to collect the VOC in the medium in the adsorber; a gas containing water vapor is then brought into contact with the adsorbent to desorb and discharge the VOC from the adsorber; the desorbed gas is cooled to condense the VOC and water; a small amount of the VOC with a high concentration vaporized from the condensate is further irradiated with light in the presence of chlorine to decompose the VOC; and the decomposed product is subsequently treated. This constitution can allow a large amount of the VOC with a low concentration to be irradiated with light in the presence of chlorine to efficiently treat the VOC.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a biosubstance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A process for forming a fine pattern comprised of a polyhydroxyalkanoate on a substrate is provided. The process comprises steps of applying a polyhydroxyalkanoate-synthesizing enzyme and a 3-hydroxyacyl CoA to coexist in an intended pattern on a substrate, and polymerizing the 3-hydroxyalkanoate by action of the enzyme to form the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a pattern on the substrate. In particular, the fine pattern can be formed by an inkjet system.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a bio-substance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polyhydroxyalkanoate, containing in a polymer molecule thereof a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a substituent to a cyclohexyl group, where R1 is a H atom, a CN group, a NO2 group, a halogen atom, a CH3 group, a C2H5 group, a C3H7 group, a CF3 group, a C2F5 group, or a C3F7 group; and if there are two or more monomer units, R1 may be different from every monomer unit), and a binder resin using the polyhydroxyalkanoate. The binder resin is biodegradable, so that the binder resin is more responsible for the conservation of natural environment or the like. Also, the binder resin facilitates deinking in the deinking process using an alkali, so that the binder resin accelerates recycling of used copying paper. Furthermore, the binder resin satisfies the desired characteristics of a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyester, the process comprising the steps of (1) fermenting a saccharide with a microorganism to obtain at least one substituted ?-hydroxy acid represented by the formula: HO—CHR—COOH (wherein R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and (2) polymerizing the substituted ?-hydroxy acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Microorganisms showing higher productivity of unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) than ever by using an inexpensive substrate or under specific conditions are obtained from wild strains and mutant strains. The microorganisms are cultured with such substrates to synthesize an unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate. The unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate can be produced with high efficiency at low cost.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a bio-substance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.