Abstract: A brain measurement apparatus includes: a magnetoencephalograph including optically pumped magnetometers, magnetic sensors for measuring geomagnetic field at positions of the optically pumped magnetometers, magnetic sensors for measuring a fluctuating magnetic field at the positions of the optically pumped magnetometers, nulling coils for cancelling the geomagnetic field, and an active shield coil for cancelling the fluctuating magnetic field; an MRI apparatus including nulling coils for applying a static magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field, a transmission coil, and a receive coil; and a control device that, when measuring a brain's magnetic field, controls currents supplied to the nulling coils and the active shield coil based on measured values of the magnetic sensors and, when measuring an MR image, controls the static magnetic field and the gradient magnetic field by controlling currents supplied to the nulling coils and generates an MR image from an output of the receive coil.

Abstract: A brain measurement apparatus includes: a magnetoencephalograph including optically pumped magnetometers, magnetic sensors for measuring a static magnetic field at positions of the optically pumped magnetometers, and a nulling coil for canceling the static magnetic field; an MRI apparatus including a permanent magnet, a gradient magnetic field coil, a transmission coil, and a receive coil for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal; and a control device that, when measuring the brain's magnetic field, controls a current to be supplied to the nulling coil based on measured values of the magnetic sensors and operates so as to cancel a static magnetic field at the position of each of the optically pumped magnetometers and, when measuring an MR image, controls the gradient magnetic field by controlling a current to be supplied to the gradient magnetic field coil and generates an MR image based on an output of the receive coil.

Abstract: An organic compound having an affinity for a resin of a molded resin article and sublimation properties is allowed to penetrate/disperse into the surface of the molded resin article, thereby modifying and/or coloring a resin surface layer. The molded resin article and the organic compound having the affinity for the resin and the sublimation properties are put into a tightly closable container, and the pressure and the temperature in the container are adjusted to place them in a saturated sublimation pressure state of the organic compound, whereby a vapor of the organic compound is uniformly deposited on the surface of the molded resin article and it further penetrates/disperses into the resin surface layer, and in consequence, the resin surface layer can be modified and/or colored. In addition, the modification of the resin surface layer permits imparting a function thereto.

Abstract: An organic compound having an affinity for a resin of a molded resin article and sublimation properties is allowed to penetrate/disperse into the surface of the molded resin article, thereby modifying and/or coloring a resin surface layer. The molded resin article and the organic compound having the affinity for the resin and the sublimation properties are put into a tightly closable container, and the pressure and the temperature in the container are adjusted to place them in a saturated sublimation pressure state of the organic compound, whereby a vapor of the organic compound is uniformly deposited on the surface of the molded resin article and it further penetrates/disperses into the resin surface layer, and in consequence, the resin surface layer can be modified and/or colored. In addition, the modification of the resin surface layer permits imparting a function thereto.

Abstract: An organic compound having an affinity for a resin of a molded resin article and sublimation properties is allowed to penetrate/disperse into the surface of the molded resin article, thereby modifying and/or coloring a resin surface layer. The molded resin article and the organic compound having the affinity for the resin and the sublimation properties are put into a tightly closable container, and the pressure and the temperature in the container are adjusted to place them in a saturated sublimation pressure state of the organic compound, whereby a vapor of the organic compound is uniformly deposited on the surface of the molded resin article and it further penetrates/disperses into the resin surface layer, and in consequence, the resin surface layer can be modified and/or colored. In addition, the modification of the resin surface layer permits imparting a function thereto.

Abstract: An organic compound having an affinity for a resin of a molded resin article and sublimation properties is allowed to penetrate/disperse into the surface of the molded resin article, thereby modifying and/or coloring a resin surface layer. The molded resin article and the organic compound having the affinity for the resin and the sublimation properties are put into a tightly closable container, and the pressure and the temperature in the container are adjusted to place them in a saturated sublimation pressure state of the organic compound, whereby a vapor of the organic compound is uniformly deposited on the surface of the molded resin article and it further penetrates/disperses into the resin surface layer, and in consequence, the resin surface layer can be modified and/or colored. In addition, the modification of the resin surface layer permits imparting a function thereto.

Abstract: An optical element, optical control device and optical control method are provided which demonstrate a large, rapid optical response using a laser light of low output as a control light. A signal light 1 is emitted from an optical source 1. A signal light 2 emitted from an optical source 2. A control light and the signal light are converged by a condenser lens 7, and irradiate an optical element 8. Only the signal light is detected by a photodetector 22 through a light receiving lens 9 and a wavelength selection filter 20. A thermal lens is formed reversibly in the optical element and switching the control light ON and OFF modulates the intensity of the signal light.

Abstract: A thin-film fabrication method includes a spray step in which at least one thin-film composition material in liquid form is sprayed into a vacuum vessel via a spray nozzle provided for each thin-film composition material and deposited on a substrate, and a heat treatment step in which the material deposited on the substrate is heat treated. The substrate temperature in the spray step and/or the heat treatment step is controlled within a prescribed temperature range.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing thin optical films include a vacuum vessel, a device for spraying a solution or dispersion of materials into the vacuum vessel, and a device for supporting a substrate. The apparatus also includes a heating device for heating the substrate, an exhaust device for the vacuum vessel, and a spray nozzle coupled to a nozzle control mechanism.

Abstract: An optical probe is used in a near-field effect microscope for performing topographical observation and physical property measurement on a surface of a sample. The optical probe comprises an optical resonator having an optical fiber having at least one microscopic projection composed of a dielectric material disposed at an end portion of the optical fiber for transmitting light.

Abstract: An optical computer includes a plurality of functional elements (thin-film elements) each adapted for causing an external signal to act on a two-dimensional-information incident light so as to perform information processing, and light sources for transferring the two-dimensional-information incident light between the functional elements. Each of the functional elements includes nanoparticles comprising molecules of an organic compound and associates/aggregates of these molecules. This structure makes it possible to input light beams from a plurality of functional elements to a single functional element and to output light beams from this single functional element to the plurality of functional elements.

Abstract: A full optical type optical element performs an information processing on an input signal light beam through use of only light beams including the signal light beam and an auxiliary light beam for assisting operation. The optical element includes aggregates which are dispersed within the optical element as optical functional aggregates, and which are composed of a single kind or multiple kinds of compounds including a single species of atoms or molecules. Thus, a full optical type optical element having a high resolution can be obtained through use of a thin-film element which contains nanoparticles comprising molecules of an organic compound and associates/aggregates of these molecules.

Abstract: A process for producing thin films includes a step of dissolving one or two or more thin film materials into solutions or dispersions that are sprayed respective spray nozzles provided for each component onto a substrate in a high vacuum vessel. The components are deposited on the substrate and then are heated.

Abstract: A process for preparing a porous and water-absorbent resin which includes dispersing an aqueous solution containing at least one .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, its alkali metal salt or its ammonium salt in a hydrophobic organic solvent, and conducting a reversed phase suspension polymerization by using a water-soluble radical polymerization initiator, while distilling away the hydrophobic organic solvent together with water. A porous and water-absorbent resin having excellent absorbency and a remarkably improved rate of water absorption can be easily and efficiently obtained on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A process for preparing particles of a high water-absorbent resin which comprises mixing a powder of a high water-absorbent resin having a water content of 10 to 60% by weight with a powder of water-soluble high molecular weight compound and drying the mixture. The obtained particles according to the present invention are suitable for use of sanitary goods, water-retaining agents or soil conditioner in the fields of agriculture and horticulture and other various uses.

Abstract: A process for preparing particles of a high water-absorbent resin which comprises mixing a powder of a high water-absorbent resin with a solution of a sorbitan surfactant having an HLB of 2.1 to 5.0 dissolved in an organic solvent, volatilizing the organic solvent from the mixture to give a resin powder with a content of the organic solvent of not more than 5% by weight, adding water to the mixture to adjust a water content in the resin powder to 25 to 60% by weight, adding an inorganic powder to the resin powder, and drying the resulting mixture. The particles of the high water-absorbent resin obtained according to the present invention are suitable for use of sanitary goods, water-retaining agents or soil conditioner in the fields of agriculture and horgiculture and other various uses.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a highly water-absorbing resin comprising a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer composition mainly composed of an ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid and/or an alkali metal salt thereof. The process comprises incorporating an oil-soluble polyfunctional epoxy compound having a solubility in 100 g of water at 20.degree. C. of not more than 0.3 g into the polymer by adding 0.0005-3 parts by weight of the oil-soluble polyfunctional epoxy compound to 100 parts by weight of the polymer or the monomer composition to be subjected to polymerization and thereby causing crosslinking.

Abstract: In a process for producing a highly water-absorbent resin comprising subjecting a mixture of (meth)acrylic acid with a water-soluble salt thereof as a monomer to reversed phase suspension polymerization in a hydrophobic solvent in the presence of a dispersing agent, improvements that at least a portion of said monomer is fed sequentially with the progress of polymerization reaction and at least a portion of said dispersing agent is fed sequentially with the progress of polymerization. The resulting resin is useful as a highly water-soluble resin component of sanitary products, or as a humectant/desiccant, a rheology modifier and so on.

Abstract: Polymerization of acrylic or methacrylic acid and a water-soluble acrylic or methacrylic acid salt in the presence of a carboxyl group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin gives highly water-absorbing resins with the water absorbency, water absorption rate, water insolubility and other characteristics well balanced therein.

Abstract: Aqueous resinous composition comprising an emulsion of acrylic or butadiene polymers, which is prepared by emulsion polymerization in the presence of hydrolyzed vinyl acetate-alkali metal olefinsulfonate copolymer as an emulsifier, and a water-soluble polymeric material. The composition has excellent properties, particularly improved stability and good operation efficiency, and is applicable in wide uses, for instance, as binder, adhesive, textile treating agent and molded article.