Abstract: An air nozzle for use in the production of nonwoven fabric that is adapted to receive spun filaments from a spinning nozzle and feed the filaments in an air jet into a receiver. The air nozzle is directed to the prevention of any abrasion of the inner surface of the nozzle body by an additive, such as titanium white, contained in filaments, and thus to the prevention of any defects in the nonwoven fabric. The inner surface of a nozzle body for guiding filaments is formed using a ceramic material to protect that surface. The nozzle body has a conical passage whose diameter gradually decreases from an inlet for receiving the filaments from the spinning nozzle, and a straight passage continuing from the conical passage and extending with a constant diameter, at least part of the inner surface of the conical passage and/or the straight passage being formed as a ceramic surface.

Abstract: Optically active 1,3-BUTANEDIOL is produced by contacting microorganisms selected from respective groups of specific genuses having an effect of acting on an enantiomeric mixture of 1,3-butanediols and leaving (R)-1,3-butanediol or (S)-1,3-butanediol in enantiomeric mixture, and collecting the remaining optically active (R)-1,3-butandiol or (S)-1,3-butanediol. Optically active 1,3-butanediol can be produced by an economically excellent and convenient means.

Abstract: A process for producing acrolein which comprises bringing a reaction gas resulting from a catalytic oxidation of propylene into contact in a cooling tower with a condensate which is being circulated through the cooling tower and a circulating part, thereby to cool and separate the reaction gas and discharge an effluent gas from the cooling tower, the condensate in a bottom part of the cooling tower having a temperature of from 35.degree. to 50.degree. C., the effluent gas discharged from the cooling tower having a temperature of from 35.degree. to 55.degree. C.

Abstract: Optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid can be obtained by treating 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid with an optionally treated microorganism capable of asymmetrically reducing the 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid to thereby asymmetrically reduce the same into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid.

Abstract: 2-Oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid is treated with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid into either (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid, and the (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid thus produced is recovered to thereby give optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid.The optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is an important intermediate in the synthesis of various drugs such as a remedy for hypertension.

Abstract: An optically active 1,3-butanediol can be produced by either (1) treating a mixture of 1,3-butanediol enantiomers with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically assimilating said mixture, or (2) preparing a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, and collecting optically active 1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: Optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid can be obtained by treating 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid with an optionally treated microorganism capable of asymmetrically reducing the 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid to thereby asymmetrically reduce the same into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid.

Abstract: An impact modifier obtained by emulsion polymerizing acrylic monomer(s), etc., in the presence of a conjugated diene rubber to give a graft rubber polymer, or obtained by polymerizing acrylic monomer(s) and the like ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of the graft rubber polymer, is effective for improving impact resistance and weathering resistance of molded articles obtained from thermoplastic resin compositions containing such an impact modifier.

Abstract: In a method of driving a liquid crystal matrix panel, the number of shifts of a voltage applied to each signal electrode from an ON level to an OFF level and vice versa is minimized in variation so that variation in the polarity inversion (or frequency) of a (driving) voltage applied to a corresponding pixel can be controlled. Accordingly, the disturbing effect of electrode resistance and liquid crystal capacitance can be reduced and thus, the uniformity of display will be ensured.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics formed, in spun-bonding process, of crimped bi-component composite filaments composed of (A) a first component composed of (a) 3 to 40% by weight of a propylene/ethylene random copolymer having a melting point, determined from DSC main peaks of 110.degree. to 150.degree. C. and a melt flow rate [ASTM D-1238 (L)] of not more than 15 g/10 minutes and (b) 97 to 60% by weight of polyethylene having a melt flow rate [ASTM-D-1238 (E)] of at least 15 g/10 minutes, and (B) a second component comprising crystalline polypropylene having a melt flow rate [ASTM D-1238 (L)] of at least 10 g/10 min. as a main component, have a soft feel and are suitable for use as, e.g., disposable bed sheets and liners for diapers.

Abstract: Wood is preliminary dried until its moisture content is reduced to 20 to 30%, and then treated by radio frequency heating in two stages, i.e., the first stage where the radio frequency heating is carried out at a temperature of 60.degree. to 120.degree. C., and the second stage where the radio frequency heating is carried out at a temperature of not more than 60.degree. C.

Abstract: In a method of driving a liquid crystal matrix panel, a group of voltage pulses are applied to each pixel connected to a scanning line during a reset period prior to a selection period so as to reset the state of each pixel before writing data. When the voltage pulse group contains a voltage pulse having a voltage whose absolute value is at least equal an absolute value of a threshold voltage of the liquid crystal, the group also contains, before or after the voltage pulse, a voltage pulse having a voltage whose absolute value is smaller than the absolute value of the threshold voltage and whose polarity is opposite to that of the former voltage pulse.

Abstract: The polyolefin spunbonded nonwoven fabric is defined as (A) being formed of continuous polyolefin fibers having a fineness of 0.5 to 3 denier, (B) having basic weight between 30 g/m.sup.2 and 15 g/m.sup.2, and (C) having .sqroot.S.sub.MD .times.S.sub.TD of 2.5 g or below, wherein S.sub.MD and S.sub.TD are respectively the softnesses in the machine and transverse directions as measured by a handle-O-meter. The method of producing a strip of very soft polyolefin nonwoven fabric by directing polyolefin continuous fibers in a fixed direction, comprises the steps of: orienting the axes of the continuous fibers in the direction in which the continuous fibers are fed so as to form a web having a warp orientation factor (the maximum tensile strength in the direction in which the continuous fibers are fed, i.e., in a machine direction/the maximum tensile strength in a transverse direction) of 3.0 or above; and then applying wave-like crepes propagated in the machine direction to the web by creping the web.

Abstract: An emboss roll according to the present invention is capable of assuredly performing an embossing work without any risk of shaving a surface of nonwoven fabrics and forming pin holes when used to emboss nonwoven fabrics for the purpose of prevention of filament shavings to be adhered to products. This emboss roll having an outer surface thereof provided with embossing projections wherein all of the top end corners thereof are cut so as to be a surface. As a result of cutting the top end corners of the embossing projections, nonwoven fabrics can be protected from being cut by the corner portions or forming pin holes during the embossing work.

Abstract: The magnetic properties, particularly magnetic flux density of a grain oriented silicon steel sheet are considerably improved by continuously and/or stepwise forming regions, wherein a temperature difference of a secondary recrystallization starting temperature in widthwise direction and/or longitudinal direction of the steel sheet is within a range of 10.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., in the steel sheet at a stage before the secondary recrystallization annealing step.

Abstract: In a method of driving an optical modulation device via scanning lines and signal lines a "selection period" of each scanning line is divided into at least four division periods. A voltage applied to a pixel allows the pixel to become a first stable state of bistable states of the pixel during third and second division periods from the last division period, and to either become a second stable state of the bistable states or hold the first state during the last division period. The scanning lines are scanned sequentially while at least two sequential scanning lines thereof may be applied with a same selection voltage at the same time, thereby reducing a time required for rewriting all pixels.

Abstract: Disclosed are a very soft polyolefin spunbonded nonwoven fabric and its production method. The polyolefin spunbonded nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is defined as (A) being formed of continuous polyolefin fibers having a fineness of 0.5 to 3 denier, (B) having basic weight between 30 g/m.sup.2 and 15 g/m.sup.2, and (C) having .sqroot.S.sub.MD .times.S.sub.TD of 2.5 g or below, wherein S.sub.MD and S.sub.TD are respectively the softnesses in the machine and transverse directions as measured by a handle-O-meter. The method of producing a strip of very soft polyolefin nonwoven fabric by directing polyolefin continuous fibers in a fixed direction, comprises the steps of: orienting the axes of the continuous fibers in the direction in which the continuous fibers are fed so as to form a web having a warp orientation factor (the maximum tensile strength in the direction in which the continuous fibers are fed, i.e.

Abstract: A method for producing chlorosilanes, which are useful in a wide range of industrial field as an intermediate for organosilicon products such as silicone rubbers, silicone oils, silicone resins, etc. as well as a raw material for the production of organic chemicals such as medicines, agricultural chemicals, dyestuffs, etc., represented by the general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.4, which may be the same or different, represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a chloromethyl group, an ethynyl group or a halogen atom; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms; and R.sub.7 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting a disiloxane represented by the general formula, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.

Abstract: A method for increasing the milk coagulating activity of microbial rennet obtained from Mucor pusillus microorganisms, which comprises acylating the microbial rennet in an aqueous medium by contacting the microbial rennet with succinic anhydride at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. and a pH of about 4 to about 10 for a time sufficient to obtain the desired increase in milk coagulating activity; and improved microbial rennet having a low PA/MCA index and a high MCA index and obtained by the aforesaid method.

Abstract: A grain-oriented silicon steel sheet having high magnetic induction and low iron loss can be produced by controlling properly the particle size of carbide precipitated in the crystal grains of the steel sheet before final cold rolling. Further, the magnetic properties can be more improved by adjusting the C content in a starting silicon steel depending upon the Si content in the steel and removing a proper amount of C from the steel during the course after completion of hot rolling and before final cold rolling, in addition to the proper control of the particle size of carbide precipitated in the crystal grains of the steel sheet before final cold rolling.