Abstract: A method for measuring tastes, which can better simulate the human gustation than known methods, as well as a taste sensor, computer program and an apparatus for measuring tastes, is disclosed. In this method, data processing is carried out by a two-phase radial basis function neural network. That is, by sensors, each of which sensors can quantify at least one component representing, individually or cooperatively, the taste of saltiness, sourness, sweetness, umami or bitterness, to obtain a response value from each sensor, and each of the obtained response values is input to a first phase radial basis function neural network to calculate the concentration of each component from each response value.

Abstract: A method for measuring tastes, which can better simulate the human gustation than known methods, as well as a taste sensor, computer program and an apparatus for measuring tastes, is disclosed. In this method, data processing is carried out by a two-phase radial basis function neural network. That is, by sensors, each of which sensors can quantify at least one component representing, individually or cooperatively, the taste of saltiness, sourness, sweetness, umami or bitterness, to obtain a response value from each sensor, and each of the obtained response values is input to a first phase radial basis function neural network to calculate the concentration of each component from each response value.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a medicament useful for preventing and/or treating inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: A bridge of shock-absorbing construction is disclosed, which includes horizontal members arranged in series, vertical members supporting the horizontal members, and connectors for connecting the adjacent horizontal members or for connecting the horizontal member and the vertical member, wherein shock absorbers formed from a material with an elastic modulus in flexure over 200 kgf/cm2 and each having a wall structure in a shock-loading direction are disposed on the connectors or at the points of contact between the horizontal members or between the horizontal member and the vertical member.

Abstract: A will information management and disclosure system keeps in custody deposit information that includes information about a depositor's last word and testament to be unsealed in accordance with unsealing conditions registered in advance by the depositor and disclosed to predetermined recipients, unseals the deposit information under predetermined unsealing conditions. The system comprises a depositor's terminal for entering as electronic information the deposit information prepared by the depositor in a rewritable manner, and a host processing system.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a crystalline melting point which satisfies the relationship: y≧200+0.5x, a Vicat softening point which satisfies the relationship: z≧50+1.5x, and a tensile elongation of at least 100% which is measured according to JIS K 6251, in which x is a weight percentage of polymeric units which substantially constitute hard segments of the elastomer; y is a crystalline melting point (°C.); and z is a Vicat softening point (°C.), which elastomer has a high melting point, while it has good heat resistance, water resistance and weather resistance.

Abstract: A polyester resin comprising a polyester resin chip (A) and a polyester resin fine particle (B) which has the same composition as the (A) and which passes through a 10.5 mesh screen in a proportion of 0.1-300 ppm, wherein a cyclic trimer increases in a proportion of not more than 0.30 wt % upon melting at a temperature of 290.degree. C. for 60 minutes; a polyester resin characterized in that a cyclic trimer increases in a proportion of not more than 0.30 wt % upon melting at a temperature of 290.degree. C. for 60 minutes, and the contents of Na, Ca, Mg and/or Si in the polyeser resin is 0.001-5 ppm and the total of these contents is not more than 10 ppm; and production methods thereof.

Abstract: A resin impact absorber comprising a hollow columnar body having a honeycomb section or a hollow columnar body having a cylindrical shape, the hollow columnar body being made of a resin with a flexural modulus of 500 to 5000 kgf/cm.sup.2, wherein a reaction-compressibility curve at the time of compression in the lengthwise direction of the columnar body satisfies the following conditions: (a) yield strength.gtoreq.100 Tf/m.sup.2 and (b) compression energy absorption.gtoreq.50 Tf.m/m.sup.3. The resin impact absorber of the present invention is small in size and light in weight and exhibits a high impact energy absorption capacity. A site or structure with an impact absorber of the present invention disposed therein can be prevented from remarkable damage or breakage when it receives a high impact force.

Abstract: A polyester resin having a glass transition temperature of not less than 15.degree. C. and a reduced viscosity of 0.15-1.5, which comprises a graft polymer comprising a polyester having an unsaturated bond as a main chain, and a radical polymerizable unsaturated monomer as a side chain, and a sublimation transfer image receiver which comprises a dyeable layer mainly comprising a dyeable resin comprising the polyester resin. Inasmuch as the polyester resin can provide highly sensitive images without the use of a plasticizer or an additive, it is suitable as a dyeable resin for a sublimation transfer image receiver. The images obtained by the use of a sublimation transfer image receiver having a dyeable layer containing this resin are superior in durability and preservation stability.

Abstract: A method for producing polybenzazole, which comprises reacting a PBZ monomer salt with an AA-PBZ monomer or a BB-PBZ monomer in a non-oxidizing solvent having a dehydrating action to give an oligomer, and adding the AA-PBZ monomer or BB-PBZ monomer, which has not been subjected to the above reaction, to allow reaction with the oligomer, whereby to give a polymer having a desired polymerization degree. According to this method, the polymerization degree of the polymer to be obtained finally and of the polymer during production process can be easily controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is a polyester fiber formed from a polyester copolymer of dicarboxylic acid and diols. The dicarboxylic acid of the present invention has associated therewith a metal sulfonate group and at least one molecular terminal blocked by a sulfonate compound. The copolymer has the following structure: ##STR1## wherein A is an ester-forming functional group, B is a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, R.sup.1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group having y to 18 carbon atoms, M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, p and q are independently 0 or 1.