The present invention provides a method and apparatus to identify at least one component from a plurality of components in a fluid mixture, the apparatus including a first input channel into which a first flow containing a plurality of components is introduced; a plurality of buffer input channels, into which additional flows of buffer solution are introduced, disposed on either side of the first input channel; wherein the first flow and the additional flows have a flow direction along a length of the apparatus; a detector apparatus which detects and identifies selected components of the plurality of components; a laser which emits a laser beam which damages or kills selected components of the plurality of components; and at least one channel disposed at the another end of the apparatus which is adapted to receive the first flow and the additional flows after operation of the laser on the selected components.

A lipoaspirate collection device to aid in the collection and processing of human tissue and fluid obtained during liposuction for use in point-of-care cell therapy. The collection device includes a collection body and a collection cap. The collection cap may have a fluid port, a lipoaspirate port, a vacuum port, and a relief valve. Within the central cavity of the collection device, a cone shaped may be positioned such that the apex of the cone is positioned underneath the lipoaspirate inlet through which the lipoaspirate fluid and tissue are introduced.

An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into components, comprising a valve design that facilitates loading and unloading of sets of blood bags. The valves comprise a jaw mounted on a shaft, the jaw being adapted to apply radio frequency energy to seal a tube, a stepper motor section, and at least two position sensors. The valve sections are mounted on an upper plate, and the stepper motor sections are mounted on a lower plate. A main radio frequency coil is selectively electrically coupled to each of the valves through a multiplexing switch.

A platelet collection device comprising a centrifugal spin-separator container with a cavity having a longitudinal inner surface. A float in the cavity has a base, a platelet collection surface above the base, an outer surface. The float density is below the density of erythrocytes and above the density of plasma. The platelet collection surface has a position on the float which places it below the level of platelets when the float is suspended in separated blood. During centrifugation, a layer of platelets or buffy coat collects closely adjacent the platelet collection surface. Movement of a float having a density greater than whole blood through the sedimenting erythrocytes releases entrapped platelets, increasing the platelet yield.

The invention refers to a centrifuge for separating whole blood into its blood components and a method for extracting a highly enriched thrombocyte concentrate out of whole blood. For this purpose, the centrifuge comprises a closed loop and/or open-loop control unit as well as a drive unit coupled to the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit, a rotor (12) having at least two container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16) for removably holding containers (18, 20, 22, 24) being in fluid communication with each other, at least one sensor arranged between the container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b) and coupled with the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit for detecting a separation layer. Herein, a motor/gear unit (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) coupled to the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit is associated with each of the container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b). Each of the motor/gear units is in operational contact through means (34) with each of the containers (18, 20, 22, 24) supported in the respective container receptacle (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b) such that a transfer and back-transfer of blood components between the containers (18, 20, 22, 24) is initiated.

A method for removing particulates from a fluid, the method including the steps of: producing a laminar flow of the fluid through a single-flow passageway defined by an interior surface of an outer rotor of a centrifuge; and imparting centrifugal force on the fluid in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the flow of the fluid to capture the particulates from the fluid. The method may further comprise rotation of the centrifuge at a speed of 5,000 to 15,000 revolutions per minute. The method may also or alternatively comprise locating the interior surface between 3 and 5 inches from an axis of rotation of the centrifuge.

The invention is a method of processing tarry or resinous liquids. Tarry liquids include wet scrubber liquids containing tars and chars derived from gasification, pyrolysis or drying of biomass. Resinous liquids include those derived from processing coniferous biomass. Tarry or resinous liquid is processed by a horizontal axis centrifuge having a discharge chamber containing a scraper to prevent centrifuge clogging or fouling. The removed tar and char can be used as solid fuel or recycled to the gasification or pyrolysis process. Polymers, for instance cationic polymers, can be added to the tarry or resin containing liquid prior to centrifugation to assist in solids/liquids separation. Removed resin can be recycled for further use. Tar, char or resin depleted wet scrubber liquid can be recycled for further use or more easily treated prior to disposal.

A separator method and apparatus that includes a rotatable drum defining an annular passageway therein, a plurality of blades coupled to the rotatable drum and located in the annular passageway, each of the plurality of blades including a leading section, a trailing section, a concave surface, and a convex surface, the concave and convex surfaces extending from the leading section to the trailing section, each of the plurality of blades disposed circumferentially adjacent to at least another one of the plurality of blades so as to define blade flowpaths therebetween, and a housing at least partially surrounding the rotatable drum and defining a fluid collection chamber fluidly communicating with the annular passageway.

A non-drip applicator that allows easy lubrication and seasoning of barbecue grilling grates or griddle cooking surfaces in an easy, fire safe, and efficient manner is described and claimed. The tool includes a body, an applicator, and, optionally, an irrigation system. The applicator may retain a supply of cooking oil therein, or cooking oil may be transferred to the applicator via the irrigation system. The application of pressure to the applicator by pressing it against the grill cooking elements causes cooking oil to be transferred from the applicator to the cooking elements. The applicator may be rotatably connected to the tool body, allowing the user to oil the grill by rolling the applicator along the grill cooking elements.

A dual feed centrifuge system for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud, the centrifuge system including: a bowl; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl; a first feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor; and a second feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor. The multiple feed ports may allow the centrifuge to operate more efficiently with both weighted and unweighted drilling fluids.

The invention is a decanter centrifuge for separating a first substance and a second substance with different densities, comprising a bowl rotating in use around a horizontal axis of rotation in a direction of rotation, said axis of rotation extending in a longitudinal direction of said bowl, a radial direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a base plate provided at one longitudinal end of said bowl, said base plate having an internal side and an external side, an outlet opening provided in said base plate for discharge of one of said substances. A slide valve body is adapted for covering an adjustable part of the outlet opening to delimit an effective area of the outlet opening.

The present invention relates to a centrifuge and a method for cooling a centrifuge. The centrifuge according to the invention includes a cooling device which is improved in that its required installation space is reduced such that the centrifuge can be of a more compact design with the centrifugation capacity remaining unchanged, or the centrifugation capacity can be increased with the installation space remaining unchanged. Further, the number of components can be reduced and thus cost and assembly time can be saved.

A disposable blood separation set and a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having an inlet, and outlet and a side tap outlet adjacent the inlet. The inlet may protrude into the cell separation chamber forming a circumferential well surrounding the protruding inlet. The side tap outlet may connect to the well. The set and system comprise means for selectively drawing fluid from either the outlet or the side tap outlet.

An apparatus and method to identify at least one component from a plurality of components in a fluid mixture, includes a first input channel containing the fluid mixture of components; at least one buffer input channel, into which at least one additional flow of buffer solution is introduced; a plurality of regions disposed at the other end of the apparatus, which are adapted to receive outputs of at least one selected component of the plurality of components, the selected component which is selectively removed from the first flow to one of the regions; a waste channel through which unselected components are removed from the first flow; a plurality of pumps connected to at least one reservoir, to control flow rates of the first flow and the additional flow(s); and a computer which controls a selection of one of the plurality of components from the fluid mixture.

A vertical centrifugal separator includes a casing, a bowl that is rotatably housed in the casing and provided to separate a solution to be processed which is supplied to an interior of the bowl into a liquid and a solid by an action of centrifugal force and discharge the liquid and the solid, and a discharge assembly that is rotatably housed in the bowl and provided to discharge the solid in the bowl. The bowl and the discharge assembly each have an engagement portion that is engaged or disengaged when the bowl and the discharge assembly are moved relative to each other in an axial direction and a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting a phase between the discharge assembly and the bowl relative to a rotation axis, for example, at a single relative position.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for centrifugal separation. In one embodiment, a separator includes an outer tubular having ends sealed from the environment and an inner tubular. The inner tubular is disposed within the outer tubular, has ends in fluid communication with a bore of the outer tubular, and is attached to the outer tubular. The separator further includes an inlet. The inlet is disposed through a wall of the outer tubular, in fluid communication with a bore of the inner tubular, and tangentially attached to the inner tubular so that fluid flow from the inlet to the inner tubular is centrifugally accelerated. The separator further includes a gas outlet in fluid communication with the outer tubular bore; and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the outer tubular bore.

Method and Apparatus for predicting the volume of a component separated from a composite fluid by predicting the volume of the composite fluid from sensed pressure and predicting the volume of other separated components from sensed movement of the other components to collection bags.

A separation cone (30) is mounted into the interior chamber of a centrifugal separator rotor (10), which comprises a cover (14) releasably connected to a base (16), in order to provide a frusto-conical wall subdividing the chamber into upper and lower regions. This slows the passage of fluid from the upper to the lower region, which takes place via openings (24) and/or via a gap between the inner rim (32) of the cone (30) and the axial inlet tube (12). The separation cone (30) is connected to the cover (14) by a releasable snap fit arrangement, such as by deflectable tabs (38) around the periphery of the separation cone (30) engaging into a groove (15) around the interior surface adjacent a lower edge of the cover (14). This allows there to be a predetermined sequence of servicing operations and ensures that the separation cone (30) will reliably stay with the cover (14) when the cover is removed.

An apparatus for use with a centrifugal cellular separation device that comprises a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation is provided that comprises a fluid separation chamber having a first port, a second port spaced apart from the first port, and a third port located intermediate the first port and the second port. The fluid separation chamber has a cross sectional area generally transverse to a radius extending from the axis of rotation that varies between the first port and the second port. The fluid separation chamber is adapted to be mounted to the rotor so as to be rotatable therewith, with the first port located at a greater radial distance from the axis than the second port, and the third port located radially intermediate the first port and the second port.

The invention describes a color-developing composition that contains at least three major components: (1) a leuco dye or a combination of leuco dyes, (2) an color-developer or a combination of color-developers that can form colored complexes with the leuco dyes, and (3) a desensitizer to temporarily remove the effect of the developer so the leuco dye appears in its colorless form. An optional binder may be included so that the composition may be applied to a substrate as an ink. The ink composition may be applied to synthetic polymeric substrates and other substrates that are incorporated into absorbent articles or personal care products.

A label has a water dissolvable or water dispersible paper with a coating of a type which can be printed with direct thermal printing. The label is produced by passing a length of such paper with a freshly applied coating of the above type through an oven for drying before the coating has an opportunity to deteriorate the surface of the paper.

The present invention relates to a resin composition for protective layer transfer sheets which includes a polyester resin produced by polycondensing a polyhydric alcohol component containing a hydrogenated bisphenol A in an amount of 30 mol % or more and a polycarboxylic acid component containing a benzenedicarboxylic acid in an amount of 50 mol % or more.

A color-changing marking system, including a color-changing marking medium and a substrate. The color-changing marking medium has a nominal color and includes a color developer activator and/or color former leuco dye. The substrate includes a treated portion on which a color former leuco dye and/or color developer activator has been applied. Application of the color-changing marking medium to an untreated portion of the substrate causes the color-changing marking medium to create marks of the nominal color. Application of the color-changing marking medium to the treated portion of the substrate causes the color-changing marking medium to create marks of a changed color in response to a chemical or mechanical reaction between the leuco dye and the activator. The marking medium may a crayon, colored pencil, marker ink or paint.

Methods and apparatuses for activating colorant in selected regions of an article in which the colorant is incorporated are described. The colorant activation can create various desired visual aspects.

There is provided a thermal transfer sheet including a base sheet, and a dye receiving layer formed on the base sheet and containing a mixture of copolymer A including styrene and acrylonitrile as monomers and a copolymer B including 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as monomers.

There is disclosed an indicator composition, the application thereof to substrates, and related products. The indicator composition comprises an organic solvent soluble polymer and a redox sensitive material which displays different visible properties in the oxidized and reduced forms. The organic solvent soluble polymer can be at least partially sulfonated polystyrene. The indicator composition can be dissolved in organic solvents such as acetone, ethanol and ethyl acetate to form inks which can be used in a variety of printing processes. The indicator composition can be used to detect oxidizing agents, oxygen, water, reducing agents, UV light, temperature and the passage of time.

Methods to produce pH-sensitive microparticles that have an active agent dispersed in a polymer matrix have certain advantages over microcapsules with an active agent encapsulated in an interior compartment/core inside of a polymer wall. The current invention relates to pH-sensitive microparticles that have a corrosion-detecting or corrosion-inhibiting active agent or active agents dispersed within a polymer matrix of the microparticles. The pH-sensitive microparticles can be used in various coating compositions on metal objects for corrosion detecting and/or inhibiting.

A heat-sensitive recording material includes at least a paper substrate, a heat-sensitive recording layer arranged on the front side of the substrate and which has at least one dye precursor and at least one color acceptor, wherein dye precursor and color acceptor react with one another under the action of heat to form color, and an authenticating security feature. The authenticating security feature is a mark which is applied to the back side of the paper substrate and which is made of a tincture having at least one organic solvent. A barrier coating is arranged between the substrate and heat-sensitive recording layer and is suitable to protect the heat-sensitive recording layer against penetration of the tincture into the heat-sensitive recording layer from the back side.

A decoration piece has: a design piece made of thermoplastic synthetic resin formed with a design and having an outer profile line; a lower layer; and a dye migration preventing layer arranged between the design piece and the lower layer, said dye migration preventing layer having an outer profile same as that of said design piece, said dye migration preventing layer capable of being adhered to both said design piece and the lower layer, said dye migration preventing layer capable of preventing any migrating of dye. The dye migration preventing layer includes a dye migration preventing film made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyamide MXD6, or a dye migration preventing film made of polyvinylidene chloride.

The present invention provides heat-sensitive coating compositions, which comprise a color developer of formula (1) or mixtures thereof wherein R1 can be hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl or SO3H, and R2 and R3 can be the same or different and can be hydrogen, halogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cyclo-alkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl, OR6, NR7R8, SR9, SO3H or COOR10 and R4 and R5 can be the same or different, and can be hydrogen, halogen, C1-20-alkyl, C3-8-cyclo-alkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, aryl, OR6, NR7R8 or SR9, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 can be the same or different and can be hydrogen, C1-30-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl or aryl, wherein C1-20-alkyl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more C3-8-cycloalkyl, C2-10-alkenyl, phenyl, halogen, OR11, NR12R13, SR14, SO3H or COOR15, and aryl can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogen, C1-10-alkyl, halogenated C1-10-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl C2-10-alkenyl, phenyl, OR11, NR12R13, SR14, SO3H or COOR15, wherein R11, R12, R13, R14 and R15 can be the same or different and can be hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, C3-8-cycloalkyl or C2-10-alkenyl, a process for the preparation of these compositions, a process of coating substrates with these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions, marked substrates obtainable by the latter process, and certain color developers.

The disclosure is generally related to an irreversible thermochromic ink composition and, more particularly, to an irreversible thermochromic ink composition comprising a carrier and thermochromic capsules, the thermochromic capsules comprising a shell and a core, the core comprising an eradicable dye capable of becoming substantially colorless and/or of changing color from a first colored state to a second colored state when exposed to an eradicator.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed generally to a polymeric film that comprises at least one laser imageable marking layer. The marking layer comprises a polyolefin, a photochromatic pigment, and an additive. It has been surprisingly discovered that a polyolefin film comprising a marking layer formulated with a photochromatic pigment and an additive offers a substantial advantage over prior art methods of laser imaging polyolefin films.

This invention is related to a pharmaceutical combination that contains a Casein kinase 2 (CK2) peptide inhibitor (termed P15) along with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and which are administered together, separated or sequentially. The chemotherapeutic drugs include cisplatin, taxol, alkaloids from Vinca, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomicin C, imatinib, iressa and velcade (vortezomib). The synergism between the P15 peptide and the anticancer drugs achieves an efficient concentration of each cytostatic drug in the combination which is from 10- to 100-fold lower than that for each cytostatic drug alone. The pharmaceutical combination described in this invention exhibits lower toxicity compared to that reported by the anticancer therapeutics and therefore, it represents a crucial advantage for its use in cancer therapy. Furthermore, the sequential administration of this pharmaceutical combination through the pretreatment with the P15 peptide leads to the chemo sensibilization of refractory tumors to the anticancer therapeutics.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water dispersion paper having quick water dispersion property and high strength (printability) and whose paper surface pH is 6 to 8 (neutral range), and also to provide a water dispersion coated paper designed to ensure quick water dispersion property and prevent discoloration over time. A water dispersion paper made of wood pulp and/or non-wood pulp, wherein said water dispersion paper is characterized in that purified pulp containing α-cellulose by 88 percent by weight or more accounts for 15 to 95 percent by weight of all pulp, as well as a water dispersion coated paper having a water-soluble coating layer on said water dispersion paper.

Provided is a direct thermal media containing a regular repeating pattern of color-forming thermally-imageable stripes printed parallel to the print head element line and a system for using such direct thermal media in color direct thermal printers including an optical registration system optimized for use with this media and an image processing unit that monitors the position of the stripe pattern relative to the print head and synchronizes the start of the printing process. This direct thermal media together with the optical registration system and image processing unit comprise an operative system in that the design of the thermal media, the optical registration system and image processing unit used to control printing are optimized for use with each other. This system may be utilized, for example, in color thermal printers for documents, receipts, tags, tickets or labels.

A reversible thermosensitive recording medium including a support, a reversible thermosensitive recording layer provided on the support and an antistatic layer, wherein the antistatic layer is provided on at least one of the reversible thermosensitive recording layer and a surface of the support opposite to the surface thereof on which the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is provided, wherein the antistatic layer contains spherical fillers and a curable conductive polymer, and wherein the spherical fillers satisfy the following Expression (1): 4≦average particle diameter of the spherical fillers/thickness of the antistatic layer≦6 Expression (1).

A heat-sensitive color-developing composition containing a hydroxyquinoline compound having a methyl group and an acid anhydride compound represented by general formula (1): wherein ring A represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and a heat-sensitive recording material containing the composition in a recording layer.

An irreversible thermochromic ink composition can include thermochromic pigment capsules dispersed in a carrier. The irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules can include an inner core having a color changing dye, a color activator for activating the color changing dye, and a wax, an outer core surrounding the inner core and comprising a color destroying agent, and a shell surrounding the outer core. Alternatively, the irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules can include an inner core having a color destroying agent and a wax, an outer core surrounding the inner core and comprising a color changing dye and a color activator for activating the color changing dye, and a shell surrounding the outer core. Written marks made with the irreversible thermochromic inks can be rendered a different color or substantially colorless by application of a sufficient amount of heat to melt or substantially liquefy the wax in the irreversible thermochromic pigment capsules.

A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. as the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 μm and up to and including 5 μm. It comprises a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % of the total dry image receiving layer weight and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1 to and including 20:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.

A method of color laser marking an article having a polymeric foil with at least one colorless layer containing an infrared absorber, a polymeric binder and a color forming compound; including the steps of:—laser marking the colorless layer with an infrared laser using a first laser operation mode to generate a blue or cyan color; and—laser marking the same colorless layer with an infrared laser using a second laser operation mode to generate a black color, wherein the first laser operation mode applies less energy to the colorless layer than the second laser operation mode. Also disclosed is an article, such as a security document, including a polymeric foil and a colorless layer containing laser marked graphical data having a blue or cyan color and laser marked information having a black color.

A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. and is the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 μm and up to and including 5 μm. It comprises a water-dispersible release agent and a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.

The invention describes an improved thermally-responsive record material substantially free of aromatic isocyanate yielding an image of high intensity and useful for bar codes. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive composition comprising a substantially colorless color former comprising a fluoran; and a developer material selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone and 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, and an organic acid which upon being heated reacts with said color former to develop color, and including a binder material. Optionally, a modifier compound is included in the heat-sensitive composition. The compound can be selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid amide, such as stearmide. Optionally, magnesium state is included.

The invention describes a thermally-responsive record material substantially free of aromatic isocyanate. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon a heat-sensitive composition comprising a substantially colorless dye precursor comprising a fluoran; and a developer material selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone and 3,3'-diaminodiphenylsulfone in combination with N-[(butylamino)carbonyl]-4-methylbenzene sulfonamide, which upon being heated react with said dye precursor to develop color, and including a binder material.

A children's coloring pad may incorporate thermochromic pigments that are specially formulated to develop color and clear color by respective applications of cold and hot temperatures. The pad may be used in a similar manner as with respect to finger painting, but without the residual mess.

A security document precursor including, in order: a) at least one transparent biaxially stretched polyester foil; b) one colorless color forming layer containing at least an infrared absorber, a colorless dye-precursor and a polymeric binder; and c) a polymeric support; wherein the polymeric binder is copolymer including at least 90 wt % of a chlorinated ethylene and 1 wt % to 10 wt % of vinyl acetate both based on the total weight of the binder. Methods for making the security document precursor are also disclosed.

A method for preparing a color laser marked article comprising the steps of: a) infrared laser marking a security element including a polymeric support and a color forming layer comprising a color forming compound, an infrared dye and a polymeric binder comprising vinyl acetate and at least 85 wt % of vinyl chloride based on the total weight of the binder; and b) exposing the laser marked security element with light having a wavelength higher than 440 nm. The light exposure of step b) hinders the falsification of an issued security document without significant increase of background density.

A vinyl chloride-based resin latex which froths little when unreacted monomer remaining in the latex are recovered under heat and reduced-pressure conditions, and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which has satisfactory water resistance, does not yellow during storage, and gives images having excellent durability and light resistance. The invention provides a vinyl chloride-based resin latex contains a copolymer containing a vinyl chloride and an epoxy-group-containing vinyl or contains vinyl chloride, an epoxy-group-containing vinyl, and a carboxylic acid vinyl ester, wherein a content of the epoxy-group-containing vinyl is 0.1% by weight or more but less than 3% by weight, and wherein the latex contains no surfactant, and has a solid concentration of 25% by weight or more; a process for producing the latex; and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained using the latex.

Disclosed are a polysiloxane-modified polyhydroxy polyurethane resin characterized by being derived from a reaction between a 5-membered cyclic carbonate polysiloxane compound represented by the below-described formula (1) and an amine compound, and its production process; and a resin composition, thermal recording medium, imitation leather, thermoplastic polyolefin resin skin material, weather strip material, and weather strip, all of which make use of the resin. wherein A means

The present invention relates to a thermochromic color-memory composition containing: (I) an electron donating coloring organic compound, (II) an electron accepting compound, and (III) an ester compound represented by the following formula (1) as a reaction medium which controls color reaction of the components (I) and (II): (in the formula, X represents any of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a halogen atom, m represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and n represents an integer of from 1 to 20).

Hybrid topcoat formulations comprising a water soluble polymer and a water dispersible polymer provide improved adhesion to underlying surfaces. Paper products coated with these formulations, such as thermal paper, achieve high stain resistance and improved adhesion of UV cured silicone release layers.