Nanosphere composition containing a mixture of a triblock oligomer and a diblock oligomer for the delivery of an active agent. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the nanospheres and methods of delivering an active agent enclosed in the nanospheres.

Nanosphere composition containing a mixture of a triblock oligomer and a diblock oligomer for the delivery of an active agent. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the nanospheres and methods of delivering an active agent enclosed in the nanospheres.

An endoscopic flexible tube including a sleeve-shaped flexible-tube base having flexibility, and a cover layer for the flexible-tube base, wherein the cover layer contains (a) at least one of (a1) a polyester resin having a naphthalene structure or (a2) a polyester elastomer having a naphthalene structure, and (b) at least one of (b1) a thermoplastic resin not having a naphthalene structure or (b2) a thermoplastic elastomer not having a naphthalene structure, and, in the cover layer, a ratio of the component (a) to a total amount of the components (a) and (b) is more than 50 mass % and less than 90 mass %; an endoscopic medical apparatus including the endoscopic flexible tube; and a covering material for the endoscopic-flexible-tube base.

The ester-type epoxy furan resin of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (1).

##STR00001##

(In the general formula (1), R.sup.1 is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms optionally containing a hydroxy group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure; n is 0 to 300; and a plurality of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3, if present within the molecule, may be mutually the same or different.)

The ester-type epoxy furan resin of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (1).

##STR00001##

(In the general formula (1), R.sup.1 is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms optionally containing a hydroxy group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure; n is 0 to 300; and a plurality of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3, if present within the molecule, may be mutually the same or different.)

A plateable polymer composition is provided. The polymer composition comprises a noble metal catalyst distributed within a polymer matrix containing at least one high naphthenic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dissipation factor of about 0.01 or less as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

A plateable polymer composition is provided. The polymer composition comprises a noble metal catalyst distributed within a polymer matrix containing at least one high naphthenic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dissipation factor of about 0.01 or less as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

A casing for the thermal management and protection of an electrochemical cell, the casing comprises a first material, an inner surface configured to be in physical contact with an electrochemical cell, wherein the inner surface is substantially solid at room temperature; and a polymer matrix dispersed within the first material and comprising two or more temperature management materials. At least one of the two or more temperature management materials comprise a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 5 Joules per gram and a transition temperature between 0° C. and 100° C., and an elastomeric material. The polymer matrix is substantially homogeneous, and in an environment where the electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell operate under the same charging and discharging conditions, the casing reduces a first operating temperature of the electrochemical cell by at least 10° C.

A casing for the thermal management and protection of an electrochemical cell, the casing comprises a first material, an inner surface configured to be in physical contact with an electrochemical cell, wherein the inner surface is substantially solid at room temperature; and a polymer matrix dispersed within the first material and comprising two or more temperature management materials. At least one of the two or more temperature management materials comprise a phase change material having a latent heat of at least 5 Joules per gram and a transition temperature between 0° C. and 100° C., and an elastomeric material. The polymer matrix is substantially homogeneous, and in an environment where the electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell operate under the same charging and discharging conditions, the casing reduces a first operating temperature of the electrochemical cell by at least 10° C.

The present invention relates to an asphalt composition for road pavement, which is excellent in drying strength, strength after immersion in water, and strength after immersion in petroleum, a method for producing the same, and a road paving method. [1] An asphalt composition for road pavement, containing asphalt, a polyester resin, and an aggregate, wherein the polyester resin is one subjected to melt-kneading and a ratio of the polyester resin is 5 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the asphalt; [2] a method for producing an asphalt composition for road pavement, including a step of mixing asphalt, a polyester resin, and an aggregate at 130° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, wherein the polyester resin used in the mixing step is one subjected to melt-kneading, and a ratio of the polyester resin is 5 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the asphalt; and [3] a road paving method including a step of laying an asphalt composition obtained by the method of [2], thereby forming an asphalt paving material layer.