Disclosed is a degradable film (1) in which a barrier layer (3) is disposed on a surface of a water-soluble polymer layer (2). The water-soluble polymer layer (2) is made of a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The barrier layer (3) is made of silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride. The barrier layer (3) is formed on the water-soluble polymer layer (2) by a CVD process with the supply of a raw material gas containing a precursor of a substance that forms the barrier layer (3), an ozone gas with an oxygen concentration of 20 vol % or higher and an unsaturated hydrocarbon gas to the water-soluble polymer layer (2).

A barium titanate fiber is useful as a filler for a polymer composite piezoelectric body, a polymer composite piezoelectric body has high piezoelectric properties, and a piezoelectric element utilizes the polymer composite piezoelectric body. In the barium titanate fiber, the molar ratio of barium atoms to titanium atoms (Ba/Ti ratio) falls within the range of 1.01 to 1.04. The polymer composite piezoelectric body includes a resin composition containing the barium titanate fiber and a polymer. The piezoelectric element including an electrically conductive layer on one surface or both surfaces of the polymer composite piezoelectric body.

Improved hydrogel configurations for use with a TTField-generating system is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits containing the improved hydrogel configurations and methods of producing and using the improved hydrogel configurations.

An anti-forgery color conversion film includes a photonic crystal structure whose color is converted by an external stimulus such as a breath. The photonic crystal structure includes a first refractive index layer including a first polymer exhibiting a first refractive index; and a second refractive index layer which is alternately laminated with the first refractive index layer and includes a second polymer exhibiting a second refractive index. A consumer who purchases an article including the color conversion film may easily distinguish the authenticity of the article.

Improved hydrogel configurations for use with a TTField-generating system is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits containing the improved hydrogel configurations and methods of producing and using the improved hydrogel configurations.

A method for preparing an ophthalmic device for slowing, inhibiting or preventing myopia progression involves contacting an ophthalmic device having one or more reactive functional groups with one or more red-light blocking compounds having one or more reactive functional groups complementary to the one or more reactive functional groups of the ophthalmic device in a basic solution for a time period sufficient to covalently bond at least one reactive functional group of the ophthalmic device with at least one reactive functional group of the one or more red-light blocking compounds. The one or more red-light blocking compounds block greater than about 5% to about 25% of red-light transmission through the ophthalmic device at a wavelength of from about 550 nanometers (nm) to about 800 nm.

To provide microwell films for bioassay suitable for a “unimolecular enzyme assay” method and methods of manufacturing the films, a microwell film for bioassay is comprised of at least a substrate (11), and a resin layer (12) having microwells on its surface provided on one main surface of the substrate (11), where in the substrate (11) and the resin forming the resin layer (12), an absorption coefficient at each of wavelengths of 350 nm to 800 nm is 0.01 μm.sup.−1 or less.

A hydrogel comprising a polymer matrix formed from a copolymer of an acrylic monomer and a crosslinkable monomer, a water-soluble polymer, water, and a polyhydric alcohol, the hydrogel having a tensile strength of 0.5 N/20 mm to 3.0 N/20 mm.

The present invention provides a thermally expandable microcapsule that has excellent heat resistance and compression resistance and that enables the production of a foam molded article that is less likely to undergo deterioration or appearance defects over a long period of time, as well as a foamable masterbatch and a foam molded article each produced using the thermally expandable microcapsule. Provided is a thermally expandable microcapsule including a shell and a volatile expansion agent as a core agent encapsulated by the shell, the shell containing a black material and a polymer compound.

A formulation for silicone hydrogel for use in contact lens includes at least one silicone monomer having a weight percent of the total hydrogel weight in a range from about 10% to about 35%, at least one hydrophilic monomer having a weight percent of the total hydrogel weight in a range from about 15% to about 40%, at least one crosslinker, and at least one initiator. A silicone hydrogel, and a method to form silicone hydrogel are provided.