Abstract: A reference standard set for BNP measurement, including a plurality of reference standards including BNP-32 and proBNP, wherein the ratio BNP-32/proBNP (mole ratio) differs between the reference standards, and when a reference standard having a high mole ratio and a reference standard having a low mole ratio are compared, the BNP concentration, which is the sum total of the BNP-32 concentration and the proBNP concentration, is lower in the reference standard having a high mole ratio than in the reference standard having a low mole ratio.

Abstract: A reference standard set for BNP measurement, including a plurality of reference standards including BNP-32 and proBNP, wherein the ratio BNP-32/proBNP (mole ratio) differs between the reference standards, and when a reference standard having a high mole ratio and a reference standard having a low mole ratio are compared, the BNP concentration, which is the sum total of the BNP-32 concentration and the proBNP concentration, is lower in the reference standard having a high mole ratio than in the reference standard having a low mole ratio.

Abstract: A sock (1) comprises a heel part (H) between a tubular leg part (L) and a tubular sole part (S), which comprises mesh-number varying regions (V1-V6) arranged along a knitting axis (K), and tubular regions (C1-C5) arranged between the mesh-number varying regions. The mesh-number varying regions include an upper region (V1), a lower region (V6), and intermediate regions (V2-V5). The number of courses of the upper region (CV1) is smaller than the number of courses of the lower region (CV6) and the number of courses of the intermediate regions (CV2-CV5). The mesh-number varying regions are constituted by mesh-number increasing regions (V1, V3, V5) and mesh-number reducing regions (V2, V4, V6) alternatingly arranged along the knitting axis. The number of courses of the tubular regions (CC1-CC5) is smaller than the number of courses of the mesh-number varying regions (CV1-CV6).

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a thin optical disc by using the same optical system as that of a CD, a DVD or the like, the invention provides a technique which can stably rotate the thin optical disc at a high speed. The structure can be made such that a turbulence of an airflow is not generated even if the thin optical disc on a turn table is rotated at a high speed, by employing a transparent turn table and arranging a recording and reproducing head or the like in an opposite side to a thin optical disc mounting surface of the turn table.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a thin optical disc by using the same optical system as that of a CD, a DVD or the like, the invention provides a technique which can stably rotate the thin optical disc at a high speed. The structure can be made such that a turbulence of an airflow is not generated even if the thin optical disc on a turn table is rotated at a high speed, by employing a transparent turn table and arranging a recording and reproducing head or the like in an opposite side to a thin optical disc mounting surface of the turn table.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a substrate, a magnetic functional layer provided on the substrate, and a magnetic recording layer stacked in contact with the magnetic functional layer and having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. ?4×2?Ms2?Ku?6×2?Ms2 is satisfied, wherein Ku represents a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant of the magnetic functional layer and Ms represents a saturation magnetization. The magnetic moment of the magnetic functional layer is rotated in a direction of an applied magnetic field during the recording, and the magnetic moment acts on the magnetization of the recording layer in such a manner that the applied magnetic field is assisted thereby. Minute magnetic domains can be stably retained and excellent thermal disturbance resistance can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an extremely large capacity disc cartridge which can avoid a head crush and a disc crush and has a high reliability, and a recording and reproducing apparatus for the same.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium which is capable of stably retaining minute magnetic domains in a recording layer and which has excellent thermal disturbance resistance, and a magnetic recording apparatus which is provided with the same are provided.

Abstract: Recording/reproducing methods and apparatuses for a magneto-optical recording medium are disclosed. The magneto-optical recording medium may include a recording layer in which information can be recorded and a reproducing layer to which information in the recording layer can be transferred. According to one embodiment, the method includes encoding the data to be recorded/reproduced with a low-density parity check code, writing the encoded data to the recording layer of the magneto-optical recording medium, transferring the encoded data from the recording layer to the reproducing layer, and decoding the encoded data from the reproducing layer.

Abstract: A wiring jig is provided with a cable receiving area which receives cables. A crank-shaped supporting member supports a pillar which supports the cable receiving area. A pressing member having a pair of locating feet is provided with a pressing screw. Tightening the pressing screw of the pressing member fastens the supporting member to a perforated panel. Loosening the pressing screw allows the supporting member to rotate and/or slide so that the pillar can be installed at any desired position without being limited by the position of mounting holes pre-formed with a predetermined spacing in a perforated panel which receive the pair of locating feet of the pressing member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase-change optical recording medium which has a reflectance and a signal modulation conformed to the CD standard, and which is usable for recording at the same linear velocity as the reproducing velocity specified in the CD standard. The phase-change optical recording medium comprises a metallic layer, a first protective layer, a recording layer, a second protective layer, and a reflecting layer on a substrate, in which recording is performed through change from a crystalline state to an amorphous state in the recording layer. The recording layer comprises a recording material of a Ge--Te--Sb--Se system, and the recording layer has an average composition in a direction of thickness which satisfies the following relations as represented by atomic %:Ge.gtoreq.40%, and Sb+Se.ltoreq.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process for laminating a functionally gradient material and a laminating apparatus for the same. The process therefor includes a suspending step and a functionally gradient material laminating step. In the functionally gradient material laminating step, solid-liquid separation is carried out to a suspension while varying the mixing rates of the suspension particles contained therein continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner. Therefore, the functionally gradient material layer thus laminated offers a composition gradient varying continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner in the thicknesswise direction thereof in a superior continuity, and the composition fluctuates less in the planewise direction thereof. In addition, the process and the laminating apparatus have obviated the atomizing and the spraying which adversely affect a working environment.

Abstract: A garnet single crystal film wherein part of iron ions at tetrahedral positions and octahedral positions are replaced by an appointed amount of the other ions is by far superior to prior art garnet films in that its saturation magnetization (4.pi.Ms) and its exchange stiffness coefficient (A) can be independently controlled to a desired value and a magnetic bubble domain having a small diameter can be easily formed.