Abstract: A substantially solvent-free and stable crystal of the compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein the ring A may optionally be substituted, R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or an N-protecting group, each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 (1) a hydrogen atom, (2) an alkyl group which may optionally be substituted with halogen atom(s) or (3) an alkoxy group which may optionally be substituted with halogen atom(s) or alkoxy; or its salt, is produced by subjecting a solvate of the compound (I) or its salt to de-solvent treatment, in an industrially advantageous method.

Abstract: A magnet resonance imaging system is described having an open magnet structure that provides a remote region of background field homogeneity for imaging that is open and accessible. The system includes spatial encoding gradient coils and a rf coil. The open magnet structure has an planar active shimming coil array that provides a remote region of enhanced field homogeneity with open geometry for easy accessibility to a patient. Preferably, the active planar shimming coil array has one or more pair of current loops arranged and constructed in a plane separating the open magnet structure from the remote region, a first loop having current in a first direction to provide a magnetic flux (i.e., magnetization vector) away from the plane and a second loop having current in the opposite direction to provide a magnetic flux (i.e., magnetization vector) toward the plane.

Abstract: Improved carrier materials for use in electrophotographic processes and processes for producing such carrier materials are disclosed. The carrier materials feature a preferably conductive core coated with an first conductive layer and a second, insulative layer. The coating layers preferably comprise a fluoropolymer matrix or other triboelectrically chargeable substance or substances. In one embodiment the same fluoropolymer is used in the first and second coatings.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of insulating substrates; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of insulating substrates; switching elements arranged in a matrix on one of the pair of the insulating substrates; gate lines and data lines, arranged to intersect each other, for controlling the switching elements; and pixel electrodes provided above the gate lines and the data lines with an organic insulating film therebetween. The method includes the steps of forming a transparent conductive film on the organic insulating film at a first temperature; annealing the transparent conductive film at a second temperature equal to or lower than the first temperature; and patterning the transparent conductive film to form the pixel electrodes after the step of annealing.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium with a reproducing layer that exhibits in-plane magnetization at room temperature and that comes to exhibit perpendicular magnetization as temperature rises. The second shielding layer is used to block the magnetization of record bits other than a record bit to be reproduced from being copied on a signal reproducing area in the reproducing layer. Consequently, even in the case of high-density record bits in the recording layer, only the magnetization of the record bit to be reproduced is copied on the reproducing layer. Therefore, the application of the magneto-optical recording medium makes it possible to produce superior reproducing signals even in the case where the records bits with high density are formed on the recording layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is made up of toner particles composed of irregularly-shaped core particles made chiefly of binder resin, and surface-modifying fine particles which are first dispersed over and attached to the surface of the core particles, and then affixed or formed into a film thereon. The BET specific surface area, based on N.sub.2 adsorption, of the toner particles is less than 0.64 times the BET specific surface area of the core particles and surface-modifying fine particles combined together. Further, this value is 1.07 times the BET specific surface area of hypothetical toner particles which are perfect spheres. Consequently, the toner is not prone to problems such as filming, toner scattering, and fogging which are caused by peeling, separation, etc. of the surface-modifying fine particles, nor to poor cleaning due to spherical toner particles.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium in accordance with the present invention is constituted by a first magnetic film having a magnetic anisotropy in a first direction parallel to the film surface and a second magnetic film that is formed on the first magnetic film and that is made of an amorphous alloy film of a rare-earth metal and a transition metal having a magnetic anisotropy in a second direction that is parallel to the film surface, and different from the first direction. In the above-mentioned magnetic recording medium, the first and second magnetic films have magnetic anisotropies having directions parallel to their surfaces and different from each other. When a magnetic latent image is formed on the magnetic recording medium of this type, it is possible to reduce the height of serration in the serrate magnetization transition structure appearing in the border of magnetization inversion in the magnetic latent image.

Abstract: A video signal 21 is input to a motion-compensated median filter to produce a preliminary blemish-concealed signal 23. The preliminary signal and the original input signal are passed via appropriate delays to respective inputs of a selector switch 31 and to a side chain circuit. The selector switch is controlled by the side chain circuit output and the selector switch output 22 forms a final blemish-concealed video signal. In the side chain circuit a difference signal C is generated to indicate differences between the input signal and the preliminary signal. The difference signal C is processed in two parallel circuit branches to remove differences having gently-sloping edges and differences corresponding to similar-sized differences in similar areas of adjacent frames, which are likely to be motion artifacts.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an aqueous solution or dispersion containing a cationic polymer, which comprises the steps of: polymerizing a monomer including an N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide represented by the general formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHNHCOR, wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group, in an aqueous medium in the presence of either or both of a polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; and then modifying the resulting polymer with an acid or base. Furthermore, an aqueous composition containing a cationic polymer, which comprises (A) a modified N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide polymer, (B) either or both of a polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, and (C) water is disclosed.

Abstract: An anchoring member is provided with a shaft 2, 12 for anchoring in a bone and a head 3, 53 with a substantially U-shaped cross-section for connection with a rod 9, 59, the head having a base 5, 55 connected with the shaft 2, 12 and two free legs 6, 7; 56, 57 forming a channel for receiving the rod 9, 59. The two legs have an internal screw thread 8, 58 and an external screw thread 8', 58'. A nut member 11, 61 comprises an internal thread which embraces the outside of the legs and cooperates with the external screw thread and a locking member 10 has a thread cooperating with the internal screw thread of the legs. The anchoring member further comprises a spring member 19, 79 acting onto the rod 9, 59 to be received in order to, on the one hand, obtain a rigid connection between the anchoring member and the rod and, on the other hand, to allow an easy manipulation for precisely adjusting the position between the anchoring member and the rod before finally locking the position.

Abstract: An active matrix substrate including: pixel electrodes provided in a matrix; a TFT composed essentially of a semiconductor layer; a scanning signal line; a data signal line; a conductive light-shielding film formed on a substrate; a first insulating film formed on the substrate so as to cover the conductive light-shielding film; a thin semiconductor film formed on the first insulating film, the thin semiconductor film being formed of the same material as the semiconductor layer composing the TFT; a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film so as to cover the thin semiconductor film; and a storage capacitance electrode formed on the second insulating film. The storage capacitance electrode is a thin metal film formed of the same material as the scanning signal line. The storage capacitance electrode is electrically coupled to the conductive light-shielding film. A first storage capacitance is formed between the conductive light-shielding film and the thin semiconductor film.

Abstract: In an image-forming system, when the user inputs an instruction for image processing to an input section in a digital copying machine, the control section of the digital copying machine outputs image information of a document to a host computer. The host computer carries out a predetermined image process on the inputted image information, and outputs the processed image information to the digital copying machine through a transferring device. The control section of the digital copying machine supplies the processed image information to an image-recording section, and the image-recording section forms a visual image based on the image information. With this arrangement, merely by installing necessary processing functions in the host computer, it becomes possible to eliminate the need for purchasing a new digital copying machine to replace the older one with relatively outdated functions, and also to reduce the burden on users on an economic basis.

Abstract: A reflector includes a substrate, a plurality of convex/concave portions formed on the substrate, and a thin reflective film formed over the convex/concave portions. When light is incident upon the reflector from a certain direction, an intensity of reflected light in a viewing angle range of about -45.degree. to +45.degree. with respect to a regular reflection direction of the incident light is about 60% or more of an intensity of light which is incident upon a standard white plate from a direction inclined by about 30.degree. from a direction normal to the plate and is reflected to the direction normal to the plate.

Abstract: A method for collecting a sample of fluid specimen from a patient for diagnostic testing, providing a specimen collecting device comprising a hollow tubular member, an elongated foam member that is circumscribed by a hollow tubular member along a portion of its longitudinal axis. The hollow tubular member has a cross sectional area less than the uncompressed cross sectional area of the foam member so that the foam member is compressed along the circumscribed portion. Around the hollow tubular member is slidably mounted a flexible sleeve member having a first end that fits snugly around the hollow tubular member and a second end with an enlarged diameter that can surround the uncompressed foam member.

Abstract: An active matrix substrate according to the present invention includes a scanning line, a signal line, a pixel electrode, a switching element connected with the scanning line, the signal line, and the pixel electrode, and a color pixel portion, wherein at least a portion of the scanning line and the signal line and at least a region of the switching element are covered with a water-repellent organic resin protection film, and the color pixel portion is composed of hydrophilic color ink applied to a portion of the substrate surrounded by the organic resin protection film.

Abstract: An active matrix substrate of the present invention includes: an insulating substrate; scanning bus lines and signal bus lines provided on the insulating substrate so as to cross each other; switching elements provided in the vicinity of crossing portions of the scanning bus lines and the signal bus lines. The active matrix substrate also includes an interlayer insulating film covering the switching elements, the scanning bus lines and the signal bus lines; and pixel electrodes provided on the surface of the interlayer insulating film opposite to the insulating substrate, each of the pixel electrodes being electrically connected with each of the switching elements via a contact hole penetrating the interlayer insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes a first layer containing benzocyclobutene and a second layer containing silicon dioxide obtained by treating the surface of the first layer with oxygen plasma.

Abstract: A toner image fixing device possesses excellent toner-releasing property and paper-carrying ability. A fixing roller is covered with a layer of compound of PTFE and fluoroelastomer.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus of this invention includes a pair of substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates having on a surface thereof: pixel electrodes arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of signal lines; and a plurality of nonlinear switching elements for connecting each of the plurality of signal lines to a corresponding column of pixel electrodes. Each switching element has a lower electrode, an insulating film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the insulating electrode, the lower electrode being a branch of the corresponding signal line, wherein the lower electrode has a first portion with a width larger than a width of a second portion overlapping the insulating film and the upper electrode, the first portion being located farther from the corresponding signal line than the second portion.

Abstract: A thermocouple probe 10 suitable for use in a gas turbine engine comprises a thermocouple element 12 which is coaxially arranged inside a protective sheath 16. The thermocouple element 12 is resiliently supported by a helical member 18 which insulates the element 12 from deleterious vibrations induced in the sheath 16. In use, the thermocouple probe 10 projects through an aperture 30 in the casing 32 of a gas chamber 34. Vibrations in the probe 10 are further reduced by ensuring that the longitudinal axis AA of the probe is angularly offset from the central axis BB of the aperture 30, such that the outer periphery of the sheath 16 is in contact with the inner periphery of the aperture 30 in two diametrically opposite and axially offset locations.