Abstract: Skeleton pattern data and stroke thickness data are stored for each character composed of a plurality of strokes, and desired skeleton pattern data are converted into skeleton data enlarged or reduced by a scaling factor. Thickness data of the strokes after the scaling are generated based on the stroke thickness data and the scaling factor. An outline of each stroke of the character is generated based on the skeleton pattern data and the stroke thickness data to thereby generate outline pattern data of the character. When generating the outline pattern data based on the skeleton pattern data, a value different from the scaling factor for the skeleton pattern data is determined as a thickness scaling factor for the stroke of the character.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pyrogen-free plasma substitute consisting of treating hydroxyethyl starch having a DS of 0.5 - 0.6 (preferably 0.55) and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.28 - 0.30 with an acid to lower the molecular weight; adjusting it to the desired hydroxyethyl starch having a DS of 0.55 and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.08- 0.14; adding a depyrogen reagent, such as Raney-nickel to it, if necessary, obtaining an isotonic aqueous solution containing 6% of hydroxyethyl starch and other various salts, preferably, adding sodium chloride (0.5%), potassium chloride (0.03%), calcium chloride dihydrate (0.02%), sodium lactate (0.224%), and glucose (1%)(W/V%) to 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution; and then adjusting the pH of the obtained iostonic aqueous solution to 6.2 .+-. 0.5.