Abstract: This invention provides an agent for inhibiting production of hepatitis C virus with notable anti-HCV activity and without side-effects. The agent comprises a proanthocyanidin polymer composition illustrated in the following the general formula (1), wherein R1 is hydrogen or hydroxyl, R2 is hydroxyl, R3 is hydrogen when R1 is either hydrogen or hydroxyl, but R3 is possibly hydroxyl when R1 is either hydrogen or hydroxyl to the extent that both R1 and R3 being hydroxyl is at most 40 percents in the proanthocyanidin polymer composition said units of flavan-3-ol being bonded each other in any one of three patterns as follows; (i) a bond between carbon at the position 4 and carbon at the position 8, (ii) a bond between carbon at the position 4 and carbon at the position 6, (iii) a bond between carbon at the position 4 and carbon at the position 8, and between carbon at the position 2 and oxygen at the position 7.

Abstract: This invention presents a magnetic recording disk where an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is provided between a substrate and the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing method comprising a step to prepare an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer, prior to a step to prepare the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing system comprising an anisotropy-allowing-layer preparation chamber, in which an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is prepared on a substrate, prior to preparation of the magnetic recording layer. In this invention, the anisotropy-allowing layer is made of; nitride of niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy, or nitride-including niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content. PCR was performed using degenerate primers, and novel OsGA2ox2 and OsGA2ox3 genes were obtained. The present inventors discovered that unlike products of other GA2-oxidases such as OsGA2ox1, the product of OsGA2ox3 catalyzes the two-step oxidation of GA20 to GA29 and then of GA29 to GA29-catabolite. In addition, the present inventors also found that the growth of the transgenic rice plants expressing OsGA2ox3 was suppressed as compared to control plants.

Abstract: This invention presents a magnetic recording disk where an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is provided between a substrate and the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing method comprising a step to prepare an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer, prior to a step to prepare the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing system comprising an anisotropy-allowing-layer preparation chamber, in which an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is prepared on a substrate, prior to preparation of the magnetic recording layer. In this invention, the anisotropy-allowing layer is made of; nitride of niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy, or nitride-including niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forming multilayered coating film, which comprises applying onto a substrate base paint (A) containing effect pigment, applying onto the resulting base coat, clear paint (B), thereafter hardening the coating film by heating, further applying onto the resulting clear coat, color clear paint (C) containing color pigment and/or dye, and applying onto the resulting color clear coat, top clear paint (D).

Abstract: This invention presents a magnetic recording disk where an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is provided between a substrate and the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing method comprising a step to prepare an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer, prior to a step to prepare the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing system comprising an anisotropy-allowing-layer preparation chamber, in which an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is prepared on a substrate, prior to preparation of the magnetic recording layer. In this invention, the anisotropy-allowing layer is made of; nitride of niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy, or nitride-including niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy.

Abstract: This application discloses a system for depositing a magnetic film for a magnetic recording layer or depositing an underlying film prior to depositing a magnetic film as a recording layer. The system comprises; a chamber in which the film is deposited onto a substrate by sputtering, a target that is provided in the chamber and made of material of the film to be deposited, a sputter power source for applying voltage to the target for the sputtering, and a direction control member for controlling sputter-particles released from the target during the sputtering. The direction control member is provided between the substrate and the target. The direction control member provides a passage for the sputter-particles. The direction control member lets the sputter-particles selectively pass through, thereby allowing magnetic anisotropy to the magnetic film. The passage is not close but open in its cross section.

Abstract: This application discloses a multi-layer film deposition apparatus comprising; plural cathodes comprising targets respectively, a main rotation mechanism for rotating each cathode together, and a substrate holder to hold a substrate onto which a multi-layer film is deposited by sputtering. The targets are arranged at positions where their center axes are on a circumference. The main rotation mechanism rotates the cathodes around the axis in common to the circumference. The substrate is located at a position within an area in view to the direction of the axis. The area is formed of two loci of points on the rotated targets. One of the locus is drawn by the point nearest to the axis, and the other locus is drawn by the point furthest from the axis.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content.

Abstract: A substrate support mechanism of the present invention, which holds the inner rim of a disc substrate having an opening at its center, comprises: a hollow cylindrical member; a central shaft having a tapered portion disposed in the cylindrical member so as to be axially pushed by a first spring; and a plurality of radially movable members, each of which is pushed inwardly by a second spring and has a click to grip the inner rim; whereby the axial motion of the central shaft is converted by the tapered portion to the radial motion of said radially movable members to grip and release said substrate. A substrate rotation device includes a mechanism for axially moving the cylindrical member; a mechanism for axially moving the central shaft; and a mechanism for rotating the cylindrical member in addition to the substrate support mechanism.

Abstract: This application discloses a system for depositing a magnetic film for a magnetic recording layer or depositing an underlying film prior to depositing a magnetic film as a recording layer. The system comprises; a chamber in which the film is deposited onto a substrate by sputtering, a target that is provided in the chamber and made of material of the film to be deposited, a sputter power source for applying voltage to the target for the sputtering, and a direction control member for controlling sputter-particles released from the target during the sputtering. The direction control member is provided between the substrate and the target. The direction control member provides a passage for the sputter-particles. The direction control member lets the sputter-particles selectively pass through, thereby allowing magnetic anisotropy to the magnetic film. The passage is not close but open in its cross section.

Abstract: This application discloses a multi-layer film deposition apparatus comprising; plural cathodes comprising targets respectively, a main rotation mechanism for rotating each cathode together, and a substrate holder to hold a substrate onto which a multi-layer film is deposited by sputtering. The targets are arranged at positions where their center axes are on a circumference. The main rotation mechanism rotates the cathodes around the axis in common to the circumference. The substrate is located at a position within an area in view to the direction of the axis. The area is formed of two loci of points on the rotated targets. One of the locus is drawn by the point nearest to the axis, and the other locus is drawn by the point furthest from the axis.

Abstract: This invention presents a magnetic recording disk where an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is provided between a substrate and the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing method comprising a step to prepare an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer, prior to a step to prepare the magnetic recording layer. This invention also presents a magnetic-recording-disk manufacturing system comprising an anisotropy-allowing-layer preparation chamber, in which an anisotropy-allowing layer to allow magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording layer is prepared on a substrate, prior to preparation of the magnetic recording layer. In this invention, the anisotropy-allowing layer is made of; nitride of niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy, or nitride-including niobium, tantalum, niobium alloy or tantalum alloy.

Abstract: This invention presents a magnetic recording disk comprising a disk-shaped substrate and a magnetic film provided on the substrate for magnetic recording. The substrate is made of glass. A texture for giving magnetic anisotropy with the magnetic film is formed on a surface of the substrate. A substrate coat is deposited over the texture. The magnetic film is provided on the substrate coat. This invention also presents a method and a system for manufacturing the magnetic recording disk. The method comprises a step to form the texture with a surface of the substrate, a step to deposit the substrate coat over the texture, and a step to deposit the magnetic film on the substrate coat. The system comprises a texture formation apparatus that forms the texture with a surface of the substrate, a substrate-coat deposition apparatus that deposits the substrate coat over the texture, and a main film-deposition apparatus that deposits films including the magnetic film on the substrate coat.

Abstract: A substrate support mechanism of the present invention, which holds the inner rim of a disc substrate having an opening at its center, comprises: a hollow cylindrical member; a central shaft having a tapered portion disposed in the cylindrical member so as to be axially pushed by a first spring; and a plurality of radially movable members, each of which is pushed inwardly by a second spring and has a click to grip the inner rim; whereby the axial motion of the central shaft is converted by the tapered portion to the radial motion of said radially movable members to grip and release said substrate.