Abstract: A dichromatic polarizing element comprising a water-soluble organic dichromatic dye selected from the group consisting of a bisazo compound of a specific structure, the tautomer thereof, and the salts of them, wherein the dichromatic dye comprises the aggregates thereof oriented to a definite direction such that the dye can polarize a light passed therethrough, and a method of producing the polarizing element orienting the aggregates by a specific method are provided.

Abstract: Although dither processing is a high-speed process, it raises conflicts in improvement of resolution and improvement of tonality because of the structure of the dither matrix. Dither processing which is an image-matching-type is available to solve the above problem by analyzing frequency components in a partial area of an image, however, this method further causes a problem in long processing time. The present invention is provided to solve the above problems. When compressed image data 411 is expanded and processing to match an output device is performed, plural types of binarization processes are selectively utilized in accordance with the frequency component data of an image obtained at the time of the expansion process.

Abstract: An image processing method of generating a color image by using a color palette table. The method includes a restriction step of restricting colors registerable in the palette table, on the basis of gamut data on an image output device which outputs the color image, a formation step of forming the color palette table on the basis of the color restriction obtained in the restriction step, and a generation step of generating the color image by using the colors registered in the color palette table.

Abstract: A dichromatic polarizing element, which can be simply produced, has a high degree of polarization, and can cope with small-sizing, thinning, and light-weighting of a liquid crystal display device, is provided, and a method of producing a long dichromatic polarizing element capable of giving dichromatic polarizing element chips with a good yield is provided.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing method for generating a color image by using a color palette table, comprising the steps of a restriction step of restricting colors capable of being registered in the palette table, on the basis of gamut data of an image output means for outputting the color image, a formation step of forming the color palette table on the basis of color restriction obtained in the restriction step, and a generation step of generating the color image by using the colors registered in the color palette table, whereby excellent color matching between the color on a monitor and a color on a printer can be obtained.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an input unit for inputting multi-valued input image data, a quantization unit for quantizing the input image data input by the input unit into output image data having a number of levels which is smaller than that of the input image data, and a correction unit for correcting a quantization error which occurs during a quantization process of the quantization unit, the correction unit correcting the quantization error by diffusing an error amount into input image data which have not yet been quantized by the quantization unit, wherein the correction unit periodically varies the error amount to be diffused into the input image data within a range of values up to and including the quantization error.

Abstract: An improved previewing technique of displaying an image on a monitor prior to a printer printing the image. The image signal for driving the monitor is generated based on predetermined printer parameters. The printer parameters include the printer resolution (dots/inch) and/or the number of printable tonal levels or gradations, in addition to the printer color gamut.

Abstract: A multicolor printer which can print an image with improved image quality by selecting a desired color reproduction process depending on data to be handled. An output apparatus comprises an input unit 111 for receiving visual data containing data in a command format for output control; image data etc. delivered from an external apparatus; an analyzer 112 for analyzing the input data; a developing unit 113 for developing the input data into output data based on an analyzed result; a color processor 114 for executing color processing such as color space compression on the input data during the development by the developing unit; a color processing method storage 116 for storing a plurality of color processing methods executed by the color processor 114; and a selector 115 for selecting one of the plural color processing methods in the storage 116.

Abstract: An image processing method generates color image data for previewing an object image to be formed by a color image forming apparatus. The method discriminates a type of the object image based on color image data for the object image, and generates color image data for previewing the object image by performing a color conversion process on the color image data for the object image. The color conversion process is performed in accordance with the type of the object image.

Abstract: There are disclosed amino acid derivatives represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 represent an amino acid residue etc., A.sup.1 and A.sup.3 represent C.dbd.O, A.sup.2 represents an alkylene group etc., m and n represent an integer of 1 to 5, V represents --NHC(.dbd.NH)NH.sub.2 etc., W represents --COOH etc., R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent hydrogen atom, alkyl group etc., R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent hydrogen etc. and X and Y represent --NH-- or --O-- and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and agents for inhibiting tumor matastasis containing the compounds, and the amino acid derivatives exhibit high activity for inhibiting tumor metastasis and weak platelet aggregation inhibition activity and weak anticoagulation activity.

Abstract: A bis-azo compound represented by the following general formula (1), a tautomer thereof or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group. These compounds exhibit low toxicity and do not have any undesirable effect such as mutagenecity.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head and a container for ink to be supplied to the recording head. An amount of ink expected to be used in the recording of image data is calculated. The amount of ink actually used in the recording is detected. Comparison of the expected amount of ink used with the actual amount permits a determination whether abnormal recording has occurred.

Abstract: A peptide derivative containing 1 to 20 units of peptide unit represented by the following general formula [I] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;[Z]--Arg--X--Asp--[Y] [I]wherein Arg represents L- or D-arginine residue, Asp represents L-aspartic acid residue, X represents L- or D-leucine, D-isoleucine, L- or D-norleucine, L- or D-phenylalanine, D-phenylglycine or D-alanine residue, and [Z] and [Y] each represents an amino acid or a peptide residue, which may be present or absent, selected from glycine, L-serine, L-threonine, L- and D-aspartic acid, L-alanine, L- and D-glutamic acid, L-proline residues and a peptide residue constituted by the foregoing amino acid residues, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide derivative. The composition of the present invention is useful as an agent for inhibiting tumor metastasis.

Abstract: An information generating apparatus by which selected code information is generated with a color that is different from that of other code information so as to highlight the selected code information. The apparatus includes a receiver which receives a group of code information, a selector which selects a desired piece of code information included in the code information group, and a detector which detects consumption amounts of coloring materials used when reproducing the code information group. The apparatus further includes a controller which controls operations so as to generate the selected code information by a color different from the color of the other code information when reproducing the code information group.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula I; ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently represent a hygrogen atom, alkyl group or aryl group, provided that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecyl group, 3,7,11-trimethyldodecyl group or 3,7-dimethyloctyl group, or a salt thereof. The compound may have R- or S- configuration with respect to each asymmetric carbon contained therein and it may be present as a racemate. The compounds of the present invention are useful as surfactants, lubricants, dispersants, emulsifiers, additives, stabilizers, solubilizers, water-repellants, antistatic agents and the like.

Abstract: A glycerol derivative or a salt thereof is provided and the derivative is represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a group: --P(O)(OR.sup.2)(OR.sup.3) wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a protective group for the phosphoric acid residue and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a protective group for the phosphoric acid residue or a hydrophilic group; provided that the phosphoric acid residue represented by R.sup.1 may be in the form of a salt wih a proper counter ion; and, in respect of stereochemistry of asymmetric carbon atoms present in the molecule, the derivative or salt may be either an optically active isomer or a racemic isomer.These compounds are excellent in biological compatibility, dispersibility and chemical stability and that they can provide membranes having high flowability and high barrier properties as compared with conventional phospholipids.

Abstract: A polypeptide thin film produced by polymerizing a monomolecular film or a built-up film comprising an amphipatic phospholipid compound, wherein the amphipatic phospholipid compound has a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion having an amino acid ester structure in the molecule, the amino acid ester structure containing a splitting-off group with a pKa value of the conjugated acid thereof being 16 or below.

Abstract: A surface-modifiable liposome comprising a compound represented by formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## and a lipid capable of forming a liposome, wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrophobic group;R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 represent each an organic group including a hydrogen atom) R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 optionally combined with each other to form a double bond or a ring;X and Y each represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; R.sub.2 ' and R.sub.3 ' each represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group; W represents a linking group; n represents 0 or 1; and Z represents a hydrophilic group;and a process for producing a surface-modified liposome by using the surface-modifiable liposome.

Abstract: A polypeptide thin film obtained by polymerizing a monomolecular film comprising an amphiphilic compound having a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety having an amino acid ester structure per molecule, the conjugated acid of the elimination group of said ester having a pKa of not higher than 14, or a built-up film of said monomolecular film; and a process for preparing a material on which said polypeptide thin film is carried.

Abstract: A polypeptide thin film obtained by polymerizing a monomolecular film comprising a monomer mixture of(a) an amphiphilic compound having a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety having an amino acid ester structure per molecule, the conjugated acid of the elimination group of the ester having a pKa of not higher than 14, and(b) an amphiphilic compound having two amino groups per molecule or an amphiphilic compound having two ester structures per molecule, the conjugated acid of the elimination group of the ester having a pKa of not higher than 16,or a built-up film of the monomolecular film; and a process for preparing a material carrying the polypeptide thin film.