Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image including: a first light source emitting a beam corresponding to image information; a first photosensitive member; a first developing means for developing a latent image with a first toner; a second light source; a second photosensitive member; and a second developing means for developing a latent image with a second toner, in which the coloring agent contained in the first toner and the coloring agent contained in the second toner are substantially of the same hue, with the content of the coloring agent contained in the second toner being smaller than the content of the coloring agent contained in the first toner, and in which an oscillation wavelength of at least the first light source ranges from 370 to 500 nm. With the image forming apparatus structured as described above, an improvement in terms of granularity is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-21), and to variants thereof and to polynucleotides encoding FGF-21. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to the polynucleotides and proteins, including probes and antibodies, and to methods of treating liver disease such as cirrhosis and cancer, methods of treating conditions related to thymic function, and methods of treating conditions of the testis. The invention also relates to mouse fibroblast growth factor (mFGF-21), and to variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding mFGF-21.

Abstract: A switching electrode connected to a switching element is provided on a first substrate. An opposing electrode, an insulation film, and a plurality of sub electrodes are provided on a second substrate. Moreover, a resistant film is provided on a first substrate. A switching electrode which is connected to the switching element and an electrode which is not connected to the switching element are provided on the resistant film. An opposing electrode which is not connected to the switching element is provided on the second substrate. Furthermore, a first electrode which is connected to a first switching element and a third electrode which is not connected to the switching element are provided on the first substrate. The first and third electrodes are opposed to the second electrode, which is connected to a second switching element, via an insulator. The opposing electrode which is not connected to the switching element is provided on the second substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a color image forming apparatus that forms an image using a deep toner and a pale toner at least for one color such that the pale toner is used to form an image in a high lightness area and the pale toner and the deep toner are used in combination to form the image in a half tone area; a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other; a deep toner and a deep toner and a pale toner to be used in the toner kit and the color image forming apparatus; and a method for forming an image using the color image forming apparatus, the toner kit, and the deep toner and the pale toner. According to the present invention, a high quality image can be formed while inhibiting graininess and roughness over a broad image area.

Abstract: Novel FGF-like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, selective binding agents, and methods for producing FGF-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the treatment, diagnosis, amelioration, or prevention of diseases with FGF-like polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-23), to cleavage products of hFGF-23, and to variants thereof and to polynucleotides encoding FGF-23. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to the polynucleotides and proteins, including probes and antibodies, and to methods of treating skin, brain and placental disease and disorders, and methods of treating conditions related to thymic function. The invention also relates to mouse fibroblast growth factor (mFGF-23), and to variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding mFGF-23.

Abstract: On a transparent substrate, a photosensitive resin layer, which is made of an acrylic positive photosensitive resin layer, is formed so as to cover stripe-shaped conductive wires and a portion between the conductive wires. In this case, at least a part of the photosensitive resin layer, that covers the conductive wire, is removed. And then, a transparent conductive film is formed on the photosensitive resin layer and the conductive wire, and the transparent conductive film is patterned so as to form transparent electrodes. Such an electrode substrate can obtain high evenness when a height difference is at 0.11 &mgr;m or less between a projecting portion, which appears on the photosensitive resin layer around the ends of the conductive wires after the photosensitive resin layer has been removed so as to expose the conductive wire, and the virtually even surface of the resin film at a portion where the conductive wire is not formed, and a height difference is 0.

Abstract: To manufacture at a good yield a large-screen display having low resistivity of wires and excelling in flatness of substrates, a metal material, a transparent electrode material, and a conductive resin are used for forming either scanning electrodes or signal electrodes, or both of the same. Not less than two materials are used as the metal material, while amorphus ITO is used as the transparent electrode material. An electrode substrate has electrode structures in each of which a metal wire made of the foregoing metal material, a transparent electrode made of the foregoing transparent electrode material, and a conductive resin layer are laminated in this order on a transparent substrate. Conductivity is imparted to the conductive resin layers by conductive particles electrodeposited by the micell electrolytic method.

Abstract: This invention relates to human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-21), and to variants thereof and to polynucleotides encoding FGF-21. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to the polynucleotides and proteins, including probes and antibodies, and to methods of treating liver disease such as cirrhosis and cancer, methods of treating conditions related to thymic function, and methods of treating conditions of the testis. The invention also relates to mouse fibroblast growth factor (mFGF-21), and to variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding mFGF-21.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes at least one substrate; a plurality of signal lines provided on the at least one substrate; and a matrix arrangement of a plurality of active devices fixed on the at least one substrate, wherein each of the plurality of active devices is formed on a semi-insulative crystal.

Abstract: This invention relates to human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-23), to cleavage products of hFGF-23, and to variants thereof and to polynucleotides encoding FGF-23. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to the polynucleotides and proteins, including probes and antibodies, and to methods of treating skin, brain and placental disease and disorders, and methods of treating conditions related to thymic function. The invention also relates to mouse fibroblast growth factor (mFGF-23), and to variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding mFGF-23.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes an amplifier having a positive feedback construction, configured to output an oscillation signal of a frequency corresponding to a control voltage supplied to a variable capacitor of a tank circuit having an inductor and the variable capacitor, and a variable current source configured to change an operation current supplied to the amplifier according to the control voltage. When a certain oscillation frequency at which phase noise becomes minimum is set as a reference point, the variable current source increases the operation current supplied to the amplifier as the oscillation frequency becomes lower than the certain oscillation frequency, or decreases the operation current supplied to the amplifier as the oscillation frequency becomes higher than the certain oscillation frequency. With this construction, a voltage controlled oscillator having a stable and sufficiently suppressed phase noise characteristic can be realized irrespective of the oscillation frequency.

Abstract: Novel FGF-like polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, selective binding agents, and methods for producing FGF-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the treatment, diagnosis, amelioration, or prevention of diseases with FGF-like polypeptides.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes at least one substrate; a plurality of signal lines provided on the at least one substrate; and a matrix arrangement of a plurality of active devices fixed on the at least one substrate, wherein each of the plurality of active devices is formed on a semi-insulative crystal.

Abstract: A method of aligning a liquid crystal includes a step of fixing on a hot plate and heating a liquid crystal cell in which a liquid crystal composed of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material sealed between electrode substrates respectively having alignment films having applied thereto a uniaxial alignment by rubbing. According to the described method, a pressure is applied to the liquid crystal cell by a roller, and a portion subjected to an application of pressure is moved by moving the roller. Further, the liquid crystal is heated within a temperature range between a phase transition temperature of SmA phase SmC* phase and a temperature 10° C. below the phase transition temperature, and the portion subjected to an application of pressure is moved in the same direction as the rubbing direction, thereby achieving the C2 orientation at higher yield.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes: a pair of substrates opposing each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric anisotropy; at least one electrode provided on each of the pair of substrates, the at least one electrode being used for applying an electric field across the liquid crystal layer; and at least one volume excluding member. One of the at least one volume excluding member is provided on the at least one electrode on at least one of the pair of substrates, the volume excluding member being provided so as to be on at least a portion of one side edge of the at least one electrode. A side of each of the pair of substrates facing the liquid crystal layer is subjected to a vertical alignment treatment.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes an amplifier having a positive feedback construction, configured to output an oscillation signal of a frequency corresponding to a control voltage supplied to a variable capacitor of a tank circuit having an inductor and the variable capacitor, and a variable current source configured to change an operation current supplied to the amplifier according to the control voltage. When a certain oscillation frequency at which phase noise becomes minimum is set as a reference point, the variable current source increases the operation current supplied to the amplifier as the oscillation frequency becomes lower than the certain oscillation frequency, or decreases the operation current supplied to the amplifier as the oscillation frequency becomes higher than the certain oscillation frequency. With this construction, a voltage controlled oscillator having a stable and sufficiently suppressed phase noise characteristic can be realized irrespective of the oscillation frequency.

Abstract: For a liquid crystal display apparatus, an orientating film of an electrode substrate including more signal electrodes than scanning electrodes in a predetermined range receives a uniaxial orientation treatment parallelly or almost parallelly to a lengthwise direction of the signal electrodes. Besides, an orientating film of an electrode substrate including the scanning electrodes receives a uniaxial orientation treatment perpendicularly or almost perpendicularly to a lengthwise direction of the scanning electrodes. The electrode substrates are combined so that the directions of the uniaxial orientation treatment of the orientation films become parallel to each other. This enables growth of a smectic layer to be less frequently hindered by differences in level caused by the electrodes. Thus a uniform C2U orientation can be obtained easily. Consequently, the liquid crystal display apparatus realizes a uniform orientational state with no defects and uniform and high-contrast display properties.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described which are useful in vectors, transformed or transfected host cells, and methods for the recombinant expression of hepatocyte growth-specific polypeptide members of the FGF family.

Abstract: A manufacturing method includes a process of once heating a liquid crystal material to a temperature at which an isotropic phase appears therein and then cooling the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material being a ferroelectric liquid crystal or antiferroelectric liquid crystal, to be performed under an applied AC electric field which generates an electroclinic effect in a temperature range of from a temperature 20.degree. C. above a phase transition temperature at which a transition in phase occurs from a smectic A phase to a chiral smectic C phase to a temperature 20.degree. C. below the phase transition temperature.