Abstract: An optical recording medium including a recording layer which is formed into a predetermined shape with a thickness of 0.1 mm to 5 mm and which contains a polyester represented by the following formula (1).

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus having excellent resistance against vibration and noise is provided. In recording, coherent light is polarization-modulated with a spatial light modulator to generate signal light and reference light whose polarization directions are crossed at right angles with each other. The signal light permeates a polarizing beam splitter, and is incident to a quarter wavelength plate. The reference light passes through a passing hole, is diffused by a light diffuser and is incident to the quarter wavelength plate. The reference and signal light are converted into circularly polarized light which revolve in directions opposite to each other and condensed by a condenser lens, and then a predetermined area of an optical recording medium is irradiated with the reference and signal light. Thus, the reference and signal light are generated by modulating the incident light from the same light source and are coaxially incident to the polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: In a recording layer, a recording track is provided in the form of concentric circles or a spiral along a moving direction of a recording spot. When only specific Fourier transform components in a Fourier transform image of signal light are recorded, a width of the recording track provided in the recording layer is set corresponding to a diffraction order of the Fourier transform component to be recorded. That is to say, according to the diffraction order of the Fourier transform component to be recorded, the width of the recording track is determined within the range satisfying the following relationship. Here w is the width of the recording track, d is a length of one side of one-bit data of the signal light, &lgr; is a wavelength of the signal light, F is a focal distance of a lens system, and n is an integer of 2, 3, or 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an optical recording medium. In the method, on the surface of a recording layer formed by spin-coating a first coating solution containing a photo-isomerizable component, a second coating solution that contains a photo-isomerizable component that can be isomerized by radiation having the same wavelength as radiation used for isomerizing the photo-isomerizable component contained in the recording layer and incapable of dissolving the recording layer is spin-coated to form an intermediate layer. Since the intermediate layer thus formed cannot be dissolved by the first coating solution, a recording layer is further laminated on this layer. Thus, it becomes possible to make the recording layer thicker and also to provide a high-density recording characteristic.

Abstract: In the present invention, a photosensitive layer of an optical recording medium includes a photo-responsive high-molecular compound comprising a photo-responsive group (e.g., an azobenzene derivative) which is geometrically isomerized by light radiation, and a liquid crystal linear mesogen group (e.g., a biphenyl derivative), wherein the photo-responsive group and the linear mesogen group are respectively bonded as side chains. The invention provides an optical recording medium enabling large scale recording by making the photosensitive layer thick without impairing recording characteristics. The photo-responsive high-molecular compound preferably comprises an aromatic ring on a main chain. Further, the photo-responsive high-molecular compound preferably comprises a structural unit which is capable of forming a liquid-crystalline or crystalline polymer and a structural unit which is capable of forming an amorphous polymer.

Abstract: Laser light output from a laser light source is irradiated onto a transmission-type scale. Due to movement of the transmission-type scale, a polarization angle of transmitted light varies in accordance with variations in orientations of half-wave plates arrayed in a longitudinal direction. It is difficult for the polarization angle to be affected by noise factors such as external light or the like. Light intensity of a polarized light component, which is transmitted through an analyzer and detected at a photo-detector, varies in accordance with the polarization angle. Thus, the light intensity varies as the transmission-type scale moves, and a detection signal is output to a movement amount computing device. When an amount of movement is computed on the basis of the signal, the exact amount of movement can be detected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a titanium oxide photocatalytic thin film having a surface layer containing silicon oxide and titanium oxide and a production method for producing a titanium oxide photocatalytic thin film having a surface layer containing silicon oxide and titanium oxide and comprising a step of radiating excimer beam to the titanium oxide thin film while heating substrate on which the titanium oxide thin film is disposed in vacuum or gas atmosphere in the presence of a silicon-including compound.

Abstract: Laser light emitted from a laser light source is irradiated onto a transmission-type scale, and is diffracted by a polarization hologram recorded on the transmission-type scale. Only polarization directions of ±1-order diffracted lights, among diffracted lights, are rotated by 90°. The ±1-order diffracted lights interfere with one another such that interference fringes are formed on a light-receiving surface of a photo-detector. Interference light of the ±1-order diffracted lights is transmitted through a polarizing plate. A portion of transmitted light is passed through respective slits of a slit plate and is irradiated onto the photo-detector, and intensity of irradiated light is detected. On the other hand, 0-order diffracted light, ±2-order diffracted lights, and the like, whose polarization directions are not rotated, cannot pass through the polarizing plate, and are blocked before being detected at the photo-detector.

Abstract: A holographic recording and/or retrieval method and apparatus are provided. An optical recording medium is used which has a recording layer, formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, through which light having an incident angle of a predetermined value or more with respect to the surface is guided, and which changes a refractive index or absorption coefficient upon simultaneous irradiation of signal light of a predetermined wavelength and reference light, and can record holograms by holding the changed refractive index or absorption coefficient. During recording, a hologram is recorded by simultaneously irradiating the recording layer with signal light of predetermined wavelength and reference light. During retrieval, reading light of wavelength that does not change a refractive index or absorption coefficient of the recording layer is guided through the recording layer, and a hologram is retrieved by diffracted light produced when the reading light is guided through the recording layer.

Abstract: Amide derivatives represented by general formula (I) or salts thereof wherein each symbol has the following meaning: ring B: an optionally substituted heteroaryl optionally fused with a benzene ring; X: a bond, lower alkylene or lower alkenylene optionally substituted by hydroxy or lower alkyl, carbonyl, or a group represented by —NH— (when X is lower alkylene optionally substituted by lower alkyl which may be bonded to the hydrogen atom bonded to a constituent carbon atom of ring B to form lower alkylene to thereby form a ring); A: a lower alkylene or a group represented by -(lower alkylene)—O—; R1a and R1b: the same or different and each hydrogen or lower alkyl; R2: hydrogen or halogeno; and Z: nitrogen or a group represented by ═CH—.

Abstract: An amide derivative represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutical composition containing the amide derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The symbols in the formula have the following meanings wherein A: heteroarylene; X: bond, O, S, —NR5—, —NR5CO—, —NR5CONH—, —NR5SO2— or —NR5C(═NH)NH—; R1: —H, -optionally substituted lower alkyl, -optionally substituted aryl, -optionally substituted heteroaryl or -optionally substituted cycloalkyl; R2a, R2b: —H or -lower alkyl, which may be the same or different; R3: —H or -lower alkyl; R4a, R4b: —H or —OH, which may be the same different, or R4a and R4b are taken together to form ═O or ═N—O—lower alkyl; and R5: —H or -lower alkyl.

Abstract: An amide derivative represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutical composition containing the amide derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. ##STR1## (The symbols in the formula have the following meanings. (whereinA: heteroarylene;X: bond, O, S, --NR.sup.5 --, --NR.sup.5 CO--, --NR.sup.5 CONH--, --NR.sup.5 SO.sub.2 -- or --NR.sup.5 C(.dbd.NH)NH--;R.sup.1 : --H, -optionally substituted lower alkyl, -optionally substituted aryl, -optionally substituted heteroaryl or -optionally substituted cycloalkyl;R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b : --H or -lower alkyl, which may be the same or different;R.sup.3 : --H or -lower alkyl;R.sup.4a, R.sup.4b : --H or --OH, which may be the same different, or R.sup.4a and R.sup.4b are taken together to form .dbd.O or .dbd.N.about.O-lower alkyl; andR.sup.5 : --H or -lower alkyl.

Abstract: A bisoxadiazolidine dione derivative represented by the following general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as an insulin sensitivity-increasing drug, and a pharmaceutical composition thereof. ##STR1## each represents a phenylene groupL:(1) an oxygen,(2) a ##STR2## (3) a --S(O).sub.n --, (4) a --CO--,(5) a ##STR3## (6) an alkylene group or an alkenylene group which may respectively be interrupted with an oxygen atom and/or a sulfur atom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tri(lower alkoxy)benzene derivative of the general formula (I), or its salt, optical isomer or solvate, ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group;A: a group of the formula ##STR2## and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group, provided that R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may, taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, form a pyrrolidinyl group, a piperidino group, a morpholino group, a thiomorpholino group, or a piperazinyl group optionally substituted by a lower alkyl group in 4-position;to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and to processes for their production. The compound of the invention is useful as value as a pulmonary-surfactant secretion promoting agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tri(lower alkoxy)benzene derivative of the general formula (I), or its salt, optical isomer or solvate, ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group;A: a group of the formula ##STR2## and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group, provided that R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may, taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, form a pyrrolidinyl group, a piperidino group, a morpholino group, a thiomorpholino group, or a piperazinyl group optionally substituted by a lower alkyl group in 4-position;to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and to processes for their production. The compound of the invention is useful as value as a pulmonary-surfactant secretion promoting agent.

Abstract: A Maillard reaction inhibitor containing, as an active ingredient, an amidinoheterocyclic derivative or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, which is useful for the prevention and/or cure of various complications of diabetes and maturity-onset disorders. The amidinoheterocyclic derivatives are also useful as Maillard reaction inhibitors for cosmetics, external endermic medicines, foods, drinks, luxury grocery items and functional foods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tri(lower alkoxy)benzene derivative of the general formula (I), or its salt, optical isomer or solvate, ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group;A: a group of the formula ##STR2## and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 : same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group, provided that R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may, taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, form a pyrrolidinyl group, a piperidino group, a morpholino group, a thiomorpholino group, or a piperazinyl group optionally substituted by a lower alkyl group in 4-position;to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and to processes for their production. The compound of the invention is useful as value as a pulmonary-surfactant secretion promoting agent.

Abstract: Benzimidazolinone derivatives of the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each is a hydrogen or halogen atom or a lower alkyl, halo-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, acyl, cyano, carboxyl, a lower alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, nitro or nitrogen-containing 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group; A is an ethylene group which may optionally have at least one branch; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, which may be the same or different, each is a lower alkyl group or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, represent a pyrrolidinyl, piperidino or a morpholino group provided that when ##STR2## is a piperidino or diethylamino group, at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is other than a hydrogen atom, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, methods of producing the same and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an automatic recognition of image data representative of crack derived from measurements of the road surface using a computor (4). An image memory in which data on the road surface are stored is divided into a plurality of regions and the region constituting a part of the divided regions for which a determination has been made such that crack (LP) is existent is utilized as a start point for a pursuing operation. A series of processings of pursuit and extraction such as extracting line segments (SG) corresponding to the crack (LP) from the start point region, making a determination on the direction of pursuing to be next effected on the basis of the line direction (.theta.