Abstract: The present invention provides a production method for a composition for cell culturing. This production method comprises: (1) a step for subjecting algae to an acid hydrolysis treatment and/or an alkali hydrolysis treatment; (2) a step for neutralizing the hydrolysis product obtained in the step (1) to obtain an algae extract; and (3) a step for mixing the algae extract with a medium for cell culturing, wherein the medium for cell culturing does not substantially contain L-glutamine.

Abstract: An image carrier includes a conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the base material. The photosensitive layer has an outermost surface layer that contains particles having a number-averaged particle sphericality represented by Formula (1) of approximately 0.7 or less: sphericality=4?A/L2 (1), where ? represents the circular constant, A represents the projection area of the particle, and L represents the peripheral length of the projected particle image.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a cylindrical support, and a charge-generating layer and a charge-transporting layer on or above the cylindrical support, wherein the thickness of the charge-generating layer is increased from the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical support towards both end portions thereof, and the difference in thickness between the two end portions is 2.5% or less of an average thickness of the charge-generating layer. Also disclosed are a method of producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a process cartridge including the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and an image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: A process for producing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises forming metallic nuclei or a seed layer on a non-magnetic substrate, and forming a soft magnetic under layer on the metallic nuclei or the seed layer by means of electroless plating. The soft magnetic under layer is formed while an external parallel magnetic field is applied to the non-magnetic substrate, and the substrate is rotated such that the substrate is maintained parallel to the parallel magnetic field.

Abstract: An image carrier includes a conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the base material. The photosensitive layer has an outermost surface layer that contains particles having a number-averaged particle sphericality represented by Formula (1) of approximately 0.7 or less: sphericality=4?A/L2 (1), where ? represents the circular constant, A represents the projection area of the particle, and L represents the peripheral length of the projected particle image.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a cylindrical support, and a charge-generating layer and a charge-transporting layer on or above the cylindrical support, wherein the thickness of the charge-generating layer is increased from the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical support towards both end portions thereof, and the difference in thickness between the two end portions is 2.5% or less of an average thickness of the charge-generating layer. Also disclosed are a method of producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a process cartridge including the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and an image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: When a soft magnetic layer for a double layer type perpendicular magnetic recording medium is formed by a plating method, there is the problem of the occurrence of an isolated pulse noise called spike noise so that signal reproduction characteristics are lost. In order to solve this problem, provided are a surface-treated substrate for a magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate having a diameter of not more than 90 mm, and a soft magnetic plating layer comprising an alloy of at least two metals selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni and Fe, which is provided above the substrate, wherein the soft magnetic layer has a coercivity of less than 20 oersted (Oe) in a direction that is parallel to a substrate surface, and wherein a ratio of saturation magnetization to residual magnetization in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the substrate is from 4:1 to 4:3; and a magnetic recording medium comprising the magnetic recording medium substrate.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate, and at least a soft magnetic under layer formed of a soft magnetic material, an alignment-regulating layer for regulating the crystal alignment of a layer provided directly thereon, a perpendicular magnetic layer in which easy-magnetization axes are oriented generally perpendicular to the substrate, and a protective layer, the layers and the layer being provided atop the substrate, wherein the soft magnetic under layer exhibits magnetic isotropy or has easy-magnetization axes oriented perpendicular to the substrate. According to the present invention, an undercoat layer having no magnetic domain walls can be formed. When the undercoat layer is employed, there can be provided a perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a perpendicular magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which exhibit high thermal stability and excellent noise characteristics, and which attain high-density recording.

Abstract: When a soft magnetic layer for a double layer type perpendicular magnetic recording medium is formed by a plating method, there is the problem of the occurrence of an isolated pulse noise called spike noise so that signal reproduction characteristics are lost. In order to solve this problem, provided are a surface-treated substrate for a magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate having a diameter of not more than 90 mm, and a soft magnetic plating layer comprising an alloy of at least two metals selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni and Fe, which is provided above the substrate, wherein the soft magnetic layer has a coercivity of less than 20 oersted (Oe) in a direction that is parallel to a substrate surface, and wherein a ratio of saturation magnetization to residual magnetization in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the substrate is from 4:1 to 4:3; and a magnetic recording medium comprising the magnetic recording medium substrate.