Abstract: A spin-valve type magnetic head which has sufficiently high output is provided. In one embodiment, a structure in which high output coexists with high stability is achieved by letting a GMR-effect and a current-path-confinement effect manifest themselves at the same time in a GMR-screen layer consisting of a ferromagnetic metal spike-like part and a half-covering oxide layer.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a seed koji for brewing, which is suitable for wheat allergy patients and wheat intolerance patients (patients with celiac disease) and the medium of which is completely free from wheat-origin component, a koji for brewing, brewed foods and a method of producing the same. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Whole soybeans are hulled. A koji mold belonging to the genus Aspergillus is inoculated into the soybean hull thus obtained and cultured therein to give a solid seed koji. By using this seed koji, brewed foods (for example, soy sauce, miso, a liquid seasoning and so on) free from wheat-origin component are produced. Thus, it is possible to obtain a seed koji which is free from wheat-origin component, shows a high sporulation rate of the koji mold and has excellent koji-making properties. Use of this seed koji makes it possible to produce brewed foods which are comparable in qualities to the brewed foods produced by using a seed koji which has been cultured in a wheat medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a practical magneto-resistive effect element for CPP-GMR, which exhibits appropriate resistance-area-product and high magnetoresistance change ratio, and meets the demand for a narrow read gap. Certain embodiments of a magneto-resistive effect element in accordance with the present invention include a pinned ferromagnetic layer containing a first ferromagnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed in one direction, a free ferromagnetic layer containing a second ferromagnetic film having a magnetization direction varying in response to an external magnetic field, an intermediate layer provided between the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the free ferromagnetic layer, and a current confinement layer for confining a current. At least one of the pinned ferromagnetic layer or the free ferromagnetic layer includes a highly spin polarized layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a single element type differential magnetoresistive magnetic head capable of achieving high resolution and high manufacturing stability. According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive layered film is formed by stacking an underlayer film, an antiferromagnetic film, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a soft magnetic free layer, a long distance antiparallel coupling layered film, and a differential soft magnetic free layer. The long distance antiparallel coupling layered film exchange-couples the soft magnetic free layer and the differential soft magnetic free layer in an antiparallel state with a distance of about 3 nanometers through 20 nanometers. By manufacturing the single element type differential magnetoresistive magnetic head using the magnetoresistive layered film, it becomes possible to achieve the high resolution and the high manufacturing stability without spoiling the GMR effect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head incorporating a CPP-GMR device having a high output at a suitable resistance. According to one embodiment, in a Current Perpendicular to Plane-Giant Magneto Resistive (CPP-GMR) head comprising a pinned layer, a free layer, and a current screen layer for confining current therein, a planarization treatment is applied to the surface of the current screen layer, thereby allowing the current screen layer to have a fluctuation in film thickness thereof. As a result of the fluctuation being provided in the film thickness of the current screen layer, parts of the current screen layer, smaller in the film thickness, will be selectively turned into metal areas low in resistance, and as the metal areas low in resistance serve as current paths, effects of confining current can be adjusted by controlling the fluctuation in the film thickness.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides sufficiently high exchange coupling with a magnetic layer and improve the yield and reliability of a magnetoresistive head. By using a tilted growth crystalline structured antiferromagnetic film manufactured by an oblique incident deposition method, a high exchange coupling field with a ferromagnetic film can be obtained. As a result, excellent reliability and high output can be obtained in a magnetoresistive head utilizing features in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method which is able to prevent or improve the progress of myolytic diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Such an object is able to be solved by a method where an effective dose of an inhibitor for hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS) or an antagonist to prostaglandin D receptor is administered to a patient who needs it. The present invention also provides a method for screening compounds which are able to prevent the progress of myolytic diseases and to improve it using human H-PGDS overexpressed transgenic mice.

Abstract: A spin-valve type magnetic head which has sufficiently high output is provided. In one embodiment, a structure in which high output coexists with high stability is achieved by letting a GMR-effect and a current-path-confinement effect manifest themselves at the same time in a GMR-screen layer consisting of a ferromagnetic metal spike-like part and a half-covering oxide layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method which is able to prevent or improve the progress of myolytic diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Such an object is able to be solved by a method where an effective dose of an inhibitor for hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS) or an antagonist to prostaglandin D receptor is administered to a patient who needs it. The present invention also provides a method for screening compounds which are able to prevent the progress of myolytic diseases and to improve it using human H-PGDS overexpressed transgenic mice.

Abstract: There are provided a compound for treatment or prevention of brain injury caused by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease and demyelinating disease and a method for screening the same. Brain injury in which prostaglandin D2 is participated is treated or prevented by inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase induced in microglia cell or macrophage of brain injury area by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease or demyelinating disease or by inhibition of activation of prostaglandin D receptor expressed in astroglia cell around the injured area. There is also provided a method of testing those pharmaceutical substances using a transgenic mouse in which human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase is expressed in large amounts.

Abstract: There are provided a compound for treatment or prevention of brain injury caused by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease and demyelinating disease and a method for screening the same. Brain injury in which prostaglandin D2 is participated is treated or prevented by inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase induced in microglia cell or macrophage of brain injury area by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease or demyelinating disease or by inhibition of activation of prostaglandin D receptor expressed in astroglia cell around the injured area. There is also provided a method of testing those pharmaceutical substances using a transgenic mouse in which human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase is expressed in large amounts.

Abstract: A versatile hand held thermal printer has a hinged bottom cover which can be opened to provide easier access and loading of a roll of labels into the thermal printer. In a first mode of operation, printed labels emerge through the front of the label printer one by one, peeled from their backing sheet and ready for being applied directly to an article. In a second mode, the labels emerge attached to a strip of backing sheet to provide a plurality of printed labels on a strip. The hinged bottom cover of the labeler has cutters both at the front and at the rear thereof to enable a length of the strip of labels issuing at the front or a length of the backing sheet at the rear to be easily cut off. In a further embodiment, the thermal printer is positioned on a stand and the stand further supports a control unit into which information that is to be printed on the labels is inputted. The stand further includes an upright reel supporter on which a roll or web of thermal tag strips can be located.

Abstract: A hand held thermal printer has a hingedly mounted bottom cover which can be opened to provide comfortable access into the printer and therefore substantially simplified loading of a roll of labels into the printer. The platen roller of the printer which normally abuts the print head of the printer is supported on a pivotable platen arm. The platen arm, like the bottom cover can be pivoted to an open position to provided direct access to the print head. The print head is held in place by a retainer plate which is held by screws and the screws can be simply loosened to permit the print head to be easily replaced. In the open position of the platen arm a wide and straight label passage is created through which the leading end of the backing sheet on which the labels are located could be easily threaded into the printer.

Abstract: A desk-top and/or hand held thermal printer comprises a main unit having a guide path therein for a moving continuous label strip which includes a backing sheet and discrete labels detachably attached to the backing sheet. The printer has a flat bottom surface for resting on a flat surface; a retaining means for supporting a roll of backing sheet and labels and guiding the labels through a thermal printing device where a bar code or the like is thermally printed on the thermosensitive labels; a label peeling means for peeling the labels from the backing sheet; a label affixing means for affixing the peeled-off labels on objects; a data input means for example a keyboard or a computer input terminal; a data display means; and a controller for controlling the entire printer.

Abstract: A portable thermal label printer is provided with a data input, data memory for storing label information data, a program memory, and an input/output port for data communication with external devices.

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided wherein data inputted from a data reader, such as a pen scanner, is compared with previously stored data. In the event that a match occurs, the printer prints predetermined information such as a sorting code on a thermal print medium. The thermal printer has a data input, data memory, program memory and an I/O port for communication with external devices. A controller controls the various components and directs the printer to print when the match occurs. Should a match not occur, the non-matching data is stored in data memory. The print medium such as a label or the like, may then be affixed to the same article or merchandise from which the data reader initially read the data.

Abstract: A portable label printer comprising a label printer unit and an electrically and mechanically detachable data terminal unit is disclosed. When mated, the data terminal unit and the label printer unit are angularly adjustable with respect to each other. The printer unit has an interface for communication with external devices.

Abstract: This invention relates to a unit type thermal label printer capable of receiving and transmitting data. The unit type thermal label printer is comprised of detachable components consisting of a label printer unit, a data terminal unit, an applicator unit, and a handle unit. These units can be partially or completely connected and disconnected as desired thereby enabling the device to be configured according to the particular needs of the user and the situation.