Abstract: Provided is a botulinum toxin producing method which is simple achieves a high toxin yield, and obtains a toxin having high specific activity. This botulinum toxin producing method includes: (A) a step in which a botulinum toxin is produced from botulinum toxin-producing bacteria in a medium, and a mixture a is obtained which contains a botulinum toxin, a bacterial component, and a nucleic acid component derived from the botulinum toxin; (B) a step in which the mixture a is subjected to the removal of the bacterial component, and a mixture b is obtained which contains a nucleic acid component and a botulinum toxin; (C) a step in which an endonuclease is added to the mixture b and a mixture c is obtained which contains a nucleic acid degradation product and a botulinum toxin; and (D) a step in which the mixture c is subjected to removal of the nucleic acid degradation product, and an isolated botulinum toxin liquid d is obtained.

Abstract: A feeding and fastening device for a coin-shaped fastener and comprising: a punch tool; a feeding device configured to feed the fastener one at a time; a hollow pillar-shaped portion below the punch tool; a holding portion to temporarily hold the fastener fed though a side surface thereof and to release the fastener when the punch tool pushes down on that fastener; a part passage route portion below the holding portion for guiding the fastener downward in a vertical orientation by means of a cross section with a width that prevents inversion; a guide portion below the passage route portion guides the fastener from the vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; and a fastening portion below the guide portion receives the fastener in the vertical orientation and locates the fastener above the workpiece until struck by the punch tool.

Abstract: A sound production control apparatus has a position detector that detects, in accordance with a playing operation of a musical instrument, a position of a key displaceable within a movement range from a start position to an end position. The movement range includes a sounding range including a sounding position and a setting range that is closer to the start position than the sounding range. The apparatus causes a played sound associated with the key to be produced upon the detected position of the key reaching the sounding position, while controlling a characteristic of the played sound depending on a displacement characteristic of the key within the setting range before the key is positioned in the sounding range.

Abstract: A collet to feed and fasten cylindrical rivets includes an inlet unit that accepts and supports the rivet, a first feeding unit connected from the inlet unit and configured to feed the rivet, a second feeding unit connected to the first feeding unit opposite to the inlet unit and configured to feed the rivet, and an outlet unit that is connected to the second feeding unit opposite to the first feeding unit and supports the rivet that is fed to it. The inlet unit and the first feeding unit have at least two first slots at opposite angles, the second feeding unit and the outlet unit have more of second slots than the first slots, and when the rivet enters the first feeding unit, the second slots are closed by the opening of the first slots.

Abstract: A collet to feed and fasten cylindrical rivets includes an inlet unit that accepts and supports the rivet, a first feeding unit connected from the inlet unit and configured to feed the rivet, a second feeding unit connected to the first feeding unit opposite to the inlet unit and configured to feed the rivet, and an outlet unit that is connected to the second feeding unit opposite to the first feeding unit and supports the rivet that is fed to it. The inlet unit and the first feeding unit have at least two first slots at opposite angles, the second feeding unit and the outlet unit have more of second slots than the first slots , and when the rivet enters the first feeding unit, the second slots are closed by the opening of the first slots.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrophotographic photoconductor including a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer in this order on a cylindrical electrically-conductive support including the steps of: (i) immersing the support in a charge generating layer coating liquid, (ii) pulling the support out of the coating liquid, (iii) heat drying the support coated with the coating liquid to form the charge generating layer, (iv) cooling the charge generating layer, and (v) immersing the support on which the charge generating layer has been formed in a charge transport layer coating liquid while retaining gas inside of the support. The charge transport layer coating liquid contains a solvent having a boiling point of 34° C. or more and 85° C. or less, and the step (v) satisfies two specific conditions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrophotographic photoconductor including a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer in this order on a cylindrical electrically-conductive support including the steps of: (i) immersing the support in a charge generating layer coating liquid, (ii) pulling the support out of the coating liquid, (iii) heat drying the support coated with the coating liquid to form the charge generating layer, (iv) cooling the charge generating layer, and (v) immersing the support on which the charge generating layer has been formed in a charge transport layer coating liquid while retaining gas inside of the support. The charge transport layer coating liquid contains a solvent having a boiling point of 34° C. or more and 85° C. or less, and the step (v) satisfies two specific conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photoreceptor; a charging unit configured to charge the electrophotographic photoreceptor through abutment against the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a toner to form a toner image; and a cleaning unit configured to remove the toner on the electrophotographic photoreceptor by bringing a blade into abutment against the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the toner includes a toner base containing a coloring agent and a binder resin, and has a surface layer containing an organosilicon polymer having a specific sticking ratio to a toner base, and wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a supporting member and a surface layer, and the surface layer has a specific universal hardness value and a specific elastic deformation ratio (We).

Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member which does not cause film exfoliation in long-term use. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, having: a support; a layered photosensitive layer; and a protective layer in this order, wherein the protective layer is a single layer, the protective layer includes: at least two specific structures, the two specific structures are included in the protective layer at a mass ratio of 20% or more and 240% or less, and a peak area based on in-plane deformation vibration of terminal olefin (CH2?) of the protective layer and a peak area based on stretching vibration of C?O of acryloyloxy groups, the peak areas being determined by total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy under conditions where an internal reflection element is Ge, and an incidence angle is 45°, have a fixed relationship.

Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge having a charging member and an electrophotographic photosensitive member to be charged by being in contact with the charging member, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer in this order, and a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a Martens hardness of 230 N/mm2 or less.

Abstract: In a sealing apparatus, a lip tip portion of a seal lip of an elastic body part is defined by a sealing side surface and an atmospheric side surface, connected through a lip tip with each other. The lip tip portion includes a circumferential projection and a screw portion on the atmospheric side surface. The circumferential projection extends parallel to the lip tip. The screw portion includes a plurality of parallel screw projections and a plurality of bilge screw projections. The parallel screw projections are arranged at equal pitch intervals in parallel with each other between the lip tip and the circumferential projection. The bilge screw projections are arranged at equal pitch intervals in parallel with each other from the circumferential projection toward the atmospheric side. The bilge screw projections do not overlap the adjacent bilge screw projections in a direction of axis with each other.

Abstract: An electronic device includes pairs of guide rails and elastic members. The pairs of guide rails are provided in a slot correspondingly to both ends of the circuit board in a direction intersecting the insertion direction, the guide rails of each pair extending along the insertion direction respectively on sides of both surfaces of the circuit board inserted in the slot, the pair of guide rails being configured to guide insertion of the circuit board into the slot. When the circuit board is inserted in the slot, each elastic member presses the circuit board against one or the other of the guide rails of the pair.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a surface layer, in which the surface layer contains a copolymer of a composition which contains at least a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2), a content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) in the composition is 25 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less with respect to a total content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the compound represented by the general formula (2), and the total content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the compound represented by the general formula (2) is 55 mass % or more with respect to a total mass of the composition.

Abstract: Provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each suppressed in fluctuation in charging potential at the time of its long-term use. The process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer containing a resin and a charge-transporting substance; and a charging member configured to charge the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein an average of Martens hardnesses of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member measured at a pushing force of 7 mN is 245 N/mm2 or more, and wherein in a core defined by three-dimensional surface texture standards (ISO 25178-2:2012) of the surface of the charging member, an average of Martens hardnesses measured at a pushing force of 0.04 mN is 2 N/mm2 or more and 20 N/mm2 or less, and an average of adhesivenesses measured with a scanning probe microscope in a field of view of 2-micrometer square is 70 mV or less.

Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member which does not cause film exfoliation in long-term use. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, having: a support; a layered photosensitive layer; and a protective layer in this order, wherein the protective layer is a single layer, the protective layer includes: at least two specific structures, the two specific structures are included in the protective layer at a mass ratio of 20% or more and 240% or less, and a peak area based on in-plane deformation vibration of terminal olefin (CH2?) of the protective layer and a peak area based on stretching vibration of C?O of acryloyloxy groups, the peak areas being determined by total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy under conditions where an internal reflection element is Ge, and an incidence angle is 45°, have a fixed relationship.

Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photoreceptor; a charging unit configured to charge the electrophotographic photoreceptor through abutment against the electrophotographic photoreceptor; a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a toner to form a toner image; and a cleaning unit configured to remove the toner on the electrophotographic photoreceptor by bringing a blade into abutment against the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the toner includes a toner base containing a coloring agent and a binder resin, and has a surface layer containing an organosilicon polymer having a specific sticking ratio to a toner base, and wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a supporting member and a surface layer, and the surface layer has a specific universal hardness value and a specific elastic deformation ratio (We).

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a surface layer, in which the surface layer contains a copolymer of a composition which contains at least a compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a compound represented by the following general formula (2), a content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) in the composition is 25 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less with respect to a total content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the compound represented by the general formula (2), and the total content of the compound represented by the general formula (1) and the compound represented by the general formula (2) is 55 mass % or more with respect to a total mass of the composition.

Abstract: In an electronic device, pairs of fixing jigs are provided on an extraction side of pairs of guide rails and extend in an extraction direction respectively along both ends of a circuit board. The fixing jigs of each pair are disposed on the sides of both surfaces of the circuit board such that their distal ends are spaced at a second interval longer than a first interval. Pairs of jig guiding portions are provided on a faceplate and extend in an insertion direction respectively along both ends of the circuit board. The jig guiding portions of each pair are disposed on the sides of both surfaces of the circuit board such that their distal ends are spaced at a third interval longer than the sum of the second interval and the thicknesses of the distal ends of the pair of fixing jigs.

Abstract: In an electronic device, pairs of fixing jigs extend in a direction in which a circuit board is inserted, and the fixing jigs of each pair are disposed on the sides of both surfaces of the circuit board at a second interval longer than a first interval between a pair of guide rails provided in a slot. Pairs of jig guiding portions extend in a direction in which the circuit board is extracted, and the jig guiding portions of each pair are disposed on the sides of both surfaces of the circuit board such that the distal ends of the pair of jig guiding portions are disposed at a third interval longer than a sum of the second interval and the thicknesses of the distal ends of the pair of fixing jigs.

Abstract: A process cartridge configured to be detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in which an occurrence of an image failure is suppressed, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning member arranged in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein an elastic deformation modulus of a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is 35% or larger, and the cleaning member is formed of a urethane foam, wherein a density of the urethane foam is 200 to 500 kg/cm3, and a 25% compressive load of the urethane foam is 0.3 MPa or smaller.