Abstract: A silencer is equipped with a hollow tubular portion in which a discharge flow passage is formed that communicates on one end side thereof with a discharge port of a fluid pressure device (ejector) through which a pressure fluid is discharged, a cap member attached to another end part of the tubular portion, a sound absorbing member attached to an inner wall surface of the tubular portion, and a plurality of discharge ports adapted to discharge the pressure fluid, which has passed through the discharge flow passage in an axial direction of the tubular portion, in radial directions perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein by cell-free protein synthesis. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein, the method including the step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a membrane-associated protein to bind the membrane-associated protein to the rubber particles.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency, the method including a step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein to bind the REF family protein to the rubber particles.

Abstract: A photoelectric converter includes two semiconductor layers (7A, 7B) forming a p/n junction as a photoelectric conversion layer (1). At least one semiconductor layer (7A, 7B) of the two semiconductor layers (7A, 7B) is a quantum dot integrated film (11), and the quantum dot integrated film (11) includes two or greater quantum dot layers (7A, 7B) having different energy levels. In a case that the quantum dot integrated film (11) is a p-type, a quantum dot layer (7A) having a large difference between an energy level (BV) of a valence band and a Fermi level (Ef) is disposed closer to a p/n junction surface (8).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polyisoprenoid with which it is possible to enhance the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles to increase natural rubber production. The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein and a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein, and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to proteins encoded by these genes; or a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector in which a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression is linked to a gene coding for a CPT family protein and a gene coding for a NgBR family protein, to express proteins encoded by the genes specifically in laticifers.

Abstract: An elastic body of an elastic shaft coupling includes a connection portion disposed around a center axis of the elastic shaft coupling, and a plurality of rotation transmission portion of substantially columnar shapes provided for the connection portion along the circumferential direction of the elastic shaft coupling, and extending from the connection portion along the center axis. Outer circumferential portions of the rotation transmission portions are in surface contact with a first hub main body portion and first protrusion portions of a first hub, and a second hub main body portion and second protrusion portions of a second hub.

Abstract: A linear guide device including an actuator including: a base section; a slider slidably provided to the base section; and guide sections disposed between the base section and the slider in a state that the guide sections are extending in the sliding direction of the slider. DLC films are formed on the guide sections, and the guide sections are locked to the slider such that the guide section can slide in a state that the DLC films are applying a predetermined preload with respect to the base section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, and effective methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles. The present invention relates to a method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, the method including centrifuging natural rubber latex in at least four stages at forces of 800 to 3,000×g, 6,500 to 10,000×g, 17,000 to 22,000×g, and 40,000 to 60,000×g to fractionate rubber particles. The present invention also relates to methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles, the methods including the steps of adding a buffer solution and an antioxidant to natural rubber latex or rubber particles fractionated from natural rubber latex; and freezing a mixture prepared in the above step.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder (300) includes a housing (301), conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317), and a pressure releasing mechanism. The housing (301) is openably/closably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317) pinch an original document sheet with pressure and feed the original document sheet. The pressure releasing mechanism detaches one rollers (313b to 317b) of the conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317) from the other rollers (313a to 317a) in conjunction with an operation of opening the housing 301 against the main body.

Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a quantum dot accumulation zone, a base layer having current collecting properties which is disposed on at least one major surface of the quantum dot accumulation zone, and a plurality of columnar carrier collection zones, each extending from the base layer into the quantum dot accumulation zone and having an open end. Each of the carrier collection zones is composed mainly of metal oxide. An open end part has a higher mole ratio of oxygen to metal than a body part other than the open end part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image acquisition section, an image processing section, and an image forming section. The image processing section extracts an identifier given to an irreversibly compressed set of image data in print data, allows the image acquisition section to acquire a corresponding set of image data associated with the extracted identifier, and replaces an image represented by the irreversibly compressed set of image data with an image represented by the corresponding set of image data to generate a print target image. The image forming section forms the generated print target image on a recording paper sheet. The irreversibly compressed set of image data and the corresponding set of image data associated with the identifier given to the irreversibly compressed set of image data represent the same object image.

Abstract: An electric actuator such that a nut threadedly engaged with a sliding screw shaft is displaced along an axial direction under the operation of a motor, the sliding screw shaft being made of a light metal or light metal alloy. A diamond-like carbon film is formed on at least either a portion of screw threads of the nut that is located at least within three threads from a starting end in the axial direction, or screw threads of the sliding screw shaft.

Abstract: There is provided a quantum dot solar cell having a high optical absorption coefficient. The quantum dot solar cell includes a quantum dot layer 3 including a plurality of quantum dots 1, wherein the quantum dot layer 3 includes a first quantum dot layer 3A having an index ?/x of 5% or more, wherein x is an average particle size, and ? is a standard deviation. The quantum dot layer 3 also includes a second quantum dot layer 3B that is provided on the light entrance surface 3b and/or the light exit surface 3c of the first quantum dot layer 3A and has an average particle size and an index ?/x smaller than those of the first quantum dot layer 3A.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image acquisition section, an image processing section, and an image forming section. The image processing section extracts an identifier given to an irreversibly compressed set of image data in print data, allows the image acquisition section to acquire a corresponding set of image data associated with the extracted identifier, and replaces an image represented by the irreversibly compressed set of image data with an image represented by the corresponding set of image data to generate a print target image. The image forming section forms the generated print target image on a recording paper sheet. The irreversibly compressed set of image data and the corresponding set of image data associated with the identifier given to the irreversibly compressed set of image data represent the same object image.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which can increase natural rubber production by enhancing the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles. The present invention provides methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein, a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein and a gene coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein, specifically a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro using rubber particles bound to proteins coded for by these genes, and a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vivo using a recombinant organism (plant) having these genes introduced therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, and effective methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles. The present invention relates to a method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, the method including centrifuging natural rubber latex in at least four stages at forces of 800 to 3,000×g, 6,500 to 10,000×g, 17,000 to 22,000×g, and 40,000 to 60,000×g to fractionate rubber particles. The present invention also relates to methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles, the methods including the steps of adding a buffer solution and an antioxidant to natural rubber latex or rubber particles fractionated from natural rubber latex; and freezing a mixture prepared in the above step.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency, the method including a step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein to bind the REF family protein to the rubber particles.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder (300) includes a housing (301), conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317), and a pressure releasing mechanism. The housing (301) is openably/closably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus. The conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317) pinch an original document sheet with pressure and feed the original document sheet. The pressure releasing mechanism detaches one rollers (313b to 317b) of the conveyance roller pairs (313 to 317) from the other rollers (313a to 317a) in conjunction with an operation of opening the housing 301 against the main body.

Abstract: Provided are a quantum-dot layer having high absorbance and capable of enhancing power generation efficiency, and a solar cell. A photoelectric conversion layer includes a quantum-dot-containing layer, the quantum-dot-containing layer having a plurality of quantum dots and wall sections enclosing the quantum dots. In the cross section in the thickness direction of the quantum-dot-containing layer, three quantum dots aligned on a surface of the quantum-dot-containing layer so as to be adjacent to each other in the plane direction are extracted to draw straight line L so as to connect the surface side ends of the two quantum dots located on both sides, the quantum dot located in the middle protrudes from the straight line to the surface side by an amount equal to at least half the diameter of the quantum dot located in the middle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a save mode setting unit, a reference cost obtaining unit, a minimum monetary-sum extraction unit, and a usage volume setting unit. The minimum monetary-sum extraction unit is configured to extract a minimum monetary sum for each tone from reference costs for a plurality of image forming modes. The usage volume setting unit is configured to: obtain a post-reduction cost where a reduced monetary sum by the save mode is subtracted from the minimum monetary sum; and set reference usage volume as usage volumes for the dark color material and the light color material in the save mode, the reference usage volume being obtained based on the reference costs for the image forming modes corresponding to the post-reduction cost.