Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing toner are provided. A fluid comprising a resin and a colorant is supplied to a retention member that includes a film on which multiple discharge openings are formed. The fluid which is supplied to the retention member is resonated so that liquid droplets thereof are discharged from the multiple openings. The liquid droplets which are discharged from the multiple openings are solidified to form mother particles of a toner.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing having at least one first bearing part as well as a second bearing part that are rotatably supported with respect to one another about a rotational axis and separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with bearing fluid. Associated bearing surfaces of the bearing parts form a first and a second radial bearing that are marked by grooved bearing patterns disposed on at least one bearing surface. Between the radial bearings, there is a separator gap having an enlarged gap distance compared to the bearing gap. The ends of the grooved bearing patterns of the radial bearings adjoining the separator gap penetrate into the separator gap. This measure prevents the creation of negative pressure at the ends of the grooved bearing patterns, as a result of which the formation of air bubbles is also reduced.

Abstract: A cigarette box, of a rectangular prism shape, formed of a storage part adapted to accommodate cigarettes within and a hinged lid connected with the said storage part by means of an articulated joint placed on the rear wall. The front wall of the lid is longer than its rear wall, and the side walls are oblique. The storage part, is provided with an additional inside front wall (7) and the outside front wall (8) of the storage part is hinged. Between the hinged front wall (8) and the inside front wall (Z) there is an additional compartment useful for matches (9), lighters or other objects. The inside front wall (7) has two extrusion ridges (10, 11) oriented towards the box interior, where the lower extrusion ridge forms the storage space. The outside front wall is made of the same substance as the box and may feature an extrusion ridge (17) oriented towards the outside which would form an additional storage space.

Abstract: A heat resistance improver including a heat resistance improving component which has a benzotriazole skeleton having an electron attractive group and a reactive aliphatic hydroxyl group or a reactive aliphatic mercapto group, wherein the heat resistance improver is used in a reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

Abstract: A method for use in medical imaging of a patient including, with the patient immobilized with respect to an imaging reference frame, acquiring first digital imaging information including a first region of interest using a first imaging modality; processing the first digital imaging information to identify a feature for analysis; and using a second imaging modality to acquire targeted second imaging information for a second region of interest, the second region of interest corresponding to a subset of the first region of interest, wherein the second region of interest includes the feature for analysis.

Abstract: A roll-sheet feeding device having a roll sheet wound in a roll to feed a portion of the roll sheet to an image forming unit, includes a progressive mechanism to transmit a drive force from a drive source to transfer the portion of the roll sheet from the roll in a progressive direction, a roll-sheet drive mechanism to receive the drive force transmitted via the portion of the roll sheet transferred in the progressive direction, a rewinding mechanism to transfer the portion of the roll sheet in a direction opposite to the progressive direction via the roll-sheet drive mechanism to rewind the roll sheet, and a regenerating mechanism to obtain the drive force from the roll-sheet drive mechanism and transmit the obtained drive force to the progressive mechanism to regenerate the transmitted drive force as another drive force in addition to the drive force from the drive source.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for reducing noise in a medical image, wherein plural anisotropic areas continuous with a pixel-of-interest contained in the medical image are set with the pixel-of-interest being centered a statistical amount of pixel values of pixels constituting each anisotropic area is calculated with respect to each of the plural anisotropic areas, and either an anisotropic area having the minimum statistical amount out of the plural anisotropic areas is determined and an anisotropic shape filter in the same direction as the anisotropic area concerned is constructed, or an anisotropic area having the maximum statistical amount out of the plural anisotropic areas is determined and an anisotropic shape filter is constructed by clockwise or counterclockwise rotating the anisotropic area concerned around the pixel-of-interest by 90° .

Abstract: A modular, flexible architecture for offering full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) functionality and general-purpose ultrasound functionality in a single system is described. A conventional, general-purpose ultrasound system (202) is modified with an FFBU toolkit to create a dual-capability ultrasound system (200), the dual-capability ultrasound system (200) being able to accommodate both general-purpose ultrasound functionality and FFBU functionality, using a single ultrasound engine (112). Among other advantages, real-world clinical environments may enjoy cost savings for initial system procurement, space savings on clinic floors, easier and less expensive system upgrades, and the ability to use a single system and user interface for both FFBU screening and for follow-up diagnosis, biopsy, etc.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a substrate, and a first catalyst layer formed on the substrate, the first catalyst layer containing palladium and/or platinum and alumina doped with an alkaline-earth metal element. The exhaust gas purification catalyst has a correlation coefficient ?Al,AE given by the following formula of 0.75 or more: ? Al , AE = C Al , AE ? Al ? ? AE .

Abstract: A novel voltage regulator includes an indictor, a switching transistor, a rectifier, an error amplifier circuit, a first voltage comparator circuit, a second voltage comparator circuit, an oscillator circuit, and a driver circuit. The first voltage comparator circuit outputs a modulation signal. The second voltage comparator circuit activates an enable signal when the error voltage exceeds the second reference voltage. The oscillator circuit outputs a clock signal with a fixed frequency according to the enable signal. The oscillator circuit enters a first state when the enable signal is activated and deactivated within a period of time shorter than a threshold time, and enters a second state when the enable signal remains activated during a period of time longer than the threshold time. The driver circuit generates the switching control signal based on the clock signal and the modulation signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for rotary marking or machining of cylindrical materials, preferably natural cork stoppers, agglomerated cork or synthetic materials used to close wine bottles and the like. The device includes at least one feeder system of cylindrical elements, preferably natural and synthetic cork stoppers; means of sensing the presence of such cylindrical elements, a laser system, means to produce the rotation of the cylindrical elements on its axis of revolution, at a variable speed, in a tangential movement compared to the focal plane of the laser system, means of measuring the instantaneous velocity tangential to its surface and direction of rotation, optical correction and focusing means, microprocessor control based means, and means for extracting the cylindrical elements.

Abstract: A self-addressable, self-assembling microelectronic device is designed and fabricated to actively carry out and control multi-step and multiplex molecular biological reactions in microscopic formats. These reactions include nucleic acid hybridization, antibody/antigen reaction, diagnostics, and biopolymer synthesis. The device can be fabricated using both microlithographic and micro-machining techniques. The device can electronically control the transport and attachment of specific binding entities to specific micro-locations. The specific binding entities include molecular biological molecules such as nucleic acids and polypeptides. The device can subsequently control the transport and reaction of analytes or reactants at the addressed specific micro-locations. The device is able to concentrate analytes and reactants, remove non-specifically bound molecules, provide stringency control for DNA hybridization reactions, and improve the detection of analytes. The device can be electronically replicated.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for the casting of a composite metal ingot having two or more separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould is provided having a divider wall dividing a feed end of the mould into at least two separate feed chambers. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers, a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers. A self-supporting surface is generated on the surface of the first alloy stream and the second alloy stream is contacted with the first stream. By carefully selecting conditions and positions where the alloy streams meet, a composite metal ingot is formed in which the alloy layers are mutually attached with a substantially continuous metallurgical bond.

Abstract: A lightweight sound absorbing surface material, having an excellent sound absorbing property and moldability, and a sound absorbing material using the sound absorbing surface material, are provided in the present invention. The sound absorbing surface material 6 is manufactured by laminating stretchable paper(s) which is(are) creped and/or embossed (such as a creped paper 1b) onto one or both sides of a fiber sheet 3. The degree of creping of the paper is in the range of between 10 and 50%, and the height of projections of the embossed paper is in the range of between 0.02 and 2.00 mm, with the number of the projections being in the range of between 20 and 200 projections/cm2. Further, the sound absorbing surface material 6 is laminated onto a air permeable sheet of porous material 7, to manufacture a sound absorbing material 8.

Abstract: A shock suppressor has a first base, a second base and a connecting device. The second base is parallel to the first base. The connecting device is slidably mounted between the first base and second base to connect the first and second bases and has a universal connector. The first base abuts against the connecting device in a curved contact surface to provide a first sliding mechanism in multiple directions. The second base abuts against the connecting device to provide a second sliding mechanism in a unidirection.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel molecules, compositions, methods and uses for treating microvascular disorders, eye diseases and respiratory conditions based upon inhibition of the RTP801 gene and/or protein.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes an optical housing, which houses a light source, an aperture stop, a condensing lens and a rotary deflector, light from the light source entering into the rotary deflector via the aperture stop and the condensing lens, and the light deflected by the rotary deflector scanning a target to be irradiated, a fastener, which fastens the condensing lens to the optical housing, and a fastener attachment portion to which the fastener is attached, the fastener attachment portion being disposed in a downstream side of the condensing lens in a traveling direction of the light in the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle configured to jet a liquid drop of ink; a cap member configured to be moved between a sealing position where a nozzle surface of the recording head is sealed and an opening position where the nozzle surface is opened; a waste liquid tank movably provided and configured to receive a waste liquid of the ink, the waste liquid being generated by idle-ejecting the liquid drop not contributing to image forming from the recording head; and a moving part configured to move the waste liquid tank tied to movement of the cap member. A position of the waste liquid tank in a case of idle-ejection being performed from the recording head last time and another position of the waste liquid tank in a case of idle-ejection being performed from the recording head this time are different.

Abstract: A cutter holder has a holder body and a sleeve. The holder body has a first end, a middle, an insert part and a mounting part. The insert part is formed on the first end. The mounting part is formed on the middle of the holder body and has an outer thread formed around the mounting part. The sleeve is mounted around the mounting part and has an inner thread, multiple screw holes and multiple setscrews. The inner thread is formed on an inner surface of the sleeve, is screwed with the outer thread of the mounting part. The screw holes are separately defined through the sleeve. The setscrews are mounted in the screw holes and abut the mounting part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first carriage movable in a main scanning direction, a second carriage separatably dockable with the first carriage, a first positioning unit to position the second carriage relative to the first carriage in a sub-scanning direction, a second positioning unit to position the second carriage relative to the first carriage in a rotary direction, and a third positioning unit to position the second carriage relative to the first carriage in the main scanning direction. The first positioning unit includes a reference shaft and notched positioning members to engage the reference shaft. The second positioning unit contacts one of the first and second carriages in the rotary direction upon docking of the first and second carriages. The third positioning unit includes a positioning member, parallel grooved members in the sub-scanning direction, and parallel shafts extending in the sub-scanning direction to engage the grooved members.