Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles for ejecting droplets, a liquid tank that stores liquid to be supplied to the recording head, a first channel member connected to the recording head, a second channel member connected to the liquid tank, a pressure regulation valve including an internal channel that connects the first channel member to the second channel member, a third channel member connecting the pressure regulation valve to one of the second channel member and the liquid tank, and a liquid feed unit disposed on the third channel member to feed the liquid.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an inner pack that stores ink, an outer pack that packs the inner pack and into which gas is introduced to squeeze the inner pack to supply the ink to an exterior of the ink cartridge, and a cartridge case having a housing portion to enclose the outer pack and an inner wall surface against which the outer pack is inflated to be pressed as gas is introduced into the outer pack.

Abstract: Provided is an improved design of shRNA based on structural mimics of miR-451 precursors. These miR-451 shRNA mimics are channeled through a novel small RNA biogenesis pathway, require AGO2 catalysis and are processed by Drosha but are independent of DICER processing. This miRNA pathway feeds active elements only into Ago2 because of its unique catalytic activity. These data demonstrate that this newly identified small RNA biogenesis pathway can be exploited in vivo to produce active molecules.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image carrier, a charger to evenly charge a surface of the latent image carrier, a writing device to irradiate a charged surface of the latent image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, a writing device control unit to control the writing device, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a transferred member, and a pre-transfer irradiating device to irradiate the charged surface of the latent image carrier during a period after development and before transfer. The writing device control unit controls the writing device based on a target image signal A and an image signal B output a single rotation of the latent image carrier after output of the target image signal A in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A surface-emitting laser element includes a substrate; a plurality of semiconductor layers laminated on the substrate, the plural semiconductor layers including a resonator structural body including an active layer and semiconductor multilayer film reflection mirrors having the resonator structural body sandwiched therebetween; an electrode provided in such a manner as to surround a emitting region on a surface of the surface-emitting laser element from which light is emitted; and a dielectric film provided in the emitting region such that a reflection ratio of a peripheral part of the emitting region is different from a reflection ratio of a center part of the emitting region. Edge portions that are near edges of the dielectric film are tilted with respect to the surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a liquid tank, a first fluid flow path supplying liquid to the recording head, a second fluid flow path being in communication with the liquid tank, a pressure adjusting valve allowing fluid communication between the first and the second fluid flow paths, a cap member covering a nozzle surface of the recording head, and a suction unit being in communication with the cap member. The pressure adjusting valve includes a movable member movably disposed in the internal fluid flow path, wherein the movable member includes a sealing unit that seals the communication between the first and the second fluid flow paths when the cap member covers the nozzle surface of the recording head and a negative pressure is generated in a cap-member space formed between the cap member and the nozzle surface by driving the suction unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first sense amplifier which senses data on a first line pair and generates a first output signal; and a test unit which senses the data on a first line pair and transfers a second output signal to a second line in response to a test mode signal.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a field-effect transistor having a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an active layer forming a channel region, the active layer having an oxide semiconductor mainly containing magnesium and indium is disclosed. The method includes a deposition step of depositing an oxide film, a patterning step of patterning the oxide film by processes including etching to obtain the active layer, and a heat-treatment step of heat-treating the obtained active layer subsequent to the patterning step.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosing support apparatus comprises: a first extraction means which extracts a body region of a subject from a tomographic image of the subject acquired by a medical tomographic apparatus; a second extraction means which extracts a non-adipose region from the body region; a third extraction means which extracts a total body adipose region from the body region; a separation means which separates the total body adipose region into a visceral adipose region and a subcutaneous adipose region based on positional information of the non-adipose region; and a display control means which controls of displaying the tomographic image on an image display device with clear indication of the visceral adipose region and the subcutaneous adipose region.

Abstract: There are provided an X-ray CT scan simulator and an X-ray CT apparatus in which a lesion postulated by an operator can be displayed on a simulation image and a high-precision simulation containing a postulation of occurrence of a new lesion can be performed. They comprise an image storing device for storing a reference image, a target noise value setting device for setting a target noise value of a desired image, a simulated lesion setting device for setting a condition for a simulated lesion postulated by the operator, a simulation image generating device for generating a simulation image containing a simulated lesion by using the reference image on the basis of the set target noise value and the condition for the simulated lesion, and an image display device for displaying the simulation image containing the simulated lesion.

Abstract: A hysteresis comparator circuit that compares first and second input signals to output a hysteresis output signal includes a constant current source, a first comparator, a second comparator, and an output circuit. The constant current source includes a load resistor to generate a given constant current. The first comparator is controlled by the constant current supplied from the constant current source to compare the first and second input signals to output a first comparison result. The second comparator is controlled by the constant current supplied from the constant current source to compare the first and second input signals to output a second comparison result. The output circuit has a pair of inputs thereof connected to the first and second comparators, respectively, which inverts an output thereof in response to each of the first and second comparison results to generate the hysteresis output signal.

Abstract: A relay device includes a first communication unit that receives a request including processing object data from a client device; a data processing unit that obtains a first processing result by performing a relay-device-side process of equivalent algorithm to that of a server-side process, which is performed by a server, on the processing object data; a second communication unit that transmits the request to the server, and receives a second processing result, which corresponds to the first processing result and is obtained by performance of the server-side process on the processing object data, from the server as a response; and a control unit that determines whether the second processing result has been transmitted to the client device. When the second processing result has not been transmitted to the client device, the first communication unit transmits the first processing result to the client device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink discharge unit including nozzles to discharge ink and to form an image on a recording medium; a conveyer belt to convey the recording medium so that the recording medium passes through an area facing the ink discharge unit, the conveyor belt including blank discharge holes to let the ink for a blank discharge through; a control unit to control an ink discharge operation of the ink discharge unit; a blank discharge receiver to receive the ink for the blank discharge, provided at a position facing the ink discharge unit across the conveyor belt; and a belt position detection unit to detect a position in a direction perpendicular to a belt moving direction of the conveyor belt, wherein the control unit controls the blank discharge operation of the ink discharge unit based on a detection result detected by the belt position detection unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing ultra low phosphorus and carbon ferromanganese having 0.1 wt % or less carbon and 0.03 wt % or less phosphorus. The method includes preparing low carbon silicomanganese having low phosphorus content, preparing molten manganese slag, subjecting the molten manganese slag and the low carbon silicomanganese having low phosphorus content to primary mixing and stirring at a ratio of 70˜72:28˜30 in a ladle, thus producing a metal melt and slag, and subjecting the metal melt separated from the above slag and the molten manganese slag identical to that used in the primary mixing and stirring to secondary mixing and stirring, thus producing slag and a metal melt including 91˜93 wt % manganese, 0.60˜0.85 wt % silicon, 0.05˜0.10 wt % carbon and 0.015˜0.02 wt % phosphorus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding therefor, which influence seed dormancy in cereals such as wheat and barley. In particular, the present invention relates to polypeptides with ABA 8?-hydroxylase activity, and polynucleotides encoding these proteins. Also provided are cereal plants which produce seeds that have altered rates of germination, and/or levels of dormancy, when compared to seeds from wild-type plants, as well as methods of producing such plants.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are provided for determining an appropriate scaling of a map display or providing an appropriately scaled map display.

Abstract: Provided is a thermosensitive recording material which can be produced through high-speed coating, which is excellent in head-matching property, and which can provide a printed image having good waterproofness, while maintaining high sensitivity and high storage stability, which material includes a support, an under layer laid over the support, the under layer containing a plastic hollow particle, a thermosensitive color-developing layer laid over the under layer, the thermosensitive color-developing layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, wherein two or more layers including the thermosensitive color-developing layer are formed through simultaneous coating by a curtain coating method.

Abstract: A carrier for electrophotographic developer, including a core material; and a layer comprising a binder resin, located overlying the core material, wherein the binder resin includes a segment including one or more polymerizable vinyl monomers as a structural unit; and another segment including a partial cleavage structure of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and/or another partial cleavage structure of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane as a structural unit.

Abstract: A clock pulse generating circuit includes a pulse generator, a clock regulator, and a pre-driver. The pulse generator is configured to vary pulse widths of a rising clock signal and a falling clock signal. The clock regulator is configured to regulate output signals of the pulse generator to prevent an overlap and a duty drop of the output signals of the pulse generator. The pre-driver is configured to output data driving signals according to output signals of the clock regulator.

Abstract: ‘Merbeingold 2336’ is a new Australian variety of mandarin. It was selected from the progeny obtained following a controlled pollination of ‘Imperial’ mandarinבEllendale’ tangor in 1984. It was selected because it is pollen sterile, strongly parthenocarpic and yields seedless fruits, which are sweet, juicy and easy-to-peel. Fruit maturity is early-to-mid season in the Murray Valley of Australia. Internally, the flesh of ‘Merbeingold 2336’ is attractive, orange in colour and tender with soft segment walls.