Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image includes toner particles. An average aspect ratio of the toner particles, having predetermined diameters of at least 3 ?m and less than 10 ?m, is in the range from about 0.820 to about 0.900, and the difference between the maximum value and minimum value among the average aspect ratios D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, and D9 is up to 0.07. Dn represents an average aspect ratio of those toner particles having a diameter of at least n ?m and less than n+1 ?m.

Abstract: A network controller includes a communication portion, a disconnection portion, a change portion, and a re-linking portion. The communication portion is capable of communicating with another network device via a network. The disconnection portion temporarily disconnects communication from the communication portion to the other network device when a sleep signal instructing a shift from a normal state to a sleep state is received. The change portion changes a speed of the disconnected communication from the communication portion to the other network device, to a communication speed lower than a communication speed in the normal state. The re-linking portion causes the communication portion to communicate with the other network device at the changed communication speed.

Abstract: A new general purpose foaming agent having application as drilling fluid foaming agents or as any foaming agent needed an a wide variety of applications is disclosed, where the agent includes at least one anionic surfactant, at least one cationic surfactant, and mixtures thereof and one or more zwitterionic compounds. A method for using the foaming agent in capillary coiled tubing application is also disclosed. The foaming agents can also include additive to augment the properties of the foaming agent for a given application.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure relate to tissue digestion and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for varying the number, size, and/or location of one or more tissue compartments within a digestive fluid vessel. Some examples include partitions that may be selectively positioned within a vessel (and may be selectively removable from the vessel) to create one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be positioned, repositioned and rearranged within the vessel to form one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be solid or include apertures, and may be oriented in horizontally and/or vertically. Alternate embodiments include one or more selectively closeable apertures that permit digestive fluid to circulate along alternate pathways, which can permit tissue digestion with reduced digestive fluid levels. Still further embodiments include baskets that are selectively positionable within the tissue digester.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus is disclosed. The developing portion is replenished with toner from a toner containing body by operating a toner feeding mechanism. The receiving portion receives a designation of switching to a low speed i.e. switching the rotation speed of the motor from the first speed to the second speed lower than the first speed. The measuring portion measures a value of a counter electromotive voltage generated in the motor by causing the motor to operate the toner feeding mechanism. The motor control portion causes the motor to rotate at the first speed until an absolute value of the value measured by the measuring portion is not larger than a predetermined first value, and causes the motor to rotate at the second speed after an absolute value of the measured value is smaller than the first value, in the case where the switching to a low speed is designated.

Abstract: An electro-optical code reading terminal for dynamically switching mode of operation from a printed code reading mode to an electronically displayed code reading mode is provided. The electro-optical code reading terminal measures and monitors, using one or more magnetic sensors, a magnetic field experienced at the electro-optical code reading terminal. When the electro-optical code reading terminal device determines that a change in the measured magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold within a predetermined time period, the electro-optical code reading terminal device infers presence of an electronically displayed code. The electro-optical code reading terminal device then switches its mode of operation from the printed code reading mode of operation to the electronically displayed code reading mode of operation.

Abstract: A switch mechanism of the present disclosure includes a first member, a second member, a switch, a pressing-down member and an operation member. The second member can be moved with respect to the first member. The switch is provided in the first member. The pressing-down member is provided in the first member so as to press down the switch, and in the pressing-down member, a regulation portion that restricts the amount of pressing of the switch is formed. The operation member is provided in the second member such that the operation member can be operated by a user and is pressed down by the user so as to press the pressing-down member.

Abstract: Methods are provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about ?20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a housing, a polygon mirror accommodated within the housing and configured to reflect light of a light source, a lens accommodated within the housing and arranged on an optical path of the light reflected by the polygon mirror, and a cover member. The cover member is mounted to the housing and is provided with an opening formed so as to expose at least a portion of the lens. The opening is closed by a seal member which is attached to a portion of the lens exposed from the opening and an outer wall surface of the cover member existing around the opening.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a print server, a request unit configured to cause the print server to request, from an image forming apparatus recently connected to a network, a resource relating to image forming processing available to the image forming apparatus, a providing unit configured to provide the resource from the image forming apparatus to the print server, through the network, in response to the request from the request unit, and a registration unit configured to store the provided resource in a storage unit and register, in a database, resource information relating to the provided resource, in the print server.

Abstract: A circuit, a system and/or a method detect a passive electrical connection and/or an active electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply. An integrity of the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is monitored to determine if the electrical device may have access to power and/or to determine if the electrical device may be secure while on display. A high frequency AC signal is modulated onto a positive power rail between the electrical device and the power supply. Capacitance circuitry of the electrical device may remove the high frequency signal from the positive power rail. An absence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection exists between the electrical device and the power supply. A presence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection does not exist between the electrical device and the power supply.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a specific graphic form storage section, an image determination section, and determination color conversion processing section. The specific graphic form storage section is configured to store a visual image of a specific graphic form and attribute information specific to the specific graphic form as a reference image and reference attribute information, respectively. The image determination section is configured to determine at least one of (i) whether or not an image matching with the reference image is included in target data and (ii) whether or not an image having the reference attribute information is included in the target data, and detect the image identified through the determination as an image corresponding to the specific graphic form. The color conversion processing section is configured to perform specific color conversion processing for the image corresponding to the specific graphic form.

Abstract: A method of providing a mixed group communication session for a mixed group containing protected users and a guest user is provided. The method uses a secure server to assign temporary Identities (IDs) to the protected users. The secure server forms a mixed group session containing desired participants from among the protected users and the guest user. The secure server provides limited group rights to the guest user in the mixed group session. During the mixed group session, the secure server uses the permanent IDs of the protected users towards other protected users and temporary IDs of the permanent users towards the guest user. Also provided is a method for providing a mixed group communication session for a mixed group containing protected users and a guest user, wherein temporary IDs are assigned to protected users and the guest user.

Abstract: A touch sensitive in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a liquid crystal layer, an active-matrix transistor layer with an electrode pair, a color filter substrate, and a sensing electrode layer. The sensing electrode layer may be disposed above or below the color filter substrate, and the sensing electrode layer may include two parts that are disposed above and below the color filter layer respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing rubber-containing bituminous mixtures by pressurizing mixtures of bituminous materials, crumb rubber, and one or more suspension agents with a gas, and then reducing the pressure, creating bubbles of the gas in the mixture. Also disclosed are methods of introducing gas into such mixture by rapid mixing. Mixtures produced by the disclosed methods, such as rubber-containing asphalt mixtures and paving compositions thereof, and their use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum has a drum sleeve and a pair of drum flanges. At least one of the pair of drum flanges each has a flange part, a retaining part, and a linking part. The flange part is fitted to the drum sleeve. The retaining part, which is located inward of the flange part in the axial direction of the drum sleeve, pivotably supports a shaft that rotates the photosensitive drum. Openings are formed between the flange part and the retaining part in a direction intersecting the axial direction. An air flow enters the interior of the photosensitive drum from the openings.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet accommodating section, a sheet loading plate, an operating plate, a sector gear, and a pressing member. The sheet loading plate is turnably supported on a bottom surface of the sheet accommodating section. The operating plate lifts up and down the sheet loading plate. The sector gear transmits drive power from a main body of an image forming apparatus to the operating plate. The pressing member is located at a first location when the sheet loading plate is positioned at the lying down position, and moves to a second location by rotation of the sector gear by a predetermined amount. The first location is a location where the pressing member comes in contact from above with the sheet loading plate at the lying down position, and the second location is a location where the pressing member retreats from the sheet loading plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a housing, an image scanning section, an airflow generation section, a guiding air path, and a blow-off port. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The housing accommodates the image forming section therein. The image scanning section has a bottom portion and is disposed above the housing. The airflow generation section generates an airflow inside the housing. The guiding air path guides the airflow upward inside the housing. The blow-off port is communicated with the guiding air path and arranged so as to face the bottom portion of the image scanning section.