Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a charging member, a voltage applier, a storage unit, a current detector, a characteristic deriver and a voltage setter. The storage unit stores in advance relationship information representing a relationship between an electrical characteristic of discharge products adhering to the surface and a proper inter-peak voltage value capable of properly charging the surface. The current detector detects a current value of a current flowing from the charging member to the photoconductor. The characteristic deriver derives the electrical characteristic of the discharge products adhering to the surface on the basis of an oscillating voltage applied to the charging member by the voltage applier and the current value. The voltage setter sets the proper inter-peak voltage value corresponding to the electrical characteristic derived by the characteristic deriver in the relationship information as the inter-peak voltage value of the alternating-current voltage.

Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a wireless communication device operable to establish a wireless connection and transmit server status information over the wireless connection. The system also includes an optical sensor which is operable to detect optical signals from an optical source of a server. The wireless communication device and the optical sensor are coupled together by a physical or wireless connection. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a hierarchical arrangement of a plurality of resource slices of a mobile network.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an electrochemical cell interconnect assembly are described. The interconnect assembly is designed to be positioned between two adjacent electrochemical cells, providing an electrical conduit therebetween. The interconnect assembly consists of an interconnect body having a curved formed and an interwoven wire structure. The interconnect assembly is designed to provide a robust electrical connection between two adjacent electrochemical cells in extreme mechanical stress and temperature environments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole stimulation system for stimulating production. The system has first and second inflatable packers (6) for isolating a production zone (10), the packers being inflated through aperture (15), a sliding sleeve valve (17) arranged between the two packers, the sleeve having an opening (19) to provide fluid communication between the inside of the well tubular and the production zone. In operation the inflatable device is set downstream of the inflation aperture of the lower packer, the well is pressurized to move the tool downstream to open the sliding sleeve valve, whereafter fracturing fluid with proppants having a size which is smaller than that of the sliding sleeve opening (19) and larger than the packer inflation aperture (15), is pumped downhole using a displacement means such as a piston element.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a first shaft assembly, a second shaft assembly, and a locking assembly. The first shaft assembly has a first shaft. The second shaft assembly has a second shaft that is at least partially received within the first shaft. The locking assembly is disposed about at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and is arranged to inhibit rotation of at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling quality of performance of a digital application is disclosed. Performance data representing test results of a requested performance test on the application is obtained. A performance metric is optimized by analyzing the performance data and classifying analysis results of the analyzing into multiple categories, including an immediate remediation category. An automated modification is initiated based on a first analysis result classified into the immediate remediation category. An automated verification performance test determines a measure of improvement in performance of the application based on the modification by comparing a first verification result of a first performance test without the automated modification with a second verification result of a second performance test of the digital application with the automated front end modification.

Abstract: Conductive patterns and methods of using and printing such conductive patterns are disclosed. In certain examples, the conductive patterns may be produced by disposing a conductive material between supports on a substrate. The supports may be removed to provide conductive patterns having a desired length and/or geometry.

Abstract: A sorbent composition that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream of a coal burning furnace to efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas stream. The sorbent composition may include a sorbent with an associated ancillary catalyst component that is a catalytic metal, a precursor to a catalytic metal, a catalytic metal compound or a precursor to a catalytic metal compound. Alternatively, a catalytic metal or metal compound, or their precursors, may be admixed with the coal feedstock prior to or during combustion in the furnace, or may be independently injected into a flue gas stream. A catalytic promoter may also be used to enhance the performance of the catalytic metal or metal compound.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including an electrode group and a nonaqueous electrolyte is provided. The electrode group is formed by winding a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The tension modulus of the separator in the winding direction is within a range of 200 (N/mm2) to 2,000 (N/mm2).

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed adjacently to each other in a vertical direction in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: Shadow suppression is provided in ultrasound imaging, such as in steered spatial compounding. Using a transform or other approach, the data of a frame of data along the steering direction is projected. The projection is used to determine weights. The frame is weighted with the projection-based weights, reducing or removing shadows based on the one frame rather than based on registration with other frames. In the steered spatial compounding example, a compounded frame with independently shadow suppressed component frames may have little or no fork-like image artifacts due to shadowing.

Abstract: A rack mounting assembly for supporting an upper rack assembly within a tub of a dishwasher appliance is provided. The tub defines an alignment feature and a screw hole. The rack mounting assembly includes a mounting body defining a mounting boss and a complementary feature configured for engaging the alignment feature of the tub when the mounting body is properly aligned. When the mounting body is properly aligned, the mounting boss is substantially aligned with a screw hole in the tub such that a screw can pass through the mounting boss and into the screw hole to secure the mounting body to the tub.

Abstract: A bitmap processing system for creating digital documents on a digital printing press by a fulfiller includes a fulfiller operated raster image processor that receives customer application Page Description Language (PDL) job files containing information for creating the digital documents and generates bitmaps in accordance with the files and a fulfiller operated editor that modifies the bitmaps so that the resulting documents process more efficiently in production steps downstream of a printing process.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery includes a flat-shaped electrode group, a package member and a terminal section. The package member includes a stainless steel-made first package having a flange at an opening and a stainless steel-made second package. The electrode group is stored in a space formed by welding the flange of the first package to the second package. The terminal section includes a through-hole that is open to the first package, a ring-shaped rising portion that extends from a periphery of the through-hole toward an inside of the package member, a ring-shaped member that is arranged on an outer surface of the rising portion, an insulation gasket, and an external terminal. The external terminal is fixed to the first package by caulking.

Abstract: A method of interaction between a machine and a player or a plurality of players, the method comprising the machine selecting a predetermined plurality of information bearing devices from a predetermined plurality of available information bearing devices as a selected plurality of information bearing devices upon initiation by a player. The machine organizing the selected plurality of information bearing devices for display on a visual display apparatus and the visual display apparatus displaying the selected plurality of information bearing devices as a set of selected information bearing devices in a in first orderly manner representing a first display order.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, according to one embodiment, an IC card executing a command from a processing apparatus includes a communication unit and a processing unit. The communication unit transmits/receives data to/from the processing apparatus. Upon receiving, through the communication unit, a first command requesting transmission of data in a first frame not including a start code or an end code, the processing unit transmits data in the first frame through the communication unit.

Abstract: A sheet stacking unit of the disclosure includes a sheet stacking plate, a cursor, and a detection sensor. The cursor includes an alignment part for performing widthwise alignment of a document, and a rack extending along the widthwise direction. The detection sensor is placed opposite the rack, and has a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion. A plurality of detection-object parts placed in the rack along the widthwise direction have optical characteristics of different reflectivities or transmissivities from one another with respect to light emitted from the light-emitting portion. The controller detects a widthwise size of the document on a basis of output values from the detection sensor which detects light reflected or transmitted by the detection-object parts.