Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a reading region in which a first region in which a member that suppresses entry of external light is disposed and a second region other than the first region are arranged in a main scanning direction of the reading unit, and a controller, wherein the controller calculates intensity of external light in the second region based on a reading value in the reading region, wherein the reading value is obtained by the reading unit, determines whether the intensity of the external light exceeds a threshold value, performs a first shading correction on a reading value of a document transported to the reading region when the intensity of the external light exceeds the threshold value, and performs a second shading correction on the reading value of the document when the intensity of the external light does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading section that receives light input via a transparent member to perform reading, a background section configured to switch a background facing the transparent member either to a first background that is a background of a first color or to a second background that is a background of a second color brighter than the first color, and a control section. The control section compares, with a threshold set in advance, first read data generated by causing the reading section to perform reading of the first background, compares, with the threshold, second read data generated by causing the reading section to perform reading of the second background, and, when the first read data is above the threshold or when the second read data is below the threshold, determines that dirt is present on the transparent member.

Abstract: A silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating is disclosed in which color characteristics, particularly reflectivity are controlled, and a method of producing a composition for coating is disclosed which is used by blending the composition for coating to a paint constituting a coated body in which weather resistance is required. The silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating in which weather resistance is required includes silicon oxide-coated oxide particles wherein at least a part of the surface of the oxide particles is coated with silicon oxide, wherein the silicon oxide is amorphous for the purpose of controlling color characteristics of the silicon oxide-coated oxide composition for coating.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel, sold metal alloy. Provided is a metal alloy containing two or more types of metal, wherein an equilibrium diagram of the metal alloy shows the two or more types of metal in a finely mixed state at the nanolevel in a specific region where the two types of metal are unevenly distributed. This metal alloy has a substitutional solid solution of the two or more types of metal as the principal constituent thereof. This metal alloy is preferably one obtained by precipitation after mixing ions of two or more types of metal and a reducing agent in a thin-film fluid formed between processing surfaces, at least one of which rotates relative to the other, which are arranged so as to face one another and are capable of approaching and separating from one another.

Abstract: A microbial oil is extracted from stramenopile transformed with a gene associated with synthesis of fatty acids, the gene encoding a fatty acid desaturase. The stramenopile belongs to the class Labyrinthulomycete. The microbial oil satisfies one or more of the following requirements: (a) an amount of arachidonic acid is 7% or less based on a total amount of the fatty acid composition; (b) an amount of DPA is 9% or less based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (c) an amount of ETA is 0.04% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (d) an amount of EPA is 7% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; and (e) an amount of DHA is 45% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material using silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are controlled in properties in an ultraviolet region and/or a near-infrared region. The present invention provides an ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material used for a purpose of shielding ultraviolet rays and/or near-infrared rays, the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent composition for transparent material featuring that the ultraviolet and/or near-infrared shielding agent contains silicon compound-coated silicon-doped zinc oxide particles, with which surfaces of silicon-doped zinc oxide particles that are zinc oxide particles doped with at least silicon are at least partially coated with a silicon compound.

Abstract: A scanner having a medium transport device has: a medium placement section disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of a cabinet, the medium placement section having a placement surface on which paper to be transported is placed; a supply roller that feeds the paper in a transport direction by being rotated while in contact with a surface of the paper, the surface facing the placement surface; and a two-dimensional sensor disposed in the medium placement section. The two-dimensional sensor has a light emitting section that can emit light toward the paper placed in the medium placement section, and also has a light receiving section that can receive reflected light from the paper. The light receiving axis of the light receiving section intersects part of the cabinet.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a reading region in which a first region in which a member that suppresses entry of external light is disposed and a second region other than the first region are arranged in a main scanning direction of the reading unit, and a controller, wherein the controller calculates intensity of external light in the second region based on a reading value in the reading region, wherein the reading value is obtained by the reading unit, determines whether the intensity of the external light exceeds a threshold value, performs a first shading correction on a reading value of a document transported to the reading region when the intensity of the external light exceeds the threshold value, and performs a second shading correction on the reading value of the document when the intensity of the external light does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: A method of producing organic pigment microparticles includes: Step 1 of precipitating organic pigment microparticles by mixing an organic pigment raw material liquid in which an organic pigment raw material is mixed with a solvent, and a precipitation solvent for precipitating the organic pigment microparticles from the organic pigment raw material liquid in a thin film fluid formed by introducing the organic pigment raw material liquid and the precipitation solvent in a space between at least two processing surfaces which are disposed so as to face each other, being capable of approaching to and separating from each other, at least one of which rotates relatively to the other; and Step 2 of coating at least a part of the organic pigment microparticles with an oxide coating; wherein the oxide coating is optically colorless and transparent, and Step 1 and Step 2 are performed out continuously in the thin film fluid.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading section that receives light input via a transparent member to perform reading, a background section configured to switch a background facing the transparent member either to a first background that is a background of a first color or to a second background that is a background of a second color brighter than the first color, and a control section. The control section compares, with a threshold set in advance, first read data generated by causing the reading section to perform reading of the first background, compares, with the threshold, second read data generated by causing the reading section to perform reading of the second background, and, when the first read data is above the threshold or when the second read data is below the threshold, determines that dirt is present on the transparent member.

Abstract: A urea water agitation control device has an agitation control portion and a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of a urea water. The agitation control portion operates an agitation portion in a specified period which includes a part of a period in which the urea water temperature detected by the temperature sensor is kept at a eutectic point and the urea water radiates a latent heat of solidification.

Abstract: The image processing method includes a luminance value information obtaining step of obtaining effective radiance values from a subject, and an image generating step of generating a picture image as a set of unit regions each of which has a luminance value obtained by at least partially removing a regular reflection light component on a surface of the subject from the effective radiance values.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transport section configured to transport at least one sheet of paper along a transport path; a sonic wave detection section including a sonic wave transmitter and a sonic wave receiver that are disposed at positions between which the transport path is interposed, the sonic wave detection section being configured to output an output signal having a value that varies in accordance with a reception intensity with which the sonic wave receiver has received a sonic wave transmitted from the sonic wave transmitter; and a controller configured to determine a possibility of an occurrence of multi-feeding based on a result of comparing an output signal by the sonic wave detection section and two threshold value.

Abstract: The image processing method includes a luminance value information obtaining step of obtaining effective radiance values from a subject, and an image generating step of generating a picture image as a set of unit regions each of which has a luminance value obtained by at least partially removing a regular reflection light component on a surface of the subject from the effective radiance values.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide silicon doped metal oxide particles for UV absorption, which average molar absorption coefficient in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 380 nm, is enhanced. Provided is silicon doped metal oxide particles in which the metal oxide particles are doped with silicon, wherein an average molar absorption coefficient in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 380 nm, of a dispersion in which the silicon doped metal oxide particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium, is improved as compared with similar metal oxide particles not doped with silicon.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a first base facing a conveying surface, a transmission section on a first axis tilted relative to the conveying surface and at a far side of the first base for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward the first axis, and a reception section on the first axis and at a far side of the conveying surface for receiving the ultrasonic wave. The transmission section has a plurality of transmission elements for transmitting the ultrasonic wave arranged to cross the first axis. The first base has a first aperture through which the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission section along the first axis passes. An area of the first aperture is smaller than an area of an ultrasonic wave transmission surface of the transmission section. The transmission section delays driving the transmission elements to converge the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission section toward the first aperture.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that includes a polarizing filter of a slit type in which polarization characteristics are improved is realized. A polarizing unit (10) of an image capturing apparatus (100) includes a first polarizer layer (120a) and a second polarizer layer (120b) that hold a dielectric layer (14) therebetween, and a plurality of slits (13) that are arranged at regular intervals in a predetermined direction are formed in each of the first polarizer layer (120a) and the second polarizer layer (120b). A forming material of each of the first polarizer layer (120a) and the second polarizer layer (120b) and a forming material of a wiring layer that controls an operation of a light receiving unit (11) are selected from Al, Si, Cu, Au, Ag, Pt, W, Ti, Sn, In, Ga, Zn, and a compound or alloy that contains at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transport section configured to transport at least one sheet of paper along a transport path; a sonic wave detection section including a sonic wave transmitter and a sonic wave receiver that are disposed at positions between which the transport path is interposed, the sonic wave detection section being configured to output an output signal having a value that varies in accordance with a reception intensity with which the sonic wave receiver has received a sonic wave transmitted from the sonic wave transmitter; and a controller configured to determine a possibility of an occurrence of multi-feeding based on a result of comparing an output signal by the sonic wave detection section and two threshold value.

Abstract: A method for producing oxide particles with controlled color characteristics and to provide oxide particles with controlled color characteristics includes controlling color characteristics of the oxide particles by controlling the ratio of M-OH bonds, the binding of one or more different elements (M) other than oxygen or hydrogen with hydroxyl group (OH), in oxide particles selected from metal oxide particles and metalloid oxide particles. Oxide particles having controlled color characteristics of any one of reflectance, transmittance, molar absorption coefficient, hue, or color saturation can be provided by controlling the percentage of the M-OH bonds contained in metal oxide particles or metalloid oxide particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silicon coated metal microparticles in which at least a part of a surface of a metal microparticle composed of at least one of metal elements or metalloid elements is coated with silicon, wherein the silicon coated metal microparticles are a product obtained by a reduction treatment of silicon compound coated precursor microparticles in which at least a part of a surface of a precursor microparticle containing a precursor of the metal microparticles is coated with a silicon compound, or silicon doped precursor microparticles containing a precursor of the metal microparticles. Because it is possible particularly to strictly control a particle diameter of the silicon compound coated metal microparticle by controlling conditions of the reduction treatment, design of a more appropriate composition can become facilitated, compared with a conventional composition, in terms of diversified usages and desired properties of silicon compound coated metal microparticles.