Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable pressing roller, a fixing rotator to rotate in contact with the pressing roller, a nip formation pad, and a slide sheet disposed between the nip formation pad and the fixing rotator. The slide sheet includes a base material layer made of a woven fabric of spun yarn. In the base material layer, a distance between adjacent spun yarns is equal to or less than 0.4 times a width of the spun yarn in a cross-section of the slide sheet in a direction of slide movement of the fixing rotator, and, in a cross-section of the slide sheet in a longitudinal direction of the slide sheet and a direction perpendicular to the slide movement of the fixing rotator, a thickness of the spun yarn is equal to or greater than 0.2 times a width of the spun yarn.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable pressing roller, a fixing rotator to rotate in contact with the pressing roller, a nip formation pad, and a slide sheet disposed between the nip formation pad and the fixing rotator. The slide sheet includes a base material layer made of a woven fabric of spun yarn. In the base material layer, a distance between adjacent spun yarns is equal to or less than 0.4 times a width of the spun yarn in a cross-section of the slide sheet in a direction of slide movement of the fixing rotator, and, in a cross-section of the slide sheet in a longitudinal direction of the slide sheet and a direction perpendicular to the slide movement of the fixing rotator, a thickness of the spun yarn is equal to or greater than 0.2 times a width of the spun yarn.

Abstract: Provided is a novel negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, which is capable of improving cycle characteristics and is also capable of suppressing aggregation of active material particles in a slurry. The negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains silicon and has a D50 of 0.1 ?m to 5 ?m, and an amount of water measured at 120° C. to 300° C. by the Karl-Fischer method (referred to as “amount of water”) per specific surface area (referred to as “CS”), that is, the amount of water/CS, of 0.1 to 80 ppm/(m2/cc).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing device and a fixing device is provided. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator having a fixing surface, an opposing rotator opposing the fixing rotator to form a nip portion therebetween, and a fixing surface reformer having an abutting layer to abut the fixing surface. The abutting layer contains abrasive grains having an average grain size of 2.0-6.5 ?m on a surface which abuts the fixing surface. The toner comprises a crystalline polyester resin and exhibits G? (storage elastic modulus) of 1.0×107 Pa or lower at 70° C. in a temperature rising in a viscoelasticity measurement, G? of 1.0×107 Pa or higher at 70° C. in a temperature falling in the viscoelasticity measurement, and an endothermic peak indicating an amount of heat absorption of from 2.0 to 8.0 J/g, derived from the crystalline polyester resin, in a first temperature rising in DSC.

Abstract: Proposed is a novel negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries in which the battery capacity does not decrease even when charging and discharging are repeated. Proposed is a silicon-containing negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, comprising negative electrode active material particles which are provided with a surface layer containing carbon and titanium or aluminum on the entirety or a portion of the surface of the active material.

Abstract: A transparent, homogeneous liquiform fertilizer and agrochemical formulation that includes an active agrochemical that is not a fertilizer and a fertilizer together with glycol ether wherein the water solubility of the active agrochemical at 25° C. is more than 100 ppm is provided. The particle diameter of particles in the transparent, homogeneous liquiform fertilizer and agrochemical formulation is less than 100 nm by using a particle size distribution analyzer.

Abstract: A placement device for arranging parts of a disposable worn article on the base material B, wherein: a first unit U1 includes first and third pads P1 and P3 capable of accelerating and decelerating; a second unit U2 includes second and fourth pads P2 and P4 capable of accelerating and decelerating; the first unit U1 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the first pad P1 and the third pad P3 about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M; and the second unit U2 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the second pad P2 and the fourth pad about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack at least includes a first dummy cell provided at one end of a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells in a stacking direction. A dummy assembly of the first dummy cell includes a first electrically conductive porous body, a second electrically conductive porous body, and a third electrically conductive porous body, which are stacked in this order. A first joint layer is interposed between the first electrically conductive porous body and the second electrically conductive porous body to join the first and second electrically conductive porous bodies together, and a second joint layer is interposed between the second electrically conductive porous body and the third electrically conductive porous body to join the second and third electrically conductive porous bodies together. The first joint layer and the second joint layer are provided at different positions in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack at least includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells in a stacking direction and a first dummy cell provided at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction. The power generation cell includes a membrane electrode assembly. The first dummy cell includes a dummy assembly formed by stacking together three electrically conductive porous bodies each having a different surface size, a dummy resin frame member formed around the dummy assembly, and dummy separators.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a developing device and a fixing device is provided. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator having a fixing surface, an opposing rotator opposing the fixing rotator to form a nip portion therebetween, and a fixing surface reformer having an abutting layer to abut the fixing surface. The abutting layer contains abrasive grains having an average grain size of 2.0-6.5 ?m on a surface which abuts the fixing surface. The toner comprises a crystalline polyester resin and exhibits G? (storage elastic modulus) of 1.0×107 Pa or lower at 70° C. in a temperature rising in a viscoelasticity measurement, G? of 1.0×107 Pa or higher at 70° C. in a temperature falling in the viscoelasticity measurement, and an endothermic peak indicating an amount of heat absorption of from 2.0 to 8.0 J/g, derived from the crystalline polyester resin, in a first temperature rising in DSC.

Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a multi-layered substrate having an insulating plate and a circuit plate, a semiconductor chip having a front surface attached with a main electrode and a control electrode formed thereon, and a back surface fixed to the circuit plate, a first wiring substrate which includes a first conductive member and is placed so as to face the main electrode connected electrically to first conductive member, a second wiring substrate which includes a second conductive member, is placed so as to face the control electrode, and has an opening, and a conductive post having one end and another end, the one end being connected electrically and mechanically to the control electrode, and the other end being connected electrically and mechanically to the second conductive member. The first conductive member is thicker than the second conductive member, and the first wiring substrate is disposed within the opening.

Abstract: A transparent, homogeneous liquid or liquiform fertilizer and agrochemical formulation is provided. The formulation includes an agrochemical and a fertilizer together with glycol ether.

Abstract: A fixing method is provided including the step of fixing a toner on a recording medium with a fixing device. The toner comprises a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, and has a release agent amount indicator of from 0.01 to 0.20. The release agent amount indicator is represented by a ratio (P2850/P828) of an intensity (P2850) at a wave number of 2,850 cm?1 to an intensity (P828) at a wave number of 828 cm?1 of the toner measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy attenuated total reflection method. The fixing device includes a fixing rotator driven to rotate by a driving source, a pressure rotator driven to rotate by rotation of the fixing rotator, a fixing belt interposed between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator, and a heater to heat the fixing belt.

Abstract: A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an article including an absorbent body includes: first and second rolls, in cooperation with each other, for trimming a continuous laminate to be the absorbent body so as to successively form the narrowed portions along the continuous laminate; a third roll for rotating in contact with the second roll to receive the continuous laminate from the second roll; and a separating cutter for successively severing the continuous laminate being carried by the third roll into units of individual articles, thereby obtaining the absorbent body.

Abstract: To provide an effective 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method. Provided is a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method in which 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria are propagated using a medium containing diethylene glycol.

Abstract: Provided is a video audio system including electroacoustic conversion units which include an electroacoustic conversion film having a macromolecular composite piezoelectric body formed by dispersing piezoelectric body particles in a viscoelastic matrix formed of a macromolecular material that is viscoelastic at normal temperature and thin film electrodes respectively laminated on both surfaces of the macromolecular composite piezoelectric body, curve and support the electroacoustic conversion film, and use at least a part of the electroacoustic conversion film as vibration regions and a display device which is a screen or a video display device to which videos are projected, in which at least one of the electroacoustic conversion units is disposed on a rear surface opposite to a surface of the display device on which videos are displayed, the plurality of vibration regions is arranged on the entire rear surface of the display device, and location information of the vibration regions is included in sound data

Abstract: When a power transmission path of a power transmission system is set to a second power transmission path, a continuously variable transmission is controlled at a speed ratio (?) that provides a higher vehicle speed in the case where an input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt) is small than in the case where the input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt) is large. Therefore, it is possible to control the speed ratio (?) of the continuously variable transmission to a speed ratio (?) that reflects an inertial loss (Tli) of the continuously variable transmission. The inertial loss (Tli) changes with the input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt). Thus, in a vehicle in which the continuously variable transmission and a gear mechanism are provided in parallel with each other between an input shaft and an output shaft, it is possible to appropriately reduce a loss of the idling continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A placement device for arranging parts of a disposable worn article on the base material B, wherein: a first unit U1 includes first and third pads P1 and P3 capable of accelerating and decelerating; a second unit U2 includes second and fourth pads P2 and P4 capable of accelerating and decelerating; the first unit U1 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the first pad P1 and the third pad P3 about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M; and the second unit U2 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the second pad P2 and the fourth pad about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material comprising a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered crystal structure provides a novel lithium metal composite oxide powder which can suppress the reaction with an electrolytic solution and raise the charge-discharge cycle ability of a battery, and can improve the output characteristics of a battery. A lithium metal composite oxide powder comprises a particle having a surface portion where one or a combination of two or more (“surface element A”) of the group consisting of Al, Ti and Zr is present, on the surface of a particle comprising a lithium metal composite oxide having a layered crystal structure, wherein the amount of surface LiOH is smaller than 0.10% by weight, and the amount of surface Li2CO3 is smaller than 0.25% by weight; in an X-ray diffraction pattern, the ratio of an integral intensity of the (003) plane of the lithium metal composite oxide to that of the (104) plane thereof is higher than 1.