Abstract: An image forming method comprising: the steps of developing an electronic latent image formed on an organic photoreceptor with a developer containing a toner; transferring a toner image formed by the developing on the photoreceptor onto a transfer material; and then removing toner which remains on the organic photoconductor employing a toner cleaner device comprising a cleaning blade, a supporting member of the cleaning blade, and a damping material. The cleaning blade and the supporting member are partially joined in parallel to each other, and the damping material is adhered onto either the cleaning blade or the supporting member.

Abstract: In order to be capable of a chemical reaction, analysis or the like wherein a small amount of samples is used, a reactor comprises a flat plate-like first substrate the inside of which is provided with a heating means; and a flat plate-like second substrate, which is placed on the top of the above-described first substrate, and on a surface thereof to be placed on the top of the above-described first substrate a flow channel having a predetermined contour has been defined.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning roller which is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface of said photoreceptor, a bias voltage applying means which applies to a bias voltage to said cleaning roller, and a flat board-shaped cleaning blade comprised of an elastic body which is disposed so that the leading edge of said cleaning blade comes into contact with the surface of said latent image holding member downstream from said cleaning roller with respect to the movement direction of said photoreceptor.

Abstract: A user-adaptive variable-environment system comprises a computer provided with a user recognizing unit, and an information storage remedium which to be applied to the user recognizing unit. The information storage medium stores user-environment information about environments suitable for users, and the user recognizing unit reads the user-environment information stored in the information storage medium and changes operating environments of the computer automatically so as to fit with the user-environment information.

Abstract: The invention improves the thermal conductivity of the material powder to be fired and also makes it possible to produce an amorphous magnetically soft body within a shortened period of time. The amorphous magnetically soft body is produced by preforming the material powder into a body first, and heating the preformed body without pressing. Stated more specifically, an amorphous magnetically soft body is produced from a material powder comprising a powder of an amorphous magnetically soft alloy, a glass having a softening point lower than the crystallization starting temperature of the alloy and a binding resin, by pressing the material powder in a preforming die to prepare a preformed body by the binding property of the resin, and firing the preformed body without pressing at a temperature higher than the softening point of the glass and lower than the crystallization starting temperature of the alloy to join the particles of the alloy with the glass.

Abstract: An individual information management system to manage individual data comprises a data carrier which is attached to said individual, and which stores data relating to said individual, and

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides represented by IVC1SLC2SC3TAW and C1SLC2SC3 wherein I stands for isoleucine, V for valine, C1 for cysteine, C2 for cysteinesulfinic acid, C3 for cysteinesulfenic acid, S for serine, L for leucine, T for threonine, A for alanine, and W for tryptophan. These peptides can impart photoreactivity to a protein by binding to a non-heme iron. Also disclosed are methods for imparting photoreactivity to cells by introducing the peptide sequences into at least one protein which is involved in a metabolic system and/or energy metabolic system of the cells. There can be provided peptide sequences with a shorter peptide chain capable of imparting photoreactivity, which can be easily introduced into a protein with a little risk in degrading original function of the protein. There are also provided methods enabling control of metabolic reactions by imparting photoreactivity to cells with the peptides.

Abstract: In a mobile system, a power supply switch 34 receives the output from a clock 33 and a CPU 1, and selectively supplies the power supplied from the Bup line to position measuring means comprising a GPS receiver 4, a GPS antenna 5, a gyro 6, and a transit distance sensor 7 via a stabilizer 35, enabling the position measuring means to continue the position measuring operation after stopping the main operation of the mobile system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cleaning apparatus to clean an image bearing member used in electrophotographic process and an image forming system equipped with the cleaning system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing nitrile hydratase comprising culturing a transformant cell which is obtained by transforming a host cell of bacterium not belonging to the genus Rhodococcus with a vector (1) which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding at least the &agr; a chain and the &bgr; chain of nitrile hydratase, or the vector (1) and a vector (2) which contains a nucleotide sequence encoding at least the &bgr; chain of the nitrile hydratase, and collecting produced nitrile hydratase, wherein the culture of the transformant cell is performed at a temperature of 35° C. or less.

Abstract: In order to reduce a treating time for distributing micro-substances, for example, particles, molecules and the like such as cells, organelles, proteins, and nucleic acids, there is provided a microchip for aqueous distribution comprising a micro channel having a predetermined shape, which is defined on a flat plate substrate; and a plurality of branched channels, each of which has a predetermined shape and is defined on the substrate, besides these branched channels are linked to only either end of the micro channel.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptides represented by IVC1SLC2SC3TAW and C1SLC2SC3 wherein I stands for isoleucine, V for valine, C1 for cysteine, C2 for cysteinesulfinic acid, C3 for cysteinesulfenic acid, S for serine, L for leucine, T for threonine, A for alanine, and W for tryptophan. These peptides can impart photoreactivity to a protein by binding to a non-heme iron. Also disclosed are methods for imparting photoreactivity to cells by introducing the peptide sequences into at least one protein which is involved in a metabolic system and/or energy metabolic system of the cells. There can be provided peptide sequences with a shorter peptide chain capable of imparting photoreactivity, which can be easily introduced into a protein with a little risk in degrading original function of the protein. There are also provided methods enabling control of metabolic reactions by imparting photoreactivity to cells with the peptides.

Abstract: A powder of composite particles is prepared by adhering to the surfaces of particles of an amorphous magnetically soft alloy particles of a glass having a softening point lower than the crystallization temperature of the alloy to coat the surfaces of the alloy particles with the glass. The powder of composite particles prepared is pressed at a temperature higher than the softening point of the glass and lower than the crystallization temperature of the alloy to bond the alloy particles with the glass. The pressed powder body is at least 0.5 in the ratio of the magnetic permeability at 10.sup.7 Hz to the magnetic permeability at 10.sup.4 Hz.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoelectric element produced by placing a powder of thermoelectric material over an electrode plate first and then an electrode plate over the power to form superposed layers, and thereafter sintering the powder with a pressure applied thereto perpendicular to the superposed layers. The electrode plates and the thermoelectric material are joined into an integral assembly before fabricating a thermoelectric module. The invention provides a thermoelectric module which is produced by arranging p-type thermoelectric elements and n-type thermoelectric elements alternately in a row at a predetermined interval, each of the elements comprising a thermoelectric material provided between and joined to a pair of opposed electrode plates, and interconnecting pairs of spaced adjacent upper electrode plates and pairs of spaced adjacent lower electrode plates alternately by brazing to electrically connect the p-type and n-type thermoelectric elements in series.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anaerobic hardening composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acryloyloxy group-containing polyorganosiloxane, (B) from 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a dialkyl peroxide and (C) from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of an amine. The composition hardens in the absence of oxygen with excellent hardenability and adhesiveness-revealing speed to give a hardened product having a high adhesion power.

Abstract: A data carrier system allows data to be transmitted and received. The data is transmitted using weak radio waves of suitable frequencies, such as frequencies in a high frequency band (HF) or a very high frequency band (VHF). The transmitters and receivers need not physically contact each other, be located in any particular position, or be oriented in any particular direction. The data carrier system does not suffer deficiencies in electric power supply, and therefore there exists no need to exchange batteries. Individual transmitters and receivers are positively discriminated one from another. The receivers are in the form of a plurality of tags. The transmitters are in the form of a plurality of reader-writers. Both are controlled by microcomputers, and each tag is equipped with a secondary battery as the power source.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus is disclosed, that comprises plural measurement devices with respective sensors and a support for holding the measurement devices in such a manner that the individual sensors contact a culture broth, the turbidity, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide the temperature, pH, and so forth of the culture broth being obtained by the measurement devices.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor system which can effect local communications suitable for exchanging information to avoid collisions between mobile robots. The sensor system also prevents collisions between the mobile robots and obstacles. The system is well-suited for a multi-robot environment where multiple mobile robots operate. The system includes infrared signal transmitters installed in each of the multiple mobile robots for sending transmission data via infrared signals. The system further includes infrared signal receivers installed in each of the multiple mobile robots for receiving the transmission data sent by the infrared signal transmitters. Each mobile robot includes a control unit. The control unit prepares transmission information which includes mobile robot identification information unique to the mobile robot. The transmission information is included in the transmission data sent from the infrared signal transmitter.

Abstract: A pneumatic bar conveying apparatus in which compressed air is supplied from an air injection port towards a bar-like material in each of a plurality of holding grooves is intermittently supplied by an intermittent air supply mechanism, so that the compressed air will be shut off by a tooth-shaped section protrudingly provided between the holding grooves for a longer period than an air shut-off period. After a specific period of compressed air supply into the holding groove, the supply of the compressed air is shut off to decrease the outlet pressure of the compressed air remaining in the holding groove and the conveying pipeline, resulting in an increased pressure difference as compared with the inlet pressure of the compressed air supplied into the holding groove from the air injection port. Consequently the compressed air flows at a higher rate from the holding groove into the conveying pipeline, thus imparting a large initial flow velocity to the bar-like material in the holding groove.

Abstract: A development apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an image forming body with a developer so as to obtain a toner image. A developer conveyance unit conveys the developer, including a toner, to a development zone, between the developer conveyance unit and the image forming body, from an upstream side of the development zone in a conveyance direction to a downstream side thereof. A plate member having an electrode portion is positioned at the upstream side of the development zone, wherein a downstream end portion of the plate member is positioned in contact with the development zone. A power supply unit applies a first voltage, including a DC component and an AC component, to the developer conveyance unit so that an electric field is generated at the development zone. The power supply unit applies a second voltage, including a DC component, to the electrode portion of the plate member, and the plate member controls the electric field with the second voltage. The development apparatus satisfies: V.