Abstract: The present invention provides a new amide compound and salt thereof that is capable of inhibiting biofilm formation or removing deposited biofilms. The present invention also provides a biofilm formation inhibitor or a biofilm remover containing the amide compound or salt thereof as an active ingredient. An amide compound or salt thereof according to the present invention is denoted by General Formula (1): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, R2 is a C5-12 alkyl group, and Q is a substituent denoted by Formula (Q1) or (Q2), wherein n and m are 0 or 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new amide compound and salt thereof that is capable of inhibiting biofilm formation or removing deposited biofilms. The present invention also provides a biofilm formation inhibitor or a biofilm remover containing the amide compound or salt thereof as an active ingredient. An amide compound or salt thereof according to the present invention is denoted by General Formula (1): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, R2 is a C5-12 alkyl group, and Q is a substituent denoted by Formula (Q1) or (Q2), wherein n and m are 0 or 1.

Abstract: A toner for use in the development of electrostatic latent images contains colored particles including at least a binder resin, a coloring agent and a releasing agent, and an external additive. An average circularity of the toner is 0.975 or more; a median of arithmetic average height distribution of the toner is 0.05 ?m or more and not more than 0.12 ?m; and a fluctuation of arithmetic average height is not more than 35. Preferably, a value of 90% accumulation of the arithmetic average height distribution of the toner is less than 0.15 ?m; and a fluctuation of number average particle size and a fluctuation of circularity of the toner are not more than 25 and not more than 2.5, respectively. The electrostatic latent image developer contains the foregoing toner and a carrier, and the image forming method uses the foregoing toner or the, foregoing developer.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner for electrostatic image development, containing a toner particle and external additive particles adhered to the surface of the toner particle, each of the external additive particles being constituted of plural irreversibly coalesced primary particles.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus effectively blocks undesirable-light generated in opposed scanning units, and forms high-quality image with simple configuration. The apparatus includes two scanning units disposed with a polygon mirror therebetween, each scanning unit including: an incident optical system guiding a beam from a light source to the polygon mirror; and an imaging optical system including an imaging optical element to cause the deflected beam form an image on a scanning surface. One of the scanning units includes a member to block an undesirable light reflected on optical surfaces of the imaging optical element of the other scanning unit and traveling toward the scanning surface of said one scanning unit. rp<L?A/2 is satisfied, where rp denotes circumcircle radius of polygon mirror; L denotes distance from rotational center of polygon mirror to the blocking member of said one scanning unit, and A denotes length of polygon mirror drive circuit substrate.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes an input optical system having an input optical element, for projecting a light beam from a light source device onto a deflecting surface of an optical deflector, and an imaging optical system having an imaging optical element, for imaging the light beam scanningly deflected by the deflecting surface of the optical deflector, on a surface to be scanned, wherein the light beam is obliquely incident on the deflecting surface in a sub-scan section, wherein the imaging optical element has at least one optical surface which is decentered in the sub-scan section, wherein the input optical element has at least one optical surface having an asymmetric and aspherical surface shape, wherein the input optical element has a thickness dm1 in the sub-scan section and at a position where a first marginal light ray of the light beam passing through the input optical system, which first marginal light ray is closer to an optical reference axis than the principal ray of that light beam is, p

Abstract: To provide high flexibility in the arrangement of optical paths toward a plurality of photosensitive members and not to cause an increase in size of an image forming apparatus even when a cartridge capacity is increased, provided is an image forming apparatus including: light source units; a deflecting unit for deflecting a plurality of light beams for scanning; a plurality of photosensitive members; an imaging optical system for imaging the light beams deflected for scanning; and a plurality of toner containers, in which the toner containers are different in capacity, and an optical path length from the photosensitive member for the same color as the toner container having a large capacity to the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit is longer than an optical path length from the photosensitive member for the same color as the toner container having a small capacity to the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image includes a toner particle to which particles of an external additive A having a number average particle diameter of from 7 nm to 200 nm and particles of an external additive B having a number average particle diameter of from 30 nm to 4000 nm have been externally added. The ratio of the number average particle diameter of the particles of the external additive B to the number average particle diameter of the particles of the external additive A is in a range of from 2 to 20. The particles of one of the external additive A or the external additive B are particles having a core material covered with an organic material containing hydrogen and nitrogen. The particles of the other one of the external additive A or the external additive B are SiO2 particles.

Abstract: An illuminated position adjusting method used in optical scanning apparatus, suppressing deterioration of imaging spot shape on scanning surface, and preventing undesirable light from arriving at the scanning surface, to form high-quality image. The optical scanning apparatus includes: a common deflector for deflecting beams emitted from light source units; and imaging optical units each including at least one imaging optical element and at least one reflector which are disposed in optical path of beam deflected by the common deflector, and image the beam on scanning surface. In an optical path in which the largest number of the reflectors are disposed among the optical paths guided to the scanning surfaces, the reflector which is disposed optically closest to the scanning surface is rotated in sub-scanning direction, to adjust the illuminated position of the beam, which illuminates the scanning surface, on the scanning surface in sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amide compound having antibacterial activity, and a bacterial infection control agent for agricultural and horticultural use that contains the amide compound. The novel amide compound of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1): wherein R is a —CH(R1)(R2) or a —CO(R2) group, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, and R2 is a C1-12 alkyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control agent that is extremely effective in controlling bacterial diseases. The quorum sensing inhibitor and bacterial disease control agent for agricultural and horticultural use of the present invention contain a pyrimidinone compound represented by General Formula (1): wherein R1 represents a C1-5 alkyl group or a phenyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-5 alkyl group, provided that R1 cannot be a methyl group when R2 represents a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner for electrostatic image development, containing a toner particle and external additive particles adhered to the surface of the toner particle, each of the external additive particles being constituted of plural irreversibly coalesced primary particles.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes two scanning units which are disposed opposed to each other with a scanning deflector arranged therebetween, wherein one scanning unit has first and second imaging optical elements while the other scanning unit has third and fourth imaging optical elements, wherein the one scanning unit includes a light blocking member for intercepting unwanted light reflected at an optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element, wherein the third imaging optical element is provided at a light path between the fourth imaging optical element and the first light blocking member, and wherein the third imaging optical element has a positive refracting power in the sub-scan section through which unwanted light reflected at the optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element passes.

Abstract: An illuminated position adjusting method used in optical scanning apparatus, suppressing deterioration of imaging spot shape on scanning surface, and preventing undesirable light from arriving at the scanning surface, to form high-quality image. The optical scanning apparatus includes: a common deflector for deflecting beams emitted from light source units; and imaging optical units each including at least one imaging optical element and at least one reflector which are disposed in optical path of beam deflected by the common deflector, and image the beam on scanning surface. In an optical path in which the largest number of the reflectors are disposed among the optical paths guided to the scanning surfaces, the reflector which is disposed optically closest to the scanning surface is rotated in sub-scanning direction, to adjust the illuminated position of the beam, which illuminates the scanning surface, on the scanning surface in sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image includes a toner particle to which particles of an external additive A having a number average particle diameter of from 7 nm to 200 nm and particles of an external additive B having a number average particle diameter of from 30 nm to 4000 nm have been externally added. The ratio of the number average particle diameter of the particles of the external additive B to the number average particle diameter of the particles of the external additive A is in a range of from 2 to 20. The particles of one of the external additive A or the external additive B are particles having a core material covered with an organic material containing hydrogen and nitrogen. The particles of the other one of the external additive A or the external additive B are SiO2 particles.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus effectively blocks undesirable-light generated in opposed scanning units, and forms high-quality image with simple configuration. The apparatus includes two scanning units disposed with a polygon mirror therebetween, each scanning unit including: an incident optical system guiding a beam from a light source to the polygon mirror; and an imaging optical system including an imaging optical element to cause the deflected beam form an image on a scanning surface. One of the scanning units includes a member to block an undesirable light reflected on optical surfaces of the imaging optical element of the other scanning unit and traveling toward the scanning surface of said one scanning unit. rp<L?A/2 is satisfied, where rp denotes circumcircle radius of polygon mirror; L denotes distance from rotational center of polygon mirror to the blocking member of said one scanning unit, and A denotes length of polygon mirror drive circuit substrate.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes two scanning units each having an input optical system for making, in a sub-scan section, a light beam from a light source be incident at a finite angle on a deflecting surface of a deflector, and an imaging optical system for imaging, on a scan surface, the light beam scanningly deflected by the deflecting surface, the two scanning units being disposed opposed to each other with the deflecting means intervening therebetween, wherein one scanning unit has a first imaging optical element and a second imaging optical element while the other scanning unit has a third imaging optical element and a fourth imaging optical element, wherein the one scanning unit includes a light blocking member for intercepting unwanted light reflected at an optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element, wherein the third imaging optical element is provided at a light path between the fourth imaging optical element and the first light blocking member, and wherein the third imaging optical e

Abstract: The present invention provides a new amide compound and salt thereof that is capable of inhibiting biofilm formation or removing deposited biofilms. The present invention also provides a biofilm formation inhibitor or a biofilm remover containing the amide compound or salt thereof as an active ingredient. An amide compound or salt thereof according to the present invention is denoted by General Formula (1): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, R2 is a C5-12 alkyl group, and Q is a substituent denoted by Formula (Q1) or (Q2), wherein n and m are 0 or 1.

Abstract: A program cooperative system (cooperative simulation system), including a number of application programs, can easily modify the combination of application programs to be used according to purpose and realizes excellent throughput by comprising a database memory server memorizing and relaying data; a plurality of simulation tools each of which includes a cooperative module for writing data into and reading data from the database memory server; and a administrating unit setting the database memory server and the plurality of simulation tools and administrating operations performed by the database memory server and the plurality of simulation tools, wherein simulation is executed by the plurality of simulation tools in cooperation with one another. Consequently, the cooperation can be established at the same speed as a memory access speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biofilm stripping agent for removing biofilms already formed. The biofilm stripping agent of the present invention contains, as an active ingredient, an amide compound or salt thereof denoted by General Formula (1), wherein R is a C1-11 alkyl group, and Q is a substituent denoted by the following Formulas (Q1), (Q2) or (Q3), wherein, in Formula (Q1), n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4; in Formula (Q2), R1 is a C1-4 alkyl group, and R2 is a hydroxyl group or carbamoyl group; in Formula (Q3), R3 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group or carbamoyl group.