Abstract: An optical patch panel section is made turnable in a double-door manner, whereby workability in coupling an optical fiber to an optical connector is improved. Eventually, a compact design is provided. Owing to the compact design, a communication chassis can be loaded in the same area in a rack as an area in which an optical transmission device is stored. Not only when a network is constructed but also when a channel is switched to another because a transmission line has to be relocated due to a change in the route of the transmission line occurring after the network is constructed, or when the quality of the transmission line is varied, light level adjustment work or light dispersion adjustment work can be easily achieved from one place on the front side of the chassis.

Abstract: It is found that a transformed plant into which a ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene has been introduced is increased in at least one of the number of flowers and the number of seeds in comparison with a wild-type plant, and is therefore increased in seed yield. Based on this finding, the present invention elucidates the function of a product of a plant-derived ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene and provides a technique for producing a plant having an increased seed yield.

Abstract: Provided is an objective lens for which expressions 0.83<(pM/pL)<1.17 and 0.83<(pM/pT)<1.17 or expressions 0.80<(pM/pL)<1.20 and 0.86<(pM/pT)<1.14 are satisfied, where pL is the ratio of fifth-order spherical aberration to third-order spherical aberration, the spherical aberrations being caused by a difference in the thickness of a cover layer of an optical recording medium, pT is the ratio of fifth-order spherical aberration to third-order spherical aberration, the spherical aberrations being caused by a change in the temperature of an environment of the objective lens, and pM is the ratio of fifth-order spherical aberration to third-order spherical aberration, the spherical aberrations being caused by a change in incident magnification.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transgenic plant improved in growth ability and disease resistance. Also disclosed is a method for production of the transgenic plant. It is found that a transgenic plant having DNA encoding a glutathione-binding plastid-type fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase introduced therein is improved in growing ability and disease resistance compared to a wild-type one.

Abstract: A technique by which the production of plant biomass can be significantly increased is provided. A gene encoding protein phosphatase 2C having 3 consensus sequences comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1-3 from the N-terminal side in such order and a gene encoding glutathione-binding plastid-type fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase is introduced, or an expression control region of endogenous genes corresponding to the genes are modified.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion for forming an unfixed toner image on a recording material; and a fixing portion for heat-fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording material while nip-conveying the recording material in a fixing nip, the fixing portion includes a first rotatable member contactable to the unfixed toner image, and a second rotatable member contacted to the first rotatable member to form the fixing nip between itself and the first rotatable member. The image forming apparatus is capable of setting a cleaning mode in which the fixing portion is cleaned by a cleaning sheet while nip-conveying the cleaning sheet in the fixing nip. When the cleaning mode is set, the image forming apparatus executes a plurality of types of cleaning operations in a period in which a single cleaning sheet passes through the fixing nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of setting a cleaning mode in which a fixing portion is cleaned by a cleaning sheet while nip-conveying the cleaning sheet in a fixing nip. When the cleaning mode is set, an image forming apparatus provides a period in which a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member are rotated in a state in which a heater is controlled so that a surface temperature Th of the first rotatable member immediately after passing through the fixing nip is kept within a temperature range of Th?Tf3, wherein Tf3 is a flow start point of a toner and so that a surface temperature Tp of the second rotatable member immediately after passing through the fixing nip is within a temperature range Tf2?Tp?Tf3, wherein Tf2 is a deformation end point of the toner.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to disclose a manufacturing method of the pattern formed body capable of attaining patterning efficiently with a high precision. To attain the object, the present invention provides a method comprising: a photoresist pattern formation step of forming a photoresist pattern on a hydrophobic layer formed on a substrate and having a surface exhibiting hydrophobicity; a hydrophilicity imparting step of radiating an energy onto the surface of the hydrophobic layer on which the photoresist pattern is formed, thereby making the surface hydrophilic to form hydrophilic areas; and a photoresist pattern peeling step of peeling the photoresist pattern and forming a hydrophilic/hydrophobic pattern on the hydrophobic layer surface, in which the hydrophilic area and hydrophobic area covered previously with the photoresist pattern in the hydrophilicity imparting step are formed in a pattern form.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing on a recording material a toner image formed on the recording material includes a fixing roller; a heating member for heating the fixing roller in contact with a surface of the fixing roller; and a pressing member for forming a fixing nip between itself and the fixing roller, wherein the recording material on which the toner image is formed is subjected to fixing by being nipped and conveyed in the fixing nip.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a technique with which the production of plant biomass can be drastically increased and salt stress resistance can be imparted to a plant is provided. A gene encoding a protein comprising a common sequence consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and a common sequence consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in such order from the N-terminal side and having a coiled-coil structure, a nucleic acid binding site, and a leucine rich repeat structure has been introduced or an expression control region of the gene that is endogenously presented has been altered.

Abstract: A technique by which the production of plant biomass can be significantly increased is provided. The AT3G05660 gene encoding a receptor-like protein having a leucine-rich repeat structure or a gene functionally equivalent to such a gene is introduced, or an expression control region of an endogenous gene corresponding to the gene is modified.

Abstract: A battery in which a cathode and an anode are arranged so as to face each other an having a separator in between is provided. The separator is formed from a plurality of laminated microporous membranes and has a film thickness of 10x ?m and a piercing strength of 150x gf or more, where 1?x?2. The air permeability of one layer among the plurality of microporous membranes is equal to or larger than 10% of the air permeability of the whole separator.

Abstract: A paraquat resistance gene and a vascular tissue- and trichome-specific promoter are provided. The paraquat resistance gene and the vascular tissue- and trichome-specific promoter are isolated by identifying and analyzing genes of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a contact-sliding member parallel to a generatrix of a heating roller and brought into contact with the heating roller configured to heat a toner image on a recording material. An inlet space and an outlet space are formed at the upstream and downstream ends, respectively, of a contact area. A cleaning member, provided on the downstream side of the contact area, cleans the surface of the heating roller to remove toner and paper dust from the surface of the heating roller.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a recording material, including a heating unit having a heater and a flexible sleeve to be rotated in contact with the heater; an elastic roller for constituting a nip portion, in cooperation with the heater and through the flexible sleeve, for heating the recording material under pinching and conveying; and a frame having a roller supporting portion for supporting the heating unit and the elastic roller; wherein the frame has a guide portion for mounting the heating unit on the frame; and the roller supporting portion of the frame is positioned, in a conveying direction of the recording material, in a downstream position of an imaginary line passing through a center of the guide portion.

Abstract: A technique by which the production of plant biomass can be significantly increased is provided. A protein phosphatase 2C gene having 3 consensus sequences comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1-3 from the N-terminal side in such order is over-expressed.

Abstract: The production of biomass and/or seeds is further increased. The production of biomass and/or seeds by a plant can be further increased by supplying glutathione to a plant into which a gene encoding protein phosphatase 2C having characteristic consensus sequences has been introduced.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a heat member for heating an unfixed image and is configured so that a longitudinal center of the heat member becomes a conveyance center of the recording material, the image forming apparatus including a central portion temperature detection part adjacent to the conveyance center, an end portion temperature detection part for detecting an end portion temperature of the heat member, and a width detection part for detecting a lateral width of the recording material, wherein the width detection part is disposed at a side opposite to a side at which the end portion temperature detection part is disposed with respect to the conveyance center position of the recording material. A control part controls a power supply or conveyance interval of the heat member in accordance with the presence/absence sensor, top sensor, width sensor, central portion temperature sensor, and end portion temperature sensor.

Abstract: A battery in which a cathode and an anode are arranged so as to face each other an having a separator in between is provided. The separator is formed from a plurality of laminated microporous membranes and has a film thickness of 10x ?m and a piercing strength of 150x gf or more, where 1?x?2. The air permeability of one layer among the plurality of microporous membranes is equal to or larger than 10% of the air permeability of the whole separator.

Abstract: The composition, in accordance with the present invention, for producing a plant body having an improved sugar content includes glutathione, a polynucleotide encoding ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase, or a polynucleotide encoding glutathione-binding plastid type fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. The composition preferably includes oxidized glutathione. This allows provision of a composition for easily producing a plant body having an improved sugar content.