Abstract: An optical combiner includes: a plurality of first input optical fibers that each include a core; a bridge fiber that includes a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers, a diameter reduction portion having a diameter that decreases away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis of the optical combiner, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along the optical axis; an intermediate optical fiber that includes a core connected to the bridge output surface of the bridge fiber; a second input optical fiber that includes a core; and an output optical fiber that includes a first optical waveguide connected to the core of the intermediate optical fiber, and a second optical waveguide connected to the core of the second input optical fiber.

Abstract: A nozzle includes a pattern shim having a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits, an adhesive shim having a plurality of first holes, a gas shim, a head body having an adhesive outlet and an adhesive distribution groove communicating with the adhesive outlet, and a face plate. Adhesive ejection ports are formed at openings of the plurality of first slits, and gas discharge ports are formed at openings of a plurality of second slits in such a manner that the gas discharge ports are located on both sides of each of the adhesive ejection ports. The plurality of first holes communicate with the adhesive distribution groove. The plurality of first holes are formed in such a manner that distances of the first holes from the corresponding discharge ejection ports become shorter as distances of the corresponding first holes from the adhesive outlet become longer.

Abstract: An optical combiner includes: first optical input portions each including a first optical input waveguide; and an optical output portion to which the first optical input portions are connected and that includes a first core that allows light to propagate therethrough, and a cladding layer disposed outside of the first core and that has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the first core. The first optical input portions are connected to a connection end face of the optical output portion such that the first optical input waveguide of at least one of the first optical input portions is optically coupled to the first core of the optical output portion.

Abstract: A nozzle includes a pattern shim having a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits, an adhesive shim having a plurality of first holes, a gas shim, a head body having an adhesive outlet and an adhesive distribution groove communicating with the adhesive outlet, and a face plate. Adhesive ejection ports are formed at openings of the plurality of first slits, and gas discharge ports are formed at openings of a plurality of second slits in such a manner that the gas discharge ports are located on both sides of each of the adhesive ejection ports. The plurality of first holes communicate with the adhesive distribution groove. The plurality of first holes are formed in such a manner that distances of the first holes from the corresponding discharge ejection ports become shorter as distances of the corresponding first holes from the adhesive outlet become longer.

Abstract: An optical combiner includes: a plurality of first input optical fibers that each include a core; a bridge fiber that includes a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers, a diameter reduction portion having a diameter that decreases away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis of the optical combiner, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along the optical axis; an intermediate optical fiber that includes a core connected to the bridge output surface of the bridge fiber; a second input optical fiber that includes a core; and an output optical fiber that includes a first optical waveguide connected to the core of the intermediate optical fiber, and a second optical waveguide connected to the core of the second input optical fiber.

Abstract: In a process of printing an arbitrary text string using a composite print function, in a case where font extension using a font of a display language is not possible, a character at a first position in the text string is extracted and a font is retrieved that allows font extension for the extracted character. Using the retrieved font, font extension is performed for the text string.

Abstract: In a process of printing an arbitrary text string using a composite print function, in a case where font extension using a font of a display language is not possible, a character at a first position in the text string is extracted and a font is retrieved that allows font extension for the extracted character. Using the retrieved font, font extension is performed for the text string.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium by an electrophotographic method in accordance with input image data, including: a printing unit having at least: a development counter that forms a toner image on a photoconductor drum; and a plurality of supply members that store a predetermined amount of toner and supply toner to the development counter; and a control unit configured to control the printing unit, and the printing unit has a replenishment unit configured to replenish the plurality of supply members with toner, and an amount of toner with which each of the plurality of supply members is replenished is determined in accordance with a video count value indicating a density of the input image data, the video count value being corrected based on information on a printing position to be applied to the input image data.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus that can perform a binding processing without staples and a binding processing with staples includes a printing unit to print image data on a sheet, and a control unit that controls, in a case where image data is printed on sheets for test printing, a second binding unit to perform a binding processing for binding a plurality of printed sheets without staples, and controls, in a case where image data is printed on sheets after test printing, a first binding unit to perform a binding processing for binding a plurality of printed sheets with a staple.

Abstract: In a process of printing an arbitrary text string using a composite print function, in a case where font extension using a font of a display language is not possible, a character at a first position in the text string is extracted and a font is retrieved that allows font extension for the extracted character. Using the retrieved font, font extension is performed for the text string.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sleep quality improving agent which has a sufficient sleep quality improving effect, can exert makes the effect even through oral administration in any dosage form, and has ensured safety to the body. That is, the present invention provides: a sleep quality improving agent which contains a stilbene-based compound and/or an olive extract as an active ingredient, and a sleep quality improving composition which contains the sleep quality improving agent.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit that, after reading an image of a first side of a first document and an image of a first side of a second document, reads an image of a second side of the first document and an image of a second side of the second document, and an output unit configured to output the image of the first side of the first document read by the reading unit, store the image of the second side of the first document read by the reading unit in a storage unit, and after outputting the image of the first side of the second document read by the reading unit, output the image of the second side of the first document stored in the storage unit, and output the image of the second side of the second document read by the reading unit.

Abstract: An object is to provide a sleep quality improving agent that can sufficiently exert the effect of improving the quality of sleep and ensures safety for the body. A sleep quality improving agent containing, as an effective ingredient, a plant of the Fraxinus genus such as Fraxinus excelsior L., an extract thereof, Larix sibirica extract, dihydroquercetin, dihydrokaempferol, or naringenin, and a sleep quality improving composition containing the sleep quality improving agent are provided.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a growth hormone secretagogue that is excellent in effect of promoting secretion of a growth hormone and is orally available. The growth hormone secretagogue of the present invention contains one or more selected from the group consisting of S-adenosylmethionine and/or a salt thereof, a Siberian larch extract, an olive extract, and a stilbene-based compound as an active ingredient. S-adenosylmethionine and/or the salt thereof may be a form itself of chemically synthesized S-adenosylmethionine and/or the salt thereof, or may be a microbial cell or a culture containing S-adenosylmethionine and/or the salt thereof. The stilbene-based compound may be an extract extracted from a Vitaceae plant or a Gnetaceae plant. The olive extract may be an extract separated from a fruit of olive.

Abstract: An object is to provide a sleep quality improving agent that has a sufficient effect of improving the quality of sleep, can exert the effect regardless of the form of administration, even by oral administration, and ensures safety for the body. A sleep quality improving agent containing an S-adenosylmethionine-containing yeast as an effective ingredient and a sleep quality improving composition containing the sleep quality improving agent are provided.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit that, after reading an image of a first side of a first document and an image of a first side of a second document, reads an image of a second side of the first document and an image of a second side of the second document, and an output unit configured to output the image of the first side of the first document read by the reading unit, store the image of the second side of the first document read by the reading unit in a storage unit, and after outputting the image of the first side of the second document read by the reading unit, output the image of the second side of the first document stored in the storage unit, and output the image of the second side of the second document read by the reading unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flaw detector for metal material for maintaining and managing pipelines using a remote field eddy current sensor. An AC signal having constant level and shifted by predetermined phase angle is added to signals received in receiving coils of the remote field eddy current sensor to obtain accurate phase detection in a normal, nonflawed portion of the pipeline to be tested (e.g. uniform thickness, no holes, etc.). By preventing generation of abnormal flaw data, precise diagnosis of the pipeline can be performed. An AGC circuit may be used to maintain at a constant level of received signal. Two sets of spaced apart receiving coils are spaced from an exciting coil a distance greater than a predetermined distance (about two times the pipeline diameter). The set of receiving coils closest to the exciting coil has a greater number of coil turns than the other set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flaw detector for metal material for maintaining and managing pipelines using a remote field eddy current sensor. An AC signal having a constant level and shifted by predetermined phase angle is added to signals received in receiving coils of the remote field eddy current sensor to obtain accurate phase detection in a normal, nonflawed portion of the pipeline to be tested (e.g. uniform thickness, no holes, etc.). By preventing generation of abnormal flaw data, precise diagnosis of the pipeline can be performed. An AGC circuit may be used to maintain at a constant level of received signal. Two sets of spaced apart receiving coils are spaced from an exciting coil a distance greater than a predetermined distance (about two time the pipeline diameter). The set of receiving coils closest to the exciting coil has a greater number of coil turns than the other set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flaw detector for metal material for maintaining and managing pipelines using a remote field eddy current sensor. An AC signal having a constant level and shifted by predetermined phase angle is added to signals received in receiving coils of the remote field eddy current sensor to obtain accurate phase detection in a normal, nonflawed portion of the pipeline to be tested (e.g. uniform thickness, no holes, etc.). By preventing generation of abnormal flaw data, precise diagnosis of the pipeline can be performed. An AGC circuit may be used to maintain at a constant level of received signal. Two sets of spaced apart receiving coils are spaced from an exciting coil a distance greater than a predetermined distance (about two times the pipeline diameter). The set of receiving coils closest to the exciting coil has a greater number of coil turns than the other set.