Abstract: Provided are a printing plate and a printing method that allow for high-resolution printing and efficient use of printing ink. The printing plate has an image area and a non-image area. The image area of the printing plate is a recessed area formed by a layer containing silicone rubber. The non-image area is a raised area formed by a layer containing a fluorine compound on a surface of the layer containing silicone rubber. The height difference between a surface of the image area and a surface of the non-image area of the printing plate is from more than 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m. The printing method includes an ink-applying step of applying a printing ink to an image area of a printing plate and a transfer step of transferring the printing ink from the image area to a substrate.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a video game processing program product for causing a server to realize functions to create a rank regarding a video game for each of a plurality of users is provided. The functions includes: a managing function configured to manage the plurality of users in a state where the plurality of users is grouped into groups by every predetermined number; a creating function configured to respectively create ranks for the users in each of the groups; a setting function configured to set up grades for the users in each of the groups on the basis of the ranks of the users; a dividing function configured to divide the groups into a plurality of elements, the plurality of elements respectively corresponding to the grades; and a composing function configured to compose a new group using the plurality of elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are a manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a plurality of organic semiconductor elements with a simple process and high productivity, and a semiconductor device. This problem is solved by forming, on an insulating substrate, electrodes corresponding to a plurality of semiconductor elements, in which the position of an uppermost portion of each of a source electrode and a drain electrode is higher than that of a gate electrode, forming an organic semiconductor film on a surface of an insulating support, forming grooves in the organic semiconductor film to form divided regions according to the individual semiconductor elements, and aligning and laminating the insulating support and the insulating substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming an organic semiconductor film which uses a shielding member for covering a solution, including: obtaining a state in which a solution that is in contact with the shielding member and contains an organic semiconductor material and a solvent is present, between the substrate and the shielding member positioned parallel to and separated from the substrate, in a predetermined position on the substrate placed on a stage; and moving the stage and the shielding member relative to each other in a predetermined direction. In this manner, an organic semiconductor film having a large area and excellent crystallinity is formed in a desired position on the substrate.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a video game processing program product for causing a server to realize functions to create a rank regarding a video game for each of a plurality of users is provided. The functions includes: a managing function configured to manage the plurality of users in a state where the plurality of users is grouped into groups by every predetermined number; a creating function configured to respectively create ranks for the users in each of the groups; a setting function configured to set up grades for the users in each of the groups on the basis of the ranks of the users; a dividing function configured to divide the groups into a plurality of elements, the plurality of elements respectively corresponding to the grades; and a composing function configured to compose a new group using the plurality of elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence, which has a latent image becoming visible through a polarizing plate, wherein an image visible through the polarizing plate including the latent image comprises a periodic structure. An additional visual effect can be attached to the latent image observed through a polarizing plate.

Abstract: A product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern, which further comprises a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having a transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher is provided. The product permits visualization of a latent image in the product through a polarizing plate as well as visualization of the information on the side opposite to the side to be viewed from.

Abstract: A transparent product that gives an image only at one side, which can be used for an advertisement on the window or the like, which is a product that has a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher, a birefringent layer which is a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern or a driven-type optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid-crystal compound driven by voltage application to control the optical anisotropy, and a polarizing layer in this order and does not have, at the opposite side of the polarizing layer with respect to the birefringent layer, a polarizing layer, is provided.

Abstract: A product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern, comprising at least an intensity gradation-type pixel of approximately uniform birefringence and an area gradation-type pixel comprising two or more of drawing units of different birefringence, and each region of a single birefringence in the patterned optically anisotropic layer comprising a plurality of the drawing units is provided. The product permits the formation of full-color images (latent images) and includes delicate color representation, such as the densities of particular colors.

Abstract: A viewer for authenticating a birefringent pattern having at least two regions having a different birefringence from each other, wherein the viewer contains a polarizing plate and at least one optically anisotropic layer laminated on the polarizing plate, a front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer is 5 nm or more and the total of the front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer and a maximum value of front retardation of the birefringent pattern is greater than ?/2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum-shaped image carrier; a transfer and separation device which includes a conveyor belt for conveying a transfer material, a transfer roller for supporting the conveyor belt, and a nip regulating roller that is disposed downstream of the transfer roller in a conveyance direction of the transfer material; a transfer region changing section adapted to change a downstream end of the transfer region in a conveyance direction of the transfer material by changing a position of the nip regulating roller; and a transfer pressure changing section which changes a transfer pressure that corresponds to a pressure by the transfer roller against the image carrier, wherein the transfer pressure changing section changes the transfer pressure in correspondence with the change of the downstream end of the transfer region by the transfer region changing section.

Abstract: A transparent product that gives an image only at one side, which can be used for an advertisement on the window or the like, which is a product that has a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher, a birefringent layer which is a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern or a driven-type optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid-crystal compound driven by voltage application to control the optical anisotropy, and a polarizing layer in this order and does not have, at the opposite side of the polarizing layer with respect to the birefringent layer, a polarizing layer, is provided.

Abstract: A product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern, comprising at least an intensity gradation-type pixel of approximately uniform birefringence and an area gradation-type pixel comprising two or more of drawing units of different birefringence, and each region of a single birefringence in the patterned optically anisotropic layer comprising a plurality of the drawing units is provided. The product permits the formation of full-color images (latent images) and includes delicate color representation, such as the densities of particular colors.

Abstract: A product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern, which further comprises a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having a transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher is provided. The product permits visualization of a latent image in the product through a polarizing plate as well as visualization of the information on the side opposite to the side to be viewed from.

Abstract: A first bar code that is reproduced by linearly polarized red light (first read light) parallel to a short-side direction and a second bar code that is reproduced by linearly polarized green light (second read light) parallel to a long-side direction are recorded on a birefringence label. A probe is a reading device that reads the first and second bar codes from the birefringence label and includes first and second light sources and an imaging unit. The first light source emits the first read light to the birefringence label. The second light source emits the second read light to the birefringence label at a time different from that of the first read light. The imaging unit captures the birefringence label through a polarizing plate having a transmission axis aligned with the short-side direction of the birefringence label, and acquires reproduced images of the first and second bar codes.

Abstract: A viewer for authenticating a birefringent pattern having at least two regions having a different birefringence from each other, wherein the viewer contains a polarizing plate and at least one optically anisotropic layer laminated on the polarizing plate, a front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer is 5 nm or more and the total of the front retardation of the at least one optically anisotropic layer and a maximum value of front retardation of the birefringent pattern is greater than ?/2.

Abstract: A packaging material, having at least one optically anisotropic layer which is made from substantially the same layer-forming composition and includes two or more regions different in birefringence property.

Abstract: A birefringent pattern builder, having an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer having unreacted reactive groups, wherein the optically anisotropic layer is produced by a method containing the steps [1] and [2] in this order: [1] coating and drying a solution containing a liquid crystalline compound having at least two kinds of reactive groups; and [2] reacting one kind of the at least two kinds of reactive groups by applying heat or irradiating ionizing radiation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a drum-shaped image carrier; a transfer and separation device which comprises: a conveyor belt for conveying a transfer material; a transfer roller for supporting the conveyor belt; and a nip regulating roller that is disposed downstream of the transfer roller in a conveyance direction of the transfer material; and a transfer region changing section adapted to change a downstream end of the transfer region in a conveyance direction of the transfer material by changing a position of the nip regulating roller; wherein the transfer region changing section sets the nip regulating roller, at a first position at which the conveyor belt is supported such that a direction of separation of the conveyor belt from the image carrier at the downstream end of the transfer region coincides with a tangential direction with respect to the image carrier, or at a second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier; a transfer device for transferring toner images carried on the image carrier onto the recording material; and a pressing section for pressing the transfer material onto the image carrier; wherein the pressing section is trapezoidal, including: a straight edge portion positioned at the center of the pressing section, perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording material, and sloped edge portions, wherein the width of the straight edge portion is equal to or greater than 95% of the width of the recording material.