Abstract: A dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor which is satisfactory in respect of activity, stability and safety and has an excellent action as a pharmaceutical agent. A compound represented by the following general formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 each represents hydrogen, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group, or —COOR5 whereupon R5 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group, or R1, R2, and a carbon atom together represent a 3- to 6-membered cycloalkyl group, R3 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C6-10 aryl group, R4 represents a hydrogen or a cyano group, D represents —CONR6—, —CO— or —NR6CO—, R6 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group, E represents —(CH2)m— whereupon m is 1 to 3, —CH2OCH2—, or —SCH2—, n is 0 to 3, and A represents an optionally substituted bicyclic heterocyclic group or bicyclic hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: There is disclosed a measure for managing a ceramic formed structure in a manufacturing process, in which it is easy to sort out ceramic formed structures for each lot of forming material even in a case where extrusion forming is continuously performed. There is provided a method of manufacturing the ceramic formed structure by: mixing forming materials including at least a ceramic material, a binder, and water to obtain a blend for forming; kneading the blend; extruding the blend; and drying the blend. In the method, during performing of the kneading, one or more of colorants are added to the blend for forming to obtain a colored ceramic formed structure.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which enables the area occupied by the apparatus to be made small and can stably transport even a thick sheet having stiffness. A sheet P contained in an inclined sheet containing portion 3 is transported to image reading portions 8 and 9 by a vertically extending first sheet transporting path R1, and an image on the sheet P is read by the image reading portions 8 and 9, and the sheet P on which the image has been read is delivered to a substantially horizontal delivery stacking portion 14 by a substantially horizontally extending second sheet transporting path R2. The image reading portion 9 is provided between the vertically extending first sheet transporting path R1 and the substantially horizontally extending second sheet transporting path R2, and in the image reading portion 9, the transport direction of the sheet P passed along the first sheet transporting path R1 is changed to a direction toward the second sheet transporting path R2.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets supported on a sheet supporting portion one by one is provided with a separating and feeding portion having a sheet feed roller provided downstream of the sheet supporting portion for feeding the sheets, and a separation roller brought into pressure contact with the sheet feed roller, and designed to be rotatable in the same direction as or a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the sheet feed roller, and separating and feeding the sheets one by one, and a transport restriction guide provided near the separation roller so as to protrude toward the sheet feed roller for restricting the number of sheets coming into the pressure contact portion between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller, and the transport restriction guide is formed by a flexible member, and is provided so as to be pressed by the sheets coming into between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller and be flexible toward the separation roller side, and the

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transmission type projection screen capable of reading an image projected on an inner surface side of the projection screen from an outer surface side thereof, a projection optical system for projecting an image onto the inner surface side of the projection screen, and a reading unit movable in a projection optical path between the projection screen and the projection optical system for reading image information in an image reading mode. A light shield is capable of being moved to a position where an ambient light incident from the outer surface side of the projection screen, reflected by the projection optical system and entered into the reading unit, is blocked in the image reading mode.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure (1) constituted by cell walls (ribs) (2) forming a composite structure from a plurality of cells (3) being adjacent each other and a honeycomb outer wall (4) surrounding and holding the outermost peripheral cells located at the circumference of the composite structure; said composite structure satisfying the followings: the basic thickness of the cell walls (2) (the basic cell wall thickness) (Tc) is Tc≦0.12 mm, the outer wall thickness (Ts) of the honeycomb structure is Ts≧0.05 mm, and the open frontal area (P) is P≧80%, and there is a relation shown by formula: 1.10≦(Tr1˜Tr3-20)/Tc≦3.00 between the basic cell wall thickness (Tc) and each cell wall thickness (Tr1˜Tr3-20) of cells existing between an outermost peripheral cell and any cell within a first end cell from a third cell to a twentieth cell extending inwardly, taking the outermost peripheral cell as a first starting cell.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets supported on a sheet supporting portion one by one is provided with a separating and feeding portion having a sheet feed roller provided downstream of the sheet supporting portion for feeding the sheets, and a separation roller brought into pressure contact with the sheet feed roller, and designed to be rotatable in the same direction as or a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the sheet feed roller, and separating and feeding the sheets one by one, and a transport restriction guide provided near the separation roller so as to protrude toward the sheet feed roller for restricting the number of sheets coming into the pressure contact portion between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller, and the transport restriction guide is formed by a flexible member, and is provided so as to be pressed by the sheets coming into between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller and be flexible toward the separation roller side, and the

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which enables the area occupied by the apparatus to be made small and can stably transport even a thick sheet having stiffness. A sheet P contained in an inclined sheet containing portion 3 is transported to image reading portions 8 and 9 by a vertically extending first sheet transporting path R1, and an image on the sheet P is read by the image reading portions 8 and 9, and the sheet P on which the image has been read is delivered to a substantially horizontal delivery stacking portion 14 by a substantially horizontally extending second sheet transporting path R2. The image reading portion 9 is provided between the vertically extending first sheet transporting path R1 and the substantially horizontally extending second sheet transporting path R2, and in the image reading portion 9, the transport direction of the sheet P passed along the first sheet transporting path R1 is changed to a direction toward the second sheet transporting path R2.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure (1) constituted by cell walls (ribs) (2) forming a composite structure from a plurality of cells (3) being adjacent each other and a honeycomb outer wall (4) surrounding and holding the outermost peripheral cells located at the circumference of the composite structure; said composite structure satisfying the followings:

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus which can detachably mounted to a main machine and which is driven by a drive source independently from the main machine and is adapted to effect printing of a sheet conveyed from the main machine apparatus body, the printing apparatus having a sheet detect mechanism for detecting presence/absence of the sheet conveyed from the main machine, a sheet convey mechanism disposed at a downstream side of the sheet detect mechanism in a conveying direction within a sheet convey path, a print mechanism for effecting printing on the sheet conveyed by the sheet convey mechanism, and a drive control mechanism for controlling driving of the sheet convey mechanism and the print mechanism on the basis of a sheet detect signal from the sheet detect mechanism.

Abstract: A method of electrically charging a material to be charged by bringing a charging member impressed with a voltage into physical contact with the material to be charged, wherein the charging member is constituted by a flexible and electrically conducting endless sheet and a rotary insulating brush which supports the endless sheet at a position where the endless sheet and the material to be charged are in contact with each other and gives a pushing force to the endless sheet, and the endless sheet is driven actively or passively together with the insulating brush at a speed substantially in synchronism with the material to be charged while applying a charging voltage to the endless sheet. This method makes it possible to uniformly and stably charge the surface of the photosensitive material even when defects such as pinholes or the like exist in the surface of the photosensitive material, without causing the life of the photosensitive material to be shortened.

Abstract: An elastic memory determines an amount of delay of input data relative to other input data according to a phase difference between synchronous pulses each indicating a header of a frame of the associated input data. The elastic memory thus synchronizes both input data in the channel level. Both input data are time-division multiplied by a first multiplier. On the other hand, each counter receives synchronous pulses and thereby counting up to make a ROM produce address value of which order is determined previously according to the counted value. These address values are multiplied by a second multiplier. A decoder controls a RAM, a high-impedance control unit and a flip-flop to write in and read out of the RAM the input data. The read data are divided by a signal restoring device.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording images of an object on a plurality of recording media records the object images on the recording media at different reduction factors. It also records an object image independently on each of the recording media.

Abstract: A recording system in which film stored in a state of loops can be fed smoothly due to the film guide members which can change their positions depending on the amount of films a sensor means has detected. In addition, the assembly of a film transport unit and a development container can be mounted or dismounted to or from the development unit easily.

Abstract: A ceramic green sheet comprises a green sheet as a core and a surface layer formed thereon. Such ceramic green sheets are laminated for use in IC package, printed circuit board or the like.

Abstract: A forming aid to be mixed in a ceramic material for forming the ceramic material into a formed ceramic body of a desired shape, including at least one of a thermoplastic resin and a wax, and a mineral oil in an amount of 30-95% by volume with respect to an entire volume of the aid. Also disclosed is a process of producing a ceramic article from the formed ceramic body containing the aid.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises first feed means for feeding a document placed at a supply unit to a record unit;record means for recording an image of the document fed to the record unit onto a recording medium;second feed means for feeding the document fed to the record unit to an ejection unit;a document feed path extending from the supply unit to the ejection unit through the record unit, including a first path connecting the supply unit and the record unit and a second path arranged above the first path and connecting the record unit and the ejection unit, the second path being able to be opened and closed relative to the first path; anda cover member for covering the document feed path, the cover member being able to be opened and closed relative to the second path.

Abstract: A silicon nitride sintered body having high oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength is produced by starting from silicon nitride powder adjusted so as to have an oxygen content of 4.5-7.5 wt % as converted into SiO.sub.2. The sintered body has a molar ratio of metal ion (M) to oxygen ion (O) within a range of M:O=1.2.about.1:3 and contains no crystal of YSiO.sub.2 N form.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a focusing lens, a mirror for guiding light beams passing through the focusing lens onto a predetermined exposure position of a moving photosensitive drum, a moving unit for causing the mirror to move along a line intersecting a perpendicular bisector of a line segment connecting an imaginary focal plane of the focusing lens and the exposure position, and a rotating unit for changing an angle of the mirror upon movement of the mirror.