Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a server device for providing a service which enables users to be associated with each other and includes a storage unit for storing, for each user provided with the service, information on different users associated with the user, information on each event provided in the service and information on each user participating in the event. The server device transmits an event list including the information on each event to each user device, lets the user participate in an event selected from the event list when receiving a request to participate in the event from each user device, makes the event proceed when receiving a request to proceed with the event from each user device, and associates and stores, when the event is over, the information on the users participated in the event in the storage unit, thus associating the users with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a server device for providing a service which enables users to be associated with each other and includes a storage unit for storing, for each user provided with the service, information on different users associated with the user, information on each event provided in the service and information on each user participating in the event. The server device transmits an event list including the information on each event to each user device, lets the user participate in an event selected from the event list when receiving a request to participate in the event from each user device, makes the event proceed when receiving a request to proceed with the event from each user device, and associates and stores, when the event is over, the information on the users participated in the event in the storage unit, thus associating the users with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a structure for individual authentication in which a pillar pattern region including a plurality of nanopillars formed of synthetic quartz glass is formed on at least a part of a surface portion of a synthetic quartz glass substrate. In the pillar pattern region, the nanopillars have an indentation elastic modulus of 35 to 100 GPa as measured by a nanoindentation method, and the nanopillars are plastically deformed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor including a sequentially-provided conductive substrate, an undercoat layer, and a photosensitive layer. Photosensitive layer is a negatively-charged stacked type including a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer. Undercoat layer contains a resin binder and a first filler, the first filler including a zinc oxide particle surface-treated with an N-acylated amino acid or an N-acylated amino acid salt, and the charge generation layer containing an adduct compound of titanyl phthalocyanine and butanediol.

Abstract: In a combustion apparatus that includes a burner constituted by a burner body, an inside of which an air-fuel mixture is supplied to and one surface of which is made into an open surface, and a combustion plate covering the open surface of the burner body, and a combustion box enclosing a combustion space of the air-fuel mixture ejecting from the combustion plate, an offset part that is positioned at a portion which is away from the swelling part in an inflow direction of the air-fuel mixture to the inner chamber and does not oppose to a tip part(s) of the ignition electrode(s) through the combustion plate is provided with the opposite wall of the burner body and the offset part offsets to a combustion-plate side so that a distance between the offset part and the combustion plate becomes shorter than that between the combustion plate and a general part of the opposite wall except the swelling part and the offset part.

Abstract: In a combustion apparatus that includes a combustion plate having a burner frame with a shape of a picture frame, which covers an open surface of a burner body, and a frame flange part outwardly extending from a side plate part, which is sandwiched between a body flange part of the burner body and a box flange part of a combustion box, which is fastened to the body flange part, a projecting part(s) positioning the burner frame with respect to the combustion box, which comes into contact with, or comes close to and is disposed opposite to an inner surface of the combustion box is provided with the side plate part of the burner frame. Preferably, the projecting part(s) is provided at a portion away from an end of a side of an opening peripheral edge part of the side plate part to a side of the frame flange part.

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photoconductor being resistant to abrasion even in long-term use, having highly sensitive electric characteristics, being capable of maintaining a high retention rate, and being capable of providing a stable image without filming, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electrophotographic device. The photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate (1), a charge generation layer (3), and a charge transport layer (4); the charge transport layer contains a hole transport material, a resin binder, an electron transport material, and an inorganic oxide; the charge generation layer contains a charge generation material; the masses of the hole transport material, the resin binder, the electron transport material, and the inorganic oxide in the charge transport layer respectively denoted by a to d satisfy 1.5?b/a?5.7, 0.005?c/a?0.35, 0.05?d/a?0.70, a?c+d, and c/d?0.

Abstract: A totally aerated combustion burner has a combustion plate part through which an air-fuel mixture is ejected. The combustion plate part includes: an air-fuel mixture permeable body made from metallic fibers to allow the air-fuel mixture to pass therethrough; and a distribution plate having formed therein a multiplicity of distribution holes and being stacked on a back surface of the air-fuel mixture permeable body. An air-fuel mixture permeable body is constructed by laminating a plurality of metallic-fiber woven bodies which are woven by metallic-fiber threads obtained by bundling a plurality of metallic fibers relatively large in diameter. These metallic-fiber woven bodies are laminated such that a part of meshes in one metallic-fiber woven body overlaps a portion other than meshes in another metallic-fiber woven body, said one metallic-fiber woven body and said another metallic-fiber woven body that lies adjacent to each other in the laminating direction.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a server device for providing a service which enables users to be associated with each other and includes a storage unit for storing, for each user provided with the service, information on different users associated with the user, information on each event provided in the service and information on each user participating in the event. The server device transmits an event list including the information on each event to each user device, lets the user participate in an event selected from the event list when receiving a request to participate in the event from each user device, makes the event proceed when receiving a request to proceed with the event from each user device, and associates and stores, when the event is over, the information on the users participated in the event in the storage unit, thus associating the users with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a server device for providing a service which enables users to be associated with each other and includes a storage unit for storing, for each user provided with the service, information on different users associated with the user, information on each event provided in the service and information on each user participating in the event. The server device transmits an event list including the information on each event to each user device, lets the user participate in an event selected from the event list when receiving a request to participate in the event from each user device, makes the event proceed when receiving a request to proceed with the event from each user device, and associates and stores, when the event is over, the information on the users participated in the event in the storage unit, thus associating the users with each other.

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photoconductor that is less likely to cause transfer ghosting even when mounted in an electrophotographic apparatus with high transfer voltage set for high-speed or cleanerless processes, as well as a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photoconductor, and an electrophotographic apparatus. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive substrate; an undercoat layer provided on the conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer provided on the undercoat layer. In the electrophotographic photoconductor, the undercoat layer contains a resin binder and a first filler; and the first filler contains zinc oxide particles that are surface-treated with an N-acylated amino acid or an N-acylated amino acid salt.

Abstract: A server including a first storage module for storing possessed objects of a first user and a second user, a communication module for receiving from a device of the first user a request for transfer of an object from the first user to the second user, a second storage module for storing an object transfer relationship between the first user and the second user in response to the request for transfer, and a benefit granting module for granting a predetermined benefit to the second user if a condition for granting a benefit in relation to an object transfer relationship of the second user with other users is satisfied when an object is transferred in response to the request for transfer.

Abstract: A controller memorizes an accumulated combustion time by accumulating combustion time of a burner, and is set in a first lower-limit and a second lower-limit higher than the first lower-limit as a lower-limit lower than an initial value of an excess air ratio when reducing an excess air limit of a mixture gas of combustion air and a fuel gas, and the former is the lower-limit in case the accumulated combustion time is under a predetermined set time and the latter is the one in case the accumulated combustion time is the predetermined set time and over.

Abstract: A photoconductor for electrophotography includes a base member; an anodic oxide coating provided on the base member and having a film thickness of 2 to 10 ?m; an interlayer provided on the anodic oxide coating and containing a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin and having a film thickness of 0.02 to 0.3 ?m; and a photosensitive layer including a charge transport layer formed on the interlayer and containing a charge transport material and a first resin binder, and a charge generation layer laminated on the charge transport layer and containing a charge generation material, a hole transport material, a first electron transport material that is a naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide compound, a second electron transport material that is an azoquinone compound, a diphenoquinone compound, or a stilbenequinone compound and that has a mobility of 17×10?8 cm2/V·s or more, and a second resin binder.

Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photoconductor being resistant to abrasion even in long-term use, having highly sensitive electric characteristics, being capable of maintaining a high retention rate, and being capable of providing a stable image without filming, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electrophotographic device. The photoconductor includes an electroconductive substrate (1), a charge generation layer (3), and a charge transport layer (4); the charge transport layer contains a hole transport material, a resin binder, an electron transport material, and an inorganic oxide; the charge generation layer contains a charge generation material; the masses of the hole transport material, the resin binder, the electron transport material, and the inorganic oxide in the charge transport layer respectively denoted by a to d satisfy 1.5?b/a?5.7, 0.005?c/a?0.35, 0.05?d/a?0.70, a?c+d, and c/d?0.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer that is formed on the electroconductive substrate and that contains an inorganic oxide and a lubricant resin which contains a polycarbonate resin having a siloxane structure therein or a polyarylate resin having a siloxane structure therein. When light having a wavelength of 780 nm is irradiated onto a slurry containing 20% by mass of the inorganic oxide in a predetermined solvent to provide an inorganic oxide slurry, the inorganic oxide slurry has a light transmittance that is 80% or more. The photosensitive layer may be a negatively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer, a monolayer type photosensitive layer, or a positively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer. The electrophotographic photoreceptor is less worn upon long-term use, allows no filming, and can realize stable images.

Abstract: A fixing plate for the thermal insulation material is attached to the combustion plate flange part. Provided that a direction leaving away from the air-fuel mixture ejection part of the combustion plate is defined as an outward side direction, there are disposed: on the side edge in the outward side direction of the fixing plate, bent edge parts, which come into contact with the side edge in the outward side direction of the thermal insulation materials; and a plurality of tongue-shaped pressing claws which are elongated from the bent edge part so as to press and prevent the thermal insulation materials from getting released away from the fixing plate.

Abstract: A premixing apparatus for mixing air with a fuel gas in order to supply a burner with an air-fuel mixture through a fan, wherein a downstream end of a gas supply passage is connected to a gas suction part disposed in a portion, on an upstream side of the fan, of an air supply passage. The gas supply passage has interposed therein a zero governor for adjusting a secondary gas pressure to an atmospheric pressure. Even if the calorific value of the fuel gas may fluctuate, excess air ratio of the air-fuel mixture is arranged to be maintained at a constant value. The premixing apparatus is provided with: an excess air ratio detection device for detecting an excess air ratio of the air-fuel mixture; and a flow control valve interposed in a portion, on a downstream side of the zero governor, of the gas supply passage. The flow control valve is controlled such that the excess air ratio of the air-fuel mixture detected by the excess air ratio detection device becomes constant.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor having sufficient solvent resistance and crack resistance in a liquid developer and having excellent electrical characteristics, a process for producing the photoreceptor, and an electrophotographic device are provided at low cost. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive base; and a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer sequentially provided on the conductive base.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer that is formed on the electroconductive substrate and that contains an inorganic oxide and a lubricant resin. When light having a wavelength of 780 nm is irradiated onto a slurry containing 20% by mass of the inorganic oxide in a predetermined solvent to provide an inorganic oxide slurry, the inorganic oxide slurry has a luminous transmittance that is 40% or more. The photosensitive layer may be a negatively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer, a monolayer type photosensitive layer, or a positively-charged laminate-type photosensitive layer. The electrophotographic photoreceptor is less worn upon long-term use, allows no filming, and can realize stable images. A method for producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor and an electrophotographic apparatus including the electrophotographic photoreceptor are disclosed.