Abstract: The objective is to find compounds which have an activity to improve the success rate of pregnancy and implantation in blastocyst transfer in mammals, to provide a method of producing and using the compounds, and to provide a pregnancy-promoting agent. Disclosed is a pregnancy-promoting agent containing one or more lysophosphatidic acids selected from the group consisting of LPA-C16:0, LPA-C16:1, LPA-C18:0, LPA-C18:1 and LPA-C18:2.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, an extraction unit and a generation unit. The reading unit outputs reference plate reading information. The extraction unit sets a pixel of the reference plate reading information as a notice pixel and repeatedly extracts one of the notice pixel as a target pixel until the number of the target pixels is more than a predetermined value when a ratio of a pixel value of the notice pixel to an initial value is more than a predetermined range. The generation unit generates correction information by substituting a pixel value of the target pixel with a correction value using the initial value when the extraction unit extracts all pixels of the reference plate reading information, and generates correction information by setting the pixel values of all the pixels as the initial value when the extraction unit does not extract all the pixels.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading member disposed in one of two regions that face each other with a transport path of a document therebetween, the image reading member being used for reading an image on the document, the image reading member including a light-receiving portion, a light-collecting member that collects reflected light reflected from the document onto the light-receiving portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the transport path; and an opposing member disposed in the other of the two regions, the opposing member having a recess formed therein, the recess allowing the protruding portion of the image reading member to enter thereinto, the opposing member being disposed opposite the image reading member with the transport path therebetween.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, an extraction unit and a generation unit. The reading unit outputs reference plate reading information. The extraction unit sets a pixel of the reference plate reading information as a notice pixel and repeatedly extracts one of the notice pixel as a target pixel until the number of the target pixels is more than a predetermined value when a ratio of a pixel value of the notice pixel to an initial value is more than a predetermined range. The generation unit generates correction information by substituting a pixel value of the target pixel with a correction value using the initial value when the extraction unit extracts all pixels of the reference plate reading information, and generates correction information by setting the pixel values of all the pixels as the initial value when the extraction unit does not extract all the pixels.

Abstract: The objective is to find compounds which have an activity to improve the success rate of pregnancy and implantation in blastocyst transfer in mammals, to provide a method of producing and using the compounds, and to provide a pregnancy-promoting agent. Disclosed is a pregnancy-promoting agent containing one or more lysophosphatidic acids selected from the group consisting of LPA-C16:0, LPA-C16:1, LPA-C18:0, LPA-C18:1 and LPA-C18:2.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading member disposed in one of two regions that face each other with a transport path of a document therebetween, the image reading member being used for reading an image on the document, the image reading member including a light-receiving portion, a light-collecting member that collects reflected light reflected from the document onto the light-receiving portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the transport path; and an opposing member disposed in the other of the two regions, the opposing member having a recess formed therein, the recess allowing the protruding portion of the image reading member to enter thereinto, the opposing member being disposed opposite the image reading member with the transport path therebetween.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: plural image pickup elements which are arranged unidirectionally, each image pickup element including plural photoelectric transducers that convert reflected light from an original document into pixel signals, and a forwarding unit that serially forwards pixel signals acquired by the photoelectric transducers; a dividing unit that divides outputs of the photoelectric transducers into plural processing paths so that pixel signals acquired by photoelectric transducers located on both sides of a boundary between adjacent image pickup elements are included in the same division unit; and an interpolation unit that executes pixel interpolation, using the pixel signals acquired by the photoelectric transducers located on both sides of the boundary among the pixel signals divided by the dividing unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor having a pixel array section in which pixels each including a photoelectric transducer are arrayed, a charge transfer register that transfers a signal charge transferred from each of the pixels of the pixel array section, and an output section that converts the signal charge transferred by the charge transfer register into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal; a driving unit that drives the charge transfer register according to a first timing signal, and the output section according to a second timing signal; and a power supplying unit that supplies power of different power systems to a circuit portion handling the first timing signal and a circuit portion handling the second timing signal of the driving unit.

Abstract: A process for producing a cosmetic-impregnated sheet which comprises applying and infiltrating a cosmetic base to and into a base sheet having on the surface thereof a retentive sheet capable of absorbing and retaining the cosmetic base at a shear rate of 102 to 106 s?1, the cosmetic base being applied to and infiltrated into the retentive sheet of the base sheet, and the cosmetic base, when subjected to a steady shear deformation at a shear rate of 2 s?1 for 100 seconds followed by a steady shear deformation at a stepwise increased shear rate of 20 s?1, showing no shear stress growth or showing such a shear stress growth that the difference between the peak shear stress B at a shear rate of 20 s?1 and the equilibrium shear stress A at the same shear rate, B?A, is 20% or smaller of the equilibrium shear stress A in the transition between the two shear rates.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device including: a light source; an image forming unit including plural optical members that receive reflection light reflected from the document and form an image from the received light; plural light receiving units that receive the light formed into an image by the image forming unit and convert the light to an electric signal; a storing unit that stores plural kinds of correction data; a detecting unit that detects an amount of relative positional shift between a light receiving unit and the image forming unit for each light receiving unit; and a correcting unit that selects correction data suitable for each light receiving unit from the plural kinds of correction data stored in the storing unit based on the detected amount of relative positional shift, and corrects the electric signal converted by each light receiving unit based on the correction data.

Abstract: An image reading device includes: a first light source that irradiates light on a first side of an object; a memory that stores a plurality of parameters for controlling an intensity of the light emitting devices, each of the plurality of parameters corresponding to one of a plurality of groups; a controller that controls an intensity of the light emitting devices in response to one of the plurality of parameters stored in the memory; a first image reading unit that reads reflected light from the first side and generates monochrome image data on the basis of the read reflected light; and a second image reading unit that reads reflected light from the second side and generates monochrome image data on the basis of the read reflected light.

Abstract: A light source control apparatus that includes a light quantity detection unit that respectively detects light quantities of three colors of light emitted from a light source part. A light quantity ratio calculation unit that then calculates light quantity ratios of reflection light detected by the light quantity detection unit. When the light quantity detection unit detects light quantities of respective reference of the lights emitted from the light source part, a determination unit determines whether or not the light quantity ratios calculated by the light quantity ratio calculation unit are within a predetermined range. Responsive to the determination of the determining unit, a light quantity ratio adjustment unit adjusts the light quantity ratios of the lights emitted from the light source part on the basis of the light quantity of green-colored reflection light emitted from the light source part.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image input apparatus. The image input apparatus includes a board having an image sensor; a supporting member having a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion; a first fastening member; and a second fastening member. The image input apparatus is characterized in that the board is rigidly secured on the first supporting portion of the supporting member with the first fastening member installed in the first supporting portion, and the board is movably supported on the second supporting portion of the supporting member by the second fastening member installed in the second supporting portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: plural image pickup elements which are arranged unidirectionally, each image pickup element including plural photoelectric transducers that convert reflected light from an original document into pixel signals, and a forwarding unit that serially forwards pixel signals acquired by the photoelectric transducers; a dividing unit that divides outputs of the photoelectric transducers into plural processing paths so that pixel signals acquired by photoelectric transducers located on both sides of a boundary between adjacent image pickup elements are included in the same division unit; and an interpolation unit that executes pixel interpolation, using the pixel signals acquired by the photoelectric transducers located on both sides of the boundary among the pixel signals divided by the dividing unit.

Abstract: An image reading device includes: a first light source that irradiates light on a first side of an object; a memory that stores a plurality of parameters for controlling an intensity of the light emitting devices, each of the plurality of parameters corresponding to one of a plurality of groups; a controller that controls an intensity of the light emitting devices in response to one of the plurality of parameters stored in the memory; a first image reading unit that reads reflected light from the first side and generates monochrome image data on the basis of the read reflected light; and a second image reading unit that reads reflected light from the second side and generates monochrome image data on the basis of the read reflected light.

Abstract: A light source control apparatus includes a light quantity detection unit that respectively detects light quantities of three color light emitted from a light source part, a light quantity ratio calculation unit that calculates light quantity ratios of reflection light detected by the light quantity detection unit, a determination unit that, when the light quantity detection unit detects light quantities of respective reference of the lights emitted from the light source part, determines whether or not the light quantity ratios calculated by the light quantity ratio calculation unit are within a predetermined range, and a light quantity ratio adjustment unit that respectively adjusts the light quantity ratios of the lights emitted from the light source part on the basis of the light quantity of the reference light corresponding to green emitted from the light source part, in correspondence with the result of determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor having a pixel array section in which pixels each including a photoelectric transducer are arrayed, a charge transfer register that transfers a signal charge transferred from each of the pixels of the pixel array section, and an output section that converts the signal charge transferred by the charge transfer register into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal; a driving unit that drives the charge transfer register according to a first timing signal, and the output section according to a second timing signal; and a power supplying unit that supplies power of different power systems to a circuit portion handling the first timing signal and a circuit portion handling the second timing signal of the driving unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image input apparatus. The image input apparatus includes a board having an image sensor; a supporting member having a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion; a first fastening member; and a second fastening member. The image input apparatus is characterized in that the board is rigidly secured on the first supporting portion of the supporting member with the first fastening member installed in the first supporting portion, and the board is movably supported on the second supporting portion of the supporting member by the second fastening member installed in the second supporting portion.

Abstract: A process for producing a cosmetic-impregnated sheet which comprises applying and infiltrating a cosmetic base to and into a base sheet having on the surface thereof a retentive sheet capable of absorbing and retaining the cosmetic base at a shear rate of 102 to 106 s−1, the cosmetic base being applied to and infiltrated into the retentive sheet of the base sheet, and the cosmetic base, when subjected to a steady shear deformation at a shear rate of 2 s−1 for 100 seconds followed by a steady shear deformation at a stepwise increased shear rate of 20 s−1, showing no shear stress growth or showing such a shear stress growth that the difference between the peak shear stress B at a shear rate of 20 s−1 and the equilibrium shear stress A at the same shear rate, B−A, is 20% or smaller of the equilibrium shear stress A in the transition between the two shear rates.

Abstract: An image processing system integral with an image output unit having a power saving mode comprises a temperature detection section for monitoring a fuser temperature in a power saving mode or a rotation detector for a polygonal motor, a control section for outputting a control signal at a predetermined timing, and an energization control section capable of turning on/off output in response to the control signal from the control section. The timing of a power saving mode off signal output by the control section is when the fuser temperature lowers to a temperature or the polygonal motor take longer to ramp up than the time until the image output unit, after the power saving mode is released, is placed in a reprintable state becomes longer than the time required for setting up the data required when image processing is performed. Thus, the transition time to the copyable state as a whole is used efficiently, and power consumption can be reduced.