Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell by (1) maintaining and/or expanding human pluripotent stem cells comprising culturing the human pluripotent stem cells in the absence of a feeder cell in a medium comprising a factor for maintaining an undifferentiated state, (2) a first step for culturing the maintained and/or expanded human pluripotent stem cells in a medium comprising a MEK inhibitor in the absence of feeder cells for a period of not less than 2 days and not more than 30 days, wherein the culture condition in the first step is a condition sufficient for inducing gene expression of at least one eye field transcription factor, and (3) a second step for culturing the cells obtained in the first step in the presence of a Nodal signal transduction pathway inhibitor and/or a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibitor to form a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a frame body, a light-emitting element, a wavelength converter, and a light reflecting portion. The light-emitting element includes a semiconductor light-emitting layer on a support substrate. The wavelength converter is disposed on an upper surface of the light-emitting element. The light reflecting portion covers side surfaces of the light-emitting element and the wavelength converter and is formed of a translucent resin containing light reflective particulate fillers. The light reflecting portion includes a first region extending along an upper surface of the light reflecting portion, a second region that is disposed under the first region and has a content rate of the particulate fillers lower than a content rate of the first region, and a third region that is disposed under the second region and has a content rate of the particulate fillers lower than the content rate of the second region.

Abstract: A mixing valve 1 includes: a housing 2 with a valve chamber 6 formed therein; and a rotor 4 rotatably inserted into the valve chamber 6, the housing 2 includes, in a first peripheral wall 12, a first inlet port 14 opening at a first opening 20 to the valve chamber 6 and a second inlet port 16 opening at a second opening 22 to the valve chamber 6, a first fluid F1 flowing into the first inlet port 14, a second fluid F2 flowing into the second inlet port 16, the rotor 4 includes, in a second peripheral wall 28, a first inflow pipe 30 and a second inflow pipe 32, and a housing 2 includes, in the first peripheral wall 12, a discharge port 18 discharging the first fluid F1 and/or the second fluid F2 flowing into the valve chamber 6 without passing through the first inflow pipe 30 and/or the second inflow pipe 32 of the rotor 4, respectively, as a discharge fluid DF to the outside of the housing 2, and includes an outlet port 26 communicating with a mixing flow path 24.

Abstract: A sheet-metal structure includes a pair of first sheet-metal members, a second sheet-metal member, and a positioning mechanism. The second sheet-metal member has a flat main body portion and a pair of bent portions formed by substantially perpendicularly bending opposite end parts of the main body portion. The positioning mechanism has a swaged portion projecting inward from the inner surface of the first sheet-metal plate, an opening portion extending from the bent portion to the main body portion, and a restriction portion formed at the main body portion side end of the opening portion. The distance from the bent portion to the restriction portion is smaller than the projection height of the swaged portion. With the swaged portion in contact with the restriction portion, fixing together the first sheet-metal member and the bent portion at a fixing position away from the restriction portion across a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body frame; a process unit which is removably fitted in a first direction; a pressing member which presses the process unit in a second direction; and a restriction member which restricts the displacement of the process unit. The process unit includes a restriction plate which protrudes downward from the unit frame. The restriction member includes a pair of sandwiching surfaces which sandwich the restriction plate in the second direction. The process unit is fitted and is pressed by the pressing member such that the restriction plate abuts against the sandwiching surface to restrict the displacement of the process unit.

Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a regulation cursor and a hold mechanism. The hold mechanism includes a guide shaft, and a stopper having a guide hole in which the guide shaft is inserted, and being capable of reciprocating with the regulation cursor. When the stopper is inclined to one side, movement of the regulation cursor is restricted. When the stopper is raised to the other side, movement of the regulation cursor is enabled. The stopper has a contact part that contacts the regulation cursor, so as to restrict the stopper from inclining to the other side, when the regulation cursor is enabled to move.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet storage apparatus including: an apparatus body; a sheet storage section; a top cover; a sheet feeding section; a restricting cursor; a blowing device; a sheet holding-down member; and a moving mechanism. The sheet storage section includes a sheet supply port, and a sheet stacking portion. The top cover is pivotable to an opening position and to a closing position. The blowing device includes a fan and a vent. The sheet holding-down member includes a restricting piece. The moving mechanism is coupled to the sheet holding-down member, moves the sheet holding-down member to a restricting position by coming into contact with the top cover under a state in which the top cover has come to the closing position, and moves the sheet holding-down member to a retracted position by separating from the top cover when the top cover is moved to the opening position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a main body, a lift plate, a pair of side cursors, and an auxiliary lift plate. The main body is configured to accommodate a sheet fed out in a predetermined sheet feeding direction. The lift plate is provided in the main body in a liftable manner, and has a sheet placement surface on which the sheet is placed. The pair of side cursors is configured to be moved in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction and to come into contact with side edges of the sheet placed on the lift plate to align the sheet. The auxiliary lift plate is detachably attached to a notch portion which is formed in the lift plate so as to allow a moving of the side cursors.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet storage apparatus including: an apparatus body; a sheet storage section; a top cover; a sheet feeding section; a restricting cursor; a blowing device; a sheet holding-down member; and a moving mechanism. The sheet storage section includes a sheet supply port, and a sheet stacking portion. The top cover is pivotable to an opening position and to a closing position. The blowing device includes a fan and a vent. The sheet holding-down member includes a restricting piece. The moving mechanism is coupled to the sheet holding-down member, moves the sheet holding-down member to a restricting position by coming into contact with the top cover under a state in which the top cover has come to the closing position, and moves the sheet holding-down member to a retracted position by separating from the top cover when the top cover is moved to the opening position.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell by (1) maintaining and/or expanding human pluripotent stem cells comprising culturing the human pluripotent stem cells in the absence of a feeder cell in a medium comprising a factor for maintaining an undifferentiated state, (2) a first step for culturing the maintained and/or expanded human pluripotent stem cells in a medium comprising a MEK inhibitor in the absence of feeder cells for a period of not less than 2 days and not more than 30 days, wherein the culture condition in the first step is a condition sufficient for inducing gene expression of at least one eye field transcription factor, and (3) a second step for culturing the cells obtained in the first step in the presence of a Nodal signal transduction pathway inhibitor and/or a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibitor to form a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The main drive unit includes a main drive rotary electric machine. The sub drive unit includes a sub drive rotary electric machine. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit configured to set a driving force distribution ratio between the main driving force and the sub driving force and is configured to control the outputs of the main drive unit and the sub drive unit so that the main driving force and the sub driving force have the driving force distribution ratio set by the driving force distribution ratio setting unit. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio to minimize electric power loss of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a required driving force of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for more efficiently producing retinal pigment epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. The method of the present invention for producing retinal pigment epithelial cells includes the following steps: (1) a first step for culturing a pluripotent stem cell in a medium comprising an FGF receptor inhibitor and/or an MEK inhibitor for a period of not more than 30 days, and (2) a second step for culturing the cell obtained in the first step in the presence of a Nodal signal transduction pathway inhibitor and/or a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibitor to form a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixing device, a fixing temperature sensor, a drive device, a printed sheet number counting part, a fixing voltage power supply, a controller, and an apparatus external temperature sensor. The controller can perform a cooling mode in which, when a number of continuous printed sheets at a reference speed exceeds an upper limit number, a number of printed sheets per unit time is gradually decreased to suppress an increase of an apparatus internal temperature. The controller sets the upper limit number based on a temperature difference between the fixing temperature detected by the fixing temperature sensor and the apparatus external temperature detected by the apparatus external temperature sensor.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism (3) includes a holder (31), a gripping roller (32), a first movable plate (331), a second movable plate (332), a first spring (341), and a second spring (342). The holder (31) houses the gripping roller (32). The first movable plate (331) and the second movable plate (332) pinch the gripping roller (32) inside the holder (31). The first spring (341) urges the first movable plate (331) toward the gripping roller (32). The second spring (342) urges the second movable plate (332) toward the gripping roller (32). The gripping mechanism (3) grips a gripped section (42) of a first component (4) between the first movable plate (331) and the gripping roller (32).

Abstract: A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit and is configured to control the main drive unit and the sub drive unit. A drive mode of the main drive unit includes an electric power drive mode and an engine drive mode. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio based on a vehicle speed, a required driving force, and the drive mode. When the drive mode is the engine drive mode, the driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio so that a distribution ratio of the main driving force is 90% or more.

Abstract: A light-emitting device according to the present invention comprises: a mounting board; a plurality of light-emitting elements that each include a supporting substrate and a semiconductor structure layer, the supporting substrate being disposed on the mounting board, and the semiconductor structure layer being formed on the supporting substrate and including a light-emitting layer, a wavelength conversion member that covers the plurality of light-emitting elements above the light-emitting elements and converts a wavelength of a light emitted from the light-emitting layer; a translucent member that covers a lower surface of the wavelength conversion member and covers the semiconductor structure layer on the supporting substrate; and a resin member filled between the plurality of light-emitting elements, the resin member being formed of a resin material containing particles having a light reflectivity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure by culturing a cell aggregate containing a retinal tissue in which Chx10 positive cells are present in a proportion of 20% or more of the tissue in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium, each containing a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway for only a period before the appearance of a RPE65 gene expressing cell, followed by culturing the “cell aggregate in which a RPE65 gene expressing cell does not appear” thus obtained in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium, each not containing a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway and so on.

Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a pair of inclined surfaces and rolling elements. The pair of inclined surfaces face each other, are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a vertical direction, and approach each other on a lower side. Each of the rolling elements is rollable on the respective inclined surfaces in an obliquely upward and downward direction. An opening space is formed between lower ends of the inclined surfaces, the opening space having a direction Y (horizontal) width smaller than a direction Y width of the respective rolling elements arranged in the direction Y.

Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a drive wheel driven that is capable of starting the internal combustion engine by cranking of the electric motor. When the internal combustion engine is started by cranking of the electric motor, the vehicle control device is configured to: control a power running torque of the electric motor based on an intake pressure of the internal combustion engine until the internal combustion engine goes into a complete combustion state; and control a regenerative torque of the electric motor based on a fuel injection amount of the internal combustion engine until a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine converges within a predetermined range including a target rotation speed, after the internal combustion engine goes into the complete combustion state.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a frame body, a light-emitting element, a wavelength converter, and a light reflecting portion. The light-emitting element includes a semiconductor light-emitting layer on a support substrate. The wavelength converter is disposed on an upper surface of the light-emitting element. The light reflecting portion covers side surfaces of the light-emitting element and the wavelength converter and is formed of a translucent resin containing light reflective particulate fillers. The light reflecting portion includes a first region extending along an upper surface of the light reflecting portion, a second region that is disposed under the first region and has a content rate of the particulate fillers lower than a content rate of the first region, and a third region that is disposed under the second region and has a content rate of the particulate fillers lower than the content rate of the second region.