Abstract: An information processing system includes a processor configured to: extract an intention of a user and context of utterance from the utterance of the user via a microphone, generate topic data which includes an execution situation of the intention based on the intention and the context, generate utterance content according to the execution situation of the generated topic data, and output the utterance content to the user via a speaker.

Abstract: An elastic composite film provided with a sintered ePTFE film and an elastomeric resin layer, produced by continuously forming the elastomeric resin layer on at least one side of the sintered ePTFE film, continuously elongating the resulting multilayer film at less than the yield point of the expanded, sintered, porous film and at an elongation factor of 1.3 times or more in the biaxial directions, or in the uniaxial direction without contracting in the direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation, and relaxing the resulting elongated multilayer film, wherein when the composite film is elongated by 10% in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, the tensile stress of the composite film is 2.5 N/15 mm or less, and/or the elongation percentage of the composite film in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction is 30% or more and the elongation recovery rate is 70% or more.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to determine, when a simultaneous distribution is made to a plurality of destinations, whether a first communication situation in the information processing apparatus is worse than a predetermined reference. The processor is configured to select a request destination from among the plurality of destinations upon determining that the first communication situation is worse than the predetermined reference. The processor is configured to request the request destination to perform the simultaneous distribution to part of the plurality of destinations except for the request destination.

Abstract: The present invention solves the problem of realizing a lighter cushion body that has ample cushioning properties when a person sits or lies thereon by: providing a plurality of rod-shaped or flat plate-shaped support bodies (2) comprising a synthetic resin foam that has a bending deflection amount of 20 mm or more as measured according to the method described in JIS K7221-2:2006 and a pressing force of 2-100 N at 20 mm of deflection, and legs (3) on which the support bodies (2) are placed or fixed; using the support bodies and the legs to form a space (5) that makes it possible to bend and deform the support bodies; and arranging the plurality of rod-shaped or flat plate-shaped support bodies (2) in a row so as to be deformable.

Abstract: An image recording method includes a first intermediate image forming step of applying an ink onto an intermediate transfer member to form a first intermediate image, a second intermediate image forming step of applying a transfer assisting liquid containing thermoplastic resin particles and rosin-based resin particles to the first intermediate image formed on the intermediate transfer member to form a second intermediate image, and a transfer step of bringing the second intermediate image formed on the intermediate transfer member into contact with a recording medium, peeling off the second intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member while the contact state with the recording medium is maintained, and transferring the second intermediate image to the recording medium. In the transfer step, the second intermediate image brought into contact with the recording medium has a temperature not less than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin particles.

Abstract: Electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface of the conductive substrate, and an inorganic protective layer on an outer peripheral surface of the organic photosensitive layer, the inorganic protective layer containing gallium and oxygen. A volume resistivity of an inner region of the inorganic protective layer, the inner region extending 0.2 ?m or about 0.2 ?m from an inner peripheral surface of the inorganic protective layer in a thickness direction, and a volume resistivity of an outer region of the inorganic protective layer, the outer region extending 0.2 ?m or about 0.2 ?m from an outer peripheral surface of the inorganic protective layer in the thickness direction, are both 6.0×107 ?·cm or more and 4.0×108 ?·cm or less or about 6.0×107 ?·cm or more and about 4.0×108 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: The flow channel unit includes: a pair of end flow channels disposed at an inflow port and an outflow port, respectively, and extending along in flow direction; a center flow channel including a pressure receiving portion having a thin film shape and disposed at a position sandwiched between the pair of end flow channels, a distance from an inner peripheral surface of the pressure receiving portion to an outer peripheral surface thereof being shorter than a distance from an inner peripheral surface of the pair of end flow channels to an outer peripheral surface thereof. The pair of end flow channels and the center flow channel are integrally formed of a flexible resin material, and the pressure detection portion is disposed such that the pressure of the fluid circulated through a flow channel is transmitted via the pressure receiving portion.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure detection device including: a pressure detection unit; and a flow channel unit provided with a flow channel and a pressure receiving portion. The pressure detection unit includes a pressure sensor including a diaphragm, and a pressure transmission portion which is disposed in a state where one end of the pressure transmission portion is in contact with the diaphragm and the other end thereof is in contact with the diaphragm, and transmits a pressure of a fluid received by the diaphragm to the diaphragm. The pressure transmission portion is disposed in a state where the diaphragm is displaced toward the flow channel and an urging force directed from the diaphragm to the diaphragm is received.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging device, an electrostatic latent image forming device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning device, and further includes an intercepting device that includes an intercepting member separated from the electrophotographic photoreceptor by a gap so that a distance from the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor to the intercepting member is about 0.3 to 0.9 (inclusive) times a volume-average particle size of toner particles. The intercepting member is used to intercept residual toner particles at a position downstream of the transfer device and upstream of the cleaning device in a rotation direction of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the residual toner particles remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Abstract: A unit for an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes a conductive substrate, a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, and a surface layer provided so as to contact with an outermost surface of the photosensitive layer, and an exposure section that exposes the electrophotographic photoreceptor with a light having a wavelength (?) (nm) so as to form an electrostatic latent image on a charged surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein a surface roughness (Rz1) (nm) of the outermost surface of the photosensitive layer satisfies an expression of [(Rz1)?(?)/(4×(n2))] where a refractive index of the surface layer is set as (n2), and an outermost surface of the surface layer has a surface shape different from the outermost surface of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: Provided is a flow rate adjustment device including: a valve body portion configured to be movable along an axis line; a body portion having a valve bore and an upstream-side fluid chamber formed therein, the valve body portion being inserted into the valve bore, the upstream-side fluid chamber being configured to circulate a fluid; and a thin film-like first diaphragm portion which is coupled to the valve body portion and configured to isolate the upstream-side fluid chamber from a spring accommodation chamber adjacent to the upstream-side fluid chamber. The first diaphragm portion is formed of a conductive fluororesin material including a fluororesin material and carbon nanotubes dispersed in the fluororesin material, and the conductive fluororesin material has a volume resistivity of more than 1.0×103 ?·cm and less than 1.0×104 ?·cm.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer on the electroconductive substrate and an inorganic protective layer on the organic photosensitive layer, wherein a layer that forms a surface of the organic photosensitive layer contains a charge transporting material, a binder resin, and a silica particle; the inorganic protective layer contains a group 13 element, an oxygen atom, and a hydrogen atom; a sum of element constitution ratios of the group 13 element, the oxygen atom, and the hydrogen atom to all elements constituting the inorganic protective layer is equal to or more than 90 atomic %; and an element composition ratio (oxygen atom/group 13 element) of the oxygen atom and the group 13 element is 1.0 or more and less than 1.5.

Abstract: A molding apparatus includes: a die; a core disposed at the inner side of the die; a slider housed in a die recess provided in the die; a rod having a leading end portion housed in a slider recess formed in a face of the slider, the leading end portion of the rod being unconnected with the slider; and a movement mechanism, the die including a wall portion that forms part of an inner wall of the die recess, and the slider recess having a shape that widens on progression toward an outer side in a radial direction of the die or that runs along a radial direction of the die.

Abstract: An image-recording method includes applying an ink to a recording medium and applying a liquid composition to the recording medium. The ink contains a pigment, and the liquid composition disturbs the dispersion state of the pigment in the ink. The applied liquid composition at least partially overlaps the area where the ink is applied. The ink contains a resin particle, a water-soluble resin, and at least one surfactant selected from fluorinated surfactants and silicone surfactants. The surfactant content of the ink is 2% by mass or more based on the total mass of the ink, and the mass ratio of the water-soluble resin content to the surfactant content of the ink is 0.3 or more and 3.0 or less.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a first information processing device including a first memory and a first processor, and a second information processing device including a second memory and a second processor, wherein the first processor is configured to acquire a first frequency at which first data stored in the first memory has been updated, acquire a second frequency at which the first data stored in the first memory has been updated due to an update of second data stored in the second memory, determine whether a notification indicating that the first data stored in the first memory has been updated is to be transmitted to the second information processing device, based on the first frequency information, the second frequency information, and a state of a communication between the first information processing device and the second information processing device, and transmit the notification.

Abstract: An image recording method including the steps of forming an image by applying an ink to an ink receiving member and applying a treatment liquid containing an ink-viscosity-increasing component to the ink receiving medium so as to overlap with at least a part of a region of the ink receiving medium to which the ink is applied. The treatment liquid contains a surfactant which lowers a surface tension of water to 25 mN/m or less when added into the water in an amount of 0.

Abstract: An image recording method including an ink application step of applying an ink containing a coloring material, an anionic water-soluble resin, resin particles and an inclusion compound to a recording medium; and a first liquid composition application step of applying a first liquid composition containing at least one of an organic acid and a polyvalent metal ion to the recording medium so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the ink is applied.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a GW and a portable communication device. The GW includes a transmitter that transmits, to the portable communication device that is located within a given area, a request to transmit information; a receiver that receives a response to the request to transmit information from the portable communication device; and a data acquisition controller that, when the number of responses received is larger than a maximum allowable number to the GW, adjusts the area to which the request to transmit information is transmitted such that the number of responses is equal to or smaller than the maximum allowable number and that, when the number of responses is equal to or smaller than the maximum allowable number to the GW, adjusts an area to which the request to transmit information is transmitted, which is an area different from the area to which the request has been transmitted.

Abstract: A method of recording an image on a recording medium by applying an auxiliary liquid containing a water-soluble resin and wax particles to an intermediate image formed on an intermediate transfer member, bringing the intermediate image into contact with the recording medium at a temperature higher than a melting point of the wax particles, subsequently peeling off the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wax particles and transferring the intermediate image onto the recording medium. The method can improve the efficiency of transferring the intermediate image from the intermediate transfer member onto the recording medium.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer on the electroconductive substrate and an inorganic protective layer on the organic photosensitive layer, wherein a layer that forms a surface of the organic photosensitive layer contains a charge transporting material, a binder resin, and a silica particle; the inorganic protective layer contains a group 13 element, an oxygen atom, and a hydrogen atom; a sum of element constitution ratios of the group 13 element, the oxygen atom, and the hydrogen atom to all elements constituting the inorganic protective layer is equal to or more than 90 atomic %; and an element composition ratio (oxygen atom/group 13 element) of the oxygen atom and the group 13 element is 1.0 or more and less than 1.5.