Abstract: A high-definition lamp unit contains a plurality of individually controllable pixels, and emits lamp beam having light distribution corresponding to states of the pixels. A first sensor is provided to enable detection of a dynamic component of a pitch angle of a traveling vehicle body. A controller shifts the level of a cut-off line CL of the light distribution up and down, corresponding to the dynamic component of the pitch angle of the vehicle body, with reference to a predetermined level defined as a base.

Abstract: A variant of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof reduces the liver tropism and selectively exert bioactivity in a target tissue in disease other than a liver tissue. A polyethylene glycol-modified form of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof has polyethylene glycol(s) bound to (a) terminus(es) of the hepatocyte growth factor or the active fragment thereof via (a) protease-sensitive peptide(s).

Abstract: A polyethylene glycol-modified form of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof achieves both an in vivo half-life extending effect of polyethylene glycol modification and the retainment of bioactivity. The polyethylene glycol-modified form of a hepatocyte growth factor or an active fragment thereof has one molecule of forked-type polyethylene glycol covalently bound to two molecules of the hepatocyte growth factor or the active fragment thereof at each of their respective carboxyl-terminal regions to form a homodimer.

Abstract: A non-specific-binding inhibitor enables, in detection of a target nucleic acid by hybridization, effective inhibition of cross-hybridization between the target nucleic acid and complementary strands of sequences similar thereto, which non-specific-binding inhibitor has a stable quality among production lots, and a hybridization method for nucleic acid uses the inhibitor. The non-specific-binding inhibitor for nucleic acid includes a nucleic acid which has a base length of 2 to 11 bases and in which the content of a guanine base(s) and/or methylated guanine base(s) in the entire base sequence is not less than 70%.

Abstract: Reference miRNAs whose abundances are altered depending on quality change of a body fluid sample were identified to provide a method of evaluating the quality of a body fluid sample using as indices the abundances of the reference miRNAs in the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is an bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus which is simplified in structure and which is easy to use. A measuring apparatus comprising a personal data input unit which is used in inputting personal data and a plurality of electrodes which are used in measuring bioelectrical impedance is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: a memory in which the personal data are stored via said personal data input unit; and a control device which carries out a required control by using at least one selected electrode to store the personal data in said memory or to retrieve the personal data from said memory.

Abstract: A toner draining mechanism has a hollow member and a conveying member which is arranged in the hollow member and conveys toner. A toner draining port for draining the conveyed toner is formed in the hollow member. The toner draining port is formed above a bottom surface of the hollow member. Therefore, when a toner cartridge is exchanged, the toner near the toner draining port does not drop into an image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus cools a rotating body in an image forming apparatus. The cooling apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical rotating body rotating about a longitudinal axis, a cooling section, and a drive source. The cooling section is located outside of the rotating body. The cooling section rotates when the rotating body rotates, and sends air to the rotating body so that the rotating body is cooled by convection of air. The drive source operatively drives the rotating body and the cooling section. The rotating body is provided with a first air-propelling member that takes air into an inner space of the rotating body and a second air-propelling member provided that discharges air from the inner space. The air-propelling member may be a vane that describes a spiral and generally extends along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which is small-sized and is able to keep a longtime and stable cleaning function. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a blade member contacting elastically with the image carrier; a semi-conductive member installed on the blade member; and a power unit for adding a voltage to the semi-conductive member. Further, the semi-conductive member is set apart from the contacting portion of the blade member by a predetermined isolation distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing drum, a developing roller, a toner-supplying roller, and a controller. The developing roller deposits toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing drum. The toner-supplying roller is spaced a distance in the range of 0.05 to 1.0 mm from the developing roller and supplies toner to the developing roller. The controller applies a first voltage to the developing roller and a second voltage to the toner-supplying roller. The difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than 130 volts and lower than a voltage above which electrical discharge occurs across the developing member and the toner-supplying roller. The toner-supplying roller has a surface with ridges and valleys formed therein, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the toner-supplying roller. The ridges have a height in the range of 10 to 1000 ?m.

Abstract: A toner draining mechanism has a hollow member and a conveying member which is arranged in the hollow member and conveys toner. A toner draining port for draining the conveyed toner is formed in the hollow member. The toner draining port is formed above a bottom surface of the hollow member. Therefore, when a toner cartridge is exchanged, the toner near the toner draining port does not drop into an image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing drum, a developing roller, a toner-supplying roller, and a controller. The developing roller deposits toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing drum. The toner-supplying roller is spaced a distance in the range of 0.05 to 1.0 mm from the developing roller and supplies toner to the developing roller. The controller applies a first voltage to the developing roller and a second voltage to the toner-supplying roller. The difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than 130 volts and lower than a voltage above which electrical discharge occurs across the developing member and the toner-supplying roller. The toner-supplying roller has a surface with ridges and valleys formed therein, which extend in a longitudinal direction of the toner-supplying roller. The ridges have a height in the range of 10 to 1000 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention provided an image forming apparatus which is small-sized and is able to keep a longtime and stable cleaning function. The image forming apparatus comprises a image carrier; a blade member contacting elastically with the image carrier; a semi-conductive member installed on the blade member; and a power unit for adding a voltage to the semi-conductive member. Further, the semi-conductive member is set apart from the contacting portion of the blade member by a predetermined isolation distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus which is simplified in structure and which is easy to use. A measuring apparatus comprising a personal data input unit which is used in inputting personal data and a plurality of electrodes which are used in measuring bioelectrical impedance is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: a memory in which the personal data are stored via said personal data input unit; and a control device which carries out a required control by using at least one selected electrode to store the personal data in said memory or to retrieve the personal data from said memory.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus cools a rotating body in an image forming apparatus. The cooling apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical rotating body rotating about a longitudinal axis, a cooling section, and a drive source. The cooling section is located outside of the rotating body. The cooling section rotates when the rotating body rotates, and sends air to the rotating body so that the rotating body is cooled by convection of air. The drive source operatively drives the rotating body and the cooling section. The rotating body is provided with a first air-propelling member that takes air into an inner space of the rotating body and a second air-propelling member provided that discharges air from the inner space. The air-propelling member may be a vane that describes a spiral and generally extends along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus which is simplified in structure and which is easy to use. A measuring apparatus comprising a personal data input unit which is used in inputting personal data and a plurality of electrodes which are used in measuring bioelectrical impedance is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: a memory in which the personal data are stored via said personal data input unit; and a control device which carries out a required control by using at least one selected electrode to store the personal data in said memory or to retrieve the personal data from said memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a living body measuring apparatus with a built-in weight meter, comprising: a measuring platform; and electrodes, whereby said measuring platform being constructed in two-layered configuration having inner and outer boards, said electrodes being arranged on said outer board to measure a living body impedance, and said outer board of the measuring platform being formed from a transparent plate. Therefore a paper bearing the caution notice or the description of operation can be affixed to the lower surface of the outer board because they are still visible through the transparent outer board. This obviates the tendency for a person to be measured to inevitably tread the paper with his soles for measurement. Furthermore, if the person mounts the outer board with his feet as wetted after taking a bath, there is no possibility to wet the paper, thereby preventing the paper from peeling off.

Abstract: Disclosed is an bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus which is simplified in structure and which is easy to use. A measuring apparatus comprising a personal data input unit which is used in inputting personal data and a plurality of electrodes which are used in measuring bioelectrical impedance is improved according to the present invention in that it comprises: a memory in which the personal data are stored via said personal data input unit; and a control device which carries out a required control by using at least one selected electrode to store the personal data in said memory or to retrieve the personal data from said memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a living body measuring apparatus with a built-in weight meter, comprising: a measuring platform; and electrodes, whereby said measuring platform being constructed in two-layered configuration having inner and outer boards, said electrodes being arranged on said outer board to measure a living body impedance, and said outer board of the measuring platform being formed from a transparent plate. Therefore a paper bearing the caution notice or the description of operation can be affixed to the lower surface of the outer board because they are still visible through the transparent outer board. This obviates the tendency for a person to be measured to inevitably tread the paper with his soles for measurement. Furthermore, if the person mounts the outer board with his feet as wetted after taking a bath, there is no possibility to wet the paper, thereby preventing the paper from peeling off.

Abstract: A gradient index-type optical device produced by the ion exchange process, comprising: a transparent dielectric body having a refractive index distribution, and a refractive index distribution-adjusting portion disposed on at least a part of the transparent dielectric body. Because of the presence of the refractive-index distribution, the ion-exchange speed therethrough is controlled to provide a controlled refractive index distribution in the transparent dielectric body. As a result, a gradient index-type optical device having a large refractive index factor (g value) without substantial increase in aberration.