Abstract: An image forming system includes an image output device, a measurement sensor, a tone correction value generation unit, and a tone correction unit. The image output device outputs an image on a recording medium with a mixture of a plurality of basic colors based on an image data array combining the basic colors. The measurement sensor measures a reflection characteristic of at least a part of the image output by the image output device. The tone correction value generation unit generates, for each of the basic colors, a tone correction value for correcting a tone characteristic of the basic color by synthesizing a correction array forming a regular matrix based on the reflection characteristic measured by the measurement sensor and the image data array. The tone correction unit corrects an image output by the image output device with the tone correction value.

Abstract: An inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, containing chlorthal-dimethyl and aliphatic alcohol selected from decyl alcohol, 2-ethyl hexanol and geraniol in combination; and a method for inhibiting tobacco axillary bud growth, which includes applying the inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth.

Abstract: A sample-processing system that improves total system processing efficiency, and reduces a sample-processing time, by establishing a functionally independent relationship between a rack conveyance block with rack supply, conveyance, and recovery functions, and a processing block with sample preprocessing, analysis, and other functions. A buffer unit with random accessibility to multiple racks standing by for processing is combined with each of multiple processing units to form a pair, and the system is constructed to load and unload racks into and from the buffer unit through the rack conveyance block so that one unprocessed rack is loaded into the buffer unit and then upon completion of process steps up to automatic retesting, unloaded from the buffer unit. Functional dependence between any processing unit and a conveyance unit is thus eliminated.

Abstract: A sample-processing system that improves total system processing efficiency, and reduces a sample-processing time, by establishing a functionally independent relationship between a rack conveyance block with rack supply, conveyance, and recovery functions, and a processing block with sample preprocessing, analysis, and other functions. A buffer unit with random accessibility to multiple racks standing by for processing is combined with each of multiple processing units to form a pair, and the system is constructed to load and unload racks into and from the buffer unit through the rack conveyance block so that one unprocessed rack is loaded into the buffer unit and then upon completion of process steps up to automatic retesting, unloaded from the buffer unit. Functional dependence between any processing unit and a conveyance unit is thus eliminated.

Abstract: A cover opener for opening a cover 1a that is rotationally removed from and fixed to a reagent container 1 includes: a rotational drive unit 12 and a cover retainer 17 to retain the cover 1a by becoming engaged with a concave portion 1b provided on an upper portion of the cover 1a. A carrier 16 is driven to rotate as the rotational drive unit rotates, as well as to move in a direction of a rotational axis with respect to the rotational drive unit. Springs 19 and 20, one of which is provided between the rotational drive unit and the cover retainer, and the other between the rotational drive unit and the carrier, bias the rotational drive unit and the cover retainer or the carrier in relative fashion to move away from each other. This enables the cover of the reagent container to be reliably opened.

Abstract: An inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor containing one or more cell division inhibitors selected from pyridine-based compounds and benzamide-based compounds. This inhibitor may further include an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms in combination with the one or more cell division inhibitors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program stored in a recording medium are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a processing circuitry, and the processing circuitry and the image processing method obtain a color image output from an image forming unit, predict an output color of the image forming unit to generate a predicted color specification value independent from the image forming unit, extract from the input image data a colorimetry area for color difference determination, obtain a colorimetric value of an area of the color image that corresponds to the extracted colorimetry area, using a colorimeter, and add a colorimetric error at the colorimeter due to a color arrangement on the input image data to the predicted color specification value, to obtain a corrected colorimetric value of the area of the color image.

Abstract: A heater lamp for fixation and a method of producing the heater lamp are provided. The heater lamp includes a heat generator and a protective casing to cover the heat generator, in which an amount of carbon in an external surface of the protective casing as detected by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic method is equal to or less than 12 atomic %. The method of producing a heater lamp for fixation includes preparing a heat generator; preparing a protective casing to cover the heat generator; and heating the heat generator in an atmosphere containing oxygen gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, one or more kinds of very-long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitors such as a chloroacetamide-based herbicide, fentrazamide, cafenstrole or indanofan; an inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor comprising the aforesaid very-long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitor together with clorthal-dimethyl or an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; and a method for inhibiting tobacco axillary bud growth which comprises applying the inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth. The inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth of the present invention shows sustained drug efficacy at a low concentration, induces neither chemical injury nor disease, and can contribute to the improvement in labor productivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic analyzer for analyzing blood, urine, or other samples in which, for the purpose of reducing the workload of the operator, the process of reagent replacement is automated such that the measurement operation of the analyzer need not be halted during the reagent replacement. A sample rack transfer mechanism and reagent storage/transfer mechanisms are placed on different levels of two-story structure. This configuration allows reagent replacement even when the analyzer is performing an analysis, as well as achieving size reduction of the analyzer. The automation of reagent replacement is achieved by the following: a sensor's detection of the remaining reagent amount in a reagent vessel reaching a particular value; and the analyzer's detection of a measurement request for a sample rack when necessary reagents are not present in any reagent storage mechanism of an analyzer unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor comprising one or more cell division inhibitors selected from the group consisting of pyridine-based compounds and benzamide-based compounds. This inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth has excellent sustainability of effect at low concentration, does not cause chemical damage and disease, and can ensure an improvement in labor productivity. An aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms is furthermore combined with the cell division inhibitors selected from pyridine-based compounds and benzamide-based compounds to thereby synergistically enhance the effect of inhibiting the emergence and growth of tobacco axillary buds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus outputs a proof chart in response to an instruction for calibration execution from a user and then a color measuring unit measures the colors of patches on the proof chart. A profile management unit selects, from entries in a base profile DB, a base profile in an entry that has color reproduction characteristics that are closest to the color measurement values of the patches and generates a sheet correction TRC that has an approximation to the color measurement values of the patches when the selected base profile is used. The selected base profile is used as a color conversion parameter in a color management module, and the generated sheet correction TRC is used as a tone correction parameter in a sheet-corresponding correcting unit.

Abstract: A colorimetric chart, for measuring a color reproduction characteristic of an image forming apparatus, includes: a patch column that is arranged in a sub-scanning direction representing a conveying direction in which the image forming apparatus conveys the colorimetric chart and that is used in detecting periodic color fluctuation attributed to the image forming apparatus, wherein the patch column includes patches that are arranged in different phases on the same patch column.

Abstract: A color management system is provided that includes a color transformation unit that uses a profile connection space to perform a color transformation process on input image data based on an input side color transformation parameter associated with the input image data for translating an input device-dependent color value that describes the input image data into a device-independent color value of the profile connection space and an output side color transformation parameter for matching the device-independent color value to an output device-dependent color value. The color management system further includes an output device selection unit that enables a user to select at least two output devices from plural output devices that are available for selection, and a profile connection space generation unit that automatically generates the profile connection space according to a predetermined profile connection space generation method based on the gamuts of the output devices selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, one or more kinds of very-long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitors such as a chloroacetamide-based herbicide, fentrazamide, cafenstrole or indanofan; an inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth, the inhibitor comprising the aforesaid very-long chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitor together with clorthal-dimethyl or an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; and a method for inhibiting tobacco axillary bud growth which comprises applying the inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth. The inhibitor for tobacco axillary bud growth of the present invention shows sustained drug efficacy at a low concentration, induces neither chemical injury nor disease, and can contribute to the improvement in labor productivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic analyzer for analyzing blood, urine, or other samples in which, for the purpose of reducing the workload of the operator, the process of reagent replacement is automated such that the measurement operation of the analyzer need not be halted during the reagent replacement. A sample rack transfer mechanism and reagent storage/transfer mechanisms are placed on different levels of two-story structure. This configuration allows reagent replacement even when the analyzer is performing an analysis, as well as achieving size reduction of the analyzer. The automation of reagent replacement is achieved by the following: a sensor's detection of the remaining reagent amount in a reagent vessel reaching a particular value; and the analyzer's detection of a measurement request for a sample rack when necessary reagents are not present in any reagent storage mechanism of an analyzer unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning system that simultaneously forms a group of two scanning lines extending in a main scanning direction on a surface of a photoconductive member at a prescribed scan line interval in a sub scanning direction. An exposure intensity distribution changing device is provided to symmetrically change exposure intensity distribution of two scanning lines in the main scan direction. A group of two scanning lines formed next on the photoconductive member partially overlaps with the group previously formed with displacement of a prescribed feed pitch in the sub scanning direction so that a prescribed numbers of the two scanning lines neighboring to each other of the different groups are paired to form a prescribed number of combination scan lines.

Abstract: A sample-processing system that improves total system processing efficiency, and reduces a sample-processing time, by establishing a functionally independent relationship between a rack conveyance block with rack supply, conveyance, and recovery functions, and a processing block with sample preprocessing, analysis, and other functions. A buffer unit with random accessibility to multiple racks standing by for processing is combined with each of multiple processing units to form a pair, and the system is constructed to load and unload racks into and from the buffer unit through the rack conveyance block so that one unprocessed rack is loaded into the buffer unit and then upon completion of process steps up to automatic retesting, unloaded from the buffer unit. Functional dependence between any processing unit and a conveyance unit is thus eliminated.

Abstract: A sample-processing system that improves total system processing efficiency, and reduces a sample-processing time, by establishing a functionally independent relationship between a rack conveyance block with rack supply, conveyance, and recovery functions, and a processing block with sample preprocessing, analysis, and other functions. A buffer unit with random accessibility to multiple racks standing by for processing is combined with each of multiple processing units to form a pair, and the system is constructed to load and unload racks into and from the buffer unit through the rack conveyance block so that one unprocessed rack is loaded into the buffer unit and then upon completion of process steps up to automatic retesting, unloaded from the buffer unit. Functional dependence between any processing unit and a conveyance unit is thus eliminated.

Abstract: A cover opener for opening a cover 1a that is rotationally removed from and fixed to a reagent container 1 includes: a rotational drive unit 12 and a cover retainer 17 to retain the cover 1a by becoming engaged with a concave portion 1b provided on an upper portion of the cover 1a. A carrier 16 is driven to rotate as the rotational drive unit rotates, as well as to move in a direction of a rotational axis with respect to the rotational drive unit. Springs 19 and 20, one of which is provided between the rotational drive unit and the cover retainer, and the other between the rotational drive unit and the carrier, bias the rotational drive unit and the cover retainer or the carrier in relative fashion to move away from each other. This enables the cover of the reagent container to be reliably opened.