Abstract: In an apparatus, a gas containing CH4 and CO2 is supplied from a first supply unit to a synthetic gas production unit which generates a synthetic gas containing CO and H2 while heating a first catalytic structure; the synthetic gas is supplied to a gas production unit which generates a lower olefin-containing gas including propylene while heating a second catalytic structure; and a detection unit detects propylene discharged from the gas production unit. The first catalytic structure includes first supports having a porous structure and a first metal fine particle that is present in first channels of the first supports. The second catalyst structure includes second supports having a porous structure and a second metal fine particle in the second supports. The second supports have a second channels, a portion of which have an average inner diameter of 0.95 nm or less.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes first, second, and third controllers. The first/second controller sets a first/second link to an operating or low power consumption state. The third controller sends a busy signal to the first and second controllers when transfer of a packet via the first or second link is predicted. When the first link is in the low power consumption state and a packet has not been received via the first link, the first link is maintained in the low power consumption state by disabling the busy signal. When the first link is in the operating state and a packet has not been received via the first link, the first link is transitioned to the low power consumption state upon absence of packets transferred via the first link for a first period of time, by disabling the busy signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes first, second, and third controllers. The first/second controller sets a first/second link to an operating or low power consumption state. The third controller sends a busy signal to the first and second controllers when transfer of a packet via the first or second link is predicted. When the first link is in the low power consumption state and a packet has not been received via the first link, the first link is maintained in the low power consumption state by disabling the busy signal. When the first link is in the operating state and a packet has not been received via the first link, the first link is transitioned to the low power consumption state upon absence of packets transferred via the first link for a first period of time, by disabling the busy signal.

Abstract: A filter holding device includes an opening portion and a filter. The opening portion communicates between an inside and an outside of the filter holding device. The filter is disposed in the opening portion and includes a first side and a second side. The first side is located adjacent to the inside of the filter holding device. The second side is located adjacent to the outside of the filter holding device. The filter has a larger weight density per unit volume at the second side than a weight density per unit volume at the first side and has a larger area of a surface intersecting a communication direction at the second side than an area of a surface intersecting the communication direction at the first side.

Abstract: A method for providing information to a golfer includes a voice information acquiring step of acquiring, by a portable terminal, voice information emanated by the golfer, an information identifying step of analyzing the voice information by the portable terminal or a computer with the voice information received from the portable terminal to identify a piece of advice information suitable for the golfer from an advice information table including a plurality of pieces of the advice information recorded in advance in the portable terminal or the computer, and an information output step of outputting the piece of the advice information identified in the information identifying step from the portable terminal in a manner perceptible to the golfer.

Abstract: A filter includes a sticker and a filter body. The filter body has a smaller weight density per unit volume at a first side than at a second side opposite the first side. The sticker is disposed around a surface of the second side of the filter body.

Abstract: A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller is configured to control a first communication with a host device which is performed at a first transfer rate, and a second communication with the nonvolatile memory. The controller includes a detection circuit configured to detect a second transfer rate in the second communication with the nonvolatile memory, a processor configured to determine a target transfer rate in the first communication based on the second transfer rate detected by the detection circuit, and an interface configured to perform the first communication with the host device at the target transfer rate.

Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a controller circuit that includes a physical layer and is configured to store information defining a plurality of low power consumption modes for setting the physical layer to a low power consumption state while controlling the physical layer according to a first standard, and control input and output of signals between the physical layer and the nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to a second standard. The controller circuit selects one of the low power consumption modes based on a data transfer state of the physical layer.

Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a controller circuit that includes a physical layer and is configured to store information defining a plurality of low power consumption modes for setting the physical layer to a low power consumption state while controlling the physical layer according to a first standard, and control input and output of signals between the physical layer and the nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to a second standard. The controller circuit selects one of the low power consumption modes based on a data transfer state of the physical layer.

Abstract: A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller is configured to control a first communication with a host device which is performed at a first transfer rate, and a second communication with the nonvolatile memory. The controller includes a detection circuit configured to detect a second transfer rate in the second communication with the nonvolatile memory, a processor configured to determine a target transfer rate in the first communication based on the second transfer rate detected by the detection circuit, and an interface configured to perform the first communication with the host device at the target transfer rate.

Abstract: A photoconductor cleaning device includes a photoconductor, a cleaner, and a roller. The cleaner is disposed in contact with the photoconductor to remove adhered substances on a surface of the photoconductor. The charger charges the photoconductor. The roller is disposed between the cleaner and the charger to remove adhered substances on the surface of the photoconductor.

Abstract: A powder conveying device, including: a powder conveying path including a curved portion; and a conveying screw, wherein the conveying screw is disposed in the powder conveying path, and includes: a rotation axis portion having flexibility; and a blade portion, where the blade portion is helically formed on an outer periphery of the rotation axis portion, and is configured to convey a powder, wherein the conveying screw includes a conveying screw curved portion located in the curved portion of the powder conveying path, and wherein at least a surface of the blade portion of the conveying screw curved portion includes a slipping layer containing a silicon-containing compound.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers that carries toner images, a belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers including a support roller and an opposing roller, a transfer roller disposed opposed to the opposing roller via the belt, and a bending roller that bends the belt from outside toward inside and is disposed downstream from the opposing roller and upstream from support roller. The belt is stretched between the support roller and the bending roller in a first area. The plurality of image carriers contacts the belt in a second area other than the first area. A surface of the belt in the first area is parallel to that of the belt in the second area.

Abstract: Provided is an image bearing member protecting agent which contains a fatty acid metal salt and an inorganic lubricant, wherein an aspect ratio (average major axis length/average minor axis length) of the inorganic lubricant is 60 to 400, and a mass ratio of the fatty acid metal salt to the inorganic lubricant (fatty acid metal salt/inorganic lubricant) is 98/2 to 85/15.

Abstract: A powder conveying device, including: a powder conveying path including a curved portion; and a conveying screw, wherein the conveying screw is disposed in the powder conveying path, and includes: a rotation axis portion having flexibility; and a blade portion, where the blade portion is helically formed on an outer periphery of the rotation axis portion, and is configured to convey a powder, wherein the conveying screw includes a conveying screw curved portion located in the curved portion of the powder conveying path, and wherein at least a surface of the blade portion of the conveying screw curved portion includes a slipping layer containing a silicon-containing compound.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including an image bearing member and a protective layer forming unit. In an embodiment, the protective layer forming unit includes a protective agent supplying member which rotatably contacts a surface of the image bearing member and an image bearing member protective agent. The image bearing member protective agent includes at least a metal salt of a fatty acid and an inorganic lubricant. The protective agent supplying member includes a core material and a foam layer formed on an outer periphery of the core material and including a plurality of cells. Finally, a drive torque of the image bearing member and a drive torque of the protective agent supplying member satisfy a formula.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least: an image bearing member; a protective layer forming unit including at least a protective agent supplying member and an image bearing member protective agent; and a rotational speed controlling unit. In at least one embodiment, the protective agent supplying member includes a core material and a foam layer including a plurality of cells, and a number of cells n existing at a contact portion between a surface of the image bearing member and the protective agent supplying member is greater than 9 and less than 23. Further, a traveling speed V of the cells with respect to the surface of the image bearing member at the contact portion is greater than 837 cells/mm2/s and less than 4,670 cells/mm2/s.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, an image bearing member, a transfer member, a transfer member mount, and an image detector. The image forming mechanism forms a first image and a second image on a surface of the image bearing member. The transfer member is disposed facing the image bearing member and contactable thereagainst to form a transfer nip at which the first image is transferred from the image bearing member to a recording medium. The transfer member mount on which the transfer member is disposed accommodates multiple different sizes of transfer member. The image detector detects the second image on the surface of the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of interchangeable transfer members, only one of which at any given time faces the image bearing member, and a transfer member switching device to switch between the plurality of transfer members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers that carries toner images, a belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers including a support roller and an opposing roller, a transfer roller disposed opposed to the opposing roller via the belt, and a bending roller that bends the belt from outside toward inside and is disposed downstream from the opposing roller and upstream from support roller. The belt is stretched between the support roller and the bending roller in a first area. The plurality of image carriers contacts the belt in a second area other than the first area. A surface of the belt in the first area is parallel to that of the belt in the second area.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes a belt member, a bending roller, a transfer section, and a bias application unit. The belt member is extended between rollers and has a movable surface on which a toner image is transferred from an image carrier. The bending roller externally contacts the surface of the belt member to bend the belt member and rotates in conjunction with the belt member. The transfer section includes one of the rollers and a surface moving member. The surface moving member rotates at least one full turn while cleaning is performed on the surface moving member and the bending roller. A surface moving speed of the bending roller is equal to or greater than a surface moving speed of the surface moving member. A circumferential length L1 of the surface moving member and a circumferential length L2 of the bending roller satisfy L1?L2.