Abstract: Provided is a highly durable laminated piezoelectric element wherein a stress generated at a portion, i.e., the boundary between an active region and inactive region, is reduced. A method for manufacturing such laminated piezoelectric element is also provided. The laminated piezoelectric element has a laminated structure (15) wherein a plurality of piezoelectric layers (11) and internal electrode layers (13) are alternately laminated. The piezoelectric layer (11) contains a metal element other than those elements constituting piezoelectric ceramic, i.e., the main component of the piezoelectric layer (11), and at a portion (11a) of the piezoelectric layer (11) at the vicinity of an end of the internal electrode layer (13), metal particles having a metal element as a main component exist. The content of the metal at the portion (11a) at the vicinity of the end is higher than the content of a compound of the metal element and a nonmetal element.

Abstract: An inverted pendulum type moving body subject to a traveling control in response to a traveling instruction based on an intention of a rider while keeping a balance, a manipulation mode is performed based on the intention of the rider and an automatic operation mode is performed without being based on the intention of the rider. The inverted pendulum type moving body includes a center-of-gravity position adjusting unit for adjusting a center-of-gravity position of the rider in accordance with a manipulation signal outputted from a control device. When an instruction for switching a control mode to an automatic operation mode, where a predetermined traveling control is performed without being based on intention of the rider, is generated, and controls a wheel drive unit in accordance with a traveling instruction based on the center-of-gravity position.

Abstract: An inverted pendulum type moving body. The inverted pendulum type moving body includes: a vehicle body having a riding part on which a rider rides; a rotary body which is rotatably supported on the vehicle body; a rotary body drive unit which rotatably drives the rotary body; and a control device which controls the rotary body drive unit for allowing the inverted pendulum type moving body to travel in accordance with a traveling instruction while keeping a balance, wherein the inverted pendulum type moving body further includes an uncontrollable state detection unit for detecting a state where the control of the inverted pendulum type moving body by the rider is highly improbable, and the control device stops a traveling of the inverted pendulum type moving body when the uncontrollable state is detected based on information detected by the uncontrollable state detection unit.

Abstract: An agent for suppressing the production of various cytokines (IL-8 and the like) and inflammatory mediators, an agent for suppressing the expression of COX-II and the like, or an inhibitor of various phosphorylation enzymes (ATF2 and the like), which contains a TLR signaling inhibitory substance, preferably a compound represented by the formula (I) or the formula (II) wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus capable of being applied to an image forming apparatus includes a light source which emits a light beam; a modulator which pulse-width modulates drive current supplied to the light source; and a current adding unit which adds a supplemental current to the pulse-width modulated drive current at the rising edge of a pulse thereof.

Abstract: A ceramic member in which the metal layers with high void ratio are sufficiently sintered to lower a residue of resin is produced. The method for manufacturing a ceramic member which comprises a step of forming a stacked compact from a plurality of metallic paste layers containing a metal component M1 that are stacked one on another via ceramic green sheets, and a step of firing the stacked compact, wherein at least one of plural metallic paste layers is formed as a second metallic paste layer that has the mass percentage X higher than that of the metallic paste layer that adjoin therewith in the stacking direction and a ceramic powder is contained in the second metallic paste layer in the step of forming the stacked compact, the mass percentage X being the proportion of the metal component M1 to the total metal content in the metallic paste layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an exposure apparatus having a configuration such that, when a single laser light source having a plurality of light-emitting points is driven by a plurality of laser control apparatuses, mutual monitoring of the control state of the respective laser control apparatuses is possible, thus reducing malfunctions due to the effects of noise, and also provides a method to control this exposure apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. To accomplish this, the exposure apparatus does not execute light amount control of the light source to be driven when the determination unit has determined that another driving unit is causing the light source to be driven to emit light, and executes the light amount control of the light source to be driven when the determination unit has determined that another driving unit is not causing the light source to be driven to emit light.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-layer piezoelectric element capable of achieving a high response speed and an increase in the displacement amount, ensuring sufficient mechanical strength, and suppressing deterioration of characteristics. A multi-layer piezoelectric element (1) includes a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers (3) and internal electrode layers (5) are alternately laminated, and the piezoelectric layers (3) include a polarization domain (12) extending over a plurality of crystal particles (11). Since the piezoelectric layers (3) include the polarization domain (12) extending over the plurality of crystal particles (11), the multi-layer piezoelectric element (1) can achieve a high response speed and an increase in the displacement amount, ensure sufficient mechanical strength, and suppress deterioration of characteristics.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus includes a plurality of light sources. A detection unit detects the light power of a light beam output from at least one of the plurality of light sources. A control unit controls the driving current of at least one selected light source on the basis of the detection result by the detection unit such that the light power of the selected light source equals a target light power. The light source is selected from the plurality of light sources on the basis of the light-emitting characteristic of each light source. The control unit controls, on the basis of the driving current of the selected light source, the driving currents of light sources which remain unselected in the plurality of light sources.

Abstract: Provided is a highly durable laminated piezoelectric element wherein a stress generated at a portion, i.e., the boundary between an active region and inactive region, is reduced. A method for manufacturing such laminated piezoelectric element is also provided. The laminated piezoelectric element has a laminated structure (15) wherein a plurality of piezoelectric layers (11) and internal electrode layers (13) are alternately laminated. The piezoelectric layer (11) contains a metal element other than those elements constituting piezoelectric ceramic, i.e., the main component of the piezoelectric layer (11), and at a portion (11a) of the piezoelectric layer (11) at the vicinity of an end of the internal electrode layer (13), metal particles having a metal element as a main component exist. The content of the metal at the portion (11a) at the vicinity of the end is higher than the content of a compound of the metal element and a nonmetal element.

Abstract: In a multilayer piezoelectric element in which a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers are stacked alternately, the plurality of metal layers include a plurality of low-filled metal layers having a lower filling rate of metal composing the metal layers than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. In a multilayer piezoelectric element in which a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers are stacked alternately, the plurality of metal layers include a plurality of thin metal layers having a smaller thickness than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction.

Abstract: A ceramic member in which the metal layers with high void ratio are sufficiently sintered to lower a residue of resin is produced. The method for manufacturing a ceramic member which comprises a step of forming a stacked compact from a plurality of metallic paste layers containing a metal component M1 that are stacked one on another via ceramic green sheets, and a step of firing the stacked compact, wherein at least one of plural metallic paste layers is formed as a second metallic paste layer that has the mass percentage X higher than that of the metallic paste layer that adjoin therewith in the stacking direction and a ceramic powder is contained in the second metallic paste layer in the step of forming the stacked compact, the mass percentage X being the proportion of the metal component M1 to the total metal content in the metallic paste layer.

Abstract: A ceramic member in which the metal layers with high void ratio are sufficiently sintered to lower a residue of resin is produced. The method for manufacturing a ceramic member which comprises a step of forming a stacked compact from a plurality of metallic paste layers containing a metal component M1 that are stacked one on another via ceramic green sheets, and a step of firing the stacked compact, wherein at least one of plural metallic paste layers is formed as a second metallic paste layer that has the mass percentage X higher than that of the metallic paste layer that adjoin therewith in the stacking direction, the mass percentage X being the proportion of the metal component M1 to the total metal content in the metallic paste layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pyrazole compound represented by the formula (I): wherein ring A0 is a pyrazole ring optionally further having 1 or 2 substituents; Ra is a substituted carbamoyl group; and Rb is an optionally substituted acylamino group, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of GSK-3? related pathology or disease, and a GSK-3? inhibitor including same.

Abstract: An optical power control apparatus includes a changing unit which changes, a plurality of number of times, the value of a current flowing to an optical beam output apparatus, and an obtaining unit which obtains, in correspondence with each current value, a peripheral optical power representing an optical power at the peripheral part of the spot of the optical beam output from the optical beam output apparatus. The optical power control apparatus also includes a correction unit which corrects the peripheral optical power so that the peripheral optical power and a central optical power representing an optical power at the central part of the spot have an approximately linear relationship in correspondence with each current value. The optical power control apparatus also includes a control unit which controls the optical power of the optical beam output from the optical beam output apparatus in accordance with the corrected peripheral optical power.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a beam generating unit configured to generate a beam of light, a scanning unit with a plurality of scanning planes configured to deflect the beam of light generated by the beam generating unit and cause the beam of light to scan an image carrier in a main-scanning direction, a micro mirror configured to deflect the beam of light generated by the beam generating unit and thereby enable the deflected beam of light to fall on the scanning unit, a position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the beam of light deflected by the micro mirror, an input voltage control unit configured to control an input voltage value for inclining the micro mirror and thereby causing the beam of light to deflect, and an input voltage determining unit configured to control the input voltage value controlled by the input voltage control unit.

Abstract: An agent for suppressing the production of various cytokines (IL-8 and the like) and inflammatory mediators, an agent for suppressing the expression of COX-II and the like, or an inhibitor of various phosphorylation enzymes (ATF2 and the like), which contains a TLR signaling inhibitory substance, preferably a compound represented by the formula (I) or the formula (II) wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: The light beam deflection cycle of a rotational polygonal mirror includes first and third sections in which a latent image is not formed, and a second section in which the latent image is formed. A driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of a resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the first section. The driving signal supply unit keeps the deflection angle of the resonant driving type mirror at the first target deflection angle in the second section. The driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of the resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the third section. The optical scanning apparatus is used in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The light beam deflection cycle of a rotational polygonal mirror includes first and third sections in which a latent image is not formed, and a second section in which the latent image is formed. A driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of a resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the first section. The driving signal supply unit keeps the deflection angle of the resonant driving type mirror at the first target deflection angle in the second section. The driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of the resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the third section. The optical scanning apparatus is used in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus capable of being applied to an image forming apparatus includes a light source which emits a light beam; a modulator which pulse-width modulates drive current supplied to the light source; and a current adding unit which adds a supplemental current to the pulse-width modulated drive current at the rising edge of a pulse thereof.