Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of specifying the type of an occurring abnormality to a certain extent while avoiding the increasingly complicated control that is caused when a plurality of abnormalities is detected individually according to the presence of their respective causes. A normal group data set, which is a collection of normal value combinations relating to grouped information constituted by a plurality of information of differing types, is stored in RAM or ROM serving as information storage means of a control unit. At least two or more sets of grouped information, comprising first grouped information constituted by a plurality of different types of information, and second grouped information constituted by a plurality of information in a different combination to that of the first grouped information, are obtained from the RAM, the ROM, various sensors, and an operation display unit.

Abstract: An abnormality determining apparatus is capable of avoiding mistaken determinations due to the normal value of information obtained by an information obtaining unit differing according to the content of specific information such as the operating mode setting, and deterioration of the determination precision due to a change in the user of a detection subject. The abnormality determining apparatus comprises an information storage unit for storing normal index information serving as an index of a normal state of the detection subject, an information obtaining unit for obtaining a plurality of types of information, and an abnormality determining unit for determining the presence of an abnormality in the detection subject on the basis of the normal index information stored in the information storage unit, and the information obtained by the information obtaining unit. The information storage unit stores a plurality of normal index information having different values.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substance which inhibits binding of a signal transduction molecule to 1175-tyrosine phosphorylated KDR/Flk-1 and inhibits cell growth by VEGF. Also, the present invention provides a method for inhibiting KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for inhibiting cell growth, a method for inhibiting angiogenesis, a method for screening a cell growth inhibitor, a method for screening an angiogenesis inhibitor, a method for screening a substance which inhibits KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for determining whether or not a tested substance can inhibit KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for detecting angiogenesis in tissue and a method for screening a substance which inhibits 1175-tyrosine phosphorylated KDR/Flk-1, in which each method comprises using the substance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed, and a sheet support member for conveying a sheet, carrying the toner image thereon, in cooperation with the image carrier. The image carrier and sheet support member are driven such that their surfaces move in the same direction, as seen at a contact position where the two surfaces face each other via the sheet. An electric field, forcing the toner image toward the image carrier, and an electric field, forcing it toward the sheet, are formed between the surface of the image carrier and that of the sheet at positions upstream and downstream, respectively, of the contact position in the direction of movement of the sheet.

Abstract: A charge removing unit is provided in order to control the surface potential of an image bearing element by removing charge from a surface of the image bearing element before a toner image is transferred from the image bearing element to a transfer medium. Surface potential controlling units are provided upstream of a contact area between the image bearing element and the transfer medium in order to control the surface potential of the transfer medium so that a toner on the image bearing element does not shift to the transfer medium.

Abstract: A method of forming an image includes causing a material, that increases a viscosity of liquid drops by contact with the liquid drops, to adhere to a transfer medium, causing a liquid drop to contact the material according to an image signal such that an image is formed with the liquid drop having been increased in viscosity by contact with the material, and transferring the image to a recording medium. The viscosity of the liquid drop when increased on the transfer medium by contact with the material is set such that the liquid drop adheres to the recording medium without being divided into a part remaining on the transfer medium and another part being transferred to the recording medium. By the above-described image forming method, good image transfer is realized and thereby an image having no blotting is obtained.

Abstract: Toners resided after transferring toner images on a photosensitive member are collected and reused as recycled toners once returned to developing devices. A mixture ratio of the recycled toner to a specific color toner in each of the developing devices is controlled below a limiting color mixture ratio to suppress reduction in image quality due to the toner collected from an image carrier and reused as the recycled toner. The limiting color mixture ratio is defined as a color mixture ratio of a recycled toner to a color toner when a tone variation in another image reaches to a permissible limitation level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretchable woven fabric characterized in that the warp yarn and/or the weft yarn is prepared from a false-twisted yarn of a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) multifilamentary yarn, and that the false-twisted yarn is twisted with a twist factor of from 2,700 to 13,000 in the direction reverse to the false twisting direction. The woven fabric of the present invention is useful as a stretch material for sportswear, outerwear, and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretchable woven fabric characterized in that the warp yarn and/or the weft yarn is prepared from a false-twisted yarn of a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) multifilamentary yarn, and that the false-twisted yarn is twisted with a twist factor of from 2,700 to 13,000 in the direction reverse to the false twisting direction. The woven fabric of the present invention is useful as a stretch material for sportswear, outerwear, and the like.

Abstract: Toners resided after transferring toner images on a photosensitive member are collected and reused as recycled toners once returned to developing devices. A mixture ratio of the recycled toner to a specific color toner in each of the developing devices is controlled below a limiting color mixture ratio to suppress reduction in image quality due to the toner collected from an image carrier and reused as the recycled toner. The limiting color mixture ratio is defined as a color mixture ratio of a recycled toner to a color toner when a tone variation in another image reaches to a permissible limitation level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substance which inhibits binding of a signal transduction molecule to 1175-tyrosine phosphorylated KDR/Flk-1 and inhibits cell growth by VEGF. Also, the present invention provides a method for inhibiting KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for inhibiting cell growth, a method for inhibiting angiogenesis, a method for screening a cell growth inhibitor, a method for screening an angiogenesis inhibitor, a method for screening a substance which inhibits KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for determining whether or not a tested substance can inhibit KDR/Flk-1 signal transduction, a method for detecting angiogenesis in tissue and a method for screening a substance which inhibits 1175-tyrosine phosphorylated KDR/Flk-1, in which each method comprises using the substance.

Abstract: A recording method and apparatus for controlling the condition of a material uniformly and steadily attached to a transfer medium. The recording method comprises the steps of: producing a material that is dissolved or swelled by liquid in advance and increases the viscosity of the liquid on the transfer medium; forming an image on the transfer medium by bringing the liquid into contact with the material; and transferring the image from the transfer medium to a recording medium. The recording method is characterized by the step of producing the material, in which the material is uniformly applied to a surface of the transfer medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus can apply an appropriate amount of setting agent, which is in the form of powder, to an intermediate transfer member. The setting agent is provided to a plurality of depressions formed on an application roller and transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, or formed on the intermediate transfer member, which moves the setting agent to a position where a visible image is formed by applying the droplets of a liquid onto the setting agent. The setting agent increases the viscosity of droplets of the liquid for forming the visible image to be transferred to a recording medium. The visible image formed on the setting agent is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of forming an image includes causing a material, that increases a viscosity of liquid drops by contact with the liquid drops, to adhere to a transfer medium, causing a liquid drop to contact the material according to an image signal such that an image is formed with the liquid drop having been increased in viscosity by contact with the material, and transferring the image to a recording medium. The viscosity of the liquid drop when increased on the transfer medium by contact with the material is set such that the liquid drop adheres to the recording medium without being divided into a part remaining on the transfer medium and another part being transferred to the recording medium. By the above-described image forming method, good image transfer is realized and thereby an image having no blotting is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a long-acting insecticidal mat which is applied to the electric mosquito-repellent mat system and is capable of maintaining the insecticidal effect for a long period, not less than five days, and a heat-transpiration insecticidal method using the mat, wherein a fibrous mat which is impregnated with not less than 50 mg per mat of an insecticidal ingredient of pyrethroid having not less than 4.0.times.10.sup.-6 mmHg of vapor pressure at 20.degree. C. is used by means of setting the mat on a radiation plate which has an area of 0.2 to 0.6 time as large as the base area of the mat and has a heating temperature of 70 to 170.degree. C.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of readily changing the pixel density of an image to be formed on an image carrier and, therefore, stabilizing image reproduction. To change the pixel density, the apparatus turns on, among light emitting elements arranged in a higher density than input image data, a plurality of light emitting elements per pixel or by changing the number of light emitting elements per pixel and the turn-on time thereof.