Abstract: An example lubricant applying device includes a rotatable applicator, a solid lubricant source to supply lubricant to the applicator, an urging member to urge the lubricant source to contact the applicator, and a guide member to restrict an urging of the lubricant source along a displacement direction. In a transverse cross section of the lubricant applying device that is taken orthogonally to a rotation axis of the applicator, a reference line extends from a contact surface of the lubricant source to the rotation axis of the applicator, in a direction parallel to the displacement direction of the guide member. In the transverse cross section, the lubricant source has a width that is substantially orthogonal to the displacement direction. The lubricant source is positioned to offset a widthwise center of the lubricant source to a downstream side of the reference line, in the rotational direction of the applicator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liposome preparation containing a population of liposomes containing a CD1d ligand compound, wherein the average particle size of the population of liposomes is 90 to 110 nm and the polydispersity index of particle size distribution is 0.2 or less. and the polydispersity index of the particle size distribution is 0.2 or less. The present invention also provides the use of the liposome preparation in the prevention or treatment of graft-versus-host disease and organ transplant rejection.

Abstract: A thermally expandable fire-resistant material composition comprising an adhesive base and an a thermally expandable compound, wherein the thermally expandable fire-resistant material composition is flowable at an ordinary temperature or at a temperature lower than the expansion onset temperature of the thermally expandable fire-resistant material, and is solidifiable or curable.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a photoreceptor including a surface to form a static latent image, a non-contact charging device being spaced apart from the photoreceptor, a power source to apply a voltage to the charging device, and a controller. The charging device charges an image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during an image-forming period and charges a non-image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during a non-image-forming period. The controller changes a signal parameter of the voltage to be applied by the power source during the non-image-forming period, in order to adjust a current flowing from the charging device to the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An example lubricant applying device includes a rotatable applicator, a solid lubricant source to supply lubricant to the applicator, an urging member to urge the lubricant source to contact the applicator, and a guide member to restrict an urging of the lubricant source along a displacement direction. In a transverse cross section of the lubricant applying device that is taken orthogonally to a rotation axis of the applicator, a reference line extends from a contact surface of the lubricant source to the rotation axis of the applicator, in a direction parallel to the displacement direction of the guide member. In the transverse cross section, the lubricant source has a width that is substantially orthogonal to the displacement direction. The lubricant source is positioned to offset a widthwise center of the lubricant source to a downstream side of the reference line, in the rotational direction of the applicator.

Abstract: A separation device includes: a container that includes a storage portion for storing liquid containing magnetic particles; and a coil that separates the magnetic particles from the liquid by generating a magnetic field through application of current, causing a magnetic force to act on the magnetic particles in a state where the coil stops with respect to the storage portion, and causing the magnetic particles to move from the storage portion against gravity acting on the liquid containing the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Provided is a toner transfer device including: a carrier device that includes a surface on which a charged toner is carried; an electrode that attracts the toner from the surface of the carrier device; a conveyance path of a print medium which is formed between the carrier device and the electrode; and a power supply device that causes a potential difference to occur between the carrier device and the electrode to transfer the toner from the carrier device onto the print medium when the print medium is located in the conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier having a first rotation axle, a charging roller having a second rotation axle, a conductive member to contact a surface of the image carrier, a gap size acquisition device, and a gap adjustment device. The charging roller is disposed adjacent to the image carrier in a non-contact manner across a gap to charge the image carrier. The gap size acquisition device acquires a size of the gap. The gap adjustment device adjusts a distance between the first rotation axle and the second rotation axle based on information from the gap size acquisition device to maintain the size of the gap within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A chip includes a first chamber that stores a fluid, a second chamber that stores a mixing target which is to be mixed with the fluid, a flow path that allows a communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a valve that is provided in the flow path and capable of changing the flow path by change in shape by heating.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a main body to accommodate a roller, and a lubricant unit. The lubricant unit includes a casing having an opening and a lubricant storage disposed inside the casing to store a lubricant. The casing is pivotably connected to the main body to displace the casing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the lubricant storage is positioned to bring the lubricant in contact with the roller through the opening, and the pivotable connection is disposed below the casing. In the open position, the opening is exposed to an outside of the main body, and the opening of the casing is disposed upward.

Abstract: A lubricant application device includes an application roller with application bristles radially arranged about an outer circumferential surface thereof for receiving a lubricant from a lubricant supply source and applying the lubricant to a photosensitive body. A minimum distance between the outer circumferential surface of the application roller and the photosensitive body is shorter than a length of the application bristles. The lubricant application device has a drive unit for rotating the application roller and a controller for controlling the drive unit. The controller is adapted to control the drive unit to counteract a bristle-bending tendency of the application bristles.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a photoreceptor including a surface to form a static latent image, a non-contact charging device being spaced apart from the photoreceptor, a power source to apply a voltage to the charging device, and a controller. The charging device charges an image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during an image-forming period and charges a non-image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during a non-image-forming period. The controller changes a signal parameter of the voltage to be applied by the power source during the non-image-forming period, in order to adjust a current flowing from the charging device to the photoreceptor.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining a genetic condition of a fetus, the method including: an objective region selection step of selecting an objective region for determining the genetic condition, from regions on a human genome; a step of isolating a single cell from a maternal blood sample; a step of extracting genomic DNA from the single cell; a step of performing PCR amplification on the objective region using a primer set designed so as to perform the PCR amplification on the objective region using genomic DNA extracted from the single cell as a template; and a DNA sequencing step of decoding a DNA base sequence of a PCR amplification product of the objective region, in which the primer set designed so as to perform the PCR amplification on the objective region is designed through a method for designing a primer set used for the polymerase chain reaction, the method for designing a primer set including a first stage selection step based on a local alignment score and a second stage selection step based o

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier having a first rotation axle, a charging roller having a second rotation axle, a conductive member to contact a surface of the image carrier, a gap size acquisition device, and a gap adjustment device. The charging roller is disposed adjacent to the image carrier in a non-contact manner across a gap to charge the image carrier. The gap size acquisition device acquires a size of the gap. The gap adjustment device adjusts a distance between the first rotation axle and the second rotation axle based on information from the gap size acquisition device to maintain the size of the gap within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a main body to accommodate a roller, and a lubricant unit. The lubricant unit includes a casing having an opening and a lubricant storage disposed inside the casing to store a lubricant. The casing is pivotably connected to the main body to displace the casing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the lubricant storage is positioned to bring the lubricant in contact with the roller through the opening, and the pivotable connection is disposed below the casing. In the open position, the opening is exposed to an outside of the main body, and the opening of the casing is disposed upward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner supply unit, an application roller adjacent to the image carrier, a toner measuring unit, and a control unit. The toner supply unit supplies toner to the image carrier. The application roller applies a lubricant to the image carrier. The toner measuring unit measures an amount of toner transferred from the image carrier to the application roller. The control unit adjusts the supply of toner to be supplied to the image carrier in accordance with the amount of toner measured by the toner measuring unit.

Abstract: A lubricant application device includes an application roller with application bristles radially arranged about an outer circumferential surface thereof for receiving a lubricant from a lubricant supply source and applying the lubricant to a photosensitive body A minimum distance between the outer circumferential surface of the application roller and the photosensitive body is shorter than a length of the application bristles. The lubricant application device has a drive unit for rotating the application roller and a controller for controlling the drive unit. The controller is adapted to control the drive unit to counteract a bristle-bending tendency of the application bristles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to rotate about a rotation axis, a cleaning blade to contact a surface of the image carrier, and a protective agent coater. The protective agent coater has a rotatable shaft extending along the rotation axis of the image carrier, an elastic body formed around the rotatable shaft, and a waste toner supply member. The waste toner supply member supplies waste toner to the elastic body of the protective agent coater. The elastic body transfers protective agent from a protective agent supply to the image carrier. The protective agent coater is positioned upstream of the cleaning blade in the rotation direction of the image carrier.