Abstract: The present invention discloses an oxidized mixed cyclic phenol sulfide which is a mixture of the oxidized cyclic phenol sulfide wherein in is 8 and the oxidized cyclic phenol sulfide wherein m is an integer other than 8, the oxidized cyclic phenol sulfide being represented by the following formula (1): wherein R is a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, m is an integer from 4 to 9, and n is 1 or 2; or an oxidized cyclic phenol sulfide of formula (1) wherein m is 8. The present invention also discloses a charge control agent which comprises the above sulfide(s) as the active ingredient; and a toner which comprises the charge control agent, a coloring agent and a binder resin. This charge control agent is particularly useful for color toners, and it speeds up charging risetime, and has a high charge amount and charging characteristics excellent in environmental stability. Further, the charge control agent is safe since it does not have any problem with the waste regulations.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mixed cyclic phenol sulfide which is a mixture of the cyclic phenol sulfide wherein m is 8 and the cyclic phenol sulfide wherein m is an integer other than 8, the cyclic phenol sulfide being represented by the following formula (1): wherein R is a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and m is an integer from 4 to 9; or a cyclic phenol sulfide of formula (1) wherein m is 8. The present invention also discloses a charge control agent which comprises the above sulfide(s) as the active ingredient; and a toner which comprises the charge control agent, a coloring agent and a binder resin. This charge control agent is particularly useful for color toners, and it speeds up charging risetime, and has a high charge amount and charging characteristics excellent in the environmental stability. Further, the charge control agent is safe since it does not have any problem with the waste regulations.

Abstract: A developing device has a developer bearing member, a housing adapted to accommodate a developer, and a supply roller adapted to supply the developer within the housing for the developer bearing member. The supply roller has an outer circumferencial foam layer made of resin or rubber. The foam layer has an air permeability of 150-200 ml/cm2/s, a hardness of 50-200 N, and an average cell density of 20-40 per 25 mm width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an electrostatic latent image bearing member capable of bearing an electrostatic latent image thereon, and a developer apparatus having a developer material for visualizing the electrostatic latent image into a visualized image. The developer apparatus includes a developer material bearing member, a housing adapted to accommodate a developer material, and a supply roller adapted to supply the developer material within the housing for the developer material bearing member. The supply roller has an outer circumferencial foam layer. The foam layer is made of resin foam or rubber foam and has an air permeability of 5 ml/cm2/s or less, a density of 50-200 kg/m3, and a hysteresis loss ratio of 35-45 %.

Abstract: A system for dispersing the load of a network that can avoid local traffic congestion in a communication route within a broadband network is provided.

Abstract: A multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention multiplexes a video ES and an audio ES to generate a transport stream TS, and includes a video buffer, an audio buffer, and a multiplexing unit. A multiplexing unit executes simulation of a buffer occupation necessary for a video ES upon decoding the TS, and controls multiplexing of the video ES not to cause overflow of a buffer based on the simulation result. In the simulation, a predetermined time ?t is divided by N ((main buffer leak rate/system clock frequency)×N (N is an integer)=integer), the remainder R is carried over to the next calculation, and a current main buffer leak data amount is calculated by integer arithmetic based on the integral quotient.

Abstract: Has an object of providing a method of controlling the operation of an operating system in a computer system, and a recording medium recorded with a program for executing this method.

Abstract: A system for dispersing the load of a network that can avoid local traffic congestion in a communication route within a broadband network is provided.

Abstract: A method for homogeneously mixing a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide which is used for the preparation of a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide fuel. The method comprises weighing a uranium oxide powder, a plutonium oxide powder, and a dry recovered powder prepared by grinding a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide sinter so as to give a predetermined plutonium enrichment; roughly mixing these powders together by means of a mixer; pulverizing and homogeneously mixing the roughly mixed powder by means of a jet mill; discharging the homogeneously mixed powder together with compressed air from the jet mill; and separating the mixed powder from the air by means of a first-stage cyclone to recover at least 90% of the discharged powder.

Abstract: In this electrolytic coloring method for chromium alloy, first, an aqueous solution containing, for example, chromic acid of 250 g/l as a main material and, for example, sulfuric acid of 490 g/l as an electrolyte is prepared. Then, in this aqueous solution, chromium alloy, for example, a stainless steel plate undergoes an anode electrolytic treatment and a cathod electrolytic treatment respectively for one or more seconds with a current having an average current density of 0.05-2 A/dm.sup.2 respectively one or more in an alternatingly repeated manner, and thereby an oxide film is formed on the surface of the chromium alloy. In this case, the color tone of the oxide film formed on the chromium alloy is adjusted by varying the respective average current densities, the respective treating times and the numbers of repetition cycles of the anode electrolytic treatment and the cathode electrolytic treatment.

Abstract: Method for preparing a cellulose solution wherein cellulose is dissolved in a mixed solvent which is consisted essentially of an aliphatic quaternary ammonium halide, containing a lower alkyl group and a halogen, and an organic solvent capable of dissolving the halide. The dissolving process must be carried out within a heating temperature range, between 50.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., particularly preferable between 70.degree. C. and 95.degree. C., so as to keep the degree of polymerization of the cellulose at a high level.