Abstract: A payment apparatus that settles merchandise sold at an EC site, includes a receiving unit that receives, when a merchandise page of the EC site is accessed by a user, a merchandise identifier for specifying the merchandise and session data with the user from the merchandise page; a generation unit that generates a payment icon including information regarding a payment of the merchandise based on the merchandise identifier and the session data; a sending unit that sends the payment icon to the merchandise page; and a payment unit that performs, when the payment icon displayed in the merchandise page is operated by the user, a payment process of the merchandise for the user specified by the session data.

Abstract: An image decoding device and an image decoding method are disclosed. The decoding device includes: a variable length decoder to variable-length-decode an inputted encoded bit stream to obtain a parameter for prediction signal generation, a compressed difference image, and filters; and a filtering processor to carry out a filtering process on a decoded image acquired by adding a prediction image and a difference image, wherein the prediction image is generated by using the parameter for prediction signal generation, and the difference image is acquired by decoding the compressed difference image, wherein the variable length decoder variable-length-decodes class identification information for a block in the decoded image, and wherein the filtering processor refers to the class identification information for the block to determine a class for the block, and carries out a filtering process on the block based on the determined class and the filters.

Abstract: FRET measurement uses a FRET probe that includes a probe element X labeled with a donor fluorescent substance and a probe element Y labeled with an acceptor fluorescent substance and enables FRET to occur when the probe element X and the probe element Y approach to each other or bind together. A test sample as a measuring object in FRET measurement contains a test object about which it is unknown whether or not it has an approaching/binding property of allowing the probe element X and the probe element Y to approach to each other or bind together or a separating property of separating from each other the probe element X and the probe element Y that are in a state where they adjoin each other or bind together. A plurality of sets of a fluorescence lifetime ?sample and a ratiometry Rsample obtained by this measurement are used to judge whether or not the test object has the approaching/binding property or the separating property.

Abstract: An electrically conductive rubber composition is provided, which comprises a rubber component including an SBR, an EPDM and an epichlorohydrin rubber, a crosslinking component and an azodicarbonamide foaming agent having a volume-based median diameter of 20 to 40 ?m. The azodicarbonamide foaming agent is blended in a proportion of 0.5 to 8 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the overall rubber component. A transfer roller (1) is produced by extruding the electrically conductive rubber composition into an elongated tubular body, and continuously feeding out the tubular body in the elongated state without cutting the tubular body to continuously pass the tubular body through a microwave crosslinking device and a hot air crosslinking device to continuously foam and crosslink the tubular body.

Abstract: A variable displacement swash plate type compressor includes a displacement control valve. The displacement control valve includes a drive force transmitting member, a valve member having a first valve body, a valve chamber, which accommodates the first valve body, an accommodating chamber, which communicates with a control pressure chamber, a pressure sensing mechanism, which adjusts the valve opening degree of the first valve body, a communicating chamber, which is located on the opposite side of the pressure sensing mechanism from the valve chamber, and a second valve body, which is located in the pressure sensing mechanism and selectively opens and closes the communicating chamber. When the current supply to the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped and the pressure in the suction pressure zone in the communicating chamber is higher than a predetermined pressure, the pressure sensing mechanism contracts to open the second valve body.

Abstract: There has been a problem that wrinkles easily occur on a carbonaceous film produced by the use of a continuous production method and on a graphite film obtained by heat-treating the carbonaceous film. In the present invention, heating treatment is carried out on a polymeric film while applying pressure to the polymeric film in the film thickness direction with the use of a continuous carbonization apparatus. This makes it possible to obtain a carbonaceous film and a graphite film in which wrinkling is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wave spring and a load adjusting method therefor in which a ratio of a spring constant can be freely adjusted. In a wave spring, a high mountain portion and a low mountain portion form a combination, and the combination is repeatedly formed along a circumferential direction. A valley portion is formed between the mountain portions. Since distance between mountain portions is constant in the conventional design of wave springs, the ratios of spring constant are only specific values (plot indicated by ?). In contrast, in the design of the wave spring, since the pitch angle A of the high mountain portion and the pitch angle B of the low mountain portion can be changed in the combination, the ratio can be freely adjusted.

Abstract: A frequency-domain sample interval corresponding to a time-domain pitch period L corresponding to a time-domain pitch period code of an audio signal in a given time period is obtained as a converted interval T1, a frequency-domain pitch period T is chosen from among candidates including the converted interval T1 and integer multiples U×T1 of the converted interval T1, and a frequency-domain pitch period code indicating how many times the frequency-domain pitch period T is greater than the converted interval T1 is obtained. The frequency-domain pitch period code is output so that a decoding side can identify the frequency-domain pitch period T.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high strength galvanized steel sheet and a high strength galvanized steel sheet are provided. A base steel sheet having a chemical composition comprising C: 0.03% to 0.35%, Si: 0.01% to 0.50%, Mn: 3.6% to 8.0%, Al: 0.001% to 1.000%, P?0.10%, S?0.010%, and the balance comprising Fe and incidental impurities, on a percent by mass basis, is subjected to annealing and galvanization treatment, wherein the maximum steel sheet temperature in an annealing furnace is 600° C. or higher and 700° C. or lower, the steel sheet transit time in a temperature region of the maximum steel sheet temperature of 600° C. or higher and 700° C. or lower is specified to be 30 seconds or more and 10 minutes or less, and the dew point in an atmosphere is specified to be ?45° C. or lower.

Abstract: An image display device and controlling method capable of optimizing a state of the image display device for a user at a desired position. The display device includes: an imaging section that takes an image of a predetermined range of a dynamic image with respect to an image display direction; an image analyzing section that analyzes the dynamic image taken by the imaging section and calculates a position of a user; a system optimization processing section that calculates system control information for optimizing a system based on the position of the user calculated by the image analyzing section; and a system controlling section that optimizes the system based on the system control information calculated by the system optimization processing section.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including a photoelectric conversion element operable to generate electric charge according to the amount of incident light and to accumulate the electric charge in the inside thereof, an electric-charge holding region in which the electric charge generated through photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion element is held until read out, and a transfer gate having a complete transfer path through which the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element is completely transferred into the electric-charge holding region, and an intermediate transfer path through which the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion element during an exposure period and being in excess of a predetermined charge amount is transferred into the electric-charge holding region. The complete transfer path and the intermediate transfer path are formed in different regions.

Abstract: A brake-pedal depression force estimation device includes: a first deceleration calculation unit which uses a vehicle-mounted wheel speed sensor to calculate a first estimated vehicle-body deceleration for the vehicle; a second deceleration calculation unit which uses a vehicle-mounted vehicle-body acceleration sensor to calculate a second estimated vehicle-body deceleration for the vehicle; a gradient acquisition unit which acquires the gradient of change for the first estimated vehicle-body deceleration; and a depression force determination unit which determines if the brake-pedal depression force applied by a driver is high or not. The gradient acquisition unit acquires a first gradient of change and a second gradient of change. The depression force determination unit is configured so as to determine the brake-pedal depression force applied by a driver to be high when the second gradient of change is equal to or exceeds the first gradient of change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus including an intermediate processing tray on which a sheet conveyed by a discharge roller is stacked, a proximal aligning plate and a distal aligning plate moving in a sheet width direction for aligning the sheet conveyed onto the intermediate processing tray, and a finisher controller for moving and controlling the proximal aligning plate and the distal aligning plate to align, when a sheet having a length in the sheet conveyance direction shorter than a predetermined length in the sheet conveyance direction is conveyed, the sheet at a position shifted nearer to a take-out port side A in the sheet width direction than a position in the sheet width direction at which a sheet having a length in the sheet conveyance direction equal to or more than the predetermined length in the sheet conveyance direction is aligned.

Abstract: A Group III nitride semiconductor laser device includes a laser structure including a support substrate with a semipolar primary surface of a hexagonal Group III nitride semiconductor, and a semiconductor region thereon, and an electrode, provided on the semiconductor region, extending in a direction of a waveguide axis in the laser device. The c-axis of the nitride semiconductor is inclined at an angle ALPHA relative to a normal axis to the semipolar surface toward the waveguide axis direction. The laser structure includes first and second fractured faces intersecting with the waveguide axis. A laser cavity of the laser device includes the first and second fractured faces extending from edges of first and second faces. The first fractured face includes a step provided at an end face of an InGaN layer of the semiconductor region and extending in a direction from one side face to the other of the laser device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of safely and simply inducing differentiation of mononuclear cells into cells that promote neovascular stabilization and maturation, and lead to recovering from ischemia or tissue repair. The cells according to the present invention are obtained by inducing differentiation of a mononuclear cell by culturing the mononuclear cell in a medium (particularly a serum-free medium) containing one or more selected from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), thrombopoietin (TPO), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), and collecting a cell population expressing CD11b.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a reception unit, a storage unit, a list sending unit, and a transmission unit. The reception unit receives print data designating a user who is able to execute printing. The storage unit stores the print data received by the reception unit. The list sending unit sends a list of the print data, which the user who is an operator of an image forming apparatus is able to execute, to the image forming apparatus. The transmission unit transmits the print data selected from the list of the print data sent by the list sending unit to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying member to rotate and convey a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a driven sheet conveying member to contact the sheet conveying member and form at least one first transfer nip therebetween in a lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to a thickness of the sheet passing through the first transfer nip and rotated with the sheet conveying member in the sheet conveyance direction, a displacement member to contact the sheet conveying member and form a second transfer nip smaller than the first transfer nip in the lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the sheet passing through the second transfer nip and supported at a support member, and a displacement amount detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement member.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus may include an obtaining unit to obtain a number of users from information on detection of a face region including a face in a captured image provided at the apparatus. The apparatus also may include a setting unit to set a display region for content and a display region for a captured image in a display screen; and a display image generation unit to generate a display image to be displayed in the display region for a captured image, in accordance with the information on the detection, the number of users, and the display region set for a captured image.

Abstract: A silicon carbide powder for the production of a silicon carbide single crystal has an average particle diameter of 100 ?m or more and 700 ?m or less and a specific surface area of 0.05 m2/g or more and 0.30 m2/g or less. A method for producing a silicon carbide powder for the production of the silicon carbide single crystal including sintering a silicon carbide powder having an average particle diameter of 20 ?m or less under pressure of 70 MPa or less at a temperature of 1900° C. or more and 2400° C. or less and in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, thereby obtaining a sintered body having a density of 1.29 g/cm3 or more; adjusting particle size by means of pulverization of the sintered body; and removing impurities by means of an acid treatment.

Abstract: Provide are a peptide gel with practically sufficient mechanical strength and a self-assembling peptide capable of forming the peptide gel. The self-assembling peptide is formed of the following amino acid sequence: a1b1c1b2a2b3 db4a3b5c2b6a4 where: a1 to a4 each represent a basic amino acid residue; b1 to b6 each represent an uncharged polar amino acid residue and/or a hydrophobic amino acid residue, provided that at least five thereof each represent a hydrophobic amino acid residue; c1 and c2 each represent an acidic amino acid residue; and d represents a hydrophobic amino acid residue.