The present invention relates to novel linear and cyclic polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX.sub.1X.sub.2X.sub.3W, where W is tryptophan, and X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X.sub.1, X.sub.2 or X.sub.3 is W, the remaining two of X.sub.1, X.sub.2 or X.sub.3 cannot be W. Preferred core structures include WVDYW or WQDYW. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides (linear or cyclic), and use of same in inhibiting cell functions including production of IL-22 and IL-17F from immune cells as well as in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis.

An image reading apparatus incudes a guiding shaft extending in an axial direction; a reading portion supported by the shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction; a casing accommodating the reading portion, the casing including a first supporting portion supporting an end portion of the shaft and a second supporting portion supporting the other end portion of the shaft; and an elastically deformable bonding portion bonding the casing and the shaft with each other, the bonding portion being provided between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion in the axial direction and between the casing and the shaft in a diametrical direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The shaft is supported by the first supporting portion, the second supporting portion and the bonding portion, without contact to the casing except for the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion.

A control panel for controlling a device comprises a scanning device being a plane surface scanner configured for scanning instantaneously an image of a surface of interest. It also comprises a front panel with a front side surface facing the user and a back side surface facing the scanning device and thus being scanable and at least one controller element mounted in the front panel and having contrast markings at the back side facing the scanner device with respect to a color of other portions of the back side of the front panel so that a state of the at least one controller is recognizable from an optical image of the back side of the front panel.

An image forming apparatus includes a printer having a sheet discharge tray, a scanning device disposed above the printer, a resin-made support member supporting the scanning device on the printer and defining a sheet discharge space above the sheet discharge tray between the printer and the scanning device, a metal-made first reinforcement plate fixed to the printer and the support member, and a metal-made second reinforcement plate fixed to the scanning device and the support member. The support member has a notched part formed to communicate the sheet discharge space with an outside in a direction intersecting a sheet discharge direction on the sheet discharge tray. The first reinforcement plate extends at least in a vertical direction along the notched part. The second reinforcement plate, which is not coupled with the first reinforcement plate, extends at least in the vertical direction along the notched part.

A handle mounted to a shaft with a fixing member has a first surface that comes in contact with the shaft and receives an operation force applied to the handle and a second surface in which the fixing member is arranged.

Example implementations relate to a scan carriage of a print apparatus. In some examples, a system may include a print carriage to transit across a print zone of the print apparatus and a scan carriage selectably attachable to the print carriage to transit across the print zone of the print apparatus.

An image forming apparatus includes a printer having a sheet discharge tray, a scanning device disposed above the printer, a resin-made support member supporting the scanning device on the printer and defining a sheet discharge space above the sheet discharge tray between the printer and the scanning device, a metal-made first reinforcement plate fixed to the printer and the support member, and a metal-made second reinforcement plate fixed to the scanning device and the support member. The support member has a notched part formed to communicate the sheet discharge space with an outside in a direction intersecting a sheet discharge direction on the sheet discharge tray. The first reinforcement plate extends at least in a vertical direction along the notched part. The second reinforcement plate, which is not coupled with the first reinforcement plate, extends at least in the vertical direction along the notched part.

A control panel for controlling a device comprises a scanning device being a plane surface scanner configured for scanning instantaneously an image of a surface of interest. It also comprises a front panel with a front side surface facing the user and a back side surface facing the scanning device and thus being scanable and at least one controller element mounted in the front panel and having contrast markings at the back side facing the scanner device with respect to a color of other portions of the back side of the front panel so that a state of the at least one controller is recognizable from an optical image of the back side of the front panel.

A flatbed scanner document scanner includes a large format document scanner body accommodating a rectangular rigid frame with an upwardly facing plane face and a rectangular transparent plate for supporting a large format document. The rectangular transparent plate overlies the upwardly facing plane face all around the metal frame. The scanner also includes a movable carriage configured to move along and below the rectangular transparent plate and carrying a line camera extending across the rectangular transparent plate. The rectangular transparent plate and the metal frame are bonded together by a hard glue seam that runs on the upwardly facing plane face of the metal frame. A predetermined deflected shape can be formed when the bonded plate and frame are turned upside-down. The rectangular metal frame can deform under its own load to a cambered shape, a flat shape or a less deflected shape when turned upright in a normal position.

An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a cable, a connector portion, a casing, and a cover member. The reading unit reads an image of a document. The cable is connected to the reading unit, and transmits an image signal output from reading unit. The connector portion is disposed in the reading unit, and is connected to the cable. The casing accommodates the reading unit and has an opening portion through which the connector portion is exposed to outside of the casing. The cover member is attached to and detached from the casing and covers the opening portion in a state where the cable is connected to the connector portion via the opening portion.