Provided an intermediate transfer member for use in an image forming method including: (1) applying a liquid for reducing fluidity of ink onto the intermediate transfer member; (2) forming an image by applying the ink onto the intermediate transfer member on which the liquid for reducing the fluidity of the ink is applied; and (3) transferring the image onto a recording medium, the intermediate transfer member including: a base; and an elastic layer formed on the base, the elastic layer including: a stack of a first layer being an outer layer and having a plurality of protrusions formed on a surface thereof; and a second layer located below the first layer, an elastic modulus (E1) [MPa] of the first layer and an elastic modulus (E2) [MPa] of the second layer satisfying a relationship of (E1−E2)≥5 [MPa].

An image producing device that produces an image by thermally transferring an image pattern from a transfer ribbon to a transfer medium. The device includes take-up means for taking up the transfer ribbon, supply means for supplying the transfer ribbon according to the taking up of the transfer ribbon performed by the take-up means, thermal transfer means for thermally transferring an image to the transfer medium by bringing the transfer ribbon that is between the supply means and the take-up means into contact with the transfer medium, and a regulating means for regulating the supply of the transfer ribbon performed by the supply means.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein. Some embodiments relate to an aqueous treatment formulation for use with an intermediate transfer member of a printing system. In some embodiments, the system comprises a treatment station disposed downstream of the impression station and upstream of the image forming station for forming a uniform thin layer of a liquid treatment formulation onto a surface of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) at a lower run thereof.

An ultra-high resolution capacitive sensor affixed above an imaging member surface measures the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The sensor is considered ultra-high resolution with a resolution high enough to detect nanometer scale thicknesses. The capacitive sensor would initially be zeroed to the imaging member surface. As fluid is added, the capacitive sensor detects the increase and can measure and communicate with the image forming device to adjust fountain solution flow rate to the imaging member surface and correct for any anomalies in thickness. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated. The capacitive sensor may have a resolution (e.g., as low as about 1 nm resolution) of about 0.001% of the distance/gap that the capacitive sensor is mounted away from the imaging member surface.

Examples of the preferred embodiments use an ink quantity metric (e.g., lightness L*, darkness, image density, line width) of printed content to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor (e.g., spectrometer) may measure the ink quantity metric of the current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Examples of the preferred embodiments use printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor may measure halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink. In some embodiments, an intermediate transfer member (ITM) comprising a silicone-based release layer surface is employed. For example, the release layer surface satisfies at least one of the following properties: (i) a receding contact angle of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 60°; and (ii) a 10-second dynamic contact angle (DCA) of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 108°. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

A method and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry colourants on a surface of a panel, bonding a part of the colourants with a binder and removing the non-bonded colourants from the surface. The method of forming a digital print on a surface of a panel includes displacing the panel under a digital drop application head, applying a liquid binder with the digital drop application head on the surface; applying colourants on the liquid binder and the surface; bonding a part of the colourants to the surface with the liquid binder; removing non-bonded colourants from the surface such that a digital print is formed by the bonded colourants; and applying heat and pressure on the panel, the surface and the bonded colorants such that the colourants are permanently bonded to the surface.

The present invention provides methods of treating malaria by administration of a compound of Formula (I):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound, to a subject in need thereof, wherein the variables X, R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, A, B, L, m and n are as defined herein. The invention also provides uses of the compounds of Formula (I), as defined herein, for inhibiting plasmepsin V activity, for treating a Plasmodium infection, and for treating malaria. Also provided are methods of treatment further comprising administration of one or more additional anti-malarial compounds.

There is provided a transfer type ink jet recording apparatus including: an image forming section forming an image by applying, onto a transfer body, a reaction liquid for increasing a viscosity of ink and ink containing an aqueous liquid medium and a coloring material; a liquid absorbing section having a porous body that absorbs at least a part of a liquid component from the formed image; a heating section heating the image treated by the porous body; a transfer section that transfers the heated image onto a recording medium; and a deterioration prevention treatment section including a deterioration preventing agent applying device that applies, onto the porous body provided in the liquid absorbing section, a deterioration preventing agent that prevents deterioration of the transfer body.