Abstract: A disposable microbe-collecting carrier cartridge and a carrier treating apparatus which efficiently convert microbes collected on a carrier into a solution and prevent variations in the amount of retrieval of microbes upon concentration on a filter are provided. A cartridge formed of an upper lid having a plurality of through holes, a container in an inverted-cone shape having both of a liquid storage sink unit having a filter at the bottom and an air suction path, and a support base for setting up a thermoplastic carrier, and a carrier treating apparatus formed of a dispensing nozzle for liquid supply, a liquid supply mechanism, a liquid heating mechanism, and a suction pump for filtration are prepared. Warm water is supplied onto the filter set up on a bottom surface of the inverted-cone-shaped. The contact with the warm water causes the carrier to be solated filtered through the filter.

Abstract: When bacteria growth is determined in the related art using an ATP method, the bacteria growth is determined, based on an increase or a decrease in live bacteria ATP with the lapse of a culture time. Accordingly, it is necessary to measure the live bacteria ATP multiple times while antimicrobial susceptibility culture is carried out. It takes time and labor in sample preparation for each measurement, and it is difficult to quickly obtain an antimicrobial susceptibility result. Therefore, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria is determined, based on an ATP luminescence amount derived from dead bacteria in a culture liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminescence measuring device that includes a holder that holds a container for containing a sample, a plate member that holds the holder, a light detector that detects luminescence in the sample, and has a light receiving surface facing a bottom surface of the container, a first temperature control unit that performs control of a temperature of the light detector, and a ventilator that sends air to the light receiving surface of the light detector. The first temperature control unit may be provided on a side face of the light detector, and provided with a flow path therein. The air sending may be performed via the flow path in the first temperature control unit, so that the air having the same temperature as that of the light detector is sent to the light receiving surface.

Abstract: Provided is a signal processing circuit occupying a small circuit area. A common arithmetic operation element is shared between a plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units. An arbitration circuit selects, when the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units simultaneously generate requests for arithmetic operations to use the common arithmetic operation element, the predetermined sequence control unit based on priority information about the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units, causes the common arithmetic operation element to execute the arithmetic operation requested from the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit, and returns the result of the arithmetic operation to the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing device capable of efficiently performing an arithmetic process on variable-length data and an arithmetic process on fixed-length data. The data processing device includes first PEs of SIMD type, SRAMs provided respectively for the first PEs, and second PEs. The first PEs each perform an arithmetic operation on data stored in a corresponding one of the SRAMs. The second PEs each perform an arithmetic operation on data stored in corresponding ones of the SRAMs. Therefore, the SRAMs can be shared so as to efficiently perform the arithmetic process on variable-length data and the arithmetic process on fixed-length data.

Abstract: Provided is a signal processing circuit occupying a small circuit area. A common arithmetic operation element is shared between a plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units. An arbitration circuit selects, when the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units simultaneously generate requests for arithmetic operations to use the common arithmetic operation element, the predetermined sequence control unit based on priority information about the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units, causes the common arithmetic operation element to execute the arithmetic operation requested from the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit, and returns the result of the arithmetic operation to the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit.

Abstract: It has been difficult to conduct high-sensitivity, high-precision measurement due to externally generated contamination or cross-contamination. Thus, the invention includes (1) a filter unit having a filter at a bottom of a container for holding a liquid, the filter being adapted to filter a liquid, and (2) an attachment cover having a first opening and a second opening, the filter unit being attachable to and detachable from the attachment cover via the first opening, and the attachment cover being adapted to, when the filter unit is attached to the attachment cover, allow filtration by the filter in a state in which an inner face of the attachment cover is tightly in contact with an outer face of the filter unit, and discharge a resulting filtrate through the second opening.

Abstract: A method and a means are provided, by which multiple types of cells can be simultaneously measured with high sensitivity by an ATP luminescence method. A method for measuring cells in a sample is provided, which comprises the steps of adding methanol to a sample suspected of containing viable cells to increase ATP within viable cells, extracting intracellular ATP, and causing extracted ATP to emit luminescence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to luminescence detection with respect to a substance contained in a sample. In particular, it relates to a weak luminescence detection device adapted to detect chemiluminescence and bioluminescence of the substance contained in the sample with high sensitivity and high precision.

Abstract: Arrangement enables liquid suction with a nozzle tip end in contact with a container bottom without causing damage to the nozzle and/or container bottom. Plural rails are disposed to extend upward from an arm which is movable three-dimensionally, so as to extend upward from the arm, and a pipe is fixed to a pipe fixing member movable along the rails. A pipe tip end functions as a nozzle. Plural resilient members disposed on the arm correct the inclination of the pipe fixing member. When the arm is moved downward and the tip end comes in contact with the bottom of the container 106, the pipe and the pipe fixing portion move upward along the rails, so that the pipe tip end can be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the container while avoiding damages in the pipe and container bottom, and to suck liquid in the container.

Abstract: It has been difficult to conduct high-sensitivity, high-precision measurement due to externally generated contamination or cross-contamination. Thus, the invention includes (1) a filter unit having a filter at a bottom of a container for holding a liquid, the filter being adapted to filter a liquid, and (2) an attachment cover having a first opening and a second opening, the filter unit being attachable to and detachable from the attachment cover via the first opening, and the attachment cover being adapted to, when the filter unit is attached to the attachment cover, allow filtration by the filter in a state in which an inner face of the attachment cover is tightly in contact with an outer face of the filter unit, and discharge a resulting filtrate through the second opening.

Abstract: The data processing system has: a plurality of hardware resources each having at least one standby mode; a control part for controlling execution of a task achieved by using, of the plurality of hardware resources, predetermined ones, and a working status of each hardware resource; and a power-source part for controlling supply of a power source to each hardware resource. The control part performs the scheduling of a scheduled execution time of the task based on information for determining a timing of executing the task, and calculates a standby time of the hardware resource based on a result of the scheduling. The control part compares the standby time with a break-even time depending on the standby mode, thereby deciding whether or not to cause each hardware resource to transition to the standby mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring airborne microorganisms composed of: a chassis, which has a fan for flowing the air therein from the outside at a portion thereof and of which inside is spatially segmented by partition plates for performing a plurality of steps; a perforated plate, which is disposed at a portion of the chassis and has a plurality of nozzles for focusing split air flows passing through a plurality of spaces in a given direction; a capturing plate, which has a plurality of trapping surfaces at the positions opposite to the plurality of nozzles of the perforated plate; a capturing plate control part, which moves the capturing plate relative to the perforated plate; and an optical detection part for fluorescence generated from the microorganisms on the trapping surface of the capturing plate.

Abstract: A method and a means are provided, by which multiple types of cells can be simultaneously measured with high sensitivity by an ATP luminescence method. A method for measuring cells in a sample is provided, which comprises the steps of adding methanol to a sample suspected of containing viable cells to increase ATP within viable cells, extracting intracellular ATP, and causing extracted ATP to emit luminescence.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a system for guiding chemiluminescence and a system for preventing a variation in dark currents. The apparatus includes a first light shielding BOX having a sample container holder and a shutter unit therein, the shutter unit including a top plate which is partly formed by a movement of a plate member, and a second light shielding BOX having a photodetector therein. While a measurement is not implemented, the shutter unit is closed to block entrance of stray light to the photodetector, and while a measurement is implemented, the plate member is moved to open the shutter unit, and the tip of the photodetector is inserted into a through hole formed in the top plate, so that the distance between the bottom of the sample container and a sensitive area of the photodetector is reduced to several millimeters or less.

Abstract: The sample container has a two-layer membrane filter comprising a first layer as an upper layer serving as a hydrophilic membrane filter and a hydrophobic membrane filter as an underlying second layer capable of filtering an aqueous solution without the use of a wetting agent and by means of a formed negative pressure. Using this sample container, a large amount of an aqueous sample solution is filtered by means of a negative pressure formed by a suction portion to capture microbes in the aqueous sample solution by the hydrophilic membrane filter. Then, the negative pressure is restored to normal pressure, and a microbial dissolution solution is then added to the membrane filter to retain the microbial dissolution solution for a given time on the hydrophobic membrane filter. Then, the microbial dissolution solution is dispensed to a reaction container containing a luminescent reagent, and luminescence is detected to detect the microbes.

Abstract: In order to make a process of capturing and testing air-borne microorganisms more convenient and quick, a capturing device which comprises the capturing carrier comprising a polymer which is in a gel phase at the time of capturing the microorganisms but undergoes a phase transition under heating to a sol phase at the temperature at or less than 40° C. (especially in the temperature range between 15° C. and 37° C.), and a vessel to contain the capturing carrier is used. Further, by comprising a test reagent in the polymer, the test reagent can be eluted upon said phase transition from a gel phase to a sol phase. By heating the capturing carrier, a phase transition to a sol phase can occur at or less than 40° C. As such, since recovery of microorganisms and addition of a test reagent to the microorganisms can be carried out simultaneously, the process can be simplified and the process time can be shortened.

Abstract: The sample container has a two-layer membrane filter comprising a first layer as an upper layer serving as a hydrophilic membrane filter and a hydrophobic membrane filter as an underlying second layer capable of filtering an aqueous solution without the use of a wetting agent and by means of a formed negative pressure. Using this sample container, a large amount of an aqueous sample solution is filtered by means of a negative pressure formed by a suction portion to capture microbes in the aqueous sample solution by the hydrophilic membrane filter. Then, the negative pressure is restored to normal pressure, and a microbial dissolution solution is then added to the membrane filter to retain the microbial dissolution solution for a given time on the hydrophobic membrane filter. Then, the microbial dissolution solution is dispensed to a reaction container containing a luminescent reagent, and luminescence is detected to detect the microbes.

Abstract: The sample container has a two-layer membrane filter comprising a first layer as an upper layer serving as a hydrophilic membrane filter and a hydrophobic membrane filter as an underlying second layer capable of filtering an aqueous solution without the use of a wetting agent and by means of a formed negative pressure. Using this sample container, a large amount of an aqueous sample solution is filtered by means of a negative pressure formed by a suction portion to capture microbes in the aqueous sample solution by the hydrophilic membrane filter. Then, the negative pressure is restored to normal pressure, and a microbial dissolution solution is then added to the membrane filter to retain the microbial dissolution solution for a given time on the hydrophobic membrane filter. Then, the microbial dissolution solution is dispensed to a reaction container containing a luminescent reagent, and luminescence is detected to detect the microbes.

Abstract: Provided is a signal processing circuit occupying a small circuit area. A common arithmetic operation element is shared between a plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units. An arbitration circuit selects, when the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units simultaneously generate requests for arithmetic operations to use the common arithmetic operation element, the predetermined sequence control unit based on priority information about the plurality of arithmetic operation sequence control units, causes the common arithmetic operation element to execute the arithmetic operation requested from the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit, and returns the result of the arithmetic operation to the selected arithmetic operation sequence control unit.