Abstract: A nucleic acid detection device is provided with a closed channel formed of a first channel portion, through which a washing reagent storage section for storing a washing reagent for washing a detection section for nucleic acid detection communicates with the detection section, and a second channel portion through which a pretreatment section for nucleic acid treatment communicates with the detection section. The closed channel is connected with a gas inlet/outlet path for communication with the outside. The gas inlet/outlet path is blocked by a sealing mechanism before nucleic acid detection. In storing a pretreatment reagent and the washing reagent frozen, the gas inlet/outlet path is kept open and connected to the channel. Thus, there is provided a nucleic acid detection device having a structure for preventing leakage of nucleic acid samples to the outside and which can be stored for a long period of time with the reagents therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a seasoning and a processed food which are obtained by processing a fermented soybean paste-like foodstuff, and a method of the production thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of proliferating a microorganism capable of degrading a hard-to-degrade organic compound, comprising proliferating at least one microorganism capable of degrading a hard-to-degrade organic compound selected from the group consisting of Janibacter genus, Pseudomonas genus, Rhodococcus genus, Desulfomonile genus, Alcaligenes genus, Bacillus genus, Streptococcus genus, Acinetobacter genus, Achromobacter genus, Paracoccus genus, Rhodobacter genus, Rhodobacterium genus, Methylosinus genus, Mycobacterium genus, Nitrosomonas genus, Corynebacterium genus, and Methanotrophs, in a culture medium containing both a substance capable of inducing the degradation capability of the microorganism and Fe ions, under inorganic conditions.

Abstract: A single stranded nucleic acid probe having a base sequence complementary to the gene to be detected is immobilized onto the surface of an electrode or the tip of an optical fiber, and the nucleic probe is reacted with the gene sample denatured to a single stranded form, and then the nucleic acid probe hybridized with the gene is detected. In this procedure, to the reaction system consisting of the nucleic acid probe and the gene sample, a double stranded nucleic acid recognizing substance capable of binding specifically to the double stranded nucleic acid and being active electrochemically or optically is added. The detection of the nucleic acid probe is conducted by electrochemical or optical determination utilizing the electrode or optical fiber mentioned above. By this method, safer and more convenient detection of the gene is possible at a higher sensitivity even in a reduced time period.

Abstract: Burst pressure P of an insulating layer positioned immediately on a fuse layer is defined by using planar width W of fuse layer and thickness t of insulating layer. The value of the planar width W of fuse layer and the value of the thickness t of insulating layer are set such that the value of burst pressure P is at most about 1000 kg/cm.sup.2. The value of the thickness t and the value of the planar width W are set such that the value t/W is at least 0.45 and at most 0.91. Consequently, stable fuse blowing becomes possible while reducing manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A single stranded nucleic acid probe having a base sequence complementary to the gene to be detected is immobilized onto the surface of an electrode or the tip of an optical fiber, and the nucleic probe is reacted with the gene sample denatured to a single stranded form, and then the nucleic acid probe hybridized with the gene is detected. In this procedure, to the reaction system consisting of the nucleic acid probe and the gene sample, a double stranded nucleic acid recognizing substance capable of binding specifically to the double stranded nucleic acid and being active electrochemically or optically is added. The detection of the nucleic acid probe is conducted by electrochemical or optical determination utilizing the electrode or optical fiber mentioned above. By this method, safer and more convenient detection of the gene is possible at a higher sensitivity even in a reduced time period.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head includes the process by which a curved sliding surface of a head chip for making contact with a recording medium and a penetrating window of a side surface of the head chip for determining a gap depth are formed by machining the head chip using a laser beam. The method includes placing the head chip on a working stage; placing a first mask in a light path of a laser beam from a laser source toward the side surface, the first mask being provided with a first slit for the purpose of forming the curved sliding surface of the head chip and a second slit for the purpose of forming the penetrating window of the side surface of the head chip; and irradiating the side surface through the first and second slits with the laser beam, thereby forming the curved sliding surface and the penetrating window in the head chip. The method also may include forming track grooves by irradiating the sliding surface of the head chip with the laser beam.

Abstract: An excimer laser beam irradiation apparatus capable of processing a workpiece optimally with an excimer irradiation beam even when intensity distribution of the excimer laser beam undergone multiple reflections is non-uniform. A patterning mask has light-transmissive portions for allowing the excimer laser beam to pass through and a reflecting layer for reflecting it. A high reflectivity mirror disposed in opposition to the reflecting layer reflects the excimer laser beam reflected from the reflecting layer toward the patterning mask. An imaging lens images a pattern of the excimer laser beam transmitted through the patterning mask onto a workpiece for irradiation thereof. A workpiece moving mechanism and a mask moving mechanism move the workpiece and the mask moving mechanism, respectively.

Abstract: A process for producing porous films which comprises blending 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin with 50 to 500 parts by weight of barium sulfate preferably having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 7 .mu.m, melting the resulting resin composition and forming it into a film, and then stretching the film at least uniaxially by a factor of 1.5 to 7.

Abstract: A process for producing porous films which comprises melting a resin composition consisting essentially of (1) 100 parts by weight of a high-pressure-processed low-density polyethylene resin having a melt index of 0.5 to 7 and a density of 0.915 to 0.935, a linear low-density polyethylene resin having a melt index of 0.5 to 8.5 and a density of 0.915 to 0.935, or a mixture thereof and (2) 50 to 500 parts by weight of barium sulfate having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 7 .mu.m; forming the molten resin composition into a film; and then stretching the film at least uniaxially by a factor of 1.5 to 7. As the linear low-density polyethylene resin, a copolymer of ethylene and hexene and/or octene is particularly preferred.

Abstract: A water-soluble, photosensitive resin composition containing a water-soluble polymer having an ethylenic unsaturated bond in its side-chains, a water-soluble anthraquinone sulfonic acid or anthraquinone carboxylic acid sensitizer, or salts thereof, and if desired, a water-soluble azide compound.