Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dispensing samples or reagents onto a target object are provided. A dispensing position designating section (62) designates the dispensing position on the target object (50), such as a membrane, based on an image of the target object (50) displayed on a monitoring section (60). A dispensing control section (64) positions the target object and the dispensing device relative to each other so that the designated dispensing position on the target object is placed beneath the dispensing device (10) and controls the dispensing operation of the dispensing device (10). A dispensing position information creating section (68) creates dispensing position information about the dispensing position on the target object (50) which is designated by the dispensing position designating section (62) and to which the dispensing operation has been performed and outputs it to the outside.

Abstract: The present invention provides a specimen preparation method for mass spectrometry based on Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI), wherein the method enables to form microcrystals (cocrystals) between matrices and biological molecules (protein and the like) on a biological tissue to generate ions thereof highly efficiently and to perform highly sensitive measurement. Microcrystals are formed on the specimen containing biological molecules, i.e. objects of the measurement, by spraying matrix solution beforehand. Furthermore, dispensation of matrix solution on the microcrystals allows crystals to grow by making preformed micro-matrix crystals as crystal nuclei. Therefore, much finer and more homogeneous crystals (cocrystals) are prepared to enable to perform highly sensitive mass spectrometry based on MALDI.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dispensing samples or reagents onto a target object are provided. A dispensing position designating section (62) designates the dispensing position on the target object (50), such as a membrane, based on an image of the target object (50) displayed on a monitoring section (60). A dispensing control section (64) positions the target object and the dispensing device relative to each other so that the designated dispensing position on the target object is placed beneath the dispensing device (10) and controls the dispensing operation of the dispensing device (10). A dispensing position information creating section (68) creates dispensing position information about the dispensing position on the target object (50) which is designated by the dispensing position designating section (62) and to which the dispensing operation has been performed and outputs it to the outside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample plate that is preferably constituted by a metal plate on which a membrane is affixed by a conductive double-sided tape. In the case where a sample, developed on a medium such as an electrophoresis gel, is transferred onto the membrane, in the same manner as a conventional blotting operation, a medium such as gel and the sample plate are sandwiched between flat plate electrodes so that the medium and the membrane are made in closely contact with each other, and a voltage is applied between both of the electrodes. Thus, the sample developed on the medium is transferred on the membrane through electrophoresis. Upon laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, the sample plate is compatibly used as a plate for mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A sample plate is provided with a mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area which serves as an ionization area used for ionizing the sample through laser irradiation, and a membrane affixing area which serves as a plane area on which the membrane bearing the sample adsorbed thereon is fixedly held. The mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area is provided with spots at which the sample, extracted from the membrane fixedly affixed to the membrane affixing area, is dropped together with a matrix solution, and placed, and the spots are preferably regularly arranged thereon. Each of the spots preferably has a round structure surrounded by a groove on the periphery thereof so as to be dried in a converged state without being diffused from a fixed area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for locally dispensing a controlled nanoliter volume of a reagent onto a several hundred micron-size region at any desired location on a biological sample, as well as an analytical method for analyzing a biological sample that uses the aforementioned method. A method for dispensing a reagent onto a biological sample, wherein a reagent solution is delivered, by using inkjet technology, to a particular region on a biological sample containing cells or tissues, to make the particular region spotted with the reagent solution.

Abstract: A sample plate is provided with a mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area which serves as an ionization area used for ionizing the sample through laser irradiation, and a membrane affixing area which serves as a plane area on which the membrane bearing the sample adsorbed thereon is fixedly held. The mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area is provided with spots at which the sample, extracted from the membrane fixedly affixed to the membrane affixing area, is dropped together with a matrix solution, and placed, and the spots are preferably regularly arranged thereon. Each of the spots preferably has a round structure surrounded by a groove on the periphery thereof so as to be dried in a converged state without being diffused from a fixed area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample plate that is preferably constituted by a metal plate on which a membrane is affixed by a conductive double-sided tape. In the case where a sample, developed on a medium such as an electrophoresis gel, is transferred onto the membrane, in the same manner as a conventional blotting operation, a medium such as gel and the sample plate are sandwiched between flat plate electrodes so that the medium and the membrane are made in closely contact with each other, and a voltage is applied between both of the electrodes. Thus, the sample developed on the medium is transferred on the membrane through electrophoresis. Upon laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, the sample plate is compatibly used as a plate for mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A Quasi Radix-16 Butterfly comprises an radix-4 butterfly processor and on-board memory with external memory addressing changes from a conventional radix-4 butterfly processor. On-chip cache memory is included to store data outputs of the radix-4 butterfly processor for application as data inputs to the radix-4 butterfly processor in a second series of butterfly operations to implement high-speed processing that is maximally execution-bound.

Abstract: A frozen fried food is prepared by coating a food material to be fried with a particle/powder mixture comprising porous particles and a hygroscopic powder at a ratio by weight of 1:10 to 10:1, optionally semi-frying the coated material, and then freezing the same. The fried food thus obtained has a crunchy coating and shows a crispy and fresh-fried texture not only when fried in oil but also when heated in a microwave oven or an ordinary oven and maintains said texture for a prolonged period of time.