Abstract: Provided are methods for surface-modifying a thermoplastic resin which produce surfaces that show not only low adsorption of proteins and cells but also selective adsorption or adhesion of specific cells such as cancer cells, and further have excellent durability. A method for surface-modifying an object made of a thermoplastic resin, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on the surface of the object; and step 2 of radically polymerizing at least a hydrophilic monomer starting from the polymerization initiation points by irradiation with UV light having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm to form a graft layer having a thickness of 2 to 100 nm on the surface of the object.

Abstract: A switching method includes receiving a failure notification through each of two or more paths included in a plurality of paths; by referring to path management information in which a group and a combination of a plurality of predetermined paths are associated with each other for each of a plurality of groups generated by grouping the plurality of paths according to a combination of an initial point and an end point, determining, for each of the plurality of groups, whether a combination of paths through which the failure notification is received matches with the combination of the plurality of predetermined paths; and switching a path included in an object group corresponding to the two or more paths from an active system to a standby system, when it is determined that the combination of the two or more paths matches with the combination of the plurality of predetermined paths.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer material having effective antibacterial properties and having bio adaptability in which cytotoxicity, especially low hemolysis, when used in contact with in vivo tissue and blood is suppressed so as to be low. The polymer is characterized by comprising a main chain and a side chain portion which is linked to the main chain via a linker and which contains at least a structure specified by the following (A) and (B). (A) A structure containing a cationic group and (B) a structure in which expression of bio adaptability is expected.

Abstract: To Provide is a polymer having high antithrombogenicity compared to a conventional polymer having a glycerol group and suitable as a medical device material. It is the polymer having a structural unit derived from a glycerol group-containing monomer, and a structural unit derived from an unsaturated monomer having a structure in which an organic group having a structure site having 4 or more carbon atoms continuously bound is bound to an ethylenically unsaturated group; and satisfying a glass-transition temperature of 10° C. or less and/or a glass-transition temperature of ?25° C. or less at a saturated water content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer compound that can be expected to inhibit activation of a coagulation system, a complement system or a platelet system when brought into contact with in vivo tissue and/or blood since the compound is capable of containing intermediate water, and a composition and a device using the same. This problem is solved by a polymer compound containing a repeating unit represented by general formula (A), and used in contact with in vivo tissue and/or blood, in which in a process in which the polymer compound caused to contain water in a prescribed water content is cooled to ?100° C. and thereafter heated at a temperature rise rate of 5.0° C./min, a temperature region where exothermicity occurs is present in the range of ?80° C. or more and ?25° C. or less, and a temperature region where endothermicity occurs is present in the range of ?25° C. or more and lower than 0° C.: wherein R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A polyurethane porous membrane is produced by a simple method to be used for at least one of applications of cell culture and cancer cell growth inhibition. The production method of the polyurethane porous membrane to be used for at least one of the applications of cell culture and cancer cell growth inhibition comprises: a first step of forming a layer of a polyurethane material which is uncured, on a substrate; and a second step of supplying water vapor to an exposed surface of the layer of the polyurethane material formed on the substrate, which is away from the substrate, so as to cure the polyurethane material and provide the layer of the polyurethane material with a porous structure having a plurality of irregularities on the exposed surface.

Abstract: A cell culture device comprises a first inner cylinder formed in a tubular shape. a cell culture membrane placed to cover over an entire one end of the first inner cylinder and configured to be folded down toward an outer surface of the first inner cylinder along an outer circumference at the one end of the first inner cylinder, and an outer cylinder formed in a tubular shape, configured to place the first inner cylinder inside thereof such that a height direction of the outer cylinder is identical with a height direction of the first inner cylinder, and provided with a first slit in an area overlapping with at least the one end of the first inner cylinder to be extended in the height direction, wherein the cell culture membrane is held between an inner wall surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the first inner cylinder.

Abstract: A cell culture device comprises a cell culture membrane and a substrate fixed to the cell culture membrane. The cell culture membrane is made from a thermosetting resin and has a plurality of pores that are open to at least one surface including a surface on a side that is in contact with the substrate. The substrate is made from a thermoplastic resin. In a contact region between the cell culture membrane and the substrate, part of the substrate is extended to form bulges in the pores of the cell culture membrane that are open in the contact region. This configuration suppresses reduction of the strength of the cell culture membrane and reduction of the flatness of the cell culture membrane (membrane accuracy) in the cell culture device in which the cell culture membrane and the substrate are fixed to each other.

Abstract: A part installation machine, when having entered a part installation work area, operates a separation/coupling device to bring a drive carriage section and a part mounting carriage section from a coupled state into a separated state. The part installation machine also operates an engagement device such that the part mounting carriage section is engaged with a transfer system and transported by the transfer system. In this state, the part installation machine controls a travelling speed of the drive carriage section such that a relative position detected by a relative position detection device is maintained within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) is useful because when the polymer is applied to a surface of a cancer cell enrichment filter, adhesiveness of cancer cells to the filter surface can be improved so that an enrichment ratio of the cancer cells can be improved. In the formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is a methyl group or an ethyl group and m is 1 to 3.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable cylindrical belt; a heater, provided inside the belt, for heating the belt; and an overheating preventing element, including a circuit which is opened when abnormal temperature rise occurs, for interrupting electric power supply to the heater. The overheating preventing element is provided at a position, inside the belt, where the overheating preventing element is free from direct heat radiation emitted from said heater.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing an image in a diagnostic apparatus 100 of diagnosing a disease using a captured image of an affected area, comprising: a separating step of separating the captured image into a brightness component and a color information component; and an extracting step of extracting a region to be diagnosed based on the brightness component or the color information component of the configured image to highlight likeness of the region.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing an image in a diagnostic apparatus 100 of diagnosing a disease using a captured image of an affected area, comprising: a memorizing step of memorizing the captured image (Step S12), and a processing step of processing the captured image memorized (Step S13), wherein in the processing step a region to be diagnosed is subjected to a highlighting process with a specified color thereof maintained.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck protection method includes providing an exposed chuck surface with a protective surface for preventing adherence of foreign materials including a substance exhibiting volatility in a vacuum environment, and removing the protective surface in order to perform a process of forming a substrate electrostatically held on the chuck surface with a surface layer including a substance having volatility in a vacuum chamber. The protective surface may be provided when a low vacuum pumping mode of operation is performed in a vacuum environment surrounding the chuck surface.

Abstract: Provided are a stent to be placed in the bile duct and a process for producing the stent, the stent hollow being less apt to be blocked even when the stent is placed in the bile duct for a long period. The inner peripheral surface of the stent is coated with a resin layer with resistance to sludge formation that includes a polymer obtained by polymerizing 2-methoxyethyl acrylate. This stent is produced by applying a coating fluid that contains 0.1-0.5 mass % polymer obtained by polymerizing 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, to the inner peripheral surface of a stent.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator. A refrigerant containing R32 and refrigerator oil are used in the refrigeration apparatus. The refrigerator oil is used to lubricate the compressor. An acid scavenger added in an amount of 1.0 wt % to 5.0 wt % is blended in the refrigerator oil. The amount of air mixed into the refrigeration apparatus is controlled to 500 ppm or less relative to the amount of filled refrigerant. The amount of water mixed into the refrigeration apparatus is controlled to 300 ppm or less relative to the amount of filled refrigerant. A discharged-gas temperature of the refrigeration apparatus is controlled to 120° C. or less.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable cylindrical belt; a heater, provided inside the belt, for heating the belt; and an overheating preventing element, including a circuit which is opened when abnormal temperature rise occurs, for interrupting electric power supply to the heater. The overheating preventing element is provided at a position, inside the belt, where the overheating preventing element is free from direct heat radiation emitted from said heater.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus performs generating plasma only with the carrier gas without the supply of the processing gas after the end of processing to the substrate.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotatable cylindrical belt; a heater, provided inside the belt, for heating the belt; and an overheating preventing element, including a circuit which is opened when abnormal temperature rise occurs, for interrupting electric power supply to the heater. The overheating preventing element is provided at a position, inside the belt, where the overheating preventing element is free from direct heat radiation emitted from said heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion for forming an image on sheets; a stacking portion for stacking sheets on which the images are formed by the image forming portion; and a controller for integrating the number of sheets on which the images are formed. The controller integrates the number of sheets, from an initial value in one print job, on which the images are formed by the image forming portion and which are then stacked on the stacking portion, and stops an operation of the image forming portion when an integrated value reaches a predetermined number.