Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting an antigen without use of a labeled-antibody. A support having an antibody and a multi-copper oxidase CueO immobilized thereon is brought into contact with a first buffer solution containing the antigen, a current is measured by a potentiostat method using the support and a second buffer solution, and when the measured current is greater than or equal to 1.5×(blank value), it is determined that the antigen exists. The second buffer solution contains a substrate of the CueO and has an ionic strength falling within a range of not less than 0.3 mM and not more than 1.0 mM.

Abstract: The magnetic tunnel junction device of the present invention includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, an insulating layer formed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The insulating layer is composed of fluorine-added MgO. The fluorine content in the insulating layer is 0.00487 at. % or more and 0.15080 at. % or less. This device, although it includes a MgO insulating layer, exhibits superior magnetoresistance properties to conventional devices including MgO insulating layers. The fluorine content is preferably 0.00487 at. % or more and 0.05256 at. % or less.

Abstract: A method of selectively arraying ferritin and inorganic particles on a silicon oxide substrate having a chromium, niobium or tungsten portion. An aspect of the method includes steps of: preparing a solution which contains ferritin modified at an N-terminal part of a subunit with a peptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, and a nonionic surfactant; and a binding step of bringing the solution in contact with the silicon oxide substrate to selectively array peptide-modified ferritin to the chromium, niobium or, tungsten portion. Another aspect of the method includes selectively arraying ferritin modified with the peptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, and the inorganic particles contained in ferritin at the chromium, niobium, or tungsten portion by removing the solution.

Abstract: A method of selectively arraying ferritin and inorganic particles on a silicon oxide substrate at regions having vanadium, niobium or tantalum. An aspect of the method includes steps of: preparing a solution which contains ferritin modified at an N-terminal part of a subunit with a peptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, and from 0.01 v/v % to 10 v/v % of a nonionic surfactant and having a pH of from 7.4 to 8.2; and a binding step of bringing the solution in contact with regions of the substrate having vanadium, niobium, or tantalum to selectively array peptide-modified ferritin to vanadium, niobium or, tantalum portion. The method may also include a step of selectively arraying ferritin modified with the peptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, and the inorganic particles contained in ferritin at the vanadium, niobium, or tantalum portion by removing the solution.

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting an antigen without use of a labeled-antibody. A support having an antibody and a multi-copper oxidase CueO immobilized thereon is brought into contact with a first buffer solution containing the antigen, a current is measured by a potentiostat method using the support and a second buffer solution, and when the measured current is greater than or equal to 1.5×(blank value), it is determined that the antigen exists. The second buffer solution contains a substrate of the CueO and has an ionic strength falling within a range of not less than 0.3 mM and not more than 1.0 mM.

Abstract: A novel method for two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate is provided which obviates the need for a metal ion that permits linking between adjacent two ferritin particles. In a method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, the surface of the substrate is hydrophilic, and the method includes the steps of: developing a solution containing a solvent and the ferritin on the substrate; and removing the solvent from the solution developed on the substrate, while the ferritin has an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 modified at its N-terminus.

Abstract: An actuator as a drive source of robots and the like is usable for housekeeping assistance, job assistance, and nursing help. The drive source itself is small, light, flexible, and safe. A manufacturing method for a planar electrode support therefor is also described. The actuator has an electrolyte layer in contact with a conductive polymer layer disposed in between a first electrode having the conductive polymer layer attached thereto and opposite second electrode, for deforming the conductive polymer layer by application of electric fields to the electrodes. The first electrode has low rigidity in a longitudinal direction of the conductive polymer layer to facilitate expansion and contraction thereof.

Abstract: An actuator as a drive source of robots and the like is usable for housekeeping assistance, job assistance, and nursing help. The drive source itself is small, light, flexible, and safe. A manufacturing method for a planar electrode support therefor is also described. The actuator has an electrolyte layer in contact with a conductive polymer layer disposed in between a first electrode having the conductive polymer layer attached thereto and opposite second electrode, for deforming the conductive polymer layer by application of electric fields to the electrodes. The first electrode has low rigidity in a longitudinal direction of the conductive polymer layer to facilitate expansion and contraction thereof.

Abstract: A novel method for two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate is provided which obviates the need for a metal ion that permits linking between adjacent two ferritin particles. In a method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, the surface of the substrate is hydrophilic, and the method includes the steps of: developing a solution containing a solvent and the ferritin on the substrate; and removing the solvent from the solution developed on the substrate, while the ferritin has an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 modified at its N-terminus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming fine particles on a substrate in which reoxidization of reduced fine particles is suppressed. Reduced fine particles (FeO fine particles) are formed by embedding metal oxide fine particles (Fe2O3 fine particles) fixed on a p type silicon semiconductor substrate into a silicon oxidized film, and carrying out a heat treatment in a reducing gas atmosphere. Presence of the silicon oxidized film enables suppression of reoxidization of the reduced fine particles (FeO fine particles) due to exposure to the ambient air.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for production of a single electron semiconductor element (SET) in which a quantum dot is selectively arranged in a nano gap between fine electrodes, whereby the product yield is significantly improved, leading to excellent practical applicability. The method for production of SET of the present invention is characterized in that a solution containing ferritin including a metal or semiconductor particle therein, and a nonionic surfactant is dropped on a substrate having a source electrode and a drain electrode formed by laminating a titanium film and a film of a metal other than titanium, whereby the ferritin is selectively arranged in a nano gap between the source electrode/drain electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, which obviates the need for a metal ion for achieving linking between two adjacent ferritin. The present invention provides a method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, wherein the ferritin has an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 on the outer peripheral surface; the surface of the substrate is hydrophilic; and the method includes a development step of developing a solution that contains a solvent, the ferritin, and 2 mM to 100 mM ammonium acetate on the substrate, and a removal step of removing the solvent from the solution developed on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, which obviates the need for a metal ion for achieving linking between two adjacent ferritin. The present invention provides a method of two-dimensionally arraying ferritin on a substrate, wherein the ferritin has an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 on the outer peripheral surface; the surface of the substrate is hydrophilic; and the method includes a development step of developing a solution that contains a solvent, the ferritin, and 6.5 mM to 52 mM ammonium sulfate on the substrate, and a removal step of removing the solvent from the solution developed on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for production of a single electron semiconductor element (SET) in which a quantum dot is selectively arranged in a nano gap between fine electrodes, whereby the product yield is significantly improved, leading to excellent practical applicability. The method for production of SET of the present invention is characterized in that a solution containing ferritin including a metal or semiconductor particle therein, and a nonionic surfactant is dropped on a substrate having a source electrode and a drain electrode formed by laminating a titanium film and a film of a metal other than titanium, whereby the ferritin is selectively arranged in a nano gap between the source electrode/drain electrode.

Abstract: An actuator as a drive source of robots and the like usable for housekeeping assistance, job assistance, and nursing help, in which a drive source itself is small-size, light-weighted, and flexible as well as safe, and a manufacturing method for a planar electrode support therefor are provided. The actuator has an electrolyte layer in contact with a conductive polymer layer disposed in between an electrode having the conductive polymer layer attached thereto and an opposite electrode, for deforming the conductive polymer layer to be swelled and shrunken by application of electric fields to between both electrodes, in which the electrode having the conductive polymer layer attached thereto is a planar electrode which is patterned so that rigidity in a longitudinal direction that is an expansion and contraction direction of the conductive polymer layer is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetoresistive (MR) element that is excellent in MR ratio and thermal stability and includes at least one magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic material M-X expressed by M100-aXa. Here, M is at least one selected from Fe, Co and Ni, X is expressed by X1bX2cX3d (X1 is at least one selected from Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt and Au, X2 is at least one selected from Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ga, Ge, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Zn and lanthanide series elements, and X3 is at least one selected from Si, B, C, N, O, P and S), and a, b, c and d satisfy 0.05?a?60, 0?b?60, 0?c?30, 0?d?20, and a=b+c+d.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming fine particles on a substrate in which reoxidization of reduced fine particles is suppressed. Reduced fine particles (FeO fine particles) are formed by embedding metal oxide fine particles (Fe2O3 fine particles) fixed on a p type silicon semiconductor substrate into a silicon oxidized film, and carrying out a heat treatment in a reducing gas atmosphere. Presence of the silicon oxidized film enables suppression of reoxidization of the reduced fine particles (FeO fine particles) due to exposure to the ambient air.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic film; a second ferromagnetic film; and a first nonmagnetic film interposed between the first ferromagnetic film and the second ferromagnetic film. The first ferromagnetic film has a magnetization more easily rotatable than a magnetization of the second ferromagnetic film by an external magnetic field. The first ferromagnetic film has an effective magnetic thickness of about 2 nm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head having improved characteristics, using a magnetoresistive device in which current flows across the film plane such as a TMR device. In a first magnetic head of the present invention, when the area of a non-magnetic layer is defined as a device cross-section area, and the area of a yoke is defined as a yoke area, viewed along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate over which the yoke and the magnetoresistive device are formed, then the device cross-section area is not less than 30% of the yoke area, so that a resistance increase of the device cross-section area is suppressed. In a second magnetic head of the present invention, a magnetoresistive device is formed on a substrate, and a yoke is provided above a non-magnetic layer constituting the device.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance element, wherein a first electric conductor is so formed as to contact almost the center of the surface opposite to a non-magnetic layer of a first ferromagnetic layer so formed as to sandwich, along with a second ferromagnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer, and an insulator so formed as to cover at least the side surface of the first ferromagnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer is formed so as to cover the peripheral edge of the surface of the first ferromagnetic layer, whereby it is possible to prevent a leakage current from flowing from the first electric conductor to a second electric conductor along the side surfaces of the first ferromagnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, and to make uniform a bias current running from the first electric conductor to the second electric conductor to thereby restrict variations in magnetoresistance characteristics such as MR value and junction resistance.