Abstract: A water sampling method including: a detection step of detecting an index value related to an amount of microorganisms in a liquid flowing through a flow channel; a determination step of determining whether the index value detected in the detection step has reached a threshold value; and a water sampling step of, when determining in the determination step that the index value has reached the threshold value, sampling via a water sampling flow channel the liquid flowing through the flow channel as a liquid sample to be used for measurement of the microorganisms.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a support leg connected to a floor to be pivotable about a first axis extending in a horizontal direction; a seat cushion connected to the support leg to be pivotable about a second axis which is parallel to the first axis; a first coupling device provided on the support leg and configured to be detachably coupled with a first coupling part provided on the floor; and a second coupling device provided on the seat cushion and configured to be detachably coupled with a second coupling part provided on the floor. The seat cushion is movable between a stowed position in which the seat cushion is in a lowest position, a first use position in which the first coupling device is coupled with the first coupling part, and a second use position in which the second coupling device is coupled with the second coupling part.

Abstract: A measurement method for measuring an amount of microorganisms in a test sample, including: concentrating and purifying the microorganisms in the test sample; extracting a nucleic acid from the concentrated and purified microorganisms; performing a hybridization reaction by adding to the extracted nucleic acid a hybridization reaction solution containing salts and surfactant necessary for the hybridization reaction of the extracted nucleic acid; measuring a light emission intensity of the hybridized nucleic acid; estimating the amount of the extracted nucleic acid based on the measured value of light emission intensity of the nucleic acid; and calculating the amount of the microorganisms in the test sample based on the estimated amount of the extracted nucleic acid.

Abstract: A measurement method for quantitatively measuring amounts of at least two varieties of microorganisms in a test sample. The measurement method includes: producing a first sample by performing step dilution and division of the test sample; producing a second sample by amplifying nucleic acids of the microorganisms in the first sample; and performing hybridization of the second sample in a probe array including spots to which probes having complementary sequences to target nucleic acids specific to each of the varieties of the microorganisms are fixed; and identifying the varieties of the microorganisms based on light emission from the spots where the hybridization is performed and quantitatively measuring amounts of the microorganisms by a most probable number method.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence measurement method for measuring a target RNA having a specific nucleic acid sequence included in a cell suspension by hybridization, including a step of heating the cell suspension at 100° C. to 200° C. in a pressurized state to obtain an RNA extract, a step of adding a proteolytic enzyme to the RNA extract to cause the RNA extract to be reacted, thereby preparing a sample solution, a step of supplying the sample solution to a device for nucleic acid sequence measurement, the device being equipped with a fluorescent probe that hybridizes with the target RNA, a step of subjecting the target RNA and the fluorescent probe to a hybridization reaction, and a step of measuring fluorescence from the device for nucleic acid sequence measurement.

Abstract: A method for producing a complex, a method for determining microbial inclusion, and a method for identifying the included microorganism, which can be easily performed is provided. A method for producing a complex containing a target that is contained in a sample, includes a step (a) of bringing a sample into contact with a label molecule A, a label molecule B, and a label molecule C and forming a complex, and a step (b) of isolating the complex. The target is a nucleic acid. The label molecule A contains a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridizing to a part of the target and substantially complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the target. The label molecule B contains a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridizing to a part of the target and substantially complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the target.

Abstract: A water treatment method including: a concentration step of concentrating microorganisms in sample water to purify a concentrate; a detection step of detecting an inhibitor contained in the sample water or the concentrate; a determination step of determining whether to perform a removal step based on a result of the detection in the detection step; the removal step of removing the inhibitor from the concentrate in a case where the removal step is determined to be performed in the determination step; and a measurement step performed after the determination step or the removal step, of measuring the microorganisms contained in the concentrate.

Abstract: A target (50) having a specific nucleic acid sequence included in a sample is measured using a detection probe (10) that has a detection part having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the target (50), a label molecule A (20) having a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the target (50) and different from the nucleic acid sequence of the detection part, and a label molecule B (30) having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of the label molecule A (20), in which a fluorescent molecule is attached to either one of the label molecule A (20) and the label molecule B (30), and the label molecule A (20) and the label molecule B (30) bind to each other at at least two or more sites to form a branched structural body of the label molecule A (20) and the label molecule B (30).

Abstract: A microorganism contamination countermeasure selection device includes a gene information acquirer configured to acquire gene information indicating information on genes of microorganisms contained in a sample, an index determiner configured to determine at least one of microorganism indexes corresponding to the gene information acquired by the gene information acquirer based on the gene information acquired by the gene information acquirer and a microorganism index table in which a microorganism index based on features of the microorganisms is associated with at least one of the gene information, and a contamination countermeasure selector configured to select at least one of contamination countermeasures corresponding to the microorganism index determined by the index determiner based on the microorganism index determined by the index determiner and a contamination countermeasure table in which a contamination countermeasure against contamination by the microorganisms is associated with at least one of the

Abstract: A target measurement method for measuring a target contained in a sample, includes, when a solution containing a light-absorbing substance that absorbs excitation light that excites a fluorescent molecule or fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent molecule is in contact with a solid-phase surface of a substrate that is provided with a bound product of the target and a capture molecule specifically binding to the target which is modified with a fluorescent molecule, measuring a fluorescence obtained by irradiation of the excitation light from an opposite side to the solid-phase surface of the substrate from the opposite side to the solid-phase surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence measuring apparatus (1) measures a target (TG) having a specific nucleic acid sequence included in a sample.

Abstract: When the target (30) is not supplied, the binding via the binding part is maintained, and when the donor fluorescent molecule (11) is excited, energy is transferred to the acceptor fluorescent molecule (21) that is close to the donor fluorescent molecule (11). Then, the acceptor fluorescent molecule (21) exhibits fluorescence. When the target (30) is supplied, the target (30) is bound to the detection part to release the binding via the binding part, and the acceptor fluorescent molecule (21) is separated from the donor fluorescent molecule (11). Then, the donor fluorescent molecule (11) exhibits fluorescence.

Abstract: To reduce optical noise in fluorescence measurement. A biochip 110 for fluorescence measurement includes a transparent substrate 111, multiple microlenses 112 dispersively formed on a first surface 111a of the transparent substrate 111, multiple protruding portions 113 formed corresponding one-to-one with the microlenses 112 on a second surface 111b of the transparent substrate 111, and a fluorescence measurement site 114 formed at a top portion of each protruding portion 113.

Abstract: In a case where the target (30) is not supplied, binding through a nucleic acid sequence from the base end on a side of the solid phase surface of the complementary sequence complementary to a part of the nucleic acid sequence of the detection sequence to the other base end is maintained, which causes fluorescence of the fluorescent molecule (11) to be quenched by the quenching molecule (21) close to the fluorescent molecule (11). In a case where the target (30) is supplied, the target is bound to the detection sequence and the binding through the complementary sequence is released, which causes the fluorescent molecule (11) to separate from the quenching molecule (21) and emit fluorescence.

Abstract: To reduce optical noise in fluorescence measurement. A biochip 110 for fluorescence measurement includes a transparent substrate 111, multiple microlenses 112 dispersively formed on a first surface 111a of the transparent substrate 111, multiple protruding portions 113 formed corresponding one-to-one with the microlenses 112 on a second surface 111b of the transparent substrate 111, and a fluorescence measurement site 114 formed at a top portion of each protruding portion 113.

Abstract: A microorganism contamination countermeasure selection device includes a gene information acquirer configured to acquire gene information indicating information on genes of microorganisms contained in a sample, an index determiner configured to determine at least one of microorganism indexes corresponding to the gene information acquired by the gene information acquirer based on the gene information acquired by the gene information acquirer and a microorganism index table in which a microorganism index based on features of the microorganisms is associated with at least one of the gene information, and a contamination countermeasure selector configured to select at least one of contamination countermeasures corresponding to the microorganism index determined by the index determiner based on the microorganism index determined by the index determiner and a contamination countermeasure table in which a contamination countermeasure against contamination by the microorganisms is associated with at least one of the

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence measuring method includes measuring fluorescence from the nucleic acid sequence measuring device supplied with a sample solution. The device includes a fluorescent probe added with a fluorescent molecule, and a quenching probe added with a quenching substance. The fluorescent probe and/or the quenching probe has a detection part detecting a predetermined nucleic acid sequence. Fluorescence from the fluorescent molecule is quenched by the quenching substance coupled with the fluorescent molecule when the hybridization between the detection target nucleic acid and the detection part has not occurred, and fluorescence is emitted from the fluorescent molecule separated from the quenching substance when the hybridization has occurred.

Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence measuring method includes measuring fluorescence from the nucleic acid sequence measuring device supplied with a sample solution. The device includes a fluorescent probe added with a fluorescent molecule, and a quenching probe added with a quenching substance. The fluorescent probe and/or the quenching probe has a detection part detecting a particular nucleic acid sequence. Fluorescence from the fluorescent molecule is quenched by the quenching substance coupled with the fluorescent molecule when the hybridization between the detection target nucleic acid and the detection part has not occurred, and fluorescence is emitted from the fluorescent molecule separated from the quenching substance when the hybridization has occurred.

Abstract: There is provided a nucleic acid extraction method applicable to microbes in a relatively wide range, and capable of rapidly extracting nucleic acid. The nucleic acid extraction method comprises the steps of introducing a cell suspension into a vessel, sealing the vessel, and preheating a heater up to a set temperature not lower than 100° C. Further, the method comprises the step of bringing the vessel into contact with the heater heated up to the set temperature, thereby heating the cell suspension housed in the vessel up to a prescribed highest temperature at not lower than 100° C. with the vessel held in a sealed state.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a microfluidic device which separates and captures with high efficiency a large amount of cells in a sample at one-cell level without damaging the cells by utilizing a microfabrication technology.