Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an optical recording medium including at least an information recording layer and a reflective film in which the reflective film is comprised of an AgCu alloy thin film containing Cu the content of which is greater than or equal to 3.0 [atomic %] and less than or equal to 6.5 [atomic %]. Thus, the optical recording medium can be made inexpensive and weather resistance of the optical recording medium can be improved, thereby making it possible to avoid characteristics of the optical recording medium from being deteriorated even after it has been stored for a long time.

Abstract: The activity of oncogenic intracellular chemical reactions of molecules is measured by the use of fluorescently labeled substrate molecules that undergo a change in electrophoretic mobility upon a chemical reaction such as that catalyzed by an enzyme or kinase. Specificity is achieved by using labeled substrate molecules that can be acted upon only by specific oncogenic enzymes. Thus the activity of an oncogenic enzyme or class of oncogenic enzymes can be determined. Measurements are made with the intracellular presence of such substrate molecules, at some time of interest. To ensure accuracy, measurements must be made in a timely manner so as to minimize chemical reactions occurring subsequent to the time of interest. Fast controllable laser lysis is used to obtain the contents of said cell or cells into which reporter substrate molecules have been introduced.

Abstract: A first audio signal is generated from a number of stereo input channels (such as a left and a right channel). A signal level that corresponds to one of the plurality of input channels and another signal level from another of the plurality of input channels are determined. A second audio signal is selected on the basis of the signal levels such that the second audio signal is selected from the group consisting of the one input channel, the other input channel, and a signal generated from the number of input channels that is different than the first audio signal. The first audio signal and the selected second audio signal are separately coded.