Abstract: An analysis apparatus comprises a flow cell which has a flow passage for a liquid containing a tangible component; an image pickupper which picks up images of the liquid flowing through the flow passage; an adjuster which adjusts a relative position of the flow cell with respect to the image pickupper in relation to an optical axis direction of the image pickupper and a direction in which the liquid flows through the flow passage; and a controller which determines an image pickup position of the flow cell in at least one of the optical axis direction and the direction in which the liquid flows, on the basis of a number of pieces of the tangible component in focusing states existing in the images of the liquid picked up by the image pickupper at a plurality of positions at which the relative position differs.

Abstract: The disclosure provides plasma spectroscopy analysis methods using a preparatory process of adding a control metal species that is different from an analyte metal species to a sample so as to have a known concentration; a concentration process of introducing the sample to a measurement container, and applying an electric current across a pair of electrodes disposed in the measurement container to concentrate the analyte metal species and the control metal species in the sample in a vicinity of at least one of the electrodes; a detection process; a correction process; and a quantification process.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes: a sensor configured to be indwelled in vivo; an identifying unit configured to identify a setting position of the sensor; a calculation unit configured to calculate a concentration of a specified substance contained in a sample, based on a signal given from the sensor; and a storage unit configured to store plural pieces of arithmetic information, wherein the calculation unit selects one of the plural pieces of arithmetic information from the storage unit, based on the sensor setting position identified by the identifying unit and calculates the concentration of the specified substance contained in the sample by using the selected arithmetic information.

Abstract: A mutant cytochrome protein originated from a cytochrome protein having three heme-binding domains, which mutant cytochrome protein lacks the first heme-binding domain and the second heme-binding domain as counted from the N-terminus, is provided. The mutant cytochrome protein may lack a region(s) containing the first and second heme-binding domains.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit to measure a signal value corresponding to a concentration of a specified substance contained in a first sample; an acquiring unit to acquire a reference value pertaining to the specified substance contained in a second sample; a calculation unit to calculate a concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample, based on the signal value and the reference value; a determination unit to determine whether a variation in the concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample is equal to or less than a threshold value; and an output unit to output, to a display unit, recommendation information representing recommendation for acquiring the reference value when the variation in the concentration value of the specified substance contained in the first sample is equal to or less than the threshold value.

Abstract: The disclosure provides plasma spectroscopy analysis methods using a preparatory process of diluting a urine sample assumed to contain mercury or lead as an analyte metal species, and then adding a known concentration of thallium as a control metal species to the diluted urine sample; a concentration process of introducing the urine sample containing the control metal species to a measurement container, and applying an electric current across a pair of electrodes disposed in the measurement container to concentrate the analyte metal species and the control metal species present in the urine sample in a vicinity of at least one of the electrodes; a detection process; a correction process; and a quantification process.

Abstract: A liquid accommodating container includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate, in a hermetically closed state, a liquid for testing a measuring apparatus, a storage portion configured to store the liquid, and a coupling portion configured to couple the accommodating portion and the storage portion in a state that one of the accommodating portion and the storage portion is foldable back to the other.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus performs wireless communications with a display apparatus, the display apparatus displaying a measurement result of a specified substance in a body fluid. The measuring apparatus includes a sensor, a transmitting unit and a touch sensor. The sensor is configured to be indwelled in vivo. The transmitting unit is configured to transmit data relating to the specified substance obtained by using the sensor. The touch sensor is configured to detect a touch operation of a user. The transmitting unit transmits a connection request to the display apparatus when the touch sensor detects the touch operation.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes: a measuring unit to measure a signal value corresponding to a concentration of a specified substance of a first sample; an acquiring unit to acquire a reference value pertaining to the specified substance of a second sample; a calculating unit to calculate a concentration value of the specified substance of the first sample, based on the signal value and the reference value; a timing determination unit to determine timing for calibrating the reference value when satisfying at least one of a first condition that an activity status of a user is a predetermined status and a second condition that a variation in the concentration value of the specified substance of the first sample is equal to or smaller than a threshold value; and an input request unit to request the user to input the reference value at the determined timing.

Abstract: A method for recovering a metal that uses a reduced amount of a chelating agent is described, where the method includes a complex forming step of forming, in a mixture, a complex between a metal in a sample and a chelating agent; a complex depositing step of depositing the complex in the mixture; and a metal recovering step of recovering the deposited complex from the mixture, thereby recovering the metal in the sample.

Abstract: A method for recovering a metal, capable of suppressing variations in complex recovery yields among samples is described, wherein the method comprises: forming a complex between a metal in a sample and a chelating agent for metal in a mixture containing the sample and the chelating agent; and filtering the mixture in the presence of an inorganic salt to recover the complex, thereby recovering the metal in the sample.

Abstract: The amount of consumption of a washing solution for a nozzle and the required time for washing are reduced. A nozzle washing apparatus usable for collection of a specimen comprises a washing tank which accommodates a nozzle, a first discharge port which discharges a washing solution supplied into the washing tank from an upper portion of the washing tank, a second discharge port which discharges the washing solution supplied into the washing tank from a position lower than the first discharge port of the washing tank, a detector which detects a range of contact of an outer wall of the nozzle with the specimen, and a controller which discharges the washing solution supplied into the washing tank from one of the first discharge port and the second discharge port on the basis of a detection result obtained by the detector.

Abstract: A flow cell including a flow channel through which a sample fluid and a sheath fluid flow, a sample flow channel that introduces the sample fluid into the flow channel, and at least one sheath flow channel that introduces the sheath fluid into the flow channel. The flow channel includes a flow merging section where the sample flow channel and the sheath flow channel merge, a flattened section that is disposed downstream of the flow merging section, that is formed in line with one wall face of wall faces facing across the flow merging section, and that is shallower in depth than the flow merging section, and a tapered section that connects the flow merging section with the flattened section and that gradually decreases in depth on progression downstream.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography device includes a column that separates components in a specimen sample, an eluent supply mechanism that alternately supplies two or more types of eluent to the column, and a detection apparatus into which the eluents are introduced after having passed through the column. The detection apparatus detects a specified component of the sample contained in the eluents. The detection apparatus includes a flow cell, a light source, a light-receiving unit, and a scattering plate. The flow cell includes a flow channel through which the eluents flow. The light source is provided outside of the flow cell and irradiates light onto the eluents flowing through the flow channel. The light-receiving unit is provided outside of the flow cell and receives light that has passed through the flow cell. The scattering plate is provided between the light source and the light-receiving unit along a direction of travel of light from the light source.

Abstract: Provided is a biosensor for measuring a target substance in a sample, wherein the biosensor comprises an electrode pair comprising a working electrode and a counter electrode, and reagents placed at least on the working electrode, wherein the reagents comprise a first oxidoreductase which oxidizes/reduces the target substance, at least one mediator which transfers electrons generated from an oxidation reduction reaction by the first oxidoreductase to the electrode, and a second oxidoreductase which oxidizes/reduces an interfering substance, and wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the mediator is higher than the oxidation-reduction potential of the first oxidoreductase and lower than the oxidation-reduction potential of the second oxidoreductase.

Abstract: A method is provided for suppressing, in a color reagent solution which is used to measure a component within a sample and which contains an oxidative color reagent dissolved therein, a background rise that occurs when the color reagent solution is stored. The method includes adjusting a hydrogen ion exponent (pH) of the color reagent solution so as to be strongly acidic. The hydrogen ion exponent is preferably adjusted to 2.9 or below or to 2.1 or below. The color reagent solution is preferably used to measure the degree of oxidative stress. The oxidative color reagent is preferably a phenylenediamine derivative.

Abstract: Excitation light of two wavelengths is incident to an optical crystal from a first face side, and a terahertz wave THzb is generated from a second face, and the excitation light that has passed through the optical crystal is reflected, made incident to the optical crystal from the second face side, and a terahertz wave THza is generated from the first face. Terahertz waves with similar characteristics to each other are thereby generated reliably in plural directions.

Abstract: A method is provided for suppressing, in a color reagent solution which is used to measure a component within a sample and which contains an oxidative color reagent dissolved therein, a background rise that occurs when the color reagent solution is stored. The method includes adjusting a hydrogen ion exponent (pH) of the color reagent solution so as to be strongly acidic. The hydrogen ion exponent is preferably adjusted to 2.9 or below or to 2.1 or below. The color reagent solution is preferably used to measure the degree of oxidative stress. The oxidative color reagent is preferably a phenylenediamine derivative.

Abstract: A method for recovering a metal that uses a reduced amount of a chelating agent is described, where the method includes a complex forming step of forming, in a mixture, a complex between a metal in a sample and a chelating agent; a complex depositing step of depositing the complex in the mixture; and a metal recovering step of recovering the deposited complex from the mixture, thereby recovering the metal in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma spectrochemical analysis method that can be carried out easily and achieves high analytical sensitivity, and includes: a step of concentrating an analyte in a sample in the vicinity of at least one of a pair of electrodes by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes in the presence of the sample; and a step of generating plasma by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes and detecting light emitted from the analyte excited by the plasma.