Abstract: In an additional writing format optical disk library unit or the like, the processing for automatically reorganizing a volume is carried out effectively so as to intend to reuse media. Whether the number of residual blank media surfaces in a volume is small is judged. If the number is small, media surfaces each having a low data valid rate are extracted from the volume. Valid data on the extracted media surfaces is written and added to a medium surface which is currently set as a writing target, so that data relocation is carried out. Media surfaces occupied only by invalid areas are deregistered from the volume. Further, the media surfaces deregistered from the volume are formatted. The formatted media surfaces are re-registered into the volume.

Abstract: In the preparation of a characteristic word list as one method of text mining, means for selecting an unnecessary word group that requires to be removed in advance is provided. Document IDs and a user ID are received from a client, and a characteristic word list is prepared from the document IDs and document information obtained in advance. Next, selected book IDs are obtained referring to the user ID and a user attribute table. On the basis of the obtained book IDs, unnecessary words are removed from the characteristic word list prepared by characteristic word list preparation program, and the characteristic word list from which the unnecessary words are removed is returned to the client as mining results.

Abstract: In a shared bus connection scheme or an individual path connection scheme, a fault caused at a part of a system affects the same in its entirety. Also, these schemes do not permit the determination of fault locations. Adapters 11, 12 are connected to shared memories 21, 22 with a plurality of individual paths 31 through 38. An address locking unit (not shown) is arranged in each of the shared memories 21, 22 to perform address lock check on memory access operations from the adapters 11, 12. If an address to be accessed is in the locked state, the access is held in the lock wait state until the address is unlocked. The access is made when the address locking is cleared.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for extracting similar expression patterns and related biopolymers considering natures that are characteristic of expression data of, for example, genes. A segment of experiment cases which includes an expression of interest is selected as a search range among an expression pattern of a reference gene or the like. By comparing the selected segment of the expression pattern with expression patterns of a group of candidate genes or the like, genes having an expression pattern with at least a partial similarity are searched from the group of candidate genes. A partially taken out curve (a part of an, expression pattern) is transferred to overlap an expression pattern curve of a candidate gene to search expression patterns with a similar pattern shape.

Abstract: For interactive operation between different enterprises or organizations, it is necessary to provide high-quality map information by not only displaying the results of retrieval from the map information servers of those organizations in a superimposed manner but also performing distributed retrieval on the basis of a relationship matched in sense between the servers. Thus, an interface is provided in which the optimum relationships between objects provided from the map servers distributed on the Internet environment and objects defined by a desired application are generated and a work of confirmation and modification by a user can easily be done. Thereby, a cost required for a complicated relating procedure indispensable to an interactive operating system is reduced.

Abstract: If relocation of a table with a high reference frequency is made possible, the database management method and system are arranged to improve performance according to the number of increased nodes and accumulate a reference frequency of each external storage unit allocated to each database management node. A data storage area for storing the table with a high reference frequency, located in the external storage unit, is specified as a shared data area to be referenced by plural nodes. The system is controlled to cause the nodes to refer to the shared table stored in the shared data area on any timing in parallel. This prevents load from being concentrated onto the node allocated to the data area.

Abstract: In order to increase the recognition rate of a shadow area contained in the image of an aerial photograph, a central control portion performs the processes of: comparing a shadow-produced angle with the angles of segments constituting the polygons generated by a polygon-generating portion to judge whether or not there are the segments coinciding with the shadow-produced angle, of the segments constituting the polygon; judging whether or not the ratio of the length of the segment constituting the shadow to the length of the segment constituting the feature coincides with a shadow-extended ratio; judging whether or not the color tone of the area surrounded by the segments constituting the shadow is darker than that of all the adjacent polygons; and identifying the area surrounded by the segments constituting the shadow as “shadow area.” The polygon of the identified shadow area is generated.

Abstract: The present invention has an objective of obtaining more accurate data of microarray experiments by correcting an inter-pin spotting amount error caused upon microarray production using a plurality of pins. Upon microarray production, samples are immobilized on a microarray support using all pins as controls for correcting the inter-pin spotting amount errors. After the microarray experiments, luminescent intensities of the samples used as control spots for correcting the inter-pin spotting amount errors are measured and used to obtain correction parameters for the inter-pin spotting amount errors of respective pins. These parameters are used to correct luminescent intensities of other samples.

Abstract: A method in which DNA is extracted from a precious sample of organism simply and efficiently without being contaminated by impurities is provided.

Abstract: A plurality of database search path candidates are automatically determined and provided. Databases containing information with similar characteristics are divided into groups (hereafter referred to as a “category group”), and a correlation diagram is created based on links between those category groups. In the diagram, high priority is given to links between category groups constituting a path that has to be passed through due to relevance between the characteristic of databases, and normal priority is given to other links. When a path search is carried out in this diagram, an important path is selected regardless of attributes such as distance between databases or time by carrying out a first path search along the high priority path between category groups.

Abstract: In response to requests for I/O processing sent from a computer, I/O which should be processed at a priority is enabled to be processed without being affected by other processing, by classifying I/O into those to be processed at a priority and those not to be processed at a priority. The storage control apparatus comprises an I/O processing controller with a memory that is common for the whole controller. The storage control apparatus manages information for dividing and controlling a plurality of I/O processes as priority and non-priority in that memory and operates while suppressing non-priority I/O processing on the basis of information in the memory.

Abstract: A method for reading beads comprising the steps of: introducing into a flow path functional beads having a coating layer on the surface thereof and having nanoparticles present in the coating layer; enabling the functional beads to emit light specific to the nanoparticles by applying a voltage to the functional beads in the flow path; and identifying the functional beads based on the emission. A bead-reading apparatus employing the method is also disclosed. Since conventional fluorescent beads are excited with a laser for reading fluorescence, light leakage occurs, so that the influence of noise cannot be ignored. The invention eliminates this drawback.

Abstract: When creating other tool path from two tool paths for cutting a work accurately and efficiently, the data on the first tool path is composed of a position vector and a direction vector of a tool for use when the work is cut while moving the tool. The data on the second tool path is composed of a position vector and a direction vector of the tool for use when the work, which has been cut according to the first tool path, is further cut. A computer uses the first tool path data and second tool path data to calculate a position vector and a direction vector of a medium tool path that is between the first tool path and second tool path.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for detecting biopolymers (DNA) capable of total analysis including non-reacted samples without complicated operations such as washing. A DNA probe is fixed to one of electrodes and direct current voltage is placed between the electrodes, so that it becomes possible to separate complementary strand sample DNA and non-complementary strand sample DNA. By analyzing from a ratio in the whole reaction system, it is possible to obtain clearer results. Further, by using electrophoresis by gel together, it is possible to separate reacted samples and non-reacted samples to perform measurements therefor in the same reaction field.

Abstract: In response to requests for I/O processing sent from a computer, I/O which should be processed at a priority is enabled to be processed without being affected by other processing, by classifying I/O into those to be processed at a priority and those not to be processed at a priority. The storage control apparatus comprises an I/O processing controller with a memory that is common for the whole controller. The storage control apparatus manages information for dividing and controlling a plurality of I/O processes as priority and non-priority in that memory and operates while suppressing non-priority I/O processing on the basis of information in the memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus generates data concerning a partition of land such as farmland based on an observation image of the surface of the earth photographed by a high-altitude flying vehicle such as a satellite or airplane at high speed while reducing the burden on the user. The method comprises the steps of extracting edges in the observation image; extracting a rectangle region on the image by determining and connecting points of intersection of a plurality of straight lines extending radially from a point on the image and the edges; and adjusting the extracted rectangle region by refining and correcting it.

Abstract: A method of displaying gene data assists in discovering expression patterns specific to gene functions and inferring the function of a gene of which the function is unknown. A threshold value representing the degree of similarity of expression patterns is established in advance, and genes having the same function and genes with similar expression patterns to them are extracted and displayed. Cluster analysis is performed on the extracted genes by re-selecting the experiment patterns for clustering. Calculations are performed to see how many functions the genes belonging to a subtree have, and the proportion of each function in the subtree is determined. If a proportion exceeds a predetermined threshold value, they are regarded as a cluster (collection of genes with similar functions) and extracted.

Abstract: Provided is a high performance storage system, in which a cache memory is effectively used and access loads are balanced. In a computer system including a computer and a storage system coupled with the computer, the storage system includes one or more channel adapters which communicate with the computer, and a plurality of logical units which store data. The computer includes one or more host bus adapters which communicate with the storage system, and a path management module which manages a path along which the computer accesses the logical unit. The path management module includes a load measurement module which measures an access load on each logical unit, and an active path setting module which sets one or more active paths, along which an access from the computer passes, for each of the logical unit based on the measured access load.

Abstract: A method for detecting amplified nucleic acid fragments is provided. The method comprises the steps of carrying out amplification reaction to amplify a predetermined region of a nucleic acid in a reaction solution comprising the nucleic acid as a template, a pair of primers, deoxynucleotides, and dideoxynucleotides; hybridizing the amplified products of the reaction solution to a probe; and then detecting the hybridization between the amplified products and the probe.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing semiconductor nanoparticles having a monodispersed distribution of particle sizes and the semiconductor nanoparticles produced by the same, which were insufficient in conventional reversed micelle methods. This method for producing semiconductor nanoparticles comprises steps of: forming semiconductor nanoparticles in the reaction field in the micelle or in the reversed micelle; and regulating the particle size of the semiconductor nanoparticles by size-selective photoetching, wherein the reaction field in the micelle or in the reversed micelle serves also as the dissolution field for ions that are produced when the semiconductor nanoparticles are subjected to size-selective photoetching. In this method, particle sizes of the semiconductor nanoparticles are regulated by adjusting the size of the dissolution field for ions and regulating the reactivity of size-selective photoetching.