Abstract: Valid code data and invalid code data are alternately input to a register that fetches data synchronously with a clock signal. A state of a data value input to the register is monitored. Each time when it is determined that the data is stabilized by the valid code data, the register holds the valid code data.

Abstract: An image reading device is provided with a guide member having a light-blocking portion with its upper surface positioned above an extended surface of a reading surface of an optical reader. The device is also provided with a slant surface between the reading surface of the optical reader and the light-blocking portion. The device is further provided with upper guide surfaces facing the light-blocking portion and the slant surface respectively, at a predetermined distance.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-linear data converter including: first to fourth converters that each performs a respective converting process on an input bit string to output respective output bit string; a generator that generates a random number bit string; and a selector that selects any one of the output bit strings from the first to fourth converters based on the random number bit string. Each of the converting processes is equivalent to performing a first mask process, a non-linear conversion predetermined for an encoding or a decoding and a second mask process.

Abstract: The present invention intends primarily to provide such as a cell culture patterning substrate that is used to adhere cells in a highly precise pattern on a base material to culture and a cell culture substrate on which cells is adhered in a highly precise pattern. In order to attain the object, the invention provides a patterning substrate comprising a base material, a photocatalyst-containing layer which is formed on the base material and comprises at least a photocatalyst, and a cell adhesion-inhibiting layer which is formed on the photocatalyst-containing layer and comprises a cell adhesion-inhibiting material that has cell adhesion-inhibiting properties of inhibiting adhesion to cells and is decomposed or denatured by action of the photocatalyst on the basis of irradiation with energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a non-slip structure, which is highly efficient in preventing a slip with no trouble caused by a through hole, thereby enhancing reliability. The non-slip structure of this invention is characterized in that a portion of a metal plate such as a steel plate and the like is sheared so as to form cutting lines (a pair of lateral side cutting lines and a joining cutting line) for forming a protruded piece and, at the same time, the protruded piece is pulled up along the cutting lines to a height, which does not exceed the thickness portion of the steel plate so as to raise the shearing surface (edge), so that the sheared surface does not form a gap nor any through hole in contacting the steel plate.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a vascular cell culture patterning substrate, which can efficiently form a plurality of blood vessels on one substrate. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a vascular cell culture patterning substrate comprising: a base material; a vascular cell adhesion portion formed in at least two substantially parallel lines on the base material, and has an adhesive properties to a vascular cell which forms a blood vessel; and a vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting portion formed in between two adjacent vascular cell adhesion portions on the base material, and inhibits adhesion to the vascular cell, wherein the vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting portions are formed at such a surface distance that, upon adhesion of the vascular cells to the vascular cell adhesion portions, the cells on the two vascular cell adhesion portions adjacent to the vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting portion are not contacted with one another via pseudopods.

Abstract: An artificial tissue capable of carrying necessary nutrients for maintaining activities of cells and tissues, and a method of manufacturing an artificial blood vessel. A plurality of forms of blood vessels are extracted from an image of a living tissue and made into a blood vessel form image. Each of the blood vessel forms of the blood vessel form image is adjusted and a blood vessel formation pattern is formed. A blood vessel cell culturing pattern of forming is formed, in a cell culturing layer. The blood vessel cell culturing pattern includes: a cell adhesion portion having adhesive properties with a blood vessel cell and formed to the blood vessel formation pattern; and a cell adhesion-inhibiting portion having cell adhesion-inhibiting properties for inhibiting adhesion with a blood vessel cell and formed in an area other than the cell adhesion portion. A blood vessel cell is adhered to the cell adhesion portion, and cultured into a tissue.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an artificial tissue construct that has means for transporting nutrients, oxygen, waste products, or the like and is viable in vivo. The present invention relates to a tissue construct formed in vitro, which comprises a vascular layer, a basal membrane layer, and a tissue-forming cell layer.

Abstract: A main object of the invention is to provide a new method for producing a cell culture substrate used to cause cells to adhere in a highly precise form onto a base material and then culture the cells.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is small in size and can be assembled in a shorter time is provided. The image formimg apparatus includes a support section for supporting a carriage and a common frame including a support section for supporting an image sensor. The common frame is realized by integral molding with resin, whereby it is possible to form the common frame in one process, compared with when a frame for the carriage and a frame for the image sensor are individually formed. Further, using the common frame eliminates need to assemble frames with different functions into one piece. As a result, the common frame can be formed at low cost and in a small size, and time spent for assemble of the image forming apparatus can be shortened.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide an artificial tissue capable of transporting the nutrition necessary for maintaining the activity of the cells or tissues. To achieve the object, the present invention provides an artificial tissue including a blood vessel-containing tissue layer having at least two adjacent blood vessels and a cell disposed between the blood vessels, characterized in that an interval between the two adjacent blood vessels in the blood vessel-containing tissue layer is formed by a nutrition supplyable distance which does not cause a necrosis of the cell.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture patterning substrate and a method for manufacturing the same, which can be used to culture the cells on the substrate in an intended shape. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a cell culture patterning substrate comprising: a base material provided with a convex portion; and a cell culture region, which is a region for culturing a cell, formed on a surface of the base material, wherein the cell culture region is partitioned with the convex portion of the base material provided with the convex portion.

Abstract: A vascular cell culture patterning substrate, which can efficiently form a plurality of blood vessels on one substrate. The vascular cell culture patterning substrate includes: a base material; a vascular cell adhesion portion formed in at least two substantially parallel lines on the base material, and having adhesive properties to a vascular cell which forms a blood vessel; and a vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting portion formed in between two adjacent vascular cell adhesion portions on the base material, and inhibiting adhesion to the vascular cell. The vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting portion contains a vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting material having vascular cell adhesion-inhibiting properties of inhibiting adhesion to the vascular cell.

Abstract: A low cost printing device where a document sheet and a recording paper sheet are transferred by a single drive motor. A facsimile device as a printing device with an inkjet printer section has a single drive motor for producing a driving force for transferring a document sheet or a recording paper sheet. Transmission means for transmitting a rotational force of drive motor is switched by controlling the movement of an ink carriage. This enables the single drive motor to alternatively transfer a document sheet or a recording paper sheet.

Abstract: A cell culture patterning substrate on which cells can be arranged regularly with high efficiency over a large area on a base material so as to attain formation of a tissue, etc. The cell culture patterning substrate includes: a base material; and a cell culture region which is formed on the base material, is a region for culturing a cell and contains a cell adhesive layer having adhesive properties to the cell. The cell culture region includes: a cell adhesion portion at which the cell adhesive layer is formed; and a cell adhesion auxiliary portion, formed in a pattern, which inhibits adhesion to the cell, and the cell adhesion auxiliary portion is formed such that, upon adhesion of the cell to the cell adhesion portion, the cells on two cell adhesion portions adjacent to the cell adhesion auxiliary portion can be bound to each other on the cell adhesion auxiliary portion.

Abstract: A method for producing a cell culture substrate to which cells adhere in a finely processed pattern while retaining the pattern for a long period of time to culture the cells and a production apparatus used in the production method. The method includes: forming a patterning substrate by forming: on a base material, a light shielding portion, and a cell adhesive layer having adhesion to a cell and containing a cell adhesive material which is decomposed or denatured by an action of a photocatalyst upon energy irradiation so as to cover the light shielding portion; an energy irradiating process of irradiating energy to the patterning substrate from the base material side to form a pattern; and a cell adhesion process of making the cell adhere to the cell adhesion portion in a cell culture medium containing the cell and a culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for culturing cells, which comprises the steps of: causing cells to adhere to the surface of a cell array substrate having a cell adhesiveness variation pattern that comprises regions having good cell adhesiveness and regions having inhibited cell adhesiveness patterned on a substrate; transferring the adhered cells to a cell culture substrate in such patterned state; and culturing the transferred cells.

Abstract: A method of setting validity period of IC card, includes preparing IC card including change unit whose state changes with lapse of time starting from initial state without external power, measuring unit configured to measure state of change unit so as to generate information indicating whether or not validity period has elapsed, and operation unit configured to be operable if information indicates that validity period fails to have yet elapsed, and to be inoperable if information indicates that validity period has elapsed, preparing IC card case capable to house IC card by user, IC card case including identification unit configured to determine whether or not user is legitimate, performing user identification utilizing identification unit, when IC card is housed in IC card case, and transmitting signal to change unit in IC card depending on result of user identification, signal initializing change unit to initial state.

Abstract: A method of setting validity period of IC card, includes preparing IC card including change unit whose state changes with lapse of time starting from initial state without external power, measuring unit configured to measure state of change unit so as to generate information indicating whether or not validity period has elapsed, and operation unit configured to be operable if information indicates that validity period fails to have yet elapsed, and to be inoperable if information indicates that validity period has elapsed, preparing IC card case capable to house IC card by user, IC card case including identification unit configured to determine whether or not user is legitimate, performing user identification utilizing identification unit, when IC card is housed in IC card case, and transmitting signal to change unit in IC card depending on result of user identification, signal initializing change unit to initial state.

Abstract: The invention provides a slip stopper which achieves a great slip stopping effect, and can be used for a location where a problem occurs if a through hole is opened therein. In a protruding portion that protrudes from the upper surface of a steel plate in the plate thickness direction, a concave portion and drain channels, that lead to the steel plate upper surface from the concave portion, are formed. The inner surface of the concave portion and the groove side surfaces of drain channels are formed by shear planes which extend substantially perpendicular to the steel plate upper surface, and are obtained by half blanking that does not open a through hole in the steel plate.