Abstract: A pressing cuff presses a pressure sensor above an artery. The level of the pressure applied to the pressure sensor is changed while the pulse wave is measured based on information about the pressure from the pressure sensor. In order to adjust the level of the applied pressure using the pressure of gas in the pressing cuff, a three-port valve and a two-port valve are controlled so that the connection is changed to establish a state of holding the amount of the gas in the pressing cuff. Then, the state is changed to a state of isolating and discharging gas in which a part of the held gas is isolated from the remaining amount of the gas to be discharged. Then, the state is changed to the state of holding the remaining amount of gas in the pressing cuff.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring apparatus obtains the N-th derivative of a measured pulse waveform. The pulse waveform is classified into waveforms &agr;-&dgr; in accordance with the presence/absence of a shoulder (inflection point) at a rising phase of a pulse waveform of one beat, and also in accordance with the presence/absence of a shoulder in a falling phase. In each classified waveform, each calculated characteristic point of the N-th derivative corresponds to a traveling wave or reflected wave. The pulse wave measuring apparatus can calculate an AI value or the like that is the characteristic value of a pulse wave using such characteristic points and calculation equation of each waveform.

Abstract: A pulse wave measuring apparatus extracts a direct current component from a pressure value obtained from a sensor pressure, and defines the pressurization force of the cuff as the optimum pressurization force when that direct current component is stable. Following determination of the optimum pressurization force, the pulse wave measuring apparatus monitors whether the direct current component obtained from the pressure sensor is optimum or not, and adjusts the pressure, when not. By determining the rising sharpness of the peak and waveform distortion in the sphygmographic waveform, determination is made whether the pressurization force of the cuff is appropriate or not to carry out further adjustment of pressure, as necessary.

Abstract: A 590 MPa-class rolled steel shape of high strength and excellent toughness for use as a building structural member and a method of producing the high-tensile rolled steel shape are provided. Strength optimization by an alloy that elevates hardenability, texture refinement obtained by fine dispersion of Ti oxides and TiN owing to Ti addition, precipitation strengthening by Cu addition, and formation of a fine bainite texture by temperature-controlled rolling, cooling control and the like enable a high-strength, high-toughness rolled steel shape of high-strength and excellent toughness having mechanical properties of a tensile strength of not less than 590 MPa, a yield strength or 0.2% proof strength of not less than 440 MPa and a Charpy impact absorption energy at 0° C. of not less than 47 J, and method of producing the same.

Abstract: A structural steel excellent in wear resistance and fatigue resistance property, for use as a structural member of a bridge, pylon or the like erected in a shore region where there is concern about steel corrosion and fatigue at weld joint owing to scattering of sea salt particles or in a region where snow-melting salt is used, is provided at low cost and by a simple production method. The hot rolled structural steel contains, in percentage by weight, C: 0.02-0.20%, and further added with small amounts of Ni, Cu and Mo as essential elements, that is a rolled steel excellent in wear resistance and fatigue resistance property having a Ni/Cu concentration ratio of not less than 0.8, a steel surface internal oxide layer of not greater than 2 &mgr;m, and a Ni, Cu and Mo concentrated layer of a thickness of not less than 2 &mgr;m on the internal oxide layer.