Abstract: Nano-sized inorganic particles having uniform particle sizes and precisely controlled particle diameters have already been produced by synthesis in an organic solvent, but these nano-sized inorganic particles are hindered from dispersing in a polar solvent because of the adsorption of a long-chain fatty acid on the surfaces of the particles. Further, it was difficult to form nano-sized inorganic particles dispersible in a polar solvent by replacing the long-chain fatty acid coats.

Abstract: Polymer coated ferromagnetic particles could be obtained giving a solution to a problem of difficulty in dispersing ferromagnetic fine particles to a level of monodispersion because of their properties apt to form aggregates. Providing hydrophilic character to hydrophobic ferromagnetic particles obtained by adsorbing hydrophobizing agent to hydrophilic ferromagnetic particles, and dispersed using nonionic surface activating agent suppressing ionic strength increase of the particles. Monomer liquid was emulsified using nonionic surface activating agent and ionic surface activating agent. Mixing the dispersion liquid of ferromagnetic particles and the monomer emulsion were mixed and emulsion polymerization was conducted. Then well-dispersed homogeneous and stable polymer coated ferromagnetic particles showing good response to magnetic field were obtained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an accommodating member configured to accommodate developer; a supply member configured to supply the developer of the accommodating member; a developer holding member configured to supply the developer from the supply member to an image holding member; and a voltage controller configured to apply a first predetermined voltage to the supply member and apply a second predetermined voltage to the developer holding member so as to supply the developer from the accommodating member to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member through the supply member and the developer holding member. The voltage controller, when starting to apply a voltage to the supply member, applies an excessive voltage to the supply member, the excessive voltage having a polarity same as the first predetermined voltage and being larger in an absolute value than the first predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A developing device include: a case; a developing roller supported by the case to be rotatable in a rotational direction; and a blade including a base end supported by the case and a tip end provided upstream of the base end in the rotational direction and contacting the surface of the developing roller at a contact portion to regulate a thickness of the toner on the developing roller. The blade further includes a bent portion that is bent from the contact portion at a radius of curvature from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm to be separated from the developing roller as extending toward the tip end. An angle defined between a segment connecting the contact portion with a center of curvature of the bent portion and a segment connecting the tip end with the center of curvature of the bent portion is in the range from 45° to 90°.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, a toner supply roller, and a charging member. The toner supply roller supplies single-component non-magnetic toner to the developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. In a toner cleaning mode, the toner supply roller removes the toner from the developing roller. To this effect, the charging member charges up the toner held on the developing roller. A bias circuit and a controller are further provided, wherein the bias circuit applies bias voltages to the developing roller, supply roller, and charging member, and the controller controls the bias circuit to produce the bias voltages such that a potential difference between the charging member and the supply roller is greater than a potential difference between the developing roller and the supply roller in the toner cleaning mode.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured of a first frame and a second frame with a space formed therebetween; and a developer-carrying member that is supported in the first frame and that is configured to carry developer. The first frame includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls erected from both sides of the bottom wall and has a box shape that is open on a side opposite the bottom wall. The second frame is mounted over the pair of side walls so as to cover the open side of the first frame and has a partition extending into the space formed in the casing. The partition contacts the bottom wall of the first frame and spans between the pair of side walls of the first frame, thereby separating the space within the casing into a first chamber on a side near the developer-carrying member and a second chamber on a side far from the developer-carrying member. Developer is accommodated in the first chamber only.

Abstract: A method for producing spherical ferrite nanoparticles includes the steps of: preparing a first aqueous solution containing a disaccharide, an alkaline, an oxidation agent, seed particles and divalent iron ions; and conducting particle growth in the first aqueous solution to produce the spherical ferrite nanoparticles.

Abstract: An altered capsid protein of a primate-infective papovavirus in which a foreign peptide sandwiched by 1 to several glycine residues at each end is inserted into at least one of the DE-loop or the HI-loop of the capsid protein of the primate-infective papovavirus, and a virus-like particle formed from the altered capsid protein.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image acquiring unit, an image forming unit, a determining unit, and a controller. The image acquiring unit acquires image data for one page. The image forming unit forms an image based on the image data. The image forming unit includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a bias applying unit. The developing roller carries a developer. The supply roller supplies the developer to the developing roller. The bias applying unit applies a first voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a first mode, and applies a second voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a second mode. The determining unit determines whether the image data includes a part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density.

Abstract: A casing of a developing apparatus defines a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, that accommodates developer, therein. The developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber are arranged side by side. The casing is formed with a replenishing port for supplying new developer from a developer replenishing unit into the developing chamber. The supply roller is disposed in the developing chamber. The replenishing port is located right above the supply roller when the developing apparatus is disposed in an orientation in which the developing apparatus is intended to be placed in a main casing of an image forming apparatus. The control unit controls the supply roller to rotate when the developing apparatus is mounted in the main casing. The supply roller stirs old developer that have already been located in the developing chamber and the new developer, and transports the old developer and the new developer from the developing chamber into the developer accommodating chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a novel method of forming uniform viral particles under physiological conditions. The method of forming uniform-sized viral particle aggregates composed of viral protein is characterized by incubating a viral protein such as SV40 virus VP1 at pH 5.0 to 7.0, room temperature, in the presence of 130 mM to 170 mM sodium chloride and 1.5 mM to 2.5 mM divalent cation, and in the presence of a particle formation acceleration factor such as SV40 VP2. For encapsulation of a substance to be encapsulated in the viral particles, the substance to be encapsulated is included during the incubation.

Abstract: A ferrite bonded organic substance having that has a strong bond between organic substance and ferrite can be obtained by carrying out formation and bonding of a ferrite to an organic substance having a functional group selected from a carboxyl group, a mercapto group and a mercapto group in oxidized form. In the producing method of manufacturing the ferrite bonded organic substance, ferrite plating can be employed. Wide application in, for example, various drugs, bio-analytical reagents, DNA, various contrast media and MRI sensitizers that permit magnetic manipulation can be realized by bonding ferrite to organic substance retaining a bio-active substance.

Abstract: A compound possessing physiological activity is coupled to a styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer through a spacer. Compounds that may be used include receptors such as proteins, and 3-[(5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-benzoquinonyl)]-2-nonyl-2-propionic a preferred spacer is an ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether derivative. Preferably, the whole surface of the styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer in microsphere form is covered with glycidyl methacrylate. The microsphere may be used for isolating and detecting substances such as proteins that bind to the coupled compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hair growth promoting composition having an excellent hair growth promoting effect.

Abstract: A microsphere is prepared containing a compound possessing physiological activity coupled to a styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer through a spacer. Compounds that may be used include receptors such as proteins, and 3-[(5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-benzoquinonyl)]-2-nonyl-2-propionic acid. A preferred spacer is an ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether derivative. Preferably, the whole surface of the styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer is covered with glycidyl methacrylate. The microsphere may be used for isolating and detecting substances such as proteins that bind to the coupled compound.

Abstract: The invention includes a microsphere comprising styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer, and methods for isolation, purification and identification of receptors to a specific compound possessing physiological activity. In addition, the invention provides proteins isolated and purified using the microspheres of the invention.

Abstract: The invention includes a microsphere comprising styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer, and methods for isolation, purification and identification of receptors to a specific compound possessing physiological activity. In addition, the invention provides proteins isolated and purified using the microspheres of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for detecting or quantitatively determining a single-stranded DNA fragment having a specific nucleic acid sequence through hybridization, and a reagent kit for the detection or determination. A carrier-bonded DNA probe comprising (a) a single-stranded DNA probe having a nucleic acid sequence complementary to the specific nucleic acid sequence of the single-stranded DNA fragment to be detected or quantitatively determined in a sample, and (b) a carrier comprising a substance with a very low adsorbance for DNA, as bonded together via or without a spacer therebetween, is hybridized with DNA fragments in the sample, and the hybridized DNA fragment is detected or quantitatively determined.

Abstract: A substance possessing physiological activity is coupled to a styrene-glycidyl methacrylate polymer through a spacer, and is used to isolate from a mixture a substance that can adhere to the substance possessing physiological activity. Preferably the polymer is in the form of a microsphere, the substance possessing physiological activity is 3-[(5-(2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinonyl)]-2-nonyl-2-propionic acid or derivative thereof, and the spacer is an ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether derivative. The mixture may be a cell extract and the substance isolated a protein that is a receptor to the substance possessing physiological activity.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, --COR.sup.a, --COR.sup.b, --CSR.sup.a, --CSR.sup.b, --SO.sub.2 R.sup.b, --CONHR.sup.b, --CSNHR.sup.b, --CONR.sup.b R.sup.b or --CSNR.sup.b R.sup.b ; R.sup.2 is hydrogen or alkyl; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkylidene, substituted alkyl, or R.sup.b ; R.sup.4 is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl; R.sup.5 is R.sup.b O--, R.sup.b R.sup.b N--, R.sup.b HN--, aralkyloxycarbonyloxy or aralkyloxycarbonylamino, or R.sup.5 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --D--(CH.sub.2).sub.r --, where D is a single bond, carbonyl, oxygen, sulfur, --NH--, --(CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH.sub.2)-- or --NHCO--; and p and r are each 0 or an integer from 1 to 5; A is --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --B--(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- where B is a single bond, carbonyl, oxygen, sulfur, --NH--, --(CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH.sub.2)-- or --NHCO--; and m and n are each 0 or an integer from 1 to 5; R.sup.a is alkoxy, aralkyloxy, aryloxy or alkoxycarbonyl; R.sup.