Abstract: In an automatic gain control circuit comprising a black level detecting unit which detects a black level from a video signal, a white level detecting unit which detects a white level from the video signal, and an analog-to-digital converter which adjusts a dynamic range of the video signal based on a difference value between the black level and the white level, a video signal for adjustment including a black level which indicates a minimum brightness of a video image and a white level which indicates a maximum brightness of the video image is input and the dynamic range is adjusted.

Abstract: To provide a method and a diagnostic kit for determining the presence of a malignant tumor or the severity thereof, a method for selecting a therapeutic method therefor or evaluating the effect of the therapeutic method, or a method for estimating the risk of recurrence of the malignant tumor or determining the presence or absence of the recurrence. The method for determining the presence of a malignant tumor or the severity thereof, method for selecting a therapeutic method therefor or evaluating the effect of the therapeutic method, or method for estimating the risk of recurrence of the malignant tumor or the presence or absence of the recurrence is characterized by including 1) a step of measuring the concentration and/or quantity of soluble LR11 in a sample originating from a subject and 2) a step of comparing the value measured above with a measurement value of soluble LR11 obtained from a healthy subject group.

Abstract: Provided is a method of separating and measuring highly active HMW adiponectin in adiponectin multimers. A method of measuring high-molecular-weight adiponectin in a sample, wherein adiponectin multimers are separated by use of a protease and measured immunologically, the method comprising reacting a sample containing adiponectin multimers with chymotrypsin.

Abstract: A sync separation circuit separates a synchronizing signal from a video signal containing the synchronizing signal. A minimum level detecting section detects a minimum level of a video signal. A sync tip level detecting section detects a sync tip level in the video signal. A pedestal level detecting section detects a pedestal level in the video signal. Based on both the sync tip level detected by the sync tip level detecting section and the pedestal level control by the pedestal level detecting section, a slice level setting section sets a slice level corresponding to an intermediate value between the sync tip level and the pedestal level. The slice level control section sets the slice level based on the minimum level detected by the minimum level detecting section if the slice level set based on the sync tip level and the pedestal level is inappropriate.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes an auto gain control circuit and amplifies a signal with an amplification ratio determined based on a synchronous signal level having a positive potential with respect to a black level included in a high definition television video signal. In consequence, during the processing of the high definition television video signal, the signal processing is performed with a desired amplification ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a color killer circuit comprising a burst amplitude detection unit that detects an amplitude of a color burst; a delay unit that stores, delays, by a predetermined period of time, and outputs the detected amplitude; a subtractor that calculates a difference between an output from the burst amplitude detection unit and an output from the delay unit; a first comparator that compares the output from the burst amplitude detection unit with a first threshold value to determine whether or not the output from the burst amplitude detection unit is less than the first threshold value; and a second comparator that compares an output from the subtractor with a second threshold value to determine whether or not the output from the subtractor is greater than the second threshold value, wherein the color killer circuit masks the color component of the composite video signal when the first comparator determines that the output from the burst amplitude detection unit is less than the first threshold value,

Abstract: Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel marker for an arteriosclerotic disease. Also disclosed is a method for evaluating the presence or level of an arteriosclerotic disease in a mammal, or a method for evaluating the prophylactic or therapeutic effect on an arteriosclerotic disease in a mammal, which is characterized by detecting a soluble LR11 in a sample collected from the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient, efficient method for assaying glycated protein, fructosyl peptide, or fructosyl amino acid which can be performed with reduced effect of fructosyl lysine compounds. The invention also provides a reagent for the assay. The invention is directed to a method for reducing the effect of a fructosyl lysine compound in an assay of fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid contained in a sample, characterized by including causing an enzyme for assaying fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid to act specifically on fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid at a pH of 4.0 to 7.0 and measuring the product at a pH of 4.0 to 7.0; and a method for assaying glycated protein through the above method.

Abstract: Provided is a method for quantifying soluble LR11 in a biological sample such as serum by an immunological means conveniently and accurately without the need of carrying out any complicated separation manipulation. An immunological quantification method for soluble LR11 in a sample derived from a mammal, including a step of treating the sample with at least one surfactant selected from a group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ether, an alkyl glycoside, an alkylthio glycoside, an acyl-N-methylglucamide and a salt of cholic acid.

Abstract: Provided is a method of separating and measuring highly active HMW adiponectin in adiponectin multimers. A method of measuring high-molecular-weight adiponectin in a sample, wherein adiponectin multimers are separated by use of a protease and measured immunologically, the method comprising reacting a sample containing adiponectin multimers with chymotrypsin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a monoclonal antibody against a soluble fibrin, which specifically recognizes a conformation-changed site newly occurred in a C-terminal region of an A?-chain of the soluble fibrin formed through thrombin digestion of fibrinogen. The present invention is also directed to a hybridoma which produces the antibody, an immunological assay method employing the antibody, and a method for evaluating hypercoagulability in a test sample by measuring the soluble fibrin level in the sample with the assay method. Through employment of the monoclonal antibody of the present invention, soluble fibrin on which plasmin has not acted, which reflects exclusively initial hypercoagulability, can be specifically detected.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of pretreating a sample for conveniently, quickly and accurately measuring the total amount of adiponectin present in a biological sample contaminated with various adiponectin multimers. The method of measuring an sample for immunologically assaying the total amount of adiponectin present in the sample comprises reacting, with an adiponectin-containing sample, at least one of a reducing agent, an acid or a salt thereof, a surfactant, and a protease.

Abstract: Kits and methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: Methods for selectively assaying a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample. Such methods accurately evaluate the relationship between a disease and adiponectin through selective assay of adiponectin multimers and provide information that cannot be obtained through measurement of the total amount of adiponectin alone. A method for selectively assaying of a target adiponectin multimer in a biological sample comprising distinguishing target adiponectin multimer from the other adiponectin multimers by using a protease and/or an antibody.

Abstract: A sync separation circuit separates a synchronizing signal from a video signal containing the synchronizing signal. A minimum level detecting section detects a minimum level of a video signal. A sync tip level detecting section detects a sync tip level in the video signal. A pedestal level detecting section detects a pedestal level in the video signal. Based on both the sync tip level detected by the sync tip level detecting section and the pedestal level control by the pedestal level detecting section, a slice level setting section sets a slice level corresponding to an intermediate value between the sync tip level and the pedestal level. The slice level control section sets the slice level based on the minimum level detected by the minimum level detecting section if the slice level set based on the sync tip level and the pedestal level is inappropriate.

Abstract: In an automatic gain control circuit comprising a black level detecting unit which detects a black level from a video signal, a white level detecting unit which detects a white level from the video signal, and an analog-to-digital converter which adjusts a dynamic range of the video signal based on a difference value between the black level and the white level, a video signal for adjustment including a black level which indicates a minimum brightness of a video image and a white level which indicates a maximum brightness of the video image is input and the dynamic range is adjusted.

Abstract: There is provided a color killer circuit comprising a burst amplitude detection unit that detects an amplitude of a color burst; a delay unit that stores, delays, by a predetermined period of time, and outputs the detected amplitude; a subtractor that calculates a difference between an output from the burst amplitude detection unit and an output from the delay unit; a first comparator that compares the output from the burst amplitude detection unit with a first threshold value to determine whether or not the output from the burst amplitude detection unit is less than the first threshold value; and a second comparator that compares an output from the subtractor with a second threshold value to determine whether or not the output from the subtractor is greater than the second threshold value, wherein the color killer circuit masks the color component of the composite video signal when the first comparator determines that the output from the burst amplitude detection unit is less than the first threshold value,

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit is supplied with an analog composite video signal formed by combining at least a luminance signal with a sync signal, and processes the analog composite video signal. The video signal processing circuit has an analog filter which removes high-frequency components from the analog composite video signal, a sync separation circuit which separates a sync signal from an output signal from the analog filter, an AD converter which performs AD conversion on the analog composite video signal, and a digital video signal processing circuit which performs predetermined video signal processing on the composite video signal digitized by the AD converter, by using the sync signal obtained by the sync separation circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient, efficient method for assaying glycated protein, fructosyl peptide, or fructosyl amino acid which can be performed with reduced effect of fructosyl lysine compounds. The invention also provides a reagent for the assay. The invention is directed to a method for reducing the effect of a fructosyl lysine compound in an assay of fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid contained in a sample, characterized by including causing an enzyme for assaying fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid to act specifically on fructosyl peptide or fructosyl amino acid at a pH of 4.0 to 7.0 and measuring the product at a pH of 4.0 to 7.0; and a method for assaying glycated protein through the above method.