Abstract: To provide a lead concentration determination reagent which realizes accurate determination of the lead concentration of a sample solution in a simple manner with safety, even when the sample solution contains zinc ions, and a lead concentration determination method making use of the reagent. The lead concentration determination reagent contains (A) a porphyrin derivative and (B) at least one species selected from among ethylenediamine-N,N?-dipropionic acid, ethylenediamine-N,N?-diacetic acid, and 1,6-diaminohexane-N,N,N?,N?-tetraacetic acid.

Abstract: Boron is removed from an aqueous boron solution by contacting with the aqueous boron solution with a water-soluble cationic polyelectrolyte, and at least one of polyvinyl alcohol and anionic-modified polyvinyl alcohol under an alkaline condition, and then removing the generated coagulation.

Abstract: To provide a novel copper ion indicator which is less influenced by interfering metal ions and which is useful for measurement of copper ion within a wide concentration range. The invention provides a copper ion indicator containing a compound represented by formula (1): [wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom], and a method for determining copper ion concentration, which employs the indicator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a phosphoric ester of 2,3-dihydroxypropyl cellulose or 3-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl cellulose, the cellulose having optionally undergone partial carbamidation, and to a metal absorbent employing the ester, and to a metal-absorbing apparatus employing the metal adsorbent. The cellulose derivative phosphoric ester serves as a metal adsorbent which exhibits high metal adsorption performance and metal adsorption rate per unit weight; has high mechanical strength; effectively soften water or a similar liquid; removes heavy metals from wastewater or a similar liquid at remarkably high efficiency; has excellent processability and can be formed into a variety of shapes and thus is applicable within a wide range: and can readily be reutilized.

Abstract: This invention relates to cellulose II phosphate which may be partly carbamidated, and also to a metal-adsorbing material making use of the same. This cellulose II phosphate efficiently adsorbs metal ions in a solution, and can be used as a metal-adsorbing material and in a metal-adsorbing system.

Abstract: A method of measuring the number of times of a specific behavior of an animal in a breeding cage comprising a step in which a common pattern of the specific behavior is determined by receiving a signal of vibration of the cage caused by the specific behavior of the animal and extracting the feature of a frequency component of the signal, a step in which a measurement objective pattern is determined in the same way, and a step in which the common patterns in the measurement objective patterns is counted; a device for the measurement including means for detecting the vibration of the breeding cage, means for extracting the feature of the frequency component, and means for counting the common patterns in the measurement objective patterns; and a method for measuring the specific behavior such as a scratching of a small animal, e.g., a mouse in a breeding cage noninvasively, and an automatic measuring instrument.

Abstract: A leukocyte accumulation container having an opening, a sidewall portion and a bottom portion, part or all of the sidewall portion having a horizontal section area gradually increasing in a direction from the bottom portion towards the opening. A cytolytic agent is added to a solution of a platelet preparation or a solution of an erythrocyte preparation to solubilize platelets or erythrocytes in the solution of the preparation. The leukocyte accumulation container then is set on a centrifuge to accumulate the leukocytes on the bottom portion of the leukocyte accumulation container, and the leukocytes accumulated on the bottom portion are counted.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus which enable only pollen existing in the atmosphere to be automatically quantified. According to the method and apparatus, particles other than those substantially smaller than pollen grains, contained in a given amount of atmosphere, are separated; the separated particles are caused to flow through a flow cell in such a state that self-fluorescence from each of the particles can be measured; self-fluorescence from each of the particles passing through the flow cell is measured; and the number of particles is counted based on a measured value.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a current sensor apparatus that reduces measurement errors resulting from variations in a position of a current path passing through the space inside a magnetic yoke. The current sensor apparatus comprises a ring-shaped magnetic yoke (2) surrounding a current path (1), part of the yoke having a gap (3), and a magnetic sensor element (4) placed in the gap (3) of the magnetic yoke (2). The magnetic sensor element (4) detects a magnetic field in the gap (3) generated by a current flowing through the current path (1) to measure the current flowing through the current path (1). The current sensor apparatus further comprises a magnetic field interrupter (5), placed between the current path (1) and the gap (3), for interrupting a magnetic field corresponding to a magnetic flux generated by the current passing through the current path (1) and not passing through the magnetic yoke (2), so that the magnetic field would not reach the magnetic sensor element (4).

Abstract: A magnetic sensor apparatus comprises a magnetic detector (101) that outputs a signal responsive to a magnetic field and a magnetic substance (110) having a cavity (111) in which the magnetic detector (101) is placed. The magnetic detector (101) is placed in the cavity (111) of the magnetic substance (110). The ratio between a magnetic field (H) to be measured and a magnetic field applied to the magnetic detector (101) is set to a specific value, based on at least one of a first demagnetizing factor depending on the shape of the magnetic substance (110) and a second demagnetizing factor depending on the shape of the cavity (111). The magnetic sensor apparatus further comprises a feedback coil (112) that applies a negative feedback magnetic field to the magnetic detector (101) and a reference magnetic field coil (113) that applies a reference alternating magnetic filed to the magnetic detector (101) for controlling the property of the magnetic detector (101).

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic sensor and a current sensor that exhibit high performance at low costs. A magnetic sensor has a magnetic core (1) having a magnetic saturation property and a sensor coil (2) wound around the magnetic core (1). An end of a detection coil (20) is connected to an end of the sensor coil (2). The other end of the detection coil (20) is grounded. The magnetic sensor further comprises a drive circuit (3) and a detection circuit (4). The drive circuit (3) has a series resonance circuit part of which is made up of the sensor coil (2). To the sensor coil (2) the drive circuit (3) supplies a resonance current flowing into the series resonance circuit as an alternating current that allows the magnetic core (1) to reach a saturation region. The detection circuit (4) detects a magnetic field to be measured by detecting variations in resonance current flowing through the sensor coil (2).

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic sensor apparatus and a current sensor apparatus each of which incorporates a fluxgate element for reducing an offset voltage and reducing variations in offset voltage. A drive section for exciting a sensor coil (2) includes a self-excited oscillation circuit having a resonant circuit part of which is made up of the sensor coil (2). The self-excited oscillation circuit includes an npn transistor (21) and a pnp transistor (31) that are amplifier elements used for continuing oscillation. The npn transistor (21) operates when an oscillation wave is on the positive side. The pnp transistor (31) operates when an oscillation wave is on the negative side. In the self-excited oscillation circuit, clamping of oscillation waves similarly occurs on both positive and negative sides. Therefore, the oscillation waveform has symmetrical positive and negative portions or has minor asymmetry if any.