Abstract: To provide a reagent with excellent stability under storage, which can detect a subject compound to be measured with higher specificity and sensitibity.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for measuring an immunologically active material by physically or chemically immobilizing material immunologically active to a material to be measured of a specimen to the dehydrated solid fine particles, providing a desirable dispersion comprising said immunologically active material immobilized to said solid fine particles and said specimen in a liquid medium, reacting them to cause a reaction mixture in an agglutinated state and optically measuring said agglutinated state of the reaction mixture to thereby quantitatively determine the content of said material to be measured with an improved accuracy.

Abstract: A method of biodegradation of a polluting substance by a microorganism is disclosed, wherein the microorganism is an auxotrophic microorganism and the action of the auxotrophic microorganism is controlled by the amount of a required nutrient for the auxotrophic microorganism. A carrier for supporting an auxotrophic microorganism for use for biodegradation contains a required nutrient for the auxotrophic microorganism.

Abstract: A hollow polysulfonic fiber intended for a selectively transmissive membrane contains a hydrophilic polymer which is cross-linked into a water-insoluble form (for example polyvinylpyrrolidone) and is used in the form of a hydrogel containing water. A method for the production of a membrane module consists in spinning a hollow fiber by the use of a spinning solution containing a polysulfonic resin and a hydrophilic polymer, wetting the fiber above the saturated moisture content, and then, with the wet condition maintained, subjecting the fiber to the processes of module molding and radiation induced cross-linking, these processes being performed in either order. The method provides a selectively transmissive hollow polysulfone fiber membrane which displays less elution into water and a sharp molecular weight fractionation, so as to be usable safely in the fields of medicine and foodstuffs.

Abstract: A process for producing a refined magnesium material which is flame resistant by adding an alkaline earth metal. In the process, the dross in a thin film is formed on the surface of the molten magnesium material by contacting it with a dross-formable atmosphere gas while the molten magnesium material is subjected to a vertical vortex flow. The dross encloses or wraps the impurity floating on the surface of molten magnesium material through the vortex flow in a vertical direction. The resultant dross is accumulated at the corner of the crucible to prevent the re-diffusion of the impurity. The continuous application of the vortex flow to the molten magnesium material causes the thin film of dross to be continuously formed on the molten magnesium material and adhered thereto so as to enclose or wraps the impurity each time it is formed. Accordingly, the molten magnesium material is improved in purity.

Abstract: In a method for measuring a specified component in a specimen by reacting the specimen with a first reagent formed by binding a substance active to the specified component, with carrier particles and a second reagent formed by labelling a substance active to the specified component with a first label, and measuring the substances in the complexes obtained in the reaction, there is disclosed a method featured by labelling the carrier particles with a second label different from the first label, and detecting the second label and then the first label utilizing the detection of the second label as a trigger.This method enables a highly precise measurement without the influence of noise components in the detection of specified trace components in the specimen, utilizing an antigen-antibody reaction or a nucleic acid hybridization.

Abstract: A minute flow path is filled with liquid so that the liquid may be supplied from an accumulating portion. Energy is imparted to the liquid exposed outwardly of an opening in the flow path by a heat generating element or by energy application to thereby heat and gasify the liquid. Thereupon, the liquid is supplied by an amount corresponding to the gasified liquid by capillary phenomenon through the flow path, and gasification is continuously effected, whereby a flow free of pulsating flow can be formed in the flow path.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method for drying and a method for solid-phase polymerizing a crystallizable polyamide being in an amorphous state which comprises regulating the moisture concentration in the polyamide at its glass transition temperature to at least 0.15% by weight as determined by Karl Fisher titration; heating the polyamide thus regulated at a pressure of at least one arm without reducing the moisture to crystallize the same up to a crystallinity of at least 15% and; further heating the polyamide thus crystallized at a temperature lower than its melting point under reduced pressure with a batchwise heating apparatus.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus for measuring an immunologically active material by physically or chemically immobilizing a material being immunologically active to a material to be measured of a specimen onto dehydrated solid fine particles, providing a desired dispersed body of said immunologically active material immobilized onto said solid fine particles in a dispersing medium, adding the specimen to said dispersed body while stirring to react the specimen with the immunologically active material, thereby causing a reaction mixture in an agglutinated state and optically measuring said agglutinated state of the reaction mixture to thereby quantitatively determine the content of the material to be measured with an improved accuracy.

Abstract: To provide a reagent with excellent stability under storage, which can detect a subject compound to be measured with higher specificity and sensitibity.Complexes of a compound represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sub.1 through R.sub.7 independently represent hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group, aralkyl group, sulfonate group, amino group, styryl group, nitro group, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, cyano group, or aryl azo group; R.sub.1 through R.sub.7 may or may not be bonded to each other to form a substituted or an unsubstituted condensed ring; R represents a divalent organic residue; and X.sub.1.sup..crclbar. represents an anion) and the like with immunoglobulin and the like are formed.

Abstract: A flow of liquid containing floating fine particles is formed in a flow path, thereby causing successive movement of the particles. A light beam having intensity distribution from a laser is focused on the liquid flow, whereby the particle is optically trapped at the irradiating position, thus being stopped against the liquid flow or being slowed by a braking force. This phenomenon is utilized in controlling the spacing of the particles in the flow or in separating the particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrophilic material characterized in that the material comprises a copolymer composed of a monomer (A) having a polyalkylene oxide unit and a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond in its molecule, a methacrylic ester monomer or an acrylic ester monomer (B) and a monomer (C) having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond other than the monomers (A) and (B), and the content of the monomer (C) is not less than 5% by weight and not more than 90% by weight, and a semipermeable membrane made therefrom. The present invention provides a hydrophilic material which can be dissolved in a solvent, can be easily formed and is excellent in antithrombotic and antifouling properties, and further provides an antithrombotic material and a semipermeable membrane. These materials can be appropriately used in the medical field and as water-absorbent and antifouling materials.

Abstract: A first image collection memory collects two-dimensional image data within a predetermined energy window to constitute a fine matrix. A second image collection memory collects three-dimensional image data, including energy spectral information, to constitute a coarse matrix. Each pixel of the data collected in the second image collection memory is subjected to a scatter correction with energy weighted acquisition using a weight function. Correction coefficients are derived from a ratio between data before the correction and data after the correction, and by interpolation processing for each pixel in the fine matrix, and are applied to the image data collected in the first image collection memory. The data collected in the second image collection memory is subjected to two-dimensional low-pass filter processing.

Abstract: A hollow polysulfonic fiber intended for a selectively transmissive membrane contains a hydrophilic polymer which is cross-linked into a water-insoluble form (for example polyvinylpyrrolidone) and is used in the form of a hydrogel containing water. A method for the production of a membrane module consists in spinning a hollow fiber by the use of a spinning solution containing a polysulfonic resin and a hydrophilic polymer, wetting the fiber above the saturated moisture content, and then, with the wet condition maintained, subjecting the fiber to the processes of module molding and radiation induced cross-linking, these processes being performed in either order. The method provides a selectively transmissive hollow polysulfone fiber membrane which displays less elution into water and a sharp molecular weight fractionation, so as to be usable safely in the fields of medicine and foodstuffs.

Abstract: On a slab-like board formed of a transparent material is closely attached a wedge-shaped transparent cover member provided with a recess in a central inner portion, thereby to form a clearance. The height of the clearance between the recess and the board is configured to decrease continuously or in steps. When an immunological active substance such as a monoclonal antibody is caused to sensitize carrier particles F, and a reagent having the carrier particles F dispersed into a liquid medium mainly composed of the water is mixed with a specimen, the reaction will occur in which the flocculate is formed from plural carrier particles. When this reaction liquid is poured into the clearance through the opening, the reaction liquid penetrates in the direction having a narrower vertical spacing due to surface tension. A single carrier particle unflocculated can move deep within the recess because it is small in diameter, but the flocculate G is trapped on its way and can not move because of its size.

Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition comprising an intimate mixture of (A) a compound having a skeleton of the following formula (1), ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is an integer of 3 to 5, and n is an integer of 1 to 3, provided that m+n equals 6,(B) a transition metal compound and (C) a phosphorus compound. This composition is useful in a variety of fields requiring prevention of rust formation on metal, prevention of oxidation and decay of an organic substance, preservation of foods, prevention of insects and prevention of mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is so constructed as to measure a specific substance in a test specimen by the degree of the aggregation of carrier particles in a reaction solution in which the test specimen is mixed with the carrier particles which carry a substance specifically binding to the specific substance. The apparatus includes a substrate having comb-shaped electrodes mounting the reaction solution and amplifier and alternating oscillator for displaying a variable voltage to the comb-shaped electrodes. The test specimen measuring apparatus having the structure accelerates the aggregation of the reaction solution by applying an alternating voltate to the comb-shaped electrodes in a state that the reaction solution is being mounted on the substrate, and detects the spatial spectrum of the comb-shaped electrodes on which the reaction solution is mounted, thus performing the qualitative or quantitative detection of the presence of the substance in the test specimen.

Abstract: An injection port for injecting a sample, an accumulation portion for accumulating the injected sample having a reagent carrier enclosed, a flow passage portion, having a light receiving element at a measuring position located halfway thereof, for passing a reaction fluid having reacted with the reagent in the accumulation portion therethrough, a micro-pump having a feed action of the sample fluid within the flow passage portion and which is a heat generating element provided near a nozzle downstream of the measuring position of the flow passage portion are formed integrally and intensively as a cartridge by a producing method including a semiconductor fabrication process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting microorganisms, comprising the step of converting physical forms of microorganisms by antigen-antibody reaction and successively measuring the information that shows the physical forms of the converted data, and the step of comparing a statistical pattern of the values thus measured and a reference statistical pattern of a control subjected to no antigen-antibody reaction, thus detecting the microorganisms of interest. A change in both patterns, i.e., no correspondence thereof, enables recognition of the presence of the microorganisms of interest.

Abstract: An anti-thrombogenic blood treating system, comprising selectively permeable hollow yarn membranes made of a composition containing a copolymer with polyethylene oxide component, and headers, catheters and circuits respectively covered on the blood contact surface with a heparinized hydrophilic copolymer containing vinyl chloride as a component monomer or a hydrophilic copolymer with polyethylene oxide component, in combination. All the blood contact surfaces are made anti-thrombogenic to allow, for the first time, the long-time extracorporeal circulation without intracorporeal administration of heparin.