Abstract: A method for measuring fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) in a sample, which comprise the following steps: (1) reacting, in an aqueous medium, FGF-23 in a sample with magnetic particles, a first antibody or a fragment thereof which binds to FGF-23, and a second antibody or a fragment thereof which binds to FGF-23, to form on the magnetic particles an immunocomplex comprising the first antibody or a fragment thereof which binds to FGF-23, FGF-23, and the second antibody or a fragment thereof which binds to FGF-23; (2) collecting the magnetic particles in the reaction mixture after step (1) by magnetic force, and separating the magnetic particles collected by magnetic force from the other components; and (3) measuring the immunocomplex on the magnetic particles separated in step (2). The present invention provides a method for measuring FGF-23 in a sample, which have a high sensitivity and have a wide measurement range.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus contains a local area network interface for communication, a signal-processing device that decodes program information received by the local area network interface, and an encoding device that encodes the decoded program information to reconstitute program information to which a synchronizing signal is added and to generate any one of a composite signal and a separate signal. The receiving apparatus also contains an output terminal that the encoding device supplies with any one of a composite signal and a separate signal.

Abstract: A sending apparatus sends program information to which accompanying information is added with the program information and the accompanying information being suitable for sending. The sending apparatus contains a detection portion that detects the accompanying information, a separation portion that separates the accompanying information from the program information. The sending apparatus also contains a signal-processing portion that compresses and encodes the separated accompanying information and program information, respectively, and then packetizes the accompanying information and the program information, respectively, and a local area network interface for communication. The accompanying information and the program information are sent following separated data formats.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission/reception apparatus capable of achieving both a high processing speed and good extensibility in performing communication protocol processes. Used for transmitting data in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol and receiving data transmitted in accordance with the predetermined communication protocol, the transmission/reception apparatus has a configuration capable of executing communication protocol processes by using hardware (in first and second communication-protocol-processing units) and software (in first and second control units). The hardware or the software can be selected properly in accordance with the type of data. For example, a communication protocol process for data regarded as a heavy processing load can be carried out by using the hardware at the high processing speed whereas a communication protocol process for data regarded as a light processing load can be carried out by using the software, which offers the good extensibility.

Abstract: A communication-processing method performs communication processing on any network-connected equipment. The method includes the steps of sending an identification signal through a network to every apparatus that is connected in an identical network circuit to identify a local apparatus, and determining whether a reply signal including identification information in reply to the sent identification signal is received or not. The method also includes the steps of deciding that the local apparatus is connected to the identical network circuit if receiving the reply signal including the identification information to secure a communication-processing condition for the identified local apparatus, communicating with the identified local apparatus, and sending the communication-processing condition to the identified local apparatus.

Abstract: A wireless IC device includes a dielectric body, a metal pattern that is provided on a surface of the dielectric body and that defines a radiator, and a wireless IC element coupled to feeding portions of the metal pattern. A plurality of slits are provided on at least one surface of the dielectric body so as to provide flexibility for the dielectric body.

Abstract: A wireless IC device includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped dielectric body, a metal pattern that is provided on the surface of the dielectric body via a film and functions as a radiator, and a wireless IC element coupled to feeding portions of the metal pattern. The dielectric body has a laminated structure including a folded flexible dielectric layer. Surfaces of the dielectric layer which face each other after the dielectric layer has been folded are non-bonded surfaces.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus constitutes a low-cost audio/video data transmission and reception system. A reception buffer monitoring circuit 21 monitors the size of receiver data being accumulated in a reception buffer 6. When the size of accumulated data is found to become higher than a high threshold, the circuit 21 causes a reception clock generation circuit 8 to generate a reception clock with a higher frequency. When the accumulated data size becomes lower than a low threshold, the reception clock is generated with a lower frequency. Based on the reception clock fed from the reception clock generation circuit 8, an audio/video decoder 7 decodes the audio/video data coming from the reception buffer 6. The data processing apparatus applies advantageously to a television transmission and reception system for transmitting and receiving TV broadcast signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission/reception apparatus capable of achieving both a high processing speed and good extensibility in performing communication protocol processes. Used for transmitting data in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol and receiving data transmitted in accordance with the predetermined communication protocol, the transmission/reception apparatus has a configuration capable of executing communication protocol processes by using hardware (in first and second communication-protocol-processing units) and software (in first and second control units). The hardware or the software can be selected properly in accordance with the type of data. For example, a communication protocol process for data regarded as a heavy processing load can be carried out by using the hardware at the high processing speed whereas a communication protocol process for data regarded as a light processing load can be carried out by using the software, which offers the good extensibility.

Abstract: A group commodity purchasing system for performing a purchasing operation by causing a commodity list to be downloaded and displayed onto a user terminal, the system includes a database of the server contains a commodity master in which at least a commodity code and a price are associated with each other, and a group commodity table for registering a group of commodities selected arbitrarily by a specific user as a group commodity. The server reads a group commodity code from the group commodity table and registering the group commodity code as one of the commodity codes on the commodity master. The group commodity code registered on the commodity master is indicated within the commodity list.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus constituting a low-cost audio/video data transmission and reception system is disclosed. A reception buffer monitoring circuit 21 monitors the size of receiver data being accumulated in a reception buffer 6. When the size of accumulated data is found to become higher than a high threshold, the circuit 21 causes a reception clock generation circuit 8 to generate a reception clock with a higher frequency. When the accumulated data size becomes lower than a low threshold, the reception clock is generated with a lower frequency. Based on the reception clock fed from the reception clock generation circuit 8, an audio/video decoder 7 decodes the audio/video data coming from the reception buffer 6. This invention applies advantageously to a television transmission and reception system for transmitting and receiving TV broadcast signals.

Abstract: A sending apparatus sends program information to which accompanying information is added with the program information and the accompanying information being suitable for sending. The sending apparatus contains a detection portion that detects the accompanying information, a separation portion that separates the accompanying information from the program information. The sending apparatus also contains a signal-processing portion that compresses and encodes the separated accompanying information and program information, respectively, and then packetizes the accompanying information and the program information, respectively, and a local area network interface for communication. The accompanying information and the program information are sent following separated data formats.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus constituting a low-cost audio/video data transmission and reception system is disclosed. A reception buffer monitoring circuit 21 monitors the size of receiver data being accumulated in a reception buffer 6. When the size of accumulated data is found to become higher than a high threshold, the circuit 21 causes a reception clock generation circuit 8 to generate a reception clock with a higher frequency. When the accumulated data size becomes lower than a low threshold, the reception clock is generated with a lower frequency. Based on the reception clock fed from the reception clock generation circuit 8, an audio/video decoder 7 decodes the audio/video data coming from the reception buffer 6. This invention applies advantageously to a television transmission and reception system for transmitting and receiving TV broadcast signals.

Abstract: A communication-processing method performs communication processing on any network-connected equipment. The method includes the steps of sending an identification signal through a network to every apparatus that is connected in an identical network circuit to identify a local apparatus, and determining whether a reply signal including identification information in reply to the sent identification signal is received or not. The method also includes the steps of deciding that the local apparatus is connected to the identical network circuit if receiving the reply signal including the identification information to secure a communication-processing condition for the identified local apparatus, communicating with the identified local apparatus, and sending the communication-processing condition to the identified local apparatus.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus contains a local area network interface for communication, a signal-processing device that decodes program information received by the local area network interface, and an encoding device that encodes the decoded program information to reconstitute program information to which a synchronizing signal is added and to generate any one of a composite signal and a separate signal. The receiving apparatus also contains an output terminal that the encoding device supplies with any one of a composite signal and a separate signal.

Abstract: A variable resistor is configured such that a contact of a contact arm is prevented from contacting a driver plate even when the height of a disk section of a sliding contact is reduced so as to reduce the height of the variable resistor. A sliding contact includes an annular driver plate disposed on the top surface, a disk section folded from the external periphery of the driver plate to the back side, and the semi-circular contact arm provided in the external periphery of the disk section opposite to the folded portion. In the external periphery of the driver plate opposite to the folded portion on the back surface thereof, i.e., in a portion of the disk section folded to the back side of the driver plate opposing the contact of the contact arm, a step is provided such that a gap between the driver plate and the contact arm is increased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission/reception apparatus capable of achieving both a high processing speed and good extensibility in performing communication protocol processes. Used for transmitting data in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol and receiving data transmitted in accordance with the predetermined communication protocol, the transmission/reception apparatus has a configuration capable of executing communication protocol processes by using hardware (in first and second communication-protocol-processing units) and software (in first and second control units). The hardware or the software can be selected properly in accordance with the type of data. For example, a communication protocol process for data regarded as a heavy processing load can be carried out by using the hardware at the high processing speed whereas a communication protocol process for data regarded as a light processing load can be carried out by using the software, which offers the good extensibility.

Abstract: A variable resistor is configured such that a contact of a contact arm is prevented from contacting a driver plate even when the height of a disk section of a sliding contact is reduced so as to reduce the height of the variable resistor. A sliding contact includes an annular driver plate disposed on the top surface, a disk section folded from the external periphery of the driver plate to the back side, and the semi-circular contact arm provided in the external periphery of the disk section opposite to the folded portion. In the external periphery of the driver plate opposite to the folded portion on the back surface thereof, i.e., in a portion of the disk section folded to the back side of the driver plate opposing the contact of the contact arm, a step is provided such that a gap between the driver plate and the contact arm is increased.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus constituting a low-cost audio/video data transmission and reception system is disclosed. A reception buffer monitoring circuit 21 monitors the size of receiver data being accumulated in a reception buffer 6. When the size of accumulated data is found to become higher than a high threshold, the circuit 21 causes a reception clock generation circuit 8 to generate a reception clock with a higher frequency. When the accumulated data size becomes lower than a low threshold, the reception clock is generated with a lower frequency. Based on the reception clock fed from the reception clock generation circuit 8, an audio/video decoder 7 decodes the audio/video data coming from the reception buffer 6. This invention applies advantageously to a television transmission and reception system for transmitting and receiving TV broadcast signals.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record a preselected program on a recording medium without fail.