Abstract: The present invention provides a cell potential measuring electrode assembly comprising: an insulating substrate; a conductive pattern arranged in the insulating substrate; an insulating fiber having cell compatibility; and a measurement electrode. The insulating fiber is arranged on the insulating substrate. The measurement electrode has a front surface and a back surface. The back surface of the measurement electrode is in contact with the conductive pattern. The insulating fiber is not arranged on the front surface of the measurement electrode. The cell potential measuring electrode assembly according to the present invention has low impedance. The cell potential measuring electrode assembly according to the present invention is suitable to measure electric potential change of a cardiomyocyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell potential measuring electrode assembly comprising: an insulating substrate; a conductive pattern arranged in the insulating substrate; an insulating fiber having cell compatibility; and a measurement electrode. The insulating fiber is arranged on the insulating substrate. The measurement electrode has a front surface and a back surface. The back surface of the measurement electrode is in contact with the conductive pattern. The insulating fiber is not arranged on the front surface of the measurement electrode. The cell potential measuring electrode assembly according to the present invention has low impedance. The cell potential measuring electrode assembly according to the present invention is suitable to measure electric potential change of a cardiomyocyte.

Abstract: A single-molecule detection device includes a substrate having a through-hole therein, a first chamber configured to accommodate a first electrolytic solution therein, a second chamber configured to accommodate a second electrolytic solution therein, an electrode pair provided around the through-hole, and a chimeric protein immobilized to one end of the through-hole. The chimeric protein includes a target sequence configured to allow the biomolecule to act thereon, a first protein provided at one end of the target sequence, and a second protein provided at another end of the target sequence. The chimeric protein is immobilized at the one end of the through-hole via the first protein. This device can readily detect a single biomolecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antihypertensive agent having a superior antihypertensive action, and a method for lowering blood pressure in mammals by inhalation of such an antihypertensive agent through the nostril. The antihypertensive agent of the present invention comprises citral and linalool, and has a mass ratio of citral to linalool of not less than 10:1 and not greater than 40:1. Since this antihypertensive agent has a superior antihypertensive action, it can be utilized as antihypertensive compositions for medical drugs, foods and beverages and feeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for assessing neuronal degeneration in vitro. A multielectrode probe is used to culture and measure synaptic transmission of a neuronal sample in the presence of various compounds and culturing conditions capable of inducing or protecting against neuronal damage.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for the detection and characterization of psychoactives in neuronal tissue by comparing parameters measured for a set of baseline oscillations with those same parameters measured for a set of resulting oscillations. The baseline oscillations are induced or stimulated by such agents as chemical compounds that effect cholinergic interactions, co-deposited neuronal tissue, or electrical stimulations. The resulting set of oscillations is obtained after exposing the neuronal tissue to a sample composition that may or may not contain a psychoactive. By comparing the parameters for the baseline and resulting oscillations, the psychoactive in the sample composition may be detected and characterized as belonging to a specific psychoactive compound class and in some instances, may be distinguished from other members of the psychoactive compound class.

Abstract: This relates to methods for the detection of psychoactive compounds in an in vitro neuronal tissue sample by detecting oscillations of extracellular voltage desirably before and after the introduction of a candidate sample onto an in vitro neuronal tissue sample and for devices useful in practicing the methods. Analysis of the extracellular voltage parameters leads to indication of the presence of psychoactive material in the candidate sample and information as to its pharmacological activity and/or composition. Further, it relates to a process of initiating and maintaining the presence of repetitive neuronal activity within the in vitro sample. Additionally, this includes a method for the stimulation of or initiation of repetitive neuronal activity, e.g.

Abstract: A high-resolution image pickup method includes dividing each of a plurality of light-receiving pixels of an image pickup sensor for capturing image information on an inspection subject into a plurality of regions, and capturing the image information from the inspection subject for each of the divided regions, thereby finally capturing image information on the inspection subject with all the regions of the light-receiving pixels.

Abstract: An inspecting method for inspecting foreign substances, comprising projecting beams from an illumination system arranged above a light-permeable body to be inspected with an angle of incidence of a first elevation angle onto an upper face of the body, and receiving a reflecting light and a scattering light generated by the beams with a photodetecting angle of a second elevation angle by a photodetecting system. The method further comprising, before the beams are projected, setting a width of the beams of the illumination system to be not larger than w calculated according to an expression w<2* sin .alpha.*t{tan[sin.sup.-1 {sin(90.degree.-.alpha.)/n}]-tan[sin.sup.-1 {sin(.theta.-90.degree.)/n}]} from the angle of incidence .alpha., the photodetecting angle .theta., a thickness t of the body and a refractive index n of the body to a substance over the body.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low impedance cell potential measuring electrode assembly typically having a number of microelectrodes on an insulating substrate and having a wall enclosing the region including the microelectrodes. The device is capable of measuring electrophysiological activities of a monitored sample using the microelectrodes while cultivating those cells or tissues in the in the region of the microelectrodes. The invention utilizes independent reference electrodes to lower the impedance of the overall system and to therefore lower the noise often inherent in the measured data. Optimally the microelectrodes are enclosed by a physical wall used for controlling the atmosphere around the monitored sample.

Abstract: A method for foreign particles inspection includes illuminating an inspection surface of an inspection object with a beam which is, one of s-polarized and p-polarized relative to the inspection surface of the inspection object. The illumination utilizes an optical axis which is generally parallel to the inspection surface or which intersects the inspection surface at an angle that is greater than or equal to 1.degree. and less than 5.degree.. Reflected and scattered light is detected utilizing an optical axis which makes an acute angle with the inspection surface and which makes a differential angle of 30.degree. or less with the optical axis of the illumination beam. The detection of foreign particles is accomplished by detecting the component of the reflected and scattered light which is the other of s-polarized and p-polarized relative to the inspection surface.

Abstract: A foreign substance inspection apparatus having a good signal to noise ratio with optical detection accuracy capable of detecting infinitesimal foreign substances, comprising a lighting portion to irradiate with an S polarized laser light beam and having the optical axis parallel to the substrate to be inspected, a detecting portion having an optical axis located in a position set by rotating the optical axis of the lighting portion by 120.degree. to 160.degree. with the point of intersection of the optical axis of the lighting portion and the surface to be inspected as the center of rotation so as to have an angle made with the surface to be inspected of 45.degree.

Abstract: This invention relates to a low impedance cell potential measuring electrode assembly typically having a number of microelectrodes on an insulating substrate and having a wall enclosing the region including the microelectrodes. The device is capable of measuring electrophysiological activities of a monitored sample using the microelectrodes while cultivating those cells or tissues in the in the region of the microelectrodes. The invention utilizes independent reference electrodes to lower the impedance of the overall system and to therefore lower the noise often inherent in the measured data. Optimally the microelectrodes are enclosed by a physical wall used for controlling the atmosphere around the monitored sample.