Abstract: A difference management apparatus includes: a first difference management table which manages first difference map information; and a second difference management table in which, when an area-wide difference(s) has not occurred in a first management unit of the first difference management table, an entry(ies) for managing second difference map information associated with the first difference map information in the first difference management table is generated, the second difference map information indicating a location(s) of occurrence of a difference(s) in the first difference map information in a second management unit finer than the first management unit.

Abstract: A sterilization method and sterilization processing apparatus having a high sterilization effect and capable of shortening a sterilization time are provided. An electrolysis apparatus 2 electrolyzes water in a reservoir 1 and generates strongly acidic electrolytic water in an anode chamber 11 and generates strongly alkaline electrolytic water in a cathode chamber 12. A first wash container 3 is provided with a drain having an on-off valve and retains the strongly alkaline electrolytic water in the cathode chamber 12. A second wash container 4 is hermetically sealable, provided with a drain having an on-off valve and retains the strongly acidic electrolytic water of the anode chamber 11. A gas jetting apparatus 5 has a collector pipe 51 communicating with the inside of the second wash container 4 and causes air or a chlorine gas collected from the inside of the second wash container 4 through the collector pipe 51 to jet in the strongly acidic electrolytic water inside the second wash container 4.

Abstract: This invention provides a method or device for determining the stage of chronic kidney disease. The present invention relates to a method for determining a stage of chronic kidney disease in a subject suffering from kidney disease, the method comprising the steps of: (A-1) measuring the content of at least one marker selected from the group consisting of markers (1) to (16) in a specimen from the subject, (B-1) determining the stage indicated by each marker by comparing the content of the at least one marker in the specimen from the subject, which has been measured in step (A-1), with a reference content range determined in each stage, and (C-1) determining that when each marker indicates the same stage, which has been determined in step (A-1), the chronic kidney disease in the subject is in that stage.

Abstract: This invention provides a method or device for determining the stage of chronic kidney disease. The present invention relates to a method for determining a stage of chronic kidney disease in a subject suffering from kidney disease, the method comprising the steps of: (A-1) measuring the content of at least one marker selected from the group consisting of markers (1) to (16) in a specimen from the subject, (B-1) determining the stage indicated by each marker by comparing the content of the at least one marker in the specimen from the subject, which has been measured in step (A-1), with a reference content range determined in each stage, and (C-1) determining that when each marker indicates the same stage, which has been determined in step (A-1), the chronic kidney disease in the subject is in that stage.

Abstract: A sterilization method and sterilization processing apparatus having a high sterilization effect and capable of shortening a sterilization time are provided. An electrolysis apparatus 2 electrolyzes water in a reservoir 1 and generates strongly acidic electrolytic water in an anode chamber 11 and generates strongly alkaline electrolytic water in a cathode chamber 12. A first wash container 3 is provided with a drain having an on-off valve and retains the strongly alkaline electrolytic water in the cathode chamber 12. A second wash container 4 is hermetically sealable, provided with a drain having an on-off valve and retains the strongly acidic electrolytic water of the anode chamber 11. A gas jetting apparatus 5 has a collector pipe 51 communicating with the inside of the second wash container 4 and causes air or a chlorine gas collected from the inside of the second wash container 4 through the collector pipe 51 to jet in the strongly acidic electrolytic water inside the second wash container 4.

Abstract: A high-speed optical delay generating method by a rotation reflector in optical coherence tomography, capable of providing a sectional picture with a sufficiently long depth-direction (Z direction) scanning distance, and an optical coherence tomography device therefor are provided. The device comprises a low-coherence light source (1), a half mirror (2) for splitting light from the low-coherence light source (1) into two, that is, into object light towards an object (A) to be examined and reference light, a light delay mechanism (3) for delaying the reference light by means of a rotation reflector (12), a fixed mirror (4) for reflecting/returning the reference light from the light delay mechanism (3), the half-mirror (2) for combining the object light returning from the object (A) to be examined with the reference light returning from the light delay mechanism, and a light detector (11) for detecting interference light including a heterodyne interference beat signal combined at the half mirror (2).

Abstract: A high-speed optical delay generating method by a rotation reflector in optical coherence tomography, capable of providing a sectional picture with a sufficiently long depth-direction (Z direction) scanning distance, and an optical coherence tomography device therefor are provided. The device comprises a low-coherence light source (1), a half mirror (2) for splitting light from the low-coherence light source (1) into two, that is, into object light towards an object (A) to be examined and reference light, a light delay mechanism (3) for delaying the reference light by means of a rotation reflector (12), a fixed mirror (4) for reflecting/returning the reference light from the light delay mechanism (3), the half-mirror (2) for combining the object light returning from the object (A) to be examined with the reference light returning from the light delay mechanism, and a light detector (11) for detecting interference light including a heterodyne interference beat signal combined at the half mirror (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining suspended particulate matter accurately and conveniently, a sampling tube for sampling the suspended particulate matter, and a sampling kit for using the collection of the suspended particulate materials.

Abstract: A method of judging the redox (oxidation-reduction) in human blood plasma precisely in a short time using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy is provided. Also, a method of evaluating the functions of human kidneys, judging whether a dialysis is necessary, determining the dialysis time and judging the usefulness of dialysis materials is offered. First, a spin-trapping agent such as PBN is added to a human blood plasma, resulting in hydroxyl radicals in the plasma. The radicals are trapped and converted into a stable spin adduct (PBN-OH). The amount of the spin adduct is measured by an ESR spectrometer.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, an objective address signal is compared with at least one preceding address signal, provided prior to the objective address signal, to obtain a control signal. A unit of data corresponding to the objective address signal is read from a memory. A processor performs a predetermined processing to the unit of data to obtain renewal data. The renewal data are written to its original address in the memory. According to the control signal, a controller controls reading and writing access to the memory.

Abstract: A rank order filter is disclosed in which the maximum value, the minimum value and the median value are determined in a 3.times.3 local area having three sample values in each of column and row. The three sample values in the 3.times.3 local area are rearranged in descending order of magnitude by column, and the maximum values or the minimum values in each column are compared with each other thereby to determine the maximum value or the minimum value in the 3.times.3 local area. Also, after comparing the median values with each other in each column, the maximum value in the column having the minimum median value, the minimum value in the column having the maximum median value and the median value in the column having the median median value are compared with each other. The result of comparison is used to determine the median value in the 3.times.3 local area.

Abstract: A liquid oxidizer immersion hybrid rocket having a combustion chamber, a porous fuel material placed in the combustion chamber, a liquid oxidizer filled into pores of the porous fuel material, and two holding plates provided in the combustion chamber so as to hold opposite ends of the porous fuel material respectively. The porous fuel material comprises a large number of layers stacked one another in an axial direction of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A rank order filter is disclosed in which the maximum value, the minimum value and the median value are determined in a 3.times.3 local area having three sample values in each of column and row. The three sample values in the 3.times.3 local area are rearranged in descending order of magnitude by column, and the maximum values or the minimum values in each column are compared with each other thereby to determine the maximum value or the minimum value in the 3.times.3 local area. Also, after comparing the median values with each other in each column, the maximum value in the column having the minimum median value, the minimum value in the column having the maximum median value and the median value in the column having the median median value are compared with each other. The result of comparison is used to determine the median value in the 3.times.3 local area.

Abstract: A labeling method and a labeling apparatus thereof, whereby a primary label of a binary image is determined and a primary label for the following image is prepared in accordance with the combination of the data of four adjacent images P(i,j), P(i,j+1), p(i+1,j) and P(i+1,j+1) with simpler hardwares.

Abstract: A spring apparatus has a spring body including a plurality of elastic longitudinal beam members and a coupling beam member for holding the elastic longitudinal beam members at a predetermined interval. The apparatus further has a pair of spring retaining members for supporting the both ends of the spring body, and a rotary member rotatable provided around the central axis of the spring body as a center at least one one spring retaining member. At least one of the elastic longitudinal beam member is provided at one end of the rotary member. This spring apparatus is a tightly wound coil and made of the elastic longitudinal beam members in fully compressed state. When extended, each elastic longitudinal beam member is sequentially spirally deformed at larger pitch from the end. The twisting deformation of the elastic longitudinal beam member is released by rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: A 2,3-dihydro-2,3,5-trimethyl-4H-pyran-4-one derivative represented by general formula: ##STR1## where R is ##STR2## --CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2, --CH(OC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2, --CHO, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, .dbd.CHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.dbd.CHCH.sub.3 or ##STR3## The derivative is useful as a sex attractant for drugstore beetles.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of cancer utilizing an ESR spectrometer comprised a first step for mixing cells from a patient with a solution of hematoporphyrin or hematoporphyrin derivative, a second step for isolating said cells from unreacted reagent and obtaining ESR spectral signal on said cells, a third step for finding quantity S.sub.x of the radicals contained in said cells on the basis of the ESR signal, and a fourth step for comparing value S.sub.x at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A spin immunoassay apparatus includes means for sampling one of a plurality of sample solutions, a system for measuring certain amounts of the sample solution, a reaction system for mixing the sample solution with reagent which consists of antibody coupled with spin labelled antigen by antigen-antibody reaction and incubating the mixture for a certain period of time, and an electron spin resonance device for measuring the concentration of a spin labelled material extricated. The electron spin resonance device has a cavity resonator including a fixed cell. A flow system transfers the mixed sample solution and reagent into the cell. The intensity of a magnetic field applied to the cell is adjusted so that the maximum differential value or the minimum differential value of the ESR signal of the spin labelled material will be detected.