Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer, a development device, and an image bearing member. The developer includes an initial developer containing an initial carrier and a replenishment developer containing a replenishment carrier. The initial carrier has a surface roughness Sa1 of at least 0.3 ?m and no greater than 1.0 ?m. A ratio Sa1/Sa2 of the surface roughness Sa1 of the initial carrier to a surface roughness Sa2 of the replenishment carrier is at least 1.2 and no greater than 3.4. The packing volume Vp calculated from equation (1)“Vp=100×Y/(Z×DS)” was at least 40% and no greater than 70%. In equation (1), Y represents an amount of the developer conveyed by a developer bearing member. Z represents an apparent density of the initial developer. DS represents a width of a space between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: A sample cartridge carrier apparatus is coupled with a focused ion beam processing apparatus (FIB processing apparatus). A guide mechanism is configured to guide a series of movements of a sample cartridge holder to allow a sample cartridge to be held by a carrier base on a sub stage. Sub cooling equipment is configured to cool the sample cartridge via the sub stage. A carrier mechanism carries the carrier base between the sub stage and a main stage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: A secondary storage container is a member which surrounds a primary storage container. A vaporized coolant generated in a primary storage space flows into and is stored in the secondary storage container. Radiant heat is blocked by the secondary storage container in a cooled state. Heat transferred to the primary storage container is reduced by a heat conducting path including the secondary storage container.

Abstract: A secondary storage container is a member which surrounds a primary storage container. A vaporized coolant generated in a primary storage space flows into and is stored in the secondary storage container. Radiant heat is blocked by the secondary storage container in a cooled state. Heat transferred to the primary storage container is reduced by a heat conducting path including the secondary storage container.

Abstract: A sample holder capable of limiting X-rays accepted into an X-ray detector is provided. The sample holder is for use in an electron microscope equipped with a polepiece assembly and a semiconductor detector. The sample holder includes: a sample stage on which a sample is held; and a shield plate. When the sample stage has been introduced in the sample chamber of the electron microscope, the shield plate is located between the polepiece assembly and the semiconductor detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing active hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and active hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) without using animal serum. The present invention relates to a method for producing active HGFA without using animal serum. The method is characterized in that it comprises a step of obtaining a culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA by culturing mammalian cells expressing inactive hepatocyte growth factor activator (pro-HGFA) in a medium without serum, and a step of adjusting the culture supernatant comprising pro-HGFA obtained in the above step to weakly acidic to convert pro-HGFA into active HGFA. The present invention also relates to a method for producing active HGF with HGFA produced by said method.

Abstract: A sample holder capable of limiting X-rays accepted into an X-ray detector is provided. The sample holder is for use in an electron microscope equipped with a polepiece assembly and a semiconductor detector. The sample holder includes: a sample stage on which a sample is held; and a shield plate. When the sample stage has been introduced in the sample chamber of the electron microscope, the shield plate is located between the polepiece assembly and the semiconductor detector.

Abstract: There is provided a liner tube capable of reducing the effects of magnetic field variations on an electron beam. The liner tube (10) is disposed inside the electron optical column (2) of an electron microscope (100). The interior of the tube (10) forms a path for the electron beam (EB). The liner tube (10) has a first cylindrical member (110) that is made of copper, gold, silver, or an alloy consisting principally of one of these metals.

Abstract: There is provided a liner tube capable of reducing the effects of magnetic field variations on an electron beam. The liner tube (10) is disposed inside the electron optical column (2) of an electron microscope (100). The interior of the tube (10) forms a path for the electron beam (EB). The liner tube (10) has a first cylindrical member (110) that is made of copper, gold, silver, or an alloy consisting principally of one of these metals.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge ink onto a recording medium, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which is configured to make a reciprocating movement, a cutter unit mounted on the carriage and configured to cut the recording medium, a detection unit mounted on the carriage and configured to detect a distance to the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a first process for detecting an amount of a change in the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit when the recording medium is cut by the cutter unit, and a second process for detecting the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit while the cutter unit is retracted if the change amount equal to or more than a predetermined value is detected in the first process.

Abstract: A seat belt pretension with improved piston sealing performance. A piston has an expanding section formed at one end thereof contacting a force transmission component. When gas pressure resulting from reactive gas generated by a gas generator causes the piston to exert a pressing force on the force transmission component in the event of an emergency, the expanding section expands toward the inner circumferential surface of a pipe due to the gas pressure. As a result, the outer circumferential surface of the expanding section in the piston comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the pipe in a more efficient manner, resulting in enhanced sealing between the piston and the inner circumferential surface of the pipe. This prevents reactive gas from losing gas pressure, thereby allowing the gas pressure to more efficiently act on the piston.

Abstract: A vector of the present invention is a vector for amplifying a target gene in a mammalian cell, the vector including an amplification-activating fragment, which is a partial fragment of a mammalian replication initiation region and has a gene amplification activity site, and a mammalian nuclear matrix attachment region. In the case where the mammalian replication initiation region as described above derives from a c-myc locus, for example, the above-described partial fragment at least contains a duplex unwinding element and a topoisomerase II-binding domain. The vector as described above improves gene transfer efficiency and gene amplification efficiency compared with the existing high gene amplification systems. Thus, a method whereby a “high gene amplification system” developed by the inventors can amplify a target gene with better gene transfer efficiency and a vector to be used in this method are provided.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge ink onto a recording medium, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which is configured to make a reciprocating movement, a cutter unit mounted on the carriage and configured to cut the recording medium, a detection unit mounted on the carriage and configured to detect a distance to the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a first process for detecting an amount of a change in the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit when the recording medium is cut by the cutter unit, and a second process for detecting the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit while the cutter unit is retracted if the change amount equal to or more than a predetermined value is detected in the first process.

Abstract: A door-operating lever is disposed on a base plate of a control unit. A door-operating knob includes an operation output portion that engages with a door-operating lever. When the door-operating knob is operated to open or close a door of a vehicle, the operation output portion engages with the door-operating lever in such a manner that the door-operating lever is rotated in a desired direction to cause a closed-door holding unit or an opened-door holding unit to release the door.

Abstract: A seat belt pretension with improved piston sealing performance. A piston has an expanding section formed at one end thereof contacting a force transmission component. When gas pressure resulting from reactive gas generated by a gas generator causes the piston to exert a pressing force on the force transmission component in the event of an emergency, the expanding section expands toward the inner circumferential surface of a pipe due to the gas pressure. As a result, the outer circumferential surface of the expanding section in the piston comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the pipe in a more efficient manner, resulting in enhanced sealing between the piston and the inner circumferential surface of the pipe. This prevents reactive gas from losing gas pressure, thereby allowing the gas pressure to more efficiently act on the piston.