Abstract: An optical fiber according to an embodiment has a structure capable of reducing an increase in transmission loss. The optical fiber includes a glass part extending in a direction of a central axis, and the glass part is comprised of silica-based glass, includes a core and a cladding, and has residual stress approximately uniform throughout a cross section of the glass part orthogonal to the central axis, the core having the central axis and being doped with chlorine with a mass fraction of 1% or more, the cladding surrounding the core and having a refractive index lower than a maximum refractive index of the core.

Abstract: Provided are a photon up-conversion film, which is capable, of high-efficiency up-conversion even in air and even when low-intensity light is used, and a simple method of producing the film. The photon up-conversion film according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a matrix including a resin; and a pore portion, wherein the photon up-conversion film includes at least a sensitizing component capable of absorbing light in a first wavelength region ?1, and a light-emitting component capable of radiating light in a second wavelength region ?2 including wavelengths shorter than those of the first wavelength region ?1, and wherein the sensitizing component and the light-emitting component are present at an interface between the matrix and the pore portion.

Abstract: A sliding spline shaft device of the present invention includes a male spline and a female spline that is fitted to the male spline in an axially slidable manner, and at least one of the splines has a surface processed layer. The surface processed layer includes an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer containing phosphate, and a topcoat layer containing solid lubricant, in this order. The undercoat layer contains iron nitride and/or iron carbide. Thus, the surface of a base material has high hardness. As a result, microscopic deformation of the sliding surface is reduced, and increase in a real contact area is suppressed, whereby stick-slip is prevented.

Abstract: A method for separating plasma in a minute amount of a blood sample diluted with a blood dilution buffer is provided. When a blood dilution buffer is added to a minute amount of blood (about 20 to 100 ?L) so as to assay the biological blood components in the resulting diluted plasma, it is necessary to separately store and transfer the diluted blood cell component and the diluted plasma component. The present inventors found that it is possible to separate diluted plasma from diluted blood cells using a polymer gelling agent for plasma separation by means of putting a polymer gel for plasma separation in the container with a blood dilution buffer. In such case, diluted blood cells are transferred to the lower portion of the polymer gelling agent and dilute plasma is transferred to the upper portion of the same. Assay of the biological blood components using a minute amount of blood can be utilized for early detection of health status, diseases, and presymptomatic states.

Abstract: A method for separating plasma in a minute amount of a blood sample diluted with a blood dilution buffer is provided. When a blood dilution buffer is added to a minute amount of blood (about 20 to 100 ?L) so as to assay the biological blood components in the resulting diluted plasma, it is necessary to separately store and transfer the diluted blood cell component and the diluted plasma component. The present inventors found that it is possible to separate diluted plasma from diluted blood cells using a polymer gelling agent for plasma separation by means of putting a polymer gel for plasma separation in the container with a blood dilution buffer. In such case, diluted blood cells are transferred to the lower portion of the polymer gelling agent and dilute plasma is transferred to the upper portion of the same. Assay of the biological blood components using a minute amount of blood can be utilized for early detection of health status, diseases, and presymptomatic states.

Abstract: Trussed girder, roof framing using the trussed girder and method of constructing the roof framing of a building using the trussed girder. In the trussed girder, an upper chord and a lower chord are jointed through lattice members. The trussed girder includes: a prestressing steel member; and an attaching mechanism for attaching the prestressing steel member to at least one of both the upper and lower chords to longitudinally extend under tension for providing prestress to the trussed girder.