Abstract: A chemical substance sensor is formed by arranging a sensor chip on a microcartridge formed with a micropassage and further arranging a prism on this sensor chip. In the sensor chip, a metal thin film is formed on one surface of a substrate, and an immobilizer is further formed thereon. In order to detect a chemical substance with the chemical substance sensor, a solution containing a sample and odorant binding protein is fed to the micropassage for immobilizing the odorant binding protein to the immobilizer. The chemical substance contained in the sample is detected on the basis of the quantity of immobilization of the odorant binding protein.

Abstract: A green garbage treatment apparatus which comprises a disposer, a flow rate adjustment tank for temporarily storing a mixture of a green kitchen garbage ground by the disposer and a kitchen waste water, a solid-liquid separation device for separating the mixture into a solid component and a liquid component, a composting device for composting the solid component, a precipitation-separation device for allowing fine particles in the liquid component to precipitate, a waste water treatment device for subjecting the liquid component fed from the precipitation-separation device via a dividing device to a biological treatment to thereby obtain a treated water, and an insect removal device for removing deleterious insects such as a fly which are generated, for example, in the waste water treatment device. The apparatus is advantageous, in particular, in that it can remove insects such as a fly which are generated in the waste water treatment device.

Abstract: A chemical substance sensor comprises a microplate including a plurality of holes storing reaction solutions, an air introducer, a light source, a first wavelength selector, a second wavelength selector, a fluorescence detector and a data processor. The reaction solutions contain bovine derivation odorant binding protein. The air introducer introduces air containing odorants into the reaction solutions. Thus, the odorant binding protein contained in the reaction solutions is bonded with the odorants. The odorants in the air are detected by detecting fluorescence obtained when irradiating the odorant binding protein bonded with the odorants with light.

Abstract: An alkanethiol monolayer membrane is formed on a substrate having an Au layer using Au--S bonding, and a second layer constructed by a monolayer lipid membrane is formed on its surface to form a BLM. A gel layer is formed using agarose on the side of the BLM having the second monolayer lipid layer. In addition, a polymer layer is formed using the amino acid poly-L-lysine between the surface of the monolayer lipid membrane and the gel layer to immobilize the BLM. The use of this supporting constitution for holding and immobilizing the membrane extends the life-span of the BLM, while the gel layer keeps the electrolyte solution required for maintaining flexibility of the membrane and activating protein on the surface of the BLM. In addition, a BLM having a life-span of one month or more is obtained by arranging a membrane supporting portion that minimizes lifting of the membrane molecules due to buoyancy above the BLM arranged upright in an aqueous system.

Abstract: A biological oscillating device comprises a lipid-impregnated membrane which is disposed in an electrolyte solution and in which is buried an ion channel having a selectivity opposite to that of the lipid-impregnated membrane, and an electrode provided for transmitting a membrane potential of the lipid-impregnated membrane in the form of an electrical signal. When a membrane potential is caused across the lipid-impregnated membrane by the application of an electric current via an eletrode, or by the activation of the ion pump, an ion pump, an ion channel opens once the magnitude of the membrane potential reaches the active potential of the ion channel, whereby the membrane potential is accordingly eliminated. Upon the elimination of the membrane potential, the ion channel is closed to allow the membrane potential to be again raised. Then, once reaching the active potential of the ion channel, the ion channel reopens so that the membrane potential is correspondingly eliminated.

Abstract: A neural modeling device comprising an electrolyte, a lipid or lipid-impregnated membrane which is situated in the electrolyte and in which an ion pump and an ion channel are buried, and an electrode for transmitting a potential of the lipid or lipid-impregnated membrane as an electrical signal. The ion pump actively transports selected ions in the electrolyte through the membrane from one side to the other side in response to an external stimulus such as light irradiation. When the difference in potential between the opposite sides of the membrane reaches a threshold, the ion channel opens to passively transport selected ions in a direction reverse to the ion transporting direction of the ion pump. When this device is exposed to light, the ion pump actively transports ions to generate a potential in the lipid or lipid-impregnated membrane.