Abstract: A mass spectroscope includes a mass analysis device having a surface provided with metallic members capable of exciting plasmons when irradiated by laser light, the mass analysis device allowing an analyte to be attached to the surface, a light radiation unit for irradiating the surface of the mass analysis device with laser light to ionize the analyte attached to the surface and desorb the analyte from the surface, and a detection unit for detecting a mass of the analyte ionized and desorbed from the surface of the mass analysis device from a time of flight of the analyte. The light radiation unit includes a polarization adjusting mechanism for adjusting a polarization direction of the laser light.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion element including a step of preparing a substrate and a step of forming a photoelectric conversion layer made of a CIGS-based semiconductor compound on the substrate. The step of forming the photoelectric conversion layer includes exposing the substrate to vapors of (In, Ga) and Se, or a vapor of (In, Ga)ySez, and is achieved in less than 40 minutes, and the step of exposing the substrate to vapors of (In, Ga) and Se, or vapor of (In, Ga)ySez includes varying the Ga/(In+Ga) ratio over time.

Abstract: A substrate for mass spectrometry includes a first reflective member that is semi-transmissive/semi-reflective, a transparent member, and a second reflective member that is reflective, sequentially provided to form an optical resonator. The optical resonator includes, on a surface of the first reflective member, a sample separation portion at which surface interaction occurs with a plurality of analytes contained in a sample liquid. The analytes are separated on the sample separation portion to perform mass spectrometry on each of the analytes. A sample in contact with the surface of the first reflective member is irradiated with laser beam L to generate resonance in the optical resonator, and an electric field on the surface of the first reflective member is enhanced by the resonance. The enhanced electric field is utilized to ionize analytes S in the sample and to desorb the analytes S from the surface.

Abstract: A mass-spectrometry apparatus includes a substrate for mass spectrometry used in surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, a light irradiation means that irradiates sample S in contact with a surface of the substrate with measurement light L1 to desorb analyte R in sample S from the surface, a metal probe that generates near-field light at the leading end thereof by irradiation with measurement light L1, a detector that detects desorbed analyte. Ri, and an analysis means that performs mass spectrometry on analyte R based on a detection result by the detector. The leading end of the metal probe is arranged in such a manner that the near-field light generated by irradiation with measurement light L1 is in contact with a measurement light irradiation portion of sample S. The metal probe is arranged, with respect to the measurement light irradiation portion, at a position different from the direction of the detector.

Abstract: A substrate for mass spectrometry includes a first reflective member that is semi-transmissive/semi-reflective, a transparent member, and a second reflective member that is reflective, sequentially provided to form an optical resonator. The optical resonator includes, on a surface of the first reflective member, a sample separation portion at which surface interaction occurs with a plurality of analytes contained in a sample liquid. The analytes are separated on the sample separation portion to perform mass spectrometry on each of the analytes. A sample in contact with the surface of the first reflective member is irradiated with laser beam L to generate resonance in the optical resonator, and an electric field on the surface of the first reflective member is enhanced by the resonance. The enhanced electric field is utilized to ionize analytes S in the sample and to desorb the analytes S from the surface.

Abstract: In a device for mass spectrometry, an analyte contained in a sample is desorbed from a surface of the device by irradiating the sample in contact with the surface with measurement light. The device includes a micro-structure having a plurality of metal bodies on a surface of a substrate, and the plurality of metal bodies have sizes that can excite localized plasmons by irradiation with the measurement light. Further, the device includes an initiator fixed at least to a part of a surface of the micro-structure.

Abstract: A Raman spectrum detecting method includes a liquid sample contacting step of placing a liquid sample containing a reference substance and a specimen in contact with a detection surface, the reference substance generating a known Raman spectrum having at least one peak therein that is different from peaks in a Raman spectrum generated by the specimen; a scattered light detecting step of irradiating the detection surface in contact with the liquid sample with an excitation light and detecting Raman scattered light occurring from the liquid sample; and a normalizing step of extracting a Raman spectrum signal of the reference substance and a Raman spectrum signal of the specimen from the signal detected in the scattered light detecting step and normalizing a signal intensity of the Raman spectrum signal of the specimen according to an intensity of the Raman spectrum signal of the reference substance.

Abstract: A sample holding device used for a mass spectroscope includes a substrate on which a detection surface is formed, a measuring region formed on the detection surface of the substrate and having placed thereon at least an analyte, and a reference region formed in another region of the detection surface of the substrate except for the measuring region, the reference region having the same configuration as the measuring region except that the former does not have the analyte placed thereon.

Abstract: A method of measuring Raman signals comprises: an analyte placing step of placing an analyte on a detection surface of a microstructure plate which generates an enhanced electric field when irradiated with excitation light; an irradiating step of irradiating the detection surface with the excitation light so that the enhanced electric field is generated around the detection surface and light is emitted from the analyte and the detection surface to be enhanced by the generated enhanced electric field; a Raman signal obtaining step of detecting the enhanced light to obtain a Raman signal emitted from the analyte and a background signal for use as a reference, the Raman signal and the background signal having respective intensities; and a normalizing step of normalizing the Raman signal from the analyte by dividing the intensity of the Raman signal from the analyte by the intensity of the background signal obtained as the reference.

Abstract: A mass spectroscope includes a mass analysis device having a surface provided with metallic members capable of exciting plasmons when irradiated by laser light, the mass analysis device allowing an analyte to be attached to the surface, a light radiation unit for irradiating the surface of the mass analysis device with laser light to ionize the analyte attached to the surface and desorb the analyte from the surface, and a detection unit for detecting a mass of the analyte ionized and desorbed from the surface of the mass analysis device from a time of flight of the analyte. The light radiation unit includes a polarization adjusting mechanism for adjusting a polarization direction of the laser light.

Abstract: A method of producing an inspection chip includes a microstructure producing step of producing a microstructure where metallic portions having dimensions permitting excitation of surface plasmons are formed and distributed on one surface of a substrate, a specimen attaching step of attaching a specimen to the surfaces of the metallic portions of the microstructure, and a metallic particle attaching step of attaching metallic particles having dimensions permitting excitation of surface plasmons to the metallic portions and the specimen, wherein the specimen is attached to the metallic portions to which no substance capable of specifically binding to the specimen is secured in the specimen attaching step, and/or the metallic particles to which no substance capable of specifically binding to the specimen is secured are attached to the specimen in the metallic particle attaching step.

Abstract: A brushless fan motor, in which cooling effect on a stator may be enhanced, is provided. A center through hole is formed in a center of a bottom wall portion of a first brushless fan motor. Vane portions are formed on an inner wall portion of the brushless fan motor and are formed into a shape which allows ambient air to be drawn in through the center through hole. Through holes are formed in an end plate portion of the first brushless fan motor in order to introduce the ambient air, which has been drawn in through the center through hole, inside a rotor cover.

Abstract: In a Raman spectroscopic system: a sample cell in which a sample is filled or through which the sample flows down, where the sample has fluidity and contains one or more materials being to be measured, and having an electrophoretic feature or being conditioned in advance so as to have an electrophoretic feature; a Raman scattering device which has a sample-contact surface, is arranged so that the sample is in contact with the sample-contact surface, and outputs Raman-scattered light when the sample-contact surface is illuminated with measurement light; an optical system which illuminates with the measurement light the sample in contact with the sample-contact surface; a voltage application unit which is provided with the sample cell and applies an electric voltage to the sample so as to bring the one or more materials close to the sample-contact surface by electrophoresis; and a detection unit which detects the Raman-scattered light.

Abstract: A brushless fan motor, in which cooling effect on a stator may be enhanced, is provided. A center through hole is formed in a center of a bottom wall portion of a first brushless fan motor. Vane portions are formed on an inner wall portion of the brushless fan motor and are formed into a shape which allows ambient air to be drawn in through the center through hole. Through holes are formed in an end plate portion of the first brushless fan motor in order to introduce the ambient air, which has been drawn in through the center through hole, inside a rotor cover.

Abstract: An immersion type membrane filter apparatus 200 is intended for obtaining filtrate by filtrating a fluid to be processed stored within a storage bath 150 and primarily includes a filtration membrane module 300 and an air bubbles supply device 500 disposed therebelow. The filtration membrane module 300 has numerous tubular membranes 310 having on the inner surfaces thereof the function of filtrating a fluid to be processed packed within a cylindrical housing vessel 301 having a discharge port 303 for filtrate. The tubular membranes 310 are held in an opened state at both the ends of the housing vessel 301. The filtration membrane module 300 is soaked in a fluid to be processed in such a way that the tubular membranes 310 are opened in the vertical direction. When air bubbles are supplied to the filtration membrane module 300 from an air bubbles supply device 500, the fluid to be processed flows through the tubular membranes 310 from the down side upwards to naturally circulate within the storage bath 150.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling a target microorganism characterized in that an extrinsic environmental factor is added to a culture system where said target microorganism and other microbes coexist, said extrinsic environmental factor providing a desirable growth condition for the other microorganisms but an undesirable growth condition for the target microorganism, and said extrinsic environmental factor is typically an organic substance that is assimilable by the above other microorganisms but not by the target microorganism, and includes a sugar, an amino acid, an alkanol amine, an organic acid, and the like. In particular, the target microorganism is N16-1 strain of Burkholderia (FERM BP-5504) and the substance is D-serine.

Abstract: An immersion type membrane filter apparatus 200 is intended for obtaining filtrate by filtrating a fluid to be processed stored within a storage bath 150 and primarily includes a filtration membrane module 300 and an air bubbles supply device 500 disposed therebelow. The filtration membrane module 300 has numerous tubular membranes 310 having on the inner surfaces thereof the function of filtrating a fluid to be processed packed within a cylindrical housing vessel 301 having a discharge port 303 for filtrate. The tubular membranes 310 are held in an opened state at both the ends of the housing vessel 301. The filtration membrane module 300 is soaked in a fluid to be processed in such a way that the tubular membranes 310 are opened in the vertical direction. When air bubbles are supplied to the filtration membrane module 300 from an air bubbles supply device 500, the fluid to be processed flows through the tubular membranes 310 from the down side upwards to naturally circulate within the storage bath 150.

Abstract: A DDR-SDRM includes a data write section including a latch section for latching first write data at a rising edge of a data strobe signal and second write data at a falling edge of the data strobe signal, and a write buffer section for writing the first write data and the second write data at a time based on the signals generated from the data strobe signal. A read operation is conducted based on the system clock signal.

Abstract: A variable delay circuit is provided with a plurality of unit delay circuits connected in series. Each of the plurality of unit delay circuit is provided with an inverter and a transistor having a current control electrode connected to an output terminal of the inverter. The transistor generates the first and second delays relating to a signal supplied to another electrode. The second delay is larger than the first delay. The variable delay circuit is also provided with a selection control circuit which selects a signal applied to said another electrode of each of a plurality of the transistors.

Abstract: A DDR-SDRM includes a data write section including a latch section for latching first write data at a rising edge of a data strobe signal and second write data at a falling edge of the data strobe signal, and a write buffer section for writing the first write data and the second write data at a time based on the signals generated from the data strobe signal. A read operation is conducted based on the system clock signal.