Abstract: A service providing system includes a providing unit that delivers a dedicated ink cartridge to be installed in place of a non-dedicated ink cartridge that was installed in the multifunction machine 1 before subscribing to the service, a server memory that stores the amount of ink remaining in the non-dedicated ink cartridge, and a permission unit that permits printing using the dedicated ink cartridge according to the remaining amount of ink stored in the server memory when the user withdraws from the service.

Abstract: A blood reservoir (20) for storing blood includes a first storage section (21), a second storage section (22), and a third storage section (23) that is provided between the first storage section and the second storage section, and communicates with the first storage section and the second storage section. A volume of the blood reservoir (20) can be adjusted by changing the amount of expansion or contraction of a bellows structure (28) using a bellows adjustment mechanism (83, 93).

Abstract: A blood reservoir (20) for storing blood includes a first storage section (21), a second storage section (22), and a third storage section (23) that is provided between the first storage section and the second storage section, and communicates with the first storage section and the second storage section. A volume of the blood reservoir (20) can be adjusted by changing the amount of expansion or contraction of a bellows structure (28) using a bellows adjustment mechanism (83, 93).

Abstract: Provided is a cell cryopreservation container which is provided with a plurality of storage chambers and enables efficient storage of cells in a definite capacity. The cell cryopreservation container (1) comprises a plurality of storage chambers (2), dividing areas (3), and communicating parts (4), wherein a front face part (11) is formed in one side in a third direction (TD) while a back face part (12) is formed in the other side in the third direction (TD). In the cell cryopreservation container (1), the front face part (11) has a convex and concave shape configured of the storage chambers (2) projecting toward one side in the third direction (TD) while the back face part (12) has a planar shape, and the length in a first direction (WD) of the dividing areas (3) exceeds the length in the first direction (WD) of the storage chambers (2).

Abstract: A method for preparing serum and a serum preparation apparatus is provided that can give a large amount of serum with high culture efficiency regardless of freshness of blood used. In a method for preparing serum from blood containing at least platelets, a platelet processing step is provided in which platelet membrane in the blood is destroyed. After the platelet processing step, a deposition step for depositing thermolabile protein in blood and a removal step for removing the thermolabile protein, which has been deposited in the deposition step, are preferably provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a separation container capable of preventing contamination with unnecessary components and efficiently separating a separation subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells with excellent safety when proliferating them by culturing. The hematopoietic stem cells are inoculated into a medium containing a sonicated liquid component of cord blood. The proliferation and differentiation of the cord blood hematopoietic stem cells can be inhibited in the presence of the sonicated liquid component of cord blood. On the contrary, the proliferation of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells can be accelerated by inoculating the hematopoietic stem cells into a medium containing a non-sonicated liquid component of cord blood. Thus, according to the present invention, by using serum derived from cord blood, it is possible to regulate the inhibition of the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and the acceleration of the proliferation of the same as desired.

Abstract: A process for producing a porous body with different physical properties in desired regions is provided by pore forming treatment, not by bonding two or more materials made porous beforehand, with, for example, an adhesive. Raw materials are prepared, each of which contains a polymer and a raw material preparation solvent. At least two types of the raw materials having different compositions are prepared. Thereafter, the respective raw materials are frozen into desired shapes to form frozen bodies thereof. The frozen bodies thus formed are brought into contact with each other to form an assembly thereof, the assembly is exposed to a condition under which the frozen bodies begin to melt, and the assembly is then freeze-dried. Thus, a porous body having regions different in physical properties can be obtained. Such a porous body can be used as, for example, an adhesion inhibitory material or a scaffold for a cell culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells with excellent safety when proliferating them by culturing. The hematopoietic stem cells are inoculated into a medium containing a sonicated liquid component of cord blood. The proliferation and differentiation of the cord blood hematopoietic stem cells can be inhibited in the presence of the sonicated liquid component of cord blood. On the contrary, the proliferation of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells can be accelerated by inoculating the hematopoietic stem cells into a medium containing a non-sonicated liquid component of cord blood. Thus, according to the present invention, by using serum derived from cord blood, it is possible to regulate the inhibition of the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and the acceleration of the proliferation of the same as desired.

Abstract: A separation container that can prevent the contamination with unnecessary components is provided. A separation container 1 for separating a separation subject from a sample by causing the separation subject to gather on the bottom thereof by centrifugation includes a container main body 11 and a dividing portion. The container main body 11 is a tubular container elongated in the axial direction with an upper end thereof being open and a lower end thereof being the bottom. The dividing portion has a partition 12 formed along the axial direction of the container main body, and an inner space of the container main body 11 is divided into a sample supply chamber 14 and a separation subject discharge chamber 15 by the partition 12. The sample supply chamber 14 and the separation subject discharge chamber 15 communicate with each other via a through hole 13 formed in a lower portion of the partition 12.

Abstract: A method for preparing serum and a serum preparation apparatus is provided that can give a large amount of serum with high culture efficiency regardless of freshness of blood used. In a method for preparing serum from blood containing at least platelets, a platelet processing step is provided in which platelet membrane in the blood is destroyed. After the platelet processing step, a deposition step for depositing thermolabile protein in blood and a removal step for removing the thermolabile protein, which has been deposited in the deposition step, are preferably provided.

Abstract: A process for producing a porous body with different physical properties in desired regions is provided by pore forming treatment, not by bonding two or more materials made porous beforehand, with, for example, an adhesive. Raw materials are prepared, each of which contains a polymer and a raw material preparation solvent. At least two types of the raw materials having different compositions are prepared. Thereafter, the respective raw materials are frozen into desired shapes to form frozen bodies thereof. The frozen bodies thus formed are brought into contact with each other to form an assembly thereof, the assembly is exposed to a condition under which the frozen bodies begin to melt, and the assembly is then freeze-dried. Thus, a porous body having regions different in physical properties can be obtained. Such a porous body can be used as, for example, an adhesion inhibitory material or a scaffold for a cell culture.

Abstract: A method of indirectly determining D/P creatinine for easily judging a peritoneal function is provided that does not require blood sampling or multiple recoveries of dialysis effluent. The method includes preparing a dialysis effluent obtained by peritoneal dialysis, measuring at least one protein marker selected from the group consisting of prealbumin, haptoglobin, alpha 1-microglobulin, C4, and total protein that are contained in the dialysis effluent, and determining D/P creatinine indirectly from the correlation equation that represents the relationship between the marker concentration and the D/P creatinine value that has been prepared beforehand. Furthermore, the PET category is determined indirectly from the D/P creatinine, which has been determined indirectly, based on the known reference value.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with shoulder blocks in a row along each tread edge. The shoulder blocks are provided in a row divided by a circumferential groove and first shoulder grooves and second shoulder grooves. The first and second shoulder grooves alternate in the tire circumferential direction and each extend from the circumferential groove to the tread edge. A circumferential width (WLo) of the first shoulder groove at the tread edge is larger than a circumferential width (WSo) of the second shoulder groove at the tread edge. The ratio (WLo/WSo) of the circumferential width (WLo) to the circumferential width (WSo) is larger than a ratio (WLi/WSi) of a circumferential width (WLi) of the first shoulder groove to a circumferential width (SWi) of the second shoulder groove, each measured at the circumferential groove.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with shoulder blocks in a row along each tread edge, the shoulder blocks in a row divided by a circumferential groove and first shoulder grooves and second shoulder grooves, the first and second shoulder grooves alternating in the tire circumferential direction and each extending from the circumferential groove to the tread edge, wherein a circumferential width (WLo) of the first shoulder groove at the tread edge is larger than a circumferential width (WSo) of the second shoulder groove at the tread edge, and the ratio (WLo/WSo) of the circumferential width (WLo) to the circumferential width (WSo) is larger than a ratio (WLi/WSi) of a circumferential width (WLi) of the first shoulder groove to a circumferential width (WSi) of the second shoulder groove, each measured at the circumferential groove.