Abstract: A reagent system and method are described for optically measuring direct bilirubin by the reaction of a bilirubin oxidase, oxidizing agent or diazonium salt, with the direct bilirubin, wherein a tetrapyrrole compound is provided in the presence of the bilirubin oxidase, oxidizing agent or diazonium salt. It is possible to accurately measure the direct bilirubin, which is known to increase considerably in the biological fluids of patients having obstructive jaundice, etc. The reagent system and method are useful in clinical settings, etc.

Abstract: A pin wheel type weft straightener attached to various machines which are used for dyeing, printing, finishing of natural and synthetic fiber cloths, in which a pair of pin wheels straightens the skewing or the bowing of a travelling cloth while pinning both selvages of the cloth successively and the inclination angle of each pin wheel can be adjusted without changing the pinning starting position.Each pin wheel is supported by a pin wheel stand which is movable in the widthwise direction of the cloth by the driving force of a motor or other actuators carried thereon.Each pin wheel is urged in the divergent direction by a spring mechanism and the inclination angle is reduced when the cloth on each pin wheel is over-tensioned, and also the inclination angle is automatically reduced when the cloth on each pin wheel is interrupted travelling.