Abstract: A discharge ionization current detector using a low-frequency dielectric barrier discharge with an improved S/N ratio is provided. A current detector 20 is disposed between an excitation high-voltage power source 8 and a discharge electrode 5 to detect a discharge current flowing in pulses due to plasma generation. The detection signal of the current detector 20 and an output signal from a current amplifier 18 for amplifying an ion current are inputted into an output extraction unit 21. The output extraction unit 21 detects a precipitous-rise portion of the discharge current detection signal and generates a trigger signal, and then extracts an ion current signal for a predetermined time period from the trigger signal. This can remove an influence of a noise appearing in a signal during a time period where no plasma emission is generated, thereby improving the S/N ratio of the detection signal.

Abstract: A blood collecting apparatus includes a cleaning solution piping. The cleaning solution piping feeds into a flow path a heparin solution which is a liquid other than blood to be measured, in order to return the blood present in the flow path to a catheter disposed upstream of a blood inlet of the flow path. Thus, the blood having flowed into the flow path in an amount more than is necessary for blood collection, which corresponds to a portion returned to the upstream catheter of the blood to be measured present in the flow path, can be used in a next blood collection. As a result, the amount of collected blood can be reduced. The liquid to be measured is separated apart by means of a gas, and the flow path is cleaned in a way to leave no impurities in the flow path, thereby preventing impurities from mixing into the liquid to be measured.

Abstract: A discharge ionization current detector using a low-frequency barrier discharge is provided to improve the linearity of detection sensitivity with respect to a sample introduction amount. From a lower end of a lower gas passage connected to a lower end of an upper gas passage, a dilution gas is supplied upward against a downward flow of a plasma gas. A gas discharge passage for discharging a plasma gas, the dilution gas and a sample gas is arranged between an ion-collecting electrode and a bias voltage application electrode. The sample gas introduced through a capillary tube is mixed with the plasma gas and the dilution gas due to a disturbed flow generated by collision of the plasma gas and the dilution gas. The sample component is efficiently ionized by light from the plasma without undergoing light-shielding effect of concentrated sample components.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.

Abstract: A low-OH-content quartz glass with an OH content equal to or lower than 5 ppm is used as a cylindrical tube (2) covering the surface of metallic plasma generation electrodes (4, 5 and 6) for generating a low-frequency barrier discharge. It has been found that, in the low-frequency barrier discharge, hydrogen and oxygen originating from the OH contained in a dielectric material are released into plasma gas for a long period of time, constituting a primary cause of an increase in the baseline current. The use of a low-OH-content quartz glass dramatically lowers the baseline current and thereby improves the S/N ratio and the detection limit.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.

Abstract: A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.

Abstract: A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and a sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel, flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.

Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).

Abstract: Provided is a plate-type column which allows the temperature of its inner passage to be rapidly increased or decreased while ensuring the correctness of an analysis or other operations. A plate-type column 10 includes: a plate-shaped main body 11; projecting portions 12 and 13 protruding from a circumferential edge of the main body 11; and a fluid-flow passage 14 extending in the main body 11 and the projecting portions 12 and 13. An intermediate portion of the passage 14 is provided in the main body 11, while each of the end portions of the passage 14 extends from the main body 11 through the projecting portion 12 or 13, with each of the end portions being open to the outside at the tip of the projecting portion 12 or 13.

Abstract: Micro droplets are accurately placed in a reaction well. The reaction well (5) is formed in one surface of a well base (3). A channel base (11) is placed on the well base (3). The channel base (11) has, in its surface joined to the well base (3), a liquid introduction channel (12a) and a reaction well air vent channel (18a). The channel base (11) also has a recess (27) formed opposite to the reaction well (5) and recessed upward from the upper surface of the liquid introduction channel (12a). When viewed from above, a shoulder part (26) of the recess (27) is placed near the connection part between the reaction well (5) and the liquid introduction channel (12a) and is closer to the center of the reaction well (5) than a shoulder part (16) of the reaction well (5).

Abstract: [Problems] To immobilize a chain-type biopolymer in an elongated state at a predetermined position on a substrate. [Means for Solving Problems] A substrate (1) for immobilizing a biopolymer, which has a mask layer (2) provided with multiple through-holes at predetermined positions on a flat active face, is brought into contact with a solution containing a chain-type biopolymer (7). After thus immobilizing the nucleic acid molecule (7) on the active face within a through-hole (3) via physical adsorption or chemical binding, the mask layer (2) is dissolved in a solvent and thus removed while leaving the nucleic acid molecule (7a) alone having been immobilized on the active face within the through-hole (3). Subsequently, the nucleic acid molecule (7a) having been immobilized on the active face is elongated.

Abstract: A process unit is capable of avoiding backset of residual toner from the collecting unit to an image carrier even after collection of the residual toner on the image carrier at the collecting unit. A first collecting member is positioned downstream of a transfer unit and upstream of a charger in rotational direction of an image carrier. The first collecting member is configured to allow a developing agent remaining on the image carrier to pass therethrough but to collect a paper dust on the image carrier. A second collecting member is positioned downstream of the first collecting member and upstream of the charger, and configured to allow a developing agent remaining on the image carrier to pass therethrough but to collect a paper dust on the image carrier. The control device controls the first collecting member to be applied with a polarity the same as that of the charger.

Abstract: A heterocyclic compound useful as an antiallergic agent is provided. A compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein the ring A is a homocyclic or heterocyclic ring; the ring B is a heterocyclic ring which contains G and nitrogen atom N as constituent atoms thereof, wherein G is CH or N; R1 is a carbonyl group or an alkylene group; R2a and R2b are an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; X is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; Z is a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group, an amino group, or an N-substituted amino group; and n is 0 or 1; with the proviso that when the ring A is a benzene ring or when the ring B is a piperazine ring, R1 is an alkylene group which may have a substituent.

Abstract: A blood collecting apparatus includes a main flow path and a pressure generator. The pressure generator is provided in an intermediate position of the main flow path to insert a gas as separators at designated predetermined intervals, thereby to take out blood to be measured, as separated in a time series. The blood can be taken out in minute volumes by inserting the separators consisting of the gas while feeding the blood continuously into the main flow path in this way. And consumption of the blood can be held down, and the amount of collected blood can be minimized. Since the operation to insert the separators is excellent in speed, repeated collection in a short time, i.e. frequency of blood collection, can be secured.

Abstract: A boundary calculating unit is provided for determining boundaries between separated plasma and blood cell or air and plasma whose image is picked up by an image pickup unit. With such boundary calculating unit provided, the boundaries between the separated plasma and blood cell or air and plasma can be determined, and areas of the separated air, plasma, and blood cell can be determined accurately. Particularly, a straight line drawing unit is provided for drawing, on the image picked up, a plurality of straight lines parallel to grooves in a disk which performs plasma separation. The boundary calculating unit can easily determine the boundaries by determining the boundaries based on a profile of the plurality of straight lines drawn by the straight line drawing unit.

Abstract: A light quantity adjustment apparatus includes a pair of substrates having a light-path aperture; a plurality of diaphragm blades disposed between the pair of substrates; a driving ring that opens and closes the plurality of diaphragm blades; and a driving device. The plurality of diaphragm blades is supported by the substrate via a first guide plate made of a resin film. The substrate and the first guide plate are provided with guide grooves fitted into protrusions formed in the plurality of diaphragm blades to guide the blades. Guide grooves of the substrate are formed of concave grooves. Guide grooves of the first guide plate are formed of through holes. The through holes of the first guide plate have a narrower width than the concave grooves of the substrate to engage in the protrusions of the diaphragm blades and to guide the diaphragm blades in the open and close direction.

Abstract: A sample vaporization unit that attains enhancing of reproducibility through fixing of the sample vaporization unit. Sample vaporization unit (4) at its one end is connected to the distal end of glass insert (2) and at its other end is connected via glass tube (5) to one end of capillary column (6). The other end of the capillary column (6) is led to detector (8). The sample vaporization unit (4) is comprised of base frame (22), flow channel (24) provided in the base frame (22), and rugged portion (26) for sample vaporization provided by microfabrication within the flow channel (24). Any liquid sample flowing through the flow channel (24) is vaporized by feeding of energy to the rugged portion (26), and the vapor is subjected to separation by means of the column (6) and detection by means of the detector (8).

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to a cap for a toner cartridge. In one example, the cap may be configured to close a toner supply opening of the toner cartridge. According to one or more aspects, the cap may include a sealing or covering portion configured to cover the toner supply opening and a shaft portion for rotatably supporting a to-be-detected rotary member. The to-be-detected rotary member 56 is rotatably supported around and fitted onto the shaft portion. Therefore, even if a toner supply opening of a cartridge is provided in a sidewall of the housing on a side where the to-be-detected rotary member is provided, e.g., a left sidewall, the toner supply opening and the to-be-detected rotary member can be provided in such a manner as to overlap each other.