Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a microstructure on a substrate in which the substrate has thereon linear and parallel atomic steps. The microstructure includes linear elements that extend along the atomic steps. The method includes a step for preparing a substrate having atomic steps on its surface and a step for applying linear elements onto the substrate. Each linear element is oriented to extend along one of the atomic steps, with the result that a microstructure in which the linear elements extend along the atomic steps is formed on the substrate. The substrate can be prepared by subjecting a silicon carbide substrate, a sapphire substrate, or a zinc oxide substrate to an ultrasmoothing process. As the linear elements, peptide fibers can be employed that are made up of peptide molecules that form ?-sheet structures.

Abstract: A self-assembling peptide containing a polar amino acid residue and a nonpolar amino acid residue, wherein the self-assembling peptide contains an acidic amino acid residue and a basic amino acid residue as the polar amino acid residues, a total sum of charge of the acidic amino acid residue and charge of the basic amino acid residue in a neutral region is the number excluding 0, and the self-assembling peptide is capable of forming a beta (?)-sheet structure in which only the nonpolar amino acid residue is arranged on one face upon self-assembly in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a microstructure on a substrate in which the substrate has thereon linear and parallel atomic steps. The microstructure includes linear elements that extend along the atomic steps. The method includes a step for preparing a substrate having atomic steps on its surface and a step for applying linear elements onto the substrate. Each linear element is oriented to extend along one of the atomic steps, with the result that a microstructure in which the linear elements extend along the atomic steps is formed on the substrate. The substrate can be prepared by subjecting a silicon carbide substrate, a sapphire substrate, or a zinc oxide substrate to an ultrasmoothing process. As the linear elements, peptide fibers can be employed that are made up of peptide molecules that form ?-sheet structures.

Abstract: A self-assembling peptide containing a polar amino acid residue and a nonpolar amino acid residue, wherein the self-assembling peptide contains an acidic amino acid residue and a basic amino acid residue as the polar amino acid residues, a total sum of charge of the acidic amino acid residue and charge of the basic amino acid residue in a neutral region is the number excluding 0, and the self-assembling peptide is capable of forming a beta (?)-sheet structure in which only the nonpolar amino acid residue is arranged on one face upon self-assembly in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Provided are target detection substrate for target detecting apparatuses capable of detecting various targets such as pathogens, biological substances and toxic substances without using a costly measuring apparatus; which can detect these targets with a low measurement error, high efficiency, simplicity, speed and sensitivity; and which can make a quantitative detection thereof. The target detection substrate includes at least a target interaction part which can interact with a target on an optical interference substrate, which optical interference substrate includes a substrate and a different refractive index film having a different refractive index from that of the substrate disposed on the substrate, and interferes irradiated light to radiate it as interference light where the total number of peak tops and peak bottoms in a graph of transmittance against wavelength of the interference light is from 1 to 20 in an arbitrary wavelength range of 100 nm.

Abstract: A target detection apparatus is provided which can detect and quantitatively measure various detection targets such as pathogens. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises an optical irradiation unit which irradiates light; an optical interference unit which can interact with the detection target, interferes with the light irradiated from the optical irradiation unit and radiates it as interference light and change the wavelength of the interference light after interaction with the detection target; and an wavelength change detecting unit which detects the wavelength change of the interference light radiated by the optical interference unit. The wavelength change detecting unit preferably measures spectrums before and after wavelength change of the interference light, and their differential spectrum. Also provided is a target detection substrate comprising a film-like material on a substrate which, when interacting with a detection target, changes the wavelength of the interference light.

Abstract: A waste water inspecting agent is used as an additive to a specimen solution and comprises a rod-shaped body and a capturing structured element bonded to the rod-shaped body which specifically captures an object to be captured in the specimen solution.

Abstract: A particle size (or particle diameter) variable reactor comprises a granular substrate and a capturing unit fixed onto the surface of the granular substrate. The capturing unit comprises a rod-shaped body having a length of 810 nm or less, a configuration variable element which may be structurally transformed when stimulation is applied, and a capturing structured body which specifically captures an object to be captured. The particle size variable reactor is highly biodegradable and environmentally friendly, and can specifically act on and thus selectively capture its target alone. The reactor may preferably be used in various fields including medical and industrial fields.

Abstract: A molecular electric wire that is formed of an environmentally benign ecological material and enables a microscopic wiring, a molecular electric wire circuit using the molecular electric wire, and the like are provided. The molecular electric wire comprises a rod-shaped organic molecule and an electroconductive material, the electroconductive material being carried by the rod-shaped organic molecule, and the molecular electric wire circuit is formed by using the molecular electric wire.

Abstract: Provided are optical switches applicable to various safety apparatuses which can control an operation of a circuit by detecting a switching signal such as pathogens and toxic substances, and safety apparatuses using the optical switches. The optical switch comprises an optical irradiation unit to irradiate light; an optical interference unit which can interact with a switching signal, interferes with light irradiated from the optical irradiation unit and radiates it as interference light, and can vary the wavelength of the interference light after interaction with the switching signal; and a switching unit which is provided in the path of the interference light, detects a wavelength change of the interference light, and conducts one of activating and deactivating a circuit. The safety appatatus comprises the optical switch and a hazard evasive apparatus activating unit which activates a hazard evasive apparatus using the optical switch.

Abstract: A molecular electric wire that is formed of an environmentally benign ecological material and enables a microscopic wiring, a molecular electric wire circuit using the molecular electric wire, and the like are provided. The molecular electric wire comprises a rod-shaped organic molecule and an electroconductive material, the electroconductive material being carried by the rod-shaped organic molecule, and the molecular electric wire circuit is formed by using the molecular electric wire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybridization probe having a rod-shaped boby and nucleic acid which is bonded to the rod-shape material and specifically bonds to a target nucleic acid and also relates to a target nucleic detecting kit, a target nucleic acid detecting apparatus and a target nucleic acid detecting method using the same.

Abstract: A particle size (or particle diameter) variable reactor comprises a granular substrate and a capturing unit fixed onto the surface of the granular substrate. The capturing unit comprises a rod-shaped body having a length of 810 nm or less, a configuration variable element which may be structurally transformed when stimulation is applied, and a capturing structured body which specifically captures an object to be captured. The particle size variable reactor is highly biodegradable and environmentally friendly, and can specifically act on and thus selectively capture its target alone. The reactor may preferably be used in various fields including medical and industrial fields.

Abstract: An antigen detecting agent having a rod-shaped body and an antibody bonded to the rod-shaped body which specifically bonds to a target antigen, an antigen detecting kit, an antigen detecting apparatus and an antigen detecting method using the antigen detecting agent are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybridization probe having a rod-shaped body and nucleic acid which is bonded to the rod-shape material and specifically bonds to a target nucleic acid and also relates to a target nucleic acid detecting kit, a target nucleic acid detecting apparatus and a target nucleic acid detecting method using the same.

Abstract: Provided are target detection substrate for target detecting apparatuses capable of detecting various targets such as pathogens, biological substances and toxic substances without using a costly measuring apparatus; which can detect these targets with a low measurement error, high efficiency, simplicity, speed and sensitivity; and which can make a quantitative detection thereof. The target detection substrate includes at least a target interaction part which can interact with a target on an optical interference substrate, which optical interference substrate includes a substrate and a different refractive index film having a different refractive index from that of the substrate disposed on the substrate, and interferes irradiated light to radiate it as interference light where the total number of peak tops and peak bottoms in a graph of transmittance against wavelength of the interference light is from 1 to 20 in an arbitrary wavelength range of 100 nm.

Abstract: A target detection apparatus is provided which can detect and quantitatively measure various detection targets such as pathogens. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises an optical irradiation unit which irradiates light; an optical interference unit which can interact with the detection target, interferes with the light irradiated from the optical irradiation unit and radiates it as interference light and change the wavelength of the interference light after interaction with the detection target; and an wavelength change detecting unit which detects the wavelength change of the interference light radiated by the optical interference unit. The wavelength change detecting unit preferably measures spectrums before and after wavelength change of the interference light, and their differential spectrum. Also provided is a target detection substrate comprising a film-like material on a substrate which, when interacting with a detection target, changes the wavelength of the interference light.

Abstract: Provided are optical switches applicable to various safety apparatuses which can control an operation of a circuit by detecting a switching signal such as pathogens and toxic substances, and safety apparatuses using the optical switches. The optical switch comprises an optical irradiation unit to irradiate light; an optical interference unit which can interact with a switching signal, interferes with light irradiated from the optical irradiation unit and radiates it as interference light, and can vary the wavelength of the interference light after interaction with the switching signal; and a switching unit which is provided in the path of the interference light, detects a wavelength change of the interference light, and conducts one of activating and deactivating a circuit. The safety appatatus comprises the optical switch and a hazard evasive apparatus activating unit which activates a hazard evasive apparatus using the optical switch.

Abstract: A process for producing polycarbonate designed to improve the quality of polycarbonate as a polymerization product polymer and reduce the investment and operating costs is provided. Polycarbonate is produced in two horizontal cylindrical agitation reactors provided with agitation blades successively extended through the vessel and partly with agitation blades having a screw function, as horizontally ganged together in series without any agitator center shaft, where the primary agitation reactor is a uniaxial horizontal agitation reactor with the agitation blades rotating at a low speed ranging from 1 rpm to 10 rpm, while keeping a clearance between the inner wall of the vessel ad the agitation blades in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm, and the secondary agitation reactor is a biaxial horizontal agitation reactor with agitation blades provided horizontally and in parallel, without any rotating center shaft, which conducts treatment by agitation at a low speed ranging from 1 rpm to 15 rpm.

Abstract: A sensor produced by aligning a capturing body including an amphiphilic rod-shaped body onto a substrate material in a film form or a sensor including an amphiphilic rod-shaped body and a capturing structure body being bonded to the rod-shaped body and specifically capturing a target substance, and a color sensor and apparatus for inspection using the sensors.