Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing neural stem cells, the method including a culture step of culturing cells using a medium that contains a TGF-? receptor inhibitor and a protein kinase C inhibitor. The method for producing neural stem cells is a method that includes a first culture step of culturing cells using a first medium that does not contain a TGF-? receptor inhibitor and a protein kinase C inhibitor, and a second culture step of culturing the cells using a second medium that contains a TGF-? receptor inhibitor and a protein kinase C inhibitor, after the first culture step. The method for producing neural stem cells is a method that includes a first culture step of culturing cells using a first medium that contains ascorbic acid or an ascorbic acid derivative, and a second culture step of culturing the cells using a second medium that contains a TGF-? receptor inhibitor and a protein kinase C inhibitor, after the first culture step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measurement apparatus for measuring a velocity of a measurement object in a moving direction, including an optical system configured to divide each of lights emitted from a light source unit into first light and second light and irradiate the measurement object with the lights such that the first light and the second light overlap to form an interference fringe at different positions in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction in correspondence with wavelengths of the lights, wherein a first wavelength of the first light is different from a second wavelength of the second light, a first detection unit configured to detect the light from the measurement object, and a processing unit configured to obtain the velocity based on a change in an intensity of the light detected by the first detection unit.

Abstract: A two-dimensional intensity distribution representing intensity distributions of reflected light from an object surface in a reflection angle direction and an azimuth angle direction is acquired. A reflection characteristic of the object surface is obtained based on an intensity distribution in a predetermined direction different from the reflection angle direction in the two-dimensional intensity distribution.

Abstract: An evaluation device includes a state determination unit which is configured to determine a state of cells which are an observation target under non-standard conditions on the basis of information acquired from an image of cells under standard conditions.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes an optical system configured to project light onto a sample and to receive light via the sample, an imaging device configured to take an image of a light source via the optical system, and a processor configured to obtain an optical characteristic of the sample based on an output of the imaging device. The processor is configured to determine a coefficient of a Wiener filter based on one of the image and a Fourier transform thereof and corresponding one of the light source (an aperture in an aperture unit) and a Fourier transform thereof, and obtain the optical characteristic based on the Wiener filter of which the coefficient has been determined, a Fourier transform of the image, and a Fourier transform of the light source.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an image processing unit that performs image processing on an observed image in which a cell is imaged and an image processing method selector that is configured to determine an observed image processing method for analyzing the imaged cell on the basis of information of a processed image obtained through image processing of the image processing unit.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: an associating unit configured to associate information on an identification element used to identify a cell in imaged cell information with information on a non-identification element serving as an element of the cell which is not the identification element on the basis of the information on the identification element and information of the non-identification element; and a status determination unit configured to determine a cell status on the basis of the information on the identification element and the information on the non-identification element associated together by the linking unit.

Abstract: A biological specimen observation apparatus whereby observation of a biological specimen can be performed accurately. In macro observation, a biological change region is extracted from a macro image, a micro observation point corresponding to an extracted biological change region is registered, and an object for tracking is identified. In micro observation, it is judged from the micro image whether or not biological change has continued in the biological change region at the micro observation point, and the registered micro observation point is updated on the basis of this judgment result. It is possible to carry out both macro observation for detecting a biological change region and micro observation for observing the progress of growth of a partial minute region where biological change has been exhibited, and to carry out accurate observation of a biological specimen.

Abstract: An image analysis device includes a first calculating part that calculates a magnitude of motion of an image element from time-series images of pulsating myocardial cells, a second calculating part that calculates a feature quantity on the basis of the magnitude of the motion of the image element calculated by the first calculating part, and an identifying part that identifies whether the image element is a predetermined image element on the basis of the feature quantity calculated by the second calculating part.

Abstract: A biological specimen observation apparatus whereby observation of a biological specimen can be performed accurately. In macro observation, a biological change region is extracted from a macro image, a micro observation point corresponding to an extracted biological change region is registered, and an object for tracking is identified. In micro observation, it is judged from the micro image whether or not biological change has continued in the biological change region at the micro observation point, and the registered micro observation point is updated on the basis of this judgment result. It is possible to carry out both macro observation for detecting a biological change region and micro observation for observing the progress of growth of a partial minute region where biological change has been exhibited, and to carry out accurate observation of a biological specimen.

Abstract: A length measuring apparatus configured to perform length measurement for an object moving in a measurement region includes a detector configured to detect light modulated by the object with a Doppler effect, and a processor configured to obtain a measurement value of a velocity of the object based on a signal from the detector, and obtain a length for the object based on the measurement value. The processor is configured to specify a point in time corresponding to the object based on an amplitude of the signal, obtain the measurement value based on the signal with respect to a time duration defined by the point in time, and obtain the length based on the measurement value obtained with respect to the time duration.

Abstract: An absolute encoder includes: a scale on which plural marks are arrayed; plural detecting devices each configured to detect a mark group of the plural marks and output a signal corresponding to the mark group; and a processor configured to obtain a coordinate of the scale based on outputs of the detecting devices. The plural marks are arrayed such that a signal obtained by adding plural signals respectively output from the detecting devices includes a periodic signal corresponding to plural periods. The processor obtains first position data based on a magnitude of at least one signal of the plural signals, obtains second position data having a resolution higher than that of the first position data based on a phase of the periodic signal, and generates data representing the coordinate based on the first and second position data.

Abstract: A culture apparatus includes a culture unit which cultures cells under a predetermined culture environment, and an imaging unit which captures an inspection image showing a state of a culture container which holds the cells or a state of the cells, further includes a carrying unit and a determining unit. The carrying unit delivers the culture container between at least one peripheral device to be used in a culture operation of the cells and the culture apparatus. The determining unit detects completion of the culture operation of the peripheral device, controls the imaging unit to capture the inspection image, and analyzes the inspection image to determine whether or not the culture operation by the peripheral device is appropriate.

Abstract: A length measuring apparatus configured to perform length measurement for an object moving in a measurement region includes a detector configured to detect light modulated by the object with a Doppler effect, and a processor configured to obtain a measurement value of a velocity of the object based on a signal from the detector, and obtain a length for the object based on the measurement value. The processor is configured to specify a point in time corresponding to the object based on an amplitude of the signal, obtain the measurement value based on the signal with respect to a time duration defined by the point in time, and obtain the length based on the measurement value obtained with respect to the time duration.

Abstract: A velocimeter configured to detect light modulated by a moving object with a Doppler effect and measure a velocity of the object includes a detector configured to detect the light, and a processor configured to perform binarization of a signal obtained by the detector, and measure a time duration over a predetermined number of pulse intervals in the signal obtained by the binarization to obtain a measurement value of the velocity. The processor is configured to determine the measurement value as an error based on a change in an index relating to the time duration.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes an optical system configured to project light onto a sample and to receive light via the sample, an imaging device configured to take an image of a light source via the optical system, and a processor configured to obtain an optical characteristic of the sample based on an output of the imaging device. The processor is configured to determine a coefficient of a Wiener filter based on one of the image and a Fourier transform thereof and corresponding one of the light source (an aperture in an aperture unit) and a Fourier transform thereof, and obtain the optical characteristic based on the Wiener filter of which the coefficient has been determined, a Fourier transform of the image, and a Fourier transform of the light source.

Abstract: A biological specimen observation apparatus whereby observation of a biological specimen can be performed accurately. In macro observation, a biological change region is extracted from a macro image, a micro observation point corresponding to an extracted biological change region is registered, and an object for tracking is identified. In micro observation, it is judged from the micro image whether or not biological change has continued in the biological change region at the micro observation point, and the registered micro observation point is updated on the basis of this judgment result. It is possible to carry out both macro observation for detecting a biological change region and micro observation for observing the progress of growth of a partial minute region where biological change has been exhibited, and to carry out accurate observation of a biological specimen.

Abstract: A culture device containing a culture vessel for culturing a cell, in which the culture device includes a thermostatic vessel having a stacker containing a plurality of culture vessels for culturing a cell, and an observation portion arranged to be isolated from an atmosphere at inside of the thermostatic vessel and having an object lens, an object lens drive portion, and a camera portion to observe a cell at inside of the culture vessel installed at an observation position at inside of the thermostatic vessel.

Abstract: A transfer device for a culture vessel for transferring a culture vessel for culturing a cell, a culture device including the transfer device for a culture vessel, and a holder for a culture vessel for holding a culture vessel, in which the transfer device for a culture vessel includes a transferring unit transferring a culture vessel for culturing a cell, an inputting unit inputting a kind of the culture vessel, a speed setting unit setting a transfer speed of the culture vessel based on a kind of the culture vessel inputted to the inputting unit, and a controlling unit controlling a transfer speed of the transferring unit to be the transfer speed set by the speed setting unit.

Abstract: A biological specimen observation apparatus whereby observation of a biological specimen can be performed accurately. In macro observation, a biological change region is extracted from a macro image, a micro observation point corresponding to an extracted biological change region is registered, and an object for tracking is identified. In micro observation, it is judged from the micro image whether or not biological change has continued in the biological change region at the micro observation point, and the registered micro observation point is updated on the basis of this judgment result. It is possible to carry out both macro observation for detecting a biological change region and micro observation for observing the progress of growth of a partial minute region where biological change has been exhibited, and to carry out accurate observation of a biological specimen.