Abstract: A color image processing apparatus includes: a minimum value selection unit that selects a minimum value of an input gray level values; a first calculation unit that calculates a generation amount of black; a second calculation unit that calculates an UCR amount which is a value relevant to the minimum value; a third calculation unit that outputs a correction coefficient value which is a value relevant to the minimum value; a subtraction unit that subtracts the UCR amount from each of the input gray level values to generate output; a multiplication unit that multiply the output of the subtraction unit by the correction coefficient value; a significant bit selection unit that selects a significant bit of a multiplication result; and a gray level correction unit that makes a gray level correction to the generation amount of black and the output of the multiplication unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for a laser printer, wherein a halftone control through laser pulse modulation (PWM) is used in combination with distributed clustered-dot halftone processing which distributes a tone level over four clustered-dots, and the value represented by higher bits of a threshold are used to switch a PWM pulse pattern in a highlight area to a discontinuous pattern, thereby implementing the high density halftone processing, which provides a high highlight tone density and stability, only with a small scale memory and circuit.

Abstract: A protein with anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory functions was identified and isolated from the excretory/secretions of a human parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. This protein, designated herein as Sm 16.8, is released by schistosomes upon entry into human skin. Under in vitro conditions Sm 16.8 is shown to stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in human keratinocytes and transcriptionally down regulate the production of pro-inflamnmatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-1.

Abstract: To invisibly embed additional information in a base pattern and to visualize the additional information, a dislocation is provided in a boundary between the base pattern compose of striped thin lines and the additional information pattern composed of striped thin lines. This dislocation makes the stripes of the patterns discontinuous. The additional information pattern is invisibly embedded in the base pattern such that a sequence of dislocations in the stripes forming the boundary is at an angle equal to or larger than a predetermined angle with respect to the stripe direction.

Abstract: Multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the top of liquid level in a reaction vessel 11. An ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. A lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is generated on the lower side by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35. Wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38. As lower ultrasonic wave 8 advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel, it collides with the specimen liquid, thereby causing a portion of the liquid level closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised. When lateral ultrasonic wave 9a is applied to this portion, it reaches the inclined portion of the raised liquid level of the specimen. Swirling flow by agitation 36 is produced by acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. The specimen and reagent are mixed and agitated by this swirling flow.

Abstract: In order to provide an automatic analyzer capable of ensuring an effective agitation of the reagent and specimen, hence, highly reliable results of analysis, despite small size of the reaction vessel, without carry-over among different specimens, a multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the height of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11, and an ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35 for lateral irradiation located at the bottom. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38, and, as lower ultrasonic wave 8, advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel to collide with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a part of the liquid level being closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised.

Abstract: A reagent dispensing mechanism (15), first and second dispensing-mechanism transfer means (26, 27), and a second reagent vessel (reagent cassette) carrying-in/out mechanism (24), which are constructed by employing an XY-mechanism, are arranged so as to travel above a reagent table (25) to carry in/out a reagent cassette (22). As compared with the case where the reagent cassette carrying-in/out mechanism (24) is installed radially of the reagent table (25), the area of an automatic analyzer in the horizontal direction can be reduced and a reagent vessel (16) can be moved to a predetermined position in a shorter time by combining the rotation of the reagent table (25) with the movement of the XY-mechanism. Further, as compared the case of dispensing reagents from reagent vessels in a matrix pattern by using the reagent dispensing/transferring mechanism, the travel distance of the transferring mechanism can be shortened and so can be the travel time.

Abstract: A reversible thermosensitive recording medium including a substrate; a reversible thermosensitive recording layer on the substrate, which includes an electron donating coloring compound and an electron accepting compound, wherein the recording layer achieves a colored state when heated at a temperature not lower than an image forming temperature and then cooled at a first cooling speed, and the recording layer in the colored state achieves a non-colored state when heated at a temperature lower than the image forming temperature and not lower than an image erasing temperature or when heated at a temperature not lower than the image forming temperature and then cooled at a second cooling speed relatively slow compared to the first cooling speed; and a crosslinked polymer layer including a crosslinked polymer having an ultraviolet absorbing structure.

Abstract: An automatically analyzing apparatus includes a plurality of reaction containers for reacting a sample with a reagent, and a reaction container washing unit for washing the reaction containers through a plurality of washing steps. The reaction container washing unit includes a plurality of storage parts in each of which washing liquid containing therein reacted substance is reserved. The plurality of storage parts are sorted with different reacted substance concentrations. A supply part of the reaction container washing unit selects washing liquid of a desired reacted substance concentration among the plurality of storage parts in accordance with respective washing conditions of the reaction containers and supplies the selected washing liquid into the reaction containers for washing the respective reaction containers.

Abstract: A protein with anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory functions was identified and isolated from the excretory/secretions of a human parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. This protein, designated herein as Sm 16.8, is released by schistosomes upon entry into human skin. Under in vitro conditions Sm 16.8 is shown to stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in human keratinocytes and transcriptionally down regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-1.

Abstract: Novel formulations of DEET are provided which comprise liposomes and other carriers. Methods and materials for preventing Schistomiasis and other parasitic and microbial diseases are also provided. Also provided are improved materials and methods for repelling biting insects.

Abstract: A reversible thermosensitive recording medium including a substrate; a reversible thermosensitive recording layer on the substrate, which includes an electron donating coloring compound and an electron accepting compound, wherein the recording layer achieves a colored state when heated at a temperature not lower than an image forming temperature and then cooled at a first cooling speed, and the recording layer in the colored state achieves a non-colored state when heated at a temperature lower than the image forming temperature and not lower than an image erasing temperature or when heated at a temperature not lower than the image forming temperature and then cooled at a second cooling speed relatively slow compared to the first cooling speed; and a crosslinked polymer layer including a crosslinked polymer having an ultraviolet absorbing structure.

Abstract: A protein with anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory functions was identified and isolated from the excretory/secretions of a human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. This protein, designated herein as Sm 16.8, is released by schistosomes upon entry into human skin. Under in vitro conditions Sm 16.8 is shown to stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in human keratinocytes and transciptionally down regulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 &agr; and IL-1 &bgr;.

Abstract: In an image output device a test chart 18 including tests charts 6 of each color is used, and a tone correction table is calculated. The test charts 6 are patterned in a checkered pattern, each including continuous areas 10 in which the tones increase in steps and reference areas 11 for comparison with the continuous areas 10. The reference areas 11 are formed of white ground of paper in a highlight proof part 7, a solid pattern with a maximum density in a shadow proof part 8, and halftone dot-concentrated or line screens with a lower resolution than in the continuous areas in a middle proof part 9. Tone correction values are calculated from characteristic values of the highlight, shadow and middle parts, obtained from visual data of the test chart 18.

Abstract: In order to provide an automatic analyzer capable of ensuring an effective agitation of the reagent and specimen, hence, highly reliable results of analysis, despite small size of the reaction vessel, without carry-over among different specimens, a multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the height of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11, and an ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35 for lateral irradiation located at the bottom. Lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38, and, as lower ultrasonic wave 8, advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel to collide with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a part of the liquid level being closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised.

Abstract: A personal computer has a print image developing means and a data compression means including a fixed rate compression. A color printer has a data extension means, a color correction means, a gamma correction means, a first halftoning means, an image area segmentation means, and a second halftoning means. The transmission time of a print image can be shortened necessarily to less than a constant time, and further, since an enormous memory for extension is unnecessary, a low cost printer can be provided.

Abstract: A chemical analyzing apparatus comprises a reaction cell holder which holds a plurality of reaction cells that are supplied with samples and reagents at a predetermined position, a measurer for measuring characteristics of the sample, a plurality of reagent containers, a liquid deliverer provided below each of the plurality of reagent containers, one or more sound wave generators provided outside the reaction cells, and storage containers for storing cleansing liquid with different contamination states. The cleansing liquid with different contamination states is reused according to the contamination levels of the reaction cells.

Abstract: In a halftoning unit of a laser printer and the like, a high speed, high density and high gradations halftoning is realized by multi-value implementation by clustered dot concentrated dither halftoning (known as a sub-matrix method) and PWM distributing gradation among the plurality of halftone dots with a small memory and circuit. For this purpose, the value of the difference between an input gradation value ni and a threshold value nc, &Dgr;n=ni−nc, is shortened within a range of 0 to &Dgr;h and the lower s bit of &Dgr;h is removed by a round-down or round-up process. Meanwhile, a threshold array is generated from an extended threshold pattern obtained by combining threshold patterns of 2s whose threshold interval is &Dgr;h, i.e. &Dgr;Ah×K, &Dgr;h×K+1, . . . , &Dgr;×K+2(s−1). Thereby, a halftone dot dither process in which the PWM gradation increases distributively among the 2s dots may be realized with a small scale memory and circuit.

Abstract: In the picture quality stabilizer for a color laser printer, changes in the gray level characteristic and the color balance caused by changes in temperature and humidity are compensated in order to stabilize the reproduced image. The apparatus includes a temperature and humidity sensor, an upper-bound correction table, a gamma correction table and a mixed color correction table, each optimized with respect to a reference environment, interpolation means for those tables, and a gray level correction means for correcting the gray level with correction coefficients obtained by the interpolation means and the mixed color correction means for compensating any failure of the color balance with the linear transformation. With this configuration, the correction coefficients are so modified as to establish a stable gray level characteristic and color balance, and a stable reproduced image can be obtained.