Abstract: A method for determining chemosensitivity of a malignant tumor cell to anthracycline is described herein. According to this method, first tumor cell and second tumor sell are first prepared. The first tumor cell is not treated with anthracycline, and on the other the second tumor cell is treated with anthracycline. Secondly, first and second activity levels of CDK1 are measured. The first activity level is activity of CDK1 in the first tumor cell and the second activity level is that of CDK1 in the second tumor cell. Finally, chemosensitivity of the malignant tumor cell is determined. The determination is based on the first and second activity levels.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining a risk of cancer relapse comprising a step of determining the risk of cancer relapse on the basis of a comprehensive activity value of a transmembrane tyrosine kinase of a tumor cell, as well as a computer program product for determining a risk of a cancer relapse.

Abstract: A camera is provided which is adapted to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a detection unit configured to execute electric charge accumulation for detecting a defocus amount when the diaphragm is in a state having a first aperture value, and a controller configured to, when causing the diaphragm to perform an aperture reducing operation from the first aperture value to a second aperture value, cause the diaphragm to start the aperture reducing operation without waiting for completion of the electric charge accumulation for detecting the defocus amount by the detection unit.

Abstract: A camera is provided which is configured to receive a photographic lens having a diaphragm. The camera includes a defocus amount detection unit configured to detect first information corresponding to a defocus amount, from light passing through the photographic lens mounted on the camera; an acquisition unit configured to acquire second information corresponding to an image-forming position from a lens position output unit provided on the photographic lens; and an image-forming position prediction unit configured to predict a change in image-forming position based on a change in the second information and a plurality of the past first information stored in a memory, wherein the image-forming position prediction unit predicts the image forming position in consideration of third information corresponding to time required for diaphragm driving that is acquired from a diaphragm driving time prediction unit provided on the photographic lens.

Abstract: In detecting a nucleic acid by using the nucleic acid amplification method, it is intended to shorten the time required for the measurement so as to systematically and efficiently examine a gene, etc. To achieve this object, use is made of a method of directly amplifying a nucleic acid by treating a collected biological sample wherein a means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced during or after the step of homogenizing the biological sample and thus the nucleic acid is directly amplified without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component from the biological sample. In this method, the means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced at an acidic pH value (more specifically, from pH 2.5 to pH 5) with the use of a salt interacting with a substance inhibiting the nucleic acid amplification reaction and/or the nucleic acid component so as to directly amplify the nucleic acid without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining susceptibility to an anthracycline anticancer agent, comprising the steps consisting of detecting the expression of activated Akt in a cancer cell or cancer tissue and determining the susceptibility of the cancer cell or cancer tissue to the anthracycline anticancer agent on the basis of the detection result. The method for determining the susceptibility to an anticancer agent can be used in objective and accurate determination of the susceptibility of a cancer cell or cancer tissue to an anthracycline anticancer agent without imposing a heavy burden on a patient.

Abstract: A method for assessing the proliferation inhibiting effect of a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor is described. In the method, a cytoplasm is separated from a tumor cell to prepare a sample containing various receptor tyrosine kinases. The prepared sample is treated with the inhibitor. The receptor tyrosine kinases in the treated sample, and a substrate for at least two kinds of receptor tyrosine kinases are contacted. The phosphorylated substrate is detected, and the activity value of the receptor tyrosine kinases is measured based on the detection result. The proliferation inhibiting effect is assessed based on the resulting activity value.

Abstract: A method for determining the activity of a cell cycle regulatory factor comprising the steps of: preparing a sample for measuring a cyclin-dependent kinase/cyclin complex from living cells; reacting adenosine 5?-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP-?S) with a substrate for the cyclin-dependent kinase in presence of the sample in order to introduce a monothiophosphate group into a serine or threonine residue of the substrate; labeling the substrate by coupling a labeling fluorophore or a labeling enzyme with a sulfur atom of the introduced monothiophosphate group; measuring the amount of fluorescence from the labeling fluorophore labeling the substrate, or reacting the labeling enzyme labeling the substrate with a substance which generates an optically detectable product by reaction with the labeling enzyme and optically measuring the amount of the generated product; and calculating the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase from the measured amount of fluorescence or the measured amount of the generated product wi

Abstract: A tyrosine kinase substrate is described. The tyrosine kinase substrate comprises a fusion protein which comprises a protein for labeling and a specific peptide fused with the protein for labeling. The specific peptide has an amino acid sequence including a glutamic acid residue and a tyrosine residue. The tyrosine kinase substrate is capable of being phosphorylated by a plurality of kinds of tyrosine kinases.

Abstract: In detecting a nucleic acid by using the nucleic acid amplification method, it is intended to shorten the time required for the measurement so as to systematically and efficiently examine a gene, etc. To achieve this object, use is made of a method of directly amplifying a nucleic acid by treating a collected biological sample wherein a means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced during or after the step of homogenizing the biological sample and thus the nucleic acid is directly amplified without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component from the biological sample. In this method, the means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced at an acidic pH value (more specifically, from pH 2.5 to pH 5) with the use of a salt interacting with a substance inhibiting the nucleic acid amplification reaction and/or the nucleic acid component so as to directly amplify the nucleic acid without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component.

Abstract: A kit for preparing a cancer cell detection sample which is highly safe, simple, and high in precision, and can detect a cancer cell quantitatively, and a kit for cancer cell detection using the same, as well as a method for diagnosing cancer using those kits, and a method for preparing a sample for cancer cell detection are provided. A kit for preparing a detection sample for detecting a cancer cell of the present invention, comprising a test container having an opening for receiving a biological sample collected from a subject, and a reagent inclusion part for accommodating a reagent containing a virus, a seal part for sealing the reagent inclusion part of the test container, a cap for closing the opening, and an opener for breaking the seal part.

Abstract: A method for determining the activity of a cell cycle regulatory factor comprising the steps of preparing a sample for measuring a cyclin-dependent kinase/cyclin complex from living cells; reacting adenosine 5?-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP-? S) with a substrate for the cyclin-dependent kinase in presence of the sample in order to introduce a monothiophosphate group into a serine or threonine residue of the substrate; labeling the substrate by coupling a labeling fluorophore or a labeling enzyme with a sulfur atom of the introduced monothiophosphate group; measuring the amount of fluorescence from the labeling fluorophore labeling the substrate, or reacting the labeling enzyme labeling the substrate with a substance which generates an optically detectable product by reaction with the labeling enzyme and optically measuring the amount of the generated product; and calculating the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase from the measured amount of fluorescence or the measured amount of the generated product with

Abstract: A method for measuring the activity of a receptor kinase present in a cell membrane of a cell is described. The method comprises steps of preparing a sample containing the receptor kinase by separating a cytoplasm from the cell, contacting the receptor kinase in the sample with a substrate to phosphorylate the substrate with the activity of the receptor kinase, binding a labeling substance to the phosphorylated substrate, and measuring the activity of the receptor kinase based on a result of detection of the labeling substance bound to the phosphorylated substrate.

Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte in a sample is described herein. The method comprises: preparing a complex immobilized solid phase comprising a solid phase and a complex on the solid phase; the complex comprising an analyte and a signal emitting substance; treating the complex immobilized solid phase with a blocking agent; and detecting the analyte based on a signal emitted from the signal emitting substance of the complex immobilized solid phase.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of a converter apparatus, an inverter apparatus, and a DC link voltage control method, wherein the upper limit value of the DC link voltage that rises due to regenerative energy occurring from a motor is set high, thereby increasing the regenerative energy to be stored in a DC link. The converter apparatus (10) comprises: a voltage detection part (11) for monitoring the DC link voltage occurring across the DC link (30); and a charge stopping part (12) for stopping charging a power storage part (C) when the detected value of the DC link voltage exceeds a predetermined upper limit voltage as the motor (3) is decelerated.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes an image sensor that applies photoelectric conversion to incident light and accumulates charge, a first output unit that outputs electric signals based on the charge accumulated in the image sensor through multiple channels, and a focus detection unit that detects a phase difference on the basis of the electric signals outputted from the plurality of channels.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of a converter apparatus, an inverter apparatus, and a DC link voltage control method, wherein the upper limit value of the DC link voltage that rises due to regenerative energy occurring from a motor is set high, thereby increasing the regenerative energy to be stored in a DC link. The converter apparatus (10) comprises: a voltage detection part (11) for monitoring the DC link voltage occurring across the DC link (30); and a charge stopping part (12) for stopping charging a power storage part (C) when the detected value of the DC link voltage exceeds a predetermined upper limit voltage as the motor (3) is decelerated.

Abstract: A camera on which a lens apparatus is mounted is disclosed. The camera includes a controller which performs a focusing control corresponding to the mounted lens apparatus; a display unit which performs display process corresponding to an output of the controller; and a storage section which stores correction information for correcting a calculation result in the focusing control by the controller, in association with the mounted lens apparatus.

Abstract: In detecting a nucleic acid by using the nucleic acid amplification method, it is intended to shorten the time required for the measurement so as to systematically and efficiently examine a gene, etc. To achieve this object, use is made of a method of directly amplifying a nucleic acid by treating a collected biological sample wherein a means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced during or after the step of homogenizing the biological sample and thus the nucleic acid is directly amplified without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component from the biological sample. In this method, the means of inhibiting the degradation activity of the nucleic acid is introduced at an acidic pH value (more specifically, from pH 2.5 to pH 5) with the use of a salt interacting with a substance inhibiting the nucleic acid amplification reaction and/or the nucleic acid component so as to directly amplify the nucleic acid without isolating/purifying the nucleic acid component.

Abstract: A wiper for machine tools includes an attachment portion 3 to be attached to a machine tool, wherein the machine tool is moved relative to a sliding surface 14, and a wiper body 10 made of an elastic material integrated with the attachment portion 3, wherein a lip portion 11 of the wiper body 10 can be slid on the sliding surface 14, and a fabric material 5 is provided on at least a sliding surface side of the lip portion 1 of the wiper body 10. The lip portion 11 has a low level of abrasion resistance, and a low level of abrasion loss is small. No damages are caused due to collision or impact with chips and a sliding surface does not suffer from damages or the like.