Abstract: An optical measuring apparatus comprises: an illuminating section that illuminates a first object with a first light; a light changing section that changes an intensity of the first light illuminating the first object; a light receiving device that receives a second light transmitted through or reflected from the first object; and an output section that outputs a measurement result according to i) a state of the light changing section and ii) an amount of the second light received by the light receiving device. In addition, an optical measuring apparatus comprises: the illuminating section; the light receiving device; a light receiving time changing section that changes a light receiving time of the light receiving device; and an output section that outputs a measurement result according to i) the light receiving time and ii) an amount of the second light received by the light receiving device.

Abstract: An adhesion preventive material including a cross-linking polysaccharide derivative containing at least one active ester group introduced in a polysaccharide side chain, which is capable of reacting with an active hydrogen-containing group, and being capable of forming a crosslinked material due to covalent binding among the active ester group and an active hydrogen-containing group upon contact with water under an alkaline condition, is disclosed. The adhesion preventive material is able to reduce preparation works to be carried out while previously estimating the time of application and dose not require a special device.

Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus comprises suspending means that suspend a prescribed operation regarding image reproduction, releasing means that release the image reproducing apparatus from the suspended state, a job accepting unit that accepts multiple types of image-reproduction-related jobs in parallel, a determination unit, and a control unit. When the job accepting unit receives an execution start request for a first job after the release from the suspension, the determination unit determines whether a second job having a higher priority than the first job is executable among the accepted multiple types of jobs. If the second job is executable, the control unit withholds execution of the first job and allows the second job to be executed prior to the first job.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a method for producing a dry multilayer analytical element in which the within-run reproducibility of measurement values is improved. The present invention provides a method for producing a dry multilayer analytical element for the analysis of a liquid sample which comprises providing at least one functional layer on one surface of a water-non-transmitting planar support; providing an adhesion layer on an upper surface of the functional layer; providing at least one porous liquid-sample-developing layer comprising non-fibrous porous film on an upper surface of the adhesion layer; and coating a water-soluble polymer on an upper surface of the porous liquid-sample-developing layer.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acid fragment-fixed electrode wherein a probe nucleic acid fragment is fixed on the electrode stably and in an amount-controlled manner. The present invention provides a nucleic acid fragment-fixed electrode wherein a nucleic acid fragment is fixed on the surface of a multi-component self-assembled monolayer of two or more different components which is formed on the electrode, by a covalent bond via a bifunctional linking molecule.

Abstract: An object to be attained by the present invention is to provide a method for conveniently, rapidly, and specifically measuring HDL-C in a specimen by use of inexpensive materials, and to provide a reagent kit for HDL-C detection and a dry analytical element for HDL-C detection. The present invention provides a method for measuring high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in a body fluid test sample, wherein cholesterol esterase derived from Schizophyllum commune or Pseudomonas sp. and cholesterol oxidase derived from Pseudomonas sp. are used to generate hydrogen peroxide from HDL-C, and thereby HDL-C is selectively measured.

Abstract: A portable bacteria detector not only simply capable of inspecting the presence of food-poisoning bacteria and the like but also provided with a disinfecting or sterilizing means itself has been widely used. As its application fields spread, the detector has been required to be more inexpensive and be constituted in a form allowing easier waste disposal. In a portable bacteria detector provided with a culture medium and a disinfectant or germicide, constituent members for the detector are formed of plastic materials which are easy to incinerate. Furthermore, once a sample has been collected and a process for detecting the presence of bacteria has been started, the detector can be operated in a completely closed system. In this bacteria detector, an external force is applied from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the detector to break off a fragile part inside the detector, thereby leading to the performance of a liquid chamber opening operation.

Abstract: A blood collecting needle, which comprises: a needle tube having a human-body puncturing needle tube and a stopper-body puncturing needle tube, wherein the needle tube has an outer diameter having substantially the same dimension from a tip of the human-body puncturing needle tube to a tip of the stopper-body puncturing needle tube, the needle tube has an inner diameter having substantially the same dimension from the tip of the human-body puncturing needle tube to the tip of the stopper-body puncturing needle tube, and the blood collecting needle satisfies equation (1): 0.35?D1<0.70??(equation 1) wherein D1 represents the outer diameter (mm) of the needle tube.

Abstract: An analysis element for use in a blood test method enabling easy and simple operations that are performed quickly up to measurement, an analysis element for use in a blood test method that operations up to the measurement for many components can be quickly performed, and that is safe and has a sufficient measurement accuracy thereof, and an analysis element for use in a test method using body fluids and urines of humans and animals, plain water, seawater, soil extract, agricultural products, marine products, processed-food extracts, and liquid for use in scientific research as specimens, are provided, the present invention relates to a multi-component measurement dry analysis element for use in a method for testing a specimen, the method using an area sensor as a detector to obtain a result of measurement according to information represented by 1000 pixels or more per one component, and to perform simultaneous measurements of plural components.

Abstract: An integrated assay chip for assaying one or more components of a specimen, which comprises: (1) one or more pretreatment elements for pretreating a specimen; (2) one or more multilayer dry assay elements capable of assaying one or more components of the pretreated specimen; and (3) one or more flow channels connecting the pretreatment element and the multilayer dry assay element is provided.

Abstract: A blood collecting needle, which comprises: a needle hub; a human-body puncturing needle tube provided at one side of the needle hub; and a plug-body puncturing needle tube provided at the other side of the needle hub, wherein an outer diameter of a tip of the human-body puncturing needle tube and an outer diameter of a tip of the plug-body puncturing needle tube are different from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for processing a document with document attribution information includes a controller and a display unit. The controller sets an image processing mode, which matches to the document attribution information of the document, when the document to be processed by the image forming apparatus is designated. The display unit displays the image processing mode as a screen view, by which an operator selects the image processing mode.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a target nucleic acid fragment is provided that is capable of being performed simply and promptly, by anyone, using a compact device without requirement of specific technique or complex operation. The method comprises timely detection of a double-stranded nucleic acid fragment formed during the polymerase extension reaction due to a specific base sequence of the target nucleic acid fragment as increase of an electrochemical response under the existence of an electrochemically active intercalator; and the kit utilizes the method.

Abstract: A crosslinkable polysaccharide derivative which has in the side chain of polysaccharide at least one active ester group reactive with an active hydrogen-containing group and which forms a crosslinked product through covalent bond between the active ester group and the active hydrogen-containing group upon contact with alkaline water. A composition and a medical treatment material containing the crosslinkable polysaccharide derivative. The crosslinkable polysaccharide derivative produces a high bond strength that meets clinical requirements. It avoids the risk of infection because it is based on a material which is not derived from living organisms. It in itself and its decomposition products have a low level of toxicity because it is formed from a synthetic material. It is biodegradable and bioabsorbable. It can be prepared readily and simply without requiring special apparatus at the time of use.

Abstract: A networked printing system includes an electronic document server having a database that stores a plurality of electronic documents of books, which are uniquely identified by a plurality of identification codes, respectively. The electronic document server specifies and allows downloading of a prescribed electronic document matched with an identification code received. A transmitting device is provided to transmit a request for a prescribed electronic document and a corresponding identification code to the electronic document server via a network. A printing device connected to the electronic server document prints a portion of the electronic document in accordance with designation of pages.

Abstract: A microdevice for performing a method for separating and purifying a nucleic acid, the microdevice comprising: at least one opening; and at least one channel for passing a sample solution, wherein the method comprises: (A) a step of bringing a nucleic acid-containing sample solution into contact with a nucleic acid-adsorbing support having a function of adsorbing a nucleic acid; (B) a step of washing the nucleic acid-adsorbing support with a washing solution in a state of a nucleic acid being adsorbed to the support; and (C) a step of desorbing the nucleic acid from the nucleic acid-adsorbing support by a recovering solution, thereby purifying the nucleic acid; an apparatus for utilizing the microdevice; and a reagent kit for use in the microdevice.

Abstract: A microchemical device capable of promoting mixing of a specimen and a reagent particularly in analyzing trace constituents of liquid such as blood or body fluid, and a microchemical device that can rapidly and easily analyze one or more constituents from a small amount of specimen, are provided, which is an integrated microchemical device for analyzing one or more constituents of a specimen, the microchemical device comprising at least the two elements of (a) one or more flow channels through which a specimen passes and (b) a multilayer dry analysis element that can come in contact with at least one of the flow channels and analyze the constituents of the specimen.

Abstract: A method of detecting nucleic acid fragments in plural samples is performed by the steps of: attaching an electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in one sample and attaching a different electroconductive label to nucleic acid fragments in another sample; preparing a mixture of these samples; spotting the mixture on an electroconductive microarray having plural electrodes onto which probe molecules complementary to the nucleic acid fragments are fixed, so that hybridization between the nucleic acid fragments and the probe molecules on the electroconductive microarray can proceed to form hybrid structures; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the former label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; applying to the electrode an electric potential corresponding to the oxidation-reduction potential of the latter label and detecting on the electrode an electric current; and comparing the electric current detected in the former de

Abstract: A multifunction image forming apparatus accepts voice input of a software name by an order applicant, carries out voice recognizing processing concerning the voice data of the software name that is voice input, and stores the software name recognized by the voice recognizing processing. Then, the multifunction image forming apparatus checks whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the software. In a case where it is determined that the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order, order data including the recognized software name is sent to a software management server via a network. The multifunction image forming apparatus receives data of the software from the software management server, temporarily stores it, and thereafter, reads the data of the stored software, and carries out installing of the software.

Abstract: A control unit of a multifunction image forming apparatus obtains document information concerning copied documents, scanner read documents, and e-mail documents, and stores the obtained document information to a storing unit of a document storing unit. The control unit counts usage frequency concerning each document stored in the document storing unit, and stores the information as usage frequency information. The control unit has the operator, who carries out document searching, input predetermined information. The control unit matches the input information, and determines whether the operator is an authorized person concerning the searched document. In a case where it is determined that the operator is a legitimate authorized person, the control unit displays the information of the documents stored in the document storing unit, in an order of high usage frequency, to a display unit of an input operation unit, based on the usage frequency information.