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: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes one or more processing units, a control unit, an update program acquiring unit that acquires an update program for updating programs of the processing units and the control unit, and a program updating unit that updates the programs of the processing units in the order of the number of the other processing units through which the control unit communicates with each of the processing units. The order in which the processing units are updated is determined based on the number of other processing units via which each of the processing units communicates with the control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image, in which hardware resources for use in the forming of images are provided, and one or more processes run based on programs in respect of the forming of images. The apparatus includes an off-line unit which puts the one or more processes in a off-line state in which restriction is placed on the running of the one or more processes, a memory area releasing unit which releases one or more memory areas used by the one or more processes that are put in the off-line state, and a data laying-out unit which lays out data in the one or more memory areas released by the memory area releasing unit.

Abstract: A DNA chip (or PNA chip) composed of a solid carrier and plural DNA fragments (or PNA fragments) fixed onto is the solid carrier at each one end, wherein a plurality of short chain spacer molecules having a hydrophilic moiety at each one end are fixed at each another end onto a surface of the solid carrier having no DNA fragments (or no PNA fragments) on its surface is effective for high sensitive quantitative analysis of a nucleic acid fragment complementary to the DNA fragment (or PNA fragment).

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 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: 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: The present invention provides a biosensor surface comprising a metal surface or metal membrane treated with a linker compound capable of binding to a physiologically active substance, a measurement chip for a biosensor having a physiologically active substance immobilized on the biosensor surface, a method for producing the same, and a method for measurement using the same. The present invention can provide a method for immobilizing a physiologically active substance on a metal surface in simple processes with high reliability while most of the molecules maintain activity and do not become detached.

Abstract: By providing a cBN sintered body which containing, as a binder, at least one species selected from among nitrides, carbides, carbide nitrides, and borides of a Group IVa, Group Va, or Group VIa; and a boride containing a Group VIII element, and a Group IVa element, Group Va element, or Group VIa element; or when containing, as a binder, at least one species selected from among nitrides, carbides, carbide nitrides, and borides of a Group IVa, Group Va, or Group VIa element; a boride containing a Group VIII element, and a Group IVa element, Group Va element, or Group VIa element; and an Al compound, there can be provided a cBN sintered body which attain lower reactivity with a material to be cut while maintaining excellent ability to retain cBN grains.

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 method of analyzing a nucleic acid fragment sample to judge whether the nucleic acid fragment sample is uncomplementary, partly complementary or complementary to a DNA fragment in its specific base sequence is conducted by the steps of: bringing an aqueous solution of the nucleic acid fragment sample into contact with a DNA chip having an electroconductive substrate and the DNA fragment fixed onto the substrate in the presence of an electrochemical thread intercalator; measuring an electric current flowing from or to the electroconductive substrate along the DNA fragment under application of a potential to the substrate; and comparing the electric current measured above with a referential electric current which is prepared employing a DNA chip equivalent to the above DNA chip, the intercalator, and an aqueous solution of a nucleic acid fragment which is complementary to the DNA fragment of the DNA chip.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detective means composed of an electrode and plural peptide nucleic acids which are fixed onto the electrode via covalent bonding is favorably employed for electrochemically detecting complementary DNA fragments The covalent bonding between the electrode and the peptide nucleic acids are favorably produced by the reaction between a reactive hydrogen-containing group attached to the peptide nucleic acid and a vinylsulfonyl group or a reactive precursor thereof attached to the electrode.

Abstract: A method of for testing complementation of nucleic acid fragment is performed by the steps of:

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to offer a microorganism-detecting apparatus where the microorganism causing a food poisoning can be detected/identified by a simple operation and also a disposal treatment can be conducted safely and surely. An apparatus for achieving the object is as follows: The apparatus for detecting microorganism as mentioned below is portable and enables one to selectively incubate and detect the microorganism (particularly those which are a cause of food poisoning) without skillfulness and the detecting apparatus containing pathogenic microorganism (such as that which is a cause of food poisoning) can be safely and surely disposed.

Abstract: A dry analytical element for quantitatively analyzing creatine kinase MB isozyme is composed of a support and a creatine kinase MB isozyme-detecting agent layer. The detecting layer contains an antibody which specifically inhibits activity of M sub-unit of creatine kinase, creatine phosphate and adenosine diphosphate which react with each other to give adenosine triphosphate in the presence of creatine kinase MB isozyme, a buffer compound which keeps the layer in the range of pH 5.5 to pH 8.5 for the formation of adenosine triphosphate, and an indicator composition which reacts with the formed adenosine triphosphate to give a spectroscopically detectable compound, said indicator composition having hexokinase, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide or its phosphate in an oxidized form, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase but not containing glucose in such amount as to give the spectroscopically detectable compound.

Abstract: A dry analytical element for quantitatively analyzing creatine kinase is composed of a support and a creatine kinase-detecting agent layer. The creatine kinase-detecting agent layer contains creatine phosphate and adenosine diphosphate which react with each other to give adenosine triphosphate in the presence of creatine kinase, a buffer compound having a sulfonic acid group which keeps the layer in the range of pH 5.5 to pH 8.5 for the formation of adenosine triphosphate, and an indicator composition which reacts with the formed adenosine triphosphate to give a spectroscopically detectable compound. An analytical element for analysis of creatine kinase MB isozyme further contains in the layer an antibody which specifically inhibits activity of M sub-unit of creatine kinase.

Abstract: A chemical analysis film chip is prepared by integrally laminating a reagent layer and a spreading layer on a support sheet in this order, or by integrally laminating a water absorbing layer having a hydrophilic polymer as a major component and a porous outermost layer containing therein a reagent on a support sheet in this order, or by superposing a porous layer containing therein a reagent on a support sheet.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing a plurality of stacked chips having an exit for taking out the end dry analytical film chip one by one which are pushed toward the exit, and a flexible engager for inhibiting the discharge of the end chip. The exit and the engager are provided at an end portion of a side wall of the casing, the opening being provided at an end of the casing, and the flexible engager has a strength capable of releasing the end chip from the conveyor but is also capable of holding the second end, wherein the exit and the engager are provided at an end portion of a side wall of the casing, the opening being provided at an end of the casing.

Abstract: A chemical analysis element cartridge includes a box-like cartridge body in which a plurality of chemical analysis elements are stacked and are taken out through an element take-out port formed at one end of the cartridge body. A pressing member is slidably received in the cartridge body and is brought into contact with the stack of the elements on the side remote from the element take-out port to push the stack of the elements toward the element take-out port. The cartridge body is provided at least in one side wall thereof with a slit which extends in the direction of stack of the elements and the pressing member is provided with an external force receiving portion which is laterally interlocked with an urging member disposed outside the cartridge body through the slit and receives a force for urging the pressing member toward the element take-out port from the urging member.