Abstract: In a method for mixing a small amount of a liquid sample with a second liquid, the liquid sample is first fed into a mixing vessel. Thereafter, the second liquid is discharged from an orifice of a second liquid pipette tip into the vessel, and the liquid sample and the second liquid are thereby stirred with each other. The small amount of the liquid sample is thus efficiently stirred by the second liquid and is thereby uniformly mixed with the second liquid. Also, the liquid sample and the second liquid are mixed with each other in an accurate mixing ratio.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus which do not exhibit deconjugation of bile acids and inhibition of nutrient absorption, and exhibit lowering of cholesterol in blood and liver. There are two specific Lactobacillus strains which have been disclosed that exhibit these characteristic properties. The two strains are Lactobacillus acidophilus FERM-P-14204 and Lactobacillus acidophilus FERM-P-14205.

Abstract: An electrical testing device is provided for testing integrated circuits located on a wafer. The testing device employs a multi-layer test circuit having a plurality of contacts for contacting the integrated circuits on a wafer. The layers of the test circuit are embedded in a flexible, supportive dielectric material which allows vertical flexing of the contacts. Cross bar switches are further employed to switch among the plurality of contacts thereby enabling the testing of individual dies of the water to be tested. A microprocessor is further included for controlling the switching and the testing of each die. In an alternate embodiment, the plurality of contacts are mechanically moved relative to the wafer to allow testing of the dies without the need for the switches.

Abstract: A "packageless" diode chip is integrated into a microstrip patch antenna. Application of DC current to the device results in efficient radiation of high powered microwave frequency signals directly into free space.

Abstract: A purpose of this invention is to provide a vapor drier which can continue a process to dry efficiently objects in an extremely clean condition for a long time. A vapor drier of this invention comprises a circulating/dehydrating/refining means for refining said volatile processing liquid stored in said processing room and circulating refined fluid into said processing room, said circulating/dehydrating/refining means having at least an evaporating section to evaporate said volatile processing liquid stored in said processing room, a dehydrating section to remove water from said vapor generated in said evaporating section with a dehydrating/separating membrane, and a distilling section to distill said dehydrated vapor.

Abstract: A physiological change in the body of a user such as a brain wave or EEG signal is detected by electrodes attached to the scalp of the user. A frequency signal corresponding to a brain wave to be evoked is extracted by a bandpass filter from a signal which indicates the detected physiological change. The frequency signal is then applied to a stimulus generator which converts the frequency signal to a stimulative signal such as a photic stimulus and feeds the stimulative signal back to the user's body. The brain wave to be evoked is strongly synchronized by the stimulative signal applied to the user to place the user quickly into a desired brain wave state. The stimulative signal well matches the user's body since it originates from the signal representing the physiological change in the body of the user.

Abstract: A chemical assay tape including a water-impermeable support and at least one water-permeable layer. The water-permeable layer includes at least one porous layer for allowing a liquid applied thereto to spread out. At least one layer other than the support is provided with a plurality of grooves which are spaced at constant intervals and extend across the chemical assay tape.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus comprises a sample accommodating region, an accommodating region for test films containing a reagent which reacts with a liquid sample to give rise to a change in optical density, and a conveyor for sequentially pulling out each test film from the test film accommodating region. An applicator takes up the liquid sample from the sample accommodating region and applies it to the test film at the position to which the test film has been pulled out. An incubator incubates the sample-applied film portion for a predetermined time, and a detector measures the optical density of the sample-applied film portion during or after the passage of the predetermined time. The conveyor, the incubator and the detector are provided to correspond to each of the test films, and a movement device moves the applicator to apply the liquid sample to the test films.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus comprises a sample accommodating region, an accommodating region for a test film reacting with a liquid sample to give rise to a change, and a conveyor for sequentially pulling out the test film from the test film accommodating region. An applicator takes up the liquid sample from the sample accommodating region and applies it to the test film at the position to which the test film has been pulled out. An incubator incubates the sample-applied film portion for a predetermined time, and a measuring device measures the change at the sample-applied film portion during or after the passage of the predetermined time. Both the incubator and the measuring device are provided at the position where the sample application onto the test film is carried out by the sample application means.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus includes a sample accommodating region, an accommodating region for test films containing a reagent which reacts with a liquid sample to give rise to a change in optical density, and a conveyor for sequentially pulling out each test film from the test film accommodating region. An applicator takes up the liquid sample fromt he sample accommodating region and applies it to the test film at the position to which the test film has been pulled out. An incubator incubates the sample-applied film portion for a predetermined time, and a detector measures the optical density of the sample applied applied film portion during or after the passage of the predetermined time. The conveyor, the incubator and the detector are provided to correspond to each of the test films, and a movement device moves the applicator to apply the liquid sample to the test films.

Abstract: A chemical analyzer has a cold-storage chamber and a tape-feeding cassette which can be accommodated in the cold-storage chamber and is detachable therefrom. The cassette contains a chemical analysis tape and has an opening through which the tape can be taken out of the cassette. A section of the tape-feeding cassette inside of the opening is sealed off from the atmosphere and from other parts of the cassette. The tape passes through this section. This section is provided with air which has a relative humidity not higher than 70% such that the pressure therein is positive.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus for applying a liquid sample onto a long test film, incubating the sample-applied film portion by an incubator, and measuring the degree of color formation at the sample-applied portion comprises a test film conveyor for continuously conveying at least the part of the long test film inside of the incubator so that a speed v [cm/min.] at which the part of the long test film inside of the incubator is conveyed is expressed as v=n.l. The incubator is constituted so that a length L [cm] of the incubator in the direction of conveyance of the long test film satisfies the condition of L.gtoreq.(nt+1).l, where l [cm] denotes the length of a portion of the long test film necessary for a single step of sample application, t [min.] denotes the incubation time, and n [number/min.] denotes the number of repetitions of sample application per unit time.

Abstract: A long-test-film cassette for biochemical analysis comprises an unused film cassette part accommodating an unused long test film for biochemical analysis, and a used film cassette part for accommodating the long test film which has been pulled out of the unused film cassette part and used for biochemical analysis. A leading edge of the film is secured to a reel in the used film cassette part. In a cassette loading system, the unused film cassette part is provided with a protruded test film outlet portion and is loaded to a refrigerating compartment of an analysis apparatus with the test film outlet portion fitted in a hole of the refrigerating compartment.

Abstract: A biochemical analysis apparatus comprises a sample accommodating region, a refrigerator for keeping cool a long test film containing a reagent which reacts with a liquid sample to give rise to a change in optical density, and a test film conveyor for sequentially pulling out the long test film from the refrigerator. A sample applicator takes up the liquid sample from the sample accommodating region and applies it to the long test film at the position to which the long test film has been pulled out of the refrigerator. An incubator maintains the sample-applied portion of the long test film at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. A detector irradiates light to the sample-applied portion of the long test film, and measures the optical density given rise to by the reaction during or after the passage of the predetermined time.

Abstract: A refrigerator comprises a cassette accommodating section which is enclosed by a wall, kept at a low temperature, and capable of accommodating a film feed cassette in such a way that it can be released therefrom. The film feed cassette houses therein a long test film containing a reagent which will react with a liquid sample and give rise to a change in optical density. The film feed cassette has a film outlet through which the long test film is fed out. The refrigerator has a film outlet which is formed in the wall at a position corresponding to the position of the film outlet of the film feed cassette and through which the long test film is pulled out. An air stream jetting system jets dry air to the surface of the portion of the long test film positioned between the film outlet of the film feed cassette and the film outlet of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A die for a profile extrusion for partly varying the profile of articles during a molding operation is provided. The die comprises a stationary die assembly and movable die assembly slidable on a surface thereof. Each die assembly includes an outlet port for defining a part of products. The stationary die further includes an opening functioning as a third outlet port. The third outlet port may vary its opening shape according to the sliding of the movable die on a surface of the stationary die during an extrusion molding operation with the result that the width of a connecting portion between the parts formed by the outlet port of the movable and the stationary die is varied. It will be noted that an article may be produced which has variably sized portions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a high strength rail with good toughness, comprises cooling a rail to Ar.sub.3 transformation point or less after hot rolling; heating said cooled rail at a temperature of an austenite temperature zone ranging from Ac.sub.3 transformation point to 950.degree. C.; and cooling the heated rail. The chemical composition of the rail consists of 0.50 to 0.85 wt. % C, 0.50 to 1.50 wt. % Mn, 0.035 wt. % S or less, 0.10 to 1.00 wt. % Si, 0.035 wt. % P or less, 0.050 wt. % Al or less and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei C-2254 (FERM P-9109; FERM BP-1723) and Bifidobacterium longum are cultivated in mixture or are mixed after being separately cultivated, and thus a bifidobacteria-containing lactic acid bacteria-fermented milk with an elevated survival rate of Bifidobacterium longum is obtained.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating a steel rail head, which comprises: heating a steel rail head to the austenization temperature; then, cooling the rail head by means of a hot water jet until a surface temperature of the rail head decreases to a temperature not below 420.degree. C.; and then cooling the rail head by means of an air jet at least to the pearlite transformation temperature, thereby transforming the structure of a surface portion of the rail head into a uniform and fine pearlite structure. The above-described method includes a method in which the rail head is previously cooled by means of a water spray until the surface temperature of the rail head decreases to a temperature not below 530.degree. C. prior to the cooling of the rail head by means of the above-mentioned hot water jet.

Abstract: A pipette device comprises a vertical housing, a cylinder member disposed at least in the lower section in the housing and urged upwardly so that the cylinder member is vertically slidable in the housing, a piston member urged upwardly and having a lower end portion vertically slidable in the cylinder member, and an engagement member for transmitting the downward movement of the piston member to the cylinder member. The engagement member engages the piston member with the cylinder member when the piston member moves down to an engagement position lower by a predetermined distance from the top position of the piston memer along the cylinder member, whereby the cylinder member is moved vertically together with the piston member against an upward urging force in the housing when the piston member is moved vertically between the engagement position and a position lower than the engagement position.