Abstract: A nucleic acid amplifier comprises a holder 3 which is provided with a plurality of temperature control blocks 10 each designed to hold at least one reaction vessel 105 storing a reaction solution. The temperature of the reaction solution in each reaction vessel 105 is controlled individually by using temperature control devices 14 and 15 arranged in each of the temperature control blocks 10. The temperature that is set in each temperature control block 10 and the timing for temperature changes are controlled independently of the temperatures of other temperature control blocks 10. This configuration makes it possible to provide a nucleic acid amplifier and a nucleic acid inspection device (employing the nucleic acid amplifier) capable of processing multiple types of samples differing in the protocol in parallel (parallel processing) and starting a process for a different sample even when there is a process in execution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat retaining device for solving problematic adhesion of a container to the heat retaining device. The heat retaining device includes a supporting rod, a top plate, a bottom plate, a heat retaining body, and a supporting spring. A pressing force applied to the container contained in the hole of the heat retaining body compresses the supporting spring to move the heat retaining body downward along the supporting rod. Release of the pressing force moves the heat retaining body upward by an elastic force of the supporting spring until the heat retaining body comes into contact with the top plate.

Abstract: Provided are a dispensing device and an analyzer capable of improving dispensing accuracy as well as improving jamming detection accuracy by realizing a short distance between a syringe and a suction tip. The dispensing device 10 comprises an upper fixed unit 10A, a lower movable unit 10B which is connected to the upper fixed unit 10A, the movable unit being relatively movable with respect to the upper fixed unit 10A, and a Z-axis movement mechanism 55Z which moves the upper fixed unit to and fro. A syringe 4 and a plunger 13 are held by the upper fixed unit 10A. A tip nozzle 8 is attached to the lower movable unit 10B. Interior space of the syringe 4 and interior space of the tip nozzle 8 are connected with each other by a connection tube 1 having flexibility.

Abstract: According to this invention, a nucleic acid purification instrument whereby it is possible to prevent dispersion of a mist thai causes contamination upon discharge of a solution is realized. A pressurizing nozzle is allowed to come into contact with a nucleic acid capturing column such that the sealing member is compressed. An aspiration fan is operated and thus the air in a closed channel flows toward the bottom part of a liquid receiving tank and then toward the aspiration fan as a result of a partition board. The inside of the nucleic acid capturing column is pressurized using tho pressurizing nozzle such that a solution in the nucleic acid capturing column is discharged and gravity-fed to the lower part of a liquid receiving tank.

Abstract: Alkaline battery silver oxide powder when soaked in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 24 hours experiences dissolution of Ag into the solution of 40 mg/L. Alkaline battery silver oxide powder exhibits substantially no Ag peak by X-ray diffraction even after soaking in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 72 hours. This powder has a crystallite size calculated from the half value breadth of the (111) plane peak by powder X-ray diffraction of greater than 250 Angstrom and equal to or less than 1000 Angstrom, particle diameter such that the average diameter of secondary particles is equal to or greater than 1 ?m and equal to or less than 500 ?m and that of primary particles forming the secondary particles is equal to or greater than 0.1 ?m and equal to or less than 10.0 ?m, and specific surface area of 5 m2/g or less.

Abstract: Alkaline battery silver oxide powder when soaked in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 24 hours experiences dissolution of Ag into the solution of 40 mg/L. Alkaline battery silver oxide powder exhibits substantially no Ag peak by X-ray diffraction even after soaking in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 72 hours. This powder has a crystallite size calculated from the half value breadth of the (111) plane peak by powder X-ray diffraction of greater than 250 Angstrom and equal to or less than 1000 Angstrom, particle diameter such that the average diameter of secondary particles is equal to or greater than 1 ?m and equal to or less than 500 ?m and that of primary particles forming the secondary particles is equal to or greater than 0.1 ?m and equal to or less than 10.0 ?m, and specific surface area of 5 m2/g or less.

Abstract: A magnetic powder is provided composed of particles having a balanced shape and distribution, the particles having a small, uniform volume, making it possible to achieve improved density and reliability of a coating type magnetic recording medium. The magnetic powder has Fe as a main component, and is comprised of particles having a cross-section perpendicular to the particle major axis that is substantially round or elliptical, wherein a standard geometrical deviation indicating the variation in cross-sectional area thereof is within the range of 1.01 to 3.0. The invention is also directed to a magnetic powder in which the standard geometrical deviation indicating the variation in the particle volume is within the range of 1.01 to 4.0, and the standard geometrical deviation indicating variation in the flat acicularity is within 1.01 to 2.0.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent condensation occurring when reaction solutions in sealed vessels are heated in a nucleic acid analyzer for performing sequential processing in which individual reaction vessels are sequentially fed to a nucleic acid amplification unit in a given cycle. This invention relates to a nucleic acid analyzer including a vessel mounting rack capable of holding the plurality of reaction vessels, wherein the reaction vessel mounted on the vessel mounting rack is heated by an adjacent noncontact heat source and air circulation from the heat source to a reaction vessel upper portion, and a temperature of the reaction vessel upper portion is kept higher than a temperature of a reaction vessel lower portion. With this invention, condensation possibly occurring on the inner wall of the sealed vessel upper portion due to heating during nucleic acid amplification can be prevented, and more accurate nucleic acid analysis is enabled.

Abstract: According to this invention, an instrument and a method for nucleic acid isolation is realized, whereby it is possible to prevent, for example, adherence of a discharged solution upon dispersion of such solution to the vicinity of a nucleic acid isolation column outlet. A light source unit and a light-receiving unit that receives totally reflected light of the photosensor 41 for detecting the fluid level are placed on a site on the side surface of the nucleic acid isolation column 35, where the photosensor can detect the fluid level corresponding to a remaining liquid volume of approximately 10 ul.

Abstract: According to this invention, a nucleic acid purification instrument whereby it is possible to prevent dispersion of a mist that causes contamination upon discharge of a solution is realized. A pressurizing nozzle 12 is allowed to come into contact with a nucleic acid capturing column 35 so as to closely adhere to the sealing member 36 in a manner such that the sealing member 36 is compressed. Then, an aspiration fan 52 is operated and thus the air in a closed channel (surrounded by a nucleic acid capturing column retention block 37 and a liquid receiving tank 54) flows toward the bottom part of a liquid receiving tank 54 and then flows toward the aspiration fan 52 as a result of installation of a partition board 55. The inside of the nucleic acid capturing column 35 is pressurized using the pressurizing nozzle 12 such that a solution in the nucleic acid capturing column 35 is discharged The discharged solution is gravity-fed to the lower part of a liquid receiving tank 54.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid purification method and purification apparatus characterized by high washing efficiency where contamination does not occur and liquid does not remain in the nozzle tip. The present invention provides a tip containing the solid phase capturing a nucleic acid characterized in that washing solution is fed into said tip unidirectionally from head to end.

Abstract: A silver oxide powder that replaces silver powder as a silver conductive paste filler has a specific surface area measured by the BET method is 1.0–25.0 m2/g, average primary particle diameter is 1–50 nm, and average secondary particle diameter is 1–1000 nm. The silver oxide powder is made by preparing a neutralization medium that is an aqueous solution containing one or both of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide in a total amount of 0.5 mole/L or less, simultaneously adding an aqueous solution containing silver salt in an amount of 6.0 mole/L or less and an aqueous solution of at least one of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide to the liquid medium to conduct a neutralization reaction, thereby obtaining a neutralized precipitate, maintaining the liquid at a pH in the range of 12±1.5 during the reaction, and subjecting the precipitate to filtration, washing, and drying.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid purification method and purification apparatus characterized by high washing efficiency where contamination does not occur and liquid does not remain in the nozzle tip. The present invention provides a tip containing the solid phase capturing a nucleic acid characterized in that washing solution is fed into said tip unidirectionally from head to end.

Abstract: A magnetic powder is provided composed of particles having a balanced shape and distribution, the particles having a small, uniform volume, making it possible to achieve improved density and reliability of a coating type magnetic recording medium. The magnetic powder has Fe as a main component, and is comprised of particles having a cross-section perpendicular to the particle major axis that is substantially round or elliptical, wherein a standard geometrical deviation indicating the variation in cross-sectional area thereof is within the range of 1.01 to 3.0. The invention is also directed to a magnetic powder in which the standard geometrical deviation indicating the variation in the particle volume is within the range of 1.01 to 4.0, and the standard geometrical deviation indicating variation in the flat acicularity is within 1.01 to 2.0.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid purification method and purification apparatus characterized by high washing efficiency where contamination does not occur and liquid does not remain in the nozzle tip. The present invention provides a tip containing the solid phase capturing a nucleic acid characterized in that washing solution is fed into said tip unidirectionally from head to end.

Abstract: When a plurality of liquids are simultaneously sucked using a plurality of suction paths connected to a single pump, one suction end may hinder other acts of suction. A multiple valve for connecting each suction path and the pump in a one-by-one manner is disposed between the plurality of suction paths and the pump. Suction is conducted while the communication between the suction paths and the pump is successively switched in a time-sharing manner. At a certain period of time, the pump and a given path is independent of other suction paths. Whereby, suction can be conducted without being influenced by suction ends of other suction paths.

Abstract: A solution such as a washing liquid can be passed through a separation column such as a nozzle tip having a solid phase quickly and reliably, thereby achieving improvements in throughput. A sample processing device comprises a separation column having a carrier capable of capturing a target substance, a liquid supply passage capable of supplying a liquid from one end portion of the separation column to the other end portion thereof, and a communication passage disposed independently of the liquid supply passage and capable of providing communication between the inside of the separation column and the outside. The communication between the inside of the separation column and the outside by the communication passage is controlled.

Abstract: Alkaline battery silver oxide powder when soaked in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 24 hours experiences dissolution of Ag into the solution of 40 mg/L. Alkaline battery silver oxide powder exhibits substantially no Ag peak by X-ray diffraction even after soaking in a 50° C. KOH 40% aqueous solution for 72 hours. This powder has a crystallite size calculated from the half value breadth of the (111) plane peak by powder X-ray diffraction of greater than 250 Angstrom and equal to or less than 1000 Angstrom, particle diameter such that the average diameter of secondary particles is equal to or greater than 1 ?m and equal to or less than 500 ?m and that of primary particles forming the secondary particles is equal to or greater than 0.1 ?m and equal to or less than 10.0 ?m, and specific surface area of 5 m2/g or less.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to further stabilize the efficiency of isolating nucleic acid concerning an apparatus for isolating nucleic acid. The present invention relates to an apparatus for isolating nucleic acid, the apparatus being provided with a meshed solid substance for binding nucleic acid. By employing the meshed solid substance for binding nucleic acid, fluid resistance can be reduced upon allowing a sample that includes nucleic acid to pass the solid substance for binding nucleic acid, while securing solid-phase volume that is sufficient for binding a large amount of nucleic acid. Consequently, even when the sample is allowed to pass the solid substance for binding nucleic acid at a high aspiration/dispense speed, force added to the solid substance for binding nucleic acid is small and the solid substance for binding nucleic acid is almost undistorted.