Abstract: A thermal fixer includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller. The first thermal fixing roller includes a first heater. The second thermal fixing roller is pressed to the first thermal fixing roller. The second thermal fixing roller includes a second heater and has a diameter, a rigidity, and a surface releasability substantially identical to the first thermal fixing roller.

Abstract: To provide an inspection device capable of imaging a transmission image while changing relative positions of a radiation source, an inspection object, and a detector. An inspection device comprises a radiation generator, a substrate holding unit for holding an inspection object, a detector, a substrate holding unit driving unit and a detector driving unit, a substrate position detection unit and a detector position detection unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a step for causing the detector to start acquiring an image while the relative positions of the radiation generator, the substrate holding unit and the detector are changing, a step for acquiring information relating to the positions of the substrate holding unit and the detector when the detector starts acquiring an image, and a step for storing the image acquired by the detector and the information relating to the position in association with each other.

Abstract: To provide an inspection device capable of imaging a transmission image while changing relative positions of a radiation source, an inspection object, and a detector. An inspection device comprises a radiation generator, a substrate holding unit for holding an inspection object, a detector, a substrate holding unit driving unit and a detector driving unit, a substrate position detection unit and a detector position detection unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a step for causing the detector to start acquiring an image while the relative positions of the radiation generator, the substrate holding unit and the detector are changing, a step for acquiring information relating to the positions of the substrate holding unit and the detector when the detector starts acquiring an image, and a step for storing the image acquired by the detector and the information relating to the position in association with each other.

Abstract: In an example of an embodiment, a first sample set is prepared that includes a test sample prepared from a first subject sample and a reagent, and at least one control sample prepared from at least one of a positive control and a negative control, and a second sample set is prepared that includes a test sample prepared from a second subject sample and a reagent and does not contain at least one of the control samples contained in the first sample set. The nucleic acid amplification in the first sample set is measured in the first unit, the nucleic acid amplification in the second sample set is measured in the second unit, and the measurement result of each test sample contained in the first sample set and second sample set is analyzed based on the measurement result of the control sample contained in at least the first sample set.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for supporting a diagnosis of a risk of colorectal cancer recurrence, including the steps of: performing a first measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a first gene group present in a region from 18q21 to 18q23 on the long arm of chromosome 18 in a biological sample collected from a patient with colorectal cancer, a second measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a second gene group present in a region from 20q11 to 20q13 on the long arm of chromosome 20, and a third measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a third gene group including ANGPTL2, AXL, C1R, C1S, CALHM2, CTSK, DCN, EMP3, GREM1, ITGAV, KLHL5, MMP2, RAB34, SELM, SRGAP2P1, and VIM; and determining the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence of the patient based on the levels of expression measured in the measurement step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quality control of nucleic acid amplification using quality control oligonucleotide. The method comprises a nucleic acid detection step and a determination step. The nucleic acid detection step comprises the steps of: preparing a nucleic acid sample containing a target nucleic acid and a quality control polynucleotide; preparing a compartment containing one molecule of the target nucleic acid and a compartment containing one molecule of the quality control polynucleotide; and carrying out nucleic acid amplification of the target nucleic acid and the quality control polynucleotide, in the compartments, and carrying out signal detection using a detection probe to detect a signal originated from the detection probe. In the determination step, it is determined as to whether or not the nucleic acid detection step is proper on the basis of the result obtained in the signal detection step.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining presence of a disease, comprising steps of; measuring the levels of expression of transcription products of genes in a biological sample obtained from a subject suspected of having a target disease, wherein the genes comprise at least one gene belonging to each of at least two disease-determining gene families related to the target disease; obtaining values representing deviations by standardizing the levels of the expression based on the levels of expression of transcription products of the corresponding genes in a plurality of healthy subjects; obtaining the average of values representing deviations with respect to the gene belonging to each of the disease-determining gene families; and determining whether or not the subject has the target disease by using the average; as well as a computer program product for determining presence of a disease.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quality control of nucleic acid amplification using quality control oligonucleotide. The method comprises a nucleic acid detection step and a determination step. The nucleic acid detection step comprises the steps of: preparing a nucleic acid sample containing a target nucleic acid and a quality control polynucleotide; preparing a compartment containing one molecule of the target nucleic acid and a compartment containing one molecule of the quality control polynucleotide; and carrying out nucleic acid amplification of the target nucleic acid and the quality control polynucleotide, in the compartments, and carrying out signal detection using a detection probe to detect a signal originated from the detection probe. In the determination step, it is determined as to whether or not the nucleic acid detection step is proper on the basis of the result obtained in the signal detection step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for supporting a diagnosis of a risk of colorectal cancer recurrence, including the steps of: performing a first measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a first gene group present in a region from 18q21 to 18q23 on the long arm of chromosome 18 in a biological sample collected from a patient with colorectal cancer, a second measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a second gene group present in a region from 20q11 to 20q13 on the long arm of chromosome 20, and a third measurement to measure the levels of expression of a plurality of genes selected from a third gene group including ANGPTL2, AXL, C1R, C1S, CALHM2, CTSK, DCN, EMP3, GREM1, ITGAV, KLHL5, MMP2, RAB34, SELM, SRGAP2P1, and VIM; and determining the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence of the patient based on the levels of expression measured in the measurement step.

Abstract: A front airbag device in which an airbag module can be detached from a steering wheel with a simpler operation is provided. A front airbag device includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The airbag module includes a housing. The steering wheel includes a positioning hook and a retaining hook. The housing includes a positioning tab on which the positioning hook is hooked and a rod-shaped elastic body on which the retaining hook is hooked. The positioning tab has an extension portion, and the steering wheel has a window portion which enables the extension portion to be visible from the outside. The positioning tab is tilted whereby the positioning tab is disconnected from the positioning hook and the elastic body can move.

Abstract: A front airbag device in which an airbag module can be detached from a steering wheel with a simpler operation is provided. A front airbag device includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The airbag module includes a housing. The steering wheel includes a positioning hook and a retaining hook. The housing includes a positioning tab on which the positioning hook is hooked and a rod-shaped elastic body on which the retaining hook is hooked. The positioning tab has an extension portion, and the steering wheel has a window portion which enables the extension portion to be visible from the outside. The positioning tab is tilted whereby the positioning tab is disconnected from the positioning hook and the elastic body can move.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining presence of a disease, comprising steps of; measuring the levels of expression of transcription products of genes in a biological sample obtained from a subject suspected of having a target disease, wherein the genes comprise at least one gene belonging to each of at least two disease-determining gene families related to the target disease; obtaining values representing deviations by standardizing the levels of the expression based on the levels of expression of transcription products of the corresponding genes in a plurality of healthy subjects; obtaining the average of values representing deviations with respect to the gene belonging to each of the disease-determining gene families; and determining whether or not the subject has the target disease by using the average; as well as a computer program product for determining presence of a disease.

Abstract: In order to provide a method of amplifying nucleic acid which can produce a nearly constant amount of amplified products despite the amount of RNA to be used as a template, the primer is used at a final concentration of 500 pM to 500 nM in a reaction which synthesizes a single-stranded cDNA using RNA extracted from a biological sample as a template and using a primer with oligo dT and a promoter sequence.

Abstract: A method of determining a lymph node metastasis in a lung cancer, comprising: acquiring mRNA expression level of stratifin contained in a measurement sample prepared by using a lymph node tissue of a lung cancer patient who may have a lymph node metastasis; and determining that the lymph node tissue is a lymph node metastasis of the lung cancer when the acquired mRNA expression level of stratifin is overexpressed. An apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining presence of a disease, comprising steps of; measuring the levels of expression of transcription products of genes in a biological sample obtained from a subject suspected of having a target disease, wherein the genes comprise at least one gene belonging to each of at least two disease-determining gene families related to the target disease; obtaining values representing deviations by standardizing the levels of the expression based on the levels of expression of transcription products of the corresponding genes in a plurality of healthy subjects; obtaining the average of values representing deviations with respect to the gene belonging to each of the disease-determining gene families; and determining whether or not the subject has the target disease by using the average; as well as a computer program product for determining presence of a disease.

Abstract: An airbag is formed from fabric layers joined at a seam, and gas generator inflates the airbag by means of gas expelled from the gas generator's insertion end which has been inserted into the airbag. A gas guide is formed in the airbag in order to direct gas from the gas generator into the airbag and includes a pouch-shaped gas guide member in which are formed gas injection nozzles and an attachment orifice. The insertion end of the gas generator is inserted into the attachment orifice with the gas injection nozzles facing an interior of the airbag. A convex-shaped seam is included where the fabric layers are joined, and is disposed in opposition to the gas guide member. The gas guide member comes into contact with the convex-shaped seam as a result of the pressure of the flow of gas from the gas generator through the gas guide member.

Abstract: An airbag is formed from fabric layers joined at a seam, and gas generator inflates the airbag by means of gas expelled from the gas generator's insertion end which has been inserted into the airbag. A gas guide is formed in the airbag in order to direct gas from the gas generator into the airbag and includes a pouch-shaped gas guide member in which are formed gas injection nozzles and an attachment orifice. The insertion end of the gas generator is inserted into the attachment orifice with the gas injection nozzles facing an interior of the airbag. A convex-shaped seam is included where the fabric layers are joined, and is disposed in opposition to the gas guide member. The gas guide member comes into contact with the convex-shaped seam as a result of the pressure of the flow of gas from the gas generator through the gas guide member.

Abstract: On the outer surface of a metal pipe 10 there is formed a zinc plating layer 20 having a predetermined thickness by electroplating method. A coating layer 30 predominantly composed of a chromium compound and a phosphoric acid compound is formed by dipping the metal pipe 10 with layers up to the zincplating layer 20 formed thereon in a coating liquid containing chromium (a source of chromium) and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of oxyacid of phosphorus, oxysalt of phosphorus, anhydride of oxyacid of phosphorus, and anhydride of oxysalt of phosphorus. A fluorocarbon resin layer 40 is formed by coating, with polyvinyl fluoride, the metal pipe 10 with layers up to the coating layer 30 formed thereon and baking at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.