Abstract: There is provided a micro-pattern forming apparatus including an electrospraying part for applying a voltage to a solution containing a sample to electrostatically atomizing the solution; a supporting part (30) for supporting a chip (26), on which the sample in the solution electrostatically atomized by the electrospraying part, is to be deposited; and a fine mask part (24) disposed between the electrospraying part and the supporting part, having a mask pattern for being passed through by the electrostatically atomized solution in order to form a micro-pattern of the sample upon the chip, wherein the mask pattern is made from a photoresist material with concavity and convexity on the side of the supporting part.

Abstract: An immobilization method, an apparatus, and a manufacturing method of a microstructure are provided, where the method including the electrospray step by which a solution containing at least one objective substance is supplied to a capillary; and immobilization step by which the objective substance in the solution atomized in the electrospray step is immobilized on an object, which is to be coated and has an arbitrary shape, in a dried state by an electrostatic force while retaining functionality and/or activity of the objective substance, resulting in a thickness on the order of nanometers.

Abstract: In a liquid treating equipment to maintain a small amount of liquid to a desired liquid level with constantly supplying an additional liquid into a small capacity vessel, a storage vessel 13 to store the small amount of liquid, an injection tube 16 to inject the small amount of liquid into the storage vessel 16, liquid supplying apparatus 23–25 to supply the small amount of liquid into the storage vessel through the injection tube, a flow path 15 of which one end is joined with the storage vessel, a discharge vessel 14, joined with the storage vessel 13 via the flow path, having a larger surface area than that of the storage vessel, a discharge tube 17 of which the discharging inlet is positioned at the same level position as a desired liquid level of the small amount of liquid in the storage vessel and liquid discharging apparatus 27–29 to discharge the liquid from the discharge vessel through the discharge tube are provided.

Abstract: A device for fabricating a high-density microarray for cDNA or protein having an arbitrary pattern comprises an electrospray part for electrostatically spraying solutions containing a plurality of kinds of biologically active samples one by one, a support part supporting sample chips on which samples in the solutions sprayed from the electrospray part are deposited, a mask part disposed between the electrospray part and the support part and having holes the number of which is the same as that of the sample chips so as to selectively deposit the samples simultaneously in the adequate positions corresponding to the sample chips, a moving part for fabricating microarrays at a time by relatively moving the sample chip support part and the mask part and depositing the samples on the sample chips. Therefore the device can fabricate a large number of inexpensive high-density microarrays.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a neutron beam includes a plurality of columnar prisms 1 that are made of a material having a refractive index of less than 1 for a neutron beam, and are arranged so as to be multi-layered. The columnar prisms 1 each have an approximately right-triangle-shaped section, and are three-dimensionally multi-layered such that respective surfaces 1a, 1b, 1c of the columnar prisms are in parallel to one another. Stick-shaped members 5 are made of the above material, the stick-shaped members 5 are set in a plurality of grooves formed on a jig 6 that have the same shape, and upper surfaces of the grooves are flattened at the same time.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanochemical sensor including a minute mechanical structure body having the functional membrane formed at least on one part of its surface, a supporting part for supporting the minute mechanical structure body; and a detection part for detecting the change of a mechanical property of the minute mechanical structure body. According to the invention, it is possible to provide improved adhesion between the functional membrane and the minute mechanical structure body since the functional membrane is integrally formed in advance on the minute mechanical structure body, which will contribute to the increase of detection signal, and improvement of measurement precision and sensitivity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a large double-sided curved Fresnel lens. The method includes a machining step (A) of performing ultra-precise three-dimensional machining on an upper mold and a lower mold to each have an upper transfer surface and a lower transfer surface engaging an upper surface and a lower surface of a thermoplastic resin plate, respectively. Further, the method includes a hot press molding step (B) of pressing the thermoplastic resin plate between the upper and lower molds by a predetermined pressure with the resin plate being held at a temperature higher than a softening temperature thereof and lower than a melting temperature thereof so that the thermoplastic resin plate is curved, and both lens surfaces for the double-sided Fresnel lens are respectively transferred to an upper surface and a lower surface of the thermoplastic resin plate.

Abstract: A solution containing a sample is provided vibration by a vibrating element, the solution is atomized in a status retaining its activities as minute particulate substances, and the solution and/or the atomized minute particulate substances are electrically charged by wires applied a high voltage. Then, the particles are dried out during flying, the particles are deposited onto a substrate grounded by electrostatic force, and to be immobilized in a status keeping its activities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a sustained-release preparation comprising removing a solvent from an organic solvent solution containing a poorly water-soluble nonpeptidic physiologically active compound, a polyvalent metal compound and a biodegradable polymer, said physiologically active compound dissolved in an amount exceeding the solubility thereof in the organic solvent solution of biodegradable polymer in the absence of the polyvalent metal compound; a sustained-release preparation obtained by the process; a sustained-release solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a nonpeptidic physiologically active substance and a biodegradable polymer, wherein about 0.05% by weight or more, based on the weight of the composition, of a polyvalent metal is present on the surface of the composition; etc.

Abstract: A microchip is provided, the microchip comprises a block constituting a reaction system, wherein said reaction system includes: a reaction region including biomolecules immobilized therein in form of a spot(s) or a strip(s); a supply flow channel connected to the reaction region for supplying a sample solution; and a recovery flow channel connected to the reaction region for recovering the sample solution which passes through at least a part of the reaction region. Thereby bonds or bindings between the biomolecules or biomacromolecules and the samples can be detected on the microchip using the slight quantity of both the sample and the biomolecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical solution containing a physiologically active non-peptide substance, an organic acid and a biocompatible organic solvent, and provides a pharmaceutical solution wherein a physiologically active non-peptide substance is dissolved at a high concentration.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an interaction between a biopolymer and a ligand characterized by consisting of a block provided with a reaction system having a reaction filed in which the biopolymer is immobilized, a supplying channel connected to the reaction field for supplying a sample to the reaction field and a recovery channel for recovering the sample having passed at least a part of the reaction field; and a means of measuring the flow potential of the immobilized biopolymer while supplying the sample to the reaction field via the supplying channel and recovering the sample having passed at least a part of the reaction field via the recovery channel. By using this apparatus, the interaction between a large number of biopolymers and ligands can be detected simultaneously.

Abstract: A process for conveniently producing a stable protein powder retaining the higher-order structure at a high level which comprises freezing a protein-containing solution at a cooling rate of about −300 to −10° C./min. and then drying.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a metal bond grind stone having a flat plate portion 10a and a tapered portion 10b; an electrode 13 opposed to the metal bond grind stone with a gap therebetween; voltage applying means 12 for applying a direct-current pulse voltage between the metal bond grind stone and the electrode; conductive liquid supplying means 14 for supplying a conductive liquid 15 between the metal bond grind stone and the electrode; and grind stone moving means 16 for moving the metal bond grind stone in a direction orthogonal to the shaft center thereof, and an ingot 1 of a single crystal SiC is thereby cut at the tapered portion 10b of the metal bond grind stone and the cut surface is then specular-worked at the flat plate portion 10a.

Abstract: A composition prepared by containing or blending a physiologically active non-peptide substance and a biodegradable polymer having two or more carboxylic groups at its end or a salt thereof features: (1) larger content of the physiologically active non-peptide substance can be contained, as well as release of the same can be controlled or accelerated, whereby secure pharmaceutical effect is achieved; (2) when the physiologically active non-peptide substance causes subcutaneous stimulation, an activity of canceling the stimulation by strongly acidic group at its end is expected; and (3) high glass transition point and high stability.

Abstract: A sensor unit is formed by a single integral body obtained by coupling a resiliently deforming portion with a base portion without interposing a soft material therebetween, and a force applied to a probe secured to a front end of the resiliently deforming portion is measured as a change in capacitance of a capacitor constituted by electrodes secured to opposing surfaces of the resiliently deforming portion and base portion. These electrodes are connected to a resonance circuit of a high frequency oscillation circuit, and in order to measure a change in a resonance frequency which is varied in accordance with the applied force, an output signal from the high frequency oscillation circuit is counted by a digital frequency counter for a predetermined time period. It is possible to provide the electrocapacitive type force measuring apparatus which can measure a very small force with an extremely high precision without being affected by temperature variation, humidity variation and secular variation.

Abstract: An aspherical reference surface 2 is manufactured with such a shape accuracy that an interference band appears according to the aspherical shape of a surface 1 to be measured, an aspherical wave front 3 is formed using the reference surface, and a large aspherical surface is measured from interference within a short time. The aspherical reference surface is an aspherical surface optical element 10 manufactured by fly-cutting or ELID-grinding, that produces the interference band from light reflected from the aspherical surface and predetermined reference light, and thereby measures the shape of the aspherical surface from interference. The aspherical surface optical element should be an aspherical reflecting mirror with such a shape accuracy that an interference band is generated and parallel light is reflected in the direction normal to the surface to be measured. Thus, the shape can be measured in a short time without using an aspherical surface standard.

Abstract: A probe head 10 and a laser interferometric displacement meter 20 are provided. The probe head supports a probe 2 that is capable of contacting a workpiece 1, that is free to move in the direction of the workpiece, and drives the probe towards the workpiece. The displacement meter measures the displacement of the probe with a high accuracy without contact. The probe head 10 is also provided with a probe shaft 12 with steps 11a, 11b at intermediate portions thereof and air bearings 14a, 14b that support the probe shaft on each side of the steps. The air bearings have a high stiffness in the radial direction, and the probe shaft is made to float by using compressed air, thus the resistance of the shaft to sliding is reduced. In addition, another compressed air is supplied to the location of the step and produces a driving force in the direction of the workpiece due to the difference of cross sectional areas on each side of the step, that provides a very small load within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An electrolytic in-process dressing device 10 is provided with a disk-shaped metal-bonded grindstone 2 with a surface 2a with a circular arc shape with a radius R at its outer periphery and a numerical control device 16. The disk-shaped metal-bonded grindstone 2 rotates around an axis Y, and the grindstone is dressed electrolytically while the device 10 grinds the workpiece 1. The numerical control device 16 is provided with a rotary truing device 12 that rotates around the X axis that orthogonally crosses the axis of rotation Y and trues the circular arc surface 2a, a shape measuring device 14 for measuring the shape of the circular arc surface of the grindstone and the shape of the processed surface of workpiece 1 on the machine, and controls the grindstone numerically in the three directions along the axes X, Y and Z. The numerical control device 16 moves the grindstone in three axial directions and repeats the operations of truing, grinding and measurements on-line.

Abstract: A sample extrusion device 12 for sequentially extruding a sample 1 in a predetermined direction, a sample cutting device 14 for sequentially cutting the extruded sample, and a con-focal image pickup device 16 for focusing an illuminating light at a section portion that was cut to pick up two-dimensional images of the cut section from a reflected light thereof are provided to reconstruct an internal structure of the sample from many two-dimensional images (continuous section images) that differ in the cutting positions. The sample can be continuously cut to continuously observe the sectional images thereof under no influence of the sample being seen transparently, the entirety of the sample can be observed in almost the same condition even though the sample is colored with a fluorescent dye, and thereby, the internal structure of the sample can be reconstructed with a high precision.