Abstract: A three-dimensional puzzle which forms a regular polyhedron and has not conventionally existed is realized. In addition, a three-dimensional puzzle which realizes a Fedrov space filling solid and has not conventionally existed is realized. According to the invention, a three-dimensional puzzle is provided having a regular polyhedron consisting of a plurality of convex polyhedrons which fill an interior of the regular polyhedron comprising the plurality of convex polyhedrons having a plurality of a pair of convex polyhedrons in a mirroring image relationship, wherein the plurality of convex polyhedrons are indivisible into two or more congruent shaped polyhedrons. In addition, the plurality of convex polyhedrons may be four convex polyhedrons and include three pairs of convex polyhedrons in a mirroring image relationship. Further the plurality of convex polyhedrons may be five convex polyhedrons and include four pairs of convex polyhedrons in a mirroring image relationship.

Abstract: A transparent conductive film containing magnesium, at least one element (A) selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon and boron, plus oxygen, and hydrogen. For example, this transparent conductive film may be manufactured by forming a film containing magnesium and an element (A) on a substrate and holding the film in an atmosphere containing water, which forming uses a target containing magnesium and a target containing the element (A) being at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon and boron.

Abstract: By using a ceramics laser medium such as Nd:YAG ceramics or Yb:YAG ceramics, division of a lateral mode pattern to a local mode is suppressed so that single frequency, linear polarization oscillation are achieved in TEM00 mode. A laser oscillator comprising a laser light source for oscillating the pumping light, and a laser medium of Nd:YAG ceramics or Yb:YAG ceramics having an average grain size of 5 ?m or less upon which the pumping light impinges is provided. The laser medium may have a first surface having a first dielectric multilayer film, and a second surface having a second dielectric multilayer film.

Abstract: A stent includes a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces, a first coated layer coating at least the outer surface, and a second coated layer coating substantially completely over the first coated layer. The first coated layer is prepared of a first composition comprising a polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor (preferably argatroban) of a kind, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight compositional ratio of the polymer to the inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 3:7. On the other hand, the second coated layer is prepared of a polymer alone or a second composition comprising a polymer and a drug, the weight compositional ratio of the drug to 80% by weight of the polymer being less than 20% by weight.

Abstract: Carbonyl compounds generated and accumulated in the peritoneal dialysate can be inactivated or eliminated by a carbonyl compound-trapping agent such as aminoguanidine. Carbonyl compounds generated during sterilization and storage of the peritoneal dialysate can be eliminated by pre-contacting with the trapping agent. Further, it is possible to eliminate carbonyl compounds transferred from the blood to the peritoneal cavity of the patient during peritoneal dialysis treatment, by adding the trapping agent to the peritoneal dialysate or by circulating the fluid through a carbonyl compound-trapping cartridge. Intraperitoneal protein modification by carbonyl compounds is inhibited by the present invention, thereby sufficiently reducing peritoneal disorders associated with peritoneal dialysis treatment.

Abstract: A pressure source material is loaded into a space having constraint device 1, which is formed partly by optically transparent material 1a, 1b, and is disrupted under volume constraint. Light energy is externally supplied to the pressure source material constrained in the space through the optically transparent material by employing the device to apply light energy. The disruption of atomic bonds in the pressure source material is induced by heating the pressure source material above the boiling point thereof through the supplied energy. Exceptionally high pressures are generated in the space by the use of expansive forces arising from the disruption of atomic bonds. Such a configuration can implement ultrahigh pressure abilities that has not been achieved, so far.

Abstract: A screw attachment (10, 10?, 10?) disposed around a fastening piece (17) secured to a main fastening body (25a), the screw attachment sandwiched between a head (17b) of the fastening piece and a securing object (22) so that the screw attachment bears a securing force of the fastening piece to press the securing object. The screw attachment includes a pair of arms (12, 13) made of a shape restoring material. Each arm has a fore end, and the fore ends are joined to each other with an adhesive material that is softened when heated. The arms expands radially such that the screw attachment is released from the head of the fastening piece when heat or force is applied to the arms.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a functional thin tube device in which a pump and a liquid drawing device are constituted to be not separate without a sophisticated channel design and to correspond to various applications. A functional thin tube device includes a hollow tubular body, a plurality of vibrating ring bodies mounted as being kept in contact with the tubular body spaced an interval along an axial direction on an outer circumference of the tubular body, and an energy supply means of energy for vibrating the vibrating ring bodies. The energy supply means is constituted to supply energy such that the displacement caused by vibrations is mutually different among the vibrating ring bodies.

Abstract: A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image.

Abstract: Highly polymerizable diamine compounds having a phosphorylcholine group are disclosed. High-molecular weight polymers are obtained from the highly polymerizable diamine compound having a phosphorylcholine group as a monomer, and the polymers have improved mechanical strength, water resistance and heat resistance while maintaining excellent biocompatibility and processability of MPC polymers. Processes for producing the polymers are disclosed. The diamine compounds having a phosphorylcholine group are represented by Formula (I). The polymers contain at least 1 mol % of a specific structural unit with a phosphorylcholine group represented by Formula (II) and have a number average molecular weight of not less than 5,000. In the processes, the diamine compound is used as a monomer.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liposome composition which is able to allow the MHC class I and class II molecules of antigen-presenting cells to efficiently present an antigen substance. The present invention provides a liposome composition, which comprises an oligosaccharide-coated liposome and an antigen substance and is used to cause the MHC class I and class II molecules of an antigen-presenting cell to present an antigen peptide.

Abstract: A bioartificial renal tubule is provided that forms an artificial kidney together with a bioartificial glomerulus suitable for continuous hemofiltration. The bioartificial renal tubule includes an artificial membrane having an inner surface coated with renal tubular epithelial cells and a vessel containing the artificial membrane. The cells are prevented by the use of a MEK inhibitor from being stratified and therefore form a confluent monolayer on the artificial membrane. The renal tubular epithelial cells are characterized in that the contact inhibition thereof is maintained by the use of the MEK inhibitor. The MEK inhibitor is preferably U0126. The attachment of cells capable of reproducing the function of a kidney allows dialysis to be continuously performed for 24 hours with high efficiency and also allows the ability of a renal tubule to reabsorb useful substances to be achieved.

Abstract: An ionic liquid which is high in ionic conductivity and high in safety without an anxiety of ignition or the like and an electrolyte composition containing the same are provided. The present invention concerns an electrolyte composition for photoelectric conversion device, containing a quaternary phosphonium salt ionic liquid represented by the following formula (1). A viscosity at 25° C. of this ionic liquid is preferably not more than 200 mPa·sec. In the formula (1), it is preferable that the alkoxyalkyl group is a methoxymethyl group, and all of the alkyl groups are an ethyl group. In the formula, R1 represents a linear alkyl group or a branched alkyl group each having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group; n represents an integer of from 1 to 6; and X represents N(SO2CF3)2 or N(CN)2.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic agent for allergy which realizes enhancement of therapeutic efficacy and improvement in side effects such as anaphylaxis in a method for treating allergy by allergen administration (hyposensitization therapy). That is, the present invention provides the therapeutic agent for allergy comprising a liposome having on its surface an oligosaccharide capable of binding to a lectin derived from an antigen presenting cell and composed of 2 to 11 sugar residues, wherein an allergen is encapsulated in said liposome.

Abstract: An ionic liquid which is high in ionic conductivity and high in safety without an anxiety of ignition or the like and an electrolyte composition containing the same are provided. The present invention concerns an electrolyte composition for photoelectric conversion device, containing a quaternary phosphonium salt ionic liquid represented by the following formula (1). A viscosity at 25° C. of this ionic liquid is preferably not more than 200 mPa·sec. In the formula (1), it is preferable that the alkoxyalkyl group is a methoxymethyl group, and all of the alkyl groups are an ethyl group. In the formula, R1 represents a linear alkyl group or a branched alkyl group each having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group; n represents an integer of from 1 to 6; and X represents N(SO2CF3)2 or N(CN)2.

Abstract: A drug-releasable medical device contains a controlled drug-release composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an organic polymeric material which is soluble in an organic solvent and insoluble in water, 5 to 60 parts by weight of a lipid-soluble, low molecular weight release auxiliary agent and 1 to 70 parts by weight of a drug. When the composition is applied on a stent, a catheter, an organ replacement medical device, an artificial organ or the like in the form of coating or the like, the medical device is provided with a drug release function. Argatroban or sarpogrelate hydrochloride or both of them are gradually released from the surface of a stent for treating coronary artery stenosis, for example. In order to exhibit a sustained-release function for a desired period of time, the drug to be gradually released is carried in a polymeric material coated on a surface of a metal forming the stent or in a porous stent substrate.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to provide a novel peritoneal membrane protecting agent which can effectively suppress deterioration of peritoneal functions in long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and the like. The present invention provides a peritoneal membrane protecting agent comprising a pyridoxine or a salt thereof, as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A gene expressed specifically in mesangial cells. A DNA expressed specifically in mesangial cells; a protein encoded by this DNA; an antibody binding to this protein, etc. These substances are indigenous to mesangial cells and, therefore, useful in, for example, identifying mesangial cells and detecting abnormalities in mesangial cells. Moreover, the above protein would be helpful for clarification of the functions of masangial cells and, in its turn, for clarification of the causes of diseases relating to masangial cells. This protein is expectedly applicable to the treatment and diagnosis of diseases relating to masangial cells.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which applies a labeling pulse to invert a spin included in a labeling region within part of a imaging region and then collects a echo signal from a time point when an inversion time has passed from the application of the labeling pulse, and a control unit, the control unit controlling the imaging unit so that the echo signal in the imaging region is collected a plurality of times with variations in the inversion time, the control unit also controlling the imaging unit so that a time ranging from a reference time point within a biological signal obtained from a subject to the application of the labeling pulse is a time determined in accordance with the inversion time.

Abstract: A pressure source material is loaded into a space having constraint device 1, which is formed partly by optically transparent material 1a, 1b, and is disrupted under volume constraint. Light energy is externally supplied to the pressure source material constrained in the space through the optically transparent material by employing the device to apply light energy. The disruption of atomic bonds in the pressure source material is induced by heating through the supplied energy. Exceptionally high pressures are generated in the space by the use of expansive forces arising from the disruption of atomic bonds. Such a configuration can implement ultrahigh pressure abilities that has not been achieved, so far.