Abstract: A fluorescent type of green light source of a semiconductor in a light source apparatus for an endoscope includes a blue excitation light source device and green emitting phosphor. The blue excitation light source device emits blue excitation light. The green emitting phosphor is excited by the blue excitation light, and emits green fluorescence. A dichroic filter in a dichroic mirror cuts off the blue excitation light from an emission spectrum of mixed light of the blue excitation light and green fluorescence from the fluorescent type of green light source. Thus, illumination light with the emission spectrum of a target can be stably supplied without influence of the blue excitation light to a light amount of blue light from a blue light source of a semiconductor.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope system capable of maintaining a constant light amount ratio for each wavelength of light emitted from an endoscope. The endoscope system has: an endoscope that has a light guide; two or more light sources that supply light to the light guide and have different main wavelengths; a light source driving unit that supplies a driving signal to each of the light sources; a light source control unit that makes the light source driving unit generate a driving signal corresponding to the light amount setting value; and a light source information storage unit that stores information of the main wavelength. The endoscope has a scope information storage unit that stores information of a scope type.

Abstract: Efficiency of production method for producing astaxanthin by culturing microalgae is improved. A method for producing astaxanthin in which astaxanthin is produced in inner of algae by culturing a microalga, wherein a light irradiation during a green stage culturing of the microalga is performed by using both a blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and a red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm, and having a ratio of photon flux density of the blue LED to the red LED to be 2:3 to 20:1. It is preferable that the photon flux density of the blue LED is from 5 to 200 ?mol/m2/s, and the photon flux density of the red LED is from 5 to 200 ?mol/m2/s.

Abstract: [Problem] Provision of a method for fractionating lipids using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent. [Means for Solving] To provide a method for fractionating a lipid using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent. [Solution] A method for fractionating a lipid, which comprises subjecting a microbial biomass to extraction using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent and then fractionating the lipid utilizing separation selectivity for the lipid. A method for producing a lipid, which comprises subjecting a microbial biomass to extraction using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent, then fractionating a portion of the lipid utilizing separation selectivity for the lipid to modify the fatty acid composition of the remainder of the lipid which remains in the microbial biomass, and then extracting the lipid having a modified fatty acid composition.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope system that maintains the hue of an endoscopic image even in a case where a wavelength shift occurs in light for observation. An endoscope system includes a light source unit including at least one first light source that emits light including two color components with mutually different wavelengths; an image sensor having at least a first element part that has a spectral sensitivity for a first color component and a second element part that has a spectral sensitivity for the second color component out of the two color components of the first light source; and a processor that images an observation object using the light emitted from the at least one first light source of the light source unit and obtains a first signal value of the first color component obtained in the first element part of the image sensor, and a second signal value of the second color component obtained in the second element part.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope system that maintains the hue of an endoscopic image even in a case where a wavelength shift occurs in light for observation. An endoscope system includes a light source unit including at least one first light source that emits light including two color components with mutually different wavelengths; an image sensor having at least a first element part that has a spectral sensitivity for a first color component and a second element part that has a spectral sensitivity for the second color component out of the two color components of the first light source; and a processor that images an observation object using the light emitted from the at least one first light source of the light source unit and obtains a first signal value of the first color component obtained in the first element part of the image sensor, and a second signal value of the second color component obtained in the second element part.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope system capable of maintaining a constant light amount ratio for each wavelength of light emitted from an endoscope. The endoscope system has: an endoscope that has a light guide; two or more light sources that supply light to the light guide and have different main wavelengths; a light source driving unit that supplies a driving signal to each of the light sources; a light source control unit that makes the light source driving unit generate a driving signal corresponding to the light amount setting value; and a light source information storage unit that stores information of the main wavelength. The endoscope has a scope information storage unit that stores information of a scope type.

Abstract: A fluorescent type of green light source of a semiconductor in a light source apparatus for an endoscope includes a blue excitation light source device and green emitting phosphor. The blue excitation light source device emits blue excitation light. The green emitting phosphor is excited by the blue excitation light, and emits green fluorescence. A dichroic filter in a dichroic mirror cuts off the blue excitation light from an emission spectrum of mixed light of the blue excitation light and green fluorescence from the fluorescent type of green light source. Thus, illumination light with the emission spectrum of a target can be stably supplied without influence of the blue excitation light to a light amount of blue light from a blue light source of a semiconductor.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a method for producing astaxanthin by culturing a microalga. A method for producing astaxanthin in which astaxanthin is produced in an algal body by culturing a microalga, wherein photoirradiation is performed using both a blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and a red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm, at least during an astaxanthin-producing culturing phase of a culturing period. The ratio of the blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and the red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm is preferably from 1:19 to 19:1 by photon flux density, and the photon flux densities are each preferably not less than 20 ?mol/m2/s.

Abstract: [Problem] Provision of a method for fractionating lipids using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent. [Means for Solving] To provide a method for fractionating a lipid using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent. [Solution] A method for fractionating a lipid, which comprises subjecting a microbial biomass to extraction using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent and then fractionating the lipid utilizing separation selectivity for the lipid. A method for producing a lipid, which comprises subjecting a microbial biomass to extraction using liquefied dimethyl ether as a solvent, then fractionating a portion of the lipid utilizing separation selectivity for the lipid to modify the fatty acid composition of the remainder of the lipid which remains in the microbial biomass, and then extracting the lipid having a modified fatty acid composition.

Abstract: A fluorescent type of green light source of a semiconductor in a light source apparatus for an endoscope includes a blue excitation light source device and green emitting phosphor. The blue excitation light source device emits blue excitation light. The green emitting phosphor is excited by the blue excitation light, and emits green fluorescence. A dichroic filter in a dichroic mirror cuts off the blue excitation light from an emission spectrum of mixed light of the blue excitation light and green fluorescence from the fluorescent type of green light source. Thus, illumination light with the emission spectrum of a target can be stably supplied without influence of the blue excitation light to a light amount of blue light from a blue light source of a semiconductor.

Abstract: A light source apparatus outputs light for an endoscope apparatus. A blue LED emits blue light with a peak wavelength equal to or longer than 450 nm. A wavelength cut-off filter is disposed downstream of the blue LED, for cutting off a component in the blue light having a wavelength equal to or longer than the peak wavelength. Preferably, the wavelength cut-off filter cuts off a component of a wavelength equal to or longer than a reference wavelength in a wavelength range equal to or longer than the peak wavelength. A mode changer changes over an enhancement mode and a normal mode, the enhancement mode is set for enhancing and imaging a surface blood vessel of the object by use of the wavelength cut-off filter, the normal mode is set for imaging the object by disabling a function of the wavelength cut-off filter.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for supplying a light guide device incorporated in an endoscope with a light beam is provided. A light emitting device of semiconductor, for example, laser diode generates the light beam. A light homogenizer homogenizes irradiance distribution of the light beam in a radial direction. A short focus lens is disposed between the light homogenizer and the light guide device, for enlarging a divergence angle of the light beam. Furthermore, the light homogenizer is a transparent light guide rod disposed to extend in an optical axis direction of the light beam. A diameter of the light homogenizer is constant in an optical axis direction thereof. The diameter of the light homogenizer is equal to or less than a diameter of the short focus lens.

Abstract: A light source apparatus for supplying an endoscope with light includes at least one light source unit for generating the light. A transparent light homogenizer includes an entrance end face, disposed on a proximal side in an optical axis direction, for receiving entry of the light, an exit end face, disposed on a distal side in the optical axis direction, for exiting the light traveling from the entrance end face, and a reflective interface, formed in a tubular shape between the entrance end face and the exit end face, for total reflection of the light in an internal manner and for directing the light in the optical axis direction. A photo sensor is disposed on the reflective interface, for measuring a light amount of the light. The light homogenizer regularizes the light amount of the light from the exit end face in a radial direction.

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a first light source for emitting first light which is inputted to alight guide section that guides light to an examination area and projects the light onto the examination area and a second light source for emitting second light which is inputted to the light guide in which exit angles of the first and second light are changed simultaneously by an exit angle changing section, the first and second light being guided by the light guide section and projected onto the examination area.

Abstract: A method of detection is provided that permits differentiation of each of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus anthracis from other microorganisms, using oligonucleotide primers for amplification of the target nucleotide sequences characteristic to Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus anthracis, consisting of the oligonucleotide (A) having a nucleotide sequence obtained from SEQ ID NO:1 and containing at least one site that can amplify a nucleotide sequence characteristic to Bacillus cereus, the oligonucleotide (B) having a nucleotide sequence obtained from SEQ ID NO:3 and containing at least one site that can amplify a nucleotide sequence characteristic to Bacillus thuringiensis, and the oligonucleotide (C) having a nucleotide sequence obtained from SEQ ID NO:5 and containing at least one site that can amplify a nucleotide sequence characteristic to Bacillus anthracis.

Abstract: A suspension of a microorganism or a plurality of different microorganisms is added to a dispersion of .beta.-chitin gel, and the resultant dispersion is molded and dried to produce an immobilized microorganism such as a film or membrane containing the microorganism. The .beta.-chitin gel dispersion is prepared by isolating and grinding .beta.-chitin from a source such as cuttlefish pen or squid pen, dispersing the ground .beta.-chitin in water and forming a gel dispersion. In forming the gel dispersion, the dispersion of ground .beta.-chitin is gelled and the gel is dispersed in water. Freeze-thawing may be used in gelling the dispersion of ground .beta.-chitin. A film of the immobilized microorganism can be formed on an electrode to prepare a microorganism electrode.