Abstract: An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is directed to a method for assaying the severity of an illness in real time and is to provide a testing method capable of assessing the severity of an illness in more detail than the conventional APACHE II and SOFA scores. The established method can accurately measure an ATP level in a sample, thereby accurately and quickly deducing the “state of intracellular energy required for living organisms” from the ATP level, and by extension, determining the severity of an illness. The present invention further provides a novel biomarker ATP-lactate energy risk score (A-LES) value that is capable of determining the severity of an illness by the reevaluation, with the ATP concentration as an index (specifically, on the basis of a lactic acid level (mM)/ATP concentration (mM) ratio), of the level of lactic acid that accumulates in the sample due to the breakdown of in vivo metabolic balance accompanied by the increased severity of the illness.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine producing an antigen-specific mucosal IgA and a blood IgG in the levels capable of exerting an effective immune induction and an infection-preventing effect, which comprises: (a) an AD vehicle consisting of a synthetic peptide and a lipid(s), wherein the synthetic peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence KnLm (wherein n is 4 to 8 and m is 11 to 20); (b) a carboxylvinyl polymer; and, (c) an antigenic protein, in an amount incapable of producing a sufficient mucosal IgA and blood IgG for exerting an effective immune induction and an infection-preventing effect when used by itself. The mucosal vaccine of the invention has an antibody producing ability which is more potent than those of mucosal vaccines of the prior art, and as a result it can exert an excellent effect even with an extremely small amount of an antigen.

Abstract: A light emitting element lighting device includes: a rectifying unit which rectifies an AC voltage; a smoothing unit which smoothes a ripple voltage from the rectifying unit; a power supply unit having a switching element; and a control unit which controls on/off of the switching element. Further, the smoothing unit servers as a partial smoothing circuit for partially smoothing a low voltage period of the ripple voltage outputted from the rectifying unit. The power supply unit supplies a lighting power to a light source unit including one or more light emitting elements. The control unit controls a switching frequency of the switching element to decrease as the output voltage of the smoothing unit decreases.

Abstract: A transcription chip comprising a substrate and, immobilized thereon, at least one polynucleotide including an element sequence to which a transcription factor can be bound.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a lighting circuit unit, a timer unit, a life judgment unit, a timing adjustment unit, and an indication unit. The lighting circuit unit is configured to activate a light source. The timer unit is configured to measure accumulated operation time of the lighting circuit unit. The life judgment unit is configured to store a first judgment time and a second judgment time longer than the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the first judgment time and output a first judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the second judgment time and output a second judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the second judgment time. The timing adjustment unit is configured to vary timing at which the life judgment unit outputs the first judgment signal.

Abstract: The present invention is an antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle and a mucosal vaccine utilizing a novel synthetic peptide. The antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle is capable of inducing the production of secretory IgA antibodies, and is a complex of a synthetic peptide having the following amino acid sequence: PVHLKRLm (e.g., peptide of SEQ ID NO 1, 6, or 7) or KnLm (e.g., peptide of SEQ ID NO 2, 3, or 8), and a lipid(s). The mucosal vaccine is obtainable by allowing a mucosal-immunity-IgA-inducing amount of an antigen to coexist with, contact, be captured by, or be adsorbed onto the AD vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed are an antigen-drug vehicle (AD vehicle) exerting a function of inducing the preferential and selective production of an antigen-specific secretory IgA antibody, local immunity or mucosal immunity; a method of inducing mucosal immunity, a mucosal vaccine and a preventive or a remedy for allergy using the above AD vehicle; and a transmucosal or transdermal DDS using the above vehicle.

Abstract: An induction lamp lighting device includes an induction coil arranged adjacent to an induction lamp; a direct current power supply circuit for outputting a direct current voltage; a high-frequency power supply circuit for converting the direct current voltage to an alternating current voltage and supplying the alternating current voltage to the induction coil; and a control circuit for controlling the direct current power supply circuit and the high-frequency power supply circuit. The control circuit performs a startup preparation operation by which to control the high-frequency power supply circuit so that, immediately after the alternating current voltage begins to be outputted from the high-frequency power supply circuit to the induction coil, the alternating current voltage is gradually increased to such a voltage value as not to generate arc discharge in the induction lamp and then kept at the voltage value for a specified time.

Abstract: In the aim of practical utilization of a safe and effective transnasal/inactivated/mucosal vaccine and establishment of a technology for imparting capacity of producing both of IgA and IgG antibodies to a conventional inactivated vaccine, toxoid, allergen, or the like, a means for prevention and treatment of allergy, and the like, it is intended to provide an antigen-drug vehicle (AD vehicle) enabling transnasal, transmucosal, and transdermal administrations, an inactivated vaccine simultaneously inducing a mucosal immunity and humoral immunity by using the AD vehicle, a production method of the inactivated vaccine, an AD vehicle enabling a switch from induction of selective production of IgA antibody to induction of both of IgA and IgG antibodies, and a transnasal vaccine, a mucosal vaccine, a therapeutic/prophylactic agent for allergy, and the like using the AD vehicle.

Abstract: An electric-discharge lamp lightning device includes a first frequency controller for sweeping a switching frequency so that the output of an inverter is gradually increased in order to allow an electric-discharge lamp to be started and lighted, and a second frequency controller for detecting the output power of the inverter by a current flowing in a resonant circuit and controlling the switching frequency so that the output power is set to be a target value after the discharge lamp is started and lighted. The first frequency controller includes a holding means for holding the switching frequency just after the lighting detection when the output power is smaller than the target value at the lighting detection of the electric-discharge lamp by a lighting detection circuit.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for a discharge lamp includes a predictive circuit and a correction circuit in addition to a power conversion circuit including an inverter circuit and a resonant circuit, a drive circuit and a frequency control circuit. The inverter circuit applies load voltage across a load circuit including the lamp via the resonant circuit. The predictive circuit predicts a resonance frequency of the combination of the resonant circuit and the load circuit after ignition of the lamp. The resonance frequency is predicted based on an input signal representing the load voltage in the period of time from the start of sweep of the inverter circuit's operating frequency through a time point immediately after ignition of the lamp. The correction circuit changes the end frequency of the sweep to the resonance frequency.

Abstract: An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed are an antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle and a mucosal vaccine utilizing a novel synthetic peptide. The antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle capable of inducing the production of secretory IgA antibodies, which is a complex of a synthetic peptide having the following amino acid sequence: PVHLKRLm (m is 11 to 15 or 16 to 20, e.g., peptide of SEQ. ID. NO: 1) or KnLm (n is 4 to 8 and m is 11 to 20, e.g., peptide of SEQ. ID. NO: 2 or 3), and a lipid(s). The mucosal vaccine is obtainable by allowing a mucosal-immunity-IgA-inducing amount of an antigen to coexist with, contact, be captured by, or be adsorbed onto the AD vehicle.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a lighting circuit unit, a timer unit, a life judgment unit, a timing adjustment unit, and an indication unit. The lighting circuit unit is configured to activate a light source. The timer unit is configured to measure accumulated operation time of the lighting circuit unit. The life judgment unit is configured to store a first judgment time and a second judgment time longer than the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the first judgment time and output a first judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the first judgment time. The life judgment unit is configured to compare the accumulated operation time with the second judgment time and output a second judgment signal when the accumulated operation time becomes equal to the second judgment time. The timing adjustment unit is configured to vary timing at which the life judgment unit outputs the first judgment signal.

Abstract: A transcription chip comprising a substrate and, immobilized thereon, at least one polynucleotide including an element sequence to which a transcription factor can be bound.

Abstract: An electric-discharge lamp lightning device includes a first frequency controller for sweeping a switching frequency so that the output of an inverter is gradually increased in order to allow an electric-discharge lamp to be started and lighted, and a second frequency controller for detecting the output power of the inverter by a current flowing in a resonant circuit and controlling the switching frequency so that the output power is set to be a target value after the discharge lamp is started and lighted. The first frequency controller includes a holding means for holding the switching frequency just after the lighting detection when the output power is smaller than the target value at the lighting detection of the electric-discharge lamp by a lighting detection circuit.

Abstract: A dimmable electronic ballast for an electrodeless discharge lamp comprises an inverter circuit, a resonance circuit, an induction coil and a start circuit. The start circuit has a variable time constant. The start circuit sweeps a drive frequency of the inverter circuit through a time constant for start or restart so that the voltage applied across the coil is raised from voltage lower than start voltage and restart voltage for starting and restarting the lamp to voltage higher than the start voltage and the restart voltage. The time constant for start during a start period for starting the lamp is larger than the time constant for restart during a restart period for restarting the lamp.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for a discharge lamp includes a predictive circuit and a correction circuit in addition to a power conversion circuit including an inverter circuit and a resonant circuit, a drive circuit and a frequency control circuit. The inverter circuit applies load voltage across a load circuit including the lamp via the resonant circuit. The predictive circuit predicts a resonance frequency of the combination of the resonant circuit and the load circuit after ignition of the lamp. The resonance frequency is predicted based on an input signal representing the load voltage in the period of time from the start of sweep of the inverter circuit's operating frequency through a time point immediately after ignition of the lamp. The correction circuit changes the end frequency of the sweep to the resonance frequency.

Abstract: It is to provide a method for determining allergic diseases with a high sensitivity and accuracy which enables multilateral and global analysis with a minute amount of sample, even using body fluid other than blood such as saliva, nasal discharge and tears as a sample, particularly by suppressing nonspecific reaction as much as possible.