Abstract: A method for separating a nucleic acid from a specimen includes accommodating a specimen in an accommodation space provided in a nucleic acid-collecting member, transferring a treatment reagent to the nucleic acid-collecting member by connecting a treatment reagent-accommodating container to a treatment reagent-supplying opening of the nucleic acid-collecting member, obtaining a mixture by mixing the specimen and the treatment reagent in a mixing space formed by combining an inner container space of the treatment reagent-accommodating container and the accommodation space of the nucleic acid-collecting member, and pressure-feeding the mixture by reducing a volume of the inner container space of the treatment reagent-accommodating container and discharging the mixture from an mixture-discharging opening of the nucleic acid-collecting member via a carrier that adsorbs the nucleic acid released in the mixture while allowing the mixture to permeate therethrough.

Abstract: A method for producing a dry reagent composition includes preparing a reagent solution including a Good's buffer in a concentration of more than 2.5 mM, an ammonium salt, a drying protection agent, and a nucleic acid amplification enzyme, and drying the reagent solution. A method for suppressing a decrease in enzyme activity during drying includes adding a Good's buffer in a biochemical reagent comprising an ammonium salt and an enzyme prior to drying the enzyme.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detection device includes at least one target detection portion and a control detection portion, wherein a first probe that captures a target nucleic acid is immobilized on the target detection portion, and wherein a second probe that captures a control nucleic acid and a third probe that captures the target nucleic acid are immobilized on the control detection portion.

Abstract: A method for separating a nucleic acid from a specimen includes accommodating a specimen in an accommodation space provided in a nucleic acid-collecting member, transferring a treatment reagent to the nucleic acid-collecting member by connecting a treatment reagent-accommodating container to a treatment reagent-supplying opening of the nucleic acid-collecting member, obtaining a mixture by mixing the specimen and the treatment reagent in a mixing space formed by combining an inner container space of the treatment reagent-accommodating container and the accommodation space of the nucleic acid-collecting member, and pressure-feeding the mixture by reducing a volume of the inner container space of the treatment reagent-accommodating container and discharging the mixture from an mixture-discharging opening of the nucleic acid-collecting member via a carrier that adsorbs the nucleic acid released in the mixture while allowing the mixture to permeate therethrough.

Abstract: A method for producing a dry reagent composition includes preparing a reagent solution including a Good's buffer in a concentration of more than 2.5 mM, an ammonium salt, a drying protection agent, and a nucleic acid amplification enzyme, and drying the reagent solution. A method for suppressing a decrease in enzyme activity during drying includes adding a Good's buffer in a biochemical reagent comprising an ammonium salt and an enzyme prior to drying the enzyme.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a DPP-4 inhibitor that is obtained by using a food as a raw material and that is suitable for oral ingestion from the viewpoints of flavor and absorbability, and a composition for the prevention and/or amelioration of diabetes which contains the DPP-4 inhibitor. The present invention provides a DPP-4 inhibitor obtained by treating an azuki bean or a kidney bean with a microorganism or a proteolytic enzyme produced by the microorganism. In particular, a preferable DPP-4 inhibitor can be obtained by hydrolyzing an azuki bean with a koji mold or a proteolytic enzyme derived from the koji mold to fragment a protein in the azuki bean.

Abstract: This invention provides lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect and that can be used with high safety. This invention further provides a pharmaceutical preparation comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria that have one or more effects selected from among fatigue-ameliorating effect, blood circulation-improving effect, stool odor-reducing effect, and growth-promoting effect. According to the invention, novel lactic acid bacteria belonging to the Enterococcus faecium species having particular mycological properties and exhibiting viability of 40% or higher when freeze-dried in the absence of a dispersion medium and viability of 80% or higher in a probiotic preparation when stored at 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a DPP-4 inhibitor that is obtained by using a food as a raw material and that is suitable for oral ingestion from the viewpoints of flavor and absorbability, and a composition for the prevention and/or amelioration of diabetes which contains the DPP-4 inhibitor. The present invention provides a DPP-4 inhibitor obtained by treating an azuki bean or a kidney bean with a microorganism or a proteolytic enzyme produced by the microorganism. In particular, a preferable DPP-4 inhibitor can be obtained by hydrolyzing an azuki bean with a koji mold or a proteolytic enzyme derived from the koji mold to fragment a protein in the azuki bean.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a DPP-4 inhibitor that is obtained by using a food as a raw material and that is suitable for oral ingestion from the viewpoints of flavor and absorbability, and a composition for the prevention and/or amelioration of diabetes which contains the DPP-4 inhibitor. The present invention provides a DPP-4 inhibitor obtained by treating an azuki bean or a kidney bean with a microorganism or a proteolytic enzyme produced by the microorganism. In particular, a preferable DPP-4 inhibitor can be obtained by hydrolyzing an azuki bean with a koji mold or a proteolytic enzyme derived from the koji mold to fragment a protein in the azuki bean.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a membrane-electrode assembly having a first electrode having a shape of a rod-form or a cylindrical-form, a strip-form diaphragm covering the periphery of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the strip-form diaphragm; an electrolytic unit containing the membrane-electrode assembly; an electrolytic water ejecting apparatus containing the electrolytic unit; and a method of sterilization using the membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a molding apparatus capable of obtaining a reference mark utilizing characteristics of molding of a polarizing film in the course of molding the polarizing film, and adapted for large items small scale production of the polarizing film. The molding apparatus is made up of a molding box which is opened at an upper face, a closing valve attached to a suction port communicating with an inner space of the molding box, a vacuum source connected to the closing valve, pressing means provided at an opening edge of the molding box, and a mold having a concave spherical molding face and installed in the molding box, allowing the polarizing film to be sucked onto the molding face by vacuum suction to mold a colored concave and convex polarizing film.

Abstract: This invention provides an agent for preventing or ameliorating hyperuricemia comprising, as an active ingredient, an extract of at least one type of plant raw material selected from the group consisting of Artemisia, Saussurea involucrate, chrysanthemum, guava, cudweed (Gnaphalium affine), blue mallow, oregano, Glechoma hederacea, mint, Millettia reticulata, and peanuts obtained with the use of an organic solvent or aqueous organic solvent, Pycnogenol, and/or a chalcone derivative or a glycoside thereof.

Abstract: An optical-disk recording method, recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus are provided which are capable of continuously recording/reproducing a hologram with ultra-high density. In the case of recording a hologram to a holographic recording area, a holographic recording spot HSP on one track of the holographic recording area and a holographic recording spot HSP on a track adjacent thereto are recorded in circumferentially different positions. At least one holographic recording spot HSP is formed on each track, making the process continuous. Recording is made such that, provided that the holographic recording spot HSP has a diameter D and a multiplex number of holographic recording spots HSP is m, a pitch P between adjacent holographic recording spots HSP is P=D/m. Consequently, it is possible to efficiently record a hologram with density to a holographic recording area of an optical disk recording medium, and to achieve the density increase of holographic recording capacity.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a specific compound derived from a naturally occurring substance, and a composition for the prevention and/or treatment of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance syndrome which comprises that as an active ingredient, easily and efficiently. The present invention relates to a composition for the prevention and/or treatment of metabolic syndrome and a composition for the prevention and/or treatment of insulin resistance syndrome, each of which comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one compound selected from among the compound represented by the formula (1), compounds represented by the formula (4) and compounds represented by the formula (5), or a salt or ester thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a membrane-electrode assembly having a first electrode having a shape of a rod-form or a cylindrical-form, a strip-form diaphragm covering the periphery of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the strip-form diaphragm; an electrolytic unit containing the membrane-electrode assembly; an electrolytic water ejecting apparatus containing the electrolytic unit; and a method of sterilization using the membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, which is capable of subjecting microorganisms to sterilizing or bacteriostatic treatment with good efficiency as compared with the conventional sterilizing or bacteriostatic method using a noble metal electrode. Microorganism-containing water to be treated is electrochemically treated using an anode having conductive diamond to bring the microorganism into contact with the anode, thereby undergoing sterilization. Since the conductive diamond has a high oxidation potential as compared with other electrode substances, direct oxidation reaction due to contact between a microorganism in water to be treated, such as Legionella bacteria, and the anode surface occurs strongly as compared with other electrodes, thereby enabling effective sterilization. The conductive diamond has a high ability to generate ozone and has an excellent formation efficiency with respect to the generation of hydrogen peroxide and radicals. Accordingly, an indirect sterilizing effect can also be expected.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a reduced coenzyme Q, as a composition capable of being stably stored and, at the same time, soluble in water, which has not been used for industrial application because of its auto oxidation and lipophilic property. A reduced coenzyme Q-containing composition capable of being stored in a refrigerator or at room temperature for a prolonged period of time and of being soluble in water can be prepared by contacting or mixing the reduced coenzyme Q and a cyclodextrin to obtain a clathrated compound or by mixing an antioxidant, the reduced coenzyme Q and the cyclodextrin under an appropriate condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition containing an extract from Wisteria floribunda, Myristica fragrans, Punica granatum, Trapa bispinosa or a derivative thereof, Coix lachiryma-jobi, Elfvingia applanata and Ganoderma lucidum or a derivative thereof (optionally further containing Panax ginseng or Panax japonicus), which has a superior antiviral activity, a superior peripheral blood flow-improving activity and a superior hair growth-stimulating activity, and a production method thereof.