Abstract: Provided is a neuronal function modulating agent effective for neuronal cell protection and exerts a neuronal function modulating effect through neuronal cell protection. The disclosed neuronal function modulating agent comprises malvidin-3,5-diglucoside as an active ingredient, the disclosed pharmaceutical composition comprises the neuronal function modulating agent, and the disclosed food composition comprises the neuronal function modulating agent.

Abstract: Provided is a grape pericarp extract that exhibits neuronal function modulating effects. The grape pericarp extract comprises 15 mg/g or more of malvidin-3,5-diglucoside in dry mass.

Abstract: A device for estimating an outer surface temperature of a radiant coil which is provided in an cracking furnace for ethylene production including a convection coil that preheats hydrocarbons as raw materials and steam, a radiant coil that thermally decomposes the preheated hydrocarbons and steam, and a housing for accommodating them, and which includes an imaging camera that images a region to be imaged of the radiant coil, and an image analyzer that processes an output signal from the imaging camera and estimates an outer surface temperature of the radiant coil.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently producing a levulinic acid ester from a cellulose-containing raw material or a carbohydrate-containing raw material in an alcohol solvent using an inexpensive, easily available catalytic system. In a method for producing a levulinic acid ester by reacting at least one of a cellulose-containing raw material and a carbohydrate-containing raw material in the presence of an alcohol and a catalyst, use is made of, as a catalyst, a combination of: at least one metal compound (exclusive of gallium acetylacetonate and indium acetylacetonate) selected from the group consisting of hydroxide salts, sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates, alkoxides, acetylacetonates, and oxides of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Group XIII and Group XIV of the Periodic Table; and an organic sulfonic acid.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently producing a levulinic acid ester from a cellulose-containing raw material or a carbohydrate-containing raw material in an alcohol solvent using an inexpensive, easily available catalytic system. In a method for producing a levulinic acid ester by reacting at least one of a cellulose-containing raw material and a carbohydrate-containing raw material in the presence of an alcohol and a catalyst, use is made of, as a catalyst, a combination of: at least one metal compound (exclusive of gallium acetylacetonate and indium acetylacetonate) selected from the group consisting of hydroxide salts, sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates, alkoxides, acetylacetonates, and oxides of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Group XIII and Group XIV of the Periodic Table; and an organic sulfonic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an effective method for producing an ester compound at a reaction temperature lower than that of conventional methods, and with a high yield, even when inexpensive formic acid ester is used as a starting material. A method for producing an ester compound, the method comprising the step of reacting an organic compound having at least one unsaturated carbon bond in the molecule, and a formic acid ester in the presence of a catalyst system containing: a ruthenium compound; a cobalt compound; and a halide salt.

Abstract: An alternative method for efficiently producing lactic acids from a carbohydrate-containing raw material such as cellulose is provided. The method for producing lactic acid and/or lactic acid ester comprises performing heat treatment on a carbohydrate-containing raw material in a solvent containing a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is at least one type of compound selected from the group consisting of a tin compound, an indium compound, and a rhenium compound, and the solvent contains water and/or alcohol.

Abstract: A cushion valve device includes a valve block that includes first, second and first discharge passages. The first passage is disposed between a first supply/discharge passage of an operating valve and a first pilot passage of a switching valve, and includes a first throttle. The second passage is between a second supply/discharge passage of the operating valve and a second pilot passage of the switching valve. The first discharge passage connects to the first passage and a tank. A first check valve is provided on the first discharge passage. The first check valve includes: a poppet valve element configured to be seated on a valve seat portion, thereby closing the first discharge passage; and a piston configured to move the poppet valve element when the pressure of pilot oil in the second supply/discharge passage has become higher than or equal to a predetermined pressure, thereby opening the first discharge passage.

Abstract: An alternative method for efficiently producing lactic acids from a carbohydrate-containing raw material such as cellulose is provided. The method for producing lactic acid and/or lactic acid ester comprises performing heat treatment on a carbohydrate-containing raw material in a solvent containing a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is at least one type of compound selected from the group consisting of a tin compound, an indium compound, and a rhenium compound, and the solvent contains water and/or alcohol.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a tricyclodecane mono-methanol monocarboxylic acid derivative that can be used as a raw material for high heat-resistant alicyclic polyesters and the like. The provided method for manufacturing a tricyclodecane mono-methanol monocarboxylic acid derivative is characterized in that a tricyclodecane mono-methanol monocarboxylic acid derivative represented by the following formula (III) is obtained by reacting the dicyclopentadiene represented by the following formula (I) with a formic acid compound in the presence of a catalytic system containing a ruthenium compound, a cobalt compound, and a halide salt, to give a tricyclodecene monocarboxylic acid derivative represented by the formula (II), and then hydroformylating the tricyclodecene monocarboxylic acid derivative. (in the formulae (II) and (III), R represents a hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a vinyl group, or a benzyl group.

Abstract: Disclosed is an effective method for producing an ester compound at a reaction temperature lower than that of conventional methods, and with a high yield, even when inexpensive formic acid ester is used as a starting material. A method for producing an ester compound, the method comprising the step of reacting an organic compound having at least one unsaturated carbon bond in the molecule, and a formic acid ester in the presence of a catalyst system containing: a ruthenium compound; a cobalt compound; and a halide salt.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is diclosed which has a PN-junction gate field effect transistor constituting a PN-junction gate with a semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity, an undoped semiconductor layer, and an active layer by depositing sources and drains made of semiconductor layers on the active layer of uniconductivity, depositing an undoped semiconductor layer whose band gap is greater than that of the active layer on the active layer between the opposing end surfaces of the sources and drains, and depositing a semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity on the undoped semiconductor layer away from the sources and drains. In particular, the present invention is effective for an enhancement type PN-junction power FET using compound semiconductors such as GaAs and capable of running with a single power supply and for a semi-conductor device integrating the enhancement type PN-junction power FET and a high-frequency low noise amplifier mono-lithically.