Abstract: This invention is to provide an agent for therapy and prevention of allergic diseases which has no adverse action, shows a high safety even by administration for a long period and is able to be utilized to food and/or beverage, cosmetics, etc. which are used daily. To be specific, it provides antiallergic agent and anti-inflammatory agent characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient; a method for the addition of an antiallergic agent for oral administration or an anti-inflammatory agent for oral administration which is characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient to food and/or beverage for prevention, suppression and mitigation of allergic symptoms or inflammatory symptoms.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for cleaning exhaust gas includes a heat-resistant support, and a coating formed on the support. The coating contains at least one kind of catalytically active substance and at least one kind of oxygen-storing oxide. The oxygen-storing oxide is selected from oxides of Pr and Tb. The oxygen-storing oxide may be Pr6O11 or Tb4O7. Alternatively, the oxygen-storing oxide may be a complex oxide which may be represented by the formula, Ce1−(x+y)RxEyOxide or Ce1−(x+y)RxZryOxide where “R” represents Pr or Tb, “E” represents an element selected from a group consisting of Nd, Y and Gd.

Abstract: This invention is to provide an agent for therapy and prevention of allergic diseases which has no adverse action, shows a high safety even by administration for a long period and is able to be utilized to food and/or beverage, cosmetics, etc. which are used daily. To be specific, it provides antiallergic agent and anti-inflammatory agent characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient; a method for the addition of an antiallergic agent for oral administration or an anti-inflammatory agent for oral administration which is characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient to food and/or beverage for prevention, suppression and mitigation of allergic symptoms or inflammatory symptoms.

Abstract: This invention is to provide an agent for therapy and prevention of allergic diseases which has no adverse action, shows a high safety even by administration for a long period and is able to be utilized to food and/or beverage, cosmetics, etc. which are used daily. To be specific, it provides antiallergic agent and anti-inflammatory agent characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient; a method for the addition of an antiallergic agent for oral administration or an anti-inflammatory agent for oral administration which is characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient to food and/or beverage for prevention, suppression and mitigation of allergic symptoms or inflammatory symptoms.

Abstract: This invention is to provide an agent for therapy and prevention of allergic diseases which has no adverse action, shows a high safety even by administration for a long period and is able to be utilized to food and/or beverage, cosmetics, etc. which are used daily. To be specific, it provides antiallergic agent and anti-inflammatory agent characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient; a method for the addition of an antiallergic agent for oral administration or an anti-inflammatory agent for oral administration which is characterized in containing at least one polyphenol selected from strictinin and methylated derivatives thereof as an effective ingredient to food and/or beverage for prevention, suppression and mitigation of allergic symptoms or inflammatory symptoms.

Abstract: A surface inspection apparatus determines an optimal apparatus condition setting at which a pattern layer is to be inspected based upon images of a test piece captured by an image-capturing device while irradiating illuminating light onto the surface of the test piece and varying an apparatus condition at which the images are captured. An optimal apparatus condition setting is determined by using images obtained before forming an uppermost pattern layer, an optimal apparatus condition setting is determined by using images obtained after the formation of the uppermost pattern layer and it is judged as to whether or not an image captured by the image-capturing device originates from the uppermost pattern based upon the plurality of optimal settings thus is ascertained.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for cleaning exhaust gas includes a heat-resistant support, and a catalytic coating formed on the heat-resistant support. The catalytic coating contains Pd-carrying particles of a cerium complex oxide, Pt & Rh-carrying particles of zirconium complex oxide, and particles of a heat-resistant inorganic oxide.

Abstract: Provided are a human immunocompetent fused cell line, characterized in that any one of a mutant cell selected from the group consisting of ICLU-B, ICLU-T and ICLU-E is used as a parent cell line, wherein said mutant cell is obtained by selecting an 8-azaguanine- or 6-thioguanine-resistant clone from a human Burkitt lymphoma cell line Raji, a human T-cell lymphocytic leukemia cell line PEER and a human eosinophilic leukemia cell line EoL-1, and then treating said clone in order to capable of serum-free culture, and a method of obtaining said human immunocompetent fused cell line.The human immunocoipetent fused cell line obtained by the present invention is used to investigate food functions, novel drugs and production thereof with the view to the elucidation of mechanisms of phenomena of an immune system such as allergies, cancers and the like using human cell lines, and the prevention, diagnosis and therapy of these diseases.

Abstract: Provided is a heat-resistant oxide exhibiting excellent oxygen storage capacity under a high temperature oxidation-reduction fluctuating atmosphere regardless of reduction of its specific surface area, and this heat-resistant oxide is expressed in the following general formula:Ce.sub.1-(x+y) Zr.sub.x R.sub.y O.sub.2-zwhere R represents a rare earth metal, z represents an oxygen deficiency, x represents an atomic ratio of 0.15 to 0.70, y represents an atomic ratio of 0.05 to 0.25, and x+y represents a range of 0.20 to 0.95 respectively.