Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising said epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of said culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in said culture medium.

Abstract: Culture media and methods for expanding and differentiating populations of stem cells and for obtaining organoids. Expanded cell populations and organoids obtainable by methods of the invention and their use in drug screening, toxicity assays and regenerative medicine.

Abstract: Provided is a substance which is a safer and more commonly-consumed food ingredient that increase the testosterone level. The testosterone enhancer of the invention comprises vitamin K as an active ingredient. The vitamin is preferably menaquinone-4 and/or menaquinone-7. This enhancer is useful as pharmaceutical agents, supplements, health foods or functional foods for the prevention, amelioration and/or treatment of a condition or disease induced by the decreased testosterone level.

Abstract: A soy saponin composition is provided high bodily absorption characteristics. In an embodiment, a soyasapogenol composition comprises soyasapogenol B and 3-O-D-glucuronopyranosyl soyasapogenol B. The weight ratio (B/A) of the 3-O-D-glucuronopyranosyl soyasapogenol B to the soyasapogenol B is in the range of 0.001-10. The composition can be produced by partial decomposition of a sugar chain residue of a soy saponin B group glycoside utilizing an acid.

Abstract: Provided is a substance which is a safer and more commonly-consumed food ingredient that increase the testosterone level. The testosterone enhancer of the invention comprises vitamin K as an active ingredient. The vitamin is preferably menaquinone-4 and/or menaquinone-7. This enhancer is useful as pharmaceutical agents, supplements, health foods or functional foods for the prevention, amelioration and/or treatment of a condition or disease induced by the decreased testosterone level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising the epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of the culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in the culture medium.

Abstract: A parameter calculating apparatus includes a signal generator that generates at least two input signals which each contain different frequency components; a signal inputting unit that inputs the input signals generated by the signal generator to respective ports of a test object at the same time; a frequency component deconstructing unit that deconstructs an output signal which is obtained by synthesizing the input signals input by the signal inputting unit and output from an output port into the frequency components; and a parameter calculator that calculates parameters which indicate transfer coefficients among ports of the test object based on output values of the frequency components obtained via the deconstruction performed by the frequency component deconstructing unit and on input values of the frequency components of the input signals input at the same time to a plurality of ports.

Abstract: A method for improving blood HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio, reducing blood triglyceride level, reducing blood sugar level, and/or reducing body weight, that includes ingesting a composition containing a concentrated soybean germ product. The soybean germ product includes soybean germ protein; 1.0% by weight or less of saponin relative to the total weight of the soybean germ product; and 0.5% by weight or less of isoflavone relative to the total weight of the soybean germ product.

Abstract: An analyzing apparatus includes a result-data storing unit that determines whether result data that is calculated as a result of analysis is restorable by linear interpolation. If the result data is determined to be unrestorable by the linear interpolation, the result-data storing unit stores the result data in a predetermined storage unit. Moreover, the analyzing apparatus includes a data restoring unit that reads the result data from the storage unit. The data restoring unit performs the linear interpolation using the result data acquired, thereby restoring the result data.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for producing aglycone from a glycoside efficiently at low cost without using an acid catalyst or an organic solvent. The method for producing aglycone, characterized by bringing a glycoside into contact with high temperature high pressure water. The temperature of the high temperature high pressure water is generally from 100 to 374° C., preferably from 140 to 320° C., more preferably from 200 to 300° C. The pressure of the high temperature high pressure water may be not lower than the saturated water vapor pressure at the temperature, i.e., a pressure at which the liquid state is maintained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising the epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of the culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids, pancreatic organoids, liver organoids, colon organoids, Barrett's Esophagus organoids, adenocarcinoma organoids and colon carcinoma organoids that are formed in the culture medium.

Abstract: Provided is a hyaluronic acid production promoter and a melanin synthesis inhibitor. The hyaluronic acid production promoter and the melanin synthesis inhibitor of the present invention each contain soybean saponin as an active ingredient. The soybean saponin is preferably soybean saponin aglycone. The soybean saponin aglycone preferably includes soyasapogenol A and/or soyasapogenol B. The hyaluronic acid production promoter and the melanin synthesis inhibitor of the present invention are each administered transdermally or orally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising the epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of the culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in the culture medium.

Abstract: Provided is a feed by which energy use efficiency of rapeseed meal that has been commonly employed as a feed can be increased and the amount of excreta occurring in using rapeseed meal can be reduced or regulated. A livestock feed having an improved nutritive value which comprises 0.1 to 30% of rapeseed meal containing 41% or more of protein and 8% or less of crude fiber. A feed for regulating livestock excreta which comprises 0.1 to 30% of rapeseed meal containing 41% or more of protein and 8% or less of crude fiber.

Abstract: This invention provides a pharmaceutical and functional food which are made of a safe food ingredient or nutrient which has been used for a long period of time, and which have tranquilizing effect such as anti-anxiety effect, anti-depression effect, and anti-stress effect. The tranquilizer of the invention contains vitamin K as an active ingredient. Vitamin K is preferably menaquinone-4 and/or menaquinone-7. This invention also provides a supplement, health food or functional food for tranquilizing purpose that contains vitamin K as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A parameter calculating apparatus includes a signal generator that generates at least two input signals which each contain different frequency components; a signal inputting unit that inputs the input signals generated by the signal generator to respective ports of a test object at the same time; a frequency component deconstructing unit that deconstructs an output signal which is obtained by synthesizing the input signals input by the signal inputting unit and output from an output port into the frequency components; and a parameter calculator that calculates parameters which indicate transfer coefficients among ports of the test object based on output values of the frequency components obtained via the deconstruction performed by the frequency component deconstructing unit and on input values of the frequency components of the input signals input at the same time to a plurality of ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method producing a high protein content rapeseed meal from a rapeseed meal in a simply manner and at low cost, and producing no or less waste. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a rapeseed meal, which comprises applying a rapeseed meal to a 32 to 60 mesh sieve to separate the rapeseed meal into a coarse rapeseed meal having such a grain size that grains of the meal remain on the 32 to 60 mesh sieve and a fine rapeseed meal having such a grain size that grains of the meal pass through the 32 to 60 mesh sieve.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for producing aglycone from a glycoside efficiently at low cost without using an acid catalyst or an organic solvent. The method for producing aglycone, characterized by bringing a glycoside into contact with high temperature high pressure water. The temperature of the high temperature high pressure water is generally from 100 to 374° C., preferably from 140 to 320° C., more preferably from 200 to 300° C. The pressure of the high temperature high pressure water may be not lower than the saturated water vapor pressure at the temperature, i.e., a pressure at which the liquid state is maintained.

Abstract: This invention provides a pharmaceutical and functional food which are made of a safe food ingredient or nutrient which has been used for a long period of time, and which have tranquilizing effect such as anti-anxiety effect, anti-depression effect, and anti-stress effect. The tranquilizer of the invention contains vitamin K as an active ingredient. Vitamin K is preferably menaquinone-4 and/or menaquinone-7. This invention also provides a supplement, health food or functional food for tranquilizing purpose that contains vitamin K as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An analyzing apparatus includes a result-data storing unit that determines whether result data that is calculated as a result of analysis is restorable by linear interpolation. If the result data is determined to be unrestorable by the linear interpolation, the result-data storing unit stores the result data in a predetermined storage unit. Moreover, the analyzing apparatus includes a data restoring unit that reads the result data from the storage unit. The data restoring unit performs the linear interpolation using the result data acquired, thereby restoring the result data.