Abstract: The present invention provides a sophorolipid (SL)-containing composition with excellent handleability and a method for producing the sophorolipid-containing composition. The SL-containing composition according to the present invention includes the following characteristics: (A) the content of lactonic SL being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the SL taken as 100 mass %, and (B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic SL being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic SL taken as 100 mass %.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrafine bubble (UFB) generator and a method for generating UFB. The invention also provides an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid and a production method of the liquid. An ultrafine bubble generator is prepared by combining (A) a sophorolipid containing acidic sophorolipid and lactonic sophorolipid in a ratio (mass ratio) of 78:22 to 100:0, (B) a free fatty acid or salt thereof, and (C) a gas generation component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent kit for detecting biofilm in test tissue, the reagent kit comprising: (a) a pretreatment liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected, from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants, (b) a staining liquid comprising a dye, and (c) a decolorizing liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants; wherein after a membrane is brought into contact with the test tissue and released from contact, the pretreatment liquid (a), the staining liquid (b), and the decolorizing liquid (c) are brought into contact with the contact surface of the membrane in this order.

Abstract: A cell cryopreservation method including adding a 1 volume % of a composition comprising 0.01 wt % to 20 wt % of a sophorose lipid to cells in a cell culture medium just before or up to 6 hours before cryopreserving the cells; and cryopreserving the cell culture medium, wherein the composition improves cell viability after cryopreservation compared to cells that are cryopreserved with a similar composition that does not contain the sophorose lipid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acidic sophorolipid-containing composition with suppressed browning and a method for producing the composition. The acidic sophorolipid-containing composition with suppressed browning according to the present invention is characterized in that a filtrate of a hydrolysate of a composition containing lactonic sophorolipid and acidic sophorolipid, i.e., a filtrate of the acidic sophorolipid-containing composition, has at least one of the following features (1) and (2): (1) hue value (Abs. 440): 5 or less; and (2) ethanol-insoluble content: less than 3 mass %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent kit for detecting biofilm in test tissue, the reagent kit comprising: (a) a pretreatment liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected, from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants, (b) a staining liquid comprising a dye, and (c) a decolorizing liquid comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and cationic surfactants; wherein after a membrane is brought into contact with the test tissue and released from contact, the pretreatment liquid (a), the staining liquid (b), and the decolorizing liquid (c) are brought into contact with the contact surface of the membrane in this order.

Abstract: A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of assisting diagnosis of the health condition of a subject by correcting variation in an amount of a collected disease marker, which is caused by variation in the skin barrier function of the subject, and acquiring information reflecting the health condition of the subject accurately, and to solve the problem, the present invention provides a method of assisting diagnosis of a disease in a subject using a disease marker and a reference marker, the method including: applying, to a skin surface of the subject, a sheet capable of generating an attractive force due to electrostatic interaction between the sheet and each of the disease and reference markers; detaching the sheet from the skin surface; measuring the amount of each of the disease and reference markers that are attached to the sheet; and acquiring information on the disease in the subject based on a value obtained by correcting the measured amount of the disease marker with the me

Abstract: The subject invention provides a novel SL that is widely applicable to various fields including food or beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and quasi-drugs. A sophorolipid compound represented by Formula (I) below: (in Formula (I), R1 represents H or a methyl group; R3 and R4 each represents H or an acetyl group; one of five R5 is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue that may have an OH group, and the remaining four R5 are H; R2 represents a C9-18 alkylene group, or C9-18 alkenylene group having 1 to 3 double bonds; R6 represents hydroxy, or may form a single bond together with one of five R7 in the compound represented by Formula (II) below) (in Formula (II), R1? represents H or methyl group; R3? and R4? each represents H or an acetyl group; R2? represents a C9-18 alkylene group, or C9-18 alkenylene group having 1 to 3 double bonds).

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-toxicity sophorolipid-containing composition. The low-toxicity sophorolipid-containing composition contains at least a coloring component, an acidic sophorolipid, a fatty acid, and a hydroxy fatty acid that are derived from an SL-producing yeast culture. The composition contains the following components in the following proportions, in terms of dry weight, based on the total amount of the acidic sophorolipid, a lactonic sophorolipid, the fatty acid, and the hydroxy fatty acid in the composition taken as 100 mass %: (1) acidic sophorolipid: 94 to 99.99 mass %, (2) lactonic sophorolipid: 0 to 2 mass %, (3) total amount of fatty acid and hydroxy fatty acid: 0.01 to 4 mass %.

Abstract: This composition can be easily added when cryopreserving cells and improves cell viability. 1 volume % of the composition containing 0.01 wt % to 20 wt % of a sophorose lipid is added just before or up to 6 hours before cryopreservation and cells are stored. This composition can improve cryopreservation cell viability as it reduces freezing damage to cells. With this composition, cells can be stored without using DMSO and blood serum. This is a simple and inexpensive storage method as it does not require fine control of the freezing rate during cell cryopreservation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-purity acid-form sophorolipid (SL)-containing composition characterized by substantially not containing acetic acid. The high-purity acid-form SL-containing composition can be produced, for example, by the following method: (i) adjusting the pH of a partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition to an acidic range; and (ii-a) subjecting an acidified partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition obtained in step (i) to chromatography to acquire a fraction containing an acid-form SL, or (ii-b) leaving the acidified partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition obtained in step (i) to stand under a low-temperature condition to acquire a resulting gelled object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-toxicity sophorolipid-containing composition. The low-toxicity sophorolipid-containing composition contains at least a coloring component, an acidic sophorolipid, a fatty acid, and a hydroxy fatty acid that are derived from an SL-producing yeast culture. The composition contains the following components in the following proportions, in terms of dry weight, based on the total amount of the acidic sophorolipid, a lactonic sophorolipid, the fatty acid, and the hydroxy fatty acid in the composition taken as 100 mass %: (1) acidic sophorolipid: 94 to 99.99 mass %, (2) lactonic sophorolipid: 0 to 2 mass %, (3) total amount of fatty acid and hydroxy fatty acid: 0.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a novel SL that is widely applicable to various fields including food or beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and quasi-drugs. A sophorolipid compound represented by Formula (I) below: (in Formula (I), R1 represents H or a methyl group; R3 and R4 each represents H or an acetyl group; one of five R5 is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue that may have an OH group, and the remaining four R5 are H; R2 represents a C9-18 alkylene group, or C9-18 alkenylene group having 1 to 3 double bonds; R6 represents hydroxy, or may form a single bond together with one of five R7 in the compound represented by Formula (II) below) (in Formula (II), R1? represents H or methyl group; R3? and R4? each represents H or an acetyl group; R2? represents a C9-18 alkylene group, or C9-18 alkenylene group having 1 to 3 double bonds).

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-purity acid-form sophorolipid (SL)-containing composition characterized by substantially not containing acetic acid. The high-purity acid-form SL-containing composition can be produced, for example, by the following method: (i) adjusting the pH of a partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition to an acidic range; and (ii-a) subjecting an acidified partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition obtained in step (i) to chromatography to acquire a fraction containing an acid-form SL, or (ii-b) leaving the acidified partially purified acid-form SL-containing composition obtained in step (i) to stand under a low-temperature condition to acquire a resulting gelled object.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a biodegradable low-foaming detergent composition having a high washing power across a wide temperature range. A biodegradable low-foaming detergent composition, which comprises a sophorolipid, is provided. The sophorolipid includes a sophorolipid (lactone type) at the ratio of at least 35%. Preferably, the sophorolipid includes a sophorolipid (lactone type) and a sophorolipid (acid type) at a ratio of 35:65 to 90:10. The composition may further comprise a detergent auxiliary component. The detergent auxiliary component is selected from the group consisting of enzyme, oxygen bleaching agent, bleaching activator, alkaline builder, sequestering agent (Ca scavenger), fluid reforming agent, and a neutral inorganic salt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using an exposure unit of a solid-scanning type such as an LED head, reads out linear distortion correction data of an LED unit, then, calculates an amount of correcting color deviation based on the read-out data, and after that, carries out address control for color deviation correction memory. Based on this control, the apparatus creates a reference resist patterns, calculates an amount of correcting the color deviation, and writes the calculated amount in the color deviation correction memory. After that, the apparatus reads out the linear distortion correction data, and adds the amount of correcting the color deviation that is determined by sensors, and the amount of the color correction based on the linear distortion correction data, thereby carries out address controls for the color deviation correction memory.

Abstract: Method for forming a vacuum hermetic vessel. Plural exhaust holes are formed in the first main substrate at a number of positions. A second main substrate is superposed over the first main substrate. The two substrates are hermetically sealed. The two substrates are cut at predetermined positions to form individual vessels. Lead-out electrodes are formed on both the first and second substrates and are not covered by another substrate. The vessels are evacuated and sealed using exhaust tubes.

Abstract: To appropriately detect malfunction of an air quantity adjusting valve in any type of case, an electronic control type throttle valve is disposed in an air intake pipe of an engine. An ISC valve which is duty controlled by an ECU is disposed in a bypass passage which bypasses the throttle valve. A CPU within the ECU establishes a drive duty ratio of the ISC valve to control engine speed in a target speed region during idling of the engine. Additionally, in a case where the drive duty ratio exceeds a predetermined control range (0 to 100%), the CPU controls idle speed by the throttle valve. Accordingly, in a case where throttle aperture is larger than a predetermined value TAH, or in a case where throttle aperture is smaller than a predetermined value TAL (where TAH>TAL), the CPU determines that an opening side malfunction or a closing side malfunction has occurred in the ISC valve.

Abstract: A field emission element including an electrode structure made of a thin film exhibiting increased adhesive strength. A thin film of niobium nitride (NbN) is formed on a glass substrate by sputtering or the like. The NbN film exhibits increased adhesive strength to a degree sufficient to prevent etching for formation of the film into electrodes from causing peeling of the film.

Abstract: A temperature projecting system includes a temperature sensor for monitoring a temperature of an objective portion where the temperature changes depending on an engine operating condition. The temperature projecting system projects an actual temperature of the objective portion based on the monitored temperature but free of a first-order lag of the temperature sensor. A temperature control system includes the temperature projecting system. The temperature control system derives a correction amount for a basic control amount of an actuator based on a difference between the projected actual temperature and a target temperature. The basic control amount is corrected by the correction amount to derive a corrected control amount which controls the engine operating condition and thus the temperature of the objective portion.