Abstract: An indoor illumination device includes a compartment-side ceiling member, a lighting body support base, a direct illumination lighting body, and an indirect illumination lighting body. The lighting body support base is attached to the compartment-side ceiling member. The direct illumination lighting body is supported by a lighting body support base such that an illumination section of direct illumination lighting body is disposed below the compartment-side ceiling member and direct light is radiated into the passenger compartment. The indirect illumination lighting body is supported by a lighting body support base such that an illumination section of the indirect illumination lighting body is disposed above the compartment-side ceiling member and reflected light is radiated into the passenger compartment. The lighting body support base extends in a vehicle forward/rearward direction at an outer side portion of the ceiling section in the passenger compartment in a vehicle width direction.

Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.

Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.

Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat cushion is provided with: a cushion body that makes contact with the body of a vehicle occupant; and a plurality of spring bodies that are suspended on a seat frame so as to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat. The plurality of spring bodies include inner region spring bodies that are placed underneath the hipbone of the vehicle occupant, and outer region spring bodies that are placed on the outer sides of the inner region spring bodies in the transverse direction of the seat. Moreover, if a cross-section of the seat extending in the fore-and-aft direction is viewed, then at least the inner region spring body portion that is located on the front side of the bottommost end portion of the hipbone of the vehicle occupant is seen to be positioned lower than the outer region spring bodies.

Abstract: A seat back frame for the vehicle seat, includes a pair of side frames that are disposed on both sides in a seat width direction; and a supporting plate that has both ends connected to a bottom section of each of the side frames, wherein the supporting plate is at least disposed along an interval between a first height that corresponds to an upper part of a lumbar vertebra of an occupant seated in the seat and a second height that corresponds to a lower part of the lumbar vertebra, and curves in a manner such that, in a cross-section along with a vertical direction, the supporting plate bulges forward along a line from the first height to the second height.

Abstract: A seat back frame for a seat of a vehicle includes: a pair of side frames placed at a left side and a right side in a width direction of a seat; a head rest supporting frame supporting a head rest; a supporting plate, a both ends of the supporting plate being connected to a lower portion of each of the side frames; an upper opening provided above the supporting plate, the upper opening being opened in a front-rear direction; a planar elastic body provided across the upper opening; and a connection member elastically connecting a lower portion of the planar elastic body and an upper portion of the supporting plate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat cushion is provided with: a cushion body that makes contact with the body of a vehicle occupant; and a plurality of spring bodies that are suspended on a seat frame so as to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat. The plurality of spring bodies include inner region spring bodies that are placed underneath the hipbone of the vehicle occupant, and outer region spring bodies that are placed on the outer sides of the inner region spring bodies in the transverse direction of the seat. Moreover, if a cross-section of the seat extending in the fore-and-aft direction is viewed, then at least the inner region spring body portion that is located on the front side of the bottommost end portion of the hipbone of the vehicle occupant is seen to be positioned lower than the outer region spring bodies.

Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.

Abstract: By enhancing the function of ERK proteins in the liver, proliferation of pancreatic ? cells is promoted, blood insulin concentration increased, blood glucose level decreased, and diabetes is prevented and/or treated. The methods for enhancing the function of ERK proteins in the liver are not particularly limited, and include various aspects such as enhancement of activity of MEK proteins, activation of endogenous MEK proteins, administration of an expression vector which expresses a gene encoding an active-form of MEK protein, and the like.

Abstract: A seat back frame for the vehicle seat, includes a pair of side frames that are disposed on both sides in a seat width direction; and a supporting plate that has both ends connected to a bottom section of each of the side frames, wherein the supporting plate is at least disposed along an interval between a first height that corresponds to an upper part of a lumbar vertebra of an occupant seated in the seat and a second height that corresponds to a lower part of the lumbar vertebra, and curves in a manner such that, in a cross-section along with a vertical direction, the supporting plate bulges forward along a line from the first height to the second height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of testing for genetic susceptibility to type-2 diabetes in a subject that comprises detecting one or more polymorphisms present in the KCNQ1 gene and/or EIF2AK4 gene in a DNA-containing sample collected from the subject. The present invention permit a method of accurately, conveniently, and rapidly testing the genetic susceptibility of subjects to type-2 by targeting determinative genetic factors of genetic susceptibility to type-2 diabetes.

Abstract: A method for activating an efferent sympathetic nerve innervating an adipose tissue and improving obesity-associated symptoms is provided, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-?2 function in the liver.

Abstract: By enhancing the function of ERK proteins in the liver, proliferation of pancreatic ? cells is promoted, blood insulin concentration increased, blood glucose level decreased, and diabetes is prevented and/or treated. The methods for enhancing the function of ERK proteins in the liver are not particularly limited, and include various aspects such as enhancement of activity of MEK proteins, activation of endogenous MEK proteins, administration of an expression vector which expresses a gene encoding an active-form of MEK protein, and the like.

Abstract: A method for activating an efferent sympathetic nerve innervating an adipose tissue and improving obesity-associated symptoms is provided, comprising stimulating an afferent vagal nerve from the liver without directly enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-?2 function in the liver.