Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell without performing artificial gene transfer, an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process, or a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for the process. The present invention can include, for example: a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by direct differentiation induction, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in the presence of an RSK inhibitor; an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process; and a composition for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by directly inducing differentiation, comprising an RSK inhibitor. The insulin-producing cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: A cell culture tool configured to be produced in a simple facility to obtain a cell mass having a desired shape. The cell culture tool includes a cell culture base layer that contains a cell culture base. The cell culture base layer has a cell adhesive area to which a cell is adherable and a cell adhesion inhibitory area where cell adhesion is inhibited. The cell adhesion inhibitory area includes a modified product of the cell culture base.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a neuron-like cell from a somatic cell, a neuron-like cell obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for said process without performing artificial gene transfer. The invention can include, for example, a process for producing neuron-like cells, characterized by comprising a step of culturing somatic cells in the presence of two kinds of inhibitors, i.e., a TGF-? inhibitor and a BMP inhibitor, as well as any three or more selected from the group consisting of four kinds, i.e., a cAMP inducer, a GSK3 inhibitor, an Erk-inhibitor, and a p53-inhibitor, wherein the TGF-? inhibitor is a selective ALK5 inhibitor, and a neuron-like cell obtained by said process. The neuron-like cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: A laser processing machine for killing specific cells from a group of cells on a surface of a layer containing an ingredient capable of absorbing laser light, the laser processing machine being configured to: control a laser light source to output laser light at 5 W or less and at a wavelength of 380 nm or greater such that the laser light source is applied to a second area on a second surface of the layer opposed to the first surface; and control an actuator to provide a relative movement between the second area where the laser light is applied and the layer at a rate of 2000 mm/sec or less such that the irradiated second area absorbs energy to generate heat that kills unwanted cells on a first area of the first surface and the laser light does not instantly kill the specific cells on the first area upon irradiation.

Abstract: A cell culture vessel for use with a laser processing machine, including: a layer containing an ingredient that generates heat upon laser irradiation; the layer kills specific cells from among a group of cells cultured on a first surface of the layer when a second surface of the layer is irradiated with laser light having an output of 5W or less at a wavelength of 380 nm or greater and a relative movement between a second area on the second surface where the laser light is applied and the layer is at a rate of 2000 mm/sec or less such that the second area absorbs energy of the laser light to generate heat that kills the specific cells that are present on a first area of the first surface and the laser light does not instantly kill the specific cells on the first area upon irradiation with the laser light.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing insulin-producing cells from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer. The present invention can include a process for producing an insulin-producing cell by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a cAMP inducer, and six members selected from the group consisting of a GSK3 inhibitor, a TGF-? inhibitor, a BMP inhibitor, a p53 inhibitor, a PI3K inhibitor, a Notch inhibitor and a RAR agonist, or all members thereof. The insulin-producing cells obtained by the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: A method of killing specific cells from among a group of cells cultured in a culture vessel by quick and brief laser treatment, the cell culture vessel comprising a main body and a to-be-irradiated layer attached to the main body, the to-be-irradiated layer containing an ingredient capable of absorbing laser light upon laser irradiation, the group of cells being cultured on the surface of the to-be-irradiated layer, the method comprising: applying laser light to a partial area of the to-be-irradiated layer directly below the specific cells.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing cardiomyocytes from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer, a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical compounds capable of using for the said process. The present invention can include a process for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer, and a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and then a composition for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the composition comprising a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer. The cardiomyocytes obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: A processing machine includes mirrors and to reflect a beam L oscillated from a laser oscillator to a predetermined surface on which a workpiece is arranged, optical axis operating mechanisms and to position an optical axis of the beam L at a desired target irradiation position by changing directions of the mirrors and, a camera sensor to capture an image of the target irradiation position and its periphery reflected in the mirror, and an error calibration mechanism to detect an error between the target irradiation position instructed to the optical axis operating mechanisms and an actual position of the optical axis of the beam L in the predetermined surface by referring to the image captured by the camera sensor. A correction amount to the optical axis operating mechanisms and is determined based on the error to irradiate the target irradiation position with the beam L during processing.

Abstract: A processing machine is configured to include a processing device capable of applying processing for forming many holes to a processing area as a part of a region to be processed in a workpiece, a transferring device to relatively move the workpiece with respect to the processing device after the processing is applied to a certain area in the region to be processed, and to position an unprocessed area as a new area to be processed by the processing device, a processing pattern storage unit to store information defining arrangement positions of the holes formed by the processing device, and a control unit to determine a target processing position of each of the holes by adding a position correction amount of each hole on a random basis to the position of each hole defined by the information stored in the processing pattern storage unit.

Abstract: A processing machine includes mirrors and to reflect a beam L oscillated from a laser oscillator to a predetermined surface on which a workpiece is arranged, optical axis operating mechanisms and to position an optical axis of the beam L at a desired target irradiation position by changing directions of the mirrors and, a camera sensor to capture an image of the target irradiation position and its periphery reflected in the mirror, and an error calibration mechanism to detect an error between the target irradiation position instructed to the optical axis operating mechanisms and an actual position of the optical axis of the beam L in the predetermined surface by referring to the image captured by the camera sensor. A correction amount to the optical axis operating mechanisms and is determined based on the error to irradiate the target irradiation position with the beam L during processing.

Abstract: A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: 1. A pulse oscillating type solid laser unit that has a laser unit body whose exciting source is a laser diode that emits light in a principal energy absorbing spectrum of a solid laser activated media, and characterized by that prior to radiating laser light outside the laser unit body as a calibrating operation of a pulse laser output value, specified several varieties of rectangle pulse current values are conducted to a laser diode inside the pulse oscillating type solid laser unit so as to pulse-oscillate the laser unit body, a mean laser output value in each rectangle pulse current value is measured by the use of a laser output measuring instrument arranged inside the laser unit body so as to obtain a mean laser output value data, and in case that the laser output light is radiated outside the laser unit body, a pulse current value linear-predicted based on an obtained mean output value data is conducted to the laser diode so as to obtain a desired pulse laser output value.

Abstract: A laser system is constructed so that a solid-state laser beam emitted from an Nd:YAG laser unit and a laser diode beam emitted from a combining LD which oscillates in a wavelength range shorter than that of the solid-state laser beam are combined by a dichroic beam splitter, the resultant beam is guided to an optical fiber, and a workpiece is irradiated with the combining LD beam and the solid-state laser beam with absolute irradiation positions and irradiation shapes of the beams almost matched each other. Thus, problems of high cost and high power consumption of the laser system due to low energy conversion efficiency, which become problems in a high-output high-luminance solid-state laser unit can be solved.