Abstract: For minimally-invasive therapy for spinal canal stenosis, a therapeutic device capable of stationing an interspinous process spacer without the need of large skin incision or ligamentous tissue incision and also without the need of detaching of the paraspinal muscle from the spine. The interspinous process spacer includes a conoid screw region (2) to be screwed into a processus spinosus interspace; a spacer region (3) in the longitudinal direction of the screw region (2); head region (4) capable of free interlocking with a tool arbitrarily; and through-hole (5) passing through the axial centers of screw region (2), spacer region (3) and head region (4). The processus spinosus interspace is enlarged by screwing of the screw region (2) into the processus spinosus interspace. The spacer region (3) is pinched upon passing of the screw region (2) through the processus spinosus interspace to attain enlarging and fixing of adjacent processus spinosus interspaces.

Abstract: Provided is a radiotherapeutic agent, including a composite particle, which is obtained by binding a molecule that specifically recognizes a target to a substrate particle including titanium peroxide, and which generates reactive oxygen through irradiation with a radiation. Further, because the radiotherapeutic agent contains the molecule that specifically recognizes a target, the radiotherapeutic agent has a function of accumulating in the target. The radiotherapeutic agent is capable of enhancing effects of radiotherapy, and is capable of reducing side effects on a living body to efficiently attack the target.

Abstract: An inter-spinous implant includes an approximately conical screw portion, further having a screw thread, which can be screwed between spinous processes; a head portion of an approximate inverted frustum shape of the same axis as the screw portion; a spacer portion that is formed between the screw portion and the head portion in the axial direction; and a through hole that passes through the axial center of the screw portion, the spacer portion, and the head portion. At least one slit is formed in the major axial direction of the total shape of the implant, having at least one-third the length of the total length of the major axial direction, the depth whereof reaching the through hole. Disposing the slit in the major axial direction of the implant proper imparts flexibility and elasticity to the implant overall, simplifies the installation and insertion of the implant.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and more specifically, to provide a marker whose expression may be specifically increased or decreased in RA. Another object of the present invention is to confirm whether or not miRNA serving as the marker is involved as the etiology of RA, and to provide an inspection method for RA and a therapeutic agent for RA each using the miRNA involved. The marker includes miRNA (for example, miR124a) whose expression is specifically increased or decreased in RA synovial cells based on a small RNA expression profile in the RA synovial cells. In addition, the therapeutic agent for RA includes miRNA (for example, miR124a) as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A biostimulation apparatus of the present invention includes a laser oscillator for oscillating an ultra short pulsed laser beam and an optical system for focusing the ultra short pulsed laser beam, wherein the ultra short pulsed laser beam is focused by the optical system at a target portion of a living subject to cause the target portion to be irradiated with the laser beam to stimulate an acupuncture point, and wherein the target portion is either the acupuncture point or its periphery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, and a kit, for measuring the enzymatic activity of cytochrome P450 comprehensively and with high efficiency and accuracy, wherein an oxygen sensing layer and a cytochrome P450-supporting layer are vertically integrated on a chip, and cytochrome P450 is supported in a hydrophilic polymer matrix in the cytochrome P450-supporting layer, the cytochrome P450 generates NADPH by being irradiated with light in the presence of at least one caged compound selected from the group consisting of caged-NADP and caged-G6P, an enzyme utilizing NADPH as a coenzyme (i.e., cytochrome P450 reductase) and a substrate thereof to supply NADP and/or G6P from the caged compound to generate NADPH to start the reaction between the enzyme and a substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a spacer for ionizing radiation therapy, which can be easily disposed in a living body, does not require abdominal surgery for removing the disposed spacer after radiation therapy, and can effectively separate a tissue to be treated from other tissues. The spacer for ionizing radiation therapy includes a fiber assembly obtained by three-dimensionally entangling a fibrous material formed of a biocompatible synthetic polymeric material. Specifically, the spacer has a thickness of 1 mm to 100 mm.

Abstract: A digital VLSI circuit is provided with functions in which the number of switching operations to supply electric power to each arithmetic operation unit is reduced in a restricted period of time while electric power supply is controlled for each arithmetic operation unit, so that low power consumption can be achieved in real pipe-line arithmetic operation.

Abstract: For minimally-invasive therapy for spinal canal stenosis, a therapeutic device capable of stationing an interspinous process spacer without the need of large skin incision or ligamentous tissue incision and also without the need of detaching of the paraspinal muscle from the spine. The interspinous process spacer includes a conoid screw region (2) to be screwed into a processus spinosus interspace; a spacer region (3) in the longitudinal direction of the screw region (2); head region (4) capable of free interlocking with a tool arbitrarily; and through-hole (5) passing through the axial centers of screw region (2), spacer region (3) and head region (4). The processus spinosus interspace is enlarged by screwing of the screw region (2) into the processus spinosus interspace. The spacer region (3) is pinched upon passing of the screw region (2) through the processus spinosus interspace to attain enlarging and fixing of adjacent processus spinosus interspaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a cellulose degradable yeast, comprising the step of co-introducing genes coding for at least two cellulose-degrading enzymes into a yeast host via integration with a yeast ? sequence. According to the invention, a yeast having an improved cellulose degradation ability are provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a co-crystal of a Ras polypeptide which adopts a conformation having a pocket on the molecular surface of Ras and GTP or a GTP analog, a production method for the crystal, and a screening method for a Ras function inhibitor based on information about the conformation obtained by X-ray crystallographic analysis using the crystal. The object is achieved by focusing on a mutation which adopts a conformation having a pocket on the molecular surface of Ras, acquiring a mutant Ras polypeptide having introduced therein such mutation, producing a co-crystal of the mutant Ras polypeptide and a GTP analog, and further subjecting the co-crystal to X-ray crystallographic analysis to acquire structural information about the conformation including information about the structure surrounding the pocket.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel method of screening for insulin secretion-potentiating agents as well as means for performing such screening. The means include a DNA encoding fluorescent-labeled Epac2 comprising two different DNAs encoding two different fluorescent proteins which emit fluorescent light with wavelength differing from each other and a DNA encoding Epac2 which are fused together in-frame, and the cells transformed with the DNA. Also disclosed is a method of screening insulin secretion-potentiating agents comprising bringing a candidate compound into contact with cells transformed with the said DNA, and detecting whether the compound binds to Epac2.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and more specifically, to provide a marker whose expression may be specifically increased or decreased in RA. Another object of the present invention is to confirm whether or not miRNA serving as the marker is involved as the etiology of RA, and to provide an inspection method for RA and a therapeutic agent for RA each using the miRNA involved. The marker includes miRNA (for example, miR124a) whose expression is specifically increased or decreased in RA synovial cells based on a small RNA expression profile in the RA synovial cells. In addition, the therapeutic agent for RA includes miRNA (for example, miR124a) as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A surface analyzer 1 includes: a sample stage 6 for placing a sample 5; a source for generating multicharged ions 3 for irradiating a beam 4 of multicharged ions having a valence of 15 or higher to the sample 5 placed on the sample stage 6; a mass analyzer 8 for detecting secondary ions 7 generated as a result of irradiating the beam of multicharged ions 4 to the sample 5; a secondary electron detector 10 for detecting secondary electrons 9 generated as a result of irradiating the beam of multicharged ions 4 to the sample 5; and a controller of mass analyzer 12 for generating analysis start signals in response to the secondary electron signals received, and transmitting the start signals to the mass analyzer. The surface analyzer 1 enables high-quality analysis of the surface of the sample in short time by using the multicharged ions.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging support processing apparatus includes a nodular region determination unit which determines a nodular region included in an image showing the inside of a subject, a polygonal line approximation processing unit which obtains a plurality of nodes constituting a polygonal line that approximates a contour of the nodular region, a reference position determination unit which determines a position of a reference point, and a circularity computation unit which computes the degree of circularity by using areas of a plurality of regions determined based on the plurality of nodes and the reference point.

Abstract: A holographic memory device is described which records and reproduces binary image data by irradiating a holographic recording medium with signal light and reference light. The holographic memory device includes a system for aligning polarization of the signal light and reference light on the holographic recording medium by guiding the signal light and the reference light to be coaxially opposed. The holographic memory device further includes a random-phase modulation multiplex recorder and spatial-shift multiplex recorder that, together with the system for aligning polarization, significantly enhances recording density and improves recording capacity.

Abstract: A large-area and high-luminance deep ultraviolet light source device is provided under circumstances where the scales of existing mercury lamps used as ultraviolet light sources cannot be reduced and light-emitting diodes of 365 nm or less do not reach the practical level. The deep ultraviolet light source device comprises at least an anode substrate having an ultraviolet phosphor thin film doped with rare-earth metal ions such as gadolinium (Gd) ions and containing with aluminum nitride as the host material, a cathode substrate having a field electron emission material thin film, a spacer for holding the anode substrate and the cathode substrate opposite to each other and maintaining the space between the substrates in a vacuum atmosphere, and a voltage circuit for applying an electric field to the space between the anode substrate and the cathode substrate.

Abstract: An image diagnostic processing device includes peripheral region specifying means which specifies a peripheral region connecting to an abnormal candidate region included in an image representing the inside of a subject, and judging means which judges whether the abnormal candidate region is an anatomic abnormal region or not, based on a first feature quantity of the abnormal candidate region and a second feature quantity of the peripheral region.

Abstract: A first observer gain of an actual damping force estimating observer 21 calculates a dynamic characteristic compensating signal, and a second observer gain of an actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23 calculates a vehicle model compensating signal, from an output deviation corresponding to a difference between a sprung speed (observation output) provided from a vehicle 2 and an estimated sprung speed (estimated observation output) provided from a vehicle approximation model of the actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23. The dynamic characteristic compensating signal is input into a dynamic characteristic providing unit of the actual vehicle model state amount estimating observer 23, and is used for adjustment of the setting of the dynamic characteristic providing unit. Therefore, it is possible to curb time lag occurrence in a control, and thereby perform a vibration control with improved accuracy.

Abstract: Use of a carbon dioxide-supplying means for muscle strengthening makes it possible conveniently to strengthen a target muscle within a short period of time merely by allowing the target site to absorb carbon dioxide without loading any mechanical burden on the target muscle. By loading a mechanical burden on the target muscle, the muscle strengthening effect can be further enhanced and an additional effect of promoting the recovery from muscle fatigue can be achieved owing to the mechanical burden. By using the carbon dioxide-supplying means for muscle strengthening as described above, it is also possible to increase cattle meat.