Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for cryopreserving rat sperms and an in vitro fertilization method using cryopreserved rat sperms. The present invention provides a method for preparing cryopreserved rat sperms, characterized by comprising the following steps: step a: a preparation step of collecting rat sperms from the rat cauda epididymis to prepare a sperm suspension, step b: a cooling step of cooling the sperm suspension to about 1° C. or lower, and step c: a freezing step of freezing the rat sperm suspension cooled to about 1° C. or lower.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel plant growth inhibiting agent and a plant growth inhibiting method using the same. The plant growth inhibiting agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the following formula (I?) and/or a salt thereof. In the formula (I?), R1a represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C13 heteroaryl group, or the like; R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 arylene group, or the like; R3a represents OH, a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 alkoxy group, or the like; X represents an oxygen atom; Y represents a substituent; q represents any integer of 0 to 3; n represents 0 or 1; and m represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a nuclear magnetic resonance diagnostic agent that has a lower toxicity to organisms and reduced side effects and yet has a site specificity toward a specific cell, tissue, organ, etc. [Solution] When ALA or an ALA derivative is administered in vivo, a metabolite thereof is accumulated in a specific cell, tissue, organ, etc. Focusing on this phenomenon, a nuclear magnetic resonance analysis was performed on a site wherein the metabolite of ALA that had been administered in vivo would be possibly accumulated. As a result, it was surprisingly found that ALA and an ALA derivative are useful as a diagnostic agent whereby the aforesaid problem can be solved.

Abstract: Provided is an insulin secretion-promoting agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1, R2 and R3 each denotes a saturated fatty acid residue, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue. An insulin secretion-promoting action of the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride at the time of elevated blood glucose level is discovered, and pharmaceuticals and health foods for improving blood glucose level and diabetes are provided using this triglyceride.

Abstract: CD4 mimic compounds having improved efficacy for anti-HIV treatment and more improved pharmacokinetics are provided. The compounds are represented by formula (I): wherein R1 is C2H4(OC2H4)n—OCH3 or CmH2m+1; R2 is O or NH; n is 3 to 25; and m is 4 to 22, or a salt thereof. HIV infection inhibitor compositions including the compound or a salt thereof as an active ingredient are also disclosed.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical measurement system or the like suitable for optical measurement of nucleic acids, proteins, etc. In a first aspect of the present invention, an optical measurement system that provides optical sample measurement comprises: an optical cell having a sample-holding hollow portion; and a light source unit that emits broadband light containing first and second light to the optical cell. The optical cell includes: a first light guide where light passes through a first transparent portion that transmits the first light more readily than the second light and the hollow portion without passing through a second transparent portion that transmits the second light more readily than the first light; and a second light guide that differs from the first light guide, in which light passes through the second transparent portion and the hollow portion without passing through the first transparent portion.

Abstract: The injection needle removal device has: a cylindrical outer cylinder on an upper opening of an injection needle case; a helical track on an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder in a helical shape from an upper locking point to a lower locking point; a syringe holding cylinder helically advances in the outer cylinder along the helical track; an injection needle tightening ring on a lower end portion of the syringe holding cylinder, the injection needle tightening ring holds an injection needle base portion of a syringe in the syringe holding cylinder to clamp the injection needle base portion; and a locking mechanism that stops the syringe holding cylinder where the injection needle tightening ring is exposed from a lower side of the outer cylinder at the lower locking point.

Abstract: Provided is a pharmaceutical agent for enhancing absorption efficiency of a drug through the mucosal epithelial layer. A pharmaceutical agent for transmucosal administration comprises as an active ingredient a drug compound to which a podocalyxin targeting molecule is bound.

Abstract: An allocation method executed by a computer includes dividing each of a plurality of pieces of time-series data into a plurality of segments, allocating a label to each of the pieces of time-series data based on features of each segment in the pieces of time-series data, and allocating a predetermined segment in time-series data, included in the pieces of time-series data, with a label allocated to the time-series data to which the predetermined segment belongs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a column filler for liquid chromatography that has a great adsorption capacity, adjustable adsorption selectivity, and high shape retainability and therefore is usable for measurement of various substances and capable of achieving excellent separation performance and a high filling rate in a column when used as a column filler for liquid chromatography. Provided is a column filler for liquid chromatography including carbon-coated porous particles, the carbon-coated porous particles including porous particles each having a coating layer containing an amorphous carbon on a surface.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a means for fixing a pancreatic resection stump created during an operation for resecting a portion of the pancreas. The present invention provides a polymeric surgical clip characterized in that the clip comprises a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a resilient hinge portion joining the first and second arm portions together, both the arm portions are joined to the resilient hinge portion at their bases, the first arm portion has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface clamping the pancreas, the second arm portion has a convex or flat outer surface and a concave or flat inner surface clamping the pancreas, the first arm portion forms at its distal end a deflectable hook portion curved toward the second arm portion, and the clip is configured so that, in a closed position, a distal end of the second arm portion enters inside the curved hook portion and engages with the hook portion to lock the clip in the closed position.

Abstract: There is provided a method for suppressing protein expression, including using an oligomer for RNA having first, second, third, and fourth guanine repeat sequences (referred to as “first G sequence,” “second G sequence,” “third G sequence,” and “fourth G sequence,” respectively), the oligomer hybridizing with regions proximal to the guanine repeat sequences, so as to bring the guanine repeat sequences closer together, thereby forming a guanine-quadruplex structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel plant growth inhibiting agent and a plant growth inhibiting method using the same. The plant growth inhibiting agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the following formula (I?) and/or a salt thereof. In the formula (I?), R1a represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C13 heteroaryl group, or the like; R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C14 arylene group, or the like; R3a represents OH, a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 alkoxy group, or the like; X represents an oxygen atom; Y represents a substituent; q represents any integer of 0 to 3; n represents 0 or 1; and m represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: A mucosal adjuvant may have high mucosal immunogenicity and high safety and be useful in the preparation of mucosal vaccines, and a mucosal vaccine composition may include the same. Such mucosal adjuvant may include TGDK. A method for preparing the mucosal vaccine composition may include mixing TGDK with an immunogen.

Abstract: An inactivated whole-virus influenza vaccine may have its antibody-inducing ability is maintained or enhanced and may cause fewer side reactions. A method for preparing an inactivated whole-virus influenza vaccine may use an embryonated chicken egg method, including subjecting a virus solution including a whole influenza virus collected from embryonated chicken eggs to a hypotonic treatment.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition can be provide for treating or preventing heart failure. Additionally, siRNA and a vector expressing said siRNA can be provided that can be used in the pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing heart failure. For example, a pharmaceutical composition can be provided for treating or preventing heart failure that contains a DNA sequence encoding RNA containing a sense strand sequence of consecutive 18 to 29 nucleotides from angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) mRNA or the alternative splicing type RNA thereof and an antisense strand sequence complementary to the sense strand sequence under control of a promoter, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new filter cleaning method that has cleaning performance superior to that of ultrasonic cleaning. The method for cleaning a filter of the present invention includes the steps of: generating a shock wave; and bringing the shock wave into contact with a filter to which a filler adhered, wherein in the shock wave contacting step, a pressure applied to the filter by the shock wave is 0.07 MPa or more.

Abstract: Provided is a biodegradable polymer coating stent effective in delaying the damage of physical properties (particularly radial force) of a core structure. The stent includes a core structure of a bioabsorbable material (e.g., Mg), a first coating layer of a first polymer with biodegradability, and a second coating layer of a second polymer with biodegradability, wherein the first coating layer covers the whole surface of the core structure; the second coating layer covers a part or the whole surface of the first coating layer; the first polymer has a glass transition point of lower than 37° C.; and the second polymer has a glass transition point of 47° C. or higher.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel heat exchange medium to replace lead. A carbon-steel wire 1A heated in a heating furnace 11 is passed through a bath 12A filled with a liquid-phase Mg—Al—Ca alloy 20 obtained by melting a Mg—Al—Ca alloy in which the main constituent elements are Mg (magnesium), Al (aluminum) and Ca (calcium). When it passes through the bath 12A, the carbon-steel wire 1A, which has been heated for example to about 950° C. in the heating furnace 11, is cooled to about 550° C. The Mg—Al—Ca alloy is non-toxic and has no environmental impact as well.

Abstract: The nanoparticle assembly includes nanoparticles having an average primary particle size of 60 nm or less, and the nanoparticle assembly has a diameter of more than 500 nm and 5 ?m or less.