Abstract: A measurement unit for tensile or compressive stress can includes a CCD camera for detecting an interference light, the interference light being formed with a measurement beam from a measured region and a reference beam from a reference mirror. A first objective lens can have the reference mirror. An image processing apparatus can measure the three-dimensional shape of the measured region from the position of the first objective lens at which the interference light provides the maximum contrast and can measure the distance between two gauge points on the basis of the three-dimensional shape. When strain is generated on a micromaterial, the strain against the measured tensile stress is measured on the basis of the tensile stress and the distance between the two gauge points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes, which spontaneously develops a pathological condition similar to human type 2 diabetes of a non-obese type seen in some Japanese people. The non-human mammalian animal model for type 2 diabetes according to the present invention is deficient in a Cdkal1 gene function on the chromosome of the ? cell of the pancreas.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a small chemical compound which especially promotes induction of the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide: a method for inducing the differentiation of ES cells into insulin-producing cells using the compound; and an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation into insulin-producing cells. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide the thus-induced insulin-producing cells. Provided are: an agent for promoting induction of the differentiation of stem cells derived from a mammal into insulin-producing cells, which contains a compound that is selected from the group consisting of dopamine metabolism inhibitors, serotonin metabolism inhibitors, acetylchotine, acetylcholine degrading enzyme inhibitors and acetylcholine receptor activators; and a method for inducing differentiation using the agent for promoting induction of differentiation.

Abstract: A functional image creating method and a functional image creating apparatus, each enabling rendering of an activated region, are provided. A phase difference image PDr(x) is created using a complex image ?r(x) created from an MR signal in an inactive state and a complex image ??r(x) obtained by filtering the complex image ?r(x). A phase difference image PDa(x) is created using a complex image ?a(x) created from an MR signal in an active state and a complex image ??a(x) obtained by filtering the complex image ?a(x). Function signal images diff1(x) and diff2(x) are created using the phase difference images PDr(x) and PDa(x), respectively. A magnitude image Mr(x), a magnitude image Ma(x), a standard image, or a morphological image I(x) is masked with the function signal image diff1(x) or diff2(x), thereby a function image I?(x) with an activated region rendered is created.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for neurological disease, the agent comprising lipoprotein containing apolipoprotein E as the active substance thereof, in which a neuroprotective system via activation of neuroprotective molecules and/or the inactivation of neurodegeneration-inducing molecules, mediated by lipoprotein receptors, may work as a mechanism, and a prophylactic and therapeutic method for neurological diseases. The lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein E and/or neuroprotective system through, as the action mechanism, the activation of neuroprotective molecules and the inactivation of neurodegeneration-inducing molecules that are mediated by lipoprotein receptors have prophylactic and therapeutic effects of, including, inhibiting nerve cell apoptosis, on neurological disease such as various neurodegenerative diseases accompanied by nerve cell apoptosis as the essential condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the V3 loop of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of AIDS virus, which is any one selected from the following antibodies: (a) an antibody having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 as the amino acid sequence of a H chain variable region (VH), and having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 as the amino acid sequence of a L chain variable region (VL); and (b) an antibody having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 as the amino acid sequence of a H chain variable region (VH), and having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 as the amino acid sequence of a L chain variable region (VL).

Abstract: An acoustic signal processing device includes a frequency domain transform unit configured to transform an acoustic signal to a frequency domain signal for each channel, a filter coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate at least two sets of filter coefficients of a filter for each section having a predefined number of frames with respect to a sampled signal obtained by sampling the frequency domain signal transformed by the frequency domain transform unit for each frame such that the magnitude of a residual calculated based on a filter compensating for the difference in transfer characteristics between the channels of the acoustic signal is minimized, and an output signal calculation unit configured to calculate an output signal of a frequency domain based on the frequency domain signal transformed by the frequency domain transform unit and at least two sets of filter coefficients calculated by the filter coefficient calculation unit.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel mitochondrial function-improving agent and a novel PGC-1? expression inducing agent. The present invention provides a mitochondrial function-improving agent and a PGC-1? expression inducing agent each of which comprises a lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD-1) inhibitor.

Abstract: An objective is to provide screening methods for substances having an activity of promoting maturation into hemocytes. It was revealed that in the maturation process of erythrocytes and platelets, RP S19 multimers are released to the outside of the cell and act on the C5a receptors of erythroblasts and megakaryocytes, thereby causing maturation of erythroblasts and megakaryocytes to erythrocytes and platelets. Based on such findings, the present invention provides methods of screening for substances having an activity of promoting maturation into hemocytes by targeting the RP S19 multimers and C5a receptors. The screening methods of the present invention can detect hemocyte maturation using an increase of the R4 RGS family as an indicator. Furthermore, the present invention provides agents for promoting hemocyte maturation, which comprise RP S19 multimers and a substance having an activity of promoting maturation into hemocytes as useful components.

Abstract: The activated Factor XI is provided as an antitussive for cough caused by the stimulation at the tracheal bifurcation such as chronic cough. A pharmaceutical composition for prevention, treatment and/or symptom amelioration of cough, comprising a polypeptide chain as an active ingredient and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the polypeptide chain consists of a full length amino acid sequence constituting activated Factor XI (hereinafter also referred to as “FXIa”), the amino acid sequence with one or several amino acids therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating ocular amyloidosis by reducing TTR expression in a subject by administering a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) that targets a TTR gene to the retinal pigment epithelium of the subject.

Abstract: Tricylic ether carbamates that inhibit HIV proteolytic enzymes and processes for preparing the compounds are described. Methods of using the disclosed compounds for treating patients infected with HIV are also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a Group II-VI compound semiconductor. The method involves generating a pulsed electrical discharge plasma between metallic electrodes in sulfur to produce a Group II-VI compound semiconductor. A method of producing a Group II-VI compound semiconductor phosphor using a pulsed electrical discharge plasma. A hexagonal crystal of Group II-VI compound semiconductor composed of a plurality of twin crystals.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a cell medicine that is effective for diseases while causing a low risk to these diseases. The present invention provides a method for producing a phagocyte that expresses a foreign protein, which comprises: a step of introducing a protein expression vector into an induced pluripotent stem cell; and a step of inducing the induced pluripotent stem cell, into which the protein expression vector has been introduced, to differentiate into a phagocyte.

Abstract: A method of treating food capable of easily softening or pulverizing food in a short time without losing nutrients is provided. A shock wave (SW) generated in a shock wave source is applied to food such as an apple or tea leaves to soften or pulverize the food. A large mechanical load is not necessary, so the food is easily softened or pulverized. Moreover, it is not necessary to heat the food, so the food is softened or pulverized in a short time without losing nutrients in the food due to heat during heating.

Abstract: Previously, it was difficult to obtain high-affinity antibodies that specifically bind to HMGB-1 but not to HMGB-2. Under this circumstance, the present inventors successfully obtained antibodies that are more reactive to HMGB-1 than to HMGB-2 by using specific peptides as an antigen. The present inventors also demonstrated that the antibodies had a HMGB-1-neutralizing activity. The present inventors administered the antibodies to amyloidosis model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that the antibodies produced a significant therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide hepatitis C virus inhibitors capable of inhibiting viral replication in hepatitis C virus-infected cells. The replication of hepatitis C virus can be inhibited and hepatitis C virus-infected cells can be specifically injured by specifically inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 involved in the replication of hepatitis C virus. Thus, viral inhibitors comprising a substance inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 are effective for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Abstract: A vibration damping device for suppressing vibrations of a structure includes: a slide body mechanism having a concave slide body and a convex slide body which are fixed to the structure and are arranged so as to be slidable relative to each other in a reciprocating manner; and a biasing means which pushes the slide bodies to each other. Each slide body has: a first slide surface having a shape which increases a height of the slide body mechanism 2 along with the increase of a displacement amount of the slide body in one sliding direction from a neutral position relative to the counterpart slide body; and a second slide surface having a shape by which the height of the slide body mechanism is increased along with the increase of the displacement of the slide body in the other sliding direction from the neutral position.

Abstract: There is provided a novel loxoprofen derivative that has no side effect such as a gastrointestinal disorder and also has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and is represented by the following formula (I) or (II): (wherein R1 and R2 each represent a halogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. In the derivative, the halogen atom is selected from a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, and an iodine atom, and a substituent of the substituted phenyl group is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkoxy group, a nitro group, an amino group, or a carboxyl group.

Abstract: To provide a method of welding a metallic glass and a crystalline metal by shifting a high-energy beam scan area from a butting face thereof to the metallic glass side, to fall within a composition range required for glass phase formation of a metallic glass base material in a simplified assured manner. In a welding method for weldingly joining a metallic glass and a crystalline metal together by scanning a high-energy beam in a position shifted from a butt interface between the metallic glass and the crystalline metal toward the metallic glass, it is intended to provide a technique for allowing a composition of a melt zone formed around a welding interface to fall within a composition range required for forming a glass phase in the metallic glass to be joined, in a simple and more reliable manner. A metallic glass (1) and a crystalline metal (2) are butted against each other to define a groove space (Y) over a groove formed on the side of the crystalline metal (2).