Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing pluripotent cells that are free of the risk of cellular canceration and that can be applied to regenerative medicine with a high degree of safety. The present invention provides a method for producing pluripotent cells from somatic cells comprising a step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with somatic cells.

Abstract: Provided is a carbon nanotube composite electrode having carbon nanotubes which are firmly fixed to an electrode substrate so as to utilize the characteristics of the carbon nanotubes, and having the intrinsic electrode characteristics of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotube composite electrode has a surface layer containing a porous oxide material and carbon nanotubes on the surface of the electrode substrate, wherein the carbon nanotubes are generated from the porous oxide material, and at least some of the carbon nanotubes are electrically connected to the electrode substrate. The carbon nanotube composite electrode is firmly fixed to the electrode substrate, and has the intrinsic electrode characteristics of carbon nanotubes, and thus may preferably be used in applications for electrodes and the like in various electronic devices such as electrochemical sensors and batteries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnesium alloy material, having superior mechanical properties without using special production equipment or processes, and a production process thereof. The magnesium alloy material of the present invention composed of an Mg—Zn—RE alloy comprises essential components in the form of 0.5 to 3 atomic percent of Zn and 1 to 5 atomic percent of RE, with the remainder comprising Mg and unavoidable impurities. The Mg—Zn—RE alloy has a lamellar phase formed from a long period stacking ordered structure and ?-Mg in the alloy structure thereof. The long period stacking ordered structure has at least one of a curved portion and a bent portion and has a divided portion in at least a portion thereof. Finely granulated ?-Mg having a mean particle diameter of 2 ?m or less is formed in the divided portion.

Abstract: A means for selectively removing ET under coexistence of a substance showing a negative charge, such as nucleic acid is described. Endotoxin is selectively removed by bringing a polymer obtained by crosslinking cyclodextrin with an isocyanate-based crosslinking agent in contact with a solution containing endotoxin and the substance showing the negative charge such as nucleic acid.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy having high strength and high ductility and in which at least one of corrosion resistance and flame resistance is enhanced, or a method of manufacturing the same. The magnesium alloy contains an atomic % of Ca and b atomic % of Al, totally contains k atomic % of at least one element selected from a group consisting of Mn, Zr, Ag, Y and Nd, has a composition in which a remaining part is formed of Mg and contains c volume % of (Mg, Al)2Ca, a, b, c and k satisfying formulae (1) to (4) and (21) below. The (Mg, Al)2Ca is dispersed and the at least one element is an element that enhances at least one of corrosion resistance and flame resistance: (1) 3?a?7, (2) 4.5?b?12, (3) 1.2?b/a?3.0, (4) 10?c?35, (21) 0<k?0.3.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for screening a substance capable of promoting induction of induced pluripotent stem cells from cells derived from an individual affected by a disease for which it is impossible to produce induced pluripotent stem cells simply by introducing reprogramming genes. The present invention provides a method for screening a substance, which comprises culturing cells derived from an individual affected by a disease for which it is impossible to produce induced pluripotent stem cells simply by introducing reprogramming genes, the cells being transfected with reprogramming genes, in the presence of test substances, and selecting a test substance capable of promoting induction of induced pluripotent stem cells from the cells.

Abstract: A means for selectively removing ET under coexistence of a substance showing a negative charge, such as nucleic acid is described. Endotoxin is selectively removed by bringing a polymer obtained by crosslinking cyclodextrin with an isocyanate-based crosslinking agent in contact with a solution containing endotoxin and the substance showing the negative charge such as nucleic acid.

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

Abstract: A composite material in which a graphene-like carbon material has excellent adhesion to a substrate composed of resin, and a method for producing the same are provided. The composite material comprises a substrate composed of resin and a graphene-like carbon material layer provided so as to cover at least part of the surface of the substrate, wherein graphene-like carbon is closely attached to the surface of the substrate. The method for producing a composite material comprises bringing a graphene-like carbon material into contact with at least part of the surface of a substrate composed of resin and heating under the action of a supercritical or subcritical fluid.

Abstract: Provided are a method for preparing a mammalian ovum or embryo in which zona pellucida has been thinned or eliminated, and a method for fertilization using the mammalian ovum prepared by the aforementioned method. The method for thinning or eliminating zona pellucida of a mammalian ovum or embryo involves treating or culturing the mammalian ovum or embryo (such as an unfertilized ovum, a fertilized ovum, or an embryo in the early stages of development) in a culture medium containing a reducing agent having SH groups (such as reduced glutathione or DTT). The resulting mammalian ovum or embryo (such as an unfertilized ovum, a fertilized ovum, or an embryo in the early stages of development) in which zona pellucida has been thinned or eliminated is capable of realizing an improved fertilization rate and development rate when used for in vitro fertilization, transplantation of a fertilized ovum, or preparation of an embryo in the early stages of development used in the production of a genetically modified animal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid culture medium for substance introduction, which is capable of increasing the survival rate of cells after substance introduction as much as possible when the cells are irradiated with plasma for the purpose of introducing a target substance into each of the cells. Specifically disclosed is a liquid culture medium for substance introduction, which is used for the purpose of introducing a predetermined target substance into a cell and enables introduction of the target substance into the cell by having the cell in the liquid culture medium, which contains the target substance, irradiated with a plasma jet. The liquid culture medium contains a damage preventing component that prevents the cell from damage due to the plasma jet.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing intestinal cells by use of pluripotent stem cells as a starting material. According to the present invention, provided is a method of producing intestinal cells, comprising the steps of: (A) inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into definitive endoderm cells; and (B) culturing the definitive endoderm cells in the presence of (2?Z,3?E)-6-bromoindirubin-3?-oxime (BIO) and N-[(3,5-difluorophenyl)acetyl]-L-Ala-2-phenyl-L-Gly-tert-butyl-OH (DAPT) to thereby induce differentiation of the definitive endoderm cells into intestinal cells.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flame-retardant magnesium alloy having mechanical properties of a long period stacking ordered magnesium alloy and having an ignition temperature of 800° C. or more is provided. In the method of manufacturing a flame-retardant magnesium alloy, a flame-retardant magnesium alloy which contains a atomic % of Zn, b atomic % of at least one element selected from a group consisting of Gd, Tb, Tm and Lu, and x atomic % of Ca and in which a remaining part is formed of Mg and a, b and x satisfy Formulae 1 to 4 below is melted. 0.2?a?5.0??(Formula 1) 0.5?b?5.0??(Formula 2) 0.5a?0.5?b??(Formula 3) 0<x?0.

Abstract: An image analysis device for analyzing a magnetic resonance image obtained from a living body includes a phase difference distribution creating unit configured to create a phase difference distribution of a magnetic resonance image obtained from a predetermined area of the living body, a fitting unit configured to fit the phase difference distribution created by the phase difference distribution creating unit with a plurality of function groups, and a verifying unit configured to verify normality of the living body included in the predetermined area, based on the magnetic susceptibility of the tissue included in the predetermined area determined on the basis of the parameters of the plurality of function groups fit to the phase difference distribution by the fitting unit.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing low valence titanium oxides in a steady supply manner acceptable in industrial production. The low valence titanium oxides are produced by electrical discharge between two electrodes in an aqueous medium, wherein at least one of the electrodes is a titanium-containing electrode.

Abstract: An electrolytic treatment method in which a predetermined treatment is performed using treatment subject ions contained in a treatment liquid, the method including: an electrode positioning step for positioning a direct electrode and a counter electrode so as to sandwich the treatment liquid, and positioning an indirect electrode for forming an electric field in the treatment liquid; a treatment subject ion migration step for applying a voltage to the indirect electrode and thereby moving the treatment subject ions in the treatment liquid to the counter electrode side; and a treatment subject ion redox step for applying a voltage between the direct electrode and the counter electrode and thereby oxidizing or reducing the treatment subject ions which have migrated to the counter electrode side.

Abstract: A composite conductor 10, including an internal layer 11 having a conductive material A, the conductive material A having fatigue strength of at least 150 MPa after being subjected to 106 cycles of cyclic loading in a fatigue test, and an external layer 12 having a conductive material B, the external layer coating the internal layer 11, the conductive material B having tensile strength higher than that of the conductive material A, the tensile strength being at least 250 MPa, in which the composite conductor 10 has fracture resistance to a sudden load and impact as well as bending durability.

Abstract: A composite material in which a graphene-like carbon material has excellent adhesion to a substrate composed of resin, and a method for producing the same are provided. The composite material comprises a substrate composed of resin and a graphene-like carbon material layer provided so as to cover at least part of the surface of the substrate, wherein graphene-like carbon is closely attached to the surface of the substrate. The method for producing a composite material comprises bringing a graphene-like carbon material into contact with at least part of the surface of a substrate composed of resin and heating under the action of a supercritical or subcritical fluid.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flame-retardant magnesium alloy having mechanical properties of a long period stacking ordered magnesium alloy and having an ignition temperature of 800° C. or more is provided. The method of manufacturing a flame-retardant magnesium alloy comprises a step of melting a flame-retardant magnesium alloy which contains a atomic % of Zn, b atomic % of Y, x atomic % of Ca and a residue of Mg, and a, b and x satisfy formulae 1 to 4 below. 0.5?a<5.0??(Formula 1) 0.5<b<5.0??(Formula 2) ?a???b??(Formula 3) 0<x?0.

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.