Abstract: Provided is a method of determining a therapeutic effect of cancer chemotherapy with an anticancer drug obtained by blending three ingredients, i.e., tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium as active ingredients (hereinafter abbreviated as S-1) quickly, simply, and accurately before carrying out the cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, provided is a method of determining an administration effect in chemotherapy with S-1, the method comprising: a step (a) of measuring expression level of a decorin gene in a biological sample collected from a subject to be diagnosed; and a step (b) of determining an administration effect of S-1 based on the expression level of the gene obtained from the measurement.

Abstract: Provided is a stethoscopy training system which is inexpensive and has a simple configuration, without using a device which measures a respiratory operation of a simulated patient. The stethoscopy training system for this objective is formed from: a simulated stethoscope (1) having a sound acquisition unit further comprising a location display means (1d), a tube, and ear pipes; a location sensing means (2) for sensing the location of the sound acquisition unit; biological sound database (3); a biological sound reproducing means (4); and a timing display means (5) for displaying a timing of a repetition of a reproduced respiratory sound. The database retains as information biological sounds which are prerecorded from actual patients in correspondence with chest locations.

Abstract: A solar cell is provided with: a first conductivity layer comprising a first conductivity type material; a sensitizer layer formed on the first conductivity layer; and a second conductivity layer comprising a second conductivity type material and formed on the sensitizer layer. At least one of the first conductivity layer, the second conductivity layer and the sensitizer layer has a first semiconductor of a first film thickness and a second semiconductor of a second film thickness.

Abstract: Provided is a novel soluble factor that modulates morphogenesis and cell proliferation, such as cardiac development and/or cardiomyocyte differentiation. Specifically provided are: an inhibitor of Wnt signalling, comprising an insulin-like growth-factor-binding protein (IGFBP), the protein being binding to a Wnt receptor, and/or a polynucleotide encoding the protein; a medicament for prevention and/or treatment of a disease due to enhanced Wnt signalling, comprising the inhibitor of Wnt signalling, and a medicament for induction of cardiomyocyte differentiation; and a method for prevention and/or treatment of a disease due to enhanced Wnt signalling and a method of inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation, the methods each comprising using the inhibitor of Wnt signalling, and a cardiomyocyte, which is obtained by the method of inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation, and a use thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing 1,3-butadiene and/or 3-buten-2-ol from 2,3-butanediol with high selectivity without using a radioactive substance. The method for producing 1,3-butadiene and/or 3-buten-2-ol comprises the step of dehydrating 2,3-butanediol in the presence of scandium oxide. The method enables the production of 1,3-butadiene and/or 3-buten-2-ol from 2,3-butanediol with high selectivity without using a radioactive substance.

Abstract: [PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tumor marker and use thereof. In more detail, the present invention provides a novel tumor marker, a method for measuring said tumor marker and a measurement kit, a method for detecting cancer using the same, a kit for detecting cancer, a method for screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for cancer, as well as a medicament such as cancer vaccine. [SOLUTION] According to the present invention, a method for measuring an alternative splicing variant of OATP1B3 mRNA in a sample to be examined is provided. Said measurement method comprises measuring mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing table in a sample to be examined isolated from living organism with differentiation from a mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. Said measurement method is useful for detecting cancer or screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a polypeptide marker for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; a gene marker for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; an antibody; a probe for detecting an arteriosclerosis marker gene; a DNA microarray or a DNA chip for detecting an arteriosclerosis marker gene; a method for detecting arteriosclerosis; and a kit for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; with which an arteriosclerotic lesion can be detected with much improved accuracy.

Abstract: A technique using a trocar including a retractable camera in which fogging and organic matters are removed to clean a lens of the camera. The trocar includes a pipe portion and a head portion. The pipe portion includes a side opening portion. According to rotation of a changing over mechanism and a shaft, the retractable camera rotates such that the camera is changeable between a stored position and a deployed position by passing through the side opening portion. A wiper blade is fixed to an end face of the side opening portion on a tip side of the trocar. When the retractable camera rotates, a tip of the wiper blade contacts a camera lens in a deformable manner.

Abstract: Provided are: a selection method for a gene switch and a gene circuit, including using, as a selector, an expression vector containing at least a gene sequence whose expression is controlled by a transcription regulatory factor to be expressed when a genetic switch and a genetic circuit including the genetic switch operate, and a promoter sequence operably linked to the gene sequence upstream thereof; and an expression vector to be used in the selection method. This enables an effective selection method for a genetic switch and a genetic circuit, the selection method being able to be conducted within a short time period and with high selection efficiency and less leakiness.

Abstract: An electrodeposition element is provided which includes a first substrate including a first member and an electrode arranged above the first member, a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate and including an electrode, and an electrolyte layer arranged between the electrodes of the first substrate and the second substrate, and including an electrodeposition material that contains silver. When a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first substrate side is negative and the second substrate side is positive, a reflective surface made of a silver thin film and reflecting light, which is incident from a direction normal to the first and second substrates, in a direction not parallel to the incident direction of the light is formed above the electrode of the first substrate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve a method capable of increasing transfection efficiency of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and reducing toxicity thereof, to provide a PEI with high transfection efficiency, and to provide a method of introducing nucleic acids into cells comprising using the PEI. There are provided a method of introducing nucleic acids into cells comprising mixing acidified PEI with nucleic acids under acidic conditions and applying the resulting mixture to cells, a reagent for introducing nucleic acids into cells comprising an acidified PEI solution, and a reagent kit including the solution.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional image forming device for forming a phantom three-dimensional image in accordance with an image of an inner face of a tubular structure to be observed, luminance information of pixels corresponding to a prescribed range of each frame image of the tubular structure is obtained under prescribed lighting conditions when an imaging device with an optical axis extending to an axial direction of the tubular structure moves, a relative distances in a depth direction between points and an objective lens is calculated in accordance with the luminance information, pixels corresponding to the prescribed range of each frame image in the inner face of the tubular structure is arrayed in reflection of the relative distance, and the arrayed pixels are combined for a plurality of the frame images to form a three-dimensional image of the inner face of the tubular structure.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention provides a novel pathological marker of angiitis which serves as an alternative to MPO-ANCAs. [Means for Solution] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for testing angiitis which includes a step of detecting an antibody specifically recognizing a moesin in a biological sample is provided. In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a reagent for testing angiitis which contains a substance that detects an antibody specifically recognizing a moesin in a biological sample is provided.

Abstract: A measure for selective fluorescent labeling of the Golgi apparatus, which has low cytotoxicity and excellent intracellular stability, is provided. According to the present invention, provided are a ceramide derivative represented by the following Chemical formula 1: in the formula, R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 to 20, and a Golgi apparatus-labeling fluorescent probe using the same.

Abstract: Provided are a light-adjusting element and a product containing the same. The light-adjusting element usable even with a transmission display device, and has a high-quality mirror state capable of a high contrast ratio. A light-adjusting element, according to one embodiment of the present invention, is characterized by including: a pair of substrates; a pair of electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the pair of substrates, with one electrode being a transparent electrode that has nanometer-scale depressions and protrusions; and en electrolyte layer, interposed between the pair of electrodes, which has electrolyte as well as a mediator and an electrochromic material that has silver. Furthermore, a device according to one embodiment of the present invention at least partially includes the light-adjusting element.

Abstract: An expanding agent for hematopoietic stem cells and/or hematopoietic progenitor cells useful as a therapy for various hematopoietic diseases and useful for improvement in the efficiency of gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells for gene therapy is provided. A method of producing hematopoietic stem cells and/or hematopoietic progenitor cells, which comprises expanding hematopoietic stem cells by culturing hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo in the presence of a compound represented by the formula following (I), a tautomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound or a solvate thereof (wherein R1 to R6 are as defined in the description).

Abstract: In a coated high-temperature superconducting wire 1 in which a superconducting yttrium-based wire (high-temperature superconducting wire) 2 having a rectangular cross section is coated by an insulating layer 6, the insulating layer 6 is an electrodeposited film made of block copolymerized polyimide which contains siloxane bonds in a polyimide main chain and which has molecules with anionic groups. A coil formed from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 is impregnated with epoxy resin, and the epoxy resin is cured. The coil is configured such that the epoxy resin is completely separated from the superconducting yttrium-based wire 2 by the insulating layer 6.

Abstract: Provided is an optical vortex laser oscillation device which is capable of an increased out and can generate an optical vortex even in a wide frequency range and if the optical vortex has a quantum number which is not an integer. A laser device according to one embodiment of the present application comprises: a laser light source for generating laser light; an optical vortex generation unit for generating an energized optical vortex on the basis of the laser light generated by the laser light source; and an optical resonance unit for resonating the energized optical vortex generated by the optical vortex generation unit and dividing the energized optical vortex into signal light and idler light.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tumor marker and use thereof. In more detail, the present invention provides a novel tumor marker, a method for measuring said tumor marker and a measurement kit, a method for detecting cancer using the same, a kit for detecting cancer, a method for screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for cancer, as well as a medicament such as cancer vaccine. According to the present invention, a method for measuring an alternative splicing variant of OATPIB3 mRNA in a sample to be examined is provided. Said measurement method comprises measuring mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing table in a sample to be examined isolated from living organism with differentiation from a mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. Said measurement method is useful for detecting cancer or screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent.

Abstract: To provide a method of efficiently delivering cells having an anti-tumor activity to tumor tissues to evoke a stronger anti-tumor reaction, and a method of providing a more effective tumor regression effect, both in a cellular immunotherapy for cancer utilizing cells having an anti-tumor activity or antigen presenting cells for activating cells capable of exhibiting an anti-tumor activity. Provided are: a method of treating head and neck cancer, comprising administering an anti-cancer cell composition containing NKT cells activated in vitro with an NKT cell ligand into the tumor-feeding artery, and administering an NKT cell-stimulating agent containing antigen presenting cells treated with an NKT cell ligand through the upper respiratory tract mucous membrane; a use, in anti-cancer treatment of head and neck region, of the anti-cancer cell composition and the NKT cell-stimulating agent; a kit comprising the anti-cancer cell composition and the NKT cell-stimulating agent; and the anti-cancer cell composition.