Abstract: Provided is a composition that enhances the effects of monosaccharides. The composition is a composition comprising a monosaccharide as an active ingredient thereof and comprising at least one or more assistants selected from a nonionic surfactant (excluding acetylene glycol-based surfactants, fluorine-based surfactants and silicone-based surfactants), an anionic surfactant (excluding lignin sulfonate), a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, a water-soluble polymer, an amino acid, an amino sugar, a disaccharide alcohol and a salt, and is effective as an agricultural control composition against plant disease, particularly plant disease caused by fungi and plant disease caused by bacteria.

Abstract: Provided is a growth factor anchoring type bone graft material, wherein a bone graft substrate exposing at least a collagen fiber is bound to a collagen-binding-site-containing growth factor which contains a growth factor receptor agonist peptide and a collagen-binding peptide. The same can be produced by mixing a bone graft substrate and a collagen-binding-site-containing growth factor which contains a growth factor receptor agonist peptide and a collagen-binding peptide, and is also superior in osteogenic ability.

Abstract: A preservative solution for low temperature preservation of animal or human organs and animal or plant tissues or cells contains D-allose. For the human kidney, cells derived from animals or humans, or human or animal sperm and/or ovum and/or fermented ovum, the preservation is conducted at from ?5 to 20° C. For cells derived from animals or humans, or human or animal sperm and/or ovum and/or fermented ovum, the preservation is conducted at a temperature at which to start freezing to ?196° C. A method for the low temperature preservation of an animal or human organ and an animal or plant tissue or cell at a low temperature comprises (a) refluxing or immersing a preservative solution containing D-allose and the organ or the tissue or mixing the cell therewith, and (b) cooling the organ, the tissue or the cell to a low temperature of from ?5 to 20° C.

Abstract: A processed konjac food having blood glucose increase suppressing effect is provided. The processed konjac food having blood glucose increase suppressing effect contains a konjac having a pH in a range of 2.5 to 7.4 and a rare sugar as active ingredients, is intended for ingestion of the rare sugar at a daily dose of 0.3 to 50 g/day for suppressing blood glucose increase, and is shaped into a rectangular, thread, round, grain, or plate form. The blood glucose increase effect can last for at least one day after one-time ingestion. For example, by making a konjac containing a rare sugar into a processed food, the product can be adapted to any consumer preferences without impediment upon eating or drinking, and therefore, a long-term ingestion is facilitated and the blood glucose increase suppressing effect can be sustained for a long period.

Abstract: The present invention provides galectin-9 variant having substantially the same bioactivity as in wild-type galectin-9 and being superior in protease stability, solubility, and yield. The galectin-9 variant according to the present invention is a protein including the following NCRD and the following CCRD composed of an N-terminal region and a C-terminal region. The C terminus of the NCRD and the N terminus of the CCRD are directly or indirectly bound to each other. The NCRD is (N1) a peptide composed of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. The N-terminal region of the CCRD is (C-N1) a peptide composed of an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion of 1 to 17 amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3. The C-terminal region is (C-C1) a peptide composed of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5.

Abstract: Fusion proteins containing active agonist or antagonist fragments of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) coupled to a collagen-binding domain are presented. The fusion proteins can be used to promote bone growth, to promote hair growth, to prevent cancer metastasis to bone, to promote immune reconstitution with a bone marrow stem cell transplant, to promote mobilization of bone marrow stem cells for collection for autologous stem cell transplant, and to treat renal osteodystrophy. Pharmaceutical agents comprising a collagen-binding polypeptide segment linked to a non-peptidyl PTH/PTHrP receptor agonist or antagonist are also presented.

Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement device includes a dark filter that is arranged on an optical path between an imaging optical system and a light detection unit and includes a plurality of regions having different transmittances, the filter being configured such that a fixed reflected measurement light and a movable reflected measurement light that are guided to a same point by the imaging optical system and form interference light are transmitted through a same region; and an arithmetic processing unit that obtains an interferogram of the measurement light at a transmittance corresponding to each of two or more regions from a detection signal of each pixel of a light detection unit when a movable reflection unit is moved, and obtains a spectrum of the measurement light based on the interferogram.

Abstract: A plant disease control agent comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of saccharides and substances each having a bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity. The plant disease control agents are effective for the control of cucumber, grape and cabbage downy mildew, damping-off in seedlings caused by Pythium spp, cucumber and barley powdery mildew, wheat stem rust, potato and tomato late blight, and others.

Abstract: Problems Development of a process of producing inexpensive and safe hexose and compositions of the same. Means for Resolution A process of producing a sugar composition comprising a definite amount of an target hexose, comprising treating a starting liquid sugar material comprising a starting sugar material hexose or a mixture comprising hexose in a system in the presence of one or more types selected from the group consisting of basic ion exchange resins, alkalis and calcium salts to initiate an isomerization reaction as an equilibrium reaction to transform the starting sugar material hexose to the target hexose to prepare a sugar mixture comprising a definite amount of the target hexose and having a sugar constitution different from that of the starting sugar material, and hexose compositions containing D-allose and D-psicose and the use of the hexose compositions.

Abstract: Fusion proteins containing active agonist or antagonist fragments of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) coupled to a collagen-binding domain are presented. The fusion proteins can be used to promote bone growth, to promote hair growth, to prevent cancer metastasis to bone, to promote immune reconstitution with a bone marrow stem cell transplant, to promote mobilization of bone marrow stem cells for collection for autologous stem cell transplant, and to treat renal osteodystrophy. Pharmaceutical agents comprising a collagen-binding polypeptide segment linked to a non-peptidyl PTH/PTHrP receptor agonist or antagonist are also presented.

Abstract: Multiple rays such as scattered lights and fluorescent lights emitted radially in a variety of directions from each bright point in a measurement area enter an objective lens, where the multiple rays are converted into a parallel beam. The parallel beam is reflected by both a reference mirror unit and an oblique mirror unit, and the reflected beams pass through an imaging lens to form an interference image on a light-receiving surface of a detection unit. The detection of the light intensity of the interference image on the light-receiving surface enables an acquisition of the interferogram (the waveform of the change of imaging intensity) in which the light intensity continuously changes. By Fourier-converting the interferogram, spectral characteristics can be obtained which show the relative intensities for each wavelength of the lights emitted from one bright point of an object to be measured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative which enables the formation of an n-type semiconductor having high carrier mobility and has superior solubility. The perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative is a perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative represented by the following chemical formula (I), a tautomer or stereoisomer of the perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative, or a salt of the perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative or the tautomer or stereoisomer, In the chemical formula (I), R1 to R6 each represents a hydrogen atom, organooligosiloxane, or any substituent, at least one of R1 to R6 represents a monovalent substituent derived from organooligosiloxane, L1 and L2 each represents a single bond or a linking group, R7 to R10 each represents a lower alkyl group or a halogen, and o, p, q, and r each represents an integer from 0 to 2.

Abstract: An optical fiber for a sensor that can measure a current or a voltage precisely is provided. The optical fiber for the sensor 10 comprises: an FBG 12 wherein a refractive index of a core changes periodically; a metal layer 13 for sheathing the FBG 12; and a pair of electrodes 14 and 15 provided at the metal layer 13. The electrodes 14 and 15 are connected to an object to be measured in desired positions. Current flowing through the metal layer 13 is calculated based on variation in Bragg wavelength of the FBG 12.

Abstract: An optical fiber for a temperature sensor and a power device monitoring system that can measure temperatures at different measurement positions by a simple construction are provided. An optical fiber for the sensor 10 comprises a temperature assurance FBG 20 and temperature measurement FBGs 30 as FBGs wherein the refractive index of a core changes periodically. Wavelength band of light incident to the optical fiber for the sensor 10 includes Bragg wavelengths of the temperature assurance FBG 20 and the temperature measurement FBGs 30. The power device monitoring system 1 measures temperatures of the temperature assurance FBG 20 and the temperature measurement FBGs 30 based on their Bragg wavelengths.

Abstract: A composition for treating disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity contains a glucokinase-activating substance as the active ingredient. A promoting agent of glucokinase transfer from nucleus to cytoplasm contains D-psicose and/or D-tagatose as the active ingredient or a composition for preventing the onset of disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity or for therapeutically treating the disordered conditions is in a form selected from a group consisting of food additives, food materials, drinks and foods, health drinks and foods, pharmaceutical product and feeds in blend with D-psicose and/or D-tagatose as the active ingredient for use in preventing the onset of disordered conditions in association with glucokinase activity or for therapeutically treating the disordered conditions, which are selected from impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, abnormal lipidemia, the metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Abstract: A novel polyol oxidase is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Penicillium and is specified by the properties (a) to (e): (a) it has a stable pH of 6.0 or higher and an optimum reaction pH of from 7.0 to 9.0; (b) it has an operating temperature of 50° C. or lower and an optimum reaction temperature of 40° C.; (c) it has a molecular weight of about 113 kDa; (d) it specifically recognizes the structure of a polyol in which the OH groups at positions 2 and 3 are in the L-erythro configuration and reacts with the polyol, but cannot recognize the structure of a polyol in which the OH group at position 4 is in the L-ribo configuration and does not react with the polyol; and (e) it has substrate specificity for D-arabitol, erythritol, D-mannitol, and D-sorbitol, which are listed in descending order of specificity.

Abstract: A linearly polarized light reaches a sample S through a polarizer and receives a retardation from the sample S. Then, the light reaches a movable mirror unit and a fixed mirror unit of a phase shifter through a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate. Then, the reflected measurement lights pass through an analyzer, and are caused by an imaging lens to form an interference image on the light-receiving surface of a detector. At this time, an optical path length difference between a beam reflected on the movable mirror unit and a beam reflected on the fixed mirror unit is continuously changed the movable mirror unit. Hence, the imaging intensity of the interference image detected by the detector continuously changes producing a synthetic waveform similar to an interferogram. The synthetic waveform is Fourier-transformed, to obtain an amplitude per wavelength and a birefringent phase difference per wavelength.

Abstract: A complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose and a method for producing the same are disclosed. The compositional ratio between D-psicose and D-allose in the sugar is about 1:1 to 1:4. A process for producing a complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose, the process comprising producing a complex crystalline sugar comprising D-psicose and D-allose from a sugar solution containing D-psicose and p-allose and collecting the complex crystalline sugar. The solvent of the sugar solution used in the production of the complex crystalline sugar is water or a mixture of water and ethanol. The sugar solution containing D-psicose and D-allose is produced by a process comprising reacting D-psicose with L-rhamnose isomerase to convert D-psicose into D-allose. The L-rhamnose isomerase is derived from a strain (IPOD FERM BP-08593) belonging to Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Abstract: Provided is a suturing apparatus for endoscope capable of suturing an opening of a wound, with an endoscope inserted into cavity of a digestive tract, to the same extent as the surgical operation. The suturing apparatus includes a front arm 11, a rear arm 12, arm moving means 13 for causing the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 to move closer to or away from each other, and rocking means for relatively rocking the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12. The rear arm 12 includes a needle-like member 14 provided on a surface on a side of the front arm 11 so that an axial direction thereof becomes parallel with a direction in which the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 are moved closer to or away from each other. The front arm 11 is provided with a housing space 16 capable of housing a tip of the needle-like member 14 when the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 are moved closer to each other. Each of the housing spaces houses an engagement member 21 capable of being engaged with the needle-like member 14.

Abstract: The present invention provides a perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative which enables the formation of an n-type semiconductor having high carrier mobility and has superior solubility. The perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative is a perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative represented by the following chemical formula (I), a tautomer or stereoisomer of the perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative, or a salt of the perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivative or the tautomer or stereoisomer, In the chemical formula (I), R1 to R6 each represents a hydrogen atom, organooligosiloxane, or any substituent, at least one of R1 to R6 represents a monovalent substituent derived from organooligosiloxane, L1 and L2 each represents a single bond or a linking group, R7 to R10 each represents a lower alkyl group or a halogen, and o, p, q, and r each represents an integer from 0 to 2.