Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a material for efficiently obtaining differentiated cells from pluripotent stem cells. That is, the present invention relates to a pluripotent stem cell differentiation-promoting agent containing, as an active ingredient, a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof, and a method for differentiating pluripotent stem cells, including culturing pluripotent stern cells in a culture medium containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof.

Abstract: A medium for stem cells according to the present invention contains at least one of carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a water-soluble polymer. The content of carboxymethyl cellulose in the medium is preferably such that the final concentration thereof is 0.001 ?g/mL to 1 mg/mL. The content of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the medium is preferably such that the final concentration thereof is 0.05 ?g/mL to 2 mg/mL.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material capable of further accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, without impairing pluripotency thereof. In other words, the invention is an agent for accelerating growth of pluripotent stem cells, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; and is a method for culturing pluripotent stem cells, including culturing pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium that contains a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a solvate thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material which can be safely ingested and which inhibits skin pigmentation. Therefore, the invention is a skin pigmentation inhibitor, containing a ?-nicotinamide mononucleotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a solvate thereof as an active ingredient; a health supplement which contains the skin pigmentation inhibitor and is ingested to inhibit skin pigmentation; and a method for inhibiting skin pigmentation, including ingesting the skin pigmentation inhibitor.

Abstract: To improve the storage property, heat-resistance and temporal stability of flour paste, and decrease the costs for the transport, storage and production of the flour paste. The present invention provides a powder composition for preparing flour paste containing processed starch, unprocessed starch, whey protein and thickener at predetermined amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of preparation and method of application of a circadian rhythm regulatory agent having as an active ingredient an alkylresorcinol represented by general formula (I) below and a circadian rhythm regulatory agent containing as an active ingredient an alkylresorcinol-containing extract from a cereal or a nut containing an alkylresorcinol of the following general formula (I). In the following general formula (I), R1 is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; and R2 is hydrogen or methyl. In general formula (I), R1 is preferably at the para-position with respect to R2, and R1 is preferably a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 15 to 27 carbon atoms. [Chem.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for administration of an effective amount of RANKL-binding molecules that act on prechondrocytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells, accelerate cartilage differentiation, proliferation, and maturation of such cells, enhance chondrocyte differentiation, and induce chondrocyte proliferation to induce chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increase cartilage matrix production and a pharmaceutical composition used for inducing chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation or increasing cartilage matrix production.

Abstract: A method for producing frozen fresh cream to be whipped, the method including: cooling fresh cream, wherein in the cooling, the fresh cream is cooled to a temperature of ?5° C. or lower and is changed from 0° C. to ?5° C. for 8 minutes or shorter.

Abstract: A method for producing a high-zinc-content yeast extract, including extracting the high-zinc-content yeast extract by suspending zinc-containing yeast into a solution containing a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid salt, or both thereof to thereby obtain a suspension liquid, and separating a solid component and a liquid component of the suspension liquid; the high-zinc-content yeast extract; food; and an agent for maintaining and restoring a green color of vegetables.

Abstract: A yeast including a cell wall having a low mannan content, wherein the yeast has an immunopotentiating capability, and is able to grow in a YPD liquid medium with an osmotic pressure of 300 mOsm, and wherein, when a part of a pre-culture of the yeast grown in a YPDS liquid medium is added to the YPD liquid medium so that OD660 is adjusted to 0.1, followed by incubating at 30° C. for 24 hours, the yeast grows to increase the OD660 of the YPD liquid medium to 1.0 or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent capable of inhibiting MMP-2 specifically. Disclosed is a fusion molecule composed of a ?-amyloid precursor protein molecule-derived domain having an activity of selectively inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 and a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase capable of binding to latent matrix metalloproteinase. Also disclosed are a pharmaceutical composition, a cancer metastasis and/or angiogenesis inhibitor, a therapeutic and/or prophylactic for cardiovascular diseases, and a matrix metalloproteinase-2 inhibitor, each of which comprises the fusion molecule.

Abstract: A method for producing a high-zinc-content yeast extract, including extracting the high-zinc-content yeast extract by suspending zinc-containing yeast into a solution containing a carboxylic acid, a carboxylic acid salt, or both thereof to thereby obtain a suspension liquid, and separating a solid component and a liquid component of the suspension liquid; the high-zinc-content yeast extract; food; and an agent for maintaining and restoring a green color of vegetables.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for improving at least one activity selected from the group consisting of the growth activity, adhesion activity and extension activity of mesenchymal stem cells, which comprises laminin-5 as an active ingredient. A method of culturing mesenchymal stem cells; a method of isolating mesenchymal stem cells; and a medium, vessel or sheet for use in culturing mesenchymal stem cells are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cancer immunopotentiating agent containing a compound that blocks RANKL action. The present invention relates to a cancer immunopotentiating agent containing a RANKL antagonist such as an anti-RANKL neutralizing antibody as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A circadian rhythm regulatory agent having as an active ingredient an alkylresorcinol represented by general formula (I) below and a circadian rhythm regulatory agent containing as an active ingredient an alkylresorcinol-containing extract from a cereal or a nut containing an alkylresorcinol of the following general formula (I). In the following general formula (I), R1 is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; and R2 is hydrogen or methyl. In general formula (I), R1 is preferably at the para-position with respect to R2, and R1 is preferably a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 15 to 27 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for observing in real time the state of a disease condition in a tissue of an animal or the state of a functionally adverse condition which is a prelude to the disease condition without injuring the animal. This can be achieved by the use of a gene construct having a reporter gene integrated under the control of a hypoxia responsible promoter an ODD domain (oxygen dependent degradation domain) integrated upstream to the reporter gene.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a method for culturing cells in a system containing laminin-5. The method of the present invention is characterized by a culture system containing a polypeptide selected from a group consisting of: a protein in blood other than extracellular matrix proteins, which is, serum, serum albumin, prealbumin, immunoglobulin, ?-globulin, ?-globulin, ?1-antitrypsin (?1-AT), heptoglobin (Hp), ?2-macroglobulin (?2-M), ?-fetoprotein (AFP), transferrin, retinol-binding protein (RBP) or adiponectin; gelatin; a protein belonging to a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family; and peptone.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a method for improving the quality of at least one member selected from breads, noodles, and confectioneries so that a soft texture (softness) and a moist texture (a moisture retaining property) are imparted, and the member is less susceptible to retrograding or aging even after the elapse of a certain period of time after production (retrogradation or aging is suppressed or prevented), and also to provide an agent to be used in the method.

Abstract: A method for producing frozen fresh cream to be whipped, the method including: cooling fresh cream, wherein in the cooling, the fresh cream is cooled to a temperature of ?5° C. or lower and is changed from 0° C. to ?5° C. for 8 minutes or shorter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an osteopenia animal model by RANKL administration and an osteopenia animal model. Also, a method for producing an osteopenia animal model, comprising administering soluble RANKL or a fused protein of soluble RANKL with an epitope tag to a non-human animal so as to promote vivo osteoclast differentiation and activation in the non-human animal, and an osteopenia animal model produced by the method are provided.