Abstract: In the ionizer of the present invention, a stream of gas spouted from a nozzle (18) of a DART ionization unit (10) vaporizes and ionizes the components in a sample (25). Gaseous sample-component molecules which have not been ionized by that process are subsequently ionized by a reaction with a reactant ion produced by a corona discharge generated from a needle electrode (20). Such a two-stage ionization of the sample-component molecules improves the ionization efficiency. A needle-electrode support mechanism (21) adjusts the position and/or angle of the needle electrode (20) and thereby controls a potential gradient. Therefore, a specific sample-derived ion species can be efficiently introduced into an ion introduction tube (31) and be detected with a high level of sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for reconstituting tissues and organs having mature functions. A method of preparing a tissue or an organ, comprising coculturing an organ cell with a vascular endothelial cell and a mesenchymal cell, generating an organ bud, transplanting the organ bud into a non-human animal, and then isolating from the non-human animal the transplanted organ bud-derived tissue or organ.

Abstract: As a result of intensive screening on mutations of the COL4A2 gene in 35 Japanese patients with porencephaly, it was found that the COL4A2 gene is a causative gene for familial and sporadic porencephalies. Since an identical heterozygous mutation of the COL4A2 gene was found in both a porencephaly patient and healthy individuals, this pathogenic mutation is considered to be dominantly inherited with incomplete penetrance. It can be predicted that a living body having a COL4A2 gene mutation has a high risk of occurrence of porencephaly and/or cerebral hemorrhage.

Abstract: The present invention provides (1) a method for producing a non-human animal having a humanized liver, comprising transplanting human hepatic stem cells and/or hepatic progenitor cells and/or immature hepatocytes to a liver-damaged non-human animal to induce the differentiation of the cells into hepatocytes, (2) a non-human animal having a humanized liver, produced by the method, (3) a method for examining the pharmacokinetics and/or hepatotoxicity of a test substance, comprising using the animal, (4) a method for producing human hepatocytes, comprising transplanting human hepatic stem cells and/or hepatic progenitor cells and/or immature hepatocytes to a liver-damaged non-human animal to induce the differentiation of the cells into hepatocytes, and (5) a method for examining the pharmacokinetics and/or hepatotoxicity of a test substance, comprising using human hepatocytes produced by the method.

Abstract: Provided is a cell culture method whereby an in vivo function can be sustained over a long period of time and culture can be conducted using the minimum number of cells required. The cell culture method includes culturing undifferentiated cells in a layered state in a partitioned micro-space and obtains differentiated cells. When screening a pharmaceutical agent, undifferentiated cells capable of differentiating into liver cells, intestinal epithelial cells, nerve cells, myocardial cells and vascular endothelial cells are preferred. Particularly, in the prediction of pharmacokinetics or the like for humans, human cells are preferred.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of constituting a tissue construct in vitro using a tissue without depending on scaffold materials. A method of integrating a biological tissue with a vascular system in vitro, comprising coculturing a biological tissue with vascular cells and mesenchymal cells. A biological tissue which has been integrated with a vascular system by the above-described method. A method of preparing a tissue or an organ, comprising transplanting the biological tissue described above into a non-human animal and differentiating the biological tissue into a tissue or an organ in which vascular networks have been constructed. A method of regeneration or function recovery of a tissue or an organ, comprising transplanting the biological tissue described above into a human or a non-human animal and differentiating the biological tissue into a tissue or an organ in which vascular networks have been constructed.

Abstract: A culture chamber includes a plurality of recesses (10) each formed of a bottom portion (11) and an opening portion (12). The bottom portion (11) has a hemispherical shape and the opening portion (12) is defined by a wall that surrounds an area from a boundary between the opening portion (12) and the bottom portion (11) to an end of each of the recesses (10), the wall having a taper angle in a range from 1 degree to 20 degrees. An equivalent diameter of the boundary is in a range from 50 ?m to 2 mm and a depth from a bottom of the bottom portion (11) to the end of each of the recesses is in a range from 0.6 or more times to 3 or less times the equivalent diameter, and the wall defining the opening portion (12) forms a surface continuous to the bottom portion (11).

Abstract: A tissue structure for enabling comprehensive understanding of gene patterns of mature cells and a method of preparing the tissue structure are provided. A tissue structure is obtained by co-culturing an endodermal, ectodermal, or mesodermal cell derived from a stem cell and at least one cell and/or factor selected from the group consisting of a vascular cell, a mesenchymal cell, a factor secreted by a vascular cell, a factor secreted by a mesenchymal cell, and a factor secreted when both a vascular cell and a mesenchymal cell exist. A value obtained by assay of a plurality of functions using a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is closer to a value of a cell or biological tissue sampled from an adult than a value of a cell or biological tissue sampled from a fetus.

Abstract: Provided are a detection method for a myriad of proteins involved in an autoimmune disease with high sensitivity and high efficiency, and an analysis method for data resulting from the detection method. In order to construct the detection method and analysis method, there is provided means for comprehensively analyzing the proteins involved in an autoimmune disease by bringing a mammal-derived protein expressed in a cell-free protein synthesis system into contact with a sample derived from a patient with an autoimmune disease to detect autoantibody production, and subjecting the detected data to statistical analysis processing, and further, gene ontology analysis and/or pathway analysis.

Abstract: Provided is a gene targeting vector that enables highly efficient gene targeting. The gene targeting vector has a structure comprising a positive selection marker flanked by a DNA homologous to a 5?-upstream region of a target site and a DNA homologous to a 3?-downstream region of the target site, wherein a splice acceptor site and a DNA sequence allowing for bicistronic expression are added 5?-upstream of the positive selection marker, and another splice acceptor site is also added 5?-upstream of the DNA homologous to the 5?-upstream region of the target site.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an auxin biosynthesis inhibitor superior to L-AOPP. The object can be attained by a compound represented by general formula (I): wherein, R1 to R5 and X are the same as defined in the specification or a salt or solvate thereof.

Abstract: The present invention identifies a compound which binds to the PAH1 domain of mSin3B that specifically binds to neural restrictive silencer factor NRSF, and uses the compound as a prophylactic and/or a therapeutic for diseases associated with abnormal expression of neural restrictive silencer factor NRSF/REST or abnormal expression of genes targeted by NRSF/REST, such as Huntington's disease, medulloblastoma and neuropathic pain. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a substance capable of binding to the PAH1 domain of mSin3B, e.g.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an oxygen reduction catalyst, an oxygen reduction electrode, and a fuel cell each of which has a carbon nanowall doped with nitrogen. According to the disclosure, the oxygen reduction catalyst, the oxygen reduction electrode and the fuel cell can be provided at low cost.

Abstract: Novel means useful for definitive diagnosis of a neurological disease accompanied by at least one of inflammation and demyelination, such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica, is disclosed. The method for detecting a neurological disease (excluding cerebral infarction) accompanied by at least one of inflammation and demyelination provided by the present invention comprises measuring Crtac1B protein in a sample separated from a subject. The presence of the neurological disease is detected based on a low value of the Crtac1B protein level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel compound capable of inhibiting cardiac adenylyl cyclase. The present invention relates to a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or solvate thereof: where R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having an acidic or basic substituent, provided that all of R1, R2 and R3 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom. The present invention also provides a modulator of adenylyl cyclase activity, a pharmaceutical composition and a food composition, all of which comprise the above-described compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or solvate thereof.

Abstract: An electrode member has a plurality of spherical electrode sections wherein the radiuses of the spherical sections are different from each other. The spherical electrode sections are disposed in a state wherein the center points of the respective spheres match each other and the spherical electrode sections are insulated from each other such that voltages can be independently applied thereto. Electron-passing openings for electrons, which move from the center point to the outside of the electrode member, are formed at positions where the spherical electrode sections and a plurality of straight lines radially extending from the center point intersect each other.

Abstract: Provided is a gene targeting vector capable of highly efficient gene targeting. A gene targeting vector in which a DNA sequence allowing for bicistronic expression is present 5? upstream of a selection marker. A method for producing a gene targeting vector, comprising linking a DNA fragment homologous to a 5? upstream region of a target site, a selection marker having a DNA sequence allowing for bicistronic expression present 5? upstream thereof, and a DNA fragment homologous to a 3? downstream region of the target site.

Abstract: The present invention provides (1) a method for producing a non-human animal having a humanized liver, comprising transplanting human hepatic stem cells and/or hepatic progenitor cells and/or immature hepatocytes to a liver-damaged non-human animal to induce the differentiation of the cells into hepatocytes, (2) a non-human animal having a humanized liver, produced by the method, (3) a method for examining the pharmacokinetics and/or hepatotoxicity of a test substance, comprising using the animal, (4) a method for producing human hepatocytes, comprising transplanting human hepatic stem cells and/or hepatic progenitor cells and/or immature hepatocytes to a liver-damaged non-human animal to induce the differentiation of the cells into hepatocytes, and (5) a method for examining the pharmacokinetics and/or hepatotoxicity of a test substance, comprising using human hepatocytes produced by the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are cyanoacrylate polymer particles which comprise an amino acid(s) and have an average particle diameter of less than 1000 nm. The amino acid-containing particles according to the present invention can kill cancer cells by inducing apoptosis-like cell death. The particles have an especially high affinity for cell lines derived from lymphomas such as T-cell lymphoma and B-cell lymphoma. The particles can also exhibit an antiproliferative effect against some kinds of pancreatic cancer-derived cell lines. Therefore, the particles according to the present invention are useful for prevention and/or treatment of cancers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of artificially repressing gene expression, which is simpler to design than conventional methods (the RNAi, ribozyme and antisense methods) and which allows for easier confirmation of the effect. A method of inhibiting the translation reaction of a target gene, comprising cutting out a part of the poly(A) tail and/or 3?-terminal sequence of the target mRNA is provided.