Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver in spite of the alcohol intake history of a level that a liver disease is not caused. The inventors found that glutathione has an effect of preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver, which is not caused by alcohol, and completed the present invention. Among nonalcoholic fat diseases, the present invention is particularly effective in an early stage of the treatment or in a case where treatment for another disease is not performed.

Abstract: There is provided a plasma sterilization apparatus that permits plasma sterilization providing a uniform sterilization for even sterilization targets having various kinds of three-dimensional shape such as agricultural products, under mild conditions so as to prevent damage and quality deterioration of the targets. A plasma sterilization apparatus includes a voltage-applying unit that applies a voltage to a sterilization target having conductivity; a pair of electrodes that apply, in a discharged state, the voltage applied by said voltage-applying unit to the sterilization target via a dielectric; and a position changing unit that changes a relative position between the pair of electrodes and the sterilization target.

Abstract: There is provided a crack detection system in which a crack can be detected from a strain distribution of a part to be detected of an object. After taking the image of the part to be detected of the detection object by the imaging unit, the heat is applied by the heating unit. Furthermore, image of the part to be detected are taken again and an image analysis unit analyzes the images before and after applying the heat to acquire a strain distribution of the part to be detected, so that the crack can be detected based on difference in a state of strain between a place where the crack exist and the other place. Therefore, taking the images of the part to be detected including its coating layer enables the analysis to progress without removing the coating layer to detect the crack.

Abstract: There is provided a steam power cycle system in which steam power cycles using pure materials as a working fluid is used in a multiple stage to reduce pressure loss in the flow channels in the respective heat exchanger so that the fluid serving as heat sources has been caused to make an effective heat exchange with the working fluid. More specifically, not only that the respective flow channels for the fluid serving as heat sources in the evaporator and the condenser in the respective steam power cycle units are connected in series to each other, but the evaporator and the condenser comprise a cross-flow type heat exchanger and are arranged respectively in a flowing direction of the fluid serving as heat source. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the length of the flow channels to the minimum necessary, simplify the flow channel structure, and reduce the pressure loss.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver in spite of the alcohol intake history of a level that a liver disease is not caused. The inventors found that glutathione has an effect of preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver, which is not caused by alcohol, and completed the present invention. Among nonalcoholic fat diseases, the present invention is particularly effective in an early stage of the treatment or in a case where treatment for another disease is not performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting chronic sinusitis, which comprises measuring the concentration of a periostin protein in blood or nasal secretion collected from a test subject. Thereby, a method for detecting chronic sinusitis, which is capable of detecting chronic sinusitis more simply, more promptly and less invasively, is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a lung cancer biomarker containing a DDR2 protein or a DDR2 gene, or a mutant thereof, i.e., the following (a), (b) and (c): (a) overexpressed DDR2 protein or DDR2 gene; (b) overexpressed DDR2 protein or DDR2 gene mutant; and (c) DDR2 protein or DDR2 gene mutant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which comprises measuring the expression level of a periostin gene or the amount of a periostin protein in a biological sample. Thereby, a method for detecting idiopathic interstitial pneumonia using a marker is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a reagent for measuring periostin contained in a sample with improved accuracy, a method for improving accuracy in measurement of periostin, and a method of testing for pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial pneumonia with improved accuracy. The antibody of the present invention binds to at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin or a cleavage product thereof. The method and the reagent for measuring periostin and the method for improving accuracy in periostin measurement of the present invention is characterized by detecting at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin.

Abstract: [Problem] Providing soybean including oleic acid that will exceed the heretofore developed high-oleic soybean without using gene engineering technology. [Means to Solve the Problem] The present invention provides a GmFAD2-1b gene loss of function mutation and a type of soybean that includes a GmGAD2-1b gene loss of function mutation.

Abstract: A device 2 for producing a three-dimensional structural body has an accommodating plate 3 in which an accommodating recess portion 3a for accommodating a cell mass 1 is formed, a support body 4 provided with a plurality of needle-shaped bodies 6 penetrating the cell mass, a suction nozzle 19 for adsorbing/holding the cell mass, and structure 20 for moving the suction nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a reagent for measuring periostin contained in a sample with improved accuracy, a method for improving accuracy in measurement of periostin, and a method of testing for pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial pneumonia with improved accuracy. The antibody of the present invention binds to at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin or a cleavage product thereof. The method and the reagent for measuring periostin and the method for improving accuracy in periostin measurement of the present invention is characterized by detecting at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing an artificial skin preparation which requires no suturing or the like when treating a wound area with a dried collagen vitrigel membrane material as an artificial skin, and also is less likely to cause contamination or the like with an exudate, and is free from the risk of secondary damage by replacement thereof.

Abstract: An activity enhancer for an anticancer agent includes, as an active ingredient, a D-form amino acid residue-containing FNIII14 polypeptide, the D-form amino acid residue-containing FNIII14 being a polypeptide FNIII14 represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in which at least one of amino acid residues at positions 1 to 13 is a D-form amino acid residue. An anticancer composition includes the activity enhancer for an anticancer agent and an anticancer agent.

Abstract: There is provided a steam power cycle system that permits to perform an appropriate heat exchange between a working fluid that is a non-azeotropic mixture and a heat source, to enhance the performance of the whole system. More specifically, a plurality of condensers are provided so as to be connected to each other in series, and the working fluid in a gas phase from the expander is introduced into the respective condensers. Consequently, the ratio of a low boiling point substance of the working fluid becomes higher toward the posterior condenser, it is possible to make the condensation temperature of the working fluid lower than that of the anterior condenser. It is therefore possible to make the temperature of the working fluid possibly close to the temperature of the low-temperature fluid, thus permitting an effective use of the difference in temperature of the heat source.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cardiac tissue spheroid or vascular tissue spheroid formed from a mixture of a myocardial cell or smooth muscle cell and at least one type of cell selected from a vascular endothelial cell and fibroblast, and a three dimensional cardiac tissue structure or three dimensional vascular tissue structure which are characterized by combining or laminating said spheroid.

Abstract: There is provided a plasma generation device capable of suppressing arc discharge in which discharge is localized to cause a high temperature, and allowing atmospheric discharge plasma to be stably generated with a high generation efficiency in a low temperature at about a room temperature without being spatially biased. The plasma generation device arranged with a plurality of electrodes facing each other includes a discharge position control unit, which is arranged between each of the plurality of electrodes, and is formed by containing an inverse characteristic material composed of a fluid having polarizability and a property that dielectric constant decreases with an increase in temperature, in a container formed of a dielectric material, wherein the inverse characteristic material is spaced apart from each of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A functional microbially fermented tea extract containing a novel polyphenol derivative and a method for producing the same are provided. A functional microbially fermented tea extract containing various extracts and a novel polyphenol derivative is produced by subjecting, to an extraction treatment, a microbially fermented tea leaf obtained by culturing one species selected from Aspergillus sp. (PK-1), Aspergillus oryzae (NBRS 4214) sp. (AO-1), Aspergillus awamori (NBRS 4122) sp. (SK-1), and Eurotium sp. (KA-1) with a tea leaf. Furthermore, for example, a functional fermented tea extract enriched with a novel polyphenol derivative is produced.

Abstract: A noble metal adsorption agent includes algae or residue of algae having an amino group as a functional group. A noble metal is retrieved by a method including: adsorbing the noble metal on the noble metal adsorption agent; and retrieving the noble metal. The noble metal is solved in a liquid. Thus, by using the noble metal adsorption agent, the noble metal is selectively retrieved.

Abstract: Provided is a bioimplant which is capable to inhibit the biofilm formation over a long period of time after an operation. The bioimplant of the present invention comprises a base material of metal, ceramic, or plastic and a thermal spraying film of a calcium phosphate-based material formed at least partially thereon and the silver concentration in the thermal-spray film is 0.05 wt % to 3.00 wt %.