Abstract: The thin film of the invention comprises a hydrate of a vitrified gel containing one or more extracellular matrix components, which can be integrated with a retainer as required. A hydrogel thin film containing one or more extracellular matrix components such as thin-film collagen hydrogel thin film, which is useful for a cell culture substratum and for preventing organ adhesion, can be easily prepared, and is excellent in expediency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing various types of arylbis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)methane having a bulky aryl group and an electron-accepting aryl group in which synthesis was conventionally considered to be difficult, at high efficiency; a novel arylbis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)methane that can be widely applied to asymmertric catalyst, various types of functional materials and the like; and a metallic salt thereof. In addition, excellent catalysts are also provided. An aryl halomethane is reacted with a sodium trifluoromethane sulfinate, the arylmethyl triflone produced thereby is reacted with a t-BuLi and the like, the lithium salt of the arylmethyl triflone obtained is reacted with a trifluoromethane sulfonic acid anhydride, and an arylbis(trifluoromethylsulfony)methane such as pentafluorophenylbis(triflyl)methane, {4-(pentafluorophenyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl}bis(triflyl)methane and the like are obtained at a high yield.

Abstract: A nicotianamine synthase is isolated and purified. Then the gene of this enzyme is cloned and the base sequence and amino acid sequence thereof are determined. This gene is employed in constructing plants, in particular, grass plants highly tolerant to iron deficiency. A nicotianamine synthase involved in the mugineic acid biosynthesis pathway; the amino acid sequence thereof; a gene encoding the same; a vector containing this gene; cells transformed by the vector; a process for producing nicotianamine by using the same; plants transformed by the gene encoding the nicotianamine synthase; and an antibody against the nicotianamine syntase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adult T cell leukemia model animal, which is a T cell function deficient animal to which a cell line infected with human T cell leukemia virus-1 is transplanted. This model animal allows the HTLV-1 infected cell line to proliferate over a long period of time, and enables not only the tumorigenesis process but also the mechanism of onset of ATL and immune response mechanism of the host against ATL to be precisely analyzed.

Abstract: An SiO2 film layer formed at a wafer placed inside a process chamber of an etching device is etched by generating plasma from a process gas containing fluorocarbon which has been introduced into the process chamber. The contents of an etchant and the byproducts are measured through infrared laser absorption analysis. The individual contents thus measured are compared with the contents of the etchant and the byproducts in the plasma corresponding to the increase in the aspect ratio of a contact hole set in advance. The quantity of O2 added into the process gas is adjusted to match the measured contents with the predetermined contents. The quantity of O2 added into the process gas is continuously increased as the aspect ratio becomes higher. As a result, a contact hole is formed at the SiO2 film layer without damaging the photoresist film layer or inducing an etch stop.

Abstract: A convenient and commonly applicable method for the specific detection of a nucleic acid with an arbitrary sequence is provide. This method comprises attaching at least a nucleic acid single strand to an electrode, bringing the thus-obtained modified electrode in contact with a solution containing the analyte single-stranded nucleic acid, and measuring the redox reaction of the redox marker.

Abstract: A probe for protein—protein interaction analysis suitable for analyzing protein—protein interactions of various proteins with high accuracy and in a simple manner and a method for analyzing interaction of two proteins by using the probe. With the probe, protein splicing is caused by protein—protein interaction, and a physicochemically or biochemically detectable protein is regenerated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new manufacturing method for phosphonate esters, which have utility as a carbon-carbon binding formation agent, as well as a synthesis intermediate for biologically active substances such as medical drugs and agri-chemicals. Specifically the present invention relates to a new industrially advantageous manufacturing method for phosphonate esters in which the phosphonate esters of the subject can be efficiently obtained with a high yield rate through a simple operation while having barely any side reaction or sub-product. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a manufacturing method for phosphonate esters in which secondary phosphonate esters and alkene compounds are reacted in a transition metal catalyst. In addition the present invention relates to a new manufacturing method for allylphosphonate esters in which secondary cyclic phosphonate esters and 1,3-diene compounds are reacted in a palladium catalyst.

Abstract: A novel liquid-crystalline ionic conductor, which is useful in the electric, electronic, chemical and bioengineering fields, as an anisotropic reaction solvent, ionic conductor, electric field-responsible conductor or the like, and a method for producing the same, is provided. The liquid-crystalline ionic conductor is obtained by mixing an organic molten salt with a-liquid-crystalline organic molecule or a liquid-crystalline inorganic molecule, which comprises a moiety miscible to the organic molten salt and a moiety that shows liquid-crystalline orientation, thereby forming a liquid-crystalline ionic conductor, wherein the organic molten salt is assembled to the liquid-crystalline molecule.

Abstract: A magnetic field distribution measurement device (1) provides a non-contact magnetic measurement on a subject's chest at a plurality of coordinates and forms therefrom time-series magnetic field distribution data. A first arithmetic device (2) in response generates image data representing a three-dimensional, intramyocardial current density distribution. A second arithmetic device (3) receives a plurality of tomographic image data separately obtained by a tomographic diagnosis apparatus and processes the data to generate three-dimensional, anatomical image data. A display device (4) receives these data and displays on an anatomical image an image representing an intramyocardial current density. Thus in a ventricle a lesioned or viable part of myocardium can be readily identified in location, size, geometry and level. Furthermore, the anatomical image may be replaced with an image representing a normal stimulation propagation circuit and serving as a template.

Abstract: An anti-NAIP monoclonal antibody recognizing a human apoptosis inhibitory protein NAIP having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, which is produced from hybridoma prepared by fusing a myeloma cell line with antibody-producing cell of mammal immunized by antigen containing a polypeptide which comprises amino acid sequence of the 256–586th, the 841–1052nd or parts thereof in SEQ ID NO: 1, NAIP assay method using the antibody, and NAIP assay kits.

Abstract: Novel sodium-independent small neutral amino acid transporters which transport L- and D-amino acids. A protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or 4 or an amino acid derived therefrom by deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids and being capable of sodium-independently transporting L- and D-small neutral amino acids and analogs thereof; a gene encoding the above protein; a method of screening substances inhibiting or promoting the function of the above protein; an antibody against the above protein; and a method of regulating cell function by using the above antibody, function inhibitors, function promoters, etc.

Abstract: A novel process for preparation of alkenylphosphine oxides or alkenylphosphinic acid esters provided by which the objective compounds can be easily, safely and efficiently synthesized and easily separated and purified with little formation of by-products. Specifically, a process of conducting the addition reaction of an easily available secondary phosphine oxide or hydrogen phosphinic acid ester with an acetylene compound with a catalyst containing a Group 9 or 10 metal of the periodic table to thereby obtain the corresponding alkenylphosphine oxide or alkenylphosphinic acid ester.

Abstract: A method of generating an image sequence that includes the steps of detecting scene irradiance using detectors in a focal plane array, generating an output image sequence for each of the detectors based on the detected irradiance, and correcting the output image sequence generated by a first subset of detectors in the focal plane array and the output image sequence generated by a second subset of detectors in the focal plane array using the correction provided to the first subset of detectors.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an efficient and sure gene targeting method embodied at an arbitrary position in the genome of an organism and a kit therefor. It is also intended to provide a method for targeted-disruption of an arbitrary gene in the genome of an organism which comprises: 1) the step of providing the whole sequencial data of the genome of the organism; 2) the step of selecting at least one arbitrary region in the sequence; 3) the step of providing a vector containing a sequence homologous with the region selected above and a marker gene; 4) the step of transforming the organism by the vector; and 5) the step of providing the organism under such conditions as allowing homologous recombination. Moreover, the genome of a hyperthermostable bacterium and its array are provided.

Abstract: Characteristics are rendered variable and high-functional by using the side-pressure inductive polarization mode coupling of a PMF to thereby change the position and magnitude of a side pressure. An input light is incident via a polarizer (2), and an outgoing light is output via the PMF (1) and another polarizer (3). Light may enter and go out in an opposite way. The PMF (1) has two polarization axes orthogonal to each other, and the polarization axis of the polarizer (2) is coupled so as to agree with one end of the polarization axis of the PMF (1). The polarization axis of the polarizer (3) is coupled so as to agree with one end of the polarization axis of the PMF (1). The PMF (1) induces polarization mode coupling when a polarization light tilted a specified angle with respect to the polarization axis is incident to apply a side pressure to the PMF (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides efficacious preparations for intravenous administration, preparations for external or topical application to skin, preparations for external or topical application to mucosa or cosmetics comprising ginsenosides, in particular, ginsenoside Rb1 or its derivatives which are useful as skin tissue regeneration/reconstruction promoters or wound healing promoters; and it provides fertilizer additives comprising ginsenosides, in particular, ginsenoside Rb1 or its derivatives which are useful as plant tissue regeneration/reconstruction promoters. These preparations for intravenous administration, preparations for external or topical application to skin, preparations for external or topical application to mucosa or cosmetics are useful particularly for promoting the tissue regeneration/reconstruction in cases of incised wounds, morsus, bite wounds and/or defect of skin or mucosa or for promoting would healing.

Abstract: A mixed polymer liquid is prepared by mixing a polycarbosilane-dissolved organic solvent with poly(methylsilane) and moderated to viscosity of 5–20 Pa·s by heat-treatment to promote partial cross-linking reaction. The mixed-polymer is then melt-spun to fiber at 250–350° C. The fiber is cured by treatment at 100–200° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere, and baked at 1000° C. or higher. Due to thermosetting action of poly(methylsilane), the mixed polymer liquid is continuously melt-spun without breakage, and SiC fiber produced in this way is useful for reinforcement of SiC composite excellent in toughness, strength and heat-resistance.

Abstract: A magnetic field distribution measurement device (1) provides a non-contact magnetic field measurement on a subject's chest at a plurality of coordinates and forms therefrom time-series magnetic field distribution data. A first arithmetic device (2) in response generates image data representing a three-dimensional, intramyocardial current density distribution. A second arithmetic device (3) receives a plurality of tomographic image data separately obtained by a tomographic diagnosis apparatus and processes the data to generate three-dimensional, anatomical image data. A display device (4) receives these data and displays on an anatomical image an image representing an intramyocardial current density. This can facilitate identifying an anatomical, positional relationship of an abnormal, electrical reentry circuit caused in heart muscle. Furthermore, the anatomical image may be replaced with an image representing a normal stimulation propagation circuit and serving as a template.

Abstract: A system and method for reconstructing pathways in large genetic networks from genetic perturbations comprises an analysis method and system that applies a recursive algorithm for determining the path between every gene pair in an arbitrarily large genetic network from large-scale gene perturbation data and reconstructs all direct and indirect regulatory gene interactions in the network. Graph theory mathematics is applied to genetic network reconstruction in the following manner: Genetic perturbation data is used to identify all genes accessible from a perturbed gene to generate an accessibility list for the gene. Graph theory mathematics is applied to the accessibility list and its graph to determine a condensation of the graph as defined by the condensation's accessibility list. Graph theory mathematics is applied to the accessibility list, such as through a recursive algorithm performed on a desktop computer, to obtain an adjacency list for the gene that characterizes a genetic network.