Abstract: A confocal microscope apparatus has a confocal scanner for scanning a sample with shifting a focal position of a light beam in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a moving mechanism for moving the focal position of the light beam in an optical axis direction, a camera for picking up an image of the sample with the light beam, and a movement control unit for controlling the moving mechanism to move the focal position of the light beam by a predetermined distance in the optical axis direction for every vertical synchronizing signal of the camera in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal. A high-speed three-dimensional image can be displayed in such that while measuring the sample, two or more slice images in such an arrangement on a common screen that their positions relative to the sample enables to be grasped.

Abstract: An apparatus generates a cutaneous sense stimulus to call a subject attention to a change in posture based on posture change information (the amount of change in the barycenter, a changing direction of the same, and the like) from a device for detecting a change in posture of the subject. The apparatus has stimulus generating means (a plurality of vibrators) for generating a cutaneous sense stimulus, and stimulus control means for driving the stimulus generating means based on the posture change information. The control means comprises means for selecting a plurality of vibrators arranged substantially parallel with the changing direction based on the changing direction of the barycenter, and sequentially driving the selected vibrators, for example, in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which the barycenter changes. The control means also drives the vibrators to generate the tactile sense stimulus of a magnitude corresponding to a changing amount of the barycenter.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents that decrease carbonyl stress comprising biguanides, such as metoformin. Through oral administration and such, the carbonyl stress-decreasing agents of the present invention are useful as drugs directly acting against carbonyl stress in vivo.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allow the three primary colors of light (red, green, blue) to be emitted, and particularly to allow blue light to be emitted clearly and in a stable manner at a low voltage. An amorphous SiOx film 2 consisting of a mixture of silicon atoms and oxygen atoms is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. The result is heat treated in an inert gas to form the silicon atoms into nanosilicon 4a of about 3.0 nm or less. The result is subjected to hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution treatment 5 and thermal oxidation treatment 6. Any of the three primary colors of light, particularly blue, can be emitted at a low operating voltage 7 at room temperature.

Abstract: A computer solves an item-based one-dimensional sub-optimization problem independently of the other items. For the item-based solution found, the computer determines whether machine interference between the items is eliminated and whether a work-in-process inventory is sufficient. If machine interference is not eliminated or the work-in-process inventory is not insufficient, then the computer updates a corresponding Lagrange multiplier and reexecutes the solving of the problem.

Abstract: Carbonyl stress-ameliorating agents have been provided, which contain an enzyme having a glyoxalase I activity and a carbonyl compound-reducing agent as the active ingredients. The carbonyl stress-ameliorating agents of the present invention rapidly eliminate carbonyl compounds, and thus ameliorate carbonyl induced stress conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for evaluating renal functions by measuring megsin protein in a biological specimen. Moreover, the present invention provides immunological assay reagents, as well as kits useful for the measurement of megsin protein in the biological specimen.

Abstract: A tuned cradle type damping deice which can be tuned with low-order (e.g., 1 Hz or lower) vibration, and exhibits higher performance for maintenance and inspection with a simple constitution than a conventional one. This tuned cradle type damping device comprises: a support having a circular-arc support surface which is at least a part of a circle; two swings positioned on both outsides of a center axis extending direction of the circular-arc support surface of the support; and two rollers which are rotatably supported on the circular-arc support surface to be rolled thereon and moved around the center axis thereof, and both ends of which are rotatably connected to the two swings to support the two swings.

Abstract: An optical connection device according to the invention is an optical connection device for optically coupling light propagated through an optical waveguide to an optical element arranged outside the optical waveguide and with the following configuration. Part of the optical waveguide is removed so as to be shaped like a groove. The optical waveguide and the optical element are arranged so that an optical axis of the optical waveguide intersects an optical axis of the optical element at a specified angle inside the groove. An optical unit is arranged at a position of intersection of the optical axes for turning light by reflection from one optical axis along the other optical axis.

Abstract: A Straight blade type turbine has at least one two-dimensional blade positioned in parallel with and around a central axis of the turbine. The two-dimensional blade has a cross section with a blade chord turned around a center of the two-dimensional blade by an angle of 3° to ?2° relative to a line perpendicular to another imaginary line connecting the central axis with the center of the two-dimensional blade. A distance between a fore end and the center of the cross section is 15 to 40 percent of a chord length of the blade. NC/R, which is calculated by a radius R extending from the axis to the center of two-dimensional blade, the chord length C, and the number N of the two-dimensional blades, is between 0.5 and 2.2. A maximum thickness of the two-dimensional blade is between 20 and 25 percent of the chord length.

Abstract: Carbonyl compounds generated and accumulated in the peritoneal dialysate can be inactivated or eliminated by a carbonyl compound-trapping agent such as aminoguanidine. Carbonyl compounds generated during sterilization and storage of the peritoneal dialysate can be eliminated by pre-contacting with the trapping agent. Further, it is possible to eliminate carbonyl compounds transferred from the blood to the peritoneal cavity of the patient during peritoneal dialysis treatment, by adding the trapping agent to the peritoneal dialysate or by circulating the fluid through a carbonyl compound-trapping cartridge. Intraperitoneal protein modification by carbonyl compounds is inhibited by the present invention, thereby sufficiently reducing peritoneal disorders associated with peritoneal dialysis treatment.

Abstract: In an integrated vane 1 for use in wind or water, main blades 3 arranged around an axial shaft 2 of the vane and support blades 4 for joining the main blades to the axial shaft are integrally formed with light and high strength fiber material such as glass fibers and carbon fibers. The main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view. The upper support blade may be asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the lower support blade may have an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the upper support blade. A mountain-shaped portion may be formed at the ends of the main blade for reducing noise. The strength of crossing portions between the main and support blade of the vertical axis vane for use in wind or water is thus improved.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a puncture difficulty evaluating device which can readily evaluate the difficulty of puncture in a measuring point. To this end, a puncture difficulty device receives the ultrasound backscattered at the measurement point, determines an integral of the power of the ultrasound over a predetermined angle range, and generates a parameter indicating the difficulty of puncture in the measurement point based on the determined integral.

Abstract: In a fluid power generator system using operative fluid energy, a measured tip speed ratio and a reference tip speed ratio are compared with each other. If the measured tip speed ratio is smaller than the reference tip speed ratio, a generator is placed in a no-load state, thereby restoring the number of rotations of the wing axial shaft to the number of rotations corresponding to the reference tip speed ratio. Further, the operation of the generator is controlled on the basis of the tip speed ratio calculated from the flow rate of the fluid, thereby providing a maximum output for each flow rate. In this way, a change in the flow rate and number of rotations can be appropriately dealt with and the maximum output for each flow rate of the operative fluid can be dealt with, thereby increasing a quantity of generated power.

Abstract: A fluid power generator system includes an operating mode in which a continuously variable output corresponding to a wide range of a flow rate is given by selectively combining generators with optimum rated outputs from said plurality of generators according to natural fluid energy and the number of rotations of a wing axial shaft; and control means for controlling the operation of each of the generators on the basis of a tip speed calculated from the flow rate of the operative fluid and the number of rotations of said wing axial shaft, thereby acquiring a maximum output for specific flow rate of the operative fluid. In this configuration, the fluid power generator system using operative fluid energy as a driving source can generate a continuously variable output corresponding to a wide range of the flow rate of the fluid and provides a maximum output for an individual flow rate of the operative fluid, thereby increasing a quantity of generated power (by 40% or more than before).

Abstract: A screw attachment (10, 10′, 10″) disposed around a fastening piece (17) secured to a main fastening body (25a), the screw attachment sandwiched between a head (17b) of the fastening piece and a securing object (22) so that the screw attachment bears a securing force of the fastening piece to press the securing object. The screw attachment includes a pair of arms (12, 13) made of a shape restoring material. Each arm has a fore end, and the fore ends are joined to each other with an adhesive material that is softened when heated. The arms expands radially such that the screw attachment is released from the head of the fastening piece when heat or force is applied to the arms.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allow the three primary colors of light (red, green, blue) to be emitted, and particularly to allow blue light to be emitted clearly and in a stable manner at a low voltage. An amorphous SiOx film 2 consisting of a mixture of silicon atoms and oxygen atoms is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. The result is heat treated in an inert gas to form the silicon atoms into nanosilicon 4a of about 3.0 nm or less. The result is subjected to hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution treatment 5 and thermal oxidation treatment 6. Any of the three primary colors of light, particularly blue, can be emitted at a low operating voltage 7 at room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA expressed at high frequency in mesangial cells and a protein (Meg-4) encoded by this DNA. These substances are useful in, for example, identifying mesangial cells and detecting abnormalities in mesangial cells. Moreover, the above protein would be helpful for clarification of the functions of mesangial cells and, in its turn, for clarification of the causes of diseases relating to mesangial cells. This protein is expectedly applicable to the treatment, diagnosis, and such of diseases relating to mesangial cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA expressed at high frequency in mesangial cells and a protein (Meg-4) encoded by this DNA. These substances are useful in, for example, identifying mesangial cells and detecting abnormalities in mesangial cells. Moreover, the above protein would be helpful for clarification of the functions of mesangial cells and, in its turn, for clarification of the causes of diseases relating to mesangial cells. This protein is expectedly applicable to the treatment, diagnosis, and such of diseases relating to mesangial cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite body, characterized in that the inner region of the carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite material is doped with silicon boride.