Abstract: This invention provides a polyfunctional polymer having high stereoregularity, in particular, isotacticity, and provides a production process thereof. The present invention relates to a polymer having, in a molecule, a repeating unit represented by General Formula (2): wherein R1 and R2 are different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and an aryl group; * represents an asymmetrical carbon, the polymer containing meso diad (m) and racemo diad (r) at a proportion of 60:40 to 100:0 (m:r). The invention also relates to chemical modifications and a production process of the polymer.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a cell differentiation inducer which is a low-molecular compound, which can be chemically synthesized easily and which can efficiently induce a differentiation of an undifferentiated cell into a nervous system cell with high selectivity. In addition, the objective of the present invention is to provide use of a specific catechol derivative for efficiently inducing a differentiation of an undifferentiated cell into a nervous system cell with high selectivity, and a method for efficiently inducing a differentiation of an undifferentiated cell into a nervous system cell with high selectivity using a specific catechol derivative. The cell differentiation inducer of the present invention is characterized in comprising the catechol derivative having the specific chemical structure.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a new compound which is effective in treating blood cancer, particularly multiple myeloma, and which is also effective in suppressing an SP cell, i.e. Side Population Cell, which is a cause of recurrence of cancer. The compound according to the present invention is a novel compound which has the specific benzylamine structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a system for evaluating activation of the pathway mediated by ATF6. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for screening an endoplasmic reticulum stressor, as well as a method for screening a substance for suppressing an endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by the activation of the pathway mediated by ATF6, and a method for screening an antidiabetic drug candidate. As a result of extensive research, the inventors of the present invention found a method for real-time evaluation of activation of the pathway mediated by ATF6 in viable cells with a high degree of sensitivity. The method uses a nonfluorescent peptide domain derived from a fluorescent protein and a polynucleotide encoding the ATF6 protein domain.

Abstract: Problem: An object of the present invention is to provide a drug effective for the treatment of ALS, or a method for treating ALS. Solution: The present invention provides an ALS treatment method that improves clinical symptoms of ALS or suppresses the progression of ALS by administering an anti-TNFalfa monoclonal antibody to an ALS patient; an anti-ALS drug containing an anti-TNFalfa monoclonal antibody; an anti-TNFalfa monoclonal antibody for use as an anti-ALS drug; and use of an anti-TNFalfa monoclonal antibody for the treatment of ALS and for the manufacture of a medicament.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing fruits and vegetables includes irradiating a surface of fruits and vegetables with UVA, while the surface of the fruits and vegetables is in contact with chlorine water containing sodium hypochlorite having a chlorine concentration of 5 ppm or more. According to the method for sterilizing fruits and vegetables, the fruits and vegetables can be quite efficiently sterilized by chlorine water having a quite low concentration, that is 5 ppm or more, slightly higher than that of tap water. Further, multiplication of bacteria in the sterilized fruits and vegetables can be effectively prevented, while a residual chlorine concentration in the sterilized fruits and vegetables is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Statistical data of a fluorescence population is obtained easily with high accuracy. To achieve this, an evaluation apparatus of fluorescence population of the present application includes an input unit inputting a fluorescence observation image (If) of a fluorescence population and a transillumination observation image (It) having a same field of view as the fluorescence observation image, a first detecting unit (Mt) detecting, as a first area, an area in which a cellular image exists on the transillumination observation image being input, a setting unit (If?) setting, as a reference area, an area corresponding to the first area on the fluorescence observation image being input, and an obtaining unit obtaining fluorescence intensity data of a fluorescence image from the reference area in the fluorescence observation image.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition comprising an enzyme-treated human serum which is useful for treatment and prevention of diseases such as a cancer and an infectious disease, and a method of preparing the same. The present invention relates to a method of preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising an enzyme-treated human serum, comprising a step of bringing the human serum into contact with ?-galactosidase and, to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an enzyme-treated human serum obtained by the preparation method.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a process for simple and efficient preparation of an intermediate compound to synthesize a gadolinium complex having a substituent for improving a retention property in blood time and specificity to an intended organ. The objective of the present invention is also to provide an intermediate compound produced by the said production process. The process for preparation of the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid derivative (I): wherein R1 to R5 are independently C1-6 alkyl groups; comprising the steps of: reacting a diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentaester with a halogenated ally compound in an aprotic solvent; removing the excess halogenated ally compound (III); and reacting a reaction product of the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentaester and the halogenated ally compound with a base in a solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser beam control apparatus including: beam optical systems 33 and 34 for dividing a laser beam into a principal beam P and an auxiliary beam S and then for crossing the principal beam P and the auxiliary beam S; polarizing devices 36 and 37 for converting the laser beam before the division process into a linearly-polarized beam or converting the laser beams after the division process into linearly-polarized beams; a polarization direction change element 38 for changing the polarization direction of either one or both of the principal beam P and the auxiliary beam S; an optical gate element 35 provided at the intersection of the principal beam P and the auxiliary beam S and made of a material that exhibits the optical Kerr effect; and a polarization filter 39 for taking out from the principal beam P which has passed through the optical gate element 35 only a beam polarized in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A radiation intensity measuring apparatus is provided for an encapsulated sealed radioactive source for brachytherapy, which is capable of measuring radiation intensity of sources with a cartridge enclosed under sterile conditions. The radiation intensity measuring apparatus includes a radiation intensity measuring device for measuring radiation emitted from a source, a holding device for holding a cartridge, and a moving mechanism for moving the holding device to the radiation intensity measuring device. The moving device includes a guide portion for guiding the movement of the holding device so that the holding device moves along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of a slit, and a moving portion for moving the holding device so that all the sources loaded in the cartridge pass through a position of the slit in a housing space of a housing portion.

Abstract: The present invention presents a silica particle containing at least one silica compound selected from a group consisting of mercapto-propyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS), mercapto-propyl-triethoxysilane (MPES), mercapto-propyl-methyldimethoxysilane (MPDMS), trimethoxy[2-(7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-hepto-3-yl)ethyl]silane (EpoPS), thiocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (TCPS), and acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (AcPS), which can be provided and utilized as a label, a marker, or the like for qualitative test and quantitative test for such as prophylactic agent, therapeutic agent, diagnostic agent, diagnostic and therapeutic agent or the like in dental, medical and veterinary fields regardless of fields.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is directed to a method for assaying the severity of an illness in real time and is to provide a testing method capable of assessing the severity of an illness in more detail than the conventional APACHE II and SOFA scores. The established method can accurately measure an ATP level in a sample, thereby accurately and quickly deducing the “state of intracellular energy required for living organisms” from the ATP level, and by extension, determining the severity of an illness. The present invention further provides a novel biomarker ATP-lactate energy risk score (A-LES) value that is capable of determining the severity of an illness by the reevaluation, with the ATP concentration as an index (specifically, on the basis of a lactic acid level (mM)/ATP concentration (mM) ratio), of the level of lactic acid that accumulates in the sample due to the breakdown of in vivo metabolic balance accompanied by the increased severity of the illness.

Abstract: The invention provides a therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases, particularly type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as a method of preparing the therapeutic agent and a method of treating an autoimmune disease with the therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent is an anti-CD98 antibody that does not inhibit amino acid transport of CD98 but has a suppressive action on T lymphocyte activation, a suppressive action on cell adhesion mediated by fibronectin, as well as an OVA antibody production suppressive action in OVA immunization model.

Abstract: The carotid artery plaque properties are quantitatively determined by a carotid artery echo whereby predicting incidence of cerebral infarction or myocardial infarct. A method includes obtaining, coloring, and displaying steps. In the obtaining step, the integrated amounts per unit time of echo signals corresponding to pixels of an echo image of carotid artery plaque are obtained. The signals are obtained when the image is obtained by an IBS method. In the coloring step, the relationship between ranges and colors is referenced. The available full range of the integrated amount is previously divided into the ranges. The colors are assigned to the ranges. The pixels are classified into the ranges in accordance with the integrated amounts corresponding to the pixels. The pixels of the image are colored in colors corresponding to the ranges of the pixels. In the displaying step, the colored echo image is displayed on a display portion 30.

Abstract: A biodevice is in an elongated form and has a conductive layer and an insulating layer stacked on a side surface of a shaft member at the center. A cylindrical hollow section is formed through the device, being connected to the exterior at a front end and extending from this front end axially. An electrode section is formed on an inner surface. A sensing substance such as enzyme may be placed at the electrode section to detect a current value corresponding to the concentration or quantity of an object under test placed between a counter electrode and the biodevice.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation intensity measuring apparatus for an encapsulated sealed radioactive source for brachytherapy capable of easily and accurately measuring radiation intensity of sources with a cartridge enclosed under sterile conditions. The radiation intensity measuring apparatus for sources S loaded in a cartridge C includes radiation intensity measuring means for measuring radiations emitted from the source S, holding means 30 for holding the cartridge C, and moving means for moving the holding means 30 to the radiation intensity measuring means. The moving means includes a guide portion for guiding the movement of the holding means 30 so that the holding means 30 moves along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of a slit 15h, and a moving portion for moving the holding means 30 so that all the sources loaded in the cartridge C pass through a position of the slit 15h in housing space of a housing portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a dental occlusion includes: a position sensor (30) for detecting a position and posture of a lower jaw (12) relative to an upper jaw (11) and; an arithmetic circuit (31) for computing a posture relative to a translation distance in a state of occlusal contact. The computation is derived from the position and posture of the lower jaw (12) relative to the upper jaw (11) detected by the position sensor (30). The apparatus also includes a display monitor (32) for displaying the posture relative to the translation distance computed by the arithmetic circuit (31).

Abstract: Bacteria in water 9 exposed outdoors are effectively killed with ultraviolet (UV) light by suppressing post-treatment increase in the bacteria population due to photoreactivation. The apparatus shines UV light on the water 9 to kill bacteria and has UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) 1 that emit UVA light with a primary emission peak of 320 nm-400 nm. The antibacterial action of the UVA light emitted by the UV LEDs 1 prevents proliferation of bacteria in the disinfected water 9 due to photoreactivation.

Abstract: The present invention is an antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle and a mucosal vaccine utilizing a novel synthetic peptide. The antigen-and-drug (AD) vehicle is capable of inducing the production of secretory IgA antibodies, and is a complex of a synthetic peptide having the following amino acid sequence: PVHLKRLm (e.g., peptide of SEQ ID NO 1, 6, or 7) or KnLm (e.g., peptide of SEQ ID NO 2, 3, or 8), and a lipid(s). The mucosal vaccine is obtainable by allowing a mucosal-immunity-IgA-inducing amount of an antigen to coexist with, contact, be captured by, or be adsorbed onto the AD vehicle.