Abstract: A quantum cascade laser 1 includes a semiconductor substrate, an active layer 15 that is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and has a cascade structure in which a unit layered structure 16 including a quantum well light emitting layer and an injection layer is stacked in multiples to alternately stack the quantum well light emitting layer and the injection layer, and a diffraction grating layer 20 disposed on the active layer.

Abstract: Provided is a device and a method for examining myocardial toxicity, which can be realized in vitro in an equivalent manner as those conventionally carried out in vivo. A cell population as a pulsating pacemaker is arranged on a transparent substrate. Myocardial pulsating cells are arranged while being spaced apart appropriately. Fibroblast cells are arranged with/connected to the myocardial pulsating cells to form a cell network. Each of the myocardial pulsating cells and fibroblast cells forming the network is arranged on a transparent electrode provided on the transparent substrate. The cells forming the network are exposed to a flow of a solution containing a drug and QT delay due to the drug is evaluated.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser 1 includes a semiconductor substrate, an active layer 15 that is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and has a cascade structure in which a unit layered structure 16 including a quantum well light emitting layer and an injection layer is stacked in multiples to alternately stack the quantum well light emitting layer and the injection layer, and a diffraction grating layer 20 disposed on the active layer.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser manufacturing method includes: a step of pressing a mother stamper against a resin film having flexibility to make a resin stamper 201 having a second groove pattern P2; a step of making a wafer with an active layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; a step of forming a resist film 304 on a surface on the active layer side of the wafer; a step of pressing the resin stamper against the resist film 304 by air pressure to form a third groove pattern P3 on the resist film 304; and a step of etching the wafer with the resist film 304 serving as a mask to form a diffraction grating on a surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A method for allowing an animal to develop atrioventricular block, the method including: administering an immune regulator targeting a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor to an animal selected from a pig, a monkey and a guinea pig.

Abstract: A method for preventing or treating atrial fibrillation, including: administering, to an individual, an atrial fibrillation inhibitor containing a compound expressed by one of the following Structural Formulas (I) to (VI) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: where in the Structural Formula (III), Gluc refers to glucuronic acid,

Abstract: The corrugated tube includes a body in which a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys are continuously alternated in a longitudinal direction of the body. A slit is formed in the body along the longitudinal direction. Both end portions of the body between which the slit is interposed are overlapped. A mark is provided to only one peak of the plurality of peaks at the one end portion of the body, and another mark is also provided to corresponding only one peak of the plurality of peak disposed at the other end portion of the body and brought into a fitting engagement with the marked peak disposed at the one end portion of the body.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer that is provided on the substrate, and has a cascade structure in which emission layers and injection layers are alternately laminated by multistage-laminating unit laminate structures each consisting of the quantum well emission layer and the injection layer, the active layer generates light by intersubband transition in a quantum well structure. Further, in a laser cavity structure for light with a predetermined wavelength to be generated in the active layer, reflection control films including at least one layer of CeO2 film are formed on a first end face and a second end face facing each other. Thereby, it is possible to realize a quantum cascade laser capable of preferably realizing reflectance control for light within a mid-infrared wavelength region on the laser device end face.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer that is provided on the substrate, and has a cascade structure in which emission layers and injection layers are alternately laminated by multistage-laminating unit laminate structures each consisting of the quantum well emission layer and the injection layer, and generates light by intersubband transition in a quantum well structure. Further, in a laser cavity structure for light with a predetermined wavelength to be generated in the active layer, CeO2 insulating films and reflection control films are formed in order on respective faces of a first end face and a second end face facing each other. Thereby, it is possible to realize a quantum cascade laser capable of preferably realizing reflectance control for light within a mid-infrared region on the laser device end face.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a magnetic recording medium is provided including a disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate and at least a perpendicular magnetic layer formed on the disk-shaped non-magnetic substrate, wherein the perpendicular magnetic layer has a structure in which an FePt or CoPt nanoparticle array is formed on a formation surface, on which a plurality of striations each having a circumferential directional component are formed, by a texturing treatment; a manufacturing method thereof; and a magnetic record/reproduction apparatus including the magnetic recording medium or a magnetic recording medium manufactured according to the manufacturing method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating a drug effect enabling on-chip evaluation of the effect of a drug while the drug is acting on hERG-expressing cells. The present invention also provides a myocardial toxicity test apparatus and method therefor enabling in vitro myocardial toxicity testing that has previously been performed in vivo. A pulsating cell population and hERG-expressing cells (target model cells) are suitably isolated and arranged on a transparent substrate so that the two form gap junctions. The hERG-expressing cells are arranged on transparent electrodes provided on the transparent substrate. The hERG-expressing cells are exposed to a flow of a liquid containing a drug such that the drug acts thereon. The difference between the normal pulsation of hERG-expressing cells and the pulsation when a drug is acting thereon is captured via electric signals obtained from electrodes, and the properties of the change in potential are evaluated.

Abstract: A DFB quantum cascade laser element that can reliably CW-oscillate a single-mode light even at room temperature or a temperature in proximity thereof is provided. In a quantum cascade laser element 1, a top-grating approach for which a diffraction grating 7 is formed on a laminate 3 is adopted, and thus in comparison with a buried-grating approach, deterioration in temperature characteristics of the laser element and decline in the yield and reproducibility are suppressed. In addition, since the thickness of a cladding layer 5 located between an active layer 4 and the diffraction grating 7 is within a range of 42±10% of the oscillation wavelength, weakening of light seeping from the active layer 4 to the diffraction grating 7 or an increase in light leakage is prevented. Consequently, by the quantum cascade laser element 1, a single-mode light can be reliably CW-oscillated even at room temperature or a temperature in proximity thereof.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer which is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and has a cascade structure in which unit laminate structures 16 having quantum well emission layers 17 and injection layers 18 are laminated in multiple stages. Further, the quantum cascade laser is configured such that the unit laminate structure 16 has an emission upper level Lup, an emission lower level Llow, and a relaxation miniband MB including an energy level lower than the emission lower level in its subband level structure, and light is generated by an intersubband transition of electrons from the upper level to the lower level, and the electrons after the intersubband transition are relaxed from the lower level Llow to the miniband MB through LO phonon scattering, to be injected from the injection layer 18 to the latter stage emission layer via the miniband MB.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a device and a method for examining myocardial toxicity, which can be realized in vitro in an equivalent manner as those conventionally carried out in vivo. [Means for Solving the Problem] A cell population as a pulsating pacemaker is arranged on a transparent substrate, and then myocardial pulsating cells are arranged while being spaced apart appropriately. An appropriate number of fibroblast cells are arranged with/connected to the myocardial pulsating cells to form a cell network. Each of the myocardial pulsating cells and fibroblast cells forming the network is arranged on a transparent electrode provided on the transparent substrate. This cell network can be optically observed. The cells forming the network are exposed to a flow of a solution containing a drug.

Abstract: A high density magnetic recording medium including aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles arranged stably and efficiently in demarcated sections in the surface of a substrate is manufactured by the steps of forming a plurality of parallel tracks in the surface of the substrate, forming a plurality of minute recesses serially at approximately equal intervals in each of the tracks, casting a liquid dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles into the minute recesses, and evaporating dispersing medium from the liquid dispersion, thereby forming an aggregate of magnetic nanoparticles in each of the minute recesses.

Abstract: A covering sheet for being wound on a sheathed wire, includes a base sheet that has a strip shape, and an adhesive tape that has an adhesive surface formed only on one side thereof. The adhesive tape is bonded to the base sheet so as to project from one side edge portion of the base sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quickly determining cAMP content or an adenylate cyclase activity in a biological sample containing non-cyclic adenine nucleotides without the use of radioactive agents. Particularly, the present invention provides a method of determining CAMP content or an adenylate cyclase activity in a biological sample containing non-cyclic adenine nucleotides selected from the group consisting of cAMP produced by endogenous adenylate cyclase, and AMP, ATP, ADP and a mixture thereof, which comprises (1) combining a biological sample with effective amounts of apyrase, adenosine deaminase and alkaline phosphatase to enzymatically remove non-cyclic adenine nucleotides other than cAMP, and glucose-6-phosphate in the sample; (2) enzymatically converting cAMP into AMP; (3) determining an amount of AMP without the use of radioactive agents, and a kit to carry out the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating a drug effect enabling on-chip evaluation of the effect of a drug while the drug is acting on hERG-expressing cells. The present invention also provides a myocardial toxicity test apparatus and method therefor enabling in vitro myocardial toxicity testing that has previously been performed in vivo. A pulsating cell population and hERG-expressing cells (target model cells) are suitably isolated and arranged on a transparent substrate so that the two form gap junctions. The hERG-expressing cells are arranged on transparent electrodes provided on the transparent substrate. The hERG-expressing cells are exposed to a flow of a liquid containing a drug such that the drug acts thereon. The difference between the normal pulsation of hERG-expressing cells and the pulsation when a drug is acting thereon is captured via electric signals obtained from electrodes, and the properties of the change in potential are evaluated.

Abstract: A chip has been developed that can accurately measure cell potential and cell morphology on a single cell basis. The chip also constitutes a cardiac model that comprises a closed loop whereupon cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts are suitably dispersed and arranged, and that can evaluate the effects of a drug thereon. An in vitro cardiac reentry model chip is fabricated by constructing a closed loop comprising cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts arrayed on transparent electrodes formed on a transparent substrate by using a constitution where single cells are enclosed in a specific spatial configuration. A pulse wave of a random cardiomyocyte or a specific cardiomyocyte is propagated on both sides of the loop, and the pulsation status of the cells in the loop is detected electrically. A drug is applied to this cardiac reentry model chip, and the benefit or toxicity of the drug to cardiomyocytes is evaluated by measuring the cell potentials of individual cells.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser includes a semiconductor substrate, and an active layer which is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and has a cascade structure in which unit laminate structures 16 having quantum well emission layers 17 and injection layers 18 are laminated in multiple stages. Further, the quantum cascade laser is configured such that the unit laminate structure 16 has an emission upper level Lup, an emission lower level Llow, and a relaxation miniband MB including an energy level lower than the emission lower level in its subband level structure, and light is generated by an intersubband transition of electrons from the upper level to the lower level, and the electrons after the intersubband transition are relaxed from the lower level Llow to the miniband MB through LO phonon scattering, to be injected from the injection layer 18 to the latter stage emission layer via the miniband MB.