Abstract: An object of the present invention is to a method for producing a functional substance utilizing a reaction requiring hydrogen, which production method is safe and efficient; and this object is achieved by a method for producing a functional substance utilizing a reaction requiring hydrogen, the method comprising: supplying the hydrogen by culturing of a hydrogen-producing microorganism.

Abstract: Provided are a processor device, an endoscope system, and a method of operating a processor device capable of narrowing down a plurality of index values to the index value required to diagnose a lesion. An image obtained by imaging an observation target including a structure is acquired. An index value calculation unit 70 performs an index value calculation process of calculating a plurality of index values obtained by indexing a property of the structure on the basis of the image. An index value arithmetic processing unit 74 controls the index value calculation unit 70 according to a processing order in which a first index value is calculated and then a second index value different from the first index value is calculated among the plurality of index values.

Abstract: Using ultrasound frame data generated from the ultrasound echo reflected from the living tissue, the movement amount of the living tissue and its representative value are calculated. In a case where the representative value of the tissue movement amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_large having a large degree of hue change is used, and an elastic image in which distortion is expressed by hue corresponding to the magnitude is generated. On the other hand, in a case where the representative value of the movement amount of the living tissue is less than the predetermined threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_small having a small degree of hue change is used to generate an elastic image.

Abstract: There are provided a vascular information acquisition device, an endoscope system, and a vascular information acquisition method that can accurately acquire vascular information on a blood vessel of a target layer that is an object to be measured of a subject. A first blood vessel extraction unit (82) analyzes the image of a target layer to be measured and extracts a blood vessel (first blood vessel) from the image of a target layer. A blood vessel specification unit (84) specifies a blood vessel (second blood vessel) extending to a non-target layer from the target layer. In a case in which the second blood vessel is specified, a second blood vessel extraction unit (83) analyzes the image of the non-target layer in which the second blood vessel is present and extracts the specified second blood vessel from the image of the non-target layer.

Abstract: A technique facilitates cement bonding evaluation including collecting waveform data and pre-processing the waveform data. The technique also may utilize processes which provide a time window position for the pre-processed waveform data and calculation of waveform amplitude and/or attenuation. Additionally, the technique may include deriving an amplitude-based bond index and/or attenuation-based bond index through the use of a model or other suitable waveform data processing technique which enables preparation of quality control plots with respect to the processing results.

Abstract: A processor device and an endoscope system capable of calculating an optimal index value in accordance with a diagnosis purpose is provided. A processor device includes an image acquisition unit, a diagnosis purpose acquisition unit, an index value storage unit, an index value selection unit, and an index value calculation unit. The image acquisition unit acquires an endoscope image obtained by an endoscope image-capturing an observation object. The diagnosis purpose acquisition unit acquires a diagnosis purpose. The index value storage unit stores correspondence between the diagnosis purpose and a plurality of index values relating to a structure of the observation object. The index value selection unit refers to the index value storage unit and selects the index value that is used for the acquired diagnosis purpose. The index value calculation unit uses the endoscope image and calculates the selected index value.

Abstract: There are included a data processing step of selecting two or more pieces of data from among a plurality of pieces of first element data or a plurality of pieces of first reception data generated by subjecting the pieces of first element data to phasing addition processing, and performing superimposition processing on the two or more pieces of data, a region-of-interest setting step of setting a region of interest in an imaging area, and a processing condition changing step of changing a processing condition in the data processing step, in a case where the region of interest is set in the region-of-interest setting step, on the basis of information on the set region of interest.

Abstract: A shock wave generating device includes an optical fiber and a reflective part, and is configured to reflect and converge the shock wave generated inside the reflective part to an outside of the reflective part. The reflective part includes: a reflector having a concave surface having a cut surface-of-revolution shape, and a through hole, which is formed coaxially with a rotating axis of the concave surface, and into which the optical fiber is to be inserted; a sealing body configured to seal an opening portion of the concave surface; and a liquid to be charged between the concave surface and the sealing body. The optical fiber has a distal end arranged at a position on a rear side of a focal point of the concave surface, at which the shock wave reflected by the concave surface is convergeable outside the reflective part.

Abstract: In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam to a subject to generate reception data using ultrasonic wave transmission/reception elements arranged in one direction; the delay correction unit corrects a delay time of the reception data to align a phase of the reception data; the reception aperture range determination unit determines a reception aperture range of reception data, which is used when producing an ultrasound image from reception data after correction of the delay time, based on a signal value of the reception data after correction of the delay time in an arrangement direction of the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception elements; and the image producer produces an ultrasound image by performing phase matching addition of the reception data after correction of the delay time corresponding the reception aperture range and performing data processing.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasound image generating apparatus, which generates a high-quality ultrasound image even in a deep portion of a subject, and a control method thereof. In an ultrasound image (Img), for a portion (Ar1) equal to or less than a depth threshold value (D1), a real scanning line (L1) obtained from an acoustic wave echo signal is used. In the ultrasound image (Img), for a portion (Ar2) deeper than the depth threshold value (D1), an interpolation scanning line (L2) located between the real scanning lines (L1) is generated from an acoustic wave echo signal having a positional deviation between a focusing position of ultrasound waves and an observation target position. Also for a portion deeper than the interpolation scanning line (L2), a high-quality ultrasound image (Img) is obtained.

Abstract: A correction image fluctuation amount obtained in a calibration mode and a measurement image fluctuation amount obtained in a measurement mode are compared with each other. On the basis of the comparison result, a temporary correction value, which satisfies a specific condition among temporary correction values stored in the correction value storage unit, is determined as a measurement correction value to be used for correction in a correcting unit.

Abstract: In a photoacoustic image generation apparatus for obtaining a photoacoustic signal by emitting light toward a subject from a light source and detecting photoacoustic waves emitted from the subject having received the light and imaging the subject based on the photoacoustic signal, there are provided: means for removing a signal showing a component appearing discontinuously in the subject from photoacoustic signals relevant to a plurality of cross sections of the subject that have been generated by changing an angle between an emission direction of the light and a surface of the subject; and means for constructing a three-dimensional image of the subject from photoacoustic signals showing the plurality of cross sections after the removal processing.

Abstract: An endoscope system has an oxygen saturation calculation unit that calculates the oxygen saturation of an observation target using an LUT. The endoscope system includes: an image acquisition unit that acquires a correction image obtained by imaging the observation target before calculating the oxygen saturation; an oxygen saturation correction amount calculation unit that calculates an oxygen saturation correction amount with respect to the oxygen saturation using the correction image; an oxygen saturation correction unit that corrects the oxygen saturation calculated by the oxygen saturation calculation unit according to the oxygen saturation correction amount; and a storage unit that stores the correction image and an oxygen saturation image, which shows the oxygen saturation after correction, so as to be associated with each other.

Abstract: A downhole acoustic tool and method of use are provided. The acoustic tool includes an acoustic tool body. In addition, a transmitter section located along the acoustic tool body, including four or more transmitters to be driven so as to excite multi-mode waveforms. The acoustic tool further includes an array receiver section located along the acoustic tool body, containing a receiver sub-section comprising four or more receivers axially aligned with the four or more transmitters and spaced axially apart from the transmitter section. The acoustic tool also includes a processor configured to drive the transmitter section to excite multi-mode waveforms and to extract the multi-mode waveforms detected by the receiver section for interpretation of formation properties. A method for measuring a formation using the described acoustic tool is also provided.

Abstract: An endoscope system has an oxygen saturation calculation unit that calculates the oxygen saturation of an observation target using an LUT. The endoscope system includes: an image acquisition unit that acquires a correction image obtained by imaging the observation target before calculating the oxygen saturation; an image correction amount calculation unit that calculates an image correction amount for an oxygen saturation calculation image using the correction image; an image correction unit that corrects the oxygen saturation calculation image according to the image correction amount; and a storage unit that stores the correction image and an oxygen saturation image, which shows the oxygen saturation calculated by the oxygen saturation calculation unit using the oxygen saturation calculation image after correction, so as to be associated with each other.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for eliminating the hydroxyl group at the 8-position of a urolithin to produce another kind of urolithin, and this object is achieved by a method for producing a second urolithin, comprising the Step (a): allowing, in a solution. containing a first urolithin, a microorganism having an ability to produce the second urolithin from the first urolithin to produce the second urolithin from the first urolithin.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection apparatus includes a region setting section setting a plurality of regions within the inspection object; a sound velocity calculator calculating a sound velocity of each of the plurality of regions; a sound velocity obtainer obtaining a preliminary sound velocity of a region of interest; and an image quality determiner determining an image quality of the region of interest based on the preliminary sound velocity. The preliminary sound velocity obtained by the sound velocity obtainer is employed as a sound velocity of the region of interest when a determination result made by the image quality determiner is positive, and the sound velocity of the region of interest is calculated by the sound velocity calculator when the determination result is negative.

Abstract: In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the method of determining the sound velocity, and the program recorded in a recording medium, a probe is made transmit an ultrasonic beam a plurality of times so as to form a predetermined transmission focus point, an analog element signal output by the probe is A/D converted into the first element data, the second element data corresponding to any one of a plurality of the first element data is generated, and the second element data is used to determine the sound velocity in an inspection object, whereby the sound velocity of the ultrasonic waves in the inspection object can be accurately determined without decreasing the frame rate.

Abstract: The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus acquires an ultrasound image for examining an inspection object using an ultrasonic beam, and includes a sound velocity determiner configured to determine a sound velocity in the inspection object, and a sound velocity searching range setting section configured to set a range in which a sound velocity is searched by the sound velocity determiner. The sound velocity searching range setting section sets a sound velocity searching range using a sound velocity calculated in a predetermined range with respect to at least one of space and time.

Abstract: Provided are a heat generating device capable of efficiently maintaining heat generation for a long time at low cost while saving power, and the use thereof. The heat generating device includes a hollow container the inside of which is electrically insulated, a pair of opposed electrodes which are housed in the container and which are separately opposed to each other, and a heat generating body which is housed between the opposed electrodes in the container and which contains silicon powder and carbon powder in a mixed state. The heat generating body is configured to have a density of 0.85 g/cm3 to 1.30 g/cm3.