Abstract: The present inventors produced lotus leaf extracts, and discovered that quercetin is one of the active ingredients. As a result of treating ?3-adrenergic receptor-expressing cells and feeding diabetes model mice with quercetin and evaluating its effects, the present inventors discovered specifically that quercetin produces obesity-improving effects and antidiabetic effects by acting as a ?3-adrenergic receptor agonist.

Abstract: A microstrip antenna has feed element 102 and parasitic elements 104, 106 on the front surface of substrate 1. Microwave electrical power is applied to feed element 102. Parasitic elements 104, 106 are connected via through hole type leads passing through substrate 1, to switches upon the rear surface of substrate 1, respectively. By actuating the switches individually, parasitic elements 104, 106 are individually switched between a grounded state and a float state. The direction of the radio beam emitted from the microstrip antenna is varied by selecting which of parasitic elements 104, 106 is grounded and floated. A microwave signal source connects to feed element 102 via an feed line 108 very much shorter than the wavelength, accordingly the transmission losses being low and the efficiency being excellent.

Abstract: A plurality of antenna electrodes 11, 12, 13, 14 on a substrate 1 can be connected to a ground electrode on the substrate 1 via connectors at spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C. Each connector can be opened/closed by a switch; or provided with a impedance varying device. Any one of the antenna electrodes may be connected to the ground electrode by the switch or the impedance varying device. The radio wave beam outputted from this antenna electrode shifts in phase from the radio wave beams outputted from the other antenna electrodes, whereby the direction of the integrated radio wave beam is inclined. Connecting one or another of the spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C to the ground electrode changes the direction and the magnitude of the integrated radio wave beam.

Abstract: The present inventors focused on the lotus plant and prepared lotus extracts. When ?-glucosidase and its substrate sucrose were reacted with the lotus extracts to examine the effect of adding the extracts on the enzymatic reaction, the lotus extracts were found to have ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, when the lotus extract and sucrose were administered to mice and their blood glucose levels were measured, the lotus extracts were found to suppress blood glucose levels. More specifically, the present inventors discovered that the lotus extracts have ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity and can be used to control blood glucose levels.

Abstract: A plasma display panel for color displaying is provided which is so formed that it is possible to improve the contrast and color purity of the display panel while at the same time controlling the brightness drop to a minimum level. In particular, it is possible to effectively inhibit a contrast drop usually caused due to neon emission. In practice, an optical filter capable of attenuating light components each having a wavelength within a range of 560-590 nm is provided on the front side of the plasma display panel. Such plasma display panel includes an electric discharge space containing a discharge gas mainly comprising neon gas and xenon gas.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet coated with a first silicone compound having a certain surface tension and a second silicone compound having a lower surface tension than the first silicone compound so that only the second silicone compound appears on the sheet surface or the second silicone compound appears on the sheet surface more than the first silicone compound. The sheet thus coated with the silicone compounds are highly water-repellent and highly effective in preventing adhesion of protein-containing stains. Moreover, it is highly resistant to friction so that the above effects can be maintained for a long period of time.

Abstract: A plasma display panel for color displaying is provided which is so formed that it is possible to improve the contrast and color purity of the display panel while at the same time controlling the brightness drop to a minimum level. In particular, it is possible to effectively inhibit a contrast drop usually caused due to neon emission. In practice, an optical filter capable of attenuating light components each having a wavelength within a range of 560-590 nm is provided on the front side of the plasma display panel. Such plasma display panel includes an electric discharge space containing a discharge gas mainly comprising neon gas and xenon gas.

Abstract: Pet litter for disposal of animal wastes, which comprises granular bodies containing fiber and/or super absorbent polymer and each of the granular bodies is compressed to be flat-shaped. The pet litter can readily absorb animal wastes and can be effectively prevented from being scattered off by animal's legs in spite of its lightness.

Abstract: When a cleaning button for cleaning the toilet bowl is operated, by a manner as pressing, a switching valve 41 switches the flushing water supply destination to a position for cleaning the bowl part. The flushing water is then jetted out of a spout nozzle 35 disposed inside a Z water conduit 161 as a jet flow. The jet flow from the spout nozzle 35 causes water inside the Z water conduit 161 and water inside the flushing water reservoir 104 to flow through the Z water conduit 161 and to be spouted toward an inlet 121 of a waste trap 102, like a jet flow spouted by a jet pump. This supplies a heavy flow of flushing water amplified in the volume into the waste trap 102 all at once to flush out the filth in the bowl part 101.

Abstract: A mold for molding a drum shaped magnetic core having two flanges connected by a coil winding core portion. The mold includes a die defining a cylindrical cavity having an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the flanges. A pair of die inserts are movable in an orthogonal direction relative to the cylindrical cavity and define a diameter of the coil winding core portion of the drum shaped magnetic core. The diameter of the coil winding core portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the flanges. An upper punch and a lower punch are inserted into the cylindrical cavity from a corresponding end opening of the mold such that each forms a flange. A central punch is disposed coaxially within one of the punches to form the coil winding core portion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for the treatment of liver diseases, comprising administering an effective amount of an aminoalcohol of the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a phosphono group, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a group --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --OR.sup.1, and n represents an integer between 2 and 5 inclusive. The present invention also relates to the use of the compound in the manufacture of a remedy for the treatment of liver diseases. This compound exhibits hepatocyte proliferation activity and liver disorder restoring effect, and thus is useful for the treatment of acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, etc.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for the treatment of liver diseases, comprising administering an effective amount of an aminoalcohol of the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a phosphono group, R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a group--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --OR.sup.1, and n represents an integer between 2 and 5 inclusive. The present invention also relates to the use of the compound in the manufacture of a remedy for the treatment of liver diseases. This compound exhibits hepatocyte proliferation activity and liver disorder restoring effect, and thus is useful for the treatment of acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, etc.

Abstract: A toilet bowl-mounted urinalysis unit (14) adapted to be readily mounted to a standard water closet bowl fixture (12) for sampling and analysis of urine at a toilet. The unit (14) includes a substantially self-contained housing (22) which is designed to be mounted on the upper surface of the standard bowl fixture (12) between the bowl (16) and the flushing water supply section (18). Hinged to the housing (22) is a toilet seat (24) to which is mounted a urine sampling device (26) designed such that urine excreted into the bowl (16) is sampled in mid-air within the inner space of the bowl. The housing (22) receives a urinalysis device (50) with a polarographic flow cell and a syringe pump (52) for transferring a urine sample to the flow cell together with a carrier liquid. The polarographic flow cell has a working electrode supporting an enzyme. In one embodiment, a reservoir for the carrier liquid is received within the housing (22).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (26) for sampling urine at a toilet equipped with a standard water closet bowl fixture. An elongated urine sampling vessel (96) extending transversely of the bowl fixture is used. While supported in such a manner that the axis thereof extends horizontally and perpendicular to the vertical central plane of the bowl fixture, the urine sampling vessel (96) is moved along the inner surface of the bowl (16) of the fixture and is brought to an optimum sampling position in the bowl space (16A). As the urine sampling vessel is adapted to any fore-and aft and lateral deviation of the direction of urination of an individual, urine is effectively sampled even by a sampling vessel which is small in size. The sampling vessel (96) is mounted to an end of a swing arm (94) having a horizontal pivot axis. In a simplest form of embodiment, only rotational movement is imparted to the swing arm (94).

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-HIV agent comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one porphyrin derivative selected from the following derivatives (A) and (B):(A) porphyrins modified with a compound selected from carbodiimides, alkylenediamines and alcohols; and(B) complexes of a plasma protein or a chemically modified plasma protein and a porphyrin which may have been modified with a compound selected from carbodiimides, alkylenediamines and alcohols.This anti-HIV agent is excellent in killing effect on HIV-infected cells, inhibitory effect on cytopathy due to HIV infection and HIV-replication inhibiting effect, and high in safety.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (30) for sampling urine at a toilet (10) equipped with a standard water closet bowl fixture (12). An elongated, curved, urine sampling trough (32) having a U-shaped cross-section is used. For sampling of urine, the sampling trough (32) is positioned in the vertical central plane (46) of the toilet bowl fixture in such a manner that it extends obliquely between the upper front region and the bottom region of the inner space of the bowl (14). As the urine sampling trough (32) covers a substantial length in the vertical direction as well as in the fore-and-aft direction, the urine column hits on the sampling trough even when the trajectory of urine column is fluctuated in the vertical or fore-and-aft direction, whereby urine is effectively sampled. As the urine sampling trough is elongated and curved, it can be readily stored under the toilet seat when not in use.

Abstract: A toilet system (10) with urine assay function is disclosed which comprises a toilet stool (12) having a toilet bowl (14) and a small urine-sampling cavity (52). A frame (42) is mounted on the toilet stool to support a testing sheet handling and transfer mechanism (30) which comprises a swingable carriage (46) and a slidable arm (50) supported by the carriage for linear telescoping movement. The carriage is swingable about a vertical axis (48) between a first position in which the carriage is oriented toward the sampling cavity and a second position in which the carriage is oriented to a lateral side of the stool wherein a disposal station is provided.The toilet system enables the use of testing sheets (32) which are made from water insoluble materials.Various other embodiments are also disclosed.The system provides a high degree of reliability of analysis.