Abstract: A torque measurement device includes a case that does not rotate even during use; a rotating shaft rotatably supported to the case and having a magnetostrictive effect part whose magnetic permeability changes according to a transmitted torque; and a magnetostrictive sensor having a detection part arranged closely adjacent to the magnetostrictive effect part so that a voltage changes according to change of the magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictive effect part, and being supported to the case; and the torque measurement device has a rotation-preventing construction configured to prevent the magnetostrictive sensor from rotating with respect to the case.

Abstract: A torque measuring device includes: a magnetostrictive sensor having a ring-shaped holder arranged around a magnetostrictively affected section of a rotating shaft, a detecting section embedded in the holder and that changing a voltage according to a change in magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictively affected section; and a sensor-side engaging section; and a fixed member having a fixed-side engaging section, the fixed member not rotating even during operation. One of the sensor-side engaging portion and the fixed-side engaging section is a convex section and the other is a concave section. With the sensor-side engaging section and the fixed-side engaging section engaged with a concave-convex engagement, shifting of the position of the magnetostrictive sensor in the direction of rotation and the radial direction with respect to the substrate is prevented.

Abstract: A torque measuring device includes: a magnetostrictive sensor having a ring-shaped holder arranged around a magnetostrictively affected section of a rotating shaft, a detecting section embedded in the holder and that changing a voltage according to a change in magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictively affected section; and a sensor-side engaging section; and a fixed member having a fixed-side engaging section, the fixed member not rotating even during operation. One of the sensor-side engaging portion and the fixed-side engaging section is a convex section and the other is a concave section. With the sensor-side engaging section and the fixed-side engaging section engaged with a concave-convex engagement, shifting of the position of the magnetostrictive sensor in the direction of rotation and the radial direction with respect to the substrate is prevented.

Abstract: Provided is a hair follicle germ capable of forming a hair shaft-like structure in vitro simply and within a short period of time. A method of producing a hair follicle germ includes: inoculating epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells; maintaining the epithelial cells and the mesenchymal cells in a culture solution in which (a) laminin and entactin, and/or (b) type IV collagen is dispersed; and co-culturing the epithelial cells and the mesenchymal cells in a culture solution to form a hair follicle germ.

Abstract: Provided are a hair follicle germ having excellent hair growth-related properties, a method of producing a hair follicle germ, and a method of activating cells contained in a hair follicle germ. The hair follicle germ includes: epithelial cells; mesenchymal cells; and mesenchymal stem cells. The method of producing a hair follicle germ includes co-culturing epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and mesenchymal stem cells to form a hair follicle germ.

Abstract: Provided are a cell-containing hydrogel body and a method of producing the same, which enable simple and effective control of the size of a boundary surface for an interaction between cells. The method of producing a cell-containing hydrogel body includes: forming, under a gas phase, a first hydrogel droplet on a surface of a substrate, the first hydrogel droplet containing first cells being dispersed therein and a first hydrogel polymer; forming, under a gas phase, a second hydrogel droplet on the surface, the second hydrogel droplet containing second cells being dispersed therein and a second hydrogel polymer, the second hydrogel droplet being combined with the first hydrogel droplet; and forming, under a gas phase, a cell-containing hydrogel body on the surface by gelling a hydrogel droplet-combined body including a first droplet portion derived from the first hydrogel droplet and a second droplet portion derived from the second hydrogel droplet.

Abstract: Provided are a method and kit for growth of hair follicle epithelial stem cells on a large scale while maintaining their hair regeneration ability. The culture method for hair follicle epithelial stem cells includes: an accumulating step of forming an accumulation of hair follicle epithelial stem cells by inoculating a cell culture vessel with the hair follicle epithelial stem cells; a mixing step of producing a mixture of an extracellular matrix component and the accumulation of the hair follicle epithelial stem cells by adding the extracellular matrix component to the accumulation of the hair follicle epithelial stem cells; and a culturing step of culturing the hair follicle epithelial stem cells by adding a medium to the mixture. The culture kit for hair follicle epithelial stem cells includes: a cell culture vessel formed of a material having oxygen permeability; an extracellular matrix component; and a medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a regular and high-density regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation similar to the hair follicle tissue of a mammal in a simple manner. A regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation manufacturing method of the present invention includes a step of forming hair follicle primordia by inoculating a microwell plate, which includes regularly arranged microwell portions, with mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells and culturing a mixture of the cells while supplying oxygen thereto.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for a plurality of regenerated hair follicle germs, including a step including simultaneously inoculating a microwell plate including regularly arranged microwell portions with mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells, and co-culturing the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells using a medium containing a fibroblast growth factor while supplying oxygen to the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells from at least an upper surface and a bottom surface of the microwell plate, to thereby form hair follicle germs in the microwell portions, the microwell plate being formed of a material having oxygen permeability. Also provided is a kit for hair regeneration, including: a microwell plate including regularly arranged microwell portions; and a fibroblast growth factor, wherein the microwell plate is formed of a material having oxygen permeability.

Abstract: Provided are cell-embedded beads for hair regeneration having high hair regeneration activity and a method for producing the same. The cell-embedded beads for hair regeneration contain mesenchymal cells and a biocompatible hydrogel. The method for producing cell-embedded beads for hair regeneration is provided with a cell-embedded cured gel formed body preparation step for preparing a cell-embedded cured gel formed body by preparing liquid droplets containing mesenchymal cells and a biocompatible hydrogel and curing the biocompatible hydrogel, and an aggregation step for suspension-culturing the cell-embedded cured hydrogel formed body and aggregating using the tractive force of the cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a regular and high-density regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation similar to the hair follicle tissue of a mammal in a simple manner. A regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation manufacturing method of the present invention includes a step of forming hair follicle primordia by inoculating a microwell plate, which includes regularly arranged microwell portions, with mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells and culturing a mixture of the cells while supplying oxygen thereto.

Abstract: A microchannel device includes: an upstream channel portion configured to allow an upstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a downstream channel portion configured to allow a downstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a liquid holding portion provided between a downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion and an upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the liquid holding portion being configured to hold a main liquid plug therein; and a gas bypass channel portion provided so as to bypass the liquid holding portion from the downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion to the upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the gas bypass channel portion being configured to allow the gas to flow therethrough in a state in which the liquid holding portion holds the main liquid plug.

Abstract: Speriodal polymer beads having a uniform size are prepared by polymerizing uniformly sized monomer droplets formed by dispersing a polymerizable monomer phase over a cross-flow membrane into an aqueous phase. A shear force is provided at a point of egression of the polymerizable monomer phase into the aqueous phase, the direction of shear substantially perpendicular to the direction of egression of the monomer phase. The polymer beads can be employed in applications where beads having uniform diameters of 10 to 180 ?m are useful.

Abstract: A microchannel device includes: an upstream channel portion configured to allow an upstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a downstream channel portion configured to allow a downstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a liquid holding portion provided between a downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion and an upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the liquid holding portion being configured to hold a main liquid plug therein; and a gas bypass channel portion provided so as to bypass the liquid holding portion from the downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion to the upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the gas bypass channel portion being configured to allow the gas to flow therethrough in a state in which the liquid holding portion holds the main liquid plug.

Abstract: There is provided a culture method and a culture device for efficiently producing cells and/or cell tissue suitable for medication applications. The culture method may include a first step of adhering the cells onto the electrode layer and culturing the cells thereon. The electrode layer may be coated with an oligopeptide including a terminal amino acid, a cell adhesive sequence, and an alternating sequence to be bound to the one end side of the cell-adhesive sequence. The alternating sequence may include a plurality of acidic amino acids and a plurality of basic amino acids that are alternately bound to each other one by one. The culture method may include a second step of applying, to the electrode layer having the cells adhered thereonto, an electrical potential inducing reductive desorption of the oligopeptide, to thereby detach the cells from the electrode layer.

Abstract: A microchip is provided that forms cellular tissues having uniform shapes and sizes and that can culture the formed cellular tissues for long periods of time. The cellular tissue microchip comprises a plurality of cell-retaining cavities (12) for retaining cells, wherein a bottom surface (20) of the cell-retaining cavities has one adhesive region (30) that exhibits cellular adhesiveness and a non-adhesive region (32) that surrounds the adhesive region (30) and that exhibits cellular non-adhesiveness.

Abstract: Provided are a culture method and a culture device for efficiently producing cells and/or cell tissue suitable for medication applications. A culture method of culturing cells adhered onto an electrode layer, the method including: a first step of adhering the cells onto the electrode layer and culturing the cells thereon, the electrode layer being coated with an oligopeptide including: a terminal amino acid; a cell adhesive sequence; and an alternating sequence to be bound to the one end side of the cell-adhesive sequence, the alternating sequence including a plurality of acidic amino acids and a plurality of basic amino acids, being alternately bound to each other one by one; and a second step of applying, to the electrode layer having the cells adhered thereonto, an electrical potential inducing reductive desorption of the oligopeptide, to thereby detach the cells from the electrode layer.

Abstract: Provided is an electrochemical sensor device capable of micromachining a channel while maintaining its measurement sensitivity and of reliably quantitating an analyte in a trace amount of a sample. An electrochemical sensor device includes: a channel portion formed in a substrate; and working electrodes for subjecting an analyte in a solution flowing in the channel portion to electrochemical measurement, the electrochemical sensor device includes a plurality of measuring portions individually provided with the working electrodes, and each of the working electrodes has a plurality of conductive protrusion portions formed to protrude from a bottom surface of each of the measuring portions.

Abstract: Speriodal polymer beads having a uniform size are prepared by polymerizing uniformly sized monomer droplets formed by dispersing a polymerizable monomer phase over a cross-flow membrane into an aqueous phase. A shear force is provided at a point of egression of the polymerizable monomer phase into the aqueous phase, the direction of shear substantially perpendicular to the direction of egression of the monomer phase. The polymer beads can be employed in applications where beads having uniform diameters of 10 to 180 ?m are useful.

Abstract: Provided is an electrochemical sensor device capable of micromachining a channel while maintaining its measurement sensitivity and of reliably quantitating an analyte in a trace amount of a sample. An electrochemical sensor device includes: a channel portion formed in a substrate; and working electrodes for subjecting an analyte in a solution flowing in the channel portion to electrochemical measurement, the electrochemical sensor device includes a plurality of measuring portions individually provided with the working electrodes, and each of the working electrodes has a plurality of conductive protrusion portions formed to protrude from a bottom surface of each of the measuring portions.