Abstract: A method for treating a specimen in soluble GPC3 immunoassay, the method including mixing a soluble GPC3-containing specimen with a reducing agent. A soluble GPC3 immunoassay method including the following (a) and (b): (a) mixing a soluble GPC3-containing specimen with a reducing agent; and (b) measuring the amount of soluble GPC3 in the mixture obtained in (a) using one or more kinds of antibodies against soluble GPC3. A soluble GPC3 immunoassay reagent including the following (a) and (b): (a) a reducing agent; and (b) one or more kinds of antibodies against soluble GPC3.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of predicting and determining a therapeutic effect (especially whether complete remission is reached) or the level of improvement prior to administration of a biological formulation such as an anti-IL-6 agent or an anti-TNF-? agent, which is simple and cost-effective, and accurate. Sgp130, IP-10, sTNFRI, sTNFRII, GM-CSF, IL-1?, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, Eotaxin, VEGF, MCP-1, TNF-?, IFN-?, FGFbasic, PDGF-bb, sIL-6R, MIP-1? and the like can be utilized as a specific marker used in the method. Since a therapeutic effect (level of improvement in a symptom or possibility of remission) on a rheumatoid arthritis patient can be determined prior to the administration of a biological formulation using such a specific marker, rheumatoid arthritis therapy is possible at a precision that could not be achieved conventionally.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for simply, inexpensively and accurately assessing, before administering a biological preparation, the therapeutic effect thereof (in particular whether there will be a complete response) or the improvement of symptoms in patients having rheumatoid arthritis. By using at least one serum concentration selected from the group consisting of sgp130, IP-10, sTNFRI, sTNFRII, GM-CSF, IL-1?, 1L-2, IL-5, 1L-6, IL-7, IL-8, 1L-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, Eotaxin, VEGF , MCP-1, TNF-?, IFN-?, FGF basic, PDGF-bb, sIL-6R and MIP-1?, the therapeutic effect (improvement of symptoms and possibility of response) of an inflammatory cytokine-targeting biological preparation on a patient having rheumatoid arthritis can be predicted in any type of facility in a simple, inexpensive, and highly accurate manner before administering the biological preparation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of predicting and determining a therapeutic effect (especially whether complete remission is reached) or the level of improvement prior to administration of a biological formulation such as an anti-IL-6 agent or an anti-TNF-? agent, which is simple and cost-effective, and accurate. Sgp130, IP-10, sTNFRI, sTNFRII, GM-CSF, IL-1?, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, Eotaxin, VEGF, MCP-1, TNF-?, IFN-?, FGFbasic, PDGF-bb, sIL-6R, MIP-1? and the like can be utilized as a specific marker used in the method. Since a therapeutic effect (level of improvement in a symptom or possibility of remission) on a rheumatoid arthritis patient can be determined prior to the administration of a biological formulation using such a specific marker, rheumatoid arthritis therapy is possible at a precision that could not be achieved conventionally.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for simply, inexpensively and accurately assessing, before administering a biological preparation, the therapeutic effect thereof (in particular whether there will be a complete response) or the improvement of symptoms in patients having rheumatoid arthritis. By using at least one serum concentration selected from the group consisting of sgp130, IP-10, sTNFRI, sTNFRII, GM-CSF, IL-1?, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, Eotaxin, VEGF, MCP-1, TNF-?, IFN-?, FGF basic, PDGF-bb sIL-6R and MIP-1?, the therapeutic effect (improvement of symptoms and possibility of response) of an inflammatory cytokine-targeting biological preparation on a patient having rheumatoid arthritis can be predicted in any type of facility in a simple, inexpensive, and highly accurate manner before administering the biological preparation.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for determining a physiological attribute in a mammal, including the onset or progression of human glaucoma, with high accuracy. The results of the determination of genotype date and the results of the determination of cytokine date are consolidated by a consolidated determination unit (114); comparison is made for determining as to which is larger, the number of Case determination procedures or the number of control determination procedures (S330); and it is determined as Case (glaucoma) when the number of Case determination procedures is larger and it is determined as Control (normal person) when the number of Control determination procedures is larger.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes: a double collecting pipe formed of inner and outer pipes; and an inner pipe retainer formed of a pair of semi-circular portions and a connecting portion. The inner pipe includes a collecting pipe portion and bifurcated branch pipe portions. The outer pipe covers outer peripheral portions of the collecting and branch pipe portions. The semi-circular portions are respectively connected to outer peripheral portions of branched branch pipe portions and an inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe. The connecting portion connects the semi-circular portions. The inner pipe retainer is interposed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe and is connected to the inner pipe and the outer pipe to define a certain gap therebetween. Exhaust gas from exhaust ports of a set of cylinders among a plurality of cylinders of an engine is introduced into the collecting pipe portion through the branch pipe portions.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes: a double collecting pipe having an inner pipe, including a collecting pipe portion and branch pipe portions, and an outer pipe, covering the collecting and branch pipe portions and thicker than the inner pipe; and an inner pipe retainer having semi-circular portions and a connecting portion, and thicker than the inner pipe and thinner than the outer pipe. The inner pipe retainer connects the inner and outer pipes with a gap therebetween. Exhaust gas from exhaust ports of a set of cylinders is introduced into the collecting pipe portion through the branch pipe portions. The total spot-welded area of the outer peripheral portions of the branch pipe portions and the inner peripheral portions of the semi-circular portions is larger than that of the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe and the outer peripheral portions of the semi-circular portions.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes: a double collecting pipe formed of inner and outer pipes; and an inner pipe retainer formed of a pair of semi-circular portions and a connecting portion. The inner pipe includes a collecting pipe portion and bifurcated branch pipe portions. The outer pipe covers outer peripheral portions of the collecting and branch pipe portions. The semi-circular portions are respectively connected to outer peripheral portions of branched branch pipe portions and an inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe. The connecting portion connects the semi-circular portions. The inner pipe retainer is interposed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe and is connected to the inner pipe and the outer pipe to define a certain gap therebetween. Exhaust gas from exhaust ports of a set of cylinders among a plurality of cylinders of an engine is introduced into the collecting pipe portion through the branch pipe portions.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold includes: a double collecting pipe having an inner pipe, including a collecting pipe portion and branch pipe portions, and an outer pipe, covering the collecting and branch pipe portions and thicker than the inner pipe; and an inner pipe retainer having semi-circular portions and a connecting portion, and thicker than the inner pipe and thinner than the outer pipe. The inner pipe retainer connects the inner and outer pipes with a gap therebetween. Exhaust gas from exhaust ports of a set of cylinders is introduced into the collecting pipe portion through the branch pipe portions. The total spot-welded area of the outer peripheral portions of the branch pipe portions and the inner peripheral portions of the semi-circular portions is larger than that of the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe and the outer peripheral portions of the semi-circular portions.

Abstract: A compound semiconductor light emitting device for preparing a chip which improves the light extraction efficiency, enables mounting of easy positioning with only once wire bonding, and leads to a reduction in the manhour. One face of an insulative substrate (11) is overlaid with a semiconductor layer (4) consisting of a plurality of semiconductor thin films to form an active layer (15). One electrode (33) is formed on the top face of this semiconductor layer (4), and the other electrode (33) on the other face of the insulative substrate (11). For the exposure of a first semiconductor thin film layer (13) connected to the other electrode (33), the semiconductor film over the first semiconductor thin film layer (13) is removed to form an exposure region (10). This exposure region (10) is provided with a through hole (2) penetrating through the insulative substrate (11) and first semiconductor thin film layer (13).

Abstract: A compound semiconductor light emitting device for preparing a chip which improves the light extraction efficiency, enables mounting of easy positioning with only once wire bonding, and leads to a reduction in the manhour. One face of an insulative substrate (11) is overlaid with a semiconductor layer (4) consisting of a plurality of semiconductor thin films to form an active layer (15). One electrode (33) is formed on the top face of this semiconductor layer (4), and the other electrode (33) on the other face of the insulative substrate (11). For the exposure of a first semiconductor thin film layer (13) connected to the other electrode (33), the semiconductor film over the first semiconductor thin film layer (13) is removed to form an exposure region (10). This exposure region (10) is provided with a through hole (2) penetrating through the insulative substrate (11) and first semiconductor thin film layer (13).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting device, including the steps of: forming an active layer composed of a compound semiconductor containing indium by a vapor phase growth method; and forming a cap layer composed of a compound semiconductor on said active layer by a vapor phase growth method at a growth temperature approximately equal to or lower than a growth temperature for said active layer.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a cladding layer composed of a III-V group nitride system semiconductor of a first conductivity type, an active layer formed on the cladding layer of the first conductivity type and composed of a III-V group nitride system semiconductor containing In, an undoped cap layer formed on the active layer and composed of a III-V group nitride system semiconductor, and a cladding layer formed on the cap layer and composed of a III-V group nitride system semiconductor of a second conductivity type.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser includes an active layer (13) for oscillating a laser beam, a first clad layer (12) and a second clad layer (14) stacked to hold the active layer (13), a QW layer (15) stacked on the second clad layer (14) and a diffusion portion (17) formed in the central portion of the QW layer (15) by impurity diffusion. Thickness of the second clad layer (14) is so selected that a beam generated from the active layer (13) can penetrate into the second clad layer (14). The QW layer (15) absorbs the beam generated from the active layer (13), while the diffusion layer (17) in the central portion thereof functions as a non-absorption region with respect to the beam. Thus, implemented is a horizontal optical confinement substantially equivalent to CSP structure.

Abstract: A device for determining the diameters of circular objects such as coins is made up of a pair of photo-electric converters which are extended from both sides of a coin passageway towards the central line of the latter, a pair of light-shielded portion area measuring circuits for producing signals representing the areas of the portions of the converters which are shielded from light by a circular object according to the outputs of the converters, an adder for providing the sum of the outputs of the two light-shielded portion area measuring circuits, a maximum value memory circuit for storing the maximum of the outputs of the adder which are provided during passage of one circular object through the converters, and a circuit for determining the diameter of the circular object according to the data stored in the maximum value memory circuit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting device, including the steps of: forming an active layer composed of a compound semiconductor containing indium by a vapor phase growth method; and forming a cap layer composed of a compound semiconductor on said active layer by a vapor phase growth method at a growth temperature approximately equal to or lower than a growth temperature for said active layer.