Abstract: A system includes a urination data storage unit, an absorbent article information storage unit, a changeable time storage unit, and a changing schedule proposal unit. The changing schedule proposal unit includes a changing schedule computation unit and a changing schedule outputting unit. The changing schedule computation unit finds, on the basis of urination amount data and urination time instant data stored in the urination data storage unit, a total urination amount within a predetermined time period selected from changeable time instants stored in the changeable time storage unit, and performs, by comparing the total urination amount that has been found and the urine absorption capacity of an absorbent article, computation for finding the absorbent article or the predetermined time period such that the urine absorption capacity does not fall below the total urination amount.

Abstract: A urination sensor includes: a printing substrate made of a resin film; and a plurality of planar printed electrodes made by an electroconductive ink applied to the printing substrate. The urination sensor is provided with a section where the printing substrate is not present, the section being provided between the plurality of planar printed electrodes. The urination sensor, including the section where the printing substrate is not present, is covered by a cover sheet. A backsheet is an electrically insulating, sparingly liquid-permeable substrate, and the printing substrate is an electrically insulating substrate. Non-application sections are present on the surface of the cover sheet to which an adhesive is applied, and the section where the printing substrate is not present forms an air-passage opening which retains an air-passage function with the non-application sections where the adhesive is not applied.

Abstract: A system includes a urination data storage unit, an absorbent article information storage unit, a changeable time storage unit, and a changing schedule proposal unit. The changing schedule proposal unit includes a changing schedule computation unit and a changing schedule outputting unit. The changing schedule computation unit finds, on the basis of urination amount data and urination time instant data stored in the urination data storage unit, a total urination amount within a predetermined time period selected from changeable time instants stored in the changeable time storage unit, and performs, by comparing the total urination amount that has been found and the urine absorption capacity of an absorbent article, computation for finding the absorbent article or the predetermined time period such that the urine absorption capacity does not fall below the total urination amount.

Abstract: A urination sensor includes: a printing substrate made of a resin film; and a plurality of planar printed electrodes made by an electroconductive ink applied to the printing substrate. The urination sensor is provided with a section where the printing substrate is not present, the section being provided between the plurality of planar printed electrodes. The urination sensor, including the section where the printing substrate is not present, is covered by a cover sheet. A backsheet is an electrically insulating, sparingly liquid-permeable substrate, and the printing substrate is an electrically insulating substrate. Non-application sections are present on the surface of the cover sheet to which an adhesive is applied, and the section where the printing substrate is not present forms an air-passage opening which retains an air-passage function with the non-application sections where the adhesive is not applied.

Abstract: A heat generating device includes a heat generating element enclosed in an air-permeable stretch bag. The heat generating element includes an air-permeable first side adapted to be located proximal to the skin of a wearer, a second side adapted to be located distal to the skin of a wearer, and a heat generating member interposed between the first side and the second side. It is preferred that a part of the heat generating element is fixed to a part of the inner side of the stretch bag in the overlap between the stretch bag and the heat generating element in a plan view of the heat generating device.

Abstract: The invention relates to low-molecular-weight compounds which are capable of inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell into hepatocytes.

Abstract: The purpose is to select low-molecular-weight compounds which are effective in inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell into hepatocyte and to develop a safe differentiation-inducing method having excellent efficiency of differentiating mesenchymal stem cell into hepatocyte. Provided are at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formulae (1) and (2), a salt thereof, or a solvate of them; a differentiation inducer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formulae (1) and (2), a salt thereof, or a solvate of them; and a differentiation inducer comprising a compound represented by formula (8), a salt thereof, or a solvate of them.

Abstract: A polymer that changes hydration at a temperature between 0 to 80° C. is coated on the surface of a cell culture support, and islet cells are cultured on the support at a temperature range that causes polymer to have weak hydration, then the temperature of a culture solution is changed to a temperature that causes the polymer to have strong hydration to obtain islet cells in a sheet form. Such islet cells in a sheet form have an insulin producing function even if there is no blood flow.

Abstract: A heat generating device includes a heat generating element enclosed in an air-permeable stretch bag. The heat generating element includes an air-permeable first side adapted to be located proximal to the skin of a wearer, a second side adapted to be located distal to the skin of a wearer, and a heat generating member interposed between the first side and the second side. It is preferred that a part of the heat generating element is fixed to a part of the inner side of the stretch bag in the overlap between the stretch bag and the heat generating element in a plan view of the heat generating device.

Abstract: The function of liver tissue cells can be maintained over a long period of time by culturing the liver tissue cells on a cell culture support, which is coated with a polymer showing a change in the hydration force in the temperature range of from 0 to 80° C., within the temperature range wherein the polymer has a small hydration force, then changing the temperature of the liquid culture medium to a level at which the polymer shows a large hydration force, thus stripping off the liver tissue cells having been cultured, and transplanting the thus obtained liver tissue cells into a definite site in vivo.

Abstract: Non-human mammalian hosts are provided, comprising functional human hepatocytes. Isolated human hepatocytes or fragments of human hepatic tissue are introduced into the xenogeneic host in conjunction with one or more agent that stimulates human hepatocyte growth factor receptor. The human hepatocytes are maintained in the host by administration of one or more agent that stimulates human hepatocyte growth factor receptor, either continuously (e.g., via an implanted catheter or intravenous apparatus) or in discrete, regular dosages of the agent (e.g., via intravenous injections or oral dosages). The human hepatocytes are able to survive and function in the host animal for a period of at least 5 months.

Abstract: An inspection method for cream solder for determining whether or not the shape of the cream solder is appropriate based on information on the height of the cream solder by irradiating light from substantially besides in two directions opposing each other through a lighting means to the cream solder so as to obtain at least two images and obtaining a difference between the obtained images.

Abstract: Non-human mammalian hosts are provided, comprising functional human hepatocytes. Isolated human hepatocytes or fragments of human hepatic tissue are introduced into the xenogeneic host in conjunction with one or more agent that stimulates human hepatocyte growth factor receptor. The human hepatocytes are maintained in the host by administration of one or more agent that stimulates human hepatocyte growth factor receptor, either continuously (e.g., via an implanted catheter or intravenous apparatus) or in discrete, regular dosages of the agent (e.g., via intravenous injections or oral dosages). The human hepatocytes are able to survive and function in the host animal for a period of at least 5 months.

Abstract: A signal PWR is driven into a low level in response to a power-off command from the computer, then the low level PWR signal is entered to an input terminal 36 of a switching circuit 130 and regulators 152 to 156 respectively. Consequently, the regulators come to rest and thereby the power supply to the computer is shut off. Receiving the low level PWR signal, a photo-coupler 134 and a transistor 132 in the switching circuit 130 are turned off respectively, as well as the operation of a power factor correction circuitry is stopped. Consequently, an AC power factor correction circuitry comes to rest when the power supply to the computer is shut off, and thereby the power consumption of the computer can be reduced.

Abstract: An inspection method for cream solder for determining whether or not the shape of the cream solder is appropriate based on information on the height of the cream solder by irradiating light from substantially besides in two directions opposing each other through a lighting means to the cream solder so as to obtain at least two images and obtaining a difference between the obtained images.

Abstract: A piping apparatus for melting snow and ice, wherein a large number of heat radiation pipes are arranged below or above a surface from which snow or ice is to be melted and removed. One of the ends of each of the heat radiation pipes is communicated with an inlet side header arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the heat radiation pipes, and the other end of the pipes being communicated with an outlet side header arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the heat radiation pipes, thereby constituting a piping arrangement unit. The inlet side is communicated with a feed supply of a heating medium such as hot water so as to pass the supplied heating medium such as hot water through the heat radiation pipes. Heat retaining members having therein a heat accumulation material are disposed between the heat radiation pipes, whenever necessary.

Abstract: A sport boot such as ski boot which is both water-proof and air permeable and which is comprised of an outer sheath formed of thick impermeable material, frames provided integrally in suitable portions of the side, upper or sole part of the outer sheath and having hollow axial through-holes, air permeable members fitted into the through-holes and having ventilation through-holes providing ventilation between the inside and outside of the outer sheath, and water-proof air permeable sheets made of porous synthetic fabrics provided in position to cover the top ends of the air permeable members.

Abstract: A sub-center type switched-star CATV system network in which a number of transmission signals are transmitted from a central source to a number of sub-centers over a number of sets of optical fibers. In view of the long distances involved, the transmission signals are transmitted in pulse frequency modulation form, one pulse frequency modulation signal being applied to each optical fiber. At each sub-center, each pulse frequency modulation signal is converted into a frequency modulation signal by first frequency dividing the pulse frequency modulation signal and then passing the divided signal through a band-pass filter which eliminates all signal components except the fundamental frequency. The pulse frequency modulated signals may pass through a switch to select the number of transmission signals which ultimately reach the subscribers. The frequency modulated signals are then frequency multiplexed to produce a multiplexed signal and the multiplexed signal is sent to a number of subscribers.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining cooling pipes employed in an ice rink comprises a belt-shaped base member which is disposed on the floor portion of a rink and a supporting member which is integrally formed on the base member such as to project vertically therefrom. The retaining apparatus is made of flexible synthetic resin and retains cooling pipes at predetermined positions in the rink. The supporting member includes fitting notch portions for retaining the cooling pipes, the fitting notch portions each having a cut portion at the upper end thereof. The fitting notch portions for the pipes are provided at predetermined spacings over the length of the supporting member.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an ice layer over a wide area such as a skating rink is disclosed. A freezing medium including a liquefied gas such as freon or ammonia or an anti-freeze liquid such as brine or ethylene glycol is circulated through a freezing pipe laid in the wider area such as skating rink. According to the invention, the freezing pipe is of a nature that can be wound or extended under pressure application and is formed as an elongated soft steel pipe having a coating of synthetic material on the outer surface or on both the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe.