Abstract: A method for producing alkane and a recombinant microorganism with good alkane productivity in a reaction system for synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase activity are provided. Alkane productivity is significantly improved in a system for synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase in the presence of ferredoxin. Specifically, the method for producing alkane according to the present invention comprises synthesizing alkane by alkane synthase in the presence of ferredoxin.

Abstract: A sound-transmitting membrane (1) is provided that allows passage of sounds and prevents passage of foreign matters, the sound-transmitting membrane (1) including a supporting member (12) and a resin porous membrane (11) layered on the supporting member (12) and containing polytetrafluoroethylene as a main component. The supporting member (12) is a nonwoven fabric containing an elastomer. Since the supporting member (12) is a nonwoven fabric containing an elastomer, the insertion loss of the sound-transmitting membrane can be reduced for sounds of 3000 Hz.

Abstract: A sound-transmitting membrane (1) is provided that allows passage of sounds and prevents passage of foreign matters, the sound-transmitting membrane (1) including a supporting member (12) and a resin porous membrane (11) layered on the supporting member (12) and containing polytetrafluoroethylene as a main component. The supporting member (12) is a nonwoven fabric containing an elastomer. Since the supporting member (12) is a nonwoven fabric containing an elastomer, the insertion loss of the sound-transmitting membrane can be reduced for sounds of 3000 Hz.

Abstract: Provided is a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane having a PF value of 36 or more and a mass per unit area of 0.90 g/m2 or less. The PF value is determined by the following equation: PF value={?log(PT (%)/100)/(PL(Pa)/9.8)}×100. PT (permeability) is determined by PT (%)=100?CE (%), CE (collection efficiency) is determined by a value measured using dioctyl phthalate particles with a particle diameter of 0.10 ?m to 0.20 ?m under a condition of a permeate flow rate of 5.3 cm/sec, and PL (pressure loss) is determined by a value measured under a condition of a permeate flow rate of 5.3 cm/sec. This porous PTFE membrane is suitable for air filter media.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a composite including a matrix and a dispersed material dispersed in the matrix. The method includes introducing a raw material for dispersed material which constitutes a dispersed material into a fluid including a melt of a raw material for matrix which constitutes a matrix or a solution containing a raw material for matrix by a vapor deposition method, to obtain a composite.

Abstract: First, a mixture of a polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder and a liquid lubricant into a sheet-form body extending in a first direction. Next, the liquid lubricant is removed from the sheet-form body. Then, the sheet-form body is stretched by a factor of 40 to 250 in the longitudinal direction at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the stretched sheet-form body is further stretched by a factor of 3 to 40 in the width direction. Thus, a highly air-permeable porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicament for preventing/treating cancer, comprising a tacrine compound, or a compound promoting the binding between the tacrine compound and a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening an agonist or antagonist to a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, which comprises using the receptor protein or a salt thereof and the ligand or a salt thereof; etc. The present invention is useful for screening agents for the prevention/treatment of, e.g., leukopenia, leukemia, lymphoma, malignant tumor, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, tonsil disorders, collagen disease, inflammatory disease, leukocytosis, heart failure, inherited muscle disorders, muscular dystrophy, neuromuscular degenerative disease, myocardial infarction, obesity, mellitus diabetes, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytosis, cancer, pulmonary edema, multiple organ failure, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds or their salts that promote or inhibit the activities of a protein comprising the same or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, compounds or their salts that promote or inhibit the activities of a gene for the protein, antisense polynucleotides comprising the whole or part of a base sequence complimentary or substantially complimentary to the base sequence of a polynucleotide encoding the protein or its partial peptide, antibodies to the protein, etc. These compounds or their salts, antisense nucleotides, antibodies, etc. can be used as agents for the prevention/treatment of mental disorders, prolactin-related disorders, etc.

Abstract: In a test strip measuring method in which a coloration measurement is conducted while a test strip (4) is being moved, there are detected the optical characteristics R of the ground of a test strip and the optical characteristics T of a test line (4b) which has appeared on the test strip, and the test strip is judged based on the difference or ratio between R and T. Even though the ground of the test strip presents variations in optical characteristics, and even though there are variations among samples or among test strips, such variations can be absorbed, thus assuring an accurate judgment.

Abstract: Provided is a filter medium including a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and a gas-permeable supporting member that are integrated to ensure sufficient stiffness, having excellent gas permeability, and providing excellent bonding between respective layers included in the filter medium. The gas-permeable supporting member includes: a substrate having gas-permeability; and a fiber layer that is placed on the substrate so as to be in contact with the porous PTFE membrane. The gas-permeable supporting member has a structure in which fibers of the fiber layer enter into the substrate and are entangled with the substrate so that the fiber layer is bonded to the substrate. The fiber layer contains polyolefin-containing fibers that are bonded to the porous membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein R1 is —(C?O)—NR7R8 or —(C?O)—OR6, R2 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R3 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, R4 is a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or the like, n is from 0 to 4, and X is an oxygen atom, or a salt thereof. The invention also provides a compound which has a TGR23 antagonist activity and thus is useful for prevention and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to screening of an agonist/antagonist, etc. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of screening an agonist or antagonist of a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, which comprises using the receptor protein or a salt thereof and a cholesterol metabolism-related substance, and so on.

Abstract: The antibody of the present invention, which specifically reacts with a partial peptide at the N-terminal region or the C-terminal region of NPW, which enables to quantify NPW with highly sensitivity and specifically. Moreover, this antibody is useful as an agent for preventing/treating infertility, renal edema, digestive ulcer, gastric hyperacidity, etc., and a diagnostic for these diseases.

Abstract: As previous processing of measurement in which gas to be measured containing, as gas components, carbon dioxide 13CO2 and carbon dioxide 12CO2, is introduced into a cell, and in which the intensities of transmitted lights having wavelengths suitable for measurement of the respective gas components, are measured and then data-processed to measure the concentrations of the gas components, the air having a predetermined volume Va is sucked by a gas injection device 21, a gas exhaust valve V6 of a cell 11 is closed and the air stored in the gas injection device 21 is transferred to the cell 11 filled with the air at an atmospheric pressure, thereby to pressurize the cell inside. The pressure thus pressurized is measured as P. The cell volume Vc is subtracted from the product obtained by multiplying the sum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a GPR receptor function regulator comprising the compound represented by the formula: [wherein ring A is an optionally substituted isocyclic or heterocyclic ring, P is a bond or spacer, ring D is an optionally substituted monocyclic aromatic ring which may be condensed with a 5- to 7-membered ring, V is a bond or the group represented by the formula —CR14?CR15— or —N?CR16— (wherein R14, R15 and R16 each represents a hydrogen atom or optionally substituted hydrocarbon group), Q is a bond or spacer, and W is a carboxyl or a group biologically equivalent to a carboxyl] or its salt or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ligand to GPR8, in particular polypeptides capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as the DNA encoding for such polypeptides. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing receptor-binding assay systems with the use of a GPR8 expression system, for screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, and prolactin production inhibitors.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus extracts header information from messages stored in a queue to generate a digest by collecting the extracted header information. The transmitting apparatus transmits the digest to receiving apparatuses specified by address information stored in a address information storage unit. Upon receiving a message obtaining request specifying any header information contained in the digest from any of receiving apparatuses, the transmitting apparatus reads out a message corresponding to the specified header information from the queue to transmit the message to the receiving apparatus that transmitted the message obtaining request. The receiving apparatus stores therein receiving conditions that specifies a message to be received from the transmitting apparatus and searches the digest received from the transmitting apparatus for the header information that satisfies the receiving conditions.

Abstract: An exhalation collected in a breath bag capable of expanding and contracting is sucked into a gas inlet vessel 21 with a given volume (Va), and then the gas inlet vessel 21 is communicated by means of valve V2 with a cell 11 that is maintained at an atmospheric pressure by being pre-filled with a sample gas or reference gas. After the communication, the gas pressure is measured by a pressure sensor 16 attached to the cell 11. Whether the exhalation collected in the breath bag is below a given amount or not can be accurately judged.

Abstract: First, a mixture of a polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder and a liquid lubricant into a sheet-form body extending in a first direction. Next, the liquid lubricant is removed from the sheet-form body. Then, the sheet-form body is stretched by a factor of 40 to 250 in the longitudinal direction at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the stretched sheet-form body is further stretched by a factor of 3 to 40 in the width direction. Thus, a highly air-permeable porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is obtained.