Abstract: An objection of the present invention is to provide an agent for preventing or improving decline in brain function such as decreased perception ability, decreased memory learning ability, decreased thinking ability, decreased concentration, decreased attention, decreased judgment ability, depression, and decreased exercise performance caused thereby. According to the present invention, an agent for protecting brain neuronal cells, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients as well as an agent for preventing or improving decline in brain function, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients is provided.

Abstract: An agent for preventing or ameliorating vascular endothelial malfunction and arteriosclerosis-related symptoms caused by the progress of vascular endothelial malfunction (e.g., ischemic diseases such as myocardial infarction, angina, and peripheral artery occlusion) or low blood flow-related symptoms (e.g., stiff shoulders, excessive sensitivity to cold, swelling, erectile dysfunction, rough skin and decrease in exercise performance due to skeletal muscle hypoactivity), which has an improved NO production enhancing effect is provided. A NO production enhancer comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients. An agent for preventing or ameliorating vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients. An agent for preventing or ameliorating a symptom caused by vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing immune function, which comprises administering orally to a subject in need thereof effective amounts of glutathione or a salt thereof. The present invention also relates to an oral agent comprising glutathione or a salt thereof for enhancing immune function, and glutathione or a salt thereof for use in enhancing immune function.

Abstract: An agent for enhancing NO production, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and serine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. An agent for preventing or ameliorating vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and serine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. An agent for preventing or ameliorating a symptom caused by vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and serine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An agent for preventing or ameliorating vascular endothelial malfunction and arteriosclerosis-related symptoms caused by the progress of vascular endothelial malfunction (e.g., ischemic diseases such as myocardial infarction, angina, and peripheral artery occlusion) or low blood flow-related symptoms (e.g., stiff shoulders, excessive sensitivity to cold, swelling, erectile dysfunction, rough skin and decrease in exercise performance due to skeletal muscle hypoactivity), which has an improved NO production enhancing effect is provided. A NO production enhancer comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients. An agent for preventing or ameliorating vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients. An agent for preventing or ameliorating a symptom caused by vascular endothelial malfunction, comprising citrulline or a salt thereof and glutathione or a salt thereof as active ingredients.

Abstract: A classification estimating system can include an input element group; an intermediate element group into which are input values of first intermediate variables for which a first multiple desensitization, including an accumulation of values of each input element of a first input element group and each value of a first output sensitivity and each value of a first multiplex output sensitivity, has been carried out and calculated; an output element group into which is input a value of an output variable calculated based on a value of each intermediate element of a first intermediate element group and a value of each connection weight; a classification information estimating module for estimating classification information based on pre-stored correspondence relationship information and a value of the output variable; and a classification information display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display control apparatus comprising a read out unit configured to read out an image from a recording medium, a classification unit configured to classify a plurality of images into a plurality of groups in accordance with attribute information of each image, a display control unit configured to control to display a representative image which represents each of the plurality of groups, a comparison unit configured to compare an image included in one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit with an image included in another group, and a determination unit configured to determine one of images included in the one group as a representative image of the one group based on comparison by the comparison unit, the image not overlapping a representative image of the other group.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains a captured image containing face detection information related to a face of an object detected during image capture, and information related to a focus detection area utilized during the image capture, an extraction unit that extracts an area based on the information related to the focus detection area and the face detection information from the captured image when the focus detection area is determined based on the detected object's face, and extracts an area based on the information related to the focus detection area from the captured image when the focus detection area is not determined based on the detected object's face, and a display unit that displays a partial area of the captured image on a display device, wherein the display unit displays an image of the extracted area on the display device.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element that senses an object and outputs image data and an electronic zoom function, either a first processing mode or a second processing mode is set and an angle of view is designated. In the first processing mode, the image sensing element is driven by switching reading regions and reading methods of image data from the image sensing element based on the designated angle of view and the image data is read, processed, and the angle of view determined by the switched reading region is changed to the designated angle of view. In the second processing mode, the reading region and the reading method of the image data are fixed and the image data output from the image sensing element is processed, and the angle of view determined by the fixed reading region changed to the designated angle of view.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display control apparatus comprising a read out unit configured to read out an image from a recording medium, a classification unit configured to classify a plurality of images into a plurality of groups in accordance with attribute information of each image, a display control unit configured to control to display a representative image which represents each of the plurality of groups, a comparison unit configured to compare an image included in one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit with an image included in another group, and a determination unit configured to determine one of images included in the one group as a representative image of the one group based on comparison by the comparison unit, the image not overlapping a representative image of the other group.

Abstract: Without using any pumps and controlling devices, to control microorganism's activity by supplying an activity controlling substance which is necessitated for the microorganism activity is realized. A microbial activity controlling material 3 is filled into a vessel 4 having a sealed structure and at least a part of which is provided with a non-porous film 2, and then, the microbial activity controlling material 3 is supplied through the non-porous film 2 part of the vessel 4 to ambient places around the vessel 4 at the speed controlled by the molecular permeation performance of the non-porous film 2, and thereby the activities of microorganisms residing around the vessel is controlled.

Abstract: The present invention identified OVARC1000473 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and NT2RM1000377 (SEQ ID NO: 3) as clones showing suppression of CREB activation by forskolin, and provides evaluation methods using these genes, and/or proteins encoded by these genes. Furthermore, these proteins were found to enhance cell damage. Compounds that can be screened based on the evaluation methods of this invention are useful as agents for inhibiting the CREB dephosphorylation reaction, agents for suppressing enhancement of cell damage, and preventive and therapeutic agents for memory disorders and/or neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains a captured image containing face detection information related to a face of an object detected during image capture, and information related to a focus detection area utilized during the image capture, an extraction unit that extracts an area based on the information related to the focus detection area and the face detection information from the captured image when the focus detection area is determined based on the detected object's face, and extracts an area based on the information related to the focus detection area from the captured image when the focus detection area is not determined based on the detected object's face, and a display unit that displays a partial area of the captured image on a display device, wherein the display unit displays an image of the extracted area on the display device.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element that senses an object and outputs image data and an electronic zoom function, either a first processing mode or a second processing mode is set and an angle of view is designated. In the first processing mode, the image sensing element is driven by switching reading regions and reading methods of image data from the image sensing element based on the designated angle of view and the image data is read, processed, and the angle of view determined by the switched reading region is changed to the designated angle of view. In the second processing mode, the reading region and the reading method of the image data are fixed and the image data output from the image sensing element is processed, and the angle of view determined by the fixed reading region changed to the designated angle of view.

Abstract: The present invention provides: proteins suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; polynucleotides encoding the proteins; a method for screening a compound suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; and therapeutic agents for treating or preventing Alzheimer's diseases comprising a compound that regulates the activity of a protein suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein.

Abstract: When an image pickup apparatus is changed over to a mode different from a photographing mode, such as a power-off mode or a reproducing mode, priority is given to writing a temporarily-recorded image in a recording medium, so that it is possible to surely preserve the photographed image. Moreover, it is possible for the user to confirm or enjoy the photographed image, by virtue of functions which are different from the photographing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides: proteins suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; polynucleotides encoding the proteins; a method for screening a compound suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; and therapeutic agents for treating or preventing Alzheimer's diseases comprising a compound that regulates the activity of a protein suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides: proteins suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; polynucleotides encoding the proteins; a method for screening a compound suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein; and therapeutic agents for treating or preventing Alzheimer's diseases comprising a compound that regulates the activity of a protein suppressing or promoting the aggregation or deposition of amyloid-? protein.

Abstract: The present invention identified OVARC1000473 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and NT2RM1000377 (SEQ ID NO: 3) as clones showing suppression of CREB activation by forskolin, and provides evaluation methods using these genes, and/or proteins encoded by these genes. Furthermore, these proteins were found to enhance cell damage. Compounds that can be screened based on the evaluation methods of this invention are useful as agents for inhibiting the CREB dephosphorylation reaction, agents for suppressing enhancement of cell damage, and preventive and therapeutic agents for memory disorders and/or neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: A steel pipe containing fine ferrite crystal grains, which has excellent toughness and ductility and good ductility-strength balance as well as superior collision impact resistance, and a method for producing the same are provided. A steel pipe containing super-fine crystal grains can be produced by heating a base steel pipe having ferrite grains with an average crystal diameter of di (&mgr;m), in which C, Si, Mn and Al are limited within proper ranges, and if necessary, Cu, Ni, Cr and Mo, or Nb, Ti, V, B, etc. are further added, at not higher than the Ac3 transformation point, and applying reducing at an average rolling temperature of &thgr;m (° C.) and a total reduction ratio Tred (%) within s temperature range of from 400 to Ac3 transformation point, with di, &thgr;m and Tred being in a relation satisfying a prescribed equation.