Abstract: The present invention provides a planting container capable of sufficiently and stably supply planting water to a rhizosphere where roots of a plant grow, securing as large a space as possible for the rhizosphere, and further accelerating the growth of the stem or leaves of the plant. The planting container comprises a planting container body 1 including a planting space 2 having an opening at a front portion thereof to allow a plant to grow, a reservoir 8 for planting water that is provided in a lower part of the planting space 2, and a water-absorbing planting bed placed within the planting space 2 with a bottom portion thereof being positioned in the reservoir 8 for absorbing planting water retained in the reservoir 8 to cultivate the plant, wherein the container further comprises a receiving surface 10 for receiving the planting bed within the planting space 2 formed as an inclined surface that is raised progressively toward the opening and is lowered progressively away from the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rainwater catchment apparatus that is easily installed without renovating a building. The rainwater catchment apparatus comprises a rainwater inlet for introducing rainwater, a flange portion engaged with a peripheral portion of a rainwater outlet serving as a leading end of a drainage canal formed in a building framework for introducing rainwater in the rainwater inlet, a drain portion for discharging excessive water exceeding a predetermined level to the drainage canal, a reservoir freely fitted into the drainage canal through the rainwater outlet, and a pumping mechanism for pumping water stored in the reservoir to the outside.

Abstract: A planting container body (1) has a bottom wall (3) and side walls (4) forming a planting space (2) and also has a water-holding section for holding planting water supplied to the planting space (2). The water-holding section has a water discharge opening (12) for overflow. In a horizontal position (A) in which the planting space (2) opens upward, the bottom wall (3) and the side walls (4) form a horizontal water-holding section for holding planting water. In a vertical position in which the planting space (2) opens sideways, a vertical water-holding section for holding planting water is formed by the bottom wall (3), side walls (4), and a dam section (8) formed facing the bottom wall (3) on the side wall (4) that is the bottom surface. A water discharge start section of the water discharge opening (12) is located at a position a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall (3) and a predetermined distance away from a side wall (4).

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for use in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory bowel disease. Also disclosed is an agent for inhibiting the production of TNF-?. A therapeutic or prophylactic agent for inflammatory bowel disease comprising at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, glutamine, glycine, cysteine, cystine and threonine, the amino acid being administered at a dose of 0.1 to 4000 mg/kg per day; and a TNF-? production inhibitor comprising an amino acid selected from the group consisting of histidine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, the amino acid being administered at a dose of 0.1 to 4000 mg/kg per day.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piperidine derivative represented by the following formula or analogs thereto, which are used for agents for treating or preventing various diseases related to 5-HT7.

Abstract: According to the method of evaluating IBD of the present invention, amino acid concentration data on the concentration value of amino acid in blood collected from a subject to be evaluated is measured, and an inflammatory bowel disease state in the subject is evaluated based on the measured amino acid concentration data of the subject.

Abstract: A plant-culturing tool comprising a planting container for accommodating a plant, and a water storage container that can accommodate the planting container in the interior of the water storage container and that can store water, a guide mechanism in which the planting container makes sliding contact with the water storage container and is guided along a floating or sinking direction thereof. The guide mechanism is composed of a long guide surface having a long sliding portion, and a short guide surface having a short sliding portion that protrudes against the long guide surface, with the two guide surfaces making slide contact each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for irritable bowel syndrome of diarrhea type, ulcerative colitis, visceral pain or abdominal pain, which contains a compound of the following formula and which has 5-HT7 receptor antagonistic effect or an analogue thereof; and this therapeutic agent has an excellent therapeutic effect and a high safety:

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivating unit that can perform a watering operation in a simple manner and can supply water uniformly to plants in locations where a floor surface is sloped, such as the rooftop of a building, without requiring separate water supply piping work. A plant cultivating unit (1) comprises a water storage tray (2) in which water can be stored and in which receivers (3) for housing the roots of plants can be arranged in an interior thereof, a water storage space (8) in the water storage tray (2) and the receivers (3) being communicated via water feeders (7), and the water stored in the water storage space (8) being able to be supplied to the plants via the water feeders (7).