Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing: a novel microorganism having a high capability to produce urolithins; and a method of producing urolithins using the same, and the issue is solved by a microorganism that belongs to the genus Eggerthella and produces urolithins.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an effective and highly safe agent for inhibiting osteoclast differentiation, and a food or drink, pharmaceutical, supplement, and cosmetic that produce an osteoclast differentiation-inhibiting effect; and the object is fulfilled by an agent for inhibiting osteoclast differentiation, comprising a urolithin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transport medium to be transported with a fluid that is liquid in an operating temperature range containing a porous material and a latent heat storage material penetrated in the pores of the porous material, wherein the latent heat storage material is incompatible with the fluid and has a melting point within the operating temperature range, and the porous material has a liquid repellency to the fluid, an affinity for the latent heat storage material, and a sponge hardness of not more than 50. This invention achieves stable heat transport with a high heat conversion efficiency even by circulating the medium through a pipeline over a long period of time. The porous material has an apparent density of about 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm3.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of providing: a novel microorganism having a high capability to produce urolithins; and a method of producing urolithins using the same, and the issue is solved by a microorganism that belongs to the genus Eggerthella and produces urolithins.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for eliminating the hydroxyl group at the 9-position of a urolithin to produce another kind of urolithin. This object is achieved by a method for producing a second urolithin, including Step (a): allowing, in a solution containing a first urolithin, a microorganism having an ability to produce the second urolithin from the first urolithin to produce the second urolithin from the first urolithin.

Abstract: A needleless syringe comprises an enclosing unit for an injection objective substance, a pressurizing unit for the injection objective substance, a discharge unit having a flow passage for allowing the injection objective substance to flow therethrough so that the injection objective substance is discharged from an open end of the flow passage to an injection target area, the open end being formed so that an area thereof is smaller than a flow passage area of the enclosing unit, and a minute pore unit including a minute pore having a flow passage area smaller than the area of the open end of the discharge unit and which is arranged on an outer side of the open end so that the injection objective substance discharged from the open end passes through the minute pore and arrives at a side of the injection target area.

Abstract: Used as a heat transport medium to be transported with a fluid that is liquid in an operating temperature range is a medium in which a latent heat storage material is penetrated in a porous material, wherein the latent heat storage material is incompatible with the fluid and has a melting point within the operating temperature range, and the porous material has a liquid repellency to the fluid, an affinity for the latent heat storage material, and a sponge hardness of not more than 50. This achieves stable heat transport with a high heat conversion efficiency even by circulating the medium through a pipeline over a long period of time. The porous material may have continuous pores. The porous material may have a void ratio of not less than 50%. The porous material has an apparent density of about 0.05 to 0.5 g/cm3. The ratio of the latent heat storage material is about 100 to 5000 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the porous material.

Abstract: A needleless syringe comprises an enclosing unit for an injection objective substance, a pressurizing unit for the injection objective substance, a discharge unit having a flow passage for allowing the injection objective substance to flow therethrough so that the injection objective substance is discharged from an open end of the flow passage to an injection target area, the open end being formed so that an area thereof is smaller than a flow passage area of the enclosing unit, and a minute pore unit including a minute pore having a flow passage area smaller than the area of the open end of the discharge unit and which is arranged on an outer side of the open end so that the injection objective substance discharged from the open end passes through the minute pore and arrives at a side of the injection target area.

Abstract: This invention provides (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reaction using NAD+ (NADH) as a coenzyme and the genes that encodes them. The enzymes of this invention can be obtained from microorganisms such as the genera Pichia, Candida, and Ogataea, and so on. It is possible to produce alcohols, in particular, alcohols such as (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters and (R)-propoxybenzene derivatives by reducing ketones with this (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase. Moreover, the (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase of this invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to produce a novel (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase useful for the production of ketones, alcohols, and particularly optically active vicinal diols. Zoogloea ramigera has been found to produce a novel (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase having high activity and high stereoselectivity. Furthermore, a DNA chain encoding this (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase was cloned and the nucleotide sequence thereof was determined. The expression of the (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase was carried out in a heterologous microorganism.

Abstract: This invention provides (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reaction using NAD+ (NADH) as a coenzyme and the genes that encodes them. The enzymes of this invention can be obtained from microorganisms such as the genera Pichia, Candida, and Ogataea, and so on. It is possible to produce alcohols, in particular, alcohols such as (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters and (R)-propoxybenzene derivatives by reducing ketones with this (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase. Moreover, the (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase of this invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity.

Abstract: This invention provides (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reaction using NAD+ (NADH) as a coenzyme and the genes that encodes them. The enzymes of this invention can be obtained from microorganisms such as the genera Pichia, Candida, and Ogataea, and so on. It is possible to produce alcohols, in particular, alcohols such as (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters and (R)-propoxybenzene derivatives by reducing ketones with this (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase. Moreover, the (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase of this invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity.

Abstract: This invention provides (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reaction using NAD+ (NADH) as a coenzyme and the genes that encodes them. The enzymes of this invention can be obtained from microorganisms such as the genera Pichia, Candida, and Ogataea, and so on. It is possible to produce alcohols, in particular, alcohols such as (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters and (R)-propoxybenzene derivatives by reducing ketones with this (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase. Moreover, the (R)-2-octanol dehydrogenase of this invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity.