Abstract: Provided are a counseling method and counseling device which present a skincare advice appropriate to a user. The counseling device includes an obtaining unit that obtains genetic information representing a result of a genetic test on a user and stratum corneum information representing a result of a stratum corneum test on the user; a skin constitution determining unit that determines skin constitution of the user, based on the genetic information; a skin capability determining unit that determines skin capability representing a skin condition of the user, based on the stratum corneum information; an identifying unit that identifies a skincare advice and/or a cosmetic to be proposed to the user, based on the skin constitution and the skin capability; and a presenting unit that presents counseling information including information on the skincare advice and/or cosmetic to the user.

Abstract: An evaluation method for evaluating an ultraviolet radiation protection effect in a measurement sample applied on an application member includes the first step of switching to a first filter for measuring a spectral transmittance before photodeterioration by emission of light from a light source, and measuring the spectral transmittance, the second step of switching to a second filter for ultraviolet irradiation and causing the photodeterioration by the emission of the light after the measurement by the first step, and thereafter, switching to the first filter and measuring the spectral transmittance, and the third step of evaluating the ultraviolet radiation protection effect based on a change over time in the spectral transmittance obtained by the second step. Each of the first and second filters includes multiple light source filters. The first filter includes ND filters switchable in accordance with the light amount of the light source in the light source filters.

Abstract: An evaluation method for evaluating an ultraviolet radiation protection effect in a measurement sample applied on an application member includes the first step of switching to a first filter for measuring a spectral transmittance before photodeterioration by emission of light from a light source, and measuring the spectral transmittance, the second step of switching to a second filter for ultraviolet irradiation and causing the photodeterioration by the emission of the light after the measurement by the first step, and thereafter, switching to the first filter and measuring the spectral transmittance, and the third step of evaluating the ultraviolet radiation protection effect based on a change over time in the spectral transmittance obtained by the second step. Each of the first and second filters includes multiple light source filters. The first filter includes ND filters switchable in accordance with the light amount of the light source in the light source filters.

Abstract: An invisible information embedding apparatus for embedding invisible information at a position in an obtained image includes an image analysis unit configured to obtain object information and positional information of an object included in the image, an embedding target image determining unit configured to determine whether the image is an embedding target based on the object information obtained by the image analysis unit, and an image synthesizing unit configured to combine the image with the invisible information based on the determination result of the embedding target image determining unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a pyrimidinylpyrazole compound (1), wherein aminoguanidine (2) or its salt is reacted with a ?-diketone compound (3) to produce the pyrimidinylpyrazole compound: wherein R1 and R3 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The method is excellent in the environmental compatibility and economic efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein X1, X2, and X3 are each CR2 or N; R1, R2, and R3 are each H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, SH, OH, or NRbRc, wherein Rb and Rc are each H, C1-6 alkyl, or hydroxy-C1-6 alkyl, or NRbRc forms a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered hetero ring; and B is a substituted or unsubstituted pyrazole, imidazole, pyridine, or piperidine; with the proviso that at least one of R1, R3, R4, and R6 is a group other than C1-3 alkyl in the case where X1?X2?Y1?N and X3?CR2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, R1, R3, R4, and R6 are each independently C1-3 alkyl; and R2 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or C1-3 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, R1, R3, R4, and R6 are each independently C1-3 alkyl; and R2 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or C1-3 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a pyrimidinylpyrazole compound (1), wherein aminoguanidine (2) or its salt is reacted with a ?-diketone compound (3) to produce the pyrimidinylpyrazole compound: wherein R1 and R3 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The method is excellent in the environmental compatibility and economic efficiency.

Abstract: An invisible information embedding apparatus for embedding invisible information at a position in an obtained image includes an image analysis unit configured to obtain object information and positional information of an object included in the image, an embedding target image determining unit configured to determine whether the image is an embedding target based on the object information obtained by the image analysis unit, and an image synthesizing unit configured to combine the image with the invisible information based on the determination result of the embedding target image determining unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a heterocyclic compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1, R2, and R2? are each independently C1-3 alkyl; Y is S or O; and p is an integer of 0 to 3, wherein when p is 2 or 3, R1 may be the same or different.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, R1, R3, R4, and R6 are each independently C1-3 alkyl; and R2 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or C1-3 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein X1, X2, and X3 are each CR2 or N; R1, R2, and R3 are each H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, SH, OH, or NRbRc, wherein Rb and Rc are each H, C1-6 alkyl, or hydroxy-C1-6 alkyl, or NRbRc forms a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered hetero ring; and B is a substituted or unsubstituted pyrazole, imidazole, pyridine, or piperidine; with the proviso that at least one of R1, R3, R4, and R6 is a group other than C1-3 alkyl in the case where X1?X2?Y1?N and X3?CR2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a heterocyclic compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein A is C1-6 alkyl, C5-6 cycloalkyl, benzyl, benzylcarbonyl, benzoyl, phenyl, pyridyl or pyrimidyl; Ra is H, C1-6 alkyl, or C2-6 alkenyl; “” represents a single bond or a double bond wherein n=1 or 2; Y is S or O; and R3 and R4 are each independently H, C1-6 alkyl, hydroxy-C1-6 alkyl, C2-7 acyl, phenyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, etc.;with the proviso that at least one R3 is a group other than C1-3 alkyl in the case where: the hetero ring containing Y is a thiazoline ring; R4?Ra?H; X1?X2?CH; and either p =0 or R5?C1-6 alkyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having an excellent inhibitory action on melanin production and being useful as a whitening agent, and a skin external preparation containing the compound. The whitening agent of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, a heterocyclic compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1, R2, and R2? are each independently C1-3 alkyl; Y is S or O; and p is an integer of 0 to 3, wherein when p is 2 or 3, R1 may be the same or different.

Abstract: A hair growth promoting composition comprising, as an effective ingredient, a phenylacetonitrile derivative or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof expressed by the following Formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group, a C2-10 alkenyl group or C2-10 acyl group, or NR1R2 may be a heterocycle having 3-7 members; R3 is a C1-5 alkyl group; and each of R4, R5 and R6 is hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkoxy group. The present invention provides a hair growth promoting composition having excellent effects on promoting hair regrowth, preventing or inhibiting hair loss, and the like in human by compounding above-specified phenylacetonitrile derivative as a effective ingredient thereto.