Abstract: Provided herein is a method for providing information about virus infection and/or virus infection disease in a subject, comprising: making a determination on the detection and/or stage classification of virus infection and/or virus infection disease in the subject using an indicator associated with a D-amino acid in the subject; and providing information about virus infection and/or virus infection disease in the subject based on the results of the determination.

Abstract: A test object includes a sensor housing for vibrating together with a test object in synchronism with vibration of the test object; a piezoelectric substrate for vibrating together with the sensor housing in synchronism with vibration of the sensor housing, where a first interdigital electrode, a first terminal, a second interdigital electrode, and a second terminal are disposed on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and the piezoelectric substrate is disposed inside the sensor housing to be fixed to the sensor housing; an amplifier for receiving a signal output from the second terminal as an input signal, amplifying the received input signal, and transmitting the input signal after the amplification to the first terminal as an output signal; a deformable layer being elastic and having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and a heavy object having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the deformable layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration sensor including a piezoelectric substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode that are arranged on the piezoelectric substrate, an amplifier electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a solid medium having a first surface part in contact with the piezoelectric substrate, and a second surface part disposed opposite to the first surface part and used for contact with a target substance, the solid medium having a sound speed lower than the phase speed of a plate wave in the piezoelectric substrate, in which an oscillation loop includes the piezoelectric substrate, the first electrode, the second electrode, the amplifier, and the solid medium, and a vibration of the target substance is detected as a result of variation in the loop length of the oscillation loop in response to the vibration of the target substance.

Abstract: Provided are: a wear-resistant member using a Cr-based alloy material in which the cost can be reduced as compared with a Co-based alloy material and has wear resistance superior to that of the conventional Co-based alloy material; and a mechanical device using the wear-resistant member. The present invention is a wear-resistant member using a Cr-based alloy material, in which the Cr-based alloy material includes: more than 40 mass % and 65 mass % or less of Cr; 15 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less of Ni; more than 0 mass % and 30 mass % or less of Fe; 5 mass % or more and 16 mass % or less of Nb; 0.1 mass % or more and 0.9 mass % or less of Ti; 0.6 mass % or more and 2.5 mass % or less of C; 2 mass % or less of Mn; and impurities, and in which a mass ratio Ti/Nb of the Nb and the Ti is 0.063 or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a D-serine transport modifier which is characterized by controlling the transport of D-serine into and out of cells by a D-serine transporter protein, a pharmaceutical composition which comprises the same as an active component and treats or prevents diseases relating to an increase or decrease in the amount of D-serine, and a screening method of substances that control the transport of D-serine. The present invention also provides a screening method of a D-serine transporter protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method comprising a step of estimating the kidney function of an arbitrary subject by a regression analysis which employs the amount of a D, L-amino acid in a biological sample from the arbitrary subject as an explanatory variable and employs the amount of filtrated glomeruli in the arbitrary subject as an object variable, by employing a previously determined formula (I): Y=a1·X1+a2·X2+ . . . +an·Xn+b (I) [wherein a1 to an independently represent a constant obtained by the regression analysis; X1 to Xn independently represent a variable of the amount of the D,L-amino acid which is selected by the regression analysis; and b represents a constant obtained by the regression analysis] on the basis of the Y value calculated from the amount of the D, L-amino acid in the biological sample from the object to be evaluated. Also provided is a system for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a Zr—Nb-based alloy material as a low-magnetic susceptibility alloy having a high corrosion resistance while maintaining a magnetic susceptibility equivalent to or less than the magnetic susceptibility of the biological alloy of the related art, a method for manufacturing the alloy material, and a Zr—Nb-based alloy product. The Zr—Nb-based alloy material according to the present invention includes, as a chemical composition, 3% by mass or more and 18% by mass or less of Nb, 12% by mass or less of Ti, 6% by mass or less of Cr, 6% by mass or less of Cu, 5% by mass or less of Bi, and a remainder consisting of Zr and unavoidable impurities, in which isothermal ? phase particles are dispersed and precipitated in ? phase crystal grains of a parent phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assisting in the evaluation of the condition of kidneys, a system for evaluating the condition of kidneys, and a program for evaluating the condition of kidneys, using, as an index, the ratio of reabsorption of D-serine and/or D-asparagine in target kidneys and excretion of the D-serine and/or D-asparagine. The present invention also provides a method for monitoring the condition of kidneys and a method for monitoring the effect of treatment on kidney disease.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: a metal case including a bottom wall portion having a vibration surface, and a side wall portion connected to the bottom wall portion; a coil mounted on one surface of the side wall portion; and a magnet mounted in such a way as to sandwich the coil between the magnet and the one surface of the side wall portion, in which the coil causes an eddy current to occur in the one surface of the side wall portion, and causes the bottom wall portion to vibrate, by using a Lorentz force occurring in the side wall portion because of the interaction between the eddy current and a magnetic field generated by the magnet.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a method for assisting the evaluation of renal pathological conditions, said method comprising using, as an index, a combination of renal reabsorption and excretion ratios of D-serine and/or D-asparagine in a subject with the blood D-serine and/or D-asparagine levels; a system for evaluating renal pathological conditions; and a program for evaluating renal pathological conditions. The present invention also provides: a method for monitoring renal pathological conditions; and a method for monitoring an effect of treating a renal disease.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (1) sends out ultrasound waves to a steel sheet (100) obliquely at a plurality of angles, using transmission signals provided from a transmission signal processing unit (3a). In addition, the ultrasonic probe (1) receives echoes corresponding to the plurality of angles from the steel sheet (100). A reception signal processing unit (3b) determines amplitudes of the echoes received by the ultrasonic probe (1) and corresponding to the plurality of angles, and periods of time from when the ultrasound waves are sent out until the echoes are received, as reception times, and identifies a location of a flaw (101) in the steel sheet (100) from the reception times and a ratio between the amplitudes.

Abstract: A test object includes a sensor housing for vibrating together with a test object in synchronism with vibration of the test object; a piezoelectric substrate for vibrating together with the sensor housing in synchronism with vibration of the sensor housing, where a first interdigital electrode, a first terminal, a second interdigital electrode, and a second terminal are disposed on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and the piezoelectric substrate is disposed inside the sensor housing to be fixed to the sensor housing; an amplifier for receiving a signal output from the second terminal as an input signal, amplifying the received input signal, and transmitting the input signal after the amplification to the first terminal as an output signal; a deformable layer being elastic and having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and a heavy object having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the deformable layer.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a method for predicting the prognosis for kidney disease for a subject on the basis of the amount of D- and L-amino acids, from a blood sample; and an analysis system that determines prognosis predictions. This purpose is achieved by using at least one amino acid to predict the prognosis for kidney disease, said amino acid being selected from the group consisting of D-serine, D-asparagine, D-proline, D-alanine, D-leucine, D-lysine, D-allo-isoleucine, L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tryptophan, and L-asparagine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration sensor including a piezoelectric substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode that are arranged on the piezoelectric substrate, an amplifier electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a solid medium having a first surface part in contact with the piezoelectric substrate, and a second surface part disposed opposite to the first surface part and used for contact with a target substance, the solid medium having a sound speed lower than the phase speed of a plate wave in the piezoelectric substrate, in which an oscillation loop includes the piezoelectric substrate, the first electrode, the second electrode, the amplifier, and the solid medium, and a vibration of the target substance is detected as a result of variation in the loop length of the oscillation loop in response to the vibration of the target substance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus (1) estimates a property/state of a test object (100) that allows an injected ultrasonic wave to propagate as plate waves (UW) of propagation modes. The ultrasonic measurement apparatus (1) includes: a receiver (30) configured to receive a detected signal obtained by detecting the plate waves (UW) propagating through the test object (100) to output a received signal indicating a time-domain waveform of the detected signal; an intensity detector (12) configured to detect the signal intensity of a waveform part corresponding to a first propagation mode, and the signal intensity of a waveform part corresponding to a second propagation mode; and an estimator (13) configured to make a comparison between the signal intensities to estimate a property/state of the test object (100) on the basis of a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining glomerular filtration ability on the basis of the amount of D-serine in the blood. The present invention provides a blood analysis system which includes a storage unit, an analysis measurement unit, a data processing unit and a glomerular filtration ability output unit, wherein: the storage unit stores the correlation equation between the amount of D-serine in the blood and glomerular filtration ability; the analysis measurement unit separates and quantifies the amount of D-serine in the blood; the data processing unit calculates glomerular filtration ability by inputting the D-serine amount into the correlation equation stored in the storage unit; and a pathology information output unit outputs glomerular filtration ability information.

Abstract: There is provided a Cr-based two-phase alloy including two phases of a ferrite phase and an austenite phase that are mixed with each other. A chemical composition of the Cr-based two-phase alloy consists of a main component, an auxiliary component, impurities, a first optional auxiliary component, and a second optional auxiliary component. The main component consists of 33-61 mass % Cr, 18-40 mass % Ni and 10-33 mass % Fe, and a total content of the Ni and the Fe is 37-65 mass %. The auxiliary component consists of 0.1-2 mass % Mn, 0.1-1 mass % Si, 0.005-0.05 mass % Al, and 0.02-0.3 mass % Sn. The impurities include 0.04 mass % or less of P, 0.01 mass % or less of S, 0.03 mass % or less of C, 0.04 mass % or less of N, and 0.05 mass % or less of O.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a method for predicting the prognosis for kidney disease for a subject on the basis of the amount of D- and L-amino acids, from a blood sample; and an analysis system that determines prognosis predictions. This purpose is achieved by using at least one amino acid to predict the prognosis for kidney disease, said amino acid being selected from the group consisting of D-serine, D-asparagine, D-proline, D-alanine, D-leucine, D-lysine, D-allo-isoleucine, L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tryptophan, and L-asparagine.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe (1) sends out ultrasound waves to a steel sheet (100) obliquely at a plurality of angles, using transmission signals provided from a transmission signal processing unit (3a). In addition, the ultrasonic probe (1) receives echoes corresponding to the plurality of angles from the steel sheet (100). A reception signal processing unit (3b) determines amplitudes of the echoes received by the ultrasonic probe (1) and corresponding to the plurality of angles, and periods of time from when the ultrasound waves are sent out until the echoes are received, as reception times, and identifies a location of a flaw (101) in the steel sheet (100) from the reception times and a ratio between the amplitudes.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide: a two-phase alloy as a metal material that can be preferably utilized under circumstances of a temperature range and a high corrosion as in an oil well, the two-phase alloy having a high corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties that are equivalent or more than those of conventional ones, and saving a cost; a product of the two-phase alloy; and a method for producing the product. There is provided a two-phase alloy containing Cr as a major component and including two phases of an austenite phase and a ferrite phase in a mixed state. The alloy has a chemical composition containing: 34-70 mass % of Cr; 17-45 mass % of Ni; 10-35 mass % of Fe; 0.1-2 mass % of Mn; 0.1-1 mass % of Si; and impurities. The total content of the Ni and the Fe is 30-65 mass %.