Abstract: Provided are a sheet transport apparatus and a sheet transport method preventing false detection of multiple feeding when feeding sheets of different thicknesses. The sheet transport apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver disposed opposite each other across a sheet transport path, a type detector for discriminating between a first sheet and a second sheet thicker than the first sheet while one or the other of the sheets is being fed along the transport path, and a multiple feed detector for detecting the presence or absence of multiple feeding of sheets along the transport path, based on an output produced by the ultrasonic sensor and on a detection result supplied from the type detector.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts, and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis. Namely, an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts which comprises, as the active ingredient, lactoperoxidase and/or a digestion product obtained by digesting lactoperoxidase with a protease such as trypsin; and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis containing lactoperoxidase and/or its digestion product.

Abstract: A problem of the present invention is to provide a skin collagen production-promoting agent without safety problems. Another problem of the present invention is to provide a skin collagen production-promoting food or drink product and a skin collagen production-promoting cosmetic product containing such a substance. TGF-? and/or a TGF-? degradation product, which is acquired by degrading TGF-? with a protease such as pepsin, pancreatin, etc., are used as a skin collagen production-promoting agent or the active ingredient of a skin collagen production-promoting food or drink product and a skin collagen production-promoting cosmetic product. The aforementioned TGF-? and/or TGF-? degradation product have an effect of increasing the collagen content of the skin.

Abstract: A milk protein fraction having following properties (1) to (4) is excellent in bone resorption inhibitory effect, and is useful for preventing or treating bone diseases: (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein having a molecular weight of 12,000 to 16,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 18 to 20 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and the ratio of the amount of a basic amino acid(s) to the amount of an acidic amino acid(s) is 0.7 to 0.9; and (4) the milk protein fraction has a bone resorption inhibitory effect.

Abstract: A negative electrode collector using a copper-covered steel foil for carrying a negative electrode active material for lithium ion secondary batteries has a steel sheet as the core material thereof and has, on both surfaces thereof, a copper covering layer having a mean thickness tCu of from 0.02 to 5.0 ?m on each surface, and of which the total mean thickness, t, including the copper covering layer 7 is from 3 to 100 ?m with tCu/t of at most 0.3. The steel sheet can be common steel, austenitic stainless steel, or ferritic stainless steel. The copper covering layer can be a copper electroplating layer (including one rolled after plating). On the surface of the copper covering layer, for example, a carbon-based active material layer that has been densified through strong roll pressing is formed, and the copper-covered steel foil and the carbon-based active material layer constitute the negative electrode collector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bone-reinforcing agent which comprises a milk protein fraction having the following properties (1) to (4): (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein component having a molecular weight of 6,000 to 150,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 12 to 14 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and the ratio of the amount of a basic amino acid(s) to the amount of an acidic amino acid(s) is 0.5 to 0.7; and (4) the milk protein fraction has an activity of accelerating the calcification in an osteoblast.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet transport apparatus and a sheet transport method preventing false detection of multiple feeding when feeding sheets of different thicknesses. The sheet transport apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver disposed opposite each other across a sheet transport path, a type detector for discriminating between a first sheet and a second sheet thicker than the first sheet while one or the other of the sheets is being fed along the transport path, and a multiple feed detector for detecting the presence or absence of multiple feeding of sheets along the transport path, based on an output produced by the ultrasonic sensor and on a detection result supplied from the type detector.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device comprising: a image capturing unit that captures a manuscript; a predetermined image pattern displayed in a region that is captured by the image capturing unit and provides a background of the manuscript; and a region determination unit that determines an image region corresponding to the manuscript, based on an image element corresponding to the image pattern and another image element corresponding to a shadow of the manuscript in an image captured by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: A determination method quantifies a specific protein or peptide contained in a trace amount with high accuracy and in a simple manner without the need of using any expensive reagent. A protein or peptide of interest can be quantified by LC/MS/MS by using, as an internal standard, a protein or peptide including an amino acid sequence having the reshuffling the binding order of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence for the protein or peptide of interest.

Abstract: Provided are: an agent for promoting growth hormone-secretion, containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient, with the promotion of growth hormone-secretion being mediated by the promotion of secretion of ghrelin having an effect for promoting growth hormone-secretion; and a method of promoting the secretion of ghrelin by using a milk-derived basic protein fraction. The agent for promoting growth hormone-secretion may be ingested on a daily basis and is highly safe even with its ingestion for a long period.

Abstract: A determination method quantifies a specific protein or peptide contained in a trace amount with high accuracy and in a simple manner without the need of using any expensive reagent. A protein or peptide of interest can be quantified by LC/MS/MS by using, as an internal standard, a protein or peptide including an amino acid sequence having the reshuffling the binding order of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence for the protein or peptide of interest.

Abstract: A stainless steel sheet useful as a separator for a low-temperature fuel cell has the surface state that a lot of fine projections (p) stand close together around many fine pits (d) formed over a whole surface. The surface state is realized by alternating electrolytic etching in a ferric chloride solution. When the stainless steel separator is built in a fuel cell, contact resistance between the separator and a graphite electrode is kept at a lower level even in a corrosive atmosphere. Consequently, the fuel cell can be driven with high power-generating efficiency over a long term even under severely corrosive conditions without generation of massive Joule heat.

Abstract: Disclosed is an osteoblast differentiation promoting and osteoclast differentiation inhibiting agent which comprises a milk protein fraction having the following characteristics (1) to (4): (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein component having a molecular weight of 75,000 to 85,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 13 to 15 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and has a basic amino acid/acidic amino acid of 0.5 to 0.7; and (4) the milk protein fraction has an osteoblast differentiation promoting effect and an osteoclast differentiation inhibiting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bone-reinforcing agent which comprises a milk protein fraction having the following properties (1) to (4): (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein component having a molecular weight of 6,000 to 150,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 12 to 14 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and the ratio of the amount of a basic amino acid(s) to the amount of an acidic amino acid(s) is 0.5 to 0.7; and (4) the milk protein fraction has an activity of accelerating the calcification in an osteoblast.

Abstract: A milk protein fraction having following properties (1) to (4) is excellent in bone resorption inhibitory effect, and is useful for preventing or treating bone diseases: (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein having a molecular weight of 12,000 to 16,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 18 to 20 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and the ratio of the amount of a basic amino acid(s) to the amount of an acidic amino acid(s) is 0.7 to 0.9; and (4) the milk protein fraction has a bone resorption inhibitory effect.

Abstract: Disclosed is an osteoclastogenesis inhibitory agent which comprises a milk protein fraction having the following properties (1) to (4) and the agent is excellent in an osteoclastogenesis inhibitory effect and useful for preventing or treating bone diseases: (1) the milk protein fraction is derived from milk; (2) the milk protein fraction is a fraction containing a protein having a molecular weight of 80,000 to 85,000 Daltons; (3) the milk protein fraction has a basic amino acid content of 16 to 18 wt % in the constitutional amino acid composition, and the ratio of the amount of a basic amino acid(s) to the amount of an acidic amino acid(s) is 0.65 to 0.85; and (4) the milk protein fraction has an osteoclastogenesis inhibitory effect .

Abstract: It is intended to provide an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts, and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis. Namely, an osteogenesis promoter capable of promoting osteogenesis by promoting the differentiation of osteoblasts which comprises, as the active ingredient, lactoperoxidase and/or a digestion product obtained by digesting lactoperoxidase with a protease such as trypsin; and foods, drinks, drugs or feeds for promoting osteogenesis containing lactoperoxidase and/or its digestion product.

Abstract: The production of RANKL may be inhibited by orally ingesting a milk-derived basic protein. Thus, a RANKL production inhibitor containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient; a therapeutic agent for a metabolic bone disease and a therapeutic agent for an immune disease each containing the RANKL production inhibitor; and a food/beverage and a feed each containing a specified amount of the RANKL production inhibitor and being characterized by inhibiting the production of RANKL have a remarkable effect of inhibiting the production of RANKL, can be ingested on a daily basis, and exhibit high safety even when being ingested over a long period.

Abstract: Provided are: an agent for promoting growth hormone-secretion, containing a milk-derived basic protein fraction as an active ingredient, with the promotion of growth hormone-secretion being mediated by the promotion of secretion of ghrelin having an effect for promoting growth hormone-secretion; and a method of promoting the secretion of ghrelin by using a milk-derived basic protein fraction. The agent for promoting growth hormone-secretion may be ingested on a daily basis and is highly safe even with its ingestion for a long period.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a skin collagen production promoter, foods and drinks for promoting skin collagen production and cosmetics for promoting skin collagen production which are useful in preventing skin chapping, wrinkles, worsening in skin fitness, etc. Namely, a skin collagen production promoter, foods and drinks for promoting skin collagen production and cosmetics for promoting skin collagen production which contain as the active ingredient(s) a milk-origin basic protein fraction and/or a basic peptide fraction obtained by digesting the above-described basic protein fraction with a protein digesting enzyme such as pepsin or pancreatin. The above basic protein fraction and basic peptide fraction have an effect of increasing skin collagen level.