Abstract: A diagnostic optical microscope according to the present embodiment includes at least one laser light source (11) configured to generate laser light for illuminating a sample (40) containing a light absorbing material, a lens configured to focus the laser light to be focused on the sample (40), scanning means for changing a focusing position of the laser light on the sample (40), and a light detector (31) configured to detect laser light transmitted through the sample (40) as signal light. A laser light intensity is changed to obtain a nonlinear region in which the laser light intensity and a signal light intensity have a nonlinear relation due to occurrence of saturation of absorption in the light absorbing material when the laser light intensity is maximized. An image is generated based on a nonlinear component of the signal light based on the saturation of absorption in the light absorbing material.

Abstract: An end effector includes an imaging device, first and second contact-move members for grabbing a target object, an actuator, and a control device. When, in an image captured by the imaging device, the target object is located within a target-object-grabbing area between a first-contact-move-member-passage area through which a distal end portion of the first contact-move member passes and a second-contact-move-member-passage area through which a distal end portion of the second contact-move member passes in a predetermined-shaped obstacle exclusion area including the target object, the control device adjusts positions of the first contact-move member and the second contact-move member such that the first and second contact-move members pass through the obstacle exclusion area when the end effector moves to a grabbing position.

Abstract: An end effector includes: a target-object-positioning mechanism provided at a body member and including a first contact-move member, a second contact-move member and an opening-closing member that make contact with a part of a target object and position a portion of the target object at a processing position; and a processing mechanism provided at the body member and processing the portion of the target object positioned at the processing position. The first contact-move member and the second contact-move member intersect each other inside the opening-closing member. Portions forward of the intersection portion in the first and second contact-move members make contact with the opening-closing member by an elastic restoring force of an elastic member. The opening-closing member, when moved from a rear position to a front position, applies a forward force to the first and second contact-move members so that they are moved in a direction approaching each other.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing cardiomyocytes from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer, a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical compounds capable of using for the said process. The present invention can include a process for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer, and a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and then a composition for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the composition comprising a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer. The cardiomyocytes obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: An end effector including a processing mechanism and a target-object-positioning mechanism provided at a support member. The target-object-positioning mechanism includes a first contact-and-move member configured to move in a front-rear direction of the end effector and in a first orthogonal direction with respect to the support member, and a second contact-and-move member configured to move in the front-rear direction and in a second orthogonal direction with respect to the support member. The first and second contact-and-move members, while maintaining a position thereof in the front-rear direction with respect to the support member, move in the first orthogonal direction and the second orthogonal direction, respectively, to make contact with the target object in a contact-and-move-member-moving space.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed to provide a new composition for a medium which can be used for differentiation induction from somatic cells to brown adipocytes. The present invention can include, for example, a composition for a medium used in differentiation induction from somatic cells to brown adipocytes, wherein the composition comprises the following seven components: a thyroid hormone receptor agonist, a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, insulin, an ascorbic acid derivative, albumin, and an antibiotic. According to the present invention, direct differentiation induction from somatic cells to brown adipocytes can be effectively performed. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively maintain brown adipocytes.

Abstract: The present invention is primarily directed to provide a new process capable of performing direct conversion of or induction from a somatic cell to brown adipocytes with low molecular weight compounds, without performing artificial gene transfer. The present invention includes, for example, a process for producing brown adipocytes by direct differentiation induction from somatic cells, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in a serum-free differentiation induction medium in the presence of a selective PPAR? agonist and a cAMP inducer. According to the present invention, direct conversion of or induction from somatic cells to brown adipocytes can be effectively performed without gene transfer. The brown adipocytes obtained by the present invention are useful as regenerative medicine, models of human brown adipocytes and human beige cells, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a method for producing brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer; brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells; or a composition including a combination of chemical substances that can be used for the aforementioned production method. An example of the present invention is a method for producing brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells including a step for culturing somatic cells in the presence or absence of an inhibitor or activator selected from the group consisting of an ALK5 inhibitor, an ALK6 inhibitor, an AMPK inhibitor, a cAMP activator, an ALK2 inhibitor, an ALK3 inhibitor, a GSK3 inhibitor, and an Erk inhibitor.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a new producing method capable of efficiently performing direct conversion or induction from a somatic cell to an insulin-producing cell. The present invention can include, for example, a process for producing an insulin-producing cell by direct differentiation induction from a somatic cell, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in a serum-free differentiation induction medium, or a step of culturing a somatic cell in a differentiation induction medium containing 5 ?g/mL or more of insulin. According to the present invention, insulin-producing cells having a high insulin secretion ability can be produced directly and efficiently from a somatic cell. The insulin-producing cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell without performing artificial gene transfer, an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process, or a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for the process. The present invention can include, for example: a process for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by direct differentiation induction, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in the presence of an RSK inhibitor; an insulin-producing cell obtained from the process; and a composition for producing an insulin-producing cell from a somatic cell by directly inducing differentiation, comprising an RSK inhibitor. The insulin-producing cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a neuron-like cell from a somatic cell, a neuron-like cell obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical substances that can be used for said process without performing artificial gene transfer. The invention can include, for example, a process for producing neuron-like cells, characterized by comprising a step of culturing somatic cells in the presence of two kinds of inhibitors, i.e., a TGF-? inhibitor and a BMP inhibitor, as well as any three or more selected from the group consisting of four kinds, i.e., a cAMP inducer, a GSK3 inhibitor, an Erk-inhibitor, and a p53-inhibitor, wherein the TGF-? inhibitor is a selective ALK5 inhibitor, and a neuron-like cell obtained by said process. The neuron-like cells obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing insulin-producing cells from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer. The present invention can include a process for producing an insulin-producing cell by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a cAMP inducer, and six members selected from the group consisting of a GSK3 inhibitor, a TGF-? inhibitor, a BMP inhibitor, a p53 inhibitor, a PI3K inhibitor, a Notch inhibitor and a RAR agonist, or all members thereof. The insulin-producing cells obtained by the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: The present invention chiefly aims to provide a process for directly inducing cardiomyocytes from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer, a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and a composition comprising a combination of chemical compounds capable of using for the said process. The present invention can include a process for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the process comprising a step of culturing the somatic cell in the presence of a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer, and a cardiomyocyte obtained thereby, and then a composition for producing a cardiomyocyte by inducing differentiation directly from a somatic cell, the composition comprising a MEK inhibitor and a cAMP inducer. The cardiomyocytes obtained according to the present invention are useful in regenerative medicine and the like.

Abstract: To curb occurrence of static electricity between a glass substrate and a roller that conveys the glass substrate while supporting the glass substrate. A protrusion portion (112) is provided at a center portion of an outer circumferential surface of a roller (11) with respect to a direction in which a rotation axis (CA) of the roller (11) extends and convex portions (114) each protruding in a receding direction with respect to the rotation axis (CA) and concave portions (115) each recessed in an approaching direction with respect to the rotation axis (CA) are alternately provided along a circumferential direction (C) of the roller (11) on an outer circumference of the protrusion portion (112).

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a method for producing brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells from somatic cells without performing artificial gene transfer; brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells; or a composition including a combination of chemical substances that can be used for the aforementioned production method. An example of the present invention is a method for producing brown adipocytes, osteoblasts, cartilage cells, neural cells, or cardiac cells including a step for culturing somatic cells in the presence or absence of an inhibitor or activator selected from the group consisting of an ALK5 inhibitor, an ALK6 inhibitor, an AMPK inhibitor, a cAMP activator, an ALK2 inhibitor, an ALK3 inhibitor, a GSK3 inhibitor, and an Erk inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a multilayer film forming step of forming a multilayer film constituted by a plurality of metal films layered together; after the multilayer film forming step, a resist forming step of forming a resist film having patterned openings on the multilayer film; after the resist forming step, a dry etching step of dry etching the multilayer film to remove at least one metal film located at the top of the multilayer film and exposed by the openings; after the dry etching step, a wet etching step of wet etching the multilayer film to remove at least the metal films exposed by the openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting nerves, including: step 1 of irradiating a sample with excitation light; step 2 of detecting Raman scattering light from the sample; step 3 of calculating an intensity ratio of a wave number within a specific range of the Raman scattering light detected in the step 2 or extracting a feature of the intensity ratio and subjecting the feature to multivariate analysis and/or statistical analysis; and step 4 of specifically displaying nerves containing unmyelinated nerves, using as an index the intensity ratio or a result from the multivariate analysis and/or the statistical analysis.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a Group IV metal oxide film useful as a semiconductor element or an optical element at a low temperature. The present invention relates to a method for producing a Group IV metal oxide film, comprising coating a surface of a substrate with a film-forming material dissolved in an organic solvent, and subjecting the substrate to a heat treatment, an ultraviolet irradiation treatment, or both of these treatments, wherein a film-forming material obtained by reacting a vinylenediamide complex having a specific structure with an oxidizing agent such as oxygen gas, air, ozone, water and hydrogen peroxide is used as the film-forming material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for identifying a tumor site in a subject, the device spectroscopically detecting fluorescence of protoporphyrins present in the tumor site, the protoporphyrins being protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and photo-protoporphyrin (PPp), and the device comprising: a light irradiation unit that converts part of PpIX into PPp; a spectroscopy unit that separates PpIX fluorescence and PPp fluorescence: a spectroscopy detection unit that detects the relative fluorescence intensity of the PpIX fluorescence and the PPp fluorescence; and a tumor discrimination unit that discriminates between the tumor site and a non-tumor site based on the relative fluorescence intensity of PpIX and PPp.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting nerves, including: step 1 of irradiating a sample with excitation light; step 2 of detecting Raman scattering light from the sample; step 3 of calculating an intensity ratio of a wave number within a specific range of the Raman scattering light detected in the step 2 or extracting a feature of the intensity ratio and subjecting the feature to multivariate analysis and/or statistical analysis; and step 4 of specifically displaying nerves containing unmyelinated nerves, using as an index the intensity ratio or a result from the multivariate analysis and/or the statistical analysis.