Abstract: A screening system provided with a potential-dependent Na ion channel that extends the duration of the action potential associated with depolarization, and a K ion channel that deepens the resting membrane potential in the negative direction, said screening system furthermore including cells provided with ion channels that contribute to deepening the resting membrane potential in the negative direction and/or shortening the duration of the action potential as target ion channels. By such cells, the action of a test compound on the target ion channel can be easily evaluated by providing an inhibitor for the K ion channel to control the probability of cell death.

Abstract: A mineral processing method capable of efficiently separating a copper mineral from a molybdenum mineral is provided. The mineral processing method includes: a conditioning step of adding sulfite as a surface treatment agent to a mineral slurry containing a copper mineral and a molybdenum mineral; and a flotation step of performing flotation using the mineral slurry after the conditioning step. The hydrophilicity of the copper mineral can be selectively enhanced by sulfite, so as to be able to produce a difference in hydrophilicity between the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral. Therefore, the molybdenum mineral can be selectively caused to float, and the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral can be efficiently separated from each other.

Abstract: A mineral processing method capable of efficiently separating a copper mineral from a molybdenum mineral is provided. The mineral processing method includes: a conditioning step of adding sulfite as a surface treatment agent to a mineral slurry containing a copper mineral and a molybdenum mineral; and a flotation step of performing flotation using the mineral slurry after the conditioning step. The hydrophilicity of the copper mineral can be selectively enhanced by sulfite, so as to be able to produce a difference in hydrophilicity between the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral. Therefore, the molybdenum mineral can be selectively caused to float, and the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral can be efficiently separated from each other.

Abstract: A screening system provided with a potential-dependent Na ion channel that extends the duration of the action potential associated with depolarization, and a K ion channel that deepens the resting membrane potential in the negative direction, said screening system furthermore including cells provided with ion channels that contribute to deepening the resting membrane potential in the negative direction and/or shortening the duration of the action potential as target ion channels. By such cells, the action of a test compound on the target ion channel can be easily evaluated by providing an inhibitor for the K ion channel to control the probability of cell death.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a screening system that targets ion channels and has superior efficiency. The present invention provides a material for screening for compounds that act on a target ion channel, comprising cells which retain at least one first DNA encoding a voltage-dependent Na ion channel that has been inhibited from being inactivated, and in which a K ion channel has been activated so that a resting membrane potential becomes deeper in a negative direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a screening system that targets ion channels and has superior efficiency. The present invention provides a material for screening for compounds that act on a target ion channel, comprising cells which retain at least one first DNA encoding a voltage-dependent Na ion channel that has been inhibited from being inactivated, and in which a K ion channel has been activated so that a resting membrane potential becomes deeper in a negative direction.

Abstract: A potassium channel opener including a compound (e.g., pimaric acid) represented by the formula [I]: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halogen, hydroxy, halogenated alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxamate, sulfo, carbamoyl, sulfonamide, aldehyde, or nitrile; or R4 and R5 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; or R6 and R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; and all of three bonds represented by are single bonds, or one of the three bonds is double bond and the other bonds are single bonds, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: The cell observation device and method aims to easily study the correlation between initial states of cells and their reactions without using a synchronous culture method. For this purpose, the cell observation device includes an image acquisition unit acquiring an image of a specimen including a plurality of cells; a stimulating unit applying a predetermined stimulation to the plural cells; a determining unit determining initial states of the plural cells from the image which is acquired by the image acquisition unit before the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; a finding unit finding reactions of the plural cells to the stimulation, from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit after the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; and a generating unit generating information on correlation between the initial states and the reactions of the plural cells.

Abstract: A potassium channel opener comprising a compound (e.g., pimaric acid) represented by the formula [I]: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halogen, hydroxy, halogenated alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxamate, sulfo, carbamoyl, sulfonamide, aldehyde, or nitrile; or R4 and R5 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; or R6 and R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; and all of three bonds represented by are single bonds, or one of the three bonds is double bond and the other bonds are single bonds, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: An intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus for measuring intracellular reactions by the use of a specimen in which a plurality of cell colonies are contained in a non-contact state, the apparatus includes a device that specifies the intensity of first light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the presence of a stated protein is detected to specify, of the plurality of cell colonies, a noted colony containing cells where the stated protein is present, and a device in which the intensity of second light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the intracellular reactions is detected to select, of the detected intensity of the second light, the intensity of the second light emitted from the noted colony.

Abstract: A potassium channel opener including a compound (e.g., pimaric acid) represented by the formula [I]: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halogen, hydroxy, halogenated alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxamate, sulfo, carbamoyl, sulfonamide, aldehyde, or nitrile; or R4 and R5 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; or R6 and R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; and all of three bonds represented by are single bonds, or one of the three bonds is double bond and the other bonds are single bonds, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: The cell observation device and method aims to easily study the correlation between initial states of cells and their reactions without using a synchronous culture method. For this purpose, the cell observation device includes an image acquisition unit acquiring an image of a specimen including a plurality of cells; a stimulating unit applying a predetermined stimulation to the plural cells; a determining unit determining initial states of the plural cells from the image which is acquired by the image acquisition unit before the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; a finding unit finding reactions of the plural cells to the stimulation, from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit after the stimulating unit applies the stimulation; and a generating unit generating information on correlation between the initial states and the reactions of the plural cells.

Abstract: A potassium channel opener comprising a compound (e.g.

Abstract: In an intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus for measuring intracellular reactions by the use of a specimen in which a plurality of cell colonies are contained in a non-contact state, the apparatus has i) specifying means in which the intensity of first light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the presence of a stated protein is detected to specify, of the plurality of cell colonies, a noted colony containing cells where the stated protein is present, and ii) selection means in which the intensity of second light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the intracellular reactions is detected to select, of the detected intensity of the second light, the intensity of the second light emitted from the noted colony. Also disclosed is an intracellular-reaction measuring method making use of this apparatus.

Abstract: A method is provided for decomposing free cyanide ion and metallic cyano complex ions in a liquid, comprising the steps of bringing the liquid into contact with ozone gas in a counterflow relation in the condition that the pH of the liquid is at least 10 with the mass flow rate of the ozone in the ozone gas up to 20 mg per minute per liter of liquid, and then bringing the liquid into contact in a counterflow relation with ozone gas having an ozone concentration of at least 150 g/m3 in the condition that the pH of the liquid is 7.0 to 9.5.