Abstract: A gas separation membrane that separates, by selective transmission, carbon dioxide from a mixed gas containing the carbon dioxide and nitrogen, the gas separation membrane including: a first layer; and a second layer provided at one surface of the first layer and composed of a compound having carbon dioxide separation ability, wherein an average thickness of the second layer is smaller than an average thickness of the first layer, and the second layer satisfies 0.56<?2, where an activity coefficient of nitrogen in the second layer, calculated by the COSMO-RS method, is ?2N2, an activity coefficient of carbon dioxide in the second layer is ?2CO2, and a separation performance parameter of the second layer at 25° C. is ?2=ln(?2N2)?ln(?2CO2).

Abstract: A gas separation membrane includes a first layer and a second layer that is provided at the surface on one side of the first layer and that includes a compound having gas separation ability. The average thickness of the second layer is smaller than an average thickness of the first layer. The second layer is an inkjet coating. The compound preferably includes a structure derived from PET, POM, PLA, PDMS, cellulose, or a coupling agent.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting particulate substances with a high degree of sensitivity, while suppressing the generation of non-specific signals. According to the present invention, the generation of non-specific signals in the background can be suppressed by blocking a membrane of a test strip which is used for immunochromatography with a blocking composition including a polymer-based blocking agent having, in its side chain, a substituent represented by the following formula: (wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, or a C1-6 hydroxyalkyl group; and n is an integer of 1 to 4), and having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1×103 to 1×107.

Abstract: Provided is a method of assisting breast cancer diagnosis, comprising: a measuring step for measuring an amount of laminin 5 or laminin ?3 in a specimen; and an information-providing step for providing information for breast cancer diagnosis based on the amount of laminin 5 or laminin ?3 thus measured. Provided is a test kit for breast cancer comprising an anti-laminin 5 antibody or an anti-laminin ?3 antibody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a particulate substance by immunochromatography, the particulate substance including, on its surface, a plurality of substances to be bound containing a first substance to be bound and a second substance to be bound which may be the same or different with respect to each other, wherein the method includes the steps of: (1) contacting on a membrane a sample containing the particulate substance with a first specific binding substance for the first substance to be bound to capture the particulate substance with the first specific binding substance; (2) contacting the captured particulate substance with a second specific binding substance for the second substance to be bound to label the particulate substance; and (3) detecting the labeled particulate substance, wherein the first specific binding substance is immobilized on the membrane, and the second specific binding substance is bound to a metal nanoparticle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a test substance using a composition that contains gold nanoplates suitable for detecting the test substance. The composition includes gold nanoplates, and is characterized in that an average aspect ratio of the gold nanoplates (a value obtained by dividing a maximum length of the gold nanoplates by a thickness) is greater than 1 and 10 or less, a concentration of quaternary ammonium cations in the composition is 1 mM or less, and the quaternary ammonium cations are represented by N+(R)4 (each R is independently selected from linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms).

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a composition which contains gold nanoplates, in particular, suitable for detecting a test substance. A composition of the present invention for detecting a test substance, comprising gold nanoplates, is characterized in that an average aspect ratio of the gold nanoplates (a value obtained by dividing a maximum length of the gold nanoplates by a thickness) is greater than 1 and 10 or less, a concentration of quaternary ammonium cations in the composition is 1 mM or less, and the quaternary ammonium cations are represented by N+(R)4 (each R is independently selected from linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms).

Abstract: A stable suspension of gold-coated silver nanoplates which is applicable to detection of various substances and able to accommodate various detection means and with which high detection sensitivity is attained in the detection of substances. This suspension of gold-coated silver nanoplates is characterized by containing 0-50 ?M water-soluble polymer and having a pH of 10 or less.