Abstract: A stimuli-responsive polymer derivative utilizing keto-enol tautomerization. Also disclosed are a simple process for producing an N-acyl(meth)acrylamide derivative which can be used as a monomer for the stimuli-responsive polymer, a process for the production of an intermediate thereof, and an intermediate thus produced.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a concentration of a target nucleic acid by using a nucleic acid probe labeled with a fluorescent dye. The method comprises: providing, as the probe, a nucleic acid probe capable of reducing fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye when hybridized with the target nucleic acid; hybridizing the probe to the target nucleic acid; and measuring a decrease in fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye after the hybridization relative to fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye before the hybridization.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method of functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of nonpolar indium gallium nitride (InGaN) films as well as nonpolar InGaN-containing device structures using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOVCD). The method is used to fabricate nonpolar InGaN/GaN violet and near-ultraviolet light emitting diodes and laser diodes.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electromagnetic wave frequency filter capable of transmitting an electromagnetic wave having a predetermined frequency between two waveguides with a high level of efficiency. This object is achieved by the following construction: A resonator 15 that resonates with the electromagnetic wave having the predetermined frequency is located between an input waveguide 13 and an output waveguide 14 and close to the two waveguides. The output waveguide 14 is designed so that it extends parallel to the input waveguide 13 within a predetermined section 18 located in proximity to the resonator 15, and its distance from the input waveguide 13 in the other section is larger than that in the predetermined section 18.

Abstract: Discloses is a metal-based resistance heat-generation element. The element comprises a core made of a platinum group metal or refractory metal, and a coating film formed on the core. The coating film has at least two layers including a core-side inner layer of a Re—Cr based ? (sigma) phase and a surface-side outermost layer of an aluminide or silicide. Alternatively, the element may comprise a core made of an alloy containing a platinum group metal or refractory metal and Re and Cr diffused therein, and a coating film formed on the core. The coating film has at least one layer including an aluminide or silicide layer.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of transposing a non-autonomous transposon gene of rice (Oryza sativa). The method comprises culturing anthers of rice or treating roots, seeds, leaves, and stems of axillary buds of rice, or a callus derived from them, with 5-azacytidine or 5-azadeoxycytidine. Also included in the invention is a plant or plant seeds produced by the method.

Abstract: An ice thickness/drifting velocity observation of sea ice by using an ice thickness measurement sonar and a current meter moored into the sea and a sea ice observation by a high-resolution airborne SAR are synchronously performed, a correlation between a draft profile of sea ice passing over the sonar and an SAR backscattering coefficient profile is calculated, and an ice draft of desired sea ice is calculated from the relational expression and an SAR backscattering coefficient. As the SAR backscattering coefficient, a backscattering coefficient of L-band HV polarization may be used. A backscattering coefficient of X-band VV polarization is preferably used as the SAR backscattering coefficient to detect thin ice having a thickness of not more than approximately 10 cm.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a concentration of a target nucleic acid by using a nucleic acid probe labeled with a fluorescent dye. The method comprises: providing, as the probe, a nucleic acid probe capable of reducing fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye when hybridized with the target nucleic acid; hybridizing the probe to the target nucleic acid; and measuring a decrease in fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye after the hybridization relative to fluorescence emission from the fluorescent dye before the hybridization.

Abstract: A human-derived bradeion protein, which has the following properties: (i) it is a transmembranous protein; (ii) it has a structure characteristic of growth hormone and cytokine receptors even in a structure of its transmembranous portion when its structure is determined by a hydrophobicity analysis according to Kyte-Doolittle method; (iii) it is expressed at a high level in a human adult brain, and in less amount in the heart, while it is not expressed in other adult organs or fetus; (iv) it induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) when over-expressed in a cultured human nerve cell lines; (v) it induces termination of cell division and aging when over-expressed in a cultured human normal cell; (vi) it is located in cytoplasm, and forms an intracellular aggregate when overexpressed; and (vii) besides human adult neurons, it is specifically expressed in a human colorectal cancer cell line or in a skin cancer cell line, or an analogue thereof.

Abstract: A link mechanism to establish the position of a spherical bearing and the direction of an arm extending from the bearing is provided, which mechanism has a high precision of position and direction determination, does not require strong actuators, and is mechanically easy to accommodate MR compatibility, to be cleanable and to be sterilizable. The link mechanism has: an axial rod; and two spherical bearings to support the axial rod, the two spherical bearings being capable of changing relative positions, wherein the motion of one of the two spherical bearings relative to the axial rod along the axis is constrained, and the other of the spherical bearings can travel along the axial rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microsize driving device in which falling of track proteins from an arrangement of motor protein molecules arranged on a linear track groove provided on a substrate is suppressed and utilization of kinetic energy of track proteins as a driving energy is made possible by controlling the moving direction to a single direction. Namely, provided is a microsize driving device which comprises a substrate, an arrangement of motor protein molecules such as, for example, kinesin molecules deposited on the bottom of a linear track groove provided thereon and track proteins such as, for example, microtubules disposed thereon and is characterized in that the said linear track groove has side surfaces shaped in such a structure as to permit a linear movement of the track proteins moving in a certain specific direction but to inhibit the track proteins moving in the reverse direction thereto causing reversion for the movement in the above mentioned specific direction.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method of functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable isotope-labeled amino acid which is at least one of amino acids constituting a protein and which has at least one of the following labeling patterns: (a) hydrogen atoms except at least one hydrogen atom in one or more methylene groups are deuterated, (b) hydrogen atoms in one of prochiral gem-methyl groups are completely deuterated, (c) hydrogen atoms in prochiral methyl groups are partially deuterated, and (d) all hydrogen atoms except one of them in methyl group are deuterated and hydrogen atoms in the aromatic ring are partially deuterated. With the stable isotope-labeled amino acid, the deuteration of protein can be attained without damaging the NMR sensitivity of remaining hydrogen nucleus and, in addition, the rapid, accurate analysis of NMR spectrum of a high-molecular protein which is beyond the limitation in the prior art and the determination of the stereo-structure can be performed at the same time.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method for functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: A digital system that performs a specified function by performing digital processing according to one or more clock signals is provided with a plurality of delay elements which are respectively inserted in a plurality of clock circuits that supply the clock signals in the digital system and each of which is composed of a circuit element that changes a delay time according to a value indicated by a control signal, and a plurality of holding circuits that hold a plurality of control signals to be given to the plurality of delay elements. In the plurality of holding circuits, a value of the control signals held by these holding circuits is changed by external devices according to a probabilistic search technique so that the digital system operates correctly in relation to operation timing.

Abstract: A ultra fine particle film forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming a ultra fine particle film which has ultra fine particles sufficiently bonded together, sufficient density, flat surface and uniform density. A planarized ultra fine particle film forming method for forming a planarized ultra fine particle film from a deposited film of ultra fine particles formed by supplying the ultra fine particles to a substrate, the method comprising one or more of a planarizing step of planarizing a surface of the deposited film of the ultra fine particles supplied to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermophilic enzyme having ?-glycosidase activity which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 in which one or a plurality of amino acid residues may be deleted, replaced or added.

Abstract: A photocatalytic colored member includes a laminate formed by laminating a plurality of thin-film layers of photocatalytic material and a plurality of thin-film layers of support material, with vacant layers formed such that they are open to the outside on the rear surface side of the thin-film layers of photocatalytic material.

Abstract: A real-time communications system for decentralized management is accomplished which was not implemented conventionally. To achieve this, the following techniques are employed: (1) Overtaking of communication packets based on priority; (2) Path control based on the priority; and (3) Priority change at each node. When carrying out real-time communication between a plurality of information processors, each communication node (information processor) carries out overtaking of the communication packets in accordance with the priority. In the course of this, each communication node can change the priority, and establish different paths for each of the priority.