Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a first electrode having a porous oxide semiconductor layer which supports a sensitizing dye on a surface thereof and functioning as a photo electrode; a second electrode disposed so as to oppose the first electrode; an electrolyte disposed in at least a part of a space between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a sump portion for the electrolyte disposed in at least a part of the space between the first electrode and the second electrode. According to the present invention, air bubbles can be exhausted effectively from power generating area, so that a photoelectric conversion element possessing an improved power generation property and a long-term durability can be provided.

Abstract: There is provided a dye-sensitized solar cell that may improve power generation efficiency by suppressing light absorption of a wiring part. The dye-sensitized solar cell 10 includes a first electrode substrate 11, a second electrode substrate 16, and an electrolyte layer 17. The first electrode substrate includes a porous oxide semiconductor layer 15 and a wiring part 19 on a side of one surface thereof. A dye is carried on the porous oxide semiconductor layer, and the wiring part is provided at a portion adjacent to the porous oxide semiconductor layer 15. The second electrode substrate is disposed so as to face the porous oxide semiconductor layer 15 of the first electrode substrate 11. The electrolyte layer is disposed at least at a part of a gap between the first and second electrode substrates 11 and 16.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and conductive particles, an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and oxide semiconductor particles and optionally containing conductive particles, and an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and insulating particles are provided. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion element comprising: a working electrode, the working electrode comprising an electrode substrate and an oxide semiconductor porous film formed on the electrode substrate and sensitized with a dye; a counter electrode disposed opposing the working electrode; and an electrolyte layer made of these electrolyte compositions is provided.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition is in solid form, and includes a polymer compound containing a cation structure selected from a group consisting of ammonium, phosphonium and sulfonium structures in either the principal chain or a side chain of the polymer, and a halide ion and/or a polyhalide as a counter anion.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition is in solid form, and includes a polymer compound containing a cation structure selected from a group consisting of ammonium, phosphonium and sulfonium structures in either the principal chain or a side chain of the polymer, and a halide ion and/or a polyhalide as a counter anion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase by a coryneform bacterium. According to the present invention, a process is provided for the secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase, by making a coryneform bacterium to produce an industrially useful foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase and efficiently release the product extracellularly (i.e., secretory production).

Abstract: A magnetic nanotube includes bacterial magnetic nanocrystals contacted onto a nanotube which absorbs the nanocrystals. The nanocrystals are contacted on at least one surface of the nanotube. A method of fabricating a magnetic nanotube includes synthesizing the bacterial magnetic nanocrystals, which have an outer layer of proteins. A nanotube provided is capable of absorbing the nanocrystals and contacting the nanotube with the nanocrystals. The nanotube is preferably a peptide bolaamphiphile. A nanotube solution and a nanocrystal solution including a buffer and a concentration of nanocrystals are mixed. The concentration of nanocrystals is optimized, resulting in a nanocrystal to nanotube ratio for which bacterial magnetic nanocrystals are immobilized on at least one surface of the nanotubes. The ratio controls whether the nanocrystals bind only to the interior or to the exterior surfaces of the nanotubes. Uses include cell manipulation and separation, biological assay, enzyme recovery, and biosensors.

Abstract: A solar cell and photovoltaic power generation apparatus including a transparent electrically conductive film, a semiconductor provided on the transparent electrically conductive film, a conductive film opposing the semiconductor, and an electrolyte solution filled between the semiconductor and the conductive film. Metal ions, such as silver ions, may be dissolved in the electrolyte solution. When light is incident on the cell, the metal ions cause an oxidation-reduction reaction in the electrolyte solution and the cell is charged. When the open-circuit voltage decreases because the amount of incident light drops or light is blocked, the cell discharges to function as a secondary cell.

Abstract: Provided is a method of stabilizing a reagent that allows simultaneous quantification of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol by a single measurement by suppressing spontaneous color development thereof. A method of quantification for cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in a biological sample by the single measurement comprises a first step of treating lipoproteins other than low density lipoprotein in the biological sample to generate hydrogen peroxide and a second step of converting the hydrogen peroxide obtained in the first step to a quinone dye and treating remaining low density lipoprotein and converting generated hydrogen peroxide to the quinone dye, where the quinone dye is not formed in the first step, and cholesterol in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol are quantified from the amount of the quinone dye formed in the second step by the single measurement.

Abstract: A first band-pass filter extracts, from a first sound intermediate frequency signal, a signal having a frequency in the vicinity of a center frequency of the first sound intermediate frequency signal. Then, a mixer down converts a signal extracted by the first band-pass filter to a second sound intermediate frequency signal. A low-pass filter extracts, from the second sound intermediate frequency signal, a signal having a frequency in the vicinity of a center frequency of the second sound intermediate frequency signal or a lower frequency. With such an arrangement, FM detection can be performed preferably even if the frequency of the first sound intermediate frequency signal is deviated.

Abstract: A run-flat tire capable of reducing weight and enhancing its uniformity. The run-flat tire 1 provides a troidal carcass 6 extending from a tread portion 2 to the bead core of each bead portion 4 through each of sidewall portions 3 and a pair of side reinforcing rubbers 9 arranged inside the carcass 6 and extending along the sidewall portions 3 in the tire radial direction inwardly and outwardly. In the outer surface of the tread portion 2, pattern elements are arranged, thereby forming a pitch pattern. Each of the side reinforcing rubber 9 provides with recesses 11 circumferentially spaced on the inner surface of side reinforcing rubber facing the tire cavity. The total number (n) of recesses 11 on each of the side reinforcing rubber 9 is 0.70 to 1.30 times the total number of pattern elements.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition includes an ionic liquid and a solvent, wherein the solvent contains a material made of at least one of sulfolane and derivatives thereof, and a content of the material is 5 to 40 mass % of the total content of the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: An electrode substrate for a photoelectric conversion element includes: current collecting wires; and a protective layer covering the current collecting wires, wherein the protective layer includes a first protective layer containing glass components and a second protective layer which is composed of an insulating resin layer and provided on the first protective layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode substrate for a photoelectric conversion element which includes: forming a transparent conductive layer and a collector wire on a substrate; forming an oxide semiconductor layer in a region of the transparent conductive layer different from a region in which the collector wire is formed; forming an porous oxide semiconductor layer by firing the oxide semiconductor layer; after firing, forming a protective layer covering the collector wires, the protective layer composed of an insulating resin having a thermal resistance at 250° C. or higher; heating the substrate at 250° C. or higher during or after the formation of the protective layer; and after the heating, allowing adsorption of dyes in the porous oxide semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A microorganism which has a gene encoding an enzyme in which feedback inhibition is desensitized by substitution of one or two amino acids in PRPP amidotransferase encoded by purF of Escherichia coli, a gene encoding a protein which is an inactivated repressor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis encoded by purR, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated purine nucleoside phosphorylase encoded by deoD, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated succinyl-AMP synthase encoded by purA, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase encoded by edd, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated phosphoglucose isomerase encoded by pgi and like is bred and a purine nucleoside is produced by culturing the microorganism.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated crystal oscillator including an oscillation circuit which includes an oscillator, a temperature detector, a voltage variable capacitance element coupled to an oscillation loop of the oscillation circuit, and a temperature compensation circuit. The temperature compensation circuit is configured to apply a compensation voltage to the voltage variable capacitance element to compensate a temperature change in response to temperature data detected by the temperature detector. The temperature compensation circuit has a plurality of correction point data. The respective correction point data is set in advance for each divided temperature zone, selects a first correction point data in a lower temperature zone and a second correction point data in a higher temperature zone, as compared with the detected temperature data, performs an interpolation between the first and second correction point data by a weighted averaged first-order interpolation, and generates the compensation voltage.

Abstract: The present invention is a quartz glass crucible 5 for pulling a silicon single crystal, comprising at least an outer layer portion 23 being a translucent glass layer containing multiple bubbles in it and an inner layer portion 24 being a transparent quartz glass layer having no bubbles and a smooth surface, formed on the inner surface of the outer layer portion 23, wherein the outer layer portion 23 contains bubbles of 0.1 to 0.3 mm in diameter at the density of 1.5 to 5.0×104 bubbles/cm3. Thus, there are provided a quartz glass crucible for pulling a silicon single crystal, the quartz glass crucible being increased in mechanical strength, making it possible to suppress deformation of a quartz glass crucible for pulling a silicon single crystal during a single crystal pulling process, thereby prevent degradation in yield rate due to dislocation in a single crystal and make the manufacture of a silicon single crystal highly efficient and a method of manufacturing the same quartz glass crucible.

Abstract: A measurement value lowering inhibitor for immunoassay method that is capable of enhancing the accuracy of immunoassay method through suppressing of any influences of interfering substances existing in an analyte sample; and using the inhibitor, an immunoassay method in which any measurement value lowering by interfering substances is suppressed and a reagent for immunoassay method. The measurement value lowering inhibitor for immunoassay method used to suppress any measurement value lowering by interfering substances is comprised of an ionic surfactant consisting of a polymer obtained by polymerization of a hydrophobic cyclic monomer having an ionic functional group, which has a molecular weight of 1000 to 10×104.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase by a coryneform bacterium. According to the present invention, a process is provided for the secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase, by making a coryneform bacterium to produce an industrially useful foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase and efficiently release the product extracellularly (i.e., secretory production).

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell module and a production method for the same are provided. The dye-sensitized solar cell module comprises a base material; a back side plate; and a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells provided in between the base material and the back side plate, each of the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells including a first conductive layer provided on the base material; a second conductive layer; and a porous semiconductor layer provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells are electrically connected in series. In accordance with the present invention, in the dye-sensitized solar cell module, it is possible to prevent a decrease in durability of a film of a counter electrode with regard to thermal expansion and contraction of each of the layers due to the thermal history to a bending, a distortion, etc.