Abstract: Disclosed is a method for quantifying L-tryptophan involving a step for mixing a specimen, L-tryptophan oxidase, and water, a step for allowing the obtained reaction solution to stand a predetermined period of time in the presence of oxygen, and a step for measuring the reaction product resulting from action of enzymes present in the reaction solution after allowing to stand. The L-tryptophan oxidase has a given amino acid sequence and has oxidase activity that generates hydrogen peroxide and ammonia by acting on the L-tryptophan in the presence of oxygen and water. The oxidase activity of the L-tryptophan oxidase on the L-phenylalanine is in the range of 0-3% of the oxidase activity thereof on the L-tryptophan, and the L-tryptophan oxidase does not have oxidase activity on protein-constituting amino acids other than L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine. Also disclosed are a kit used to quantify the L-tryptophan containing L-tryptophan oxidase, and an enzyme sensor using the L-tryptophan oxidase.

Abstract: A method of producing a microproduct comprises: providing a resin composition including 30 to 90 wt % of a polypropylene-based resin and 10 to 70 wt % of a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer shown by “X-Y” (X represents a polymer block immiscible with the polypropylene-based resin, Y represents an elastomeric polymer block of a conjugated diene that's miscible with the polypropylene-based resin after hydrogenation); attaching a silicon stamper to a mold cavity of an injection molding machine, the silicon stamper having micromachined features formed by etching the surface of a silicon plate; and precisely transferring the micromachined features of the silicon stamper to the resin composition by injecting the resin composition into the mold cavity, a resulting molded surface having recesses and/or protrusions that are 0.3 to 200 ?m deep or tall and 0.3 to 100 ?m wide.

Abstract: Provided is a new method for producing a glucuronide, having excellent productivity and being replaceable with a method using Saccharomyces pombe, and to provide a new means used in this production method. Disclosed are: a transformed Saccharomyces cerevisiae wherein a gene coding for a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and a gene coding for a UDP-glucose transferase are inserted in a manner such that said genes can be expressed; a transformed Saccharomyces cerevisiae wherein a gene coding for a cytochrome P450 gene is further inserted in a manner such that said gene can be expressed; and a method for producing a glucaronide that includes culturing transformed Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of glucose and a substance to be conjugated, generating the glucuronide of the aforementioned substance to be conjugated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing (S)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanol with high optical purity and high yield by having at least one kind of microorganism, which is selected from the group consisting of Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia anomala, Candida parapsilosis, Candida mycoderma, Pichia naganishii, Candida saitoana, Cryptococcus curvatus, Saturnospora dispora, Saccharomyces bayanus and Pichia membranaefaciens, act on 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone. Since microorganisms found in nature are made to act in a natural state, the problems to be raised when a transformant or the like is used can be avoided in this method. Consequently, the method can be easily put in industrial practice.

Abstract: There is provided an anisotropically shaped powder preferred as plate-like crystals used in the process of producing niobate-based KNbO3—NaNbO3—LiNbO3-based crystal-oriented ceramics and the like, and a method for producing the same. The production method includes, an oxide powder, such as Nb2O5, and a surfactant are added to an aqueous solution of alkali hydroxides, such as NaOH and KOH to perform hydrothermal synthesis, the product obtained after this reaction is washed with an organic solvent, and further, the product after the washing is fired at 170° C. to 700° C. In addition, according to this production method, it is possible to obtain an anisotropically shaped powder having a ratio of an average particle length in a major axis direction to an average particle length in a thickness direction in the range of 2 to 20 and having a pseudo-cubic perovskite structure in which a crystal face is oriented in a (100) plane.

Abstract: A chip useful for treating cells and the like which has a mechanism and a structure wherein the size of a hole pattern is arbitrarily changed so that cells can easily move in and get out from the hole in scattering or collecting cells but can hardly get out from the hole during washing or antigen-stimulation. The chip comprises a crosslinked product of a temperature-responsive polymer as a constituting member and being provided with a film having a hole pattern on the surface of a baseboard. A method of producing the chip comprises applying a composition containing a crosslinkable temperature-responsive polymer on the surface of a baseboard to thereby form a coating film, crosslinking the coating film to thereby form the crosslinked product as described above and then forming a hole pattern on the coating film of the crosslinked product.

Abstract: Provided are a method and means permitting the simultaneous measurement of the reactive properties of more than 10,000 of antigen-stimulated lymphocytes being held on a chip and the separate determination of the states of individual cells. A microwell array comprises multiple wells and a coating layer on one of the principal surfaces of a base member, the wells being of a size permitting the entry of only a single cell into each well. A coating layer of a substance capable of binding to a substance produced by the cells contained in the wells is present on the principal surface around the wells.

Abstract: A bonded structure formed by bonding a first structure and a second structure at opposed bonding surfaces to form a microstructure or the like. At least one of the first structure and the second structure is formed of a resin composition including a polypropylene resin and a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the following general formula X-Y (X is a polymer block immiscible with the polypropylene resin, and Y is a conjugated diene elastomer polymer block). The bonding surfaces are bonded by heating an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound or a mixture prepared by adding a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the general formula X-Y to an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound applied to the bonding surface.

Abstract: Device generating high-luminance and highly-efficient ultraviolet rays by applying polyphase alternating current discharge plasma in a multi-poled magnetic field to a light source for generating ultraviolet rays and using a usual molecular gas other than mercury and rare gases. The inside of a flat container 3 is evacuated, and 1 Torr or less of a molecular gas for use in discharge light emission fills therein or is flowed thereinto. Next, a phase-controlled twelve-output alternating current power supply of 1 kW or lower is connected to twelve divisional electrodes 1 for supply of discharge electric energy. Thus, plasma P occurs with stable alternating-current glow discharge along the surface of the divisional electrodes 1 covered with a barrier layer 2. As a result of discharge, light with a wavelength unique to the molecular gas that contains ultraviolet rays is emitted and extracted outside from a light extraction window 32.

Abstract: A method of producing a microproduct comprises: providing a resin composition including 30 to 90 wt % of a polypropylene-based resin and 10 to 70 wt % of a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer shown by “X-Y” (X represents a polymer block immiscible with the polypropylene-based resin, Y represents an elastomeric polymer block of a conjugated diene that's miscible with the polypropylene-based resin after hydrogenation); attaching a silicon stamper to a mold cavity of an injection molding machine, the silicon stamper having micromachined features formed by etching the surface of a silicon plate; and precisely transferring the micromachined features of the silicon stamper to the resin composition by injecting the resin composition into the mold cavity, a resulting molded surface having recesses and/or protrusions that are 0.3 to 200 ?m deep or tall and 0.3 to 100 ?m wide.

Abstract: There is provided a baseball bat that has performance similar to that of the conventional wooden bat and moreover is excellent in terms of cost and resource conservation. For this baseball bat 11, a reinforcing core 12 having a rectangular cross section is arranged in the center of the cross section thereof continuously so as to penetrate both end thereof, bamboo pieces 24 are laminated around the reinforcing core 12, and an adhesive is caused to permeate into the contact surface between the reinforcing core 12 and the bamboo pieces 24 evenly under a pressure, by which firm bonding can be attained. In addition, by using a material that is hard and has a large specific gravity as compared with bamboo, such as hickory or reinforced wood, as the reinforcing core 12, the flexural rigidity is enhanced as a whole, and the weight is increased. Therefore, the characteristics and feel in use are improved as compared with the conventional bamboo bat, and the baseball bat 11 can be used as a substitute for a wooden bat.

Abstract: A bonded structure formed by bonding a first structure and a second structure at opposed bonding surfaces to form a microstructure or the like. At least one of the first structure and the second structure is formed of a resin composition including a polypropylene resin and a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the following general formula X-Y (X is a polymer block immiscible with the polypropylene resin, and Y is a conjugated diene elastomer polymer block). The bonding surfaces are bonded by heating an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound or a mixture prepared by adding a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the general formula X-Y to an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound applied to the bonding surface.

Abstract: A bonded structure formed by bonding a first structure and a second structure at opposed bonding surfaces to form a microstructure or the like. At least one of the first structure and the second structure is formed of a resin composition including a polypropylene resin and a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the following general formula X-Y (X is a polymer block immiscible with the polypropylene resin, and Y is a conjugated diene elastomer polymer block). The bonding surfaces are bonded by heating an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound or a mixture prepared by adding a hydrogenated derivative of a block copolymer of the general formula X-Y to an alkoxysilane or alkylsilane compound applied to the bonding surface.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a novel chip useful for treating cells and the like which has a mechanism and a structure wherein the size of a hole pattern is arbitrarily changed so that cells can easily move in and get out from the hole in scattering or collecting cells but can hardly get out from the hole during washing or antigen-stimulation. [Means for Solving Problems] A chip comprising a crosslinked product of a temperature-responsive polymer as a constituting member and being provided with a film having a hole pattern on the surface of a baseboard. A method of producing a chip which comprises a crosslinked product of a temperature-responsive polymer as a constituting member and is provided with a film having a hole pattern on the surface of the baseboard.

Abstract: An energy-saving, high-outputting and high-efficiency, electric discharge type of illumination apparatus and associated units having thin divisional electrode pieces arranged at relatively narrow intervals on an electrode-application area, which is defined on the bottom of a flat container. The divisional electrode pieces are fixed to the electrode-application area with an intervening sheet of good electrically insulating and thermally conductive material laid therebetween. A front glass having a fluorescence coating on its inside is placed to confront the electrode-application area. Cooling water is circulated in the electrode-application area for cooling the divisional electrode pieces. A multi-poled magnet sheet arranged outside the electrode-application area is aligned with the electrode-to-electrode space. Lower frequency power supplies are connected to the divisional electrodes to supply that with voltages of the same amplitude.

Abstract: A three-dimensional displacement gauge comprising a housing, a probe rotatably and slidably mounted on the housing, the probe is slidable along a first direction and having a contact member attached at one end thereof, two emitting members mounted on the probe each for emitting a light beam, two-dimensional measuring member such as a position sensor fixed to the housing for detecting the light beams, a biasing spring for biasing the probe toward the contact member, and a limit switch attached to the housing for detecting whether or not the probe moves in the first direction. The two-dimensional measuring member detects the light beams struck thereon so as to measure a small displacement of the contact member of the probe either in the first direction or in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A magnetic composition which comprises 80 to 95 weight % of ferromagnetic powder, 5 to 20 weight % of highly heat-resistant thermosetting resin powder and 0.1 to 1 weight % of a metal chelate compound. Further, a process characterized in that all of the powders which comprise the magnetic composition are mixed together and molded under heat and pressure to produce a magnetic molding.The magnetic composition enables molding of materials of complicated form at low temperatures, and the obtained magnetic moldings are excellent in heat resistance, mechanical strength, mechanical workability and initial magnetic permeability.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a humidity-sensing element comprises forming an electrode layer on at least one side of a ceramic substrate, applying to the electrode layer a humidity-sensitive paste containing a zirconia, zirconia-yttria, or yttria ceramic as a humidity-sensitive material, drying the coat, and then firing it at a temperature of 750.degree. to 870.degree. C. to form a humidity-sensing part.

Abstract: Conductive paint comprises an organic solvent having dissolved and dispersed therein a binder containing a thermosetting resin and a hydroquinone derivative which is a product resulting from reaction between a hydroquinone (polyhydric phenol) and a fatty acid having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, added to the thermosetting resin, metal powder as a conductive material, and preferably a fatty acid derived from natural oils and fats and having 10 to 20 carbon atoms. This conductive paint exhibits characteristics not inferior to those of the conventional Ag conductive paint, such as low specific resistance, high moisture resistance and high heat resistance, and is much less expensive than the conventional Ag conductive paint.