Abstract: An acetyl-CoA-producing microorganism, which is capable of efficiently synthesizing acetyl-CoA using carbon dioxide, and a substance production method using the same are provided. An acetyl-CoA-producing microorganism including an acetyl-CoA production cycle obtained by imparting at least one type of enzymatic activity selected from the group consisting of malate thiokinase, malyl-CoA lyase, glyoxylate carboligase, 2-hydroxy-3-oxopropionate reductase, and hydroxypyruvate reductase, to a microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid comprises a 5? untranslated region, an NS3 protein coding region, an NS4A protein coding region, an NS4B protein coding region, an NS5A protein coding region, an NS5B protein coding region, and a 3? untranslated region of a hepatitis C virus genome, wherein the nucleic acid has nucleotide substitutions causing one or more amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of M(1205)K, F(1548)L, C(1615)W, T(1652)N, A(2196)T, A(2218)S, H(2223)Q, Q(2281)R, K(2520)N, and G(2374)S, as defined using the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 in the Sequence Listing as a reference sequence, in the NS3 protein coding region, the NS5A protein coding region, or the NS5B protein coding region.

Abstract: Hydroxycarboxylic acids are produced by using a microorganism that is improved in ability to regenerate oxidized-type nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by being provided with an enhanced NADH dehydrogenase function by introducing a gene encoding NADH dehydrogenase into a microorganism.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to produce a microorganism which yields high amounts in a short time of a hydroxycarboxylic acid reduced in impurity content. This invention further provides a process for producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid, including glycolic acid, using the microorganism. This process enables a hydroxycarboxylic acid having high purity to be supplied at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli comprising at least one gene of a sucrose non-PTS gene group, including at least a sucrose hydrolase gene, provided that a combination of a repressor protein (cscR), a sucrose hydrolase (cscA), a fructokinase (cscK) and a sucrose permease (cscB) and a combination of a sucrose hydrolase (cscA), a fructokinase (cscK) and a sucrose permease (cscB) are excluded, wherein the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli comprises a lactic acid production enhancing system provided by genetic recombination; and a lactic acid production method including producing lactic acid from a plant-derived sucrose-containing raw material by using the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract: A method for producing D-lactic acid in high yield, and to provide a method for producing D-lactic acid with high selectivity, in which optical purity is high and a by-product organic acid is small. In one aspect, a microorganism, wherein activity of pyruvate formate-lyase (pfl) is inactivated or decreased, and further activity of Escherichia coli-derived NADH-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) is enhanced, is cultured to efficiently produce D-lactic acid. With regard to a method for enhancing ldhA activity, by linking, on a genome, a gene encoding ldhA with a promoter of a gene which controls expression of a protein involved in a glycolytic pathway, a nucleic acid biosynthesis pathway or an amino acid biosynthesis pathway, suitable results are obtained compared to the method for enhancing expression of the gene using an expression vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli including an enzymatic activity of at least one NAD-dependent lactate dehydrogenase and an enzymatic activity of at least one NAD-independent lactate oxidoreductase, both of which are enhanced so as to decompose one of D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid and to produce the other one of D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid; and a lactic acid production method using the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract: An isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli includes an isopropyl alcohol production system, wherein an activity of transcriptional repressor GntR is inactivated, and the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli preferably further includes a group of auxiliary enzymes having an enzyme activity expression pattern with which isopropyl alcohol production capacity achieved by the inactivation of the GntR activity is maintained or enhanced. A method of producing isopropyl alcohol includes producing isopropyl alcohol from a plant-derived raw material using the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli. A method of producing acetone includes contacting the isopropyl alcohol obtained by the isopropyl alcohol production method with a complex oxide that includes zinc oxide and at least one oxide containing a Group 4 element, and that is prepared by coprecipitation.

Abstract: Hydroxycarboxylic acids are produced by using a microorganism that is improved in ability to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by deleting, mutating or substituting nadR gene in the microorganism or introducing a gene encoding nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase.

Abstract: A slot nozzle assembly for extruding a foamable melted material in a wide band including a plurality of foamable melted material passages, lateral distribution flow routes communicating with the plurality of foamable melted material passages, a restriction member disposed inside the lateral distribution flow routes, a slot for discharging foamable melted material, and a converging portion which communicates with the lateral distribution flow routes and the slot, and whose cross-section area gradually becomes smaller toward the slot.

Abstract: An isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli equipped with an isopropyl alcohol production system, having at least one enhanced enzyme activity selected from the group consisting of an enhanced malate dehydrogenase activity, an enhanced NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase (AB-specific) activity, and an enhanced thiolase activity, and an isopropyl alcohol producing method including producing isopropyl alcohol from a plant-derived raw material using the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract: A method for etching features in an etch layer is provided. An organic mask layer is etched, using a hard mask as an etch mask. The hard mask is removed, by selectively etching the hard mask with respect to the organic mask and etch layer. Features are etched in the etch layer, using the organic mask as an etch mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli that includes at least a sucrose hydrolase gene that belongs to a sucrose non-PTS gene group, and an imparted or enhanced isopropyl alcohol production system, and an isopropyl alcohol production method of producing isopropyl alcohol from a sucrose-containing plant-derived raw material using the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract: A flat image display device that has a bracket and a frame section integrally formed by a transparent material, an apparatus mounting section is disposed in an inner peripheral edge of the frame section, and parts fixing sections that are disposed on the outside of the frame section. A front panel is formed by a transparent material and disposed on the front surface side of the bracket; an apparatus body section has a screen surface that is mounted at the apparatus mounting section of the bracket. One or more signal paths send and receive electric signals between the apparatus body section and the functional sections. This enables sending and receiving of electric signals between the apparatus body section and the functional sections that send and receive electric signals to exhibit a predetermined function.

Abstract: An electric terminal member includes a connector portion (4), a wire connecting portion (6) spaced apart from the connector portion and lying parallel to the connector portion, and a bridge portion (8) extending between one end of the connector portion and one end of the wire connecting portion in a direction transverse to any one of the connector and wire connecting portions and for connecting the connector portion with the wire connecting portion. The wire connecting portion has a retaining hole (12). The wire connecting portion also has a flux applying surface (18) and a wire holding surface (16) opposite to each other, the flux applying surface facing towards the connector portion whereas the wire holding surface faces in a direction away from the connector portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid comprises a 5? untranslated region, an NS3 protein coding region, an NS4A protein coding region, an NS4B protein coding region, an NS5A protein coding region, an NS5B protein coding region, and a 3? untranslated region of a hepatitis C virus genome, wherein the nucleic acid has nucleotide substitutions causing one or more amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of M(1205)K, F(1548)L, C(1615)W, T(1652)N, A(2196)T, A(2218)S, H(2223)Q, Q(2281)R, K(2520)N, and G(2374)S, as defined using the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 in the Sequence Listing as a reference sequence, in the NS3 protein coding region, the NS5A protein coding region, or the NS5B protein coding region.

Abstract: A compound semiconductor device includes: an Au alloy electrode, an interlayer insulating film, a metal interconnection, and an oxide film. The Au alloy electrode is formed on a compound semiconductor. The interlayer insulating film is formed on the Au alloy electrode. The metal interconnection is connected to the Au alloy electrode via a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film. The oxide film is formed at an interface between the Au alloy electrode and the interlayer insulating film, dominating component of the oxide film is a constituent element of the compound semiconductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Escherichia coli producing 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose (DOI), which, from a sucrose non-PTS gene group, has at least a sucrose hydrolase (CscA)-encoding gene and which is provided with a DOI production system or has an enhanced DOI production system. The Escherichia coli preferably further includes a system to enhance sugar uptake capacity. There is also disclosed a method of producing DOI from a plant-derived raw material containing sucrose by using the Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli including an enzymatic activity of at least one NAD-dependent lactate dehydrogenase and an enzymatic activity of at least one NAD-independent lactate oxidoreductase, both of which are enhanced so as to decompose one of D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid and to produce the other one of D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid; and a lactic acid production method using the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli comprising at least one gene of a sucrose non-PTS gene group, including at least a sucrose hydrolase gene, provided that a combination of a repressor protein (cscR), a sucrose hydrolase (cscA), a fructokinase (cscK) and a sucrose permease (cscB) and a combination of a sucrose hydrolase (cscA), a fructokinase (cscK) and a sucrose permease (cscB) are excluded, wherein the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli comprises a lactic acid production enhancing system provided by genetic recombination; and a lactic acid production method including producing lactic acid from a plant-derived sucrose-containing raw material by using the lactic acid-producing Escherichia coli.