Abstract: The present invention relates to a technology for easy chemical modification of only one heavy chain in the constituent unit of an antibody (immunoglobulin unit containing two heavy chains and optionally two light chains). More particularly, the present invention relates to a compound or a salt thereof, containing (A) an affinity substance containing first and second affinity moieties each having an affinity to the constant region in a heavy chain of an antibody; and (B) a reactive group for the antibody.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method of improving the efficiency of establishment of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The method comprises contacting an isolated somatic cell being reprogrammed into an iPS cell with an inhibitor of p53 function. The invention also provides an in vitro method of producing iPS cells. The method comprises bringing (a) nuclear reprogramming substances or nucleic acids encoding the nuclear reprogramming substances and (b) an inhibitor of p53 function into contact with a somatic cell.

Abstract: A mutant transglutaminase (mutant TG) having high thermostability and/or high pH stability is provided. A mutant TG having a mutation at amino acid residue(s) such as D1, Y24, R48, S101, G102, N139, D142, L147, K152, G157, R167, N176, K181, E182, H188, D189, R208, T245, S246, G250, G275, S284, H289, G301, and K327 and/or a mutation of introducing a disulfide bond.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alternative L-glutamate oxidase that allows for measurement of L-glutamate. More specifically, the present invention provides the following L-glutamate oxidase mutant (a) or (b) and the like: (a) an L-glutamate oxidase mutant including an amino acid sequence that has 90% or more identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and exhibits an activity of oxidizing L-glutamate, except an L-glutamate oxidase including an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) an L-glutamate oxidase mutant comprising a peptide linker consisting of 1 to 20 amino acid residues which is inserted into one or more sites selected from the group consisting of (1) a site in a region proximity to a boundary between ?1 and ?2 regions, (2) a site in a region proximity to a boundary between ?2 and ? regions and (3) a site in a region proximity to a boundary between ? and ? regions in the L-glutamate oxidase mutant (a), and having the activity of oxidizing L-glutamate.

Abstract: Provided are a method for producing a complicated peptide molecule, such as a dimeric peptide, in a simpler manner at lower cost compared with the conventional chemical synthesis methods; and a dimeric peptide which comprises a specific short linker and has a satisfactory activity; and others.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unit and a method useful for more precise phenylalanine measurement. More specifically, the present invention provides a modified phenylalanine dehydrogenase that includes a mutation of at least one amino acid residue so as to improve the characteristics (for example, substrate specificity, solubility, and phenylalanine dehydrogenase activity) of a phenylalanine dehydrogenase related to measurement of phenylalanine, a method for analyzing phenylalanine by measuring phenylalanine contained in a test sample using the modified phenylalanine dehydrogenase, and others.

Abstract: A recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, including an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene, wherein the genes are inserted in the vector and an induced pluripotent stem cell including the recombinant vector. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, including inserting each of the three genes into a vector such that the genes are capable of expression. Also disclosed are a first recombinant vector for preparing a second recombinant vector for producing an induced pluripotent stem cell, said first recombinant vector including at least two of the following four genes: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Myc family gene and a Sox family gene. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the first recombinant vector, including inserting the at least two genes into a vector.

Abstract: Compounds having an affinity substance to an antibody, a cleavable portion, and a reactive group, or a salt thereof, are represented by the following Formula (I): A-L-B—R??(I) wherein A is an affinity substance to an antibody, L is a cleavable linker that is a divalent group comprising a cleavable portion, B is (a) a divalent group comprising a bioorthogonal functional group or (b) a divalent group comprising no bioorthogonal functional group, and R is a reactive group to the antibody, wherein the affinity substance to an antibody is a polypeptide comprising a glutamine residue (Q) at an N-terminal.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a sheet conveying device includes a reading device, a roller, a downstream guide, and a transition guide. The reading device reads a surface of the sheet. The roller faces the reading device. The downstream guide is downstream of the roller in the sheet conveyance direction. The transition guide guides the sheet at least during a sheet transition from the reading position to s an upstream end of the downstream guide.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a gate electrode; an active layer formed of an oxide containing indium, zinc, and titanium; a gate insulating film formed between the gate electrode and the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode that are electrically connected to the active layer. Atomic proportions of elements relative to the total quantity of indium, zinc, and titanium that constitute the oxide may be not less than 24 at. % and not more than 80 at. % for indium, not less than 16 at. % and not more than 70 at. % for zinc, and not less than 0.1 at. % and not more than 20 at. % for titanium.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a sheet conveying device includes a reading device, a roller, a downstream guide, and a transition guide. The reading device reads a surface of the sheet. The roller faces the reading device. The downstream guide is downstream of the roller in the sheet conveyance direction. The transition guide guides the sheet at least during a sheet transition from the reading position to s an upstream end of the downstream guide.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a first rotator, a second rotator, a driving force transmission mechanism, and a displacement mechanism. The process unit forms an image. The first rotator is rotatable about a shaft in a first direction and a second direction reverse to the first direction. The second rotator is disposed in parallel to the first rotator. The second rotator is detachably connected to the process unit. The driving force transmission mechanism transmits a driving force of the first rotator to the second rotator to rotate the second rotator about a shaft when the first rotator is rotated in the first direction. The displacement mechanism releases the connection between the second rotator and the process unit by displacing the second rotator in a shaft direction when the first rotator is rotated in the second direction.

Abstract: A mutated tryptophan oxidase suitable for practical implementation is described herein. Specifically, a mutated tryptophan oxidase wherein at least one amino acid residue of a wild-type tryptophan oxidase is mutated and, as a result, has higher tryptophan oxidase activity and/or stability as compared to the wild-type tryptophan oxidase. The mutated tryptophan oxidase can be derived from a wild-type tryptophan oxidase having at least one of Motifs (2), (3), (5), (7), (9), (11), (13), and (14), and at least one amino acid residue in any of these motifs can have mutation. The mutated tryptophan oxidase also can have a mutation of one or more amino acid residues in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a sequence homologous thereto.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a first rotator, a second rotator, a driving force transmission mechanism, and a displacement mechanism. The process unit forms an image. The first rotator is rotatable about a shaft in a first direction and a second direction reverse to the first direction. The second rotator is disposed in parallel to the first rotator. The second rotator is detachably connected to the process unit. The driving force transmission mechanism transmits a driving force of the first rotator to the second rotator to rotate the second rotator about a shaft when the first rotator is rotated in the first direction. The displacement mechanism releases the connection between the second rotator and the process unit by displacing the second rotator in a shaft direction when the first rotator is rotated in the second direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method of improving the efficiency of establishment of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The method comprises contacting an isolated somatic cell being reprogrammed into an iPS cell with an inhibitor of p53 function. The invention also provides an in vitro method of producing iPS cells. The method comprises bringing (a) nuclear reprogramming substances or nucleic acids encoding the nuclear reprogramming substances and (b) an inhibitor of p53 function into contact with a somatic cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for iPS cells exhibiting differentiation resistance using a marker identified as lincRNA or mRNA that is specifically expressed in an iPS cell line exhibiting differentiation resistance, and such markers.

Abstract: A fixing device according to an embodiment includes a first rotator, a belt, and a second rotator. The belt forms a nip by abutting onto a surface of the first rotator. The second rotator is disposed to abut onto an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The second rotator presses the belt against the first rotator such that the dynamic frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the belt and the second rotator becomes equal to or smaller than 0.98 N.

Abstract: A mutated tryptophan oxidase suitable for practical implementation is described herein. Specifically, a mutated tryptophan oxidase wherein at least one amino acid residue of a wild-type tryptophan oxidase is mutated and, as a result, has higher tryptophan oxidase activity and/or stability as compared to the wild-type tryptophan oxidase. The mutated tryptophan oxidase can be derived from a wild-type tryptophan oxidase having at least one of Motifs (2), (3), (5), (7), (9), (11), (13), and (14), and at least one amino acid residue in any of these motifs can have mutation. The mutated tryptophan oxidase also can have a mutation of one or more amino acid residues in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a sequence homologous thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image forming unit, a heating unit, a fan, a guide, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. The heating unit is disposed on a downstream side of the image forming unit in a transport direction of the recording medium. The heating unit is driven with at least two temperatures, a first temperature and a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The fan generates wind. The guide guides the wind generated from the fan to the heating unit. The control unit controls the fan and the guide when the control unit controls the heating unit by switching between driving the heating unit at the first temperature and at the second temperature.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fuser includes a heat roller, an endless belt, a first press roller and a second press roller. The heat roller rotates and contacts a toner surface side of a sheet, and heats the sheet. The endless belt contacts a part of an outer peripheral surface of the heat roller. The first press roller contacts a part of an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and is provided at an insertion part of the sheet in a nip portion where the heat roller contacts the endless belt. The second press roller contacts a part of the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, is provided at an exit part of the sheet in the nip portion, and has a lower rotational resistance than the first press roller.