Abstract: A water-absorbent resin (21) has a shape in which a plurality of particles (40) having a substantially spherical shape is connected in a chain shape.

Abstract: A risk-of-falling determination apparatus includes a walk information obtainer that obtains walk information of a user, a myoelectric sensor that measures a first myoelectric potential difference on an anterior surface of a thigh of the user and a second myoelectric potential difference on a posterior surface of the thigh, a control circuit that identifies an interval of a stance phase by using the walk information, calculates a degree of co-contraction at a corresponding leg of the user on the basis of the first and second myoelectric potential differences for the stance phase, and determines whether the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an outputter that outputs a signal indicating that the user has a high risk of falling if the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

Abstract: A method for perming or coloring hair, in which hair is treated with a cosmetic composition including a protein-glutaminase and not including an alkaline substance. A method of enhancing hair-permeation of an active ingredient included in a cosmetic composition, in which a protein glutaminase is included in the cosmetic composition. The cosmetic composition does not include an alkaline substance, and the active ingredient is at least one of a hair perm agent and a hair coloring agent.

Abstract: A risk-of-falling determination apparatus includes a walk information obtainer that obtains walk information of a user, a myoelectric sensor that measures a first myoelectric potential difference on an anterior surface of a thigh of the user and a second myoelectric potential difference on a posterior surface of the thigh, a control circuit that identifies an interval of a stance phase by using the walk information, calculates a degree of co-contraction at a corresponding leg of the user on the basis of the first and second myoelectric potential differences for the stance phase, and determines whether the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and an outputter that outputs a signal indicating that the user has a high risk of falling if the degree of co-contraction is greater than or equal to the first threshold.

Abstract: A method for perming or coloring hair, in which hair is treated with a cosmetic composition including a protein-glutaminase and not including an alkaline substance. A method of enhancing hair-permeation of an active ingredient included in a cosmetic composition, in which a protein glutaminase is included in the cosmetic composition. The cosmetic composition does not include an alkaline substance, and the active ingredient is at least one of a hair perm agent and a hair coloring agent.

Abstract: Polyester compounds obtained by reaction of a compound represented by formula (1): (defined herein) with a compound represented by formula (2): (defined herein) exhibit high thermal resistance.

Abstract: Polyester compounds obtained by reaction of a compound represented by formula (1): (defined herein) with a compound represented by formula (2): (defined herein) exhibit high thermal resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveniently and efficiently producing a 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound that is a stable compound by a process using a microorganism. Specifically the present invention provides a microorganism having an ability to produce 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, that is modified so as to increase an activity to form 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and aspartate semialdehyde, wherein the microorganism is modified so as to increase an N-hydroxyarylamine O-acetyltransferase (NhoA) activity, as well as a method for producing the 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound using such a microorganism.

Abstract: Polyamide compounds obtained by reacting a compound represented by formula (1): with a compound represented by formula (2): where the variables are described herein exhibit excellent heat resistance.

Abstract: Polyester compounds obtained by reaction of a compound represented by formula (1): (defined herein) with a compound represented by formula (2): (defined herein) exhibit high thermal resistance.

Abstract: Polyester compounds obtained by reaction of a compound represented by formula (1): (defined herein) with a compound represented by formula (2): (defined herein) exhibit high thermal resistance.

Abstract: The problem of the present invention is to provide a protein hydrophilicity-increasing agent capable of effectively increasing water permeability of (swelling) hair, skin and the like while suppressing damages on the hair, skin and the like constituted of the protein. The present invention solves the problem by providing a protein hydrophilicity-increasing agent containing a protein-glutaminase, and a protein hydrophilicity-increasing agent containing both a protein-glutaminase and transglutaminase.

Abstract: A transglutaminase protein which is mutated to have improved heat resistance and/or pH stability. A mutation is introduced into WT transglutaminase at a cysteine residue capable of forming a disulfide bond (SS bond).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conveniently and efficiently producing a 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound that is a stable compound by a process using a microorganism. Specifically the present invention provides a microorganism having an ability to produce 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, that is modified so as to increase an activity to form 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and aspartate semialdehyde, wherein the microorganism is modified so as to increase an N-hydroxyarylamine O-acetyltransferase (NhoA) activity, as well as a method for producing the 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound using such a microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides means useful for establishing an excellent isoprene monomer production system. Specifically, the present invention provides a polynucleotide of the following (a), (b), or (c): (a) a polynucleotide comprising (i) the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1, or (ii) the nucleotide sequence consisting of the nucleotide residues at positions 133 to 1785 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; (b) a polynucleotide that comprises a nucleotide sequence having 90% or more identity to the nucleotide sequence of (i) or (ii) above, and encodes a protein having an isoprene synthase activity; or (c) a polynucleotide that hybridizes under a stringent condition with a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (i) or (ii) above, and encodes a protein having an isoprene synthase activity; and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides means useful for establishing an excellent isoprene monomer production system. Specifically, the present invention provides a polynucleotide of the following (a), (b), or (c): (a) a polynucleotide comprising (i) the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1, or (ii) the nucleotide sequence consisting of the nucleotide residues at positions 133 to 1785 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; (b) a polynucleotide that comprises a nucleotide sequence having 90% or more identity to the nucleotide sequence of (i) or (ii) above, and encodes a protein having an isoprene synthase activity; or (c) a polynucleotide that hybridizes under a stringent condition with a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (i) or (ii) above, and encodes a protein having an isoprene synthase activity; and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides transglutaminases with improved heat resistance. Specifically, the present invention provides mutant transglutaminase proteins with improved heat resistance as obtained by introducing appropriate mutations into transglutaminases, which results in the incorporation of a disulfide bond.

Abstract: Molecules of a specific species can be selectively excited among molecules of a plurality of species that show only a slight difference of mass. Energy levels can be displayed on a graph where the horizontal axis indicates excitation energy. Assume an instance where an electromagnetic wave showing a comb-shaped spectrum having a plurality of narrow bands as indicated by P1 through P14 and tuning with excitation energies corresponding to the rotational levels of molecule X is irradiated onto the molecule X. The molecule X can sequentially make transitions to higher energy levels by using an electromagnetic wave showing such a comb-shaped spectrum. The energy levels of molecule Y are not synchronized with the comb-shaped spectrum. The two ranges of Y4 through Y7 and Y12 through Y15 operate as gates and the molecule Y cannot make transition from a rotational level to another when a gate is found between them.

Abstract: The present invention provides a neutral metalloprotease from actinomycetes which selectively cleaves a pro-structure part of a microbial protransglutaminase and a gene encoding said neutral metalloprotease. An active microbial transglutaminase having the pro-structure part cleaved can be obtained by culturing a microorganism into which a gene encoding the neutral metalloprotease from actinomycetes according to the present invention has been introduced, where by producing the neutral metalloprotease from actinomycetes, and reacting it on a microbial protransglutaminase.

Abstract: The present invention provides transglutaminases with improved heat resistance. Specifically, the present invention provides mutant transglutaminase proteins with improved heat resistance as obtained by introducing appropriate mutations into transglutaminases, which results in the incorporation of a disulfide bond.