Abstract: To provide a method for predicting a soybean yield at an early stage with high accuracy. The method for predicting a soybean yield comprises: acquiring analytical data of one or more components from a leaf sample collected from the soybean; and predicting a soybean yield using a correlation between the data and a soybean yield.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an attachment member that is attached to a mobile terminal which includes an imaging section and a lighting section; a lens section that is disposed at a position corresponding to the imaging section of the mobile terminal and closes up a target; and an optical member that guides illumination light from the lighting section, from the lighting section of the mobile terminal toward the target rather than an end of the lens section on a side of the target.

Abstract: A biometric data processing apparatus (500) includes a control unit (50) that displays, on a display unit, a message requesting the user to perform a predetermined action, and an authentication unit (52), wherein in a case where a first score calculated by collating biometric data of the user with previously-registered biometric data is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value and a detection unit continuously detects a predetermined action from when the detection unit first detects the predetermined action after the message is displayed until an authentication process in the biometric data processing apparatus is ended, the authentication unit (52) determines that authentication of the user is successful.

Abstract: Provided is a unit for photographing, including a holding member configured to hold a pill to be photographed by a photographing section, a supporting member configured to support the holding member so that the pill faces the photographing section at a position that is determined in advance from the photographing section, a fixing unit configured to fix the holding member, which is supported to the supporting member, with a magnetic force, and a switching unit configured to switch a fixed state in which the holding member is fixed by the fixing unit and a released state in which the fixing of the holding member by the fixing unit is released.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an attachment member that is attached to a mobile terminal which includes an imaging section and a lighting section; a lens section that is disposed at a position corresponding to the imaging section of the mobile terminal and closes up a target; and an optical member that guides illumination light from the lighting section, from the lighting section of the mobile terminal toward the target rather than an end of the lens section on a side of the target.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an attachment member that is attached to a mobile terminal which includes an imaging section and a lighting section; an optical member that supplies illumination light from the lighting section to a part to be imaged of an imaging target which is imaged by the imaging section in an oblique direction; and a shading member that encloses a periphery of the optical member, wherein a first optical axis of light from the optical member enters the imaging target in a direction oblique to a second optical axis of an optical system of the imaging section.

Abstract: Provided is a unit for photographing, including a holding member configured to hold a pill to be photographed by a photographing section, a supporting member configured to support the holding member so that the pill faces the photographing section at a position that is determined in advance from the photographing section, a fixing unit configured to fix the holding member, which is supported to the supporting member, with a magnetic force, and a switching unit configured to switch a fixed state in which the holding member is fixed by the fixing unit and a released state in which the fixing of the holding member by the fixing unit is released.

Abstract: A method of producing a fatty acid or a lipid containing a fatty acid, using a thioesterase variant having an amino acid sequence in which the 231st amino acid is substituted from threonine to lysine in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and a transformant obtained by introducing a gene that encodes the thioesterase variant which transformant has an enhanced ability to produce a fatty acid or a lipid containing a fatty acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mutant alkaline cellulase having enhanced anti-redeposition ability.

Abstract: A thioesterase comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, a thioesterase gene encoding the thioesterase, a transformant comprising the gene, and a method of producing fatty acids or lipids using the transformant.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an alkaline protease that has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of an amino acid sequence having an identity of 90% or more thereto, except that one or more amino acid residues at positions selected from (a) position 6, (b) position 15, (c) position 16, (d) position 65, (e) position 66, (f) position 82, (g) position 83, (h) position 204, (i) position 319, and (j) position 337 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or at positions corresponding thereto, are substituted with certain other amino acid residues. The invention is also directed to detergent compositions and culture medium that contain the protease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modified promoter DNA capable of enhancing transcription of genes encoding proteins or polypeptides, and a method for producing proteins or polypeptides efficiently by use of the modified promoter DNA. A promoter DNA recognized by SigA and SigE, which is produced by modifying a nucleotide sequence including a promoter recognized by SigA and bases in the vicinity thereof; an expression vector harboring the promoter DNA; a recombinant microorganism containing the expression vector; and a method for producing proteins or polypeptides characterized by culturing the recombinant microorganism.

Abstract: A method of producing a fatty acid or a lipid containing a fatty acid, using a thioesterase variant having an amino acid sequence in which the 231st amino acid is substituted from threonine to lysine in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and a transformant obtained by introducing a gene that encodes the thioesterase variant which transformant has an enhanced ability to produce a fatty acid or a lipid containing a fatty acid.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a microorganism which enhances productivity of cellulase and is useful for industrial production of cellulase, and to provide a method for producing cellulase by use of the microorganism. The present invention provides a recombinant microorganism produced by transferring a gene encoding cellulase to a parental microorganism which has been genetically modified so as to overexpress a Bacillus subtilis secY gene or a gene corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A thioesterase comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, a thioesterase gene encoding the thioesterase, a transformant comprising the gene, and a method of producing fatty acids or lipids using the transformant.

Abstract: A recombinant microorganism having improved productivity for a protein or a polypeptide, and a method for producing a protein or a polypeptide using the recombinant microorganism, are provided. A recombinant microorganism obtained by transfecting a gene for encoding a desired protein or polypeptide into a microorganism strain which is obtained by genetically constructing to overexpress secY gene of Bacillus subtilis or a gene corresponding to the secY gene, and deleting or inactivating one or more genes selected from sporulation-associated genes and genes corresponding to the sporulation-associated genes from the genome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mutant alkaline cellulase having enhanced anti-redeposition ability.

Abstract: A recombinant microorganism is provided that has increased productivity of a protein or polypeptide of interest. A method for producing a protein of interest using the microorganism is also provided. The microorganism is prepared by inserting, in its genome, a transcription initiation regulatory region or both a transcription initiation regulatory region and a ribosome-binding site, upstream of a Bacillus subtilis prsA gene and by deleting or inactivating one or more of the abrB gene, dltA gene, dltB gene, dltC gene, dltD gene, dltE gene, or a gene (genes) corresponding thereto.

Abstract: An alkaline protease variant derived from an alkaline protease consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or consisting of an amino acid sequence having an identity of 90% or more therewith, which variant has mutations wherein one or more amino acid residues at positions selected from (a) position 6, (b) position 15, (c) position 16, (d) position 65, (e) position 66, (f) position 82, (g) position 83, (h) position 204, (i) position 319, and (j) position 337 of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or at positions corresponding thereto are substituted with the following amino acid residues: (a) or a position corresponding thereto: Typ, Leu, Val, Ile, Met, Tyr, Gln, Lys, Thr, Phe, Arg, Ser, Cys, Ala, or His; (b) or a position corresponding thereto: Glu, Met, Asp, Val, Gln, Arg, Cys, Trp, Ala, or Phe; (c) or a position corresponding thereto: Met, Glu, Arg, Val, Lys, Phe, Tyr, Ile, His, Asp, or Cys; (d) or a position corresponding thereto: Trp; (e) or a position corresponding t

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I), wherein Z represents C—R7 or N, and R5 represents alkyl that may be optionally substituted, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or alkoxycarbonylamino, are useful as agricultural and horticultural fungicides.