Abstract: A charged particle beam device wherein a transmission image corresponding to an arbitrary diffraction spot or a diffraction pattern corresponding to a partial range in the transmission image are easily and automatically captured. A charged particle beam device having: an image-capturing unit for forming an image of a sample; a diaphragm disposed in the image-capturing unit, a plurality of openings having different sizes for transmitting an electron beam from the sample being formed in the diaphragm; a movement unit for varying the position of the diaphragm; and a display unit for displaying the formed image, wherein when the operator selects, e.g., a diffraction spot (A) on the display unit, the movement unit moves the diaphragm from the positional relationship between the diaphragm and the image in accordance with the position of the diffraction spot (A).

Abstract: A charged particle beam device wherein a transmission image corresponding to an arbitrary diffraction spot or a diffraction pattern corresponding to a partial range in the transmission image are easily and automatically captured. A charged particle beam device having: an image-capturing unit for forming an image of a sample; a diaphragm disposed in the image-capturing unit, a plurality of openings having different sizes for transmitting an electron beam from the sample being formed in the diaphragm; a movement unit for varying the position of the diaphragm; and a display unit for displaying the formed image, wherein when the operator selects, e.g., a diffraction spot (A) on the display unit, the movement unit moves the diaphragm from the positional relationship between the diaphragm and the image in accordance with the position of the diffraction spot (A).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to elucidate the resistance mechanism in infections that show resistance to ALA-PDT that uses a single ALA, and to provide a novel treatment method against these infections. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for promoting protoporphyrin IX production in ALA-PDT for treating infection, characterized in that it comprises a substance that promotes the conversion from coproporphyrinogen III to protoporphyrin IX.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to elucidate the resistance mechanism in infections that show resistance to ALA-PDT that uses a single ALA, and to provide a novel treatment method against these infections. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for promoting protoporphyrin IX production in ALA-PDT for treating infection, characterized in that it comprises a substance that promotes the conversion from coproporphyrinogen III to protoporphyrin IX.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an agent for improving alkali tolerance of a plant and to a method for improving alkali tolerance of a plant through application of the agent to the plant. The agent for improving alkali tolerance of a plant is characterized by containing 5-aminolevulinic acid, a derivative thereof, or a salt of either of these and an iron compound. The method for improving alkali tolerance of plant is characterized by including treatment with the agent.

Abstract: Microorganisms producing 5-aminolevulinic acid which show a 5-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity of 2 to 7 (nmol/min/mg protein) under aerobic culture conditions with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 0.70 to 6.60 ppm; a process for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid characterized by culturing one or more microorganisms and harvesting 5-aminolevulinic acid from the obtained culture; a process for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid characterized by culturing 5-aminolevulinic acid-producing microorganisms in a medium containing 5 to 500 &mgr;M of iron components; and a method for culturing 5-aminolevulinic acid-producing microorganisms.

Abstract: A pipe joint unit having key members which are struck to bite the surfaces of the pipes is provided with which the pipes can easily and quickly be joined to the body of the pipe joint unit with small force, without skill and regardless of the person who drive the key member. The pipe joint unit according to the present invention includes a body of the pipe joint unit having through holes each of which faces a portion of an inserted pipe in a direction of a tangent line; and key members to be driven into the through holes, wherein each of the key members has a tapered portion which is brought into contact with the surface of the pipe in an initial stage of a driving operation and which bites the surface of the pipe as the driving operation proceeds, and a secured portion to be secured to the bitten portion.

Abstract: A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism has a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase variant having a reduced inhibitor constant for a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase inhibitor. A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism is a photosynthetic bacterium that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid without light irradiation. A process for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid comprising the step of culturing a microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid in a culture medium under at least one condition selected from the group consisting of (a) less than 1 ppm of dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium, (b) from -180 to 50 mV of oxidation-reduction potential in the culture medium, and (c from 5.times.10.sup.-9 to (KrM-2.times.10.sup.-8) (mol of O.sub.2 /ml.multidot.min.cndot.cell) of cellular respiration rate, wherein KrM represents the maximum cellular respiration rate when oxygen is supplied in an excess quantity.

Abstract: A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism has a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase variant having a reduced inhibitor constant for a 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratate inhibitor. A microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid, wherein the microorganism is a photosynthetic bacterium that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid without light irradiation. A progess for producing 5-aminolevulinic acid comprising the step of culturing a microorganism that produces 5-aminolevulinic acid in a culture medium under at least one condition selected from the group consisting of (a) less than 1 ppm of dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture medium, (b) from -180 to 50 mV of oxidation-reduction potential in the culture medium, and (c) from 5.times.10.sup.-9 to (KrM-2.times.10.sup.-8) (mol of O.sub.2 /ml.multidot.min.multidot.cell) of cellular respiration rate, wherein KrM represents the maximum cellular respiration rate when oxygen is supplied in an excess quantity.