Abstract: The present invention relates to a crystal of a complex of an epidermal growth factor (EGF) and an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a crystal of a complex of EGFR and a substance regulating EGFR activity, structure coordinates of these crystals, a method for screening for the substance regulating EGFR activity, a method for designing the substance regulating EGFR activity, a method for designing an EGFR variant or an EGF variant, a method for producing an EGFR variant or an EGF variant and an EGF variant or an EGFR variant obtainable by such method, a method for designing an epitope using the structure coordinates of the EGF-EGFR complex, a method for producing an anti-EGFR antibody or an anti-EGF antibody and an antibody obtainable by such method, a polypeptide or a salt thereof comprising a region that forms an EGFR dimerization site, and the like.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution module having a connection board, optical connector adaptors and a storage section is provided. An array of the optical connector adaptors forms the connection board, where the optical connectors connect in-use optical fibers. The storage section, located in a separate section of the module, stores optical fibers which are not-in use. The optical fiber distribution module also includes a plurality of cord sorting boards having a plurality of fiber cord passageways. The fiber cord passageways are configured to accommodate and retain at least one optical fiber such that the optical fiber is arranged between the connection board and the storage section. In addition, both the in-use and not-in use optical fibers insert into the fiber cord passageway.

Abstract: An optical switch 1 of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arraying member 21 for keeping a plurality of first optical fibers 20 juxtaposed with tip portions thereof being aligned, a movable arm 31, opposed to the optical fiber arraying member, for holding a tip portion of at least one second optical fiber 30, a driving mechanism 40 for driving this movable arm 31 to selectively optically coupling the second optical fiber 30 with an arbitrary first optical fiber 20, a supplying mechanism 60 for, when a first optical fiber 20 is optically coupled with the second optical fiber, dropping and charging an index matching agent to a gap between these optical fibers 20, 30, and drop controllers 67, 68 for controlling the supplying mechanism 60, wherein the index matching agent is dropped and charged into only the gap between the optical fibers, so that foreign matter produced in the driving mechanism 40 or the like is prevented from intruding into the coupling part between the optical fibers 20, 30, thus

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical switch which is used for connecting or switching light (optical signals) by utilizing optical fibers. An optical fiber tape (6) is fixed on an optical fiber placing base (2) by an adhesive agent. A plurality of slave side optical fibers (3) are caused to protrude from the optical fiber tape (6). plurality of V grooves (5) are formed at the front edge side of the slave side optical fibers (3), a groove formed member 1 which has the master optical fiber (4) fixed in the V grooves thereof is provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an optical switch apparatus is provided for switching the connections between a plurality of fixed optical fibers which are fixed and arranged on an optical fiber support base within a container filled with an index-of-refraction matching agent, and movable optical fibers provided on a movable base which is moved by a moving mechanism comprising a worm gear within the aforementioned container. In addition, a worm gear driving member and a cam driving member of a matching device are both provided on the exterior of the aforementioned container via a seal. This worm gear driving member which is connected to a control device, starts the positioning sequence and moves the movable base to a standby position following return of the movable base to a predetermined origin within the container. As a result, it is possible to prevent contamination of the index-of-refraction matching agent over a long period of time, and thereby reduce the connection loss to a satisfactory level.