Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase in a wide temperature range. Another object is to provide a liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase, with which high contrast can be provided, in a liquid crystal display device. A liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase includes: a nematic liquid crystal including a compound represented by a structural formula (100) (PPEP-5FCNF (abbreviation)); and a chiral agent. In a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal layer is formed using the liquid crystal composition including a nematic liquid crystal including a compound represented by a structural formula (100) (PPEP-5FCNF (abbreviation)) and a chiral agent, and the liquid crystal composition exhibits a blue phase.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition including a dioxolane compound represented by the general formula (G1) as a chiral agent is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 and R2 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having a phenyl group as a substituent; R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; R3 and R4 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a cycloalkyl group; and R5 to R40 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystalline compound and/or a liquid crystal composition including the novel liquid crystalline compound that can be used for a variety of liquid crystal devices capable of exhibiting a blue phase with a wide temperature range are/is provided. A liquid crystalline compound represented by the general formula (G1) is provided.

Abstract: A vitamin D3 hydroxylase is purified from Pseudonocardia autotrophica cell, and a primer is designed based on amino acid sequence obtained from hydroxylase. Subsequently, PCR is conducted using genomic DNA of Pseudonocardia autotrophica as a template to clone a gene for the vitamin D3 hydroxylase. By conducting a conversion reaction using a microorganism in which the vitamin D3 hydroxylase gene is expressed using a proper expression system, a hydroxide of vitamin D or the like (e.g., hydroxy vitamin D3) can be produced with high efficiency.

Abstract: An object is to provide a liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase in a wide temperature range. Another object is to provide a liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase, with which high contrast can be provided, in a liquid crystal display device. A liquid crystal composition which exhibits a blue phase includes: a nematic liquid crystal including a compound represented by a structural formula (100) (PPEP-5FCNF (abbreviation)); and a chiral agent. In a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal layer is formed using the liquid crystal composition including a nematic liquid crystal including a compound represented by a structural formula (100) (PPEP-5FCNF (abbreviation)) and a chiral agent, and the liquid crystal composition exhibits a blue phase.

Abstract: An expression vector capable of expressing a foreign gene in Pseudonocardia autotrophica; a transformant of Pseudonocardia autotrophica produced by using the expression vector; a method for producing a protein by using the transformant; a method for producing an active form of vitamin D3 from vitamin D3, which comprises highly expressing a gene encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of the active form of vitamin D3 in a transformant by using the expression vector or the transformant; a method for producing 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 from vitamin D2; and a method for producing pravastatin from compactin, which comprises highly expressing a compactin hydroxylase gene in a transformant by using the expression vector or the transformant.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase is provided to achieve higher contrast. Further, the power consumption of the liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase is reduced. In a liquid crystal display device including: a first substrate provided with a pixel electrode layer (also referred to as a first electrode layer); and a second substrate provided with a common electrode layer (also referred to as a second electrode layer), between which a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase is interposed, the pixel electrode layer and the common electrode layer project into the liquid crystal layer and are arranged so that the adjacent pixel electrode layer and common electrode layer engage with each other at a distance with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, a pixel electrode layer is electrically connected to a drain electrode layer of a transistor and a common electrode layer is electrically connected to a conductive layer formed through the same steps as the drain electrode layer. The pixel electrode layer and the common electrode layer are over an interlayer film and spaced apart from each other. An opening formed in the interlayer film is filled with liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal layer is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a tricyclic compound having a PPAR ? agonist activity, which is represented by the general formula (I) wherein Z represents a single bond or the like, Y represents a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl optionally having substituent(s) or the like, X represents a hydrogen atom or the like, A represents aryl or the like, B and C are the same or different and each represents an aromatic carbocycle or the like, R4-R9 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen or the like, V represents a single bond or the like, R10 and R11 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen or the like, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or the like:

Abstract: In the liquid crystal display device where a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase is interposed between a first substrate and a second substrate, a pixel electrode layer (first electrode layer) and a common electrode layer (second electrode layer) provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer are positioned not to overlap with each other. The pixel electrode layer is formed to cover top and side surfaces of a rib-shaped first structure body which projects into the liquid crystal layer from a surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. The common electrode layer is formed to cover top and side surfaces of a rib-shaped second structure body which projects into the liquid crystal layer from the surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer which exhibits a stable blue phase. The following steps are performed: a first step of forming a thermosetting first sealant so as to form a frame over a first substrate; a second step of forming a photocurable and thermosetting second sealant on an outer side than the first sealant over the first substrate; a third step of dropping a liquid crystal material which exhibits a blue phase at a given temperature on an inner side than the first sealant; a fourth step of attaching a second substrate to the first substrate in a reduced-pressure atmosphere; a fifth step of performing polymer stabilization treatment on the liquid crystal material; and a sixth step of curing the first sealant through heat treatment.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase and having a novel structure, and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device. A plurality of structure bodies (also referred to as ribs, protrusions, or projecting portions) are formed over the same substrate, and a pixel electrode and an electrode (a common electrode at a fixed potential) corresponding to the pixel electrode are formed thereover. An electric field is applied to the liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase by using the pixel electrode that has an inclination and the electrode corresponding to the pixel electrode, which also has an inclination. A shorter distance between the adjacent structure bodies allows a strong electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal layer, which results in a reduction in power consumption for driving the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A vitamin D3 hydroxylase is purified from Pseudonocardia autotrophica cell, and a primer is designed based on amino acid sequence obtained from hydroxylase. Subsequently, PCR is conducted using genomic DNA of Pseudonocardia autotrophica as a template to clone a gene for the vitamin D3 hydroxylase. By conducting a conversion reaction using a microorganism in which the vitamin D3 hydroxylase gene is expressed using a proper expression system, a hydroxide of vitamin D or the like (e.g., hydroxy vitamin D3) can be produced with high efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is an expression vector capable of constitutive expression of a foreign gene in a bacterium belonging to the genus Rhodococcus. The vector is a constitutive expression vector for a bacterium belonging to the genus Rhodococcus comprising: DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence of a mutated TipA gene promoter where a mutation is incorporated into a ?10 region sequence of a TipA gene promoter, the mutated TipA gene promoter being capable of thiostrepton-independent and constitutive expression of a gene located downstream thereof; a promoter sequence for the constitutive expression of a foreign gene; a ribosome-binding site sequence located downstream of the promoter sequence; and a multiple-cloning site sequence capable of incorporating a foreign gene therein, located downstream of the ribosome-binding site sequence.

Abstract: A microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus is provided which has a higher sensitivity to lysozyme at a low concentration than a wild-type strain, which can easily cause cell lysis, and from which a recombinant protein expressed therein is easily recovered. More specifically, a mutant microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus having a higher sensitivity to lysozyme than a wild-type microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus.

Abstract: Provided is an expression vector capable of constitutive expression of a foreign gene in a bacterium belonging to the genus Rhodococcus. The vector is a constitutive expression vector for a bacterium belonging to the genus Rhodococcus comprising: DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence of a mutated TipA gene promoter where a mutation is incorporated into a ?10 region sequence of a TipA gene promoter, the mutated TipA gene promoter being capable of thiostrepton-independent and constitutive expression of a gene located downstream thereof; a promoter sequence for the constitutive expression of a foreign gene, the promoter sequence being a nucleotide sequence of DNA claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3; a ribosome-binding site sequence located downstream of the promoter sequence; and a multiple-cloning site sequence capable of incorporating a foreign gene therein, located downstream of the ribosome-binding site sequence.

Abstract: A microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus is provided which has a higher sensitivity to lysozyme at a low concentration than a wild-type strain, which can easily cause cell lysis, and from which a recombinant protein expressed therein is easily recovered. More specifically, a mutant microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus having a higher sensitivity to lysozyme than a wild-type microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus.

Abstract: An inducible expression vector which can express a protein at low temperature and a method for expressing a protein at low temperature using this vector are provided. The inducible expression vector can express a gene encoding a protein whose expression product, inhibits proliferation of the host cell under medium to high temperature conditions exceeding about 15° C. in a host cell which can proliferate under low temperature conditions.

Abstract: Piezo oscillators having a quick start-up circuit, which applies a start-up quickening voltage to the piezo resonator only for a predetermined length of time after the application of power supply voltage, added to a piezo oscillating circuit. The start-up time taken for the piezo oscillators to reach the steady-estate oscillation from the non-oscillating state can be significantly shortened. The phase noise characteristics and frequency stability characteristics are not affected, since the start-up quickening voltage is removed after the predetermined length of time.

Abstract: Piezo oscillators having a quick start-up circuit, which applies a start-up quickening voltage to the piezo resonator only for a predetermined length of time after the application of power supply voltage, added to a piezo oscillating circuit. The start-up time taken for the piezo oscillators to reach the steady-estate oscillation from the non-oscillating state can be significantly shortened. The phase noise characteristics and frequency stability characteristics are not affected, since the start-up quickening voltage is removed after the predetermined length of time.