Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feed tray, a conveying roller pair, and a contact-and-separation mechanism. The sheet feed tray is detachably attached to a body of an image forming apparatus. The conveying roller pair is disposed in the body of the image forming apparatus, conveys a sheet fed from the sheet feed tray attached to the body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a driving roller and a driven roller. The driving roller is rotated by a drive mechanism. The driven roller is rotated by the driving roller. The contact-and-separation mechanism separates the driven roller from the driving roller in conjunction with detachment of the sheet feed tray from the body of the image forming apparatus and brings the driven roller into contact with the driving roller by the drive mechanism when the sheet feed tray is detached from the body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A radiation image detecting device includes a photodetecting element that detects fluorescence light, and a prism that is disposed on an optical path of excitation light traveling toward an imaging plate and between the photodetecting element and the imaging plate. The prism includes, as surface thereof, a side face that is opposed to the imaging plate, and a side face and a side face that are inclined relative to the side face. The prism is disposed so that the excitation light incident through the side face propagates inside and is output from the side face and so that reflection from the imaging plate incident through the side face propagates inside and is output from the side face. The photodetecting element is disposed so as to be opposed to a region different from a region where the reflection from the imaging plate is output, in the surface of the prism.

Abstract: A radiological image reading device includes a MEMS mirror that scan a recording medium on which a radiological image is recorded with excitation light; a light detecting element that includes a plurality of channels, each channel including a photodiode array, and detects light emitted from an irradiation position of the excitation light on the recording medium; a MEMS mirror driving circuit that determines as a light detection channel to detect the light, a channel corresponding to the irradiation position of the excitation light, out of the plurality of channels; and a reading circuit that reads the detection result of the light from the channel determined by the MEMS mirror driving circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit forming low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns can include: a light source having a substrate, and a first light-emitting section and a second light-emitting section arranged in two rows on a surface of the substrate; a first optical system configured to control light emitted from the first light-emitting section to form at least part of the low-beam light distribution pattern; a second optical system configured to control light emitted from the second light-emitting section to form at least part of the high-beam light distribution pattern; a light-shielding section disposed between the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section, the light-shielding section configured to shield part of the light from the first light-emitting section so as not to enter the second optical system; and a control unit configured to control to form the low-beam light distribution pattern or the high-beam light distribution pattern.

Abstract: A radiological image reading device includes a MEMS mirror that scan a recording medium on which a radiological image is recorded with excitation light; a light detecting element that includes a plurality of channels, each channel including a photodiode array, and detects light emitted from an irradiation position of the excitation light on the recording medium; a MEMS mirror driving circuit that determines as a light detection channel to detect the light, a channel corresponding to the irradiation position of the excitation light, out of the plurality of channels; and a reading circuit that reads the detection result of the light from the channel determined by the MEMS mirror driving circuit.

Abstract: A radiation image detecting device includes a photodetecting element that detects fluorescence light, and a prism that is disposed on an optical path of excitation light traveling toward an imaging plate and between the photodetecting element and the imaging plate. The prism includes, as surface thereof, a side face that is opposed to the imaging plate, and a side face and a side face that are inclined relative to the side face. The prism is disposed so that the excitation light incident through the side face propagates inside and is output from the side face and so that reflection from the imaging plate incident through the side face propagates inside and is output from the side face. The photodetecting element is disposed so as to be opposed to a region different from a region where the reflection from the imaging plate is output, in the surface of the prism.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit forming low-beam and high-beam light distribution patterns can include: a light source having a substrate, and a first light-emitting section and a second light-emitting section arranged in two rows on a surface of the substrate; a first optical system configured to control light emitted from the first light-emitting section to form at least part of the low-beam light distribution pattern; a second optical system configured to control light emitted from the second light-emitting section to form at least part of the high-beam light distribution pattern; a light-shielding section disposed between the first light-emitting section and the second light-emitting section, the light-shielding section configured to shield part of the light from the first light-emitting section so as not to enter the second optical system; and a control unit configured to control to form the low-beam light distribution pattern or the high-beam light distribution pattern.

Abstract: A method for producing D-lactic acid in high yield, and to provide a method for producing D-lactic acid with high selectivity, in which optical purity is high and a by-product organic acid is small. In one aspect, a microorganism, wherein activity of pyruvate formate-lyase (pfl) is inactivated or decreased, and further activity of Escherichia coli-derived NADH-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) is enhanced, is cultured to efficiently produce D-lactic acid. With regard to a method for enhancing ldhA activity, by linking, on a genome, a gene encoding ldhA with a promoter of a gene which controls expression of a protein involved in a glycolytic pathway, a nucleic acid biosynthesis pathway or an amino acid biosynthesis pathway, suitable results are obtained compared to the method for enhancing expression of the gene using an expression vector.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a cytosine nucleoside compound from pentose-1-phosphate and cytosine or a derivative thereof using a nucleoside phosphorylase reactive to cytosine or a bacterium having the enzyme activity. The invention also provides a method for specifically reducing an activity to degrade the substrates or the product, resulting in efficient production of the cytosine nucleoside compound. According to the invention, little by-product is produced in producing cytonucleocide compounds.

Abstract: The amino acid sequence of a mutant which is obtained by introducing a novel mutation into a Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM3095-derived nitrile hydratase consisting of two types of heterogeneous subunits, and the base sequence of the gene are provided. The nitrile hydratase is modified by specifying the region to be modified in the stereostructure/amino acid sequence of the nitrile hydratase, and applying alteration such as substitution, insertion, deletion or the like, to the amino acids in the amino acid sequence which are corresponding to the amino acid residues forming the region. Also provided is a method for modifying an enzyme having a nitrile hydratase activity.

Abstract: To provide highly safe therapeutic or preventive agents for hyperuricemia, more specifically uricosuric agents, which have potent uricosuric effect and do not cause grave hepatic disorder. Medicinal compositions for the treatment or prevention of hyperuricemia or diseases caused by hyperuricemia, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers; uricosuric agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and inhibitors against the uptake of uric acid in kidney, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof; and a process for the production of 6-hydroxybenzbromarone.

Abstract: A novel gluconate dehydratase derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a gene encoding the gluconate dehydratase are provided. By reacting the gluconate dehydratase or a transformed cell containing the gene with an aldonic acid, the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid can be efficiently produced.

Abstract: A pentose such as ribose, arabinose, 2-deoxyribose, 1-methoxy-2-deoxyribose or the like is reacted with a phosphoric acid donor such as a pyrophosphoric acid or an alkali metal salt thereof in the presence of an acid phosphatase. Thus, a pentose-5-phosphate ester can be produced, such as a ribose-5-phosphate ester, an arabinose-5-phosphate ester, a 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate ester, a 1-methoxy-2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate ester or the like.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide highly safe therapeutic or preventive agents for hyperuricemia, more specifically uricosuric agents, which have potent uricosuric effect and do not cause grave hepatic disorder. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Medicinal compositions for the treatment or prevention of hyperuricemia or diseases caused by hyperuricemia, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers; uricosuric agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and inhibitors against the uptake of uric acid in kidney, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof; and a process for the production of 6-hydroxybenzbromarone.

Abstract: A ring-shaped metal gasket 10 in which a metallic ring 10b is fitted to at least one of two valley portions 11b, 12b in the ring-shaped metal gasket 10a. The metal gasket 10 is free of plastic deformation even if a large compressive load is applied thereto and difficult to undergo fatigue destruction. Even if a difference in pressure between a fluid side to be sealed and a non-fluid side on the opposite side is high, the gasket is hard to damage.

Abstract: A method for producing D-lactic acid in high yield, and to provide a method for producing D-lactic acid with high selectivity, in which optical purity is high and a by-product organic acid is small. In one aspect, a microorganism, wherein activity of pyruvate formate-lyase (pfl) is inactivated or decreased, and further activity of Escherichia coli-derived NADH-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) is enhanced, is cultured to efficiently produce D-lactic acid. With regard to a method for enhancing ldhA activity, by linking, on a genome, a gene encoding ldhA with a promoter of a gene which controls expression of a protein involved in a glycolytic pathway, a nucleic acid biosynthesis pathway or an amino acid biosynthesis pathway, suitable results are obtained compared to the method for enhancing expression of the gene using an expression vector.

Abstract: A novel gluconate dehydratase derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a gene encoding the gluconate dehydratase are provided. By reacting the gluconate dehydratase or a transformed cell containing the gene with an aldonic acid, the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid can be efficiently produced.

Abstract: The amino acid sequence of a mutant which is obtained by introducing a novel mutation into a Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM3095-derived nitrile hydratase consisting of two types of heterogeneous subunits, and the base sequence of the gene are provided. The nitrile hydratase is modified by specifying the region to be modified in the stereostructure/amino acid sequence of the nitrile hydratase, and applying alteration such as substitution, insertion, deletion or the like, to the amino acids in the amino acid sequence which are corresponding to the amino acid residues forming the region. Also provided is a method for modifying an enzyme having a nitrile hydratase activity.

Abstract: A photodetecting unit 5 comprises a photosensitive region 10, a first signal processing circuit 20, and a second signal processing circuit 30. In photosensitive region 10, pixels 11mn are arrayed two-dimensionally in M rows and N columns. One pixel is arranged by adjacently positioning in the same plane a photosensitive portion 12mn and a photosensitive portion 13mn, each outputting a current that is in accordance with the intensity of light that is made incident thereon. Across each of the pluralities of pixels 1111 to 111N, . . . , 11M1 to 11MN, aligned in a first direction in the two-dimensional array, one photosensitive portion 12mn of each corresponding pixel is electrically connected to the same photosensitive portion 12mn of each of the other corresponding pixels. Also across each of the pluralities of pixels 1111 to 11M1, . . .

Abstract: A novel gluconate dehydratase derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a gene encoding the gluconate dehydratase are provided. By reacting the gluconate dehydratase or a transformed cell containing the gene with an aldonic acid, the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid can be efficiently produced.