Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed, a light absorption anisotropic film which is provided using the liquid crystal composition, a laminate, and an image display device. A liquid crystal composition according to an embodiment of the invention contains a linear polymer liquid crystalline compound having a repeating unit; a low-molecular-weight liquid crystalline compound having a maximum absorption wavelength of 390 nm or less in a solution; and a dichroic substance.

Abstract: A yeast extract containing 0.2% or more of ?-Glu-Abu based on dry weight of the yeast extract is produced by culturing a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cervisiae or Candida utilis, in a medium containing a compound selected from Abu (L-2-aminobutyric acid) and ?-Glu-Abu (L-?-glutamyl-L-2-aminobutyric acid), and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an anisotropic light absorption film having both a high alignment degree and high light resistance, and a laminate provided using the anisotropic light absorption film. An anisotropic light absorption film according to the embodiment of the invention is formed from a composition having a first dichroic azo dye, a second dichroic azo dye, and a compound represented by Formula (I) or a polymer thereof, the first dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 400 nm or greater and less than 550 nm, the second dichroic azo dye has a solution absorption maximum wavelength of 550 nm or greater and 750 nm or less, and the film has an arrangement structure of the first dichroic azo dye or an arrangement structure of the second dichroic azo dye therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical film including a light reflection layer, in which the light reflection layer is a layer in which alignment of liquid crystal molecules is immobilized, the liquid crystal molecule forms a helical structure in a film thickness direction of the light reflection layer, and a tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule is 15° to 55°. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method of the optical film including curing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound and a chiral agent interposed between a support and another support. In the optical film according to the present invention, an absolute value of oblique retardation is smaller. In the liquid crystal display device including the optical film, front surface brightness is high and an oblique change in the shade is suppressed.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a polymer liquid crystal compound with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed, a liquid crystalline composition, a light absorption anisotropic film which is formed of the liquid crystalline composition, a laminate, and an image display device. A liquid crystalline composition according to an embodiment of the invention includes a polymer liquid crystal compound which contains a repeating unit represented by Formula (1) and a dichroic substance. In Formula (1), a difference between a log P value of P1, L1, and SP1 and a log P value of M1 is 4 or greater. In Formula (1), P1 represents a main chain of the repeating unit, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, SP1 represents a spacer group, M1 represents a mesogenic group, and T1 represents a terminal group.

Abstract: A dichroic dye compound has an excellent alignment property when used in a light absorption anisotropic film, and has excellent solubility. A coloring composition contains the dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (1). In Formula (1), A and B represent a crosslinkable group, a and b are 0 or 1, and a+b is not less than 1. L1 and L2 represent a monovalent substituent, a single bond, or a divalent linking group. Each of Ar1 to Ar3 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group. R1 to R3 represent a monovalent substituent. k represents an integer of 1 to 4. n1, n2, and n3 represent an integer of 0 to 4. In a case where k is 1, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 0, and in a case where k is not less than 2, n1+n2+n3 is not less than 1.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a coloring composition which can form a light absorption anisotropic film having an excellent dichroic ratio, a dichroic dye compound, a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device. A coloring composition according to the invention contains a dichroic dye compound which has a Hansen solubility parameter of 17.5 or greater and has a structure represented by Formula (1), and a liquid crystalline compound. L1-A1-N?N-A2-N?N-A3-L2??(1) in Formula (1), A1, A2, and A3 each independently represent a divalent aromatic group which may have a substituent. Any one of A1, A2, and A3 represents a divalent thienothiazole group which may have a substituent. In Formula (1), L1 and L2 each independently represent a substituent.

Abstract: Provided are a coloring composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film having excellent durability can be formed, a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device. A coloring composition according to the invention contains a dichroic dye compound having a structure represented by Formula (1D) and a liquid crystalline compound.

Abstract: An optical film includes a liquid crystal layer derived from a smectic phase, wherein an Nz factor of the liquid crystal layer is from 0.2 to 0.8. A display device that includes the optical film, and a method of producing an optical film is also provided.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a coloring composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film maintaining an excellent dichroic ratio and having good pressing resistance can be formed, and a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device using the coloring composition. A coloring composition according to the invention contains: a polymer compound having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group and a mesogenic group in the same side chain, or a polymer compound separately having a repeating unit including a crosslinkable group in a side chain and a repeating unit including a mesogenic group in a side chain; and a dichroic dye compound.

Abstract: An optical film including: a cholesteric layer of a disk-like liquid crystal composition including a disk-like liquid crystal compound, in which the cholesteric layer exhibits a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, and in which fluctuation of a helical pitch in a film thickness direction of the cholesteric layer is 2% or greater, and having a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase of a disk-like liquid crystal compound and a wide reflection bandwidth; a brightness enhancement film; a backlight unit with a brightness enhancement film; and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: There is provided a composition containing a discotic liquid crystal compound, a chiral agent, and a surfactant which can form a light reflecting layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, which exhibits excellent durability under a hot and humid environment and excellent heat resistance, and has few alignment defects; a light reflecting film; a luminance-improving film; a backlight unit; and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: Provided are a brightness enhancement film including a ?/4 plate, and a reflection polarizer, in which the reflection polarizer includes at least two light reflection layers formed by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, one light reflection layer of the reflection layers is a layer formed of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a rod-like liquid crystal compound, and the other light reflection layer is a layer formed of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a disk-like liquid crystal compound, and an optical sheet member including the brightness enhancement film, and a liquid crystal display device including the optical sheet member. The brightness enhancement film of the present invention has high brightness and is able to suppress an oblique change in the shade at the time of being incorporated in a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel enzyme and methods of using the enzyme for measuring glycine concentration. Specifically, the present invention provides an enzyme in which at least one amino acid residue is mutated so as to improve a property of a glycine oxidase which is associated with the measurement of glycine (e.g., activity of glycine oxidase for glycine, thermal stability of glycine oxidase, and substrate specificity of glycine oxidase for glycine,); and a method of analyzing glycine, that includes measuring glycine contained in a test sample using the modified enzyme; and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a luminance-enhancing film including a ?/4 plate, and a reflection polarizer, including a first light reflection layer, a second light reflection layer, and a third light reflection layer from the ?/4 plate side sequentially, the light reflection layers being light reflection layers formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, and including blue, green and red light reflection layers, and Rth(550) of the first light reflection layer and Rth(550) of the second light reflection layer having inverse signs; and a luminance-enhancing film including a ?/4 plate and a reflection polarizer including at least a light reflection layer formed of a rod-like cholesteric liquid crystal material and a light reflection layer formed of a disk-like cholesteric liquid crystal material. The luminance-enhancing film has high luminance and is able to suppress an oblique change in the color.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical film including a light reflection layer, in which the light reflection layer is a layer in which alignment of liquid crystal molecules is immobilized, the liquid crystal molecule forms a helical structure in a film thickness direction of the light reflection layer, and a tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecule is 15° to 55°. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method of the optical film including curing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound and a chiral agent interposed between a support and another support. In the optical film according to the present invention, an absolute value of oblique retardation is smaller. In the liquid crystal display device including the optical film, front surface brightness is high and an oblique change in the shade is suppressed.

Abstract: A yeast extract containing 0.2% or more of ?-Glu-Abu based on dry weight of the yeast extract is produced by culturing a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cervisiae or Candida utilis, in a medium containing a compound selected from Abu (L-2-aminobutyric acid) and ?-Glu-Abu (L-?-glutamyl-L-2-aminobutyric acid), and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

Abstract: There is provided a composition containing a discotic liquid crystal compound, a chiral agent, and a surfactant which can form a light reflecting layer formed by fixing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, which exhibits excellent durability under a hot and humid environment and excellent heat resistance, and has few alignment defects; a light reflecting film; a luminance-improving film; a backlight unit; and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means and method useful for measurement of a total branched-chain amino acid concentration. Specifically, the present invention provides a modified enzyme in which at least one amino acid residue is mutated so as to improve a property of a leucine dehydrogenase which is associated with the measurement of the total branched-chain amino acids, such as, for example, substrate specificities of leucine dehydrogenase for total branched-chain amino acids, activity of leucine dehydrogenase for any branched-chain amino acids, and thermal stability of leucine dehydrogenase; and a method of analyzing the total branched-chain amino acids, comprising measuring the total branched-chain amino acids contained in a test sample using the modified enzyme.

Abstract: Provided are a brightness enhancement film including a ?/4 plate, and a reflection polarizer, in which the reflection polarizer includes at least two light reflection layers formed by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, one light reflection layer of the reflection layers is a layer formed of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a rod-like liquid crystal compound, and the other light reflection layer is a layer formed of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a disk-like liquid crystal compound, and an optical sheet member including the brightness enhancement film, and a liquid crystal display device including the optical sheet member. The brightness enhancement film of the present invention has high brightness and is able to suppress an oblique change in the shade at the time of being incorporated in a liquid crystal display device.