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.

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: 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: 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 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: 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: A yeast extract containing a peptide, such as ?-Glu-X and ?-Glu-X-Gly, wherein X can represent an amino acid or an amino acid derivative other than Cys and derivatives thereof, is prepared by culturing a yeast in a medium containing a peptide such as ?-Glu-X, ?-Glu-X-Gly and X-Gly, and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

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: A pattern forming method comprising a step of applying a resist composition whose solubility in a negative tone developer decreases upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation and which contains a resin having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure and a dispersity of 1.7 or less and being capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid, an exposure step, and a development step using a negative tone developer; a resist composition for use in the method; and a developer and a rinsing solution for use in the method, are provided, whereby a pattern with reduced line edge roughness and high dimensional uniformity can be formed.

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: A surface-treating agent for forming a resist pattern, includes: a compound represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification, wherein the surface-treating agent is used in a step between a formation of a first resist pattern on a first resist film and a formation of a second resist film on the first resist pattern to form a second resist pattern, and a pattern-forming method uses the surface-treating agent.

Abstract: A yeast extract containing a peptide, such as ?-Glu-X and ?-Glu-X-Gly, wherein X can represent an amino acid or an amino acid derivative other than Cys and derivatives thereof, is prepared by culturing a yeast in a medium containing a peptide such as ?-Glu-X, ?-Glu-X-Gly and X-Gly, and preparing a yeast extract from the obtained cells.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition including a resin that includes a repeating unit represented by a following general formula (NGH-1), and, by the action of an acid, increases the polarity and decreases the solubility in a negative developing solution; (b) exposing; and (d) developing with a negative developing solution: wherein RNGH1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and RNGH2 to RNGH4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, provided that at least one of RNGH2 to RNGH4 represents a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A surface-treating agent for forming a resist pattern, includes: a compound represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification, wherein the surface-treating agent is used in a step between a formation of a first resist pattern on a first resist film and a formation of a second resist film on the first resist pattern to form a second resist pattern, and a pattern-forming method uses the surface-treating agent.

Abstract: A surface-treating agent for forming a resist pattern, includes: a compound represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification, wherein the surface-treating agent is used in a step between a formation of a first resist pattern on a first resist film and a formation of a second resist film on the first resist pattern to form a second resist pattern, and a pattern-forming method uses the surface-treating agent.

Abstract: A pattern forming method comprising a step of applying a resist composition whose solubility in a negative tone developer decreases upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation and which contains a resin having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure and a dispersity of 1.7 or less and being capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid, an exposure step, and a development step using a negative tone developer; a resist composition for use in the method; and a developer and a rinsing solution for use in the method, are provided, whereby a pattern with reduced line edge roughness and high dimensional uniformity can be formed.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition including a resin that includes a repeating unit represented by a following general formula (NGH-1), and, by the action of an acid, increases the polarity and decreases the solubility in a negative developing solution; (b) exposing; and (d) developing with a negative developing solution: wherein RNGH1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and RNGH2 to RNGH4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, provided that at least one of RNGH2 to RNGH4 represents a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A pattern forming method comprising a step of applying a resist composition whose solubility in a negative tone developer decreases upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation and which contains a resin having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure and a dispersity of 1.7 or less and being capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid, an exposure step, and a development step using a negative tone developer; a resist composition for use in the method; and a developer and a rinsing solution for use in the method, are provided, whereby a pattern with reduced line edge roughness and high dimensional uniformity can be formed.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition including a resin that includes a repeating unit represented by a following general formula (NGH-1), and, by the action of an acid, increases the polarity and decreases the solubility in a negative developing solution; (b) exposing; and (d) developing with a negative developing solution: wherein RNGH1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and RNGH2 to RNGH4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, provided that at least one of RNGH2 to RNGH4 represents a hydroxyl group.