Abstract: A novel ligand conjugate which is effectively utilizable for analyzing a function of a protein; a ligand-supporting object; and a method of analyzing a protein. The ligand conjugate has a structure which comprises: a linker compound having a structure represented by the following General Formula (1): (wherein n and p each is an integer of 0 to 6) in which X is a structure comprising one, two, or three hydrocarbon derivative chains which have an aromatic amino group at the end and may have a carbon-nitrogen bond in the main chain, Y is a hydro-carbon structure containing one or more sulfur atoms, and Z is a straight-chain structure comprising a carbon-carbon bond or carbon-oxygen bond; and a sugar which has a reducing end and is bonded to the linker compound through the aromatic amino group.

Abstract: In an image sensor having a plurality of pixels which photoelectrically convert a subject image, a plurality of pairs of focus detection pixels including first focus detection pixels (SHA) and second focus detection pixels (SHB) are arranged while being distributed. The layouts of the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) are switched in pairs of focus detection pixels adjacent in the focus detection direction. Focus detection is performed using image waveforms obtained from the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) whose layouts are switched. This reduces focus detection errors generated when the pixels included in the pairs of focus detection pixels receive light fluxes from different portions of the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed are glycan immobilized metal nanoparticles and a method used thereof for detecting HIV-1 in a saliva sample at early stages of viral infection. The method comprises the steps of: (A) providing glycan immobilized metal nanoparticles which can recognize HIV-1; (B) contacting the glycan immobilized metal nanoparticles with the saliva sample and a mixture is obtained; (C) concentrating the mixture; and (D) determining HIV-1 in the concentrated mixture by an appropriate detecting method.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a stable novel sugar-immobilized metal nanoparticle capable of easily immobilizing a sugar chain, a method for measuring sugar-protein interaction easily and at a low cost using the same without labeling, and a method for simply recovering a protein from a sugar-protein interactant. A maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle was obtained by binding a ligand complex, in which maltose and a linker compound had been bound to each other, to a gold nanoparticle. By adding this maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle to a dilution series of concanavalin A, a sugar-protein interactant of maltose and ConA was formed, and red-purple color derived from a colloidal solution of maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle disappeared. That is, sugar-protein interaction could be confirmed by visual observation without labeling.

Abstract: A first display region for displaying an optical image of an object and a second display region for displaying information are provided for a finder device. The first display region and the second display region can be observed at the same time through an eyepiece window. On the second display region, an electric image that is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup element is displayed. That reduces failures to take a shutter chance and enables a state of the captured image and auxiliary information to be checked.

Abstract: An image sensor that output a signal for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens. The image sensor includes a microlens; a light-receiving pixel; a first focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the first focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel; and a second focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the second focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel, wherein the second focus state detection pixel pair is arranged at a position that is shifted by a predetermined amount relative to each aperture position, with respect to the microlens of the first focus state detection pixel pair.

Abstract: A human antibody that has a specific reactivity with multiple tumor cell lines including ATL cells and possesses both safety and therapeutic efficacy and a fragment of said antibody are provided. A human antibody and a fragment of said antibody that may recognize HLA-DR ? chain expressed on the surface of tumor cells were obtained. In particular, it was found that a dimer of scFv (diabody) of said antibody may induce potent apoptosis in cells expressing the HLA-DR ? chain. The antibody and a fragment of said antibody obtained in accordance with the present invention are useful for a detection reagent, a diagnostic and a medicament for protection or treatment of cancers including ATL and/or viral infectious diseases.

Abstract: In an image sensor having a plurality of pixels which photoelectrically convert a subject image, a plurality of pairs of focus detection pixels including first focus detection pixels (SHA) and second focus detection pixels (SHB) are arranged while being distributed. The layouts of the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) are switched in pairs of focus detection pixels adjacent in the focus detection direction. Focus detection is performed using image waveforms obtained from the first focus detection pixel (SHA) and the second focus detection pixel (SHB) whose layouts are switched. This reduces focus detection errors generated when the pixels included in the pairs of focus detection pixels receive light fluxes from different portions of the subject.

Abstract: A method for concentrating viruses includes applying a magnetic force to a mixture containing: sugar chain-immobilized magnetic metal nano-particles each having a structure in which a sugar chain-immobilized metal nano-particle is bound to a first magnetic nano-particle; second magnetic particles with mean particle size larger than that of the sugar chain-immobilized magnetic metal nano-particles; and a specimen. Each sugar chain-immobilized metal nano-particle has a structure where a ligand-conjugate is bound to a metal nano-particle via sulfur atoms. The ligand-conjugate has a structure where a linker compound's amino group is connected to a sugar chain having a reducing terminal. The linker compound includes, in molecules thereof, an amino group, sulfur atoms, and a hydrocarbon chain having carbon-nitrogen bonds.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image sensing apparatus which can satisfactorily correct misregistration among images, and can composite the images. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes: a plurality of apertures that receives external light from different positions; a plurality of image sensing units that outputs image signals obtained by independently receiving light that comes from an identical position of an object and is received via the plurality of apertures, and independently extracting predetermined color components for each received light; and a signal processing device that forms a signal that outputs an object image by mixing the image signals output from the plurality of image sensing units.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus which can perform a focusing operation quickly is described. The image taking apparatus comprises a light splitting unit which splits a light flux from the image-taking lens into a plurality of light fluxes, a view finder optical system for observing an object image formed by the light flux from the image-taking lens, an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts the object image to an electric signal and a focus detection unit for detecting the focusing state of the image-taking lens according to a phase difference detection system. Here, the light splitting unit changes between a first state in which the light flux is directed to the view finder optical system and the focus detection unit and a second state in which the light flux is directed to the image pickup element and the focus detection unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel linker compound which minimizes any nonspecific hydrophobic interactions and is capable of easily adjusting the length to a disulfide group subjected to metal bond to thereby enable effective formation of a metal-sulfur bond; novel ligand conjugate and ligand carrier, and a process for producing them. The linker compound is of a structure represented by the following general formula (1) where a, b, d, e are independently an integer of 0 to 6. X has a structure serving as a multi-branched structure moiety including three or more hydrocarbon derivative chains, wherein the hydrocarbon derivative chains each include an aromatic amino group at an end thereof, and may or may not include a carbon-nitrogen bond in a main chain thereof. The ligand conjugate includes the linker compound having a sugar molecule introduced therein.

Abstract: A first display region for displaying an optical image of an object and a second display region for displaying information are provided for a finder device. The first display region and the second display region can be observed at the same time through an eyepiece window. On the second display region, an electric image that is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup element is displayed. That reduces failures to take a shutter chance and enables a state of the captured image and auxiliary information to be checked.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a stable novel sugar-immobilized metal nanoparticle capable of easily immobilizing a sugar chain, a method for measuring sugar-protein interaction easily and at a low cost using the same without labeling, and a method for simply recovering a protein from a sugar-protein interactant. A maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle was obtained by binding a ligand complex, in which maltose and a linker compound had been bound to each other, to a gold nanoparticle. By adding this maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle to a dilution series of concanavalin A, a sugar-protein interactant of maltose and ConA was formed, and red-purple color derived from a colloidal solution of maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle disappeared. That is, sugar-protein interaction could be confirmed by visual observation without labeling.

Abstract: A focus detection system including a sensor unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a focus detection unit for performing focus adjustment using a pair of signals output from the sensor unit. In the sensor unit, an aperture corresponding to each of the photoelectric conversion elements positioned in the outer area is smaller than an aperture corresponding to each of the photoelectric conversion elements positioned in the central area. In the focus detection unit, the pair of signals is formed by pencils of rays passing through different regions of an exit pupil of an imaging lens.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus which can perform a focusing operation quickly is described. The image taking apparatus comprises a light splitting unit which splits a light flux from the image-taking lens into a plurality of light fluxes, a view finder optical system for observing an object image formed by the light flux from the image-taking lens, an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts the object image to an electric signal and a focus detection unit for detecting the focusing state of the image-taking lens according to a phase difference detection system. Here, the light splitting unit changes between a first state in which the light flux is directed to the view finder optical system and the focus detection unit and a second state in which the light flux is directed to the image pickup element and the focus detection unit.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus which realizes a taking lens barrel whose shape is not largely changed during panning or tilting shot, thereby being compact in size and easy to handle. In the photographing apparatus, an image pickup device (14i) outputs an electric signal from object light. A bending optical system (14) has a front lens (14f) and lens groups (14j, 14k, 14l, and 14m) and a mirror (14c) disposed between the front lens and the laminated lens 14j, to guide the object light to the image pickup device. A panning actuator (19) and a tilt actuator (15f) cause the mirror and the front lens or the lens groups to be pivotally moved in unison about respective different axes to thereby change a shooting direction.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus performs a focusing operation quickly and includes a light splitting unit which splits a light flux from an image-taking lens into a plurality of light fluxes, a view finder optical system observing an object image formed by the light flux from the lens, an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts the object image to an electrical signal and a focus detector detecting the focusing state of the lens according to a phase difference detector. Here, the light splitting unit changes between a first state for directing the light flux to the view finder optical system and the focus detector, a second state for directing the light flux to the image pickup element and the focus detector, and a third state in which the light flux is directed only to the image pickup element.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of screening or patterning a biomaterial in terms of their specificities to sugar chains by performing real-time and comprehensive measurement of an interaction between sugar chains and the biomaterial concurrently with a very small amount of the biomaterial without labeling.

Abstract: A linker compound has a structure represented by general formula (1) below, where n is an integer of 1 to 6, and X has a structure serving as a multi-branched structure moiety including three or four hydrocarbon derivative chains each having an aromatic amino group at an end and a carbon-nitrogen bond in a backbone.