Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid such as L-glutamic acid is provided. An L-amino acid is produced by culturing in a culture medium a bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae and having an L-amino acid-producing ability, and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture medium and/or cells of the bacterium, wherein the bacterium has been modified to have one or more of the following modifications: (A) modification of reducing the activity of a BudA protein; (B) modification of reducing the activity of a BudB protein; (C) modification of reducing the activity of a BudC protein; (D) modification of reducing the activity of a PAJ_3461 protein; (E) modification of reducing the activity of a PAJ_3462 protein; and (F) modification of reducing the activity of a PAJ_3463 protein.

Abstract: A bispecific antibody including a first domain which specifically binds to a mutant calreticulin protein and a second domain which specifically binds to a CD3 antigen. A pharmaceutical composition including the bispecific antibody or a functional fragment thereof. A diagnostic method for a myeloproliferative neoplasm, including detecting a polypeptide in a biological sample with the bispecific antibody.

Abstract: An illumination control system includes an illumination device including light sources, and an illumination control device which is capable of individually controlling light emission of the light sources and includes: a measurer which obtains space information regarding a space in which the illumination device is to be installed and position information indicating a position at which the illumination device is to be installed inside the space; an information transmitter which transmits control information to the illumination device; and an information processor which optimizes control information for controlling a lighting mode of each of the light sources, according to an installation condition of the illumination device indicated in the space information and the position information.

Abstract: A lighting control device controls illumination of a lighting device using a plurality of light sources. The lighting control device includes a processing unit that executes processing related to control on the illumination. The processing unit acquires direction designation information for designating at least one illumination direction to which the lighting device illuminates, acquires light source information indicating a plurality of light source irradiation directions that are irradiation directions of the plurality of light sources, and based on (i) at least one designated illumination direction that is the at least one illumination direction designated by the direction designation information and (ii) the plurality of light source irradiation directions, causes part of the plurality of light sources to illuminate.

Abstract: A communication device includes: a distance information acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance to a communication target; a setting information acquisition unit configured to acquire setting information including a communication distance; and a communication unit configured to communicate with the communication target. The distance information acquisition unit acquires the distance information after the communication unit establishes connection with the communication target. The communication unit cuts the connection with the communication target when the distance information does not satisfy the communication distance included in the setting information.

Abstract: An illumination control system includes an illumination device including light sources, and an illumination control device which is capable of individually controlling light emission of the light sources and includes: a measurer which obtains space information regarding a space in which the illumination device is to be installed and position information indicating a position at which the illumination device is to be installed inside the space; an information transmitter which transmits control information to the illumination device; and an information processor which optimizes control information for controlling a lighting mode of each of the light sources, according to an installation condition of the illumination device indicated in the space information and the position information.

Abstract: The present application allows all battery stations located in different locations to be efficiently monitored, and management and maintenance operations to be performed in a timely fashion to keep the state of the battery stations in proper order. A server device collects state information on a state of a battery exchange device in each battery station, and on a state of each battery device received in the corresponding battery exchange device, and to generate a monitoring screen showing the state information of each battery station on an area map displayed on a management or maintenance terminal. In particular, a plurality of display sections displayed on the monitoring screen are arranged so as to correspond to the urgency or detail level of the state information. The state information is displayed in different colors according to different emergency levels.

Abstract: A lighting control device controls illumination of a lighting device using a plurality of light sources. The lighting control device includes a processing unit that executes processing related to control on the illumination. The processing unit acquires direction designation information for designating at least one illumination direction to which the lighting device illuminates, acquires light source information indicating a plurality of light source irradiation directions that are irradiation directions of the plurality of light sources, and based on (i) at least one designated illumination direction that is the at least one illumination direction designated by the direction designation information and (ii) the plurality of light source irradiation directions, causes part of the plurality of light sources to illuminate.

Abstract: The present application allows all battery stations located in different locations to be efficiently monitored, and management and maintenance operations to be performed in a timely fashion to keep the state of the battery stations in proper order. A server device collects state information on a state of a battery exchange device in each battery station, and on a state of each battery device received in the corresponding battery exchange device, and to generate a monitoring screen showing the state information of each battery station on an area map displayed on a management or maintenance terminal. In particular, a plurality of display sections displayed on the monitoring screen are arranged so as to correspond to the urgency or detail level of the state information. The state information is displayed in different colors according to different emergency levels.

Abstract: A PTC thermistor device has a PTC thermistor member and electrodes. The electrodes, are formed on respective surfaces of the PTC thermistor member. The PTC thermistor member contains a matrix phase, and conductive particles dispersed throughout the matrix phase. The matrix phase contains an electrically insulating first inorganic material and an electrically insulating second inorganic material. The first inorganic material undergoes phase transition in terms of crystal structure type and change in volume, at the phase transition temperature thereof. The second inorganic material is fibrous.

Abstract: A PTC thermistor device has a PTC thermistor member and electrodes. The electrodes, are formed on respective surfaces of the PTC thermistor member. The PTC thermistor member contains a matrix phase, and conductive particles dispersed throughout the matrix phase. The matrix phase contains an electrically insulating first inorganic material and an electrically insulating second inorganic material. The first inorganic material undergoes phase transition in terms of crystal structure type and change in volume, at the phase transition temperature thereof. The second inorganic material is fibrous.

Abstract: An inorganic-metal composite body exhibiting PTC behavior at a trip point temperature ranging from 40° C.-300° C., including an electrically insulating inorganic matrix having a room temperature resistivity of at least 1×106 &OHgr;·cm, and electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix and forming a three-dimensional conductive network extending from a first surface of said body to an opposed second surface thereof, wherein the composite body has a room temperature resistivity of no more than 10 &OHgr;·cm and a high temperature resistivity of at least 100 &OHgr;·cm. Preferably, the electrically conductive particles are made of a Bi-based alloy containing at least 50 wt % Bi, and have an average diameter, &phgr;ave, of 5-50 &mgr;m and a 3&sgr; particle size distribution of 0.5 &phgr;ave-2.0 &phgr;ave.

Abstract: A PTC composite material including a matrix of ceramic material having one of a cristobalite crystal structure and a tridymite crystal structure, each doped with an oxide of at least one of Be, B, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge and W, and a conductive phase dispersed throughout the matrix. The conductive phase includes at least one of a metal, silicide, nitride, carbide and boride.

Abstract: An inorganic-metal composite body exhibiting PTC behavior at a trip point temperature ranging from 40° C.-300° C., including an electrically insulating inorganic matrix having a room temperature resistivity of at least 1×106 &OHgr;·cm, and electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix and forming a three-dimensional conductive network extending from a first surface of said body to an opposed second surface thereof, wherein the composite body has a room temperature resistivity of no more than 10 &OHgr;·cm and a high temperature resistivity of at least 100 &OHgr;·cm. Preferably, the electrically conductive particles are made of a Bi-based alloy containing at least 50 wt % Bi, and have an average diameter, &phgr;ave, of 5-50 &mgr;m and a 3&sgr; particle size distribution of 0.5 &phgr;ave−2.0 &phgr;ave.

Abstract: An inorganic-metal composite body exhibiting PTC behavior at a trip point temperature ranging from 40° C.-300° C., including an electrically insulating inorganic matrix having a room temperature resistivity of at least 1×106 &OHgr;·cm, and electrically conductive particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix and forming a three-dimensional conductive network extending from a first surface of said body to an opposed second surface thereof, wherein the composite body has a room temperature resistivity of no more than 10&OHgr;·cm and a high temperature resistivity of at least 100&OHgr;·cm. Preferably, the electrically conductive particles are made of a Bi-based alloy containing at least 50 wt % Bi, and have an average diameter, &phgr;ave, of 5-50 &mgr;m and a 3&sgr; particle size distribution of 0.5 &phgr;ave-2.0&phgr;ave.

Abstract: A PTC composite material including a matrix of ceramic material having one of a cristobalite crystal structure and a tridymite crystal structure, each doped with an oxide of at least one of Be, B, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, and Ge, and a conductive phase dispersed throughout the matrix. The conductive phase includes at least one of a metal, silicide, nitride, carbide and boride.

Abstract: A conductive composite sintered body exhibiting PTC behavior, including a high electrical resistance matrix and 20 vol %-40 vol % electrically conductive particles dispersed in the matrix to form an electrically conducting three-dimensional network therethrough. The electrically conductive particles are selected from bismuth, gallium, or alloys thereof, and an average distance between the particles, when viewed in an arbitrary cross-section through the sintered body, is no more than 8 times the average particle diameter of the particles. The resistivity of the sintered body is low at temperatures below the melting point of the electrically conductive material and increases substantially at or above the melting point.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves has a transmitter for sending a pair of ultrasonic waves to a sample. The pair of ultrasonic waves have substantially symmetric waveforms with respect to zero sound pressure. One of the ultrasonic wave is separated from the other ultrasonic wave. An acoustoelectric, ultrasonic transducer receives the pair of ultrasonic waves affected by the sample. The acoustoelectric, ultrasonic transducer converts the pair of ultrasonic waves into a pair of electric signals accompanied by phonon-charge carrier interaction. Each of the electric signals includes an acoustoelectric signal insensitive to phase and a piezoelectric signal sensitive to phase. A processing device processes the pair of electric signals so as to remove the piezoelectric signal and obtain the acoustoelectric signal.