A pixel structure comprises a plurality of pixel regions, and each of the pixel regions includes first and second electrodes that are overlapped with each other, the first electrode is disposed above the second electrode, and each of the pixel regions is divided at least into a first to fourth domain display regions; strip-shaped first electrodes in the first to fourth domain display regions make first to fourth angles with a reference direction; the sum of the first angle and the second angle is 180 degrees, the sum of the third angle and the fourth angle is 180 degrees, and the first, the second, the third and the fourth angles are different from one another.

Apertures are formed in the common electrode or in the pixel electrode of a liquid crystal display to form a fringe field. Storage capacitor electrodes are formed at the position corresponding to the apertures to prevent the light leakage due to the disclination caused by the fringe field. The apertures extend horizontally, vertically or obliquely. The apertures in adjacent pixel regions may have different directions to widen the viewing angle.

The present invention discloses a tape substrate for chip on film structure of a liquid crystal panel. The tape substrate is provided with plural package units of chip on film structures arranged along its longitudinal direction, and the package unit has a driver chip, input leads and output leads. The longitudinal direction of the driver chip is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape substrate, and the input leads and the output leads are located at the two opposite sides of the driver chip. Each package unit is set up with a short side and a long side, and the input leads are formed at the short side, while the output leads are formed at the long side. In the package units adjacent to each other, the short side of one package unit joins the long side of a next package unit. This invention further discloses a liquid crystal panel having the tape substrate.

A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate having a display region with first and second electrodes, TFTs, scanning signal lines connected to the TFTs, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT and counter substrates, and sealed by a sealant, scanning line leads connected to the scanning signal lines and formed outside of the display region, video signal line leads connected to the video signal lines and formed outside of the display region and a shield electrode formed on the TFT substrate covering the scanning line leads but not the video signal line leads. The second electrode is connected to one of the TFTs, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are driven by an electric field, which is generated between the first and second electrodes. The shield electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode and overlapped with the sealant in plan view.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device with high transmittance or viewing angle characteristics. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a first substrate (10) which includes a pixel electrode (30); a second substrate (20) which includes a counter electrode (25); and a liquid crystal layer (21) and a spacer (40) which are provided between the first substrate (10) and the second substrate (20). The pixel electrode (30) includes a first portion which is formed by a plurality of first branch portions (34A) extending in a first direction, a second portion which is formed by a plurality of second branch portions (34B) extending in a second direction, a third portion which is formed by a plurality of third branch portions (34C) extending in a third direction, and a fourth portion which is formed by a plurality of fourth branch portions (34D) extending in a fourth direction. The spacer (40) is provided at a position in the pixel (50) which is surrounded by the first to fourth portions of the pixel electrode (30) when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane of the first substrate (10).

A display apparatus includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate, a spacer and an image display layer. The spacer includes a main spacer, a first sub-spacer and a second sub-spacer. The main spacer has a height greater than that of the first and second sub-spacers. The second sub-spacer has an area wider than that of the main spacer and the first sub-spacer.

In a conventional bistable liquid crystal device, switching characteristics fluctuate among panels and there is a problem in mass productivity. As an intermediate layer, an uneven film is inserted between a low anchoring layer and ITO. The uneven film has an average surface roughness of 2 nm or less, which is measured by an atomic force microscope. In this manner, the low anchoring layer is not affected by the surface shape of the ITO film which differs among panels, and the switching characteristics are stabilized.

An optical switch for performing high extinction ratio switching of an optical signal includes a beam polarizing element and one or more optical elements. The optical elements are configured to direct an optical signal along a first or second optical path based on the polarization state of the optical signal as it passes through the optical elements. The optical switch performs high extinction ratio switching of the optical signal by preventing unwanted optical energy from entering an output port by using an absorptive or reflective optical element or by directing the unwanted optical energy along a different optical path.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to a color filter substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The color filter substrate comprises a base substrate having a black matrix pattern thereon, the black matrix pattern having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of color filter layers in different colors, disposed on the base substrate and located at the openings of the black matrix pattern, the color filter layers being glass layers in different colors.

The present invention is intended to control the color temperature of white exhibited by a liquid crystal display device. White is produced when light waves emitted through pixels associated with three colors of red, green, and blue have maximum intensities. The amounts of light emitted through the respective pixels are controlled by differentiating the shapes of the pixel electrodes disposed at the respective pixels from one another. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. Otherwise, the shapes of interceptive films disposed at the respective pixels are differentiated from one another in order to control light waves emitted through the respective pixels. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. The interceptive film may be shaped like the pixel electrode. Otherwise, the interceptive film may be realized with an interceptive pattern other than that of the pixel electrode or one of openings bored in a black matrix.

A liquid crystal display panel, including: a pixel electrode formed on a first substrate; an alignment layer formed on the pixel electrode, wherein the alignment layer includes an alignment layer material and aligns first liquid crystal molecules in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pixel electrode; and a photo hardening layer formed on the alignment layer, wherein the photo hardening layer includes a photo hardening layer material and aligns second liquid crystal molecules to be tilted with respect to the pixel electrode, wherein the alignment layer material and the photo hardening layer material have different polarities from each other.

The invention provides a display device having a slim structure and a small size with enhanced strength. The display device according to an embodiment includes a display panel, a backlight assembly disposed below the display panel, a first support section surrounding lateral sides of the display panel, and a second support section extending from an inner side of the first support section such that the second support section is disposed at lateral sides of the backlight assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device which has a wide viewing angle and less color-shift depending on an angle at which a display screen is seen and can display an image favorably recognized both outdoors in sunlight and dark indoors (or outdoors at night). The liquid crystal display device includes a first portion where display is performed by transmission of light and a second portion where display is performed by reflection of light. Further, a liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal molecule which rotates parallel to an electrode plane when a potential difference is generated between two electrodes of a liquid crystal element provided below the liquid crystal layer.

A liquid crystal display capable of realizing a high transmittance while maintaining favorable voltage response characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate arranged to face each other with the liquid crystal layer in between; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate; and an opposite electrode provided on the second substrate to face the plurality of pixel electrodes. One or both of a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the pixel electrode, and a face on the liquid crystal layer side of the opposite electrode includes a concavo-convex structure.

The present invention provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module. The backlight module includes: a backplane (2), a light guide plate (4) arranged in the backplane (2), a backlight source (6) arranged in the backplane (2), an optic film assembly (8) arranged above the light guide plate (4), and a reflection plate (9) arranged between the backplane (2) and the light guide plate (4). The backlight source (6) includes a PCB (62) and a plurality of LED lights (64) mounted on and electrically connected to the PCB (62). The backplane (2) includes a bottom plate (22) and a plurality of side plates (24) perpendicularly connected to the bottom plate (22). The bottom plate (22) of the backplane (2) includes a snap-engagement structure (220) formed thereon. The PCB (62) is snap-fit into and retained by the snap-engagement structure (220). The reflection plate (9) is directly positioned on and supported by the PCB (62).

The liquid crystal display device includes an island-shaped first semiconductor film 102 which is formed over a base insulating film 101 and in which a source 102d, a channel forming region 102a, and a drain 102b are formed; a first electrode 102c which is formed of a material same as the first semiconductor film 102 to be the source 102d or the drain 102b and formed over the base insulating film 101; a second electrode 108 which is formed over the first electrode 102c and includes a first opening pattern 112; and a liquid crystal 110 which is provided over the second electrode 108.

The liquid crystal display device includes an island-shaped first semiconductor film 102 which is formed over a base insulating film 101 and in which a source 102d, a channel forming region 102a, and a drain 102b are formed; a first electrode 102c which is formed of a material same as the first semiconductor film 102 to be the source 102d or the drain 102b and formed over the base insulating film 101; a second electrode 108 which is formed over the first electrode 102c and includes a first opening pattern 112; and a liquid crystal 110 which is provided over the second electrode 108.

An optical element includes at least two stacked birefringent layers having respective local optical axes that are rotated by respective twist angles over respective thicknesses of the at least two layers, and are aligned along respective interfaces between the at least two layers. The respective twist angles and/or the respective thicknesses are different. The at least two stacked birefringent layers may be liquid crystal polymer optical retarder layers. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

It is an object of the present invention to apply a sufficient electrical field to a liquid crystal material in a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display device typified by an FFS type. In a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display, an electrical field is applied to a liquid crystal material right above a common electrode and a pixel electrode using plural pairs of electrodes rather than one pair of electrodes.

A liquid crystal display device is provided, which includes a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer having an opening, a light-transmitting chromatic-color resin layer between the thin film transistor and the second electrode layer, and a liquid crystal layer. One of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is a pixel electrode layer which is electrically connected to the thin film transistor, and the other of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer is a common electrode layer. The light-transmitting chromatic-color resin layer is overlapped with the pixel electrode layer and the oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor.

A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.

Constant-temperature equipment wherein mechanical and electrical structures are eliminated from the inside of a temperature-controlled chamber (15) by using a non-contact magnetic arrangement as a drive transmission for a sample table (5) and a sample table drive mechanism (6), thus reducing failure and enhancing maintainability. In addition, a conveyance mechanism (11) is provided with a pass box adjacent which sliding shielding plates (9) are stacked vertically, and the shielding plates (9) are linked with the conveyance mechanism (11) by an engaging mechanism provided in the conveyance mechanism (11) to allow the plates to be opened and closed by a travel mechanism (12), thus simplifying the structure and minimizing change in atmosphere during conveying. The sample table drive mechanism (6) and the conveyance mechanism (11) can be attached removably to the temperature-controlled chamber (15) to permit sterilization at high temperature.

Provided is constant-temperature equipment wherein maintenance is facilitated with the least failure, and highly reliable culturing and testing can be carried out. Mechanical and electrical structures are eliminated from the inside of a temperature-controlled chamber (15) by using a non-contact magnetic arrangement as a drive transmission for a sample table (5) and a sample table drive (6), thus reducing failure and enhancing maintainability. In addition, a conveyor (11) is provided with a pass box to minimize change in atmosphere during conveying. The sample table drive (6) and the conveyor (11) can be attached removably to the temperature-controlled chamber (15) to permit sterilization at high temperature.

According to one embodiment, a first gene encodes a reporter protein. The first gene is disposed at the downstream of the gene promoter. A second gene is disposed at the downstream of the gene promoter and encodes a replication origin-binding protein. An internal ribosome entry site is disposed between the first gene and the second gene. The transcription termination signal sequence encodes a signal for terminating the transcription of the first gene and the second gene. A replication origin sequence is recognized by the replication origin-binding protein.

The present invention relates to an anti-human α9 integrin antibody. More particularly, the present invention relates to: a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody and a human antibody that specifically recognize human α9 integrin; a hybridoma cell that produces the monoclonal antibody; a method for producing the monoclonal antibody; a method for producing the hybridoma cell; a therapeutic agent comprising the anti-human α9 integrin antibody; a diagnostic agent comprising the human α9 integrin antibody; and a method for screening for a compound that inhibits the activity of human α9 integrin.

The present invention relates to the development and manufacturing of viral vaccines. In particular, the invention relates to the field of industrial production of viral vectors and vaccines, more in particular to the use of avian embryonic stem cells, preferably the EBx® cell line derived from chicken embryonic stem cells, for the production of viral vectors and viruses. The invention is particularly useful for the industrial production of viral vaccines to prevent viral infection of humans and animals.

A method of expanding and maintaining human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in an undifferentiated state by culturing the ESCs in a suspension culture under culturing conditions devoid of substrate adherence is provided. Also provided are a method of deriving ESC lines in the suspension culture and methods of generating lineage-specific cells from ESCs which were expanded in the suspension culture of the present invention.

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), TSP-2, interleukin 17B receptor (IL-17BR) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) associated with stem cell activity and use thereof.

The present invention relates to the generation of a mucin-producing cell using stem/progenitor cells obtained from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord and therapeutic uses of such mucin-producing cells.

Methods of washing adherent cells, capable of effectively suppressing cell death due to proteolytic enzyme treatment for detaching the adherent cell from a culture vessel and subsequent cell treatment; cell-washing solutions used for the washing method; methods of producing cell suspensions for transplantation using the cell-washing solution; and kits comprising the cell-washing solution. Trehalose or its derivative or a salt thereof is added to physiological aqueous solutions to prepare cell-washing solutions containing trehalose or its derivative or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. The cell-washing solutions can be used to wash adherent cells before detaching the adherent cells from a culture vessel by proteolytic enzyme treatment to suppress cell death due to the proteolytic enzyme treatment. The concentration of trehalose applied to the cell-washing solution may be a concentration capable of suppressing the cell death due to the proteolytic enzyme treatment, such as 0.1 to 20 (w/v) %.

Methods and devices for separating fluid-suspended plant somatic embryos and embryogenic tissue based on differences in their fluid drag properties are disclosed. Deposition method and device for depositing plant somatic embryos into embryo receiver comprising growth substrate by means of a fluid jet is disclosed. An automated system for processing plant somatic embryos from the bioreactor to the growth substrate is also disclosed.

Methods and compositions for targeted delivery of biotherapeutics are provided. The compositions comprise bile-sensitive St. thermophilus bacteria modified to release a biotherapeutic agent following bile exposure. Biotherapeutic agents released by the St. thermophilus bacteria disclosed herein include AQ and AQR rich peptides. Methods of the invention comprise administering to a subject a St. thermophilus bacterium modified to release a biotherapeutic agent following bile exposure. Administration of the St. thermophilus bacterium promotes a desired therapeutic response. The bacterium may be modified to express and release AQ or AQR rich peptides which subsequently inhibit cellular apoptosis or reduce mucosal damage. Thus, methods of the invention find use in treating or preventing a variety of gastrointestinal disorders including C. difficile infection and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

A multi-channel system and methods for sorting particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles. The system includes multiple flow cytometry units, each unit can have a nozzle for producing a fluid stream containing a desired population of particles in a mixture of particles. Each of the units may be operable to sort said desired population of particles by interrogating the fluid stream with a beam of electromagnetic radiation and classifying particles based on one or more characteristics of the particles. The system also includes a common fluid delivery system for delivering sheath fluid to each flow cytometer unit for producing respective fluid streams.

Management of the health status of an animal colony using a plurality of blood collection cards and the analysis of dried blood from members of the colony that has been collected on the cards. Members of the colony may be removed from the colony as a result of the analysis.

The invention provides an improved design for the construction of extensible nucleic acid-based, ligand-controlled regulatory systems, and the nucleic acid regulatory systems resulting therefrom. The invention contemplates improving the design of the switches (ligand-controlled regulatory systems) through the design of an information transmission domain (ITD). The improved ITD eliminates free-floating ends of the switching and the competing strands, and localizes competitive hybridization events to a contiguous strand of competing and switching strands in a strand-displacement mechanism-based switch, thereby improving the kinetics of strand-displacement. The improved regulatory systems have many uses in various biological systems, including gene expression control or ligand-concentration sensing.

Methods and agents for reducing a level of an acetylated Tau polypeptide in a cell are provided. Methods for treating a tauopathy in an individual are also provided. Also provided is a method for diagnosing a cognitive impairment disorder in an individual. Methods for identifying an agent suitable for treating a tauopathy are also provided.

Disclosed are new members of a class of non-lipid small molecule inhibitors which interfere with the interaction between phosphoinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. These molecules target a broad range of PIP3-dependent signaling events in vitro and exert significant anti-tumor activity in vivo, with improved activity and selectivity toward particular PH domains. The small molecule inhibitors of the invention can be used alone or together with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or other cancer medicament to treat cancer. Small molecule inhibitors of the invention act synergistically in combination with TRAIL and with other Akt inhibitors in treating cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating cancer are provided.

The invention discloses novel morphology shifting micelles and amphiphilic coated metal nanofibers. Methods of using and making the same are also disclosed.

The invention is directed to a single-step method for rapidly and efficiently preparing protein-polymer conjugates, including an insulin-polymer conjugate. According to the method of the present invention, a protein and hydrophilic polymer are contacted in the presence of at least one organic solvent and at least one metal chelator, under conditions that promote the formation of a conjugate of the protein and polymer. Thus, the invention is directed to the site-specific modification of selected proteins, such as insulin, with poly(ethylene glycol) at residue PheB1. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical formulation for encapsulating the conjugate in a biodegradable polymer.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least three primary antibodies or fragments thereof, wherein the at least three antibodies or fragments thereof binds specifically to at least three different proteins, and wherein the at least three different proteins are AMCAR, CK 5/6, and HMWC. Methods for using the composition in diagnosis, prognosis, and assessing efficacy of treatment is further included as well as kits comprising said composition, and optionally, instructions of its use.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) having thyroid stimulating activity (TSAb), especially full or considerably agonistic activity, or thyroid blocking activity (TBAb), which are obtainable by genetic immunization of mice, or fragments (F(ab')2, Fab or Fv) or humanized forms of such monoclonal antibodies or single chain forms (SCA; scFv) of such fragments, which antibodies, or their fragments, compete with bovine TSH for epitopes of the human TSHr, compete with autoantibodies from sera from Graves' patients as well as with autoantibodies from sera from patients harboring blocking autoantibodies for epitopes of the human TSHr, bind to conformational epitopes of the human TSHr located in the first 281 amino acids of the human TSHr, and usually also bind to TSFR receptors (TSHr) from different animals. Various uses of such antibodies, or of peptides corresponding to variable regions of such antibodies, are also described and claimed.

Devices and methods are provided for reducing matrix effects in protein precipitated bioanalytical samples comprising: a support, and a sorbent associated with the support capable of binding matrix interfering agents present in the bioanalytical sample, wherein the device further comprises filtering means for removing precipitated protein particles. The filtering means is a size exclusion filter or a polymeric or inorganic monolith having a maximum pore size less than or equal to the diameter of the particles to be removed from the sample, and can be integral with the sorbent or associated with the sorbent. The sorbent is characterized by sufficient selectivity between the matrix interfering agents and analytes of interest to provide retention of the matrix interfering agents while providing elution of the analytes of interest (e.g., a reversed phase or a polar modified reversed phase). Typical devices incorporating these features include luer syringe filters, individual filter cartridges, multiwell plates, pipette tips, or inline columns for multiple or single use.

The invention concerns a system for modulating tissue physiology, for example, to prevent or reverse tissue damage caused by disease. The system utilizes vigilant cells that include stable vectors containing a gene switch/biosensor and a gene amplification system. The vectors allow expression of a transgene (such as a cardioprotective gene) in the vigilant cells to be regulated in response to a physiological signal, to be switched on or off, and to provide sufficient levels of the transgene product to achieve a desired result, e.g., prevention or reversal of myocardial cell damage. In addition to myocardial infarction, the vectors can be used to treat cells in a number of other disease states, including diabetes, cancer, stroke, and atherosclerosis. These approaches to stem cell-based gene therapy provide a novel strategy not only for treatment but for prevention of cell destruction.

Described herein are techniques for assembling a polynucleotide encoding a transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN). The techniques ligate and digest necessary modules for a TALEN assembly in one reactor or system. Methods and Kits for generating a TALEN are also described.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to northern leaf blight. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs particularly useful for altering agronomic characteristics of plants under nitrogen limiting conditions, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes an LNT1 polypeptide.

This invention provides recombinant DNA constructs and methods for manipulating expression of a target gene that is regulated by a small RNA, by interfering with the binding of the small RNA to its target gene. More specifically, this invention discloses recombinant DNA constructs encoding cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors useful for modulating expression of a target gene and methods for their use. Further disclosed are miRNA targets useful for designing recombinant DNA constructs including miRNA-unresponsive transgenes, miRNA decoys, cleavage blockers, 5-modified cleavage blockers, and translational inhibitors, as well as methods for their use, and transgenic eukaryotic cells and organisms containing such constructs.

The invention relates to genes coding for TCP family transcription factors and having a biological role in the development of axillary buds and branch growth. Furthermore, the invention relates to the promoters of the transcription of said genes, to the genetic constructs containing same and to the uses thereof, including the use of agents that modulate the expression of these genes in order to modify plant architecture.

A soybean cultivar designated 131TD735 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 131TD735, to the plants of soybean 131TD735, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 131TD735 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 131TD735 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 131TD735, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 131TD735 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 131TD735 with another soybean cultivar.

A novel soybean variety, designated XB32T13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB32T13, cells from soybean variety XB32T13, plants of soybean XB32T13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB32T13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB32T13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB32T13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB32T13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB32T13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB32T13 are further provided.