Provided is a novel semiconductor material. A compound represented by the following formula (I): A.sup.1-B.sup.1-A.sup.1 (I) (In the formula (I), A.sup.1 represents an electron-withdrawing group, B.sup.1 is a divalent group including two or more constituent units that are linked by a single bond to constitute a π-conjugated system, at least one of the two or more constituent units is a first constituent unit represented by the following formula (II), and the remaining second constituent unit other than the first constituent unit is a divalent group including an unsaturated bond, an arylene group, or a heteroarylene group.)

##STR00001## (In the formula (II), Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2, Y, and R are as defined in the specification.).

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

A heat sensitive transfer sheet that achieves high optical density and high light resistance without generating scumming. The heat sensitive sheet has a base material and a coloring material layer formed on the base material, and the coloring material layer includes a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a particular dye compound: ##STR00001##
wherein
R.sup.11 and R.sup.13 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an unsubstituted aryl group or an aryl group having a substituent; and
R.sup.12 and R.sup.14 to R.sup.18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

Provided is a cyanine compound being bound counterions consisting of an anion and a cation, wherein the anion is represented by the following formula (I-1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represent a monovalent group such as a phenyl group; X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and Y represents a divalent group such as a n-propenyl group.

Disclosed herein are compounds, conjugates, and methods that may be used to detect the presence of an analyte in a sample, such as a biological sample.

The present invention relates to a compound represented by general formula (I) (in the formula (I), X represents a methyl group or a halogen atom; R.sup.1 to R.sup.14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; B.sup.m− represents a polyoxometalate anion; m represents an integer of 1 to 20; n represents an integer of 1 to 20, provided that n is determined such that the charge of the whole formula (I) becomes zero).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a compound represented by general formula (I) (in the formula (I), X represents a methyl group or a halogen atom; R.sup.1 to R.sup.14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an optionally substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; B.sup.m− represents a polyoxometalate anion; m represents an integer of 1 to 20; n represents an integer of 1 to 20, provided that n is determined such that the charge of the whole formula (I) becomes zero).

##STR00001##

Voltage sensitive dyes comprising boron and related compositions and methods are provided. In some embodiments, a voltage sensitive dye comprises an electron acceptor comprising boron. The electron acceptor may be attached (e.g., covalently) to at least one electron donating group and at least one polar group. For instance, the electron acceptor may comprise optionally substituted boron dipyrromethene (e.g., optionally substituted 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene). The point of attachment and chemical nature of the electron donating group(s) and polar group(s) may be selected to impart beneficial properties to the voltage sensitive dye. For instance, the voltage sensitive dye may have an extended difference in the dipole moment between the ground and electronic states due at least in part to the position of the electron donating group(s). The voltage sensitive dyes, described herein, may have high specificity, high signal to noise ratio, fast responsivity, high voltage sensitivity, high photostability, and/or high brightness.

The invention relates to a method for counting cells, such as bacteria and/or somatic cells in liquid samples, such as in dairy products, preferably raw milk. Disclosed is a method comprising a combination of steps that apply dimeric nucleic acid dyes that normally do not penetrate cells (=cell-impermeant dyes), which are rendered cell-permeant by using the right combination of pH, buffer and temperature.