Abstract:
A human gene associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 2(ALS2) is provided. The gene is present in the second chromosome q33 region. Also provided are mutant versions of the gene as well as isolated nucleic acids derived from the gene and peptides encoded thereby. Methods for the diagnosis of ALS2 are alos provided.
Abstract:
A method of acquiring a gene specifically expressed in the head or nerve at the early development stage; and the gene specific to the nerve formation of a vertebrate which is obtained by this method. A cDNA library prepared from cells capable of inducing the head structure, which are obtained by treating a non-prospective germ layer piece of a Xenopus-origin blastula with 100 ng/ml of activin for 1 hour and then pre-incubating for 7 to 10 hours, is hybridized with [32P]-labeled cDNA which is prepared in the same manner from a gastrula at the stage before the formation of the nerve induction (stage 10). Unhybridized clones (negative clones) are selected and cDNAs of the obtained clones are subjected to the homology examination. By eliminating known genes, a gene specific to the nerve formation of a vertebrate, which is expressed in the head structure at the early development stage, can be obtained.
Abstract:
A hearing system (10) of a robot, especially the one of human or animal type, capable of collecting sound from an external target and actively hearing it without being influenced by the noise produced by, e.g. a drive mechanism in the robot. The system comprises a pair of external microphones (16) provided at the ear parts outside the sound-insulating shell (13), a pair of internal microphones (17) for collecting noise provided inside the shell, noise removers (23, 24) for removing noise signals from an inside noise source from the acoustic signals from the external microphones, pitch extracting sections (25, 26) for extracting acoustic data (DL, DR) about the time, frequency and power from the left and right acoustic signals from the noise removers by frequency analysis, a left/right channel relating section (27) for determining the direction from which sound comes on the basis of the harmonic structure involving the pitches of the left/right acoustic data extracted by the pitch extracting section, and a sound source separating section (28) for separating acoustic data into acoustic data sets of respective sound sources according to the information on the sound direction determination.
Abstract:
A substrate used for a package of a microdevice has flat front and back surfaces and a wiring extending between the surfaces and conduct electricity between the surfaces through the wiring.
Abstract:
A method of preparing dendritic cells capable of quickly and efficiently inducing a specific immune response to a specific antigen; an immunopotentiator comprising the above dendritic cells capable of quickly and efficiently inducing a specific immune response to a specific antigen; and a method of diagnosing an immunodeficiency disease by using dendritic cells sensitized with an immune complex. Dendritic cells are treated with the use of an immune complex of a specific antigen with an antibody against this antigen and thus the immune complex is incorporated into the cells via immunoglobulin Fc receptor on the dendritic cells, thereby give dendritic cells capable of inducing an antigen-specific immune response. These dendritic cells are usable as an immunopotentiator. An immune deficiency disease can be diagnosed by using dendritic cells sensitized with an immune complex and measuring the antibody titer thereof.
Abstract:
An amorphous zirconium alloy with excellent corrosion resistance which has a composition represented by the formula Zr¿1-a-b-cA¿a[(Fe, Co, Ni)Cu]¿bNb¿c, the formula Zr¿1-a-b-cA¿a[(Fe, Co, Ni)Cu]¿bTa¿c, or the formula Zr¿1-a-b-cA¿a[(Fe, Co, Ni)Cu]¿bTi¿c [wherein A is one or two elements selected between Al and Ga; a to c indicate atomic proportion; a is 5 to 20; b is 15 to 45; the ratio of (Ni, Co, Fe) to Cu is from 1/8 to 2/1; c satisfies 0
Abstract:
A process for producing a poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid characterized by transferring a poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid polymerase gene and a fatty acid synthase gene into a host microorganism to thereby transform the host, proliferating the resultant transformant microorganism in the presence of a carbon source, and then isolating and purifying the poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid from the thus proliferated microorganism; and a transformant microorganism constructed by transferring a poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid polymerase gene and a fatty acid synthase gene into a host microorganism. Thus, a highly pure poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid, which is useful as a material for producing substitute plastics etc., can be conveniently and economically produced in a large amount.
Abstract:
Photoresponsive substances for introducing photoresponsive nucleosides into strands of DNA without structural freedom and easily. Specifically, nucleic acids bearing photoresponsive groups linked thereto by triple bonds or reactive derivatives of the same, preferably nucleic acids substituted with groups represented by general formula (I), (wherein R is hydrogen or cyano) or reactive derivatives of the same; nucleic acid oligomers containing the above nucleic acids; phosphoramidite reagents comprising phosphoramidite derivatives of the above nucleic acids; and a process for the preparation of nucleic acid oligomers by using the phosphoramidite reagents.
Abstract:
Solubilizers, emulsifiers and dispersants having the effects of moistening the skin when used as detergents and being capable of elevating the concentration of a material to be solubilized, emulsified or dispersed in solvents including water as compared with the case where the material is employed alone, or homogenizing the material in an emulsified or dispersed state to thereby elevate the apparent concentration thereof, which contain as the active ingredient polymers obtained by polymerizing monomer compositions containing hydrophilic monomers (a) having groups represented by general formula (1) in the side chains, wherein R , R and R represent each H or C1-4 alkyl.
Abstract translation:当与用作洗涤剂的情况相比时,具有润湿皮肤的作用的增溶剂,乳化剂和分散剂,并且与单独使用该材料的情况相比,能够提高要溶解,乳化或分散在包括水的溶剂中的物质的浓度,或者 在乳化或分散状态下使材料均化,从而提高其表观浓度,其含有作为活性成分的聚合物,其通过在侧链中聚合含有由通式(1)表示的基团的亲水性单体(a)的单体组合物而获得,其中 R 1,R 2和R 3各自代表H或C 1-4烷基。
Abstract:
A magnetic polishing method using a magnetic pin and a device therefor, capable of polishing and work-hardening the surface of a work by means of magnetic particles easily rotated following a rotating magnetic pole even in a uniform magnetic field. The magnetic polishing method comprises the steps of disposing magnetic abrasive grains (5) on the inner surface of a work (4) such as a pipe disposed in a magnetic field and consisting of a non-magnetic element such as ceramics and stainless steel, and rotating the work (4) and the magnetic field relative to each other to thereby polish the inner surface of the work (4), wherein, in addition to the magnetic abrasive grains (5), magnetic particles (a magnetic pin tool having a specified diameter and specified length) (6) in a shape having a magnetic anisotropy is used. Accordingly, even in the case of a fine-diameter polishing requiring a uniform magnetic field, the magnetic particles (5, 6) having a magnetic anisotropy can rotate following a rotating magnetic pole without corotating with the work (4) to thereby make it possible to ultra-precision-polishing the surface of the work (4).