Abstract: The present invention provides a retroviral vector containing a transcription unit comprising a transcription regulatory sequence and a gene encoding a polypeptide having single-stranded RNA-specific endoribonuclease activity which is placed so that its expression can be controlled by the regulatory sequence, wherein the unit is placed so that the direction of the transcription of mRNA from the unit is opposite to the direction of transcription of the RNA genome of the retroviral vector. By using the vector constructed as described above, viral supernatant showing high gene transfer efficiency can be prepared. The retroviral vector of the present invention is useful for the treatment and/or prevention of cancers and virus infections.

Abstract: A method of designing a plasmonic crystal is provided. The method includes: determining an arrangement period of a plasmonic crystal formed on a metal surface at an interface between a dielectric and the metal in accordance with a dispersion relation of a surface plasmon polariton at the interface and a Bragg reflection condition of the surface plasmon polariton.

Abstract: A neuron element is provided having an input part that receives a plurality of input signals and, in response to the respective input signals, creates weighted signals as the products of the input signals and connection weights corresponding to the input signals, an addition part that obtains the total sum of the plurality of weighted signals, and an output part that outputs an output signal as a function of the total sum, a functional molecular element having a current-voltage characteristic in which the current flowing through the element is represented as a function having an inflection point with respect to the applied voltage is used as an element that defines the output signal, and the output signal is defined as a function of the total sum based on the current-voltage characteristic of this element in the region including the inflection point.

Abstract: A method of designing a plasmonic crystal is provided. The method includes: determining an arrangement period of a plasmonic crystal formed on a metal surface at an interface between a dielectric and the metal in accordance with a dispersion relation of a surface plasmon polariton at the interface and a Bragg reflection condition of the surface plasmon polariton.

Abstract: A complex comprising a double-stranded DNA containing a terminal repeated sequence originating in a retrovirus and a DNA having a base sequence which does not occur in this retrovirus and a retrovirus-origin protein component.

Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance device of the present invention includes a transparent medium layer and a conductive layer, a periodic structure being present at the interface therebetween. Assuming that the wavelength of visible light incident on the conductive layer through the transparent medium layer is ? (nm), the periodicity of the periodic structure is (?/633)×100 nm to (?/633)×500 nm, and the amplitude of the periodic structure is (?/633)×5 nm to (?/633)×20 nm. For example, when ?=633 nm, the periodicity of the periodic structure is 100 nm to 500 nm, and the amplitude is 5 nm to 20 nm.

Abstract: A rectifier device, based on a novel operation principle completely different from that of conventional molecular electronic devices, is made by coupling two or more molecules or molecule arrays (11) at certain joints. By making use of the phenomenon that transfer of an excited state or exciton from one molecule or molecule array to another molecule or molecule array coupled thereto progresses asymmetrically due to spatial asymmetry at the joint, a rectifying function related to the transfer of the excited state of exciton is obtained. Additionally, by controlling the rectification property in addition to the rectification function, an ion sensor device or a switching device is made. A resistor device may be inserted in the rectifier device.

Abstract: A method of transferring a foreign gene into cells, characterized by involving: the step of transferring into the cells with the use of an adenovirus vector, a first nucleic acid, which has a sequence provided with adeno-associated virus-origin ITRs in both sides of the target foreign gene to be transferred, and a second nucleic acid, which has an adeno-associated virus-origin rep gene and a promoter for expressing this gene and carries a stuffer sequence inserted thereinto sandwiched in two recombinase recognition sequences and located between the rep gene and the promoter; and the step of expressing the Rep protein under the action of recombinase in the cells obtained in the above step to thereby integrate the target foreign gene into the chromosomal DNA.

Abstract: A rectifier device, based on a novel operation principle completely different from that of conventional molecular electronic devices, is made by coupling two or more molecules or molecule arrays (11) at certain joints. By making use of the phenomenon that transfer of an excited state or exciton from one molecule or molecule array to another molecule or molecule array coupled thereto progresses asymmetrically due to spatial asymmetry at the joint, a rectifying function related to the transfer of the excited state of exciton is obtained. Additionally, by controlling the rectification property in addition to the rectification function, an ion sensor device or a switching device is made. A resistor device may be inserted in the rectifier device.

Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance device of the present invention includes a transparent medium layer and a conductive layer, a periodic structure being present at the interface therebetween. Assuming that the wavelength of visible light incident on the conductive layer through the transparent medium layer is ? (nm), the periodicity of the periodic structure is (?/633)×100 nm to (?/633)×500 nm, and the amplitude of the periodic structure is (?/633)×5 nm to (?/633)×20 nm. For example, when ?=633 nm, the periodicity of the periodic structure is 100 nm to 500 nm, and the amplitude is 5 nm to 20 nm.

Abstract: A rectifier device, based on a novel operation principle completely different from that of conventional molecular electronic devices, is made by coupling two or more molecules or molecule arrays (11) at certain joints. By making use of the phenomenon that transfer of an excited state or exciton from one molecule or molecule array to another molecule or molecule array coupled thereto progresses asymmetrically due to spatial asymmetry at the joint, a rectifying function related to the transfer of the excited state of exciton is obtained. Additionally, by controlling the rectification property in addition to the rectification function, an ion sensor device or a switching device is made. A resistor device may be inserted in the rectifier device.

Abstract: A complex comprising a double-stranded DNA containing a terminal repeated sequence originating in a retrovirus and a DNA having a base sequence which does not occur in this retrovirus and a retrovirus-origin protein component.

Abstract: A rectifier device, based on a novel operation principle completely different from that of conventional molecular electronic devices, is made by coupling two or more molecules or molecule arrays (11) at certain joints. By making use of the phenomenon that transfer of an excited state or exciton from one molecule or molecule array to another molecule or molecule array coupled thereto progresses asymmetrically due to spatial asymmetry at the joint, a rectifying function related to the transfer of the excited state of exciton is obtained. Additionally, by controlling the rectification property in addition to the rectification function, an ion sensor device or a switching device is made. A resistor device may be inserted in the rectifier device.

Abstract: A receiver is constructed so that it detects a short-break of a digital broadcasting wave by the absence of a synchronizing code or by a transmission control signal multiplexed with the broadcasting wave and, according to the short-break detection signal, holds data and state information (program arrangement, and reference time information) obtained by an antenna and converter (1), tuner and digital decoding portion (2), an error correction code decoding portion (3), a stream multiplexed signal separating portion (4), an audio/video decoding portion (5) and the other components and performs a process for optimally changing characteristics of closed loops for establishing synchronization.

Abstract: A fractal structure is formed to include at least one heterojunction formed by two regions different in fractal dimension characterizing the self similarity from each other. Especially in a stellar fractal structure, the heterojunction is formed by forming a region (dendritic region) with a lower fractal dimension around a core (somatic region) with a higher fractal dimension. These two regions forming the heterojunction are different in phase from each other. For example, they are a combination of a ferromagnetic phase and a paramagnetic phase, or a combination of a metal phase and a Mott insulative phase. The fractal structure may be used to realize a functional material or a functional device.

Abstract: An interleave frame is formed by combining slots corresponding to the same slot number in each frame when interleave process is performed in a super frame, and the data are read out along row or column direction (i.e. readout direction) and the data are written along the direction opposite to the readout direction in the same memory.

Abstract: Stabilized carrier recovery is achieved even at the time of a low C/N ratio by measuring the phase of a signal and controlling VCO or NCO (Numerical Controlled Oscillator) using only a period having few constellation points. At this time, false lock phenomenon is avoided as follows. That is, relatively short SYNC modulated by an already-known pattern is entered into a modulation wave, VCO or NCO oscillation frequency is swept in a wide range and sweep is stopped at a frequency in which the SYNC can be received, thereby carrying out coarse control AFC. Further, a period having long to some extent, having few constellation points is provided in the modulation wave and then, a difference between the frequency of a received modulated signal and a local oscillation signal of VCO or NCO is obtained in this period.

Abstract: A protecting apparatus for a series capacitor in an AC power circuit includes an enclosure filled with a low pressure insulating gas. A discharge gap device, a bypass switch for the series capacitor and an electromagnetic repulsion device for closing the bypass switch in response to the discharge of the series capacitor are assembled in the enclosure in alignment with each other. A metallic cylinder is provided around the assembly forming a return path for the capacitor discharge current to cooperate with the gap device and its support. In this way, the impedance of the capacitor discharge passage can be effectively reduced to permit rapid removal of excess terminal voltage from the series capacitor.