Abstract: In a rotary atomizing head type coating machine, paint mist is prevented from depositing on a shaping air ring and synthetic resin cover. Shaping air ring includes an inner ring of a metallic material, an outer ring of an insulating synthetic resin material, and a shaping air outlet hole provided at the fore ends of the two rings. The inner ring has its base end electrically connected to an air motor, and provides an annular repulsion electrode at its fore end. This annular repulsion electrode induces strong positive discharges, thereby attracting clouds of negative ions, and preventing paint deposition on and contamination of the shaping air ring by a phenomenon of homopolar repulsions between clouds of negative ions and negatively charged paint particles.

Abstract: A spray gun type electrostatic paint coating machine which is capable of improving quality of coated surfaces, the coating machine including an air nozzle (8) and a paint nozzle (21) respectively provided at the fore end of a spray gun body (6). The spray gun body (6) and the air nozzle (8) are made of an electrically insulating material, while the paint nozzle (21) is made of a metallic material including a paint spouting orifice (21C) which is projected on the front side through the air nozzle (8). The paint spouting orifice (21C) is connected to ground through a paint supply passage (10) to serve as a grounding electrode. Sprayed paint particles are at the earth potential, so that they are less susceptible to influences of dielectric polarization and negatively charged quickly by the high negative voltage of the external electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: A method of inspecting cleanliness of top sliber. The method classifies detected defects into pillwise defects and vegetal defects by introducing roundness, slenderness, gradation, dispersion, area, shape, gradation ratio, and length discernment against image signals of inspected top slibers picked up by an image sensor. An apparatus for inspecting cleanliness of top sliders is utilized. The apparatus initially picks up an image of uniformly spread top slibers conveyed to the apparatus and then processes the image signal with an image processing unit provided therefor. The method involves classifying defects on the top sliber into pillwise defects and vegetal defects in the top sliber based on the generated image signal.

Abstract: Described herein is an electrostatic spray coating machine of the type which has a plural number of supporters (31) at intervals around the circumference of a housing (2) as electrode retainer rods for holding external electrodes (32). Each supporter (31) is formed with an oblique surface (31A) at the fore end thereof to provide a concealing projection (31B) on the inner side of the fore end of the supporter (31). As a result, when seen from the rotary atomizer head (5), the discharge distance (H') betweewn the fore end (32A) of each external electrode (32) and the rotary atomizer head (5) is increased to permit application of a higher voltage to the external electrodes (32).