Abstract: The present invention provides a method for exploring low molecular weight compounds which regulate positively or negatively the expression of human BMP-4 with reference to a reporter activity by using 5′ upstream region gene containing the human BMP-4 promoter and an animal cell introduced with a recombinant expression vector that has been connected to an appropriate reporter gene. The low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives obtained by the present method have morphogenetic activity and inhibiting activity for bone and cartilage through the expression of human BMP-4 and are useful as preventive or therapeutic agents for cartilage and bone diseases.

Abstract: A temperature dependency of an internal clock signal generated by an internal clock generating circuit is effectively reduced. A temperature detecting circuit is provided to a variable clock generator for generating the internal clock signal and an oscillating cycle period of the variable clock generator is altered according to a detection signal of the temperature detecting circuit. A cycle of the internal clock signal is altered and a temperature dependency of the internal clock signal is effectively compensated for.

Abstract: A protein having amino acid sequence in SEQ ID No.:1 of the Sequence Listing derived from human MP52, and a dimer protein thereof. A homodimer protein described above can be obtained by constructing a plasmid containing DNA coding amino acid sequence in SEQ ID No.:1 of the Sequence Listing with a methionine at the N-terminus, introducing the plasmid into E. coli for transformation, solubilizing inclusion bodies obtained by culturing the transformant, purifying the monomer protein from the solubilized solution, refolding the monomer protein into a dimer protein and purifying the same.

Abstract: A high voltage switch circuit according to the present invention includes PMOS transistors having one conductive terminals receiving a high voltage, NMOS transistors having one conductive terminals receiving a ground voltage, and transistors for voltage control. The transistors for voltage control have their gates supplied with gate control signals of which potential change in accordance with the level of the high voltage. Thus, a high voltage switch circuit which can normally operate independent of the voltage level can be provided.

Abstract: A voltage generation portion includes a voltage amplifier circuit, receiving a boosted potential VPP generated by a charge pump circuit to output an output potential Vout equal to a standard potential VIN. Output potentials Vout are distributed as voltages for rewriting and erasing on a flash memory via distributor. The output potential Vout can be changed faster than the boosted potential VPP generated by the charge pump circuit does.

Abstract: A memory cell array is divided into a plurality of memory cell blocks each collectively subjected to an erasing operation as a unit. A P well regions for memory cell transistors and an N well region for electrically separating the P well regions are provided. Select transistors are formed in the same P well region as the memory cell transistor connected to the corresponding sub bit line of P well regions.

Abstract: A bone-related protein named OSF-4 which is obtained from bone tissue of a mammal including mouse or human, and a process for its production. This protein is a novel naturally occurring mammal protein of the cadherin family.OSF-4 acts as an adhesion molecule or a growth factor which takes part in the process of osteogenesis at the site of bone induction. OSF-4 can be used as an agent for treating bone metabolic diseases, and its high organ specificity for bones enables its use as a diagnostic reagent for bone metabolic diseases.

Abstract: Following latching of a word line select signal by a latch circuit, a transfer gate is turned off. When a word line is selected, the voltage applied to the latch circuit is shifted to a desired level to apply a desired voltage to the word line from a word line driver. As a result, a predecode signal is applied to a small size buffering circuit to be transmitted to the word line driver at a potential level between Vcc-GND. Therefore, the parasitic capacitance accompanying a predecode signal is reduced.

Abstract: The inventive DINOR flash memory includes a plurality of blocks, a spare block and a spare word line block, which are formed on a plurality of electrically isolated P-type wells. When a word line-to-well short-circuit takes place in a certain block and another block is selected, the block causing the word line-to-well short-circuit is brought into a non-selected state. Thus, no leakage takes place in the block causing the word line-to-well short-circuit, to exert no bad influence on the selected block.

Abstract: In a confirmation operation of write data after writing data into a memory cell transistor (a verify operation), a verify potential generation circuit supplies a verify potential VPVRFY to the control gate of a memory transistor. Verify potential VPVRFY is determined depending upon the resistance ratio of variable resistors and a value of a constant current supplied from a constant current source circuit. According to reduction of a power supply potential, potential VPVRFY is decreased. The conductance of a memory cell transistor is adjusted according to variation in a detection sensitivity of a sense amplifier according to variation in the power supply potential, whereby the cell threshold value after a write operation takes a constant value.

Abstract: A human private parts washing apparatus includes a first nozzle device having a first splashing opening for washing the first position, a second nozzle device having a second splashing opening that is opened on a position end thereof for washing the second position, a case having the first nozzle device and the second nozzle device therein, a stand for mounting thereon the first nozzle device and the second nozzle device, and a driving device for driving the stand back and forth.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting seated condition for toilet seat which detects whether the change in input voltage of determining circuit, over predetermined time, in response to electrostatic capacity is existed or not. When the change is existed, the present apparatus computes and renews the set value 1 for detecting un-seated condition and the set value 2 for detecting seated condition based on the changed input potential.Accordingly, the present apparatus is the apparatus for detecting whether a human is seated or un-seated on a toilet seat using electrostatic capacity and the present invention can reduce the error in detection caused by the change in electrostatic capacity owing to a person, temperature and humidity.

Abstract: Bone-associated proteins derived from bone of mammals, including mice and human beings, named OSF-6. The protein is the novel natural type mammal protein, which can play an important role in bone formation, and belongs to a group of transcription control factors.OSF-6 can be used as a therapeutic agent for bone metabolic diseases, and also as a diagnostic agent for bone metabolic diseases, since it may demonstrate a high organ specificity to bone.

Abstract: A source line of a memory array included in a flash memory is set to a 3V potential by a source line circuit, a power supply voltage of 6V is applied to a sense amplifier, and 3V is applied as the ground potential. After the setting of such potential conditions, reading of the memory array is performed. When current flows to the memory cells as a result of reading, it means that the memory cell has been erased. If the current does not flows through the memory cell, erasure pulse is applied again and every memory cell is verified.

Abstract: A sanitary device is comprised of a tank storing an amount of water, a water pressure source, a cylinder, a nozzle pipe slidably fitted in the cylinder such that across the nozzle pipe a base side chamber and a distal side chamber are defined in the cylinder, a return spring accommodated in the distal side chamber and urging the nozzle pipe toward the retracted position thereof, and a control device serving for establishing either a first fluid communication between the tank and the base side chamber or a second fluid communication between the tank and the distal side chamber in such a manner that the first fluid communication brings the nozzle pipe into its operating position for ejecting the water while the water pressure is being supplied to the tank and the second fluid communication, together with the return spring, brings the nozzle pipe into its retracted position.

Abstract: A bone-related carboxypeptidase-like protein named OSF-5 which is obtained from bone tissue of a mammal including mouse or human, and a process for its production. This protein is a novel naturally occurring mammal protein which belongs to a group of carboxypeptidase molecules.OSF-5 acts as an adhesion molecule or a growth factor which takes part in the process of osteogenesis at the site of bone induction. OSF-5 can be used as an agent for treating bone metabolic diseases, and its high organ specificity for bones enables its use as a diagnostic reagent for bone metabolic diseases.

Abstract: A warm water tank in a sanitary device for a toilet bowl has a tank portion. A heater disposed in the tank portion so as to be located at a side portion of the toilet bowl. A water supply pipe is disposed in the tank portion so as to be located at the side portion of the toilet bowl. A water storing chamber formed in the tank portion so as to be located at a upper portion of the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A substrate potential generating circuit can generate a lower substrate potential. The substrate potential generating circuit includes a clock signal generating circuit and first and second charge pump circuits. The first charge pump circuit including a p-channel MOS transistor having its source electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate applies a first negative potential to the drain electrode by capacitive coupling of a capacitor. The second charge pump circuit including first and second sub-charge pump circuit applies a third negative potential to the gate electrode when the first negative potential is applied to the drain electrode, and thereafter provides a second potential by lowering the third potential. As a result, the p-channel MOS transistor is turned on until a substrate potential is brought into a potential equal to the first potential applied to the drain electrode, lowering the substrate potential to the first potential.

Abstract: Column address A0-A11 is once predecoded by a first predecoder PD1, a second predecoder PD2, and a CDE buffer CDB and then applied to a column decoder CD. Column decoder CD selectively drives one of a plurality of column selecting lines CSL on the basis of the applied predecoded signals. This causes corresponding bit lines in respective memory cell arrays MCA1-MCA4 to be simultaneously selected. Column decoder CD includes a plurality of column drivers corresponding to the plurality of column selecting lines, and the column drivers are divided into a plurality of groups. The predecoded signals applied from second predecoder PD2 and CDE buffer CDB to column decoder CD are generated independently for respective groups, and signal lines for them are also distributed to respective groups. This causes the length of wiring of each predecoded signal line to be shortened.

Abstract: Column address A0-A11 is once predecoded by a first predecoder PD1, a second predecoder PD2, and a CDE buffer CDB and then applied to a column decoder CD. Column decoder CD selectively drives one of a plurality of column selecting lines CSL on the basis of the applied predecoded signals. This causes corresponding bit lines in respective memory cell arrays MCA1-MCA4 to be simultaneously selected. Column decoder CD includes a plurality of column drivers corresponding to the plurality of column selecting lines, and the column drivers are divided into a plurality of groups. The predecoded signals applied from second predecoder PD2 and CDE buffer CDB to column decoder CD are generated independently for respective groups, and signal lines for them are also distributed to respective groups. This causes the length of wiring of each predecoded signal line to be shortened.