Abstract: By using a positional cloning technique, a single gene causing the ACW2 mutation, which results in abnormalities in plant cell wall synthesis and development/differentiation, has been successfully identified over a broad chromosomal region and isolated. Since the ACW2 gene thus isolated affects plant cell wall synthesis and development/differentiation, the present inventors discovered that the plant cell wall can be modified or the development/differentiation can be regulated by targeting the ACW2 gene, or genes analogous thereto.

Abstract: An absorption type refrigerating apparatus which has a high performance coefficient as an entire apparatus by improving the cooling capacities of the condensation function portion and the absorption function portion and can be reduced in size is constituted such that the cooling function portion 1 for cooling the absorption function portion (absorber) 1 by means of the first heat operation fluid (cooling water) 35a is divided into a plurality of sub-portions such as the cooling pipe 201A, cooling pipe 201H and absorption/heat exchanger 234, the flow passages of the first heat operation fluid 35a are connected to these cooling function sub-portions 201A, 201H and 234 in parallel/series like a route formed by the pipe lines 20, 20A, 20D and 21 and a route formed by the pipe lines 20, 20B, 20C and 21, and the cooling capacity of the cooling pipe 201H is increased by forming a continuous irregular surface 1C on the inner wall of the outer shell 1A of the absorber 1.

Abstract: A train detection device for use in railroad models is provided with a capacitance type sensor which detects the close approach or passage of a train by responding to capacitance of the train. By using the capacitance type sensor, the train detection device becomes a non-contact type detection device, which avoids the kind of damage that can occur with contact type detectors. The train detection device is applied to a train crossing control apparatus for use in railroad models equipped with a crossing gate, a warning signal, and a controlling device for controlling the operations of the crossing gate and the warning signal.