Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of isovaleric acid as a natural ligand of the RCC356 G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). The invention encompasses the use of the interaction of RCC356 polypeptides and isovaleric acid as the basis of screening assays for agents that modulate the activity of the RCC356 receptor. The invention also encompasses diagnostic and other assays performed based upon the RCC356/isovaleric acid interaction, as well as kits for performing diagnostic and screening assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein in which a carboxy terminal of human erythropoietin (EPO) is fused with a carboxy terminal peptide fragment of ? subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), to DNA encoding the fusion protein, and to a method for preparation of the fusion protein. The fusion protein has the enhanced in vivo activity of erythropoietin.

Abstract: A burr elimination device for a camshaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: an operating cylinder configured to move a rod equipped in an end portion thereof in an up and down direction; an ascent/descent member connected to the rod of the operating cylinder; a rotation unit configured to rotate a camshaft that is held apart from the ascent/descent member and on which cam lobes are formed; a plurality of cylinder members disposed on the ascent/descent member corresponding to the cam lobes; a moving rod configured to be inserted into or drawn out of each of the cylinder members; a spring mounted inside each of the cylinder members and configured to elastically push the moving rod from the interior to the exterior of the cylinder member; and a burr elimination tool that is mounted on the end portion of the moving rod and that is configured to pivot in front/rear and left/right directions with respect to a predetermined center point for continuous elimination of a burr th

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer and an automatic calibration device are disclosed. An automatic calibration device for a phase-locked loop based frequency synthesizer includes: a frequency-to-digital converter for converting a frequency of a signal outputted from a voltage controlled oscillator into a first digital value; a frequency difference detector for calculating a difference between the first digital value outputted from the frequency-to-digital converter and a second digital value corresponding to a target frequency; an automatic frequency calibration logic for selecting an optimal control code for a capacitor bank such that an output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is closer to the target frequency; and a loop bandwidth calibration logic for tuning a charge pump gain such that a loop bandwidth is kept constant in the optimal control code using the frequency-to-digital converter.

Abstract: According to a composition for a photo-alignment film of the present invention, which includes an azo compound and a polymer that exhibits mutual solubility with the azo compound, an adhesion to a substrate, particularly to a plastic substrate, is improved within both a photo-alignment film having a haze of not more than 1 obtained by forming a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film on a substrate and subsequently irradiating the layer with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability; and an optically anisotropic medium, wherein a layer (A) obtained by irradiating a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability, and a polymer layer (B) obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group in an aligned state generated by the layer (A) are bonded and laminated together by covalent bonds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling the thrust force of a belt of a CVT. The method includes: determining whether a rough road condition is satisfied; continuously calculating, in a case that the condition is satisfied, a thrust force for a first predetermined time by gradually increasing a safety factor to a safety factor of the rough road condition; increasing the thrust force of the belt to the calculated thrust force; and maintaining the thrust force according to the safety factor of the rough road condition for a second predetermined time. With that method, belt slip can be prevented and fuel efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an advanced wastewater treatment device. The device includes a wastewater treatment bath having an anaerobic bath in which phosphorus is discharged, an anoxic bath in which denitrification of nitrate nitrogen is performed, and an aerobic bath in which decomposition and nitrification of organic matter is performed. A first movable divider separates the anaerobic bath from the anoxic bath and is movably provided in the wastewater treatment bath to change relative volume of the anaerobic and anoxic baths. A second movable divider separates the anoxic bath from the aerobic bath and is movably provided in the wastewater treatment bath to change relative volume of the anoxic and aerobic baths. A divider moving unit moves the first and second movable dividers. An air supply unit includes air nozzles, an air pump, and valves. A recycling unit recycles activated sludge of the aerobic bath to the anoxic bath.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, complex or pro-drug thereof, wherein: R3 is selected from cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; R9 is a substituted 5 or 6-membered aryl or heteroaryl group or a 6,5- or 6,6-fused biaryl or heterobiaryl group. Compounds of formula (I) exhibit surprisingly high dual efficacies for human cathepsin S and K and are useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases which exhibit significant damage and remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) and chronic pain.

Abstract: A mounting device for mounting a connector to an opening of an electronic device, an electronic device comprising the mounting device, and a method for mounting a connector to an opening of an electronic device are described.

Abstract: An aqueous pigment dispersion capable of easily preparing an aqueous pigment ink for inkjet recording, from which is obtained a colored image which is excellent in scratch fastness and excellent in properties on any recording media such as color development on plain papers and gloss on dedicated papers, is provided. An aqueous pigment dispersion containing carbon black or an organic pigment (P), a (meth)acrylic copolymer (A), a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer (B) represented by the following general formula (1), a polyether based polyurethane (C), a basic material and water, wherein a mass ratio of the total of nonvolatile contents of (A), (B) and (C) to (P), (A+B+C)/P, is from 0.3 to 1.6; and a mass ratio of A/(A+B+C) is from 0.05 to 0.45, is provided.

Abstract: Amino methyl imidazoles of Formula I are provided: wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are defined herein. Such compounds are ligands of C5a receptors. Preferred compounds of Formula I bind to C5a receptors with high affinity and exhibit neutral antagonist or inverse agonist activity at C5a receptors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. It further relates to the use of such compounds in treating a variety of inflammatory, cardiovascular, and immune system disorders. Additionally, this invention provides labeled amino methyl imidazoles compounds, which are useful as probes for the localization of C5a receptors.

Abstract: Disclosed are plasticizer compositions including cyclodextrin derivatives, a flexible PVC composition with suppression of the migration of a plasticizer containing the same, and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method of the flexible PVC composition of the present invention includes steps of (S1) preparing cyclodextrin derivatives; (S2) mixing the cyclodextrin derivatives, PVC and a low molecular weight liquid plasticizer to form a plastisol; and (S3) heating the plastisol to form a solution and cooling the solution. The manufacturing method PVC-1 of the present invention may be useful to mass-produce flexible PVC with suppression of the migration of a plasticizer in a simple and economic manner without using solvents since the cyclodextrin derivatives are used as a compound that can suppress the migration of a plasticizer. The flexible PVC has an effect of reducing an amount of the migrated plasticizer without deterioration in its physical properties.

Abstract: The object is to provide a data processing apparatus, a program managing apparatus, a program managing system, etc., capable of securely and efficiently updating and managing a control program in the data processing apparatus. The data processing apparatus analyzes received data and when program updating data sent from a superior rank apparatus is acquired, temporarily stores program data for updating out of such data in a storage device. Upon occurrence of an event of a program updating request, the data processing apparatus executes updating processing based on the updating program data stored in the storage device and, after completion of the program updating, gives a notice of updating completion to the superior rank apparatus and again waits for the event. Timing of the program updating request is set later than that of the program updating data being sent from the superior rank apparatus.

Abstract: A method for scrubbing an amine extractant (A) containing an amine added with hydrochloric acid, and an amine binding a metal chloro complex ion, in a scrubbing stage constituting a solvent extraction step, characterized by substituting a chloride ion of the amine, which is added with hydrochloric acid, with sulfuric acid ion, by bringing the amine extractant (A) into contact with a sulfuric acid solution with a concentration of 3 to 10 N, and subsequently, by eliminating a metal by bringing the substituted amine extractant (B) into contact with water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an irradiation verification apparatus containing living cell material which is fixed in location on cell supports which are arranged between cell support holders. For irradiation verification, the z co-ordinate of the irradiation verification apparatus is adjusted in the direction of the beam axis Z so that, after irradiation, regions having killed cell material can be demarcated in spatial co-ordinates, with reference to an irradiation scheme, from regions having cell material of the irradiation verification apparatus that is still active. A container having an insert for the cell supports and also the cell support holders comprise a beam-transparent material. The cell support holders have a base plate and a top plate, between which the cell supports are arranged orthogonally to the holding plates.

Abstract: An electric connection box which can easily attach electric components to an attachment portion of box body. The electric connection box includes a box body having the attachment portion attaching the relay on an upper surface of the box body, and a relay fixed on the box body. The attachment portion includes a tube, a plurality of openings and a plurality of holding portions arranged in the opening. The tube inserts the relay into an inside thereof, and stands from the upper surface. The opening passes through the tube 5, and is arranged with a space along a circumferential direction of the tube. The holding portion presses the relay toward the inside of the tube, and holds the relay to the tube. The holding portion includes an arm and a protrusion projecting toward the inside of the tube.

Abstract: A method of preparing a mortar composition, comprising mixing of mortar materials comprising at least 25 to 45 parts by weight of high-early-strength portland cement, 40 to 60 parts by weight of sand, 0.05 to 0.12 parts by weight of polycarboxylic acid-based powdered water reducing agent, and 10 to 25 parts by weight of water, and not comprising any organic adhesives. Mixing of the mortar materials is achieved by agitating the same in an agitator until agitating load rapidly decreases. The mortar composition prepared in accordance with this invention has excellent ability to infiltrate into the surface to be adhered, and high bonding strength after hardening.

Abstract: Featured is a device for NMR or MRI signals from excited nuclei as well as related apparatus, systems and methods. The device includes a strip array antenna including one or more conductor and N reactive tuning components, where N is an integer ?1 at least one of the N reactive components is electrically coupled to each of the one or more conductors as well as to ground/virtual ground. The apparent electrical length of the conductors is tuned with the reactive tuning components so it is equal to be about n?/4, where n is an integer ?1 and ? is the wavelength of the signal to be detected. The length of the strip also is such as to be substantially in the approximate range of 1.3 times the depth of interest. The strip conductors are also combined with loop coils to form quadrature detectors.