Abstract: An actuating device for actuating a shutter is provided with a vertical guiding plate formed on both sides of the shutter to extend in a lengthwise direction thereof, a united guiding groove divided into a triangular guiding groove having a widened width for guiding the vertical guiding plate and an inclined guiding groove having a narrow width and formed in an inclined form at a predetermined angle, a vertical movement member having a movement member protuberance provided with a hinge at which one end of an actuating rod is connected, the other end of the actuating rod being connected to a shutter protuberance formed on a rear surface of the shutter, and a slip prevention protuberance having a tooth shaped configuration protruding from a front surface thereof, a roller resiliently contacted on the slip prevention protuberance of the vertical movement member; and a driving motor whose rotating shaft is inserted into the roller for actuating the vertical movement member upwardly and downwardly by being supplie

Abstract: This invention provides methods for screening a modulating agent which when combined with antitumor therapeutic agent increases apoptosis in tumor cells. This invention also provides methods for screening antitumor therapeutic agents suitable for combination therapy with a protein kinase C inhibitors capable of potentiating apoptosis in tumor cells. This invention further provides different combination therapies comprising the specific protein kinase C inhibitors and the antitumor therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A stippling tool comprising includes a cylindrical main body defining an ink containing chamber therein, a slender ink transfer member having a proximal end portion to which ink in the ink containing chamber is supplied, and a distal end portion extending to an opening of the main body, in which ink is transferred from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, and a porous elastic stippling member provided on the distal end portion of the ink transfer member, through which the ink permeates. The stippling member having a stippling distal end surface outwardly projecting in a curved shape, and the distal end surface being elastically deformed by a stroke pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating urinary incontinence in a subject which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a 5-HT7 receptor antagonist or an antagonist that binds to both 5-HT7 and 5-HT2B receptors. The invention also provides a method of treating urinary retention in a subject which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a 5-HT7 receptor agonist or an agonist that activates both 5-HT7 and 5-HT2B receptors.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds having the structure: wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R9 is independently H; straight chain or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C7 alkyl, C2-C7 alkenyl or alkynyl; C3-C7 cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl; acyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, or heteroaryl; wherein each dashed line represents a single bond or a double bond with the proviso that if R1 is present, R3 is absent and there is a double bond between N at position 3 and C at position 2 and a single bond between C at position 2 and N at position 1 and if R3 is present, R1 is absent and there is a double bond between N at position 1 and C at position 2 and a single bond between C at position 2 and N at position 3; wherein each of R4, R5 and R6 is independently H, F, Cl, Br, I; straight chain or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C7 alkyl, C2-C7 alkenyl or alkynyl; C3-C7 cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl; phenyl, substituted phenyl, heteroaryl, —OH, —OR7, —CN, —COR7, —CO2R7,

Abstract: This invention provides a method of diagnosing a predisposition to carcinoma in a subject comprising: a) obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the subject; b) determining whether one or moire of the subject's beclin alleles or regulatory regions to those alleles are deleted or different from the wild type so as to reduce the subject's expression of polypeptide having tumor suppressor activity; and c) determining whether one or more of the subject's beclin alleles or regulatory regions to those alleles are deleted or changed so as to reduce the subject's ability to mediate autophagey. This invention also provides uses of beclin for treating viral diseases. This invention provides a method for inhibiting viral replication comprising contacting effective amount of Beclin with the virus infected cell, thereby inhibiting the viral replication.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian 5-HT4B receptor and an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human 5-HT4B receptor, an isolated protein which is a mammalian 5-HT4B receptor, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian 5-HT4B receptor, mammalian cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to the 5-HT4B receptor, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding a mammalian or human 5-HT4B receptor, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to any sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a mammalian or human 5-HT4B receptor, pharmaceutical compounds related to the human 5-HT4B receptor. This invention further provides methods for determining ligand binding, detecting expression, drug screening, and treatments for alleviating abnormalities associated with a human 5-HT4B receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody which specifically induces an immune response against a glycosphingolipid. Additionally, this invention provides a method of producing the anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody. Finally, this invention provides a composition of matter comprising an effective amount of a cytokine and a melanoma ganglioside-specific antibody attached to a carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant nucleic acid vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of 112 amino acids having the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 29 beginning with alanine at position 1 and ending with serine at position 112. The sequence of FIG. 29 represents a member of the TGF-&bgr; family of tumor growth factors. The invention also provides a method for producing a protein which comprises culturing the host cell under conditions suitable to express the protein in the host cell and recovering the protein so produced.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of using a gpl3O receptor ligand, e.g. leukemia inhibitory factor, to induce the formation of kidney epithelia, to treat subjects suffering from kidney failure, and to preserve kidneys for transplantation.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding Y2 receptors, an isolated, purified Y2 receptor protein, vectors comprising isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding Y2 receptors, mammalian, insect, bacterial and yeast cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to the Y2 receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding Y2 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a Y2 receptor, pharmaceutical compounds related to the Y2 receptors, and nonhuman transgenic animals which express nucleic acid encoding a normal or mutant Y2 receptor. This invention further provides methods for determining ligand binding, detecting expression, drug screening, and methods of treatment involving Y2 receptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a replicatable and hybridizable recombinant single-stranded RNA probe molecule comprising: a recognition sequence for the binding of an RNA-directed RNA polymerase; a sequence required for the initiation of product strand synthesis by the polymerase; and a heteroloqus RNA sequence inserted at a specific site in the internal region of the recombinant molecule and complementary to an oligo or polynucleotide of interest. This invention also provides methods for determining the presence of concentration of an oligo- or polynucleotide of interest in a sample and for simultaneously determining the presence or concentration of several different oligo- or polynucleotides of interest in a sample.

Abstract: A fine particle dispersion consisting essentially of a carrier liquid and fine particles dispersed in the carrier liquid. The fine particles consist essentially of resin or both resin and a coloring material, and have an average particle diameter falling within a range of between 0.5 &mgr;m and 20 &mgr;m. Inorganic fine particles are attached to or contained in mainly the surface layer of the fine particle.

Abstract: A biologically pure culture of a microorganism is provided designated SH2A and deposited under ATCC Accession No. 55926, or a mutant derived therefrom. Further provided is a biologically pure culture of a microorganism designated SH2B and deposited under ATCC Accession No. 202050, or a mutant derived therefrom. A method of degrading an organic material such as sludge is carried out by treating the organic material with an effective, degrading amount of either SH2A or a mutant derived therefrom, or SH2B or a mutant derived therefrom. The microorganism designated SH2A or a mutant derived therefrom, or SH2B or a mutant derived therefrom, is grown by culturing the microorganism at a temperature and in a medium effective to promote growth of the microorganism.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for increasing the ascorbic acid concentration in brain tissues of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in brain tissues. This invention also provides that the dehydroascorbic acid enters the tissues through the facilitative glucose transporter.

Abstract: A glass product machining apparatus comprises a grindstone rotatable around an axis by means of a motor, moving table movable under the grindstone in the cross direction of the grindstone, frame for supporting the grindstone for up-and-down motion, lift, guides, supporting arms, pressure cylinder supported on the frame, and dressing machine for dressing or truing the grindstone. The pressure cylinder serves to apply a fixed elastic load to the grindstone as the grindstone shifts its position upward. A glass panel is located on the moving table. The panel moves together with the table. When the panel passes under the grindstone, an outer peripheral surface of the grindstone is brought into contact with the surface of the panel with a fixed force of pressure by the pressure cylinder. The grindstone relatively moves along the curved surface of the panel as it grinds the panel surface.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding mammalian SNORF36 receptors, purified mammalian SNORF36 receptors, vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF36 receptors, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to mammalian SNORF36 receptors, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF36 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to unique sequences of nucleic acid encoding mammalian SNORF36 receptors, transgenic, nonhuman animals which express DNA encoding normal or mutant mammalian SNORF36 receptors, methods of isolating mammalian SNORF36 receptors, methods of treating an abnormality that is linked to the activity of the mammalian SNORF36 receptors, as well as methods of determining binding of compounds to mammalian SNORF36 receptors, methods of identifying agonists and antagonists of SNORF36 receptors, and agonists and antagonists so identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated TRAF-3 deletion isoform encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIG. 15 (deletion isoform &Dgr;130 nucleic acid). The present invention also provides an isolated TRAF-3 protein having the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 16 (&Dgr;130 protein).

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human 5-HT1F receptor, an isolated protein which is a human 5-HT1F receptor, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human 5-HT1F receptors, mammalian cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to the human 5-HT1F receptor, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding human 5-HT1F receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to any sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a human 5-HT1F receptor, pharmaceutical compounds related to human 5-HT1F receptors, and nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA a normal or a mutant human 5-HT1F receptor. This invention further provides methods for determining ligand binding, detecting expression, drug screening, and treatment involving the human 5-HT1F receptor.

Abstract: This invention provides for a method for inhibiting rejection of a transplant organ in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an antibody capable of binding to a protein which is specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916. The present invention further provides for a method for inhibiting rejection of a transplant organ in a subject, which comprises administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoclonal antibody capable of binding to a protein which is specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916. In one embodiment of the invention, the transplant organ is a heart, a kidney or a liver. In another embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916.