Abstract: The power amplifying apparatus includes a first comparator that compares the first detection signal and the fourth detection signal and outputs a first comparison signal depending on whether or not a difference between the first current and the fourth current is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value. The power amplifying apparatus includes a second comparator that compares the second detection signal and the third detection signal and outputs a second comparison signal depending on whether or not a difference between the second current and the third current is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

Abstract: Tone pitch information is extracted from the received input note information. A scale is determined on the basis of retrieved tonality information. A reference scale note is determined on the basis of the extracted tone pitch information and the determined scale. A tone pitch of a harmony note is determined by counting scale notes which form the determined scale from the determined reference scale note until reaching a scale note designated by the retrieved degree information.

Abstract: A recombinant galectin 9 (rGal 9) is provided which exhibits an immune system-mediated action and a direct action on tumor cells (i.e., activity of inducing the intercellular adhesion and apoptosis of the tumor cells), thereby potent in inducing the inhibition of cancer metastasis and reduction. Moreover, the rGal 9 exerts no efficacy on non-activated lymphocytes but can induce apoptosis in activated T cells, in particular, CD4-positive T cells causing an excessive immune response.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel monoclonal antibody that is specific for a C-terminal neoepitope of a collagen fragment and has substantially equal binding affinity whether proline contained in the neoepitope is in a non-hydroxylated form or in a hydroxylated form, and an immunoassay, a measurement method, a kit and the like using the antibody. The antibody allows for quantification of a collagen fragment generated by digestion of a biological sample with a collagenase present in the sample, regardless of the presence or absence of a hydroxylated form of proline in the neoepitope.

Abstract: It is suggested that recombinant galectin 9 (rGal 9), produced in host Escherichia coli, exhibits an immune system-mediated action and a direct action on tumor cells (i.e., activity of inducing the intercellular adhesion and apoptosis of the tumor cells), thereby potent in inducing the inhibition of cancer metastasis and reduction. Moreover, the rGal 9 exerts no efficacy on non-activated lymphocytes but can induce apoptosis in activated T cells, in particular, CD4-positive T cells causing an excessive immune response. The rGal 9 has a further potent apoptosis-inducing property on synovial cells participating in joint deformation in rheumatism, etc. In the rGal 9, however, a link domain linking two CRDs is highly susceptible to protease and, therefore, is very easily digestible with the enzyme, thereby losing the above activities. Thus, there is a need for a more stabilized molecule in view of further studies.

Abstract: A pressure application technique is provided that enables two objects to be pressurized (e.g., objects to be bonded) to be positioned with greater accuracy before having pressure applied thereto. The objects to be pressurized are moved relative to each other in a Z direction such that the objects are brought into contact with each other (step S13). Then, a horizontal positional shift ?D between the objects to be pressurized is measured in the contact state of the objects to be pressurized (step S14). Thereafter, positioning of the objects to be pressurized is again performed by moving the objects to be pressurized relative to each other in the horizontal direction, as a result of which the positional shift ?D is corrected (step S17).

Abstract: Tone pitch information is extracted from the received input note information. A scale is determined on the basis of retrieved tonality information. A reference scale note is determined on the basis of the extracted tone pitch information and the determined scale. A tone pitch of a harmony note is determined by counting scale notes which form the determined scale from the determined reference scale note until reaching a scale note designated by the retrieved degree information.

Abstract: An n-channel integrated circuit device (n is an integer of 1 or greater) for muting an audio signal includes a control circuit configured to generate a control signal and a delayed control signal, a charging and discharging circuit configured to charge and discharge a time constant control terminal according to the control signal and the delayed control signal, an N-th voltage-to-current converting circuit (N is an integer from 1 to n) configured to generate a (2N?1)-th current corresponding to a voltage on the time constant control terminal and a (2N)-th current corresponding to an intermediate voltage, a (2N?1)-th mirror circuit configured to copy the (2N?1)-th current to generate (4N?3)-th and (4N?2)-th intermediate currents, a (2N)-th mirror circuit configured to copy the (2N)-th current to generate (4N?1)-th and (4N)-th intermediate currents, a (2N?1)-th selecting and combining circuit configured to combine a (2N?1)-th mute control current using the (4N?3)-th intermediate current and the (4N?1)-th interm

Abstract: A lead tone is generated on the basis of an input tone signal. Meanwhile, a specific pitch of the input tone signal is sequentially detected, from which is detected a normalized pitch corresponding to any one of the musical pitch names. Then, difference information is obtained which pertains to a difference between the specific pitch and the normalized pitch, and a pitch having a given pitch interval from the normalized pitch is determined as a target pitch of a tone signal to be generated. Then, a harmony tone is generated which has a pitch obtained by modulating the target pitch in accordance with the difference information.

Abstract: Positioning recognition marks are read by movable recognition device for positioning objects to be bonded to each other. An alignment method includes a step of reading the recognition marks during movement of the recognition device before its complete stop, and a step of identifying absolute positions of the recognition marks by correcting the mark recognition positions having been read based on a position feedback signal of the moving recognition device. A mounting method using the alignment method is also disclosed. It is possible to maintain a high alignment accuracy, eliminate necessity of assuring a settling time for complete stop of the movable recognition device, and significantly reduce the alignment time and mounting tact.

Abstract: A neutralizing monoclonal antibody specifically reacting with MMP13, a method of neutralizing enzyme activity of MMP13 and an immunological measuring method each using the antibody, as well as a diagnostic agent and a pharmaceutical composition containing the antibody, are provided. Various antibodies to MMP13 have been hitherto obtained, but an antibody having neutralizing activity against MMP13 has not been obtained. The present inventors intensively studied, as a result, found out a neutralizing antibody having specificity for MMP13, resulting in completion of the present invention.

Abstract: It is suggested that recombinant galectin 9 (rGal 9), produced in host Escherichia coli, exhibits an immune system-mediated action and a direct action on tumor cells (i.e., activity of inducing the intercellular adhesion and apoptosis of the tumor cells), thereby potent in inducing the inhibition of cancer metastasis and reduction. Moreover, the rGal 9 exerts no efficacy on non-activated lymphocytes but can induce apoptosis in activated T cells, in particular, CD4-positive T cells causing an excessive immune response. The rGal 9 has a further potent apoptosis-inducing property on synovial cells participating in joint deformation in rheumatism, etc. In the rGal 9, however, a link domain linking two CRDs is highly susceptible to protease and, therefore, is very easily digestible with the enzyme, thereby losing the above activities. Thus, there is a need for a more stabilized molecule in view of further studies.

Abstract: Galectin 9, which is an immune function-controlling factor belonging to a new class that is different from known cytokines and is expected to be used as a therapeutic drug for various immune-related diseases such as an autoimmune disease, has disadvantages (such as high sensitivity to protease and poor solubility) to be solved in developing therapeutic drugs. Therefore, there is a need to overcome these disadvantages. Chemically modified galectin 9, prepared by conjugating a polymer (for example, poly(ethylene glycol: PEG) to galectin 9, in particular, stabilized galectin 9, is verified to exert higher solubility with improvements in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (for example, prolongation of action potential duration, such as prolongation of blood half-life and others) and in suppression of hemagglutination and thus has excellent characteristics as a drug.

Abstract: A composition for injection molding by which a reactive injection molded article of good mechanical strength and electrical conductivity is prepared is provided. The disclosed is a composition for injection molding which includes carbon fibrous structures in a liquid curing resin composition, at a rate of 0.1-20% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers.

Abstract: The disclosed is an electrically conductive sheet which includes carbon fibrous structures in polymer matrix, at a rate of 0.01-30% by weight based on the total weight of the sheet, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. The electrically conductive sheet shows a high electrical conductivity while possessing a good film strength.

Abstract: A device and method for bonding objects to be bonded each having a metal bonding portion on a substrate, comprising cleaning means for exposing the metal bonding portions to a plasma having an energy enough to etch the surfaces of the metal bonding portions at a depth of 1.6 nm or more over the entire surfaces of the metal bonding portions under a reduced pressure and bonding means for bonding the metal bonding portions of the objects taken out of the cleaning means in an atmospheric air. By using a specific scheme, metal bonding portions after the plasma cleaning can be bonded in the atmospheric air, thereby significantly simplifying the bonding process and the whole device and lowering the cost.

Abstract: An recycled composite material is disclosed, which is prepared by using as a raw material a waste composite material which comprises a matrix component and carbon fibrous structures added to the matrix, and adding an additional matrix component which is homogeneous and/or heterogeneous with the matrix of the spent composite material, and then kneading them together; wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each carbon fiber having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, and a granular part, at which the fibers are bound in a state that the carbon fibers extend outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. The recycled composite material performs much the same with the original composite material, and is produced briefly at a low cost.

Abstract: The disclosed is a conductive coating material which includes an organic binder component and carbon fibrous structures, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers; and wherein the carbon fibrous structures are contained at a rate of 0.01-50% by weight based on the total weight of the coating material. The conductive coating material gives a coated film which shows a high electrical conductivity and a good film strength, and also coordinates its color as an intended one easily.

Abstract: The disclosed is a colored polymer composition which includes carbon fibrous structures and a coloring agent in a polymer matrix, wherein the carbon fibrous structure comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers each having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part with which the carbon fibers are tied together in the state that the concerned carbon fibers are externally elongated therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers. It is the colored polymer composition which includes novel carbon fibrous structures having preferable physical properties as a filler for composite material, and of being able to improve electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of a matrix while maintaining other properties of the matrix, in a small adding amount, and which can show a color as pleases.

Abstract: Special-type tone generators are capable of tone generation corresponding to rendition-style designating data, while ordinary-type tone generators are incapable of such tone generation corresponding to rendition-style designating data. When performance data for the ordinary-type tone generator are acquired in a case where the special-type tone generator can be used, presence of a predetermined rendition style is detected on the basis of various control data included in the performance data, the control data in a portion of the performance data, corresponding to the predetermined rendition style, is converted into simple data that does not represent the predetermined rendition style, and also rendition-style designating data specifying the predetermined rendition style is added. In this way, the acquired performance data are reformed into performance data for the special-type tone generator.