Abstract: Provided are a method for accurately evaluating the differentiation status of stem cells by selectively staining only stem cells in an undifferentiated state, and a method for positively isolating only stem cells in an undifferentiated state. Specifically provided is a method for determining differentiation of a cell comprising a step of contacting a test cell with a probe comprising protein (A) or (B) below and a step of detecting the presence of binding of the probe to the test cell. The method for determining differentiation of a cell is capable of detecting the presence or absence of an undifferentiated stem cell in test cells by using a probe that specifically reacts with undifferentiated stem cells and detecting the presence of bonding to the test cell.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for introducing a target substance into undifferentiated cells, and a carrier therefor, whereby the target substance can be specifically introduced into the undifferentiated cells by contacting the undifferentiated cells with an rBC2LCN-target substance fusion product in which rBC2LCN lectin is fused to the target substance. Particularly, an rBC2LCN-toxin fusion product in which rBC2LCN lectin is fused to a toxin functioning in cells or its domain having the ability to kill cells functions as an agent for eliminating undifferentiated stem cells and can be administered into a medium after inducing the differentiation of the stem cells to reliably kill only the stem cells in an undifferentiated state.

Abstract: [Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to stably supply high-quality and highly uniform Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) that recognizes biologically important sugar-chain markers, to elucidate the sugar-chain recognition activity in detail, and to furthermore increase the specificity of the sugar-chain recognition activity. [Solution] The present invention involves the development of a technique for cloning genes for coding Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) and producing recombinant WFA having the same sugar-chain recognition activity as natural WFA from transformed bacteria. Natural WFA is reduced to thereby manufacture a reduced WFA monomer for specifically recognizing terminal GalNAc residue. A recombinant monomer WFA for recognizing LDN (GalNAc?1, 4GlcNAc) sugar chain, which is important as a diagnostic marker among sugar chains having a terminal GalNAc residue, is manufactured by introducing cysteine mutation to recombinant WFA or by C-terminal-side amino acid deletion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating a differentiation status of cells using a culture supernatant of stem cells. Provided is “undifferentiation sugar chain marker” composed of the sugar chain structure “Fuc?1-2Gal?1-3GlcNAc” or “Fuc?1-2Gal?1-3GalNAc” and capable of sensitively determining the undifferentiated state of stem cells using a culture supernatant of stem cells. Also found is BC2LCN lectin or a modified product thereof capable of sensitively recognizing the “undifferentiation sugar chain marker” as excellent “probe for detecting the undifferentiation sugar chain marker” capable of determining the undifferentiation status of cells using a culture supernatant.

Abstract: Provided are a method for accurately evaluating the differentiation status of stem cells by selectively staining only stem cells in an undifferentiated state, and a method for positively isolating only stem cells in an undifferentiated state. Specifically provided is a method for determining differentiation of a cell comprising a step of contacting a test cell with a probe comprising protein (A) or (B) below and a step of detecting the presence of binding of the probe to the test cell. The method for determining differentiation of a cell is capable of detecting the presence or absence of an undifferentiated stem cell in test cells by using a probe that specifically reacts with undifferentiated stem cells and detecting the presence of bonding to the test cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel lectin which can bind specifically to an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain. Also disclosed is use of the lectin. The L-fucose ?1?6 specific lectin of the present invention is characterized in that: (1) the lectin is extracted from a basidiomycete or an ascomycete; (2) the lectin has a molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 4,000 to 40,000; and (3) the lectin has an affinity to an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain, the affinity being represented by an association constant of 1.0×104M?1 or more (at 25 degrees C.). The lectin can be used for detecting an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain specifically, and is effective for the purification of an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain or a non L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain.

Abstract: Timing setting data include an arbitrary combination of a set timing signal indicating a positive edge timing and a reset timing signal indicating a negative edge timing. A sort unit sorts n pieces of the timing setting data in accordance with timing orders indicated by each of the timing setting data. With reference to the sorted timing setting data an open processor detects continuation of the set timing signals or continuation of the reset timing signals, and invalidates one of the continuous set timing signals or one of the continuous reset timing signals. An edge assigning unit sequentially assigns the set/reset timing signals remaining without being invalidated to, among the m variable delay circuits for setting/resetting, the variable delay circuits for setting/resetting in the ascending order of the frequencies of use thereof by then.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel lectin which can bind specifically to an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain. Also disclosed is use of the lectin. The L-fucose ?1?6 specific lectin of the present invention is characterized in that: (1) the lectin is extracted from a basidiomycete or an ascomycete; (2) the lectin has a molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 4,000 to 40,000; and (3) the lectin has an affinity to an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain, the affinity being represented by an association constant of 1.0×104M?1 or more (at 25 degrees C.). The lectin can be used for detecting an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain specifically, and is effective for the purification of an L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain or a non L-fucose ?1?6 sugar chain.

Abstract: Timing setting data include an arbitrary combination of a set timing signal indicating a positive edge timing and a reset timing signal indicating a negative edge timing. A sort unit sorts n pieces of the timing setting data in accordance with timing orders indicated by each of the timing setting data. With reference to the sorted timing setting data an open processor detects continuation of the set timing signals or continuation of the reset timing signals, and invalidates one of the continuous set timing signals or one of the continuous reset timing signals. An edge assigning unit sequentially assigns the set/reset timing signals remaining without being invalidated to, among the m variable delay circuits for setting/resetting, the variable delay circuits for setting/resetting in the ascending order of the frequencies of use thereof by then.

Abstract: An elevator system (10) includes an elevator car (18) supported for vertical movement on a belt (16) having an end fixed to the hoistway (26) and the other end wound about a drum (32) of a drum drive (12). When the belt (16) is wound or unwound about the drum (32), the elevator car (18) is raised or lowered, respectively.

Abstract: A compact, low power consumption, light weight, highly reliable and high speed information processing system is provided by employing a semiconductor auxiliary storage device in lieu of conventional magnetic storage or memory elements, such as floppy or hard disks. An access request to such a magnetic storage or memory element is converted to an access request for the semiconductor auxiliary storage which uses semiconductor integrated circuits without requiring any modification of existing programs, such as, application software and disk operating systems. A memory circuit in the semiconductor auxiliary storage comprises ROM and RAM, and a portion of the ROM contents is copied into the RAM so that access modification for programs and data is permitted while the basic program and data is retained in a nonvolatile manner.

Abstract: Motor control arrangement for elevator car doors includes a controller which outputs driving signals to the door opening/closing motor which opens or closes the door of the car, a door open button and a door close button provided in the car for opening or closing the door of the car, a first line for transmitting an open signal from the door open button to the controller, and a second line for transmitting a close signal from the door close button to the controller. The first line and the second line communicate with (or are connected to) a third line. Within this third line, a break contact of a detection switch that operates (e.g., opens) when the car door is fully open is provided. A make contact (normally open) of the detection switch is provided between a connection point on the second line and the controller. When the car door starts to close, the make contact opens and the break contact closes so that only an open signal is transmittable to the controller.

Abstract: A compact, low power consumption, light weight, highly reliable and high speed information processing system is provided by employing a semiconductor auxiliary storage device in lieu of conventional magnetic storage or memory elements, such as floppy or hard disks. An access request to such a magnetic storage or memory element is converted to an access request for the semiconductor auxiliary storage which uses semiconductor integrated circuits without requiring any modification of existing programs, such as, application software and disk operating systems. A memory circuit in the semiconductor auxiliary storage comprises ROM and RAM, and a portion of the ROM contents is copied into the RAM so that access modification for programs and data is permitted while the basic program and data is retained in a nonvolatile manner.