Abstract: In the present invention, a textual document is syntactically analyzed and knowledge is constructed from a single word or plural words. The knowledge is then marked, from the broken down knowledge (represented by the underscores in FIG. 1) or from a part-of-speech, as a related object (node) or a relation (edge) (represented by ‘n’ or ‘e’ shown in FIG. 1). In other words, in the present invention a textual document is treated as knowledge constructed from a single word or plural words. The knowledge extracted from the textual document is structured to form a knowledge structure (such as a graph structure constituted from nodes and edges). At least one link can be established between each of the knowledge structure elements and a semantically closest concept entry in a hierarchical concept dictionary.

Abstract: A user designates two targets a relation of which the user is to search as a search start target and a search end target, respectively. The user also designates various search conditions. A binary relation database that stores binary relational information extracted, in advance, from various types of biomolecular databases (e.g., databases that store sequence information on DNAs and the like, structural information on proteins and the like, etc), compound databases (e.g., databases that store characteristics of organic compounds and the like), and literature databases (e.g., databases that store technical literatures, papers, and the like) is accessed, and knowledge between the search start target and the search end target is automatically searched.

Abstract: Genetic clones aligned on a multiwell plate are produced and a collection of genes expressed in a specific tissue are produced. Nucleotide sequences of genetic clones are determined. An analysis is performed based on the nucleotide sequences. An in situ hybridization experiment is conducted, and expression statuses of genes that correspond to the genetic clones in a specific cell, tissue or organ are examined.

Abstract: In the present invention, BMAL1, BPL1, KIAA1491 complete (SEQ ID NO: 1), and KIAA0596CT (SEQ ID NO:2), have a function for interacting with JNK3, wherein these peptides, as well as peptides derived therefrom can be used to inhibit c-Jun from being phosphorylated and exhibiting its functions (such as transcription activation activity). Inhibition of the phosphorylation of c-Jun suppresses apoptosis, such as nerve cell apoptosis. Thus, the present invention also provides a drug, a pharmaceutical composition and a method for use in preventing and/or treating a neurodegenerative disease (such as polyglutamine disease and Alzheimer's disease).

Abstract: A method for controlling circadian rhythm disorders is described, characterized by inhibiting the phosphorylation of BMAL1 by c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) due to the interaction between JNK3 and BMAL1; a method for preventing and/or treating diseases caused by circadian rhythm disorders; and a method for identifying a compound that inhibit phosphorylation of BMAL1 by JNK3. Also provided are: an agent for controlling circadian rhythm disorders, having the above characteristics; an agent for treating and/or preventing diseases caused by circadian rhythm disorders; a compound obtained by the identification method described above; an agent for inhibiting the phosphorylation of BMAL1 by JNK3, containing the compound; an agent for recovering the suppressed transcriptional activity of the complexes containing BMAL1 and CLOCK and for inhibiting the phosphorylation the same, containing an agent for inhibiting the expression and/or function of JNK3; and a pharmaceutical composition containing one of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting whether a protein or polypeptide (B) interacts with a specific protein or polypeptide (A), wherein the method comprises the steps of:

Abstract: A brushless DC motor includes: a motor section which has a rotor, a stator and a housing; a control circuit section which is integrated with the motor section and separated from the motor section by a partition; and a casing member which covers the control circuit section to isolate the control circuit section from the external environment. A position detection means is disposed outside of a bearing member with respect to an axial direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stepping motor capable of increasing assembling work efficiency when the tooth of the gear to be driven provided to a driven member is connected to the tooth of the output shaft gear of the rotor of the stepping motor. The number of teeth for an output shaft gear is set to a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of magnetically stable points per rotation of the rotor, such that the gear to be driven can be held by a reference position stopper when a coil is electrified by a regulated electrification pattern. Thus, while the coil is electrified by the regulated electrification pattern, and the gear to be driven is held by the reference position stopper, the tooth respectively of the gear to be driven, and the output shaft gear are connected to each other. Therefore, these teeth are engaged with each other in a normal position with respect to a reference position.

Abstract: An illumination axis adjusting apparatus includes a stepping motor integrally having in turn an automatic angle adjusting structure for automatically adjusting the angle of the illumination axis of an automotive headlamp by driving the motor and a manual angle adjusting structure for manually adjusting the angle of the illumination axis of the headlamp.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for predicting the functional site of a protein using data of the entire proteins of an organism of which genome data or cDNA data is known. More specifically, the present application provides a method for predicting a protein functional site, comprising the steps of calculating the frequency of occurrence of an oligopeptide in the entire proteins, calculating the value of each amino-acid residue contributing to the frequency of occurrence as the representative value of the function, and predicting the protein functional site by using the representative value of function as an indicator. The present also provides a system for predicting a functional site for automatically performing said methods.

Abstract: A blanking plate is attached to the bottom surfaces of a split board and a remaining board, which are separated from one bare board. After depositing solder paste on a back electrode of the split board, a solder ball is attached on the solder paste. The split board is then heated to melt the solder ball. The molten solder flows along the back electrode and an edge electrode into a through-hole. A portion of the molten solder swells out of the bottom surface of the bare board, and solidifies and bonds to the back electrode and the edge electrode.

Abstract: An electrical actuator has a DC motor which is provided with a rotor having a permanent magnet for forming a plurality of magnetic poles around a periphery thereof and a stator having a plurality of energizing coils and being disposed around a periphery of the rotor to thereby generate a rotary force for the rotor. In mounting this DC motor on a heat-generating member which generates radiant heat, a member for shielding radiant heat from a heat-generating member is disposed between the DC motor and the heat generating member. In this manner, the radiant heat from the heat-generating member is prevented from reaching the DC motor, whereby the problems in the DC motor associated with the radiant heat can be prevented.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor includes: a motor section which has a rotor, a stator and a housing; a control circuit section which is integrated with the motor section and separated from the motor section by a partition; and a casing member which covers the control circuit section to isolate the control circuit section from the external environment. A position detection means is disposed outside of a bearing member with respect to an axial direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stepping motor capable of increasing assembling work efficiency when the tooth of the gear to be driven provided to a driven member is connected to the tooth of the output shaft gear of the rotor of the stepping motor. The number of teeth for an output shaft gear is set to a predetermined ratio with respect to the number of magnetically stable points per rotation of the rotor, such that the gear to be driven can be held by a reference position stopper when a coil is electrified by a regulated electrification pattern. Thus, while the coil is electrified by the regulated electrification pattern, and the gear to be driven is held by the reference position stopper, the tooth respectively of the gear to be driven, and the output shaft gear are connected to each other. Therefore, these teeth are engaged with each other in a normal position with respect to a reference position.

Abstract: A blanking plate is attached to the bottom surfaces of a split board and a remaining board, which are separated from one bare board. After depositing solder paste on a back electrode of the split board, a solder ball is attached on the solder paste. The split board is then heated to melt the solder ball. The molten solder flows along the back electrode and an edge electrode into a through-hole. A portion of the molten solder swells out of the bottom surface of the bare board, and solidifies and bonds to the back electrode and the edge electrode.

Abstract: An illumination axis adjusting apparatus includes a stepping motor integrally having in turn an automatic angle adjusting structure for automatically adjusting the angle of the illumination axis of an automotive headlamp by driving the motor and a manual angle adjusting structure for manually adjusting the angle of the illumination axis of the headlamp.

Abstract: A genetic algorithm executing device, in which search of a genetic algorithm is improved, sets a distribution of characters at each position of character strings represent candidates of solution, obtain the degree of disorder at each position by the distributions of characters, set a larger mutation rate at the position of which degree of disorder is higher. This device performs a mutation operation on the character strings according to the mutation rates. This device generates the new character strings by selecting positions of which degrees of disorder are higher than a predetermined value, and changing the character at the selected positions.

Abstract: A stepping motor is provided with a plate spring for pressing a housing and a rotor against each other. One of the housing and the rotor is provided with a projection. Variations in position, which is inherent in position control by a related art stepping motor, due to lack of a retaining force subsequent to an initial position setting or due to variations in rotating speed of the motor, are eliminated. Thus the motor is suitably used for controlling of the position of, for example, an HID lamp unit.

Abstract: This invention provides A method for preparing mutant genes, which comprises the steps of constructing a recombinant plasmid DNA by inserting a gene fragment into a plasmid DNA having a unidirectional origin, introducing the recombinant plasmid DNA into host cell lacking DNA error-correcting function to transform the host cell, and culturing the transformant cell in a condition that any mutations of the inserted gene is detectable. According to the present invention, diverse mutant genes can be prepared in a short period of time.

Abstract: A check valve has a valve element 12 integral with a metallic bushing 11 and made of a substantially annular rubber material. A hole is provided in the center of the valve element, and a shaft 13 passes through the hole. A spring 2 is mounted around the shaft, and a back face of the valve element is supported at one end of the spring through the metallic bushing. A truncated conical stopper 4 includes a recess at an intermediate portion, and is mounted downstream of the valve element to restrict the amount of movement and deformation of the valve element. The stopper is fixed at one end 13b of the shaft. It is thereby possible to provide a reliable check valve in which flow resistance can significantly be reduced, and sufficient safety can be established against counter flow pressure.