Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes a light conductive plate provided with a light entry face at its corner, having a spot-like light source disposed close to or in contact with the light entry face, and having a light reflection pattern formed on its major surface. The light reflection pattern comprises a plurality of arced grooves and is configured such that the grooves have their depths increasing with an increase in the distance from the light source, and that each of the grooves has its depth increasing with an increase in the light emission angle made by a line of a light emission direction with respect to a diagonal line from the light source. Thus, the light reflection pattern is adapted to reflect more light at an area farther from the light source and the diagonal line as well, thereby further improving uniformity in brightness all over the light conductive plate.

Abstract: The &agr; antigen-encoding gene and the &agr; antigen protein suppress the production of interleukin-4 etc., improve the Th2 type cytokine-dominant state, and furthermore inhibit various conditions of allergic diseases such as IgE production, histamine release and eosinophil infiltration, and therefore they are very effective for the prevention or treatment of atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis, and more broadly allergic diseases.

Abstract: A transgenic non-human mammal or its offspring which carries DNA having exogenous caspase 1 gene integrated thereinto in such a manner as to express the gene specifically to skin.

Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes a light conductive plate provided with a light entry face at its corner, having a spot-like light source disposed close to or in contact with the light entry face, and having a light reflection pattern formed on its major surface. The light reflection pattern comprises a plurality of arced grooves and is configured such that the grooves have their depths increasing with an increase in the distance from the light source, and that each of the grooves has its depth increasing with an increase in the light emission angle made by a line of a light emission direction with respect to a diagonal line from the light source. Thus, the light reflection pattern is adapted to reflect more light at an area farther from the light source and the diagonal line as well, thereby further improving uniformity in brightness all over the light conductive plate.

Abstract: A differential gear includes two rotatable cases, pinions disposed rotatably in each of the cases, first and second side gears meshing with the pinions and disposed rotatably in each of the cases, a first shaft supported rotatably about a co-axis of the cases and extending from the second side gear in the first case to the first side gear in the second case, a second shaft supported rotatably about the co-axis and extending from the first side gear in the first case, a third shaft supported rotatably about the co-axis and extending from the second side gear in the second case, a driven gear provided in the first shaft and a first drive gear for rotating the driven gear to give driving force to the shafts. First and second worm wheels respectively fixed to the first and second cases, first and second worms respectively meshing with the first and second worm wheels and at least one electric motor for rotating the first and second worms are provided.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity universal joint for interconnecting two shafts to permit transmission of a driving force in a vehicle such as a motor car. In said tripod type constant velocity universal joint, a trunnion portion of the tripod shafts is urged against and supported by a tulip portion of a second shaft by a tripod spring, the spherical head of a mushroom-shaped member provided in the mounting hole of said trunnion portion is kept in contact with a recess in said tulip portion by the biasing force of a compression spring, and further, said mushroom-shaped member or said trunnion portion of the tripod shafts is formed to provide a spherically curved surface or a conical surface incorporating a straight line, in which the distance from the center of the joint is increased as a point on the external configuration leaves the center toward the outer periphery.

Abstract: A boot for covering the juncture between a drive shaft and a universal joint casing formed of a resilient material and having a small end portion and a large end portion with a bellows structure therebetween. The bellows has undulations with ridges and valleys with ridge angles determined such that contact between adjacent undulations when the boot is operatively connected is confined to a plane. Preferably, the thickness of the resilient material is greater in a longitudinally center portion than in the remaining portions of the bellows and the distance between neighboring ridges in the central portion is greater than in the remaining portions.

Abstract: A universal joint of the type including: a first shaft to which tripod shafts are secured radially from the axis thereof; three rollers formed at the outer peripheries thereof with spherical surfaces and with which the tripod shafts are crowned; and a second shaft provided therein with raceways identical in number with the rollers and on which the outer peripheries of the rollers roll and are supported. The universal joint further includes a plurality of oil grooves provided at contact-roll surfaces between the rollers and the cylindrical raceways.