Abstract: Provided is a composition for promotion of the regeneration of the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, said composition comprising a low endotoxin monovalent metal salt of alginic acid and mesenchymal stem cells. In particular, the composition of the present invention promotes the regeneration of the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc via activation of nucleus pulposus cells by human bone marrow-derived high-purity mesenchymal stem cells and/or differentiation of human bone marrow-derived high-purity mesenchymal stem cells into nucleus pulposus cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-human Notch4 antibody or a Notch4 binding fragment thereof that may have neutralizing activity against human Notch4, as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as the active ingredient. The present inventors obtained a mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody that has high neutralizing activity and binding affinity towards human Notch4 and determined the complementarity determining region (CDR) sequence of the mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody. This enabled the production of a humanized antibody comprising the variable region of heavy and light chains as well as the CDR sequence of the mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-human Notch4 antibody or a Notch4 binding fragment thereof that may have neutralizing activity against human Notch4, as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as the active ingredient. The present inventors obtained a mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody that has high neutralizing activity and binding affinity towards human Notch4 and determined the complementarity determining region (CDR) sequence of said mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody. This enabled the production of a humanized antibody comprising the variable region of heavy and light chains as well as the CDR sequence of said mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-human Notch4 antibody or a Notch4 binding fragment thereof that may have neutralizing activity against human Notch4, as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as the active ingredient. The present inventors obtained a mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody that has high neutralizing activity and binding affinity towards human Notch4 and determined the complementarity determining region (CDR) sequence of the mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody. This enabled the production of a humanized antibody comprising the variable region of heavy and light chains as well as the CDR sequence of the mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-human Notch4 antibody or a Notch4 binding fragment thereof that may have neutralizing activity against human Notch4, as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as the active ingredient. The present inventors obtained a mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody that has high neutralizing activity and binding affinity towards human Notch4 and determined the complementarity determining region (CDR) sequence of said mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody. This enabled the production of a humanized antibody comprising the variable region of heavy and light chains as well as the CDR sequence of said mouse anti-human Notch4 antibody.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for DNA recovery capable of more reliably recovering a cDNA fragment of interest from a group of cDNA fragments in which various kinds of cDNA fragments are present. The method for DNA recovery comprises a first PCR step for carrying out a PCR reaction on the group of cDNA fragments each having a first adaptor sequence on one end and a second adaptor sequence on the other end, using a first primer having a sequence complementary to the first adaptor sequence and also having a labeling substance and a second primer having a sequence complementary to the second adaptor sequence. Also, an electrophoretic step for carrying out a gel electrophoresis on the group of cDNA fragments amplified in the first PCR step and, on the basis of a result of the electrophoretic step, a recovery step for cutting out a gel portion containing a cDNA fragment of interest from a gel and then recovering the cDNA fragment from the gel are comprised.

Abstract: A method of analyzing prokaryotic gene expression is disclosed, which comprises a process for isolating an mRNA, a process for adding a polyA at the 3′ end of the mRNA, a process for synthesizing a cDNA from the mRNA, a process for preparing a cDNA fragment having a sequence of a first adaptor at one end and a sequence of a second adaptor at the other end from the cDNA, a process for performing PCR with the cDNA fragment using a first primer having a sequence complementary to the sequence of the first adaptor and a second primer 2 having a sequence complementary to the sequence of the second adaptor, a process for performing electrophoresis with amplified cDNA fragments, and a process for recovering a desired cDNA based on the result of electrophoresis.

Abstract: A hub clutch assembly is designed so that fluid pressure is used only while the driving mode is being changed over between a four-wheel drive position and a two-wheel drive position, while eliminating the necessity of holding a coupling member in position once the driving mode has been changed over. A driven member and a driving member are coupled together and uncoupled from each other by a slider which is moved under a negative or positive air pressure. A spring is used to maintain the slider in the two-wheel drive position, while a magnet is used to maintain the slider in the four-wheel drive position.

Abstract: A chain tensioner including a housing having a cylinder chamber, a rod member in the form of a threaded shaft inserted in the cylinder chamber for tensioning a chain, a tension adjusting spring for biasing the rod member outwardly of the housing, a hydraulic damper for damping axial dynamic load applied to the rod member from the chain by utilizing as a damping medium a hydraulic oil supplied into a closed end of the cylinder chamber through an oil supply passage formed in the housing and a check valve, and a thread engagement arrangement for preventing the rod member from retracting under an axial static load applied to the rod member. The chain tensioner can prevent the entry of air in the pressure chamber of the hydraulic damper when the engine is started in a cold environment or restarted.

Abstract: A hub clutch assembly is designed so that fluid pressure is used only while the driving mode is being changed over between a four-wheel position and a two-wheel drive positions, while eliminating the necessity of holding a coupling member in position once the driving mode has been changed over. A driven member and a driving member are coupled together and uncoupled from each other by a slider which is moved under a negative or positive air pressure. A spring is used to maintain the slider in the drive position, while a magnet is used to maintain the slider in the four-wheel drive position.

Abstract: A chain tensioner keeps constant the tension of a chain for transmitting the rotation of an engine crankshaft to e.g. camshafts. It includes a housing having a cylinder chamber. A rod member has its rear end inserted in the cylinder chamber for pressing a chain. A tension adjusting spring biases the rod member outwardly of the housing. The chain tensioner further includes a hydraulic damper for damping a dynamic load applied to the rod member from the chain, and a thread engagement mechanism for preventing the rod member from retracting under a static load applied to the rod member.

Abstract: A tube for heat exchangers is a flat tube which either includes a pair of plane walls which are spaced a predetermined distance from one another, the plane walls respectively having one lateral ends integrally connected to each other by a U-shaped bent portion, the plane walls further having their other lateral ends which abut against to be tightly secured to one another, or alternatively, the flat tube includes as the plane walls a pair of preformed plates having the abutted and soldered portions at both lateral ends. The tube further includes one or more curved lugs integral with and protruding inwardly from an inner surface of each plane wall, and the curved lugs respectively having innermost tops so that the innermost tops protruding from one plane wall bear against the inner surface of the other plane wall or against the innermost tops of the other curved lugs protruding from said other plane wall.

Abstract: A refrigerant receiver includes a tubular body having a bottom and an open upper end portion, and a closure fitted in the open end portion. The open end portion is constricted and crimped by electromagnetic forming and thereby secured to the closure.

Abstract: A tube for heat exchangers is a flat tube which either comprises a pair of plane walls which are spaced a predetermined distance from one another, the plane walls respectively having lateral ends integrally connected to each other by a U-shaped bent portion, the plane walls further having other lateral ends which abut against and are tightly secured to one another, or alternatively, the flat tube comprises a pair of preformed plates having abutted and soldered portions at both lateral ends. The tube further comprises one or more curved lugs integral with and protruding inwardly from an inner surface of each plane wall, and the curve lugs respectively have innermost tops so that the innermost tops protruding from one plane wall bear against the inner surface of the other plane wall or against the innermost tops of the other curved lugs protruding from said other plane wall.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body and fasteners used to mount the body on an automobile or the like. The heat exchanger body comprises flat tubes and fin members alternatingly stacked on each other and a pair of hollow headers, with the ends of each tube being connected in fluid communication with the headers. Each fastener comprises a contacting concave portion with a shape which allows it to fit on an outer peripheral surface of a header, a hooking portion protruding from an end of the concave portion, and a fastening portion extending outwardly from another end of the concave portion. The concave portion is placed in close contact with the peripheral surface of the header, with a hook end of the hooking portion being inserted in between two adjacent tubes. The fasteners are soldered to the heat exchanger body and become integral with it.

Abstract: The semipermeable membrane contains a polyarylate resin and a polysulfone resin as a major membrane material and has a fibrilliform structure with a high mechanical strength and has a water permeability of 1,500 ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg or lower as well as an inhibitory rate against bovine serum albumin of 80% or higher and against cytochrome C of 40% or lower. The membrane is prepared by discharging a stock solution containing the polyarylate resin and the polysulfone resin in the total amount of 10% to 25% by weight and a core solution of an organic solvent containing water in the amount of 25% to 80% by volume into a coagulating solution.

Abstract: An evaporator adapted to efficiently release water drops from its corrugated fins without lowering its performance by suitably determining the pitch of flat poritons of each fin and height of louvers formed on the flat portions in combination with the pitch. The evaporator is characterized in that the corrugated fin is 0.75 to 0.90 in the ratio of H/P wherein P is the pitch, and H is the height.

Abstract: The semipermeable membrane contains a polyarylate resin and a polysulfone resin as a major membrane material and has a fibrilliform structure with a high mechanical strength and has a water permeability of 1,500 ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg or lower as well as an inhibitory rate against bovine serum albumin of 80% or higher and against cytochrome C of 40% or lower. The membrane is prepared by discharging a stock solution containing the polyarylate resin and the polysulfone resin in the total amount of 10% to 25% by weight and a core solution of an organic solvent containing water in the amount of 25% to 80% by volume into a coagulating solution.

Abstract: An evaporator is provided having a core portion with an inlet and an outlet; a fluid path for allowing a cooling fluid to pass through, the path being formed in a zigzag form so that the fluid passes through the core portion at least three times; and the fluid path having an increasingly large cross-sectional area from the inlet toward the outlet.

Abstract: A multicylinder engine whose working cylinders are variably controlled in number to suit operating requirements, with an air fuel mixture fed from a single throttle valve to the working cylinder or cylinders through an intake manifold, includes at least one normally closed control valve installed in at least one intake pipe of the intake manifold. When the throttle valve has opened to a prescribed degree, the control valve instantly opens fully or almost fully or to a prescribed degree, independently of the throttle valve.