Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for prevention and/or treatment of asthma comprising a substance capable of suppressing the function involved in signal transduction of GPR4 as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel species of ?-1,3-fucosyltransferase expressed by a gene cloned from animal cells, a cDNA coding for the ?-1,3-fucosyltransferase, a method of detecting, or inhibiting the production of, the ?-1,3-fucosyltransferase which involves the use of the cDNA, a recombinant vector containing the DNA as an insert, a cell harboring the recombinant vector, and a method of producing same. The ?-1,3-fucosyltransferase of the invention is useful in the production of carbohydrate chains having useful physiological activity, for example sialyl Lewis x, and modifications thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having a ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity; a method for producing the polypeptide; a DNA which encodes the polypeptide; a recombinant vector into which the DNA is inserted; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the polypeptide; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the transformant; an antibody which recognizes the polypeptide; a method for screening a substance which changes the expression of the gene which encodes the polypeptide; and a method for screening a substance which changes the activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having a ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity; a method for producing the polypeptide; a DNA which encodes the polypeptide; a recombinant vector into which the DNA is inserted; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the polypeptide; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the transformant; an antibody which recognizes the polypeptide; a method for screening a substance which changes the expression of the gene which encodes the polypeptide; and a method for screening a substance which changes the activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a sugar nucleotide, in which a) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing NTP from a nucleotide precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, and b) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing a sugar nucleotide from a sugar and NTP, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which the above-described a) and b) and c) a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, is as an enzyme sour

Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a central support member typically consisting of wire mesh or grid and supports most of the load of the vehicle occupant via spring members, and undergoes a relatively large displacement when the occupant is seated in the seat. Thus, by detecting the displacements of various parts of the central support member, preferably peripheral parts thereof, the magnitude of the total load and distribution of the load can be evaluated both reliably and accurately. Additionally, displacement sensors for measuring such large displacements are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle. Also, such sensors would not interfere with the existing seat designs, and would not be adversely affected by the equipment of the seat such as seat heaters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weight sensor device for detecting a weight of an occupant seated on a seat having a seat frame and a cushion. The device has a sensing wire displaced downward in the seat frame as the cushion is deformed due to the weight of the occupant when the occupant is seated on the seat and a variable resistor for converting a displacement of the sensing wire into an electric signal indicative of the weight of the occupant.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a sugar nucleotide, in which a) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing NTP from a nucleotide precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, and b) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing a sugar nucleotide from a sugar and NTP, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which the above-described a) and b) and c) a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, is as an enzyme sour

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a sugar nucleotide, in which a) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing NTP from a nucleotide precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, and b) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing a sugar nucleotide from a sugar and NTP, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which the above-described a) and b) and c) a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, is as an enzyme sour

Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a central support member typically consisting of wire mesh or grid and supports most of the load of the vehicle occupant via spring members, and undergoes a relatively large displacement when the occupant is seated in the seat. Thus, by detecting the displacements of various parts of the central support member, preferably peripheral parts thereof, the magnitude of the total load and distribution of the load can be evaluated both reliably and accurately. Additionally, displacement sensors for measuring such large displacements are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle. Also, such sensors would not interfere with the existing seat designs, and would not be adversely affected by the equipment of the seat such as seat heaters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having a &bgr;1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity, an agent for synthesizing a sugar chain comprising the polypeptide, a process for producing a sugar chain or a complex carbohydrate using the agent for synthesizing a sugar chain, DNA encoding the polypeptide, a process for producing the polypeptide, an antibody against the polypeptide, and a diagnosis method and a medicament for treatment for inflammation, cancer or tumor metastasis using the DNA or the antibody. The present invention is useful for synthesis of a useful sugar chain and diagnosis and treatment for inflammatory diseases, cancer or tumor metastasis.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase expressed by a gene cloned from animal cells, a cDNA coding for the &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase, a method of detecting, or suppressing the production of &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase by using the cDNA, a recombinant vector containing the DNA as an insert and cells harboring the recombinant vector as well as methods of preparing same. The &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase of the invention is useful, for example, in the production of carbohydrate chains having a useful physiological activity, for example the ganglioside GD3, and modifications thereof.

Abstract: A seat-occupant sensing device for a car seat is provided, such that a heater can be installed in the seat without deterioration of sitting comfort. A load sensor is mounted to a cushion frame of a car seat. The end of a flexible cushion support is linked with the load sensor. Because the flexible cushion support flexes when a person sits on the seat, the load sensor detects the moment when the person sits on the seat.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical preparations for anti-inflammation, anti-infection, inhibition of cancer metastasis etc., foods such as dairy products etc., and a method for improving proteins, as well as a method for diagnosis of inflammatory diseases and cancer malignancy. According to the present invention, there can be provided a polypeptide having poly-N-acetyllactosamine sugar chains synthesis-related activity, a process for producing the polypeptide, DNA coding for the polypeptide, a process for producing the DNA, a recombinant vector having the DNA integrated therein, a transformant carrying the recombinant vector, an antibody recognizing the polypeptide, a process for producing poly-N-acetyllactosamine sugar chains by use of the DNA or the polypeptide, diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as inflammations, cancers etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase expressed by a gene cloned from animal cells, a cDNA coding for the &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase, a method of detecting, or suppressing the production of &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase by using the cDNA, a recombinant vector containing the DNA as an insert and cells harboring the recombinant vector as well as methods of preparing same. The &agr;-2,8-sialyltransferase of the invention is useful, for example, in the production of carbohydrate chains having a useful physiological activity, for example the ganglioside GD3, and modifications thereof.

Abstract: A capacitance type load sensor is provided with outer and inner tubes made of plastic and formed into a hollow circular cylinder shape and outer and inner electrodes respectively attached to the inner and outer peripheral faces of the outer and inner tubes. A coil spring is disposed within the interior space of the inner tube, and load-applied hooks of the coil spring are individually coupled to respective end walls of the outer and inner tubes. When a tensile load is applied to the hooks of the coil spring and hence the coil spring is elongated, a relative motion occurs between the outer and inner tubes so that the facing area between the outer and inner electrodes and accordingly the capacitance between these electrodes decrease. The load sensor measures the applied load based on an amount of change in the capacitance between before and after the application of the load.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weight sensor device for detecting a weight of an occupant seated on a seat having a seat frame and a cushion. The device has a sensing wire displaced downward in the seat frame as the cushion is deformed due to the weight of the occupant when the occupant is seated on the seat and a variable resistor for converting a displacement of the sensing wire into an electric signal indicative of the weight of the occupant.

Abstract: The present invention provides pharmaceutical preparations for anti-inflammation, anti-infection, inhibition of cancer metastasis etc., foods such as dairy products etc., and a method for improving proteins, as well as a method for diagnosis of inflammatory diseases and cancer malignancy. According to the present invention, there can be provided a polypeptide having poly-N-acetyllactosamine sugar chains synthesis-related activity, a process for producing the polypeptide, DNA coding for the polypeptide, a process for producing the DNA, a recombinant vector having the DNA integrated therein, a transformant carrying the recombinant vector, an antibody recognizing the polypeptide, a process for producing poly-N-acetyllactosamine sugar chains by use of the DNA or the polypeptide, diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as inflammations, cancers etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a sugar nucleotide, in which a) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing NTP from a nucleotide precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, and b) a culture broth of a microorganism capable of producing a sugar nucleotide from a sugar and NTP, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which the above-described a) and b) and c) a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, are used as enzyme sources; a process for producing a complex carbohydrate, in which a culture broth of a microorganism, an animal cell or an insect cell capable of producing a complex carbohydrate from a sugar nucleotide and a complex carbohydrate precursor, or a treated product of the culture broth, is as an enzyme sour

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a seat-occupant sensing device for a car seat such that a heater can be installed in the seat without deterioration of sitting comfort.