Abstract: A cold insulation container includes: a cold insulation storage including a coolant vessel; a circulating air fan that causes cold air from the coolant vessel to circulate in the cold insulation storage; a thermoelectric generating module attached to an outer surface of the coolant vessel; and a temperature controller that adjusts a temperature in the cold insulation storage. A temperature difference between the coolant vessel and circulating cold air in the cold insulation storage causes the temperature controller and the circulating air fan to be driven by thermoelectric power generated by the thermoelectric generating module.

Abstract: There is provided a mutant KLF protein that can induce reprogramming of a somatic cell at a higher efficiency than a KLF protein having a natural amino acid sequence. There is also provided a method for efficiently producing an iPS cell by using the mutant KLF protein. There is provided a mutant KLF protein having an amino acid substitution, or a peptide fragment thereof containing the amino acid substitution.

Abstract: A cold insulation container includes: a cold insulation storage including a coolant vessel; a circulating air fan that causes cold air from the coolant vessel to circulate in the cold insulation storage; a thermoelectric generating module attached to an outer surface of the coolant vessel; and a temperature controller that adjusts a temperature in the cold insulation storage. A temperature difference between the coolant vessel and circulating cold air in the cold insulation storage causes the temperature controller and the circulating air fan to be driven by thermoelectric power generated by the thermoelectric generating module.

Abstract: A cold storage heat exchanger includes: a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed at intervals, each of the refrigerant tubes including a refrigerant passage that allows a refrigerant to flow therethrough; a cold storage material adjacent to the refrigerant tubes; and a heat transfer suppressor that suppresses heat transfer from the refrigerant tubes to the cold storage material in an overheated area of the refrigerant formed in the refrigerant passage.

Abstract: A cold storage heat exchanger includes: a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed at intervals, each of the refrigerant tubes including a refrigerant passage that allows a refrigerant to flow therethrough; a cold storage material adjacent to the refrigerant tubes; and a heat transfer suppressor that suppresses heat transfer from the refrigerant tubes to the cold storage material in an overheated area of the refrigerant formed in the refrigerant passage.

Abstract: A reprogramming gene-loaded Sendai viral vector comprising Sendai virus genes and reprogramming genes, wherein the Sendai virus genes include an NP gene, P/C gene, M gene, F gene, HN gene and L gene, wherein each of the M gene, the F gene and the FIN gene is from a Sendai virus strain Cl.151-derived gene and wherein at least one of the M gene, the F gene and the HN gene is functionally deleted and the L gene encodes the amino-acid sequence of the L protein in which the amino-acid residue at position 1618 is valine and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: A persistently infective virus vector is produced by using a gene so modified as to encode an amino acid sequence including a valine substituted for an amino acid residue at position-1618 in the amino acid sequence for an L protein of a persistently non-infective Sendai virus. A non-transmissible, persistently infective virus vector is also produced by defecting or deleting at least one of M gene, F gene, and HN gene. These virus vectors have no cytotoxicity, can achieve the sustained gene expression over a long period of time, is safe, and is therefore useful.

Abstract: Stem cell reprogramming genes cloned into a single sustained expression-type Sendai viral vector are shown to reprogram differentiated somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells without integration of vector sequences into the host cell's genome. The genes are transduced into normal differentiated somatic cells via infection with recombinant Sendai virus. After expression of the reprogramming genes and subsequent induction of pluripotency, the vector genome RNA including the reprogramming genes is removed from the cell to establish an iPS cell that is genetically identical to the parent somatic differentiated cell thus reducing the risk of tumorigenic transformation caused by random integration of vector sequences into the host genome. The method promises to provide safe, autologous iPS cells that can be used for human cell replacement and regeneration therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A reprogramming gene-loaded Sendai viral vector comprising Sendai virus genes and reprogramming genes, wherein the Sendai virus genes include an NP gene, P/C gene, M gene, F gene, HN gene and L gene, wherein each of the M gene, the F gene and the FIN gene is from a Sendai virus strain Cl.151-derived gene and wherein at least one of the M gene, the F gene and the HN gene is functionally deleted and the L gene encodes the amino-acid sequence of the L protein in which the amino-acid residue at position 1618 is valine and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting wireless channel status from acoustic discrimination of spectral content are described. In one aspect, a wireless system includes a spectrum analyzer, a detector, and a controller. The spectrum analyzer is operable to acoustically discriminate spectral content of an input electrical signal in multiple discrete frequency channels. The detector is operable to determine respective statuses of the frequency channels from the acoustically discriminated spectral content. The controller is operable to select one of the frequency channels based on the determined statuses of the frequency channels.

Abstract: A current collector sheet for an electrode of an electrochemical device has a conductive area and an insulating area on the surface thereof. Examples of the current collector sheet includes: a current collector sheet including an insulating sheet, wherein the conductive area has a conductive layer formed on the surface of the insulating sheet, and the insulating area has an exposed portion of the insulating sheet; a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet, wherein the insulating area has an insulating layer formed on the surface of the conductive sheet, and the conductive area has an exposed portion of the conductive sheet; and a current collector sheet including a conductive sheet portion and an insulating sheet portion positioned flush with each other, wherein the conductive area has a surface of the conductive sheet portion, and the insulating area has a surface of the insulating sheet portion.

Abstract: Stem cell reprogramming genes cloned into a single sustained expression-type Sendai viral vector are shown to reprogram differentiated somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells without integration of vector sequences into the host cell's genome. The genes are transduced into normal differentiated somatic cells via infection with recombinant Sendai virus. After expression of the reprogramming genes and subsequent induction of pluripotency, the vector genome RNA including the reprogramming genes is removed from the cell to establish an iPS cell that is genetically identical to the parent somatic differentiated cell thus reducing the risk of tumorigenic transformation caused by random integration of vector sequences into the host genome. The method promises to provide safe, autologous iPS cells that can be used for human cell replacement and regeneration therapeutic applications.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly. The electrode plate assembly includes (a) at least one first electrode, (b) at least one second electrode, and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first current collector sheet and at least one first electrode mixture layer carried thereon. The second electrode includes a second current collector sheet and at least one second electrode mixture layer carried thereon. At least one of the first current collector sheet and the second current collector sheet has a conductive area and an insulating area.

Abstract: A persistently infective virus vector is produced by using a gene so modified as to encode an amino acid sequence including a valine substituted for an amino acid residue at position-1618 in the amino acid sequence for an L protein of a persistently non-infective Sendai virus. A non-transmissible, persistently infective virus vector is also produced by defecting or deleting at least one of M gene, F gene, and HN gene. These virus vectors have no cytotoxicity, can achieve the sustained gene expression over a long period of time, is safe, and is therefore useful.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having an electrode plate assembly that includes: (a) at least one first electrode; (b) at least one second electrode; and (c) a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrode plate assembly including a PTC device. The use of the electrochemical device according to this invention makes it possible to efficiently manufacture secondary batteries with a simple structure, a high reliability and a high electrical capacity.

Abstract: In one aspect, a data communication system includes a modulator, an integrated acoustic data coupler, and a demodulator. The modulator modulates a carrier signal having a frequency in an operating frequency range in response to an input data signal and provides the modulated carrier signal at a modulator output. The integrated acoustic data coupler includes an acoustically resonant structure that has one or more acoustic resonant frequencies in the operating frequency range. The acoustically resonant structure includes a first thin film electro-acoustic transducer electrically coupled to the modulator output, a second thin film electro-acoustic transducer, and a substrate. The substrate supports, acoustically couples, and provides an electrical isolation barrier between the first and second thin film electro-acoustic transducers.

Abstract: A method and a system for displaying images are provided. In the method, a pixel is provided that includes a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material. A first electric field is momentarily applied to the pixel to electrically polarize the ferroelectric layer to a first polarization. The first polarization is then used to maintain the liquid crystal material in a first orientation corresponding to a first apparent brightness of the pixel.

Abstract: An overhead running vehicle 10 uses an absolute position sensor or an encoder to detect its own position. The overhead running vehicle 10 then reports its own position and state to a system controller 14 via a communication line also used as an electricity feeding line. Further, the overhead running vehicle 10 intercepts reports from other overhead running vehicles 10 to avoid collisions or deadlocks. The system controller 14 and each overhead running vehicle 10 can determine the positions and state of other overhead running vehicles 10. This enables the system to be efficiently operated.

Abstract: Apparatus, packaging, and methods of manufacture of an integrated circuit are provided. The integrated circuit includes a component of a first type fabricated on a first substrate containing a first material, and a component of a second type fabricated on a second substrate containing a second material. The first material has better compatibility than the second material with fabrication and/or performance of the component of the first type, while the second material has better compatibility than the first material with fabrication and/or performance of the component of the second type. Also described, is a method of making the above-mentioned integrated circuit, the method including, among other steps, the step of disposing the first and second substrates opposite one another, and the step of establishing an electrical connection between the components.

Abstract: The differential drive circuit generates a differential drive signal having a root mean square value defined by a digital input value. The differential drive signal includes a first differential component and a second differential component. The circuit comprises a first differential component generator and a second differential component generator. The first differential component generator is for counting the clock signal to generate successive values of a periodic count. Each of the values includes a most-significant bit. The first differential component generator is additionally for generating the first differential component in response to successive ones of the most-significant bit of the count. The second differential component generator is for generating the second differential component in response to the digital input value and the successive values of the count.