Abstract: In vitro 2-dimensional co-culture systems of LT-HSCs and osteoblastic niche cells and methods of establishing them are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods of screening people suffering from a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells, using said co-culture systems are described. In further aspects, methods for screening a candidate substance for treatment of a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells are provided. The present invention also concerns methods and therapeutic compositions of treating a patient suffering from a disorder caused by dysfunction of osteoblastic niche cells.

Abstract: There is provided a basic association unit for creating an information processing apparatus capable of performing information processing like information processing that actually occurs in central nerve systems of animals including human beings. The association unit is an unit for repeating input and output signals having m input terminals and n output terminals. When a first input signal which is a rectangular wave signal in the form of a pulse is simultaneously input to input terminals in a quantity less than m, an output signal having the same contents as the first input signal is output from particular output terminals which are associated with the input terminals in advance.

Abstract: An intestinal juice level regulator comprising, as the active ingredient, creosote or phenolic derivatives constituting creosote. As having the activities to promote the absorption of intestinal juices and/or to retard the secretion of intestinal juices, the active ingredient lowers the intestinal juice level in intestines. As the phenolic derivatives, usable are one or more of guaiacol, creosol, phenol, cresol and xylenol. The regulator is especially effective for retarding the hypersecretion of intestinal juices to be caused by heat-labile or heat-stable enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.