Abstract: A plasmid comprising a gene, which is reactive with dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to thereby be activated (hereinafter referred to as DRE gene), and a secretory marker protein expressing gene disposed understream of the DRE gene. Further, there is developed a transgenic cell having this plasmid introduced therein which when exposed to dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, secretes a secretory marker protein. Still further, there is developed a biosensor utilizing this transgenic cell.

Abstract: A plasmid comprising a gene, which is reactive with dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to thereby be activated (hereinafter referred to as DRE gene), and a secretory marker protein expressing gene disposed understream of the DRE gene. Further, there is developed a transgenic cell having this plasmid introduced therein which when exposed to dioxins and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, secrets a secretory marker protein. Still further, there is developed a biosensor utilizing this transgenic cell.

Abstract: A card-receiving device for receiving a card having a plurality of terminal electrodes at an end in the insertion direction includes a loading slot for the card, a plurality of connecting terminals respectively connected to the terminal electrodes of the card, a reference plane against which one surface of the card in the thickness direction is pressed, a height-adjusting section pressed against the other surface of the card in the thickness direction, and first biasing means for biasing the height-adjusting section toward the reference plane.

Abstract: A card-receiving device for receiving a card having a plurality of terminal electrodes at an end in the insertion direction includes a loading slot for the card, a plurality of connecting terminals respectively connected to the terminal electrodes of the card, a reference plane against which one surface of the card in the thickness direction is pressed, a height-adjusting section pressed against the other surface of the card in the thickness direction, and first biasing means for biasing the height-adjusting section toward the reference plane.

Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus comprises a heating device for heating a thermal treatment chamber, and a gas supplying device for supplying atmospheric gas to the thermal treatment chamber. A temperature measuring device measures temperature in the thermal treatment chamber, and a time measuring device measures a heat treatment time during which the heating device heats the thermal treatment chamber. A control device controls the heating conditions provided by the heating device and atmospheric gas supply conditions provided by the gas supplying device in coordinated relation to each other based on the temperature in the thermal treatment chamber measured by the temperature measuring device and the heat treatment time measured by the time measuring device. The thermal treatment chamber can therefore be controlled more accurately. The invention also pertains to a method for using the above-described thermal treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods that achieve i) site-directed delivery, ii) in situ amplification, and iii) sustained expression of an exogenous gene product within renal glomeruli. An exogenous gene, E. coli .beta.-galactosidase, was introduced into cultured rat mesangial cells using a replication-defective retrovirus, and stable infectants were administered to a rat kidney via the renal artery. In the injected kidney, the engineered, cultured mesangial cells populated 40% of glomeruli site-specifically. The gene product was detected throughout a 14-week period of observation. In an alternative method, engineered, cultured mesangial cells were injected into a kidney subjected to an antibody that induces mesangiolysis followed by mesangial regeneration. Under these conditions, expression of .beta.-galactosidase was dramatically amplified in situ and high level expression continued for at least 8 weeks.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods that achieve i) site-directed delivery, ii) in situ amplification, and iii) sustained expression of an exogenous gene product within renal glomeruli. An exogenous gene, E. coli .beta.-galactosidase, was introduced into cultured rat mesangial cells using a replication-defective retrovirus, and stable infectants were administered to a rat kidney via the renal artery. In the injected kidney, the engineered, cultured mesangial cells populated 40% of glomeruli site-specifically. The gene product was detected throughout a 14-week period of observation. In an alternative method, engineered, cultured mesangial cells were injected into a kidney subjected to an antibody that induces mesangiolysis followed by mesangial regeneration. Under these conditions, expression of .beta.-galactosidase was dramatically amplified in situ, and high level expression continued for at least 8 weeks.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods that achieve i) site-directed delivery, ii) in situ amplification, and iii) sustained expression of an exogenous gene product within renal glomeruli. An exogenous gene, E. coli .beta.-galactosidase, was introduced into cultured rat mesangial cells using a replication-defective retrovirus, and stable infectants were administered to a rat kidney via the renal artery. In the injected kidney, the engineered, cultured mesangial cells populated 40% of glomeruli site-specifically. The gene product was detected throughout a 14-week period of observation. In an alternative method, engineered, cultured mesangial cells were injected into a kidney subjected to an antibody that induces mesangiolysis followed by mesangial regeneration. Under these conditions, expression of .beta.-galactosidase was dramatically amplified in situ, and high level expression continued for at least 8 weeks.

Abstract: In a revolution detector of a drive motor of a disk drive, the rotor of the drive motor comprises a shell and a rotary magnet which is secured to the shell. A plurality of through holes of the detector, in which the rotary magnet is partially exposed, are provided at predetermined intervals in such positions of the shell as to give no influence to the magnetic circuit from which the output of the drive motor is derived, and the revolution characteristic of the drive motor is obtained by means of detecting the holes by a sensor in the detector, so that it becomes easier to manufacture the detector, and it is possible to detect the revolution of the drive motor with high accuracy without lowering the efficiency of the drive motor.