Abstract: The present invention provides a mammalian immortalized liver cell obtained by transferring a cell proliferation factor gene located between a pair of site-specific recombination sequences into a mammalian liver cell.

Abstract: With respect to a method for differentially inducing embryo-stem cells into hepatocytes, in order to obtain safe hepatocytes that are adequately functionable and able to supply in large quantity, a method for differentially inducing embryo-stem cell into hepatocyte, wherein the embryo-stem cells are cultured in the presence of deletion type hepatocyte growth factor is provided. Further, a method for differentially inducing embryo-stem cells into hepatocytes comprising (a) a step of forming the embryoid body of the embryo-stem cells and (b) a step of culturing the embryoid body in the presence of deletion type hepatocyte growth factor is provided.

Abstract: A chlorine-containing resin composition for covering an electric wire of the present invention, has a heat stability of not less than 240 minutes and a volume resistivity of 5.0×1013 to 1.0×1016 ?·cm when measured according to JIS K6723, and comprises: 100 parts by weight of a chlorine-containing resin, and 1.5 to 10 parts by weight of Mg—Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles having a composition represented by the formula: [MgxCay].Alz.(OH)2.An?p.mH2O ?wherein 0.2?z/(x+z)?0.6; 0.01?y/(x+z)?0.20; x+y+z=1; p=(2(x+y?1)+3z)/n; A is a n-valent anion; and m is more than 0 and not more than 0.75, having a plate surface diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 ?m and a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 ?m, and containing calcium at a molar ratio of Ca to a sum of Mg and Al of 0.01:1 to 0.20:1, and having a heat-resisting time of not less than 4 hours upon a chlorine-containing resin composition containing the Mg—Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles.

Abstract: A chlorine-containing resin composition for covering an electric wire of the present invention, has a heat stability of not less than 240 minutes and a volume resistivity of 5.0?1013 to 1.0×1016 ?·cm when measured according to JIS K6723, and comprises: 100 parts by weight of a chlorine-containing resin, and 1.5 to 10 parts by weight of Mg—Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles having a composition represented by the formula: [MgxCay]·Alz·(OH)2·An?p·mH2O wherein 0.2?z/(x+z)?0.6; 0.01?y/(x+z)?0.20; x+y+z=1; p=(2(x+y?1)+3z)/n; A is a n-valent anion; and m is more than 0 and not more than 0.75, having a plate surface diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 ?m and a thickness of 0.02 to 0.08 ?m, and containing calcium at a molar ratio of Ca to a sum of Mg and Al of 0.01:1 to 0.20:1, and having a heat-resisting time of not less than 4 hours upon a chlorine-containing resin composition containing the Mg—Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles.

Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.

Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell line which can be substituted for ? cells in human mature pancreatic islets and express insulin in a glucose-concentration dependent manner, and enables the easy obtainment of the number of cells which meets the demand. The present invention also provides a therapeutical cell preparation for treating diabetes. The cell lines of the present invention can be obtained by integrating both a nucleotide sequence encoding tamoxifen-induced Cre recombinase and a nucleotide sequence encoding insulin regulated by glucose-sensitive promoter into the chromosome in a human immortalized hepatic cell line FERM BP-7498 containing the TERT gene inserted in between a pair of LoxP sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for removing a metal carbonyl which comprises a nickel-containing catalyst component and copper, said copper being present in an amount of 0.001 to 250% by weight in terms of metallic copper on the basis of a weight of the nickel contained in the catalyst component. The catalyst may further contain, if required, zinc oxide, a clay mineral, or a clay mineral supporting at least one element having an average particle diameter of not more than 50 nm which is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, platinum, gold, silver, palladium, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, zinc, vanadium and manganese. When using the catalyst, it is possible to produce a mixed reformed gas from hydrocarbons, and remove a metal carbonyl in a reforming reaction field.

Abstract: Hepatocyte cells that are reversibly immortalized and grown in culture, which are functional and safe for use in transplantation, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for immortalizing primary hepatocytes, expanding the population of immortalized hepatocytes in culture, then reversing the immortalization to produce hepatocytes that are functional and safe for use in transplantation.

Abstract: Mg-Zn-Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles comprise core particles composed of Mg-Al-based hydrotalcite and an Mg-Zn-Al-based hydrotalcite layer formed on the surface of the core particle, and have an average plate surface diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 ?m and a refractive index being adjustable to a required value in the range of 1.48 to 1.56; and a resin composition contains the Mg-Zn-Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles. The Mg-Zn-Al-based hydrotalcite-type particles can exhibit a large plate surface diameter and an appropriate thickness whose refractive index is adjustable to various values, and the resin composition can show not only higher resin stability and functional properties, but also an excellent transparency as compared to those using conventional hydrotalcite-type particles.

Abstract: A secondary battery exhibiting a long cycle life and comprising a negative pole activating material made of lithium or zinc is provided. The battery at least having a negative pole made of lithium or zinc serving as the negative pole activating material, an electrolyte (electrolytic solution), a separator, a positive pole made of a positive pole activating material, a collecting electrode and a battery case, wherein at least the surface of the negative pole is covered with a film having a structure which allows ions relating to the battery reactions to pass through. Since growth of dendrites of lithium or zinc at the time of charge can be prevented, short circuiting between the negative pole and the positive pole can be prevented. Therefore, the charge/discharge cycle life can significantly be lengthened.

Abstract: A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery, a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, and a method of manufacturing a rechargeable lithium battery. The separator includes a separating substrate; and an antistatic agent coated on the separating substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous carrier for steam-reforming catalysts which is composed of a composite oxide containing at least aluminum and magnesium, and has a BET specific surface area of 10 to 300 m2/g, an average pore diameter of not more than 300 ? and a pore volume of not less than 0.1 cm3/g. The catalyst obtained by supporting an active metal thereon, can be suitably used as a catalyst for steam-reforming a hydrocarbon raw material having a total sulfur content of not more than 50 ppm. The present invention provide a carrier which can be industrially mass-produced and can exhibit an excellent sulfur-poisoning resistance. Further, the catalyst using the porous carrier is very useful for producing a mixed gas of a C1 component and hydrogen by subjecting a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon to a steam-reforming reaction.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided hydrotalcite-based compound particles surface-treated with an organic compound having not less than 3 carbon atoms, have a specific surface area of 5 to 150 m2/g, wherein a conceptual value x corresponding to micropores and ultramicropores, and a conceptual value y corresponding to volumes of macropores and micropores, both calculated from a water vapor adsorption curve thereof when exposed to a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 50% for 250 hours, are respectively within specific ranges. The hydrotalcite-based compound particles of the present invention are capable of capturing even a very small amount of halogens contained in various resins, and exhibiting an excellent effect of preventing deterioration of the resins.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery according to the present invention includes a positive electrode including a positive active material being capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium; a negative electrode including a negative active material being capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes a lithium-containing metal compound that is inactive for water, and can intercalate lithium during at least discharge. The rechargeable lithium battery has an irreversible capacity during a first charge and discharge, and has no problems such dendrite, electrolyte decomposition, or dissolution of a negative current collector.

Abstract: A reversibly immortalized human pancreatic islet cell line containing an hTERT gene and an SV40T gene each interposed between a pair of LoxP sequences, characterized in that it is capable of producing insulin and enhancing expression of insulin after excising the hTERT gene and the SV40T gene, in particular, NAKT-13 (deposited with International Patent Organism Depository, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, address: AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1, Higashi 1-Chome, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566 Japan, deposited date: Sep. 4, 2003, accession number: FERM BP-08461) or a passage cell line thereof; a human pancreatic islet cell obtained by excising the hTERT gene and the SV40T gene from the reversibly immortalized human pancreatic islet cell line or passage cell line thereof; and use of these cells. By using the reversibly immortalized human pancreatic islet cell line of the invention insulin-producing cells can be easily and surely obtained in a number enough to meet the demand.

Abstract: A catalyst for decomposition of hydrocarbons, comprises porous oxide particles containing magnesium and aluminum, and fine metallic nickel particles which are present in the vicinity of surface of the respective porous oxide particles, and have an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 nm, said catalyst having a nickel content of 0.15 to 12% by weight based on the weight of the catalyst and a molar ratio of nickel to a sum of magnesium, nickel and aluminum of 0.001 to 0.12 in which a molar ratio of magnesium to aluminum (Mg:Al) is 4:1 to 1.5:1. The catalyst for decomposition of hydrocarbons, is capable of maintaining as small a particle size of metallic nickel particles as not more than 10 nm at a considerably reduced nickel content, and exhibits an excellent anti-coking property even under a low steam atmosphere.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-decomposing catalyst composed of magnesium, aluminum and nickel as constitutional elements, containing 0.001 to 20% silicon and 0.1 to 40% nickel based on the weight of the catalyst. Also included is a hydrocarbon-decomposing catalyst with a porous carrier and a catalytically active metal in the form of fine metallic nickel particles carried on the carrier. The porous carrier contains magnesium and aluminum as constitutional elements and contains silicon in an amount of 0.001 to 20%. The catalysts are used to decompose hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A catalyst for reacting hydrocarbon with steam according to the present invention, has a specific surface area of 40 to 300 m2/g, and comprises: a porous composite oxide carrier containing magnesium and aluminum; and nickel metal in the form of fine particles carried on the porous composite oxide carrier, and having a magnesium content of 5 to 55% by weight, calculated as Mg, based on the weight of the catalyst, an aluminum content of 5 to 35% by weight, calculated as Al, based on the weight of the catalyst, a nickel content of 1.2 to 60% by weight, calculated as Ni, based on the weight of the catalyst, and a total amount of magnesium, aluminum and nickel of 50 to 85% by weight, calculated as a sum of Mg, Al and Ni, based on the weight of the catalyst, the fine nickel metal particles having an average particle diameter of not more than 10 nm.

Abstract: An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 ?m?R<0.5 ?m. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.