Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system comprising a lentivirus vector particle which encodes at least one guide RNA sequence that is complementary to a first DNA sequence in a host cell genome, a Cas9 protein, and optionally a donor nucleic acid molecule comprising a second DNA sequence. The invention also is directed to a method of altering a DNA sequence in a host cell using such a system, where the host cell can be in a human and the altered DNA can be of the human ?-globin gene. The invention also is directed to a fusion protein comprising a Cas9 protein and a cyclophilin A (CypA) protein. The invention also is directed to sequences of vectors that can be used in the system and method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system comprising a lentivirus vector particle which encodes at least one guide RNA sequence that is complementary to a first DNA sequence in a host cell genome, a Cas9 protein, and optionally a donor nucleic acid molecule comprising a second DNA sequence. The invention also is directed to a method of altering a DNA sequence in a host cell using such a system, where the host cell can be in a human and the altered DNA can be of the human ?-globin gene. The invention also is directed to a fusion protein comprising a Cas9 protein and a cyclophilin A (CypA) protein. The invention also is directed to sequences of vectors that can be used in the system and method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The present invention can achieve the reliability and simplicity in registering a fingerprint by indicating the quality of a fingerprint image by the number of pseudo minutiae, improve the security of an entrance/exit control system to register a fingerprint, detect the direction of ridge lines of a fingerprint accurately as much as possible, improve the security in checking a fingerprint remarkably, collect renewed registered fingerprint data by a host device and hold the registered fingerprint data of each gate as the latest fingerprint data, improve the operability by enabling to use identification numbers having the less number of digits, and register a fingerprint having a high match rate by automatically applying spatial filtering in re-registering only.

Abstract: The present invention can achieve the reliability and simplicity in registering a fingerprint by indicating the quality of a fingerprint image by the number of pseudo minutiae, improve the security of an entrance/exit control system to register a fingerprint, detect the direction of ridge lines of a fingerprint accurately as much as possible, improve the security in checking a fingerprint remarkably, collect renewed registered fingerprint data by a host device and hold the registered fingerprint data of each gate as the latest fingerprint data, improve the operability by enabling to use identification numbers having the less number of digits, and register a fingerprint having a high match rate by automatically applying spatial filtering in re-registering only.

Abstract: A bearing structure for an auger-type ice making machine 10 includes an auger 17 having a helical blade 17a which rotates within a cylindrical refrigeration casing 11 so as to scrape off ice generated on the inner surface of the refrigeration casing 11 and push it up and out of the casing. A slide bearing 27 for supports an upper shaft section 17b of the auger 17 and a press head 25 is provided inside the upper end portion of the refrigeration casing 11 and which supports the slide bearing 27. Even if the upper shaft section 17b of the auger 17 and the press head 25 axially relatively move as a result of the scraping oil and feeding-out of the ice, substantially closed first and second foreign matter trapp spaces A and B are formed in close proximity to the lower and upper ends of the slide bearing. Further, a high-hardness metal layer 17f having a thickness, for example, of approximately 0.5 mm is formed on the surface of the upper shaft section 17b of the auger 17.

Abstract: A bearing structure for an auger-type ice making machine 10 includes: an auger 17 having a helical blade 17a which rotates within a cylindrical refrigeration casing 11 so as to scrape off ice generated on the inner surface of the refrigeration casing 11 and push it up and out of the casing; a slide bearing 27 for supporting an upper shaft section 17b of the auger17; and, a press head 25 which is provided inside the upper end portion of the refrigeration casing 11 and which supports the slide bearing 27, wherein even if the upper shaft section 17b of the auger 17 and the press head 25 make an axial relative movement as a result of the scraping off and feeding-out of the ice, substantially closed first and second foreign matter trapp spaces A and B are formed in close proximity to the lower and upper ends of the slide bearing. Further, a high-hardness metal layer 17f having a thickness, for example, of approximately 0.5 mm is formed on the surface of the upper shaft section 17b of the auger 17.

Abstract: An auger type ice making machine having an upright evaporator housing the interior of which is formed with a cylindrical freezing surface, an auger mounted for rotary movement within the evaporator housing and drivingly connected at its lower end with an electric motor to scrape ice crystals off the freezing surface and to advance the scraped ice crystals toward an upper end of the evaporator housing, an extrusion head fixed in place within the upper end portion of the evaporator housing to compress the scraped ice crystals advanced thereto by rotation of the auger and extrude the compressed ice crystals upwardly, a drain pipe provided with an electrically operated drain valve and connected to a lower end portion of the evaporator housing to discharge supplied water from the evaporator housing when the drain valve is opened by its energization and an electric heater mounted on an outer periphery of the evaporator housing at a place corresponding with the extrusion head, wherein the electric heater is energize

Abstract: When an upper limit float switch Fu is closed after a lower limit float switch Fl is closed according to a rise of the level of water in a water tank 60, a solenoid water valve WV is closed and power supply to an electric motor for driving an auger 40 and a compressor connected to an evaporator 30 is then allowed. When the lower limit float switch Fl is opened, the solenoid water valve WV is opened and power supply to the electric motor and compressor is cut off. When the lower limit float switch Fl is opened, a time set longer by a predetermined time than the time for the water level in the water tank 60 to reach the upper limit from the lower limit is measured. When the lower limit float switch Fl is kept open due to suspension of water supply, the solenoid water valve WV is closed in response to the completion of measurement of the time. This can suppress power consumption of the solenoid water valve WV.

Abstract: An auger type ice making machine having an evaporator housing vertically arranged above an ice storage bin, an auger mounted for rotary movement within the evaporator housing, an electric motor in drive connection with the auger, a compressor motor in drive connection with a compressor, an ice discharge duct provided on an upper end of the evaporator housing, an upstanding tubular delivery chute having an upper end connected to the discharge duct and a lower end in open communication into the storage bin, a movable detection plate provided within the upper end of the delivery chute to be moved by abutment with pieces of hard ice accumulated in the delivery chute, and an electric control apparatus for activating the motors when the detection plate is retained in an initial position and for deactivating the motors after lapse of a predetermined time when the detection plate has been moved from the initial position, the predetermined time being determined to be shorter than a time for which a space between the d

Abstract: An auger type ice making machine comprises an ice storage level detecting apparatus (5) including an ice storage level sensing plate (5a) disposed within an ice guide barrel (3) at a position opposing to an ice discharge port (2). A pair of guide plates (7) for guiding ice discharged from the ice discharged port toward a center portion of the ice storage level sensing plate are mounted on both side walls (3b) of the ice guide barrel (3) closely adjacent to the ice storage level sensing plate (5). By mounting the paired guide plates (7), gaps otherwise taking place between the ice storage level sensing plate (5) and the ice guide barrel (3) are closed to thereby prevent the ice from moving to the rear side of the ice storage level sensing plate by circumventing it. The ice storage level sensing plate is thus protected from being blocked.

Abstract: An electric control apparatus for an auger type ice making machine having an auger mounted for rotary movement within an evaporator housing to which water is supplied from a water tank to cause ice crystals to form on the internal freezing surface of the evaporator housing.

Abstract: An ice discharging apparatus of an ice dispenser comprises an openable door normally urged resiliently to a closed state by means of a torsion coil spring and adapted to be openable by a door actuator under the control of a control apparatus. The torsion coil spring includes an intermediate coil portion substantially of a cylindrical form and at least one end coil portion having an inner diameter greater than an average diameter of the intermediate coil portion in the unloaded state. The torsion coil spring has at least one arm extending from an end of the coil spring and having an extension secured in contact with a stationary part of the apparatus or a part of the openable door at an intermediate portion thereof and subsequently bent to constitute an inactive portion in which an annular mounting member for mounting the torsion coil spring is formed at the free end thereof.

Abstract: An ice dispenser apparatus includes an ice making mechanism (1) and, an ice storage box (5) for storing ice pieces produced by the ice making mechanism. When the ice pieces are dispensed a discharge port shutter (9) normally closing a discharge port (5c) provided in the ice storage box (5) at a lower portion thereof is opened by a discharge port shutter actuator (11). A transient storage chamber (13) is provided in communication with the discharge port (5c), the chamber having a normally closed aperture for transiently storing a predetermined amount of ice pieces discharged from the ice storage box (5) through the discharge port (5c) when the discharge port shutter (9) is opened. A transient storage chamber shutter (10) is provided in association with the transient storage chamber (13) and is adapted to be actuated by a transient storage chamber shutter actuator (12) for selectively opening or closing the aperture.

Abstract: A glass fiber for use in optical transmission which comprises a first layer containing an organopolysiloxane having a refractive index higher than that of the glass which forms the outermost layer of the glass fiber, a second layer comprising an organopolysiloxane which is the same or different than the organopolysiloxane in the first layer, and a thermoplastic resin coated on the second layer in a thickness less than about 100 microns.

Abstract: A reinforced glass fiber for use in optical transmission comprising an optical fiber coated with (1) a coating of a first curable organopolysiloxane composition having a refractive index higher than that of the clad glass which forms the outermost layer of the optical fiber, said first curable organopolysiloxane composition being baked, (2) a coating of a second curable organopolysiloxane composition which can be the same as or different from the first curable organopolysiloxane composition, the second curable organopolysiloxane composition being provided on the first curable organopolysiloxane composition and being baked, and (3) optionally a coating of a thermoplastic resin composition.

Abstract: Input and output devices for an optical fiber include an acoustic transducer for generating a planar acoustic wave tilted at an angle with respect to the axis of an optical fiber embraced by a quartz block. The gap between the optical fiber and the quartz block is filled with a liquid, such as water, to obtain acoustic impedance matching. A desired mode of propagating light can be extracted from the fiber or injected therein by reflection under Bragg's condition through a glass block and optical system without cutting or damaging the optical fiber.