Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing primary heart muscle cells, characterized by washing a fine fragmented heart tissue with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline to thereby eliminate non-heart muscle cells and then hemolyzing the heart tissue digested with a protease to thereby eliminate erythrocytes. According to this method, highly pure primary heart muscle cells can be conveniently obtained in a large amount from the heart of an animal embryo or newborn. By using the heart muscle thus prepared, apoptosis of heart muscle cells can be efficiently and highly sensitively detected. Thus, it is possible to efficiently screen candidate compounds for heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, gp 130-mediated receptor agonists, heart muscle cell-protective signal enhancers, preventives and remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel protein and a DNA encoding the same. A compound or a salt thereof controlling an activity of the protein, and a neutralizing antibody controlling the activity of the protein are useful as, for example, a preventive and therapeutic drug for heart diseases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper support unit for supporting paper carried by a paper carrying unit and an image forming unit for forming an image on the paper, the support unit having a plural grooves formed in its paper support surface along the paper carrying direction and a plural suction holes formed in the groove, and positions of the suction holes in two adjacent grooves being staggered in the paper carrying direction. Alternatively, the support unit includes a first surface portion on which both ends of the paper in the paper widthwise direction are slid and a second surface portion on which an intermediate portion of the paper between the both ends is slid, a length of a paper sliding surface of the first surface portion along the paper carrying direction is set longer than that of the second surface portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel disease-associated gene and use of the protein thereof, etc. Specifically, the invention provides: (1) a screening method and a screening kit using the protein and a salt thereof; (2) a compound or a salt thereof controlling an activity of the protein, obtained by the screening method and the screening kit; (3) a neutralizing antibody regulating the activity of the protein; and (4) a medicine such as a preventive and a remedy for a heart disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing primary heart muscle cells, characterized by washing a fine fragmented heart tissue with a phosphate-buffered physiological saline to thereby eliminate non-heart muscle cells and then hemolyzing the heart tissue digested with a protease to thereby eliminate erythrocytes. According to this method, highly pure primary heart muscle cells can be conveniently obtained in a large amount from the heart of an animal embryo or newborn. By using the heart muscle thus prepared, apoptosis of heart muscle cells can be efficiently and highly sensitively detected. Thus, it is possible to efficiently screen candidate compounds for heart muscle cell apoptosis inhibitors, gp 130-mediated receptor agonists, heart muscle cell-protective signal enhancers, preventives and remedies for heart diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening a drug by using a disease-associated gene product, an antibody to the disease-associated gene product, an antisense DNA that suppresses the expression of the disease-associated gene, etc.

Abstract: A second ink bottle is detachably attached to a bottle holder of an ink jet printer, and lower than a first ink bottle including an outflow port connected to an inflow port of the bottle holder when the ink bottle is attached to the bottle holder. The second ink bottle includes a main body having bottom and upper surfaces, in which ink is contained, a joint portion disposed on an upper portion of the main body and having an outflow port connectable to the inflow port, and a spacer detachably attached to a lower side of the main body. A height of the outflow port of the second ink bottle to a bottom surface of the spacer equals that of the outflow port of the ink bottle to a bottom surface of the first ink bottle, when the spacer is attached to the main body.

Abstract: A heat-transfer laminating sheet according to the present invention includes a laminating sheet and a backup sheet both of which are shaped like a cut sheet. The laminating sheet has a separate sheet and a heat-sensitive adhesive resin layer which is provided on the separate sheet and can be separated from the separate sheet. The backup sheet as large as the laminating sheet, at a minimum size, is arranged so as to be opposed to the heat-sensitive adhesive resin layer of the laminating sheet. The laminating sheet and the backup sheet has a bonded part at which they are bonded to each other and a separate part other than the bonded part.

Abstract: A second ink bottle is detachably attached to a bottle holder of an ink jet printer, and lower than a first ink bottle including an outflow port connected to an inflow port of the bottle holder when the ink bottle is attached to the bottle holder. The second ink bottle includes a main body having bottom and upper surfaces, in which ink is contained, a joint portion disposed on an upper portion of the main body and having an outflow port connectable to the inflow port, and a spacer detachably attached to a lower side of the main body. A height of the outflow port of the second ink bottle to a bottom surface of the spacer equals that of the outflow port of the ink bottle to a bottom surface of the first ink bottle, when the spacer is attached to the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a paper support unit for supporting paper carried by a paper carrying unit and an image forming unit for forming an image on the paper, the support unit having a plural grooves formed in its paper support surface along the paper carrying direction and a plural suction holes formed in the groove, and positions of the suction holes in two adjacent grooves being staggered in the paper carrying direction. Alternatively, the support unit includes a first surface portion on which both ends of the paper in the paper widthwise direction are slid and a second surface portion on which an intermediate portion of the paper between the both ends is slid, a length of a paper sliding surface of the first surface portion along the paper carrying direction is set longer than that of the second surface portion.

Abstract: A cysteine-free peptide is produced by producing a fused protein comprising a protein having cysteine at its N-terminal and a cysteine-free peptide ligated to the N-terminal and subsequently subjecting the fused protein to a reaction for cleaving the peptide linkage.

Abstract: A cysteine-free peptide is produced by producing a fused protein comprising a protein having cysteine at its N-terminal and a cysteine-free peptide ligated to the N-terminal and subsequently subjecting the fused protein to a reaction for cleaving the peptide linkage.

Abstract: A system for the cyclic operation of self-running objects in a circular network of guide means including at least two working stages, each having a plurality of working zones. The individual working zone of one stage differs in working capacities from the respective working zone of the succeeding stage, which comprises feeding of the self-running objects one after another along the guide means to the respective working zones according to requests for the objects from the respective working zones and pooling of the objects after completion of working operations at the respective working zones for further feeding of the objects to a succeeding working stage. With this system, a plurality of working stages can be systematically connected to carry out the working operations effectively and successively, eliminating waste and redundancy in time and working equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a cigarette tray transporting vehicle using a feeding apparatus comprising means for coupling cigarette tray transporting vehicle to said feeding apparatus and releasing the same from said feeding apparatus is provided. With this method, it is possible to automatically guide and set a succeeding cigarette tray transporting vehicle to the feeding apparatus while a preceding cigarette tray transporting vehicle is set to the feeding apparatus, thereby reducing the amount of labor required.

Abstract: An apparatus for recharging a storage battery employed in a self-running vehicle, for example, a cart, a carrier or the like for transporting loads. The recharging is carried out without interrupting the loading, unloading or transporting work. A plug means and a socket means are securely connected by some specific means and never disconnected from each other during the recharging process. According to the present invention, there can be obtained a high recharging effect and elimination of loss of time.