Abstract: A rhodopsin family protein is inserted into an etalon type cavity having partially reflecting mirrors as principal components having a reflectivity of 50% to less than 100% for light having a wavelength in the 650-800 nm region and a transmissivity of 30% or more for light having a wavelength in the 400-600 nm region to form a photo-controlled spatial modulator. By utilizing a change in the refractive index by light of the photo-sensitive protein, near infrared light of a stronger intensity can be controlled by weaker visible light, and the information contained in the light signal on a two-dimension plane can be rapidly controlled by a light signal of weaker intensity of another two-dimension plane by using an optical switch of a simple construction.

Abstract: A deflection device for use in a color cathode-ray tube, which has a pair of horizontal deflection coils for generating a pincushion-shaped horizontal deflection magnetic field, a pair of vertical deflection coils for generating a barrel-shaped vertical deflection magnetic field. The deflection device also having a pair of correction coils each of which being located at a distance of 10 mm or less from a plane containing the center and vertical axes of the device, a current flowing through each correction coil in synchronism with, and in a direction opposite to, the currents flowing in the horizontal deflection coils. The deflection device may also include a second pair of correcting coils, each of which being located adjacent to the first pair of correcting coils and arranged in a similar arrangement relative to the plane defined by the center and vertical axes.

Abstract: This invention relates to an efficient process for culturing recombinant cells which comprises a step of removing a cell proliferation inhibiting substance and/or a substance which inhibits induction of the desired product and a step of inducing production of the desired product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monoclonal antibody which binds to octopus rhodopsin and octopus metarhodopsin wherein said monoclonal antibody binds with higher affinity to metarhodopsin than to rhodopsin and does not inhibit rhodopsin-metarhodopsin interconversion upon exposure to blue or red light. The monoclonal antibody binds to a peptide having the sequence Val-Ile-Gly-Arg-Pro-Met-Ala-Ala-Ser-Lys-Lys-Met-Ser. The photochemical reaction of rhodopsin thin layers may be detected using the anti-rhodopsin monoclonal antibodies of the invention.

Abstract: Apertures in a definite shape having a definite width and length are provided on one surface of a plate material having a definite thickness. One end of the apertures is connected with the other surface of the plate material and at the same time, is opened. Another end of the apertures is connected with the plate material on one surface and is also opened toward the other surface of a culture substrate. The plate material is closely contacted to one surface of the culture substrate for allocating nerve cells and observing growth of the neurites. Then, the cell suspension is supplied to the apertures. The cells in the suspension are allocated on the culture substrate in response to the apertures by centrifugation or spontaneous sedimentation. The plate material is then withdrawn.

Abstract: Stable, long-term cultures of animal cells are accomplished by calculating the ratio of lactic acid formed by the cells to the glucose consumed by the cells (the L/G ratio) and controlling the cultivation conditions to maintain the L/G ratio between the limits of from greater than 0 to 0.6. When the ratio is outside the desired range, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the medium is increased and/or the glucose concentration in the medium is decreased.

Abstract: By culturing cells in an apparatus containing a first zone in which a cell suspended medium is present and a second zone in which liquid containing a physiological saline solution and/or nutrient sources is present, the first zone being separated from the second zone by a septum with characteristics, such as pores size or electrostatic charges, which impedes the cells from freely permeating through, while allowing at least one of nutrient sources, cell wastes or the product to move between the first zone and the second zone via the septum to proliferate cells in the first zone, wherein a flow rate via the septum is controlled in such a manner that the cell count moved from the first zone into the second zone via the septum does not exceed the cell count increased by cell growth in the first zone. Thus, cell culture at a high cell density can be achieved in a large scale.

Abstract: Cultivation of microorganisms or animal cells or plant cells is carried out to produce high density cultivation, high cell yield and high production of desired metabolite products by monitoring acetate concentration in culture broth and regulating assimilation of acetate in the culture broth by the microorganisms or animal cells or plant cells to control the acetate concentration to a set value or less. Preferably, an acetic acid-producing bacterium that is inhibited by acetic acid and is capable of assimilating acetic acid is cultured to produce biologically active substances such as enzymes. The bacterium may be a recombinant Escherichia coli and an inducer which acts on a promoter in an expression vector is added to produce the desired metabolite product. The inducer is 3-.beta.- indolylacrylic acid when the promoter is trp-promoter or isopropyl-.beta.-D-thiogalactoside when the promoter is lac-promoter or tacpromoter.

Abstract: A powered snowplow includes a snowplow body housing which houses at least a power source, a self-propelling mechanism supporting the snowplow body and drivable by the power source for propelling the snowplow, an auger mechanism mounted on a front portion of the snowplow body, the auger mechanism having a snow collecting auger, and a control mechanism mounted on a rear portion of the snowplow body. The control mechanism includes a first control lever operable for transmitting power from the power source to the self-propelling mechanism, a second control lever operable for transmitting power from the power source to the auger mechanism, an auger height adjusting handle disposed near the second control lever, for adjusting a height of the auger, and an interlink plate for keeping the second control lever operated in coaction with the first control lever when the first control lever is operated.