Abstract: The present application relates to a method for determining a risk of preterm birth and/or low birth weight of a pregnant female comprising measuring a galectin-3 (Gal-3) level in a blood, plasma, or serum sample obtained from the pregnant female, or a kit or marker which may be used in the method. The present application also relates to a medicament effective to reduce a risk of preterm birth and/or low birth weight, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the medicament, or a method for reducing a risk of preterm birth and/or low birth weight of a pregnant female comprising administering the medicament or the pharmaceutical composition to the pregnant female.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent which induces acceleration of hard tissue formation, acceleration of cell differentiation and increase in cellular alkaline phosphatase activity, by directly acting on the cell. Specifically, it provides a hard tissue formation promoter, a cell differentiation inducer and a cellular alkaline phosphatase activity reinforcing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a glycosaminoglycan or a salt thereof that keeps sulfate group and has the characteristics of the following (1) and (2): (1) a basic structure is a disaccharide repeating structure consisting of a hexuronic acid residue and a glucosamine residue, (2) one or less of the position among a 2-position hydroxyl group of a hexuronic acid residue, a 6-position hydroxyl group of a glucosamine residue and a 2-position amino group of the glucosamine residue in the basic structure of the aforementioned (1) does not have the sulfate group.

Abstract: An alcohol detection system for a vehicle has an alcohol sensor, for which alcohol measurement preparation processing such as heating the alcohol sensor to a predetermined temperature is performed, so that the alcohol sensor operates under the stable operation state. The alcohol measurement preparation processing is started, before a driver actually gets in the vehicle. For example, the preparation processing is started, when a predetermined manipulation of a driver on the vehicle before entering the vehicle is detected. The manipulation may be unlocking or opening of a vehicle door.

Abstract: In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, cracking of a resin member caused during cutting and defects in the external appearance are prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent which induces acceleration of hard tissue formation, acceleration of cell differentiation and increase in cellular alkaline phosphatase activity, by directly acting on the cell. Specifically, it provides a hard tissue formation promoter, a cell differentiation inducer and a cellular alkaline phosphatase activity reinforcing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a glycosaminoglycan or a salt thereof that keeps sulfate group and has the characteristics of the following (1) and (2): (1) a basic structure is a disaccharide repeating structure consisting of a hexuronic acid residue and a glucosamine residue, (2) one or less of the position among a 2-position hydroxyl group of a hexuronic acid residue, a 6-position hydroxyl group of a glucosamine residue and a 2-position amino group of the glucosamine residue in the basic structure of the aforementioned (1) does not have the sulfate group.

Abstract: Vias 7 penetrating a circuit substrate 2 or a seal ring 8 are provided on a part or the entire outer periphery of a molding semiconductor device 1 or in the cut region of the circuit substrate 2, so that adhesion between a substrate and a core 2C in the circuit substrate 2 is improved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the exfoliation of the circuit substrate 2, improving the yields.

Abstract: A peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 13, preferably a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 or a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 15 to 17, is used as an active ingredient of an agent for promoting growth or differentiation of cells such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, cementoblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Abstract: An alcohol detection system for a vehicle has an alcohol sensor, for which alcohol measurement preparation processing such as heating the alcohol sensor to a predetermined temperature is performed, so that the alcohol sensor operates under the stable operation state. The alcohol measurement preparation processing is started, before a driver actually gets in the vehicle. For example, the preparation processing is started, when a predetermined manipulation of a driver on the vehicle before entering the vehicle is detected. The manipulation may be unlocking or opening of a vehicle door.

Abstract: An isolated protein of (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2; (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence partially different from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 that is a substrate of M-period kinase and has nucleic acid-methylating activity suppressed by phosphorylation; (c) a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 that is phosphorylated by M-period kinase; or (d) a protein having an amino acid sequence partially different from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2 that is phosphorylated by M-period kinase.

Abstract: In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, cracking of a resin member caused during cutting and defects in the external appearance are prevented.

Abstract: A peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 13, preferably a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 or a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 15 to 17, is used as an active ingredient of an agent for promoting growth or differentiation of cells such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, cementoblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent which induces acceleration of hard tissue formation, acceleration of cell differentiation and increase in cellular alkaline phosphatase activity, by directly acting on the cell. Specifically, it provides a hard tissue formation promoter, a cell differentiation inducer and a cellular alkaline phosphatase activity reinforcing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a glycosaminoglycan or a salt thereof that keeps sulfate group and has the characteristics of the following (1) and (2): (1) a basic structure is a disaccharide repeating structure consisting of a hexuronic acid residue and a glucosamine residue, (2) one or less of the position among a 2-position hydroxyl group of a hexuronic acid residue, a 6-position hydroxyl group of a glucosamine residue and a 2-position amino group of the glucosamine residue in the basic structure of the aforementioned (1) does not have the sulfate group.

Abstract: Vias 7 penetrating a circuit substrate 2 or a seal ring 8 are provided on a part or the entire outer periphery of a molding semiconductor device 1 or in the cut region of the circuit substrate 2, so that adhesion between a substrate and a core 2C in the circuit substrate 2 is improved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the exfoliation of the circuit substrate 2, improving the yields.

Abstract: A peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 13, preferably a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 or a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 15 to 17, is used as an active ingredient of an agent for promoting growth or differentiation of cells such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, cementoblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Abstract: A electronic circuit device is provided with an electronic component provided with an electrode, a substrate having an upper surface on which the electronic component is mounted, external electrode that is formed near the electronic component mounted on the upper surface of the substrate and that is connected to the electrode, an insulating protrusion that is provided across the upper surface of the external electrode, and a sealing resin that seals the electronic component without covering the external electrode. The upper surface of the external electrode is partitioned by the protrusion into a first area that is located on the sealing resin side and a second area that is located the side opposite to the first area. The adherence of fine particles such as flakes of the sealing resin to the external electrode is suppressed, so that a stable electric connection between the external electrode and the electric equipment can be maintained.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip is mounted on a first surface of a substrate, the substrate having wiring formed on the first surface, so that a circuit formation surface of the semiconductor chip faces the first surface of the substrate and that electrodes provided on the circuit formation surface are connected with the wiring. A sealing resin layer is then formed on the first surface of the substrate to cover the semiconductor chip. The sealing resin layer and the semiconductor chip are ground starting from a surface opposite to the circuit formation surface to thin the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 13, preferably a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 or a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 15 to 17, is used as an active ingredient of an agent for promoting growth or differentiation of cells such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, cementoblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Abstract: An actuator, operated by being supplied with electric power, needs an initial setting for performing a desired operation by recognizing its starting position. The initial setting is conducted when an abnormality occurs in a signal which represents an operation of the actuator. The initial setting is also conducted when a system for the actuator recognizes a fact that a battery is electrically disconnected in association with information denoting a condition of the battery in a memory.

Abstract: In determining a starting point of a motor of an electric actuator during its initialization procedure, when a rotation angle sensor detects pulse signals in a certain initialization pattern, power supply to the motor is stopped by the control of a motor drive circuit. This electrical control of motor rotation enables the initialization procedure of the actuator to be carried out without using mechanical restriction means for locking purposes, and the influence of variations in the deflection amount of any stoppers is eliminated. The precision in determining the starting point in the initialization procedure is thus improved.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip is mounted on a first surface of a substrate, the substrate having wiring formed on the first surface, so that a circuit formation surface of the semiconductor chip faces the first surface of the substrate and that electrodes provided on the circuit formation surface are connected with the wiring. A sealing resin layer is then formed on the first surface of the substrate to cover the semiconductor chip. The sealing resin layer and the semiconductor chip are ground starting from a surface opposite to the circuit formation surface to thin the semiconductor chip.