Abstract: An electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an arithmetic device such as a microcomputer having a watchdog timer circuit, and a runaway monitoring circuit which monitors the arithmetic device for an operational failure by receiving a pulse output from the arithmetic device, in which the watchdog timer circuit or the runaway monitoring circuit detects occurrence of a failure of the arithmetic device according to the state (high level or low level) of an indication signal (wakeup signal) which shows the operational state of the arithmetic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-human animal embryonic stem cells in which a lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like lysophospholipase endogenous gene is inactivated; non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene; methods of screening for prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug using the cells or the animals; and prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug obtainable by the screening. The non-human animal ES cells of the invention in which their LLPL gene is inactivated are very useful in creating non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene. The LLPL expression deficient non-human animals of the invention can be disease models for such diseases caused by insufficiency of the biological activities of LLPL since the animals lack various biological activities inducible by LLPL.

Abstract: An electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an arithmetic device such as a microcomputer having a watchdog timer circuit, and a runaway monitoring circuit which monitors the arithmetic device for an operational failure by receiving a pulse output from the arithmetic device, in which the watchdog timer circuit or the runaway monitoring circuit detects occurrence of a failure of the arithmetic device according to the state (high level or low level) of an indication signal (wakeup signal) which shows the operational state of the arithmetic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel SSD (sterol-sensing domain)-containing protein derived from human liver, human testis and human brain, or a salt thereof, and a DNA encoding the same. Studies on the tissue-specificity of the protein expression, the expression change depending the intracellular cholesterol level, production of the transformant, and the site-specific expression in brain regions of a patient with Alzheimer's disease are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-human animal embryonic stem cells in which a lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like lysophospholipase endogenous gene is inactivated; non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene; methods of screening for prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug using the cells or the animals; and prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug obtainable by the screening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel SSD(sterol-sensing domain)-containing protein derived from human liver, human testis and human brain, or a salt thereof, and a DNA encoding the same. Studies on the tissue-specificity of the protein expression, the expression change depending the intracellular cholesterol level, production of the transformant, and the site-specific expression in brain regions of a patient with Alzheimer's disease are disclosed.