Abstract: The present inventors discovered that knockout mice whose S1-5 gene function is lost develop age-related diseases or symptoms. In such knockout mice, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and bone strength were found to be decreased, and the number of osteoclasts in bone tissues was found to be increased. Analysis of osteoclast-forming ability using bone marrow cells derived from the knockout mice revealed that osteoclast-forming ability is enhanced and osteoclasts are larger in the knockout mice than in wildtype mice. When purified S1-5 protein was added to this in vitro system, osteoclast-forming ability was inhibited. Furthermore, administration of purified S1-5 protein to osteoporotic model mice showed that this protein has the effect of improving osteoporosis. The above findings demonstrate that S1-5 protein is useful for treating and preventing age-related diseases such as osteoporosis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel protein called Synoviolin and a gene that encodes it. This protein is expressed specifically by synovial tissue and also accompanies the presence of an auto-antibody that recognizes this protein in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The protein according to the present invention and its antibody can be expected to be used as specific diagnostic markers for RA. In addition, the gene or protein according to the present invention may be used to permit the screening of drugs to treat RA. Moreover, the present invention provides synoviolin gene transgenic animals. The transgenic animals according to the present invention can be used as RA model animals in the development of pharmaceuticals to treat RA.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that knockout mice whose S1-5 gene function is lost develop age-related diseases or symptoms. Histological analysis in such knockout mice revealed that bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and bone strength were decreased, and the number of osteoclasts in bone tissues was increased. Analysis of osteoclast-forming ability using bone marrow cells derived from the knockout mice revealed that osteoclast-forming ability is enhanced and osteoclasts are larger in the knockout mice than in wildtype mice. When purified S1-5 protein was added to this in vitro system, osteoclast-forming ability was inhibited.

Abstract: Annular reflecting rings are removably mounted on the upper and lower sides of a chamber side portion of a chamber. An annular recessed portion is formed sandwiched between the lower end face of the upper reflecting ring and the upper end face of the lower reflecting ring to surround a holding part for holding a semiconductor wafer. The outer peripheral surface of the recessed portion communicates with a transport opening. The formation of the recessed portion prevents the light emitted from halogen lamps and flash lamps from being non-uniformly reflected around the holding part to enter a semiconductor wafer, thus improving the uniformity of the in-plane temperature distribution in the semiconductor wafer during heat treatment.

Abstract: A micro lens array has a translucent substrate of glass or the like and convex lenses formed on a principal surface of the substrate. Guide pin insertion holes are formed through the substrate 30 on opposite sides of a line of lenses. A metal layer 38 with at least three metal projections is formed only in an inner wall section of each of the holes by a plating process so as to gradually increase an opening size of the hole at higher positions. The inner wall section has a depth of about 50 to 100 ?m from the opening end on the guide pin insertion side. The metal layer may be omitted. Instead of the metal projections, a metal layer forming the hole having a polygonal shape may be used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroviral vector containing a membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. The present inventors constructed a retroviral vector pseudotyped by the membrane protein having a hemagglutinin activity. This viral vector showed gene transfer at a high efficiency into host cells. In particular, it was established that genes can be transferred thereby at a high efficiency into cells into which genes can hardly be transferred by the conventional techniques, for example, blood cells and hematopoietic cells including hematopoietic stem cells, and mucous cells including mucosa epithelial cells. The viral vector of the present invention is highly useful as a vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: Pluralities of lens parts 20, 22 are formed on a lens substrate 16 by dry-etching. The lens parts 20 and 22 have same structures, and the lens part 20 includes toroidal lens surfaces S1 and S2 opposing to each other on one principal surface and another principal surface of the substrate 16. Assuming that a cross section in a y-axis direction of a laser beam emitted from a laser active layer in a z-axis direction is long and narrow in an x-axis direction, the lens surface S2 is formed to have a radius of curvature R21 in the x-axis direction smaller than a radius of curvature R22 in the y-axis direction, and the lens surface S1 is formed to have a radius of curvature R11 in the x-axis direction smaller than a radius of curvature R12 in the y-axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a decoy nucleic acid for the Synoviolin gene promoter. Also provided is the decoy nucleic acid can inhibit the promoter activity by binding to the transcription factor of the Synoviolin gene promoter. It also provides a decoy nucleic acid as expressed in (a) a decoy nucleic acid consisting of a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12; and it also provides (b) a decoy nucleic acid consisting of a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12 having deletion, substitution or addition of one or several nucleotides and has the function of inhibiting Synoviolin gene promoter activity.

Abstract: Inhibition of synoviolin function was found to activate the cancer-suppressing protein p53. Substances inhibiting the function of synoviolin are useful as cancer therapeutic agents. The inhibition of synoviolin function was also found to lead to the inhibition of p53 ubiquitination, increased activity of p53 phosphorylation proteins, and the like. Based on these findings, the present invention provides methods capable of efficiently screening for cancer therapeutic agents. Further, it was also found that regulation of the autoubiquitination of synoviolin protein suppresses the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells. Substances regulating the autoubiquitination of synoviolin protein are useful as anti-rheumatic agents. Moreover, the present invention provides methods of efficiently screening for anti-rheumatic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antibody against synoviolin or a fragment thereof for providing a monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing a part of synoviolin, which monoclonal antibody is capable of inhibiting the auto-ubiquitination of synoviolin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assay method for determining a auto-ubiquitination activity of synoviolin, comprising reacting synoviolin and ubiquitin in a reaction system containing them and determining an amount of ubiquitin binding to synoviolin, to a method of screening a substance capable of regulating such an activity, and to a kit for auto-ubiquitination assay of synoviolin.

Abstract: An optical fiber positioning method comprises the steps of: preparing an optical fiber, an optical fiber holder, and a positioning plate; fitting the optical fiber holder in the fitting hole and inserting the optical fiber into an optical fiber holding hole of the optical fiber holder and an optical fiber positioning hole of the optical fiber positioning plate; abutting the optical fiber on the abutting position of the optical fiber positioning hole in the state that the end of the optical fiber holder is fitted in the fitting hole and the optical fiber is inserted into an optical fiber holding hole of the optical fiber holder and an optical fiber positioning hole of the optical fiber positioning plate; and fixing the optical fiber to the optical fiber positioning plate in the state that the optical fiber is abutted on with the abutting position of an optical fiber positioning hole.

Abstract: Bioassay equipment which prevents a variation in concentration of a medium or deposition/bonding of a substance in the medium to be caused by drying of the medium being stored or held in a reaction region providing an inter-substance interaction field. The bioassay equipment (2) comprises at least a means for supplying a medium containing a substance pertaining to the interaction to the reaction region R providing the field of inter-substance interaction such as hybridization, and a means for supplying required water automatically. The bioassay equipment (2) may comprises a means for automatically detecting the volume of the medium held in the reaction region R.

Abstract: In a heat treatment apparatus, a reflector is provided to cover a plurality of flash lamps arranged in an array for emitting a flash of light, and a cooling box is provided over the reflector. The cooling box has a buffer space incorporated therein, and a plurality of jet openings in communication with the buffer space are formed through a bottom surface of the cooling box and the reflector. The plurality of jet openings are positioned just over gaps between the plurality of flash lamps in the lamp array. Nitrogen gas ejected from the plurality of jet openings passes through the gaps between adjacent ones of the flash lamps in the lamp array, and is then blown against a lamp light radiation window. The flash lamps are effectively cooled down by the direct cooling using the nitrogen gas and the decrease in temperature of the lamp light radiation window.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a DNA encoding a polypeptide including an entire sequence of the amino acid sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or a partial sequence thereof, or a polypeptide including the polypeptide described above, wherein any of the polypeptides has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; a polypeptide encoded by the DNA described above, wherein the polypeptide has an activity of a receptor capable of binding to a murine PBSF/SDF-1; cells expressing the polypeptide described above and a human CD4 protein; and a method of screening an AIDS onset inhibitor or an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, characterized by the use of the cells described above. According to the present invention, there can be provided a novel murine CXC chemokine receptor gene, a method of screening an HIV-1 infection inhibitor, and the like, each of which is useful in studies of a therapeutic agent for AIDS and the functional mechanism of HIV-1 infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a promoter of the synoviolin gene comprising at least the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 2120-2130 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID: NO 1 or 2, or comprising at least the nucleotide sequence of the region of nucleotides 1-2201, 969-2201, 1142-2201, 1699-2201, 1880-2201, 2002-2201, 2094-2201 or 2118-2201 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID: NO 1 or 2;or a method for regulating transcription activity characterized in that the activity of the promoter is inhibited or enhanced.

Abstract: The invention intends to provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, which can detect an off-specification faulty wafer in real time. An abnormality detection server stores apparatus log data outputted from semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that processes a semiconductor wafer in an apparatus log data memory. Thereafter, in a lot end signal receiver, when a lot end signal outputted from the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is received, an abnormal data detector, after referencing an abnormality detection condition setting file stored in a first detection condition memory, based on the referenced content, judges whether there are abnormal data in the apparatus log data stored in the apparatus log data memory or not. Upon detecting an abnormality, a detection result is outputted to an engineer PC and an operator terminal unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing cancer comprising activating tumor suppressor gene p53 or protein p53 for localizing the protein to the nuclear, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising a substance that promotes activation of tumor suppressor gene p53 or protein p53.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting secretase activity. A method for promoting the sensitivity of a secretase inhibitor, a method for binding synoviolin to Herp (homocysteine-inducible endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducible ubiquitin-like domain member 1), or the like is employed to inhibit secretase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apoptosis-inducing agent or a therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases, comprising a substance that induces ER stress; and a method for inhibiting the proliferation of cells, wherein the cells (for example, synoviocytes) are treated with the inducing agent.