Abstract: In a departure standby state in which a transmission is shifted to a drive stage and a mechanical clutch is disengaged, if a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the transmission is shifted to the neutral, and then the mechanical clutch is engaged. Then, it is determined whether the transmission is being rotated in reverse or not based on a rotational fluctuation on the driving side or the driven side in the process for engaging the mechanical clutch. When an accelerator pedal is pressed down at an angle greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, or when a gear shift instruction is input from the shift lever, if the transmission is being rotated in reverse the transmission is inhibited from being shifted to the drive stage, while if the transmission is not being rotated in reverse the transmission is shifted to the drive stage according to the pressed down state of the accelerator pedal, or a gear shift in instruction.

Abstract: An automatic shifting-operation control system having an engine control unit that controls the operation of an engine by a signal of an intake air amount detected by intake air amount detecting unit which detects an intake air amount of an engine, and which includes one or both of a vehicle speed limiting function for reducing a fuel injection amount to suppress a driving speed of a vehicle to a speed equal to or less than a predetermined limited value, and a cruise control function for setting the driving speed of the vehicle to an optional constant speed capable of allowing an automatic cruise of the vehicle, and a transmission control unit configured to control a transmission in accordance with a driving state of the vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic shifting-operation control system having an engine control unit that controls the operation of an engine by a signal of an intake air amount detected by intake air amount detecting unit which detects an intake air amount of an engine, and which includes one or both of a vehicle speed limiting function for reducing a fuel injection amount to suppress a driving speed of a vehicle to a speed equal to or less than a predetermined limited value, and a cruise control function for setting the driving speed of the vehicle to an optional constant speed capable of allowing an automatic cruise of the vehicle, and a transmission control unit configured to control a transmission in accordance with a driving state of the vehicle.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system, an operating amount of a throttle due to a driver's depression of an accelerator pedal is detected, and the rotating number of an engine suitable for the detected throttle operating amount is detected. The automatic transmission control system includes a shift map defined by the throttle operating amount and the engine rotating number. The actuation of upshift or downshift of a transmission is automatically controlled based on the shift map. The driver can be informed of a point where a shift map is switched by a depression operation of the accelerator pedal so that generation of unnecessary downshift and delay of upshift are prevented to allow a vehicle to be efficiently driven.

Abstract: An automatic start control apparatus of a vehicle having a function to automatically start the vehicle and not performing switching of a starting mode to a manual starting mode only by depression of a clutch pedal, but switching the starting mode to the manual starting mode upon operation of an accelerator pedal together with the clutch pedal thereby enhancing operability of automatic starting of the vehicle.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission having a clutch and a gear type transmission, a control unit for inputting detected signals from the operating condition detecting device, and outputting control signals to the gear changing device and the clutch drive device based on the detected signals. The control unit determines whether a stop intention condition of a driver is satisfied or not, and performs first gear change control for, if the stop intention condition is determined to be satisfied, disengaging the friction clutch and changing the gear type transmission to a neutral position, and second gear change control for, when an accelerator opening becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, after the friction clutch is disengaged and the gear type transmission is changed to the neutral position by the first gear change by the first gear change control, changing the gear type transmission to a gear according to a vehicle speed, and engaging the friction clutch.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission having a clutch and a gear type transmission, when it is determined that a driver has an intention to stop a vehicle, the clutch is disengaged and the gear type transmission is changed to its neutral position. Thereafter, the clutch is held in its disengaged state, and when an accelerator opening amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the gear type transmission is changed to gear according to a vehicle speed to engage the clutch. Under a condition such that a drive has an intention to decelerate the vehicle, when it is determined that an engine is in an idle-up state and when it is detected that the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value, changing of the gear type transmission to its neutral position occurs. Whether or not the engine is in the idle-up state is determined by the amount of fuel injection.

Abstract: Investigation on the frequency of FLT3/ITD found in various blood cancers has revealed that the frequency is high in acute myeloblastic leukemia in particular. Studies on the effects of FLT3/ITD in the blood cell lines revealed that the tyrosine residues in FLT3/ITD is constitutively phosphorylated in these cell lines and that blood cells into which FLT3/ITD is introduced show IL-3 independent proliferation. Moreover, the blood cells into which FLT3/ITD is introduced are found to be capable of forming tumors and inhibit cell differentiation. The inventors have found that it is possible to screen for pharmaceutical compounds against tumors by using inhibition of these FLT3/ITD functions as an index.

Abstract: Investigation on the frequency of FLT3/ITD found in various blood cancers has revealed that the frequency is high in acute myeloblastic leukemia in particular. Studies on the effects of FLT3/ITD in the blood cell lines revealed that the tyrosine residues in FLT3/ITD is constitutively phosphorylated in these cell lines and that blood cells into which FLT3/ITD is introduced show IL-3 independent proliferation. Moreover, the blood cells into which FLT3/ITD is introduced are found to be capable of forming tumors and inhibit cell differentiation. The inventors have found that it is possible to screen for pharmaceutical compounds against tumors by using inhibition of these FLT3/ITD functions as an index.

Abstract: An originally developed efficient signal sequence trapping method was used to screen a cDNA library prepared from cultured mast cells derived from mouse bone marrow. As a result, genes encoding type I membrane proteins and comprising a single immunoglobulin domain in the extracellular domain and a motif for transmitting an inhibitory signal into cells were successfully isolated.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system, an operating amount of a throttle due to a driver's depression of an accelerator pedal is detected, and the rotating number of an engine suitable for the detected throttle operating amount is detected. The automatic transmission control system includes a shift map defined by the throttle operating amount and the engine rotating number. The actuation of upshift or downshift of a transmission is automatically controlled based on the shift map. The driver can be informed of a point where a shift map is switched by a depression operation of the accelerator pedal so that generation of unnecessary downshift and delay of upshift are prevented to allow a vehicle to be efficiently driven.

Abstract: A virus-producing cell sustaining the ability to produce viruses at high titer is successfully constructed by expressing the virus structural gene under the regulation of EF1? promoter. In this virus-producing cell, the virus structural gene is ligated to a selection marker gene via IRES and domains other than the protein coding domain are eliminated from the DNA encoding virus structural proteins. Thus, reduction of the titer due to cell passages can be prevented and emergence of wild type viruses caused by unfavorable recombination of the virus genome can be inhibited.

Abstract: An automatic start control apparatus of a vehicle having a function to automatically start the vehicle and not performing switching of a starting mode to a manual starting mode only by depression of a clutch pedal, but switching the starting mode to the manual starting mode upon operation of an accelerator pedal together with the clutch pedal thereby enhancing operability of automatic starting of the vehicle.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel protein that is homologous to Drosophila TSG was isolated from a cDNA library derived from the AGM region of mouse embryos by using an originally developed cloning method specific to a gene encoding a membrane secretory protein. This gene is useful in developing drugs that regulate hematopoietic stem cell generation, immune and hematopoietic functions, etc.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel protein that is homologous to Drosophila TSG was isolated from a cDNA library derived from the AGM region of mouse embryos by using an originally developed cloning method specific to a gene encoding a membrane secretory protein. This gene is useful in developing drugs that regulate hematopoietic stem cell generation, immune and hematopoietic functions, etc.

Abstract: The invention includes a DNA encoding a known translocatable protein, for example, human mpl, lacking secretory ability due to deletion of its secretory signal and the major part of the extracellular region thereof. This DNA is present in an expression vector into which a test cDNA from a cDNA library is ligated. The expression vector containing the known DNA and the test cDNA expresses a chimeric protein encoded by these two nucleic acid molecules. Cells expressing the newly constructed vector are capable of proliferating if the test cDNA is a secretory protein. Thus, cDNAs encoding secretory proteins including type I membrane proteins and type II membrane proteins can be detected and isolated by constructing a cDNA library and screening it for ability to promote cell proliferation.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel protein that is homologous to Drosophila TSG was isolated from a cDNA library derived from the AGM region of mouse embryos by using an originally developed cloning method specific to a gene encoding a membrane secretory protein. This gene is useful in developing drugs that regulate hematopoietic stem cell generation, immune and hematopoietic functions, etc.

Abstract: There is provided a fluoride-ion sustained release pre-formed glass ionomer filler comprising a powdery reaction product of polyalkenoic acid with a fluorine-containing glass, and a method of producing the same. There is also provided a dental composition containing the filler. The fluoride-ion sustained release pre-formed glass ionomer filler is long capable of releasing fluoride ions in the presence of water without involving disintegration. The dental composition of the invention is useful particularly for prevention of dental caries and like trouble.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding the .beta.-chain of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, as well as the .beta.-chain itself, are provided. The .beta.-chain may be expressed with the .alpha.-chain in cellular hosts to form compositions useful in screening agonists and antagonists of human GM-CSF.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding the .alpha. chain of the human interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor, as well as the .alpha. chain itself, are provided. The .alpha. chain may be expressed with the .beta. chain in cellular hosts to form compositions useful in screening agonists and antagonists of human IL-3.