Abstract: A method for predicting a pharmaceutical efficacy of an anti-TNF? antibody drug against rheumatoid arthritis, the method including measuring an amount of ADAMTS5 contained in a sample derived from a subject, and determining whether or not the anti-TNF? antibody drug is efficient against rheumatoid arthritis by employing the amount of ADAMTS5 as an index.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch includes a motor, a worm wheel rotatably driven by a motor, a rotor having an electromagnetic coil and rotatable about a same rotational axis as the worm wheel, an armature that is mounted to the worm wheel and is pulled into contact with the rotor upon application of electric power to the electromagnetic coil, so that the armature is rotated with the rotor, a cover member configured to cover the rotor and the armature, and a power supply mechanism disposed between the cover member and the rotor and connected to a power source for supplying power to the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody.

Abstract: Brushes (20, 21) which come into slidable contact with slip rings (23, 24) having power feeding terminals (51, 53) electrically connected to a power feeding side include extending portions (32, 36) extending in the radial direction of a field core (3). These extending portions (32, 36) are bent in a direction away from a coil bobbin (12). The third bent portions (32c, 36c) located at the ends of the extending portions are electrically connected to the terminal portions (10d) of coil terminals. An outer diameter R1 of a mounting recess portion (3a) which stores a power feeding device (5) of the field core (3) is smaller than an inner diameter R2 of the coil bobbin (12). This makes it possible to position the mounting recess portion (3a) at a distance H from the coil bobbin (12) in the field core (3) in the arrow A direction, thereby reducing the size of the rotating coil type electromagnetic clutch (1) in the arrow A-B direction.

Abstract: A vehicular seat, a watercraft seat, a method for making the vehicular seat, and a method for making the watercraft seat that can achieve a favorable riding comfort, reduce the number of work processes involved, and reduce a manufacturing cost even by foaming a first cushion member of urethane on a second cushion member of a thermoplastic elastomer to make an integrated assembly of the first cushion member of urethane and the second cushion member. A vehicular seat includes a first cushion member formed of urethane and covered with a seat skin and a second cushion member formed of a thermoplastic elastomer and disposed between the first cushion member and a bottom plate. A covering sheet is disposed between the first cushion member and the second cushion member.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle and a seat for a watercraft include a polyurethane-made first cushion body covered with a seat skin. A thermoplastic elastomer-made second cushion body is disposed between the first cushion body and a bottom plate 43. The relationships of t1<t2, 5 mm?t1?30 mm, and 20 mm?t2?50 mm are established, where t1 is the material thickness of the first cushion body, and t2 is the material thickness of the second cushion body. The resulting configuration provides a seat for a vehicle and a seat for watercraft which are capable of securing a good ride comfort.

Abstract: Brushes (20, 21) which come into slidable contact with slip rings (23, 24) having power feeding terminals (51, 53) electrically connected to a power feeding side include extending portions (32, 36) extending in the radial direction of a field core (3). These extending portions (32, 36) are bent in a direction away from a coil bobbin (12). The third bent portions (32c, 36c) located at the ends of the extending portions are electrically connected to the terminal portions (10d) of coil terminals. An outer diameter R1 of a mounting recess portion (3a) which stores a power feeding device (5) of the field core (3) is smaller than an inner diameter R2 of the coil bobbin (12). This makes it possible to position the mounting recess portion (3a) at a distance H from the coil bobbin (12) in the field core (3) in the arrow A direction, thereby reducing the size of the rotating coil type electromagnetic clutch (1) in the arrow A-B direction.

Abstract: A driving device includes a first rotating member, an armature member being movable and rotatable together with, a second rotating member being rotatable relative to the armature member, a magnetic force generating portion for generating a magnetic force for attracting the armature member toward the second rotating member in order to establish a connection between the armature member and the second rotating member so as to be integrally rotatable, a sensor magnet fixed to the second rotating member, a sensor provided for detecting a change of the magnetic field and a fixing member formed with a first claw portion engaged with the second rotating member and a second claw portion engaged with the sensor magnet while being press-fitted thereto in a radial direction thereof, wherein the sensor magnet is fixed to the second rotating member by means of the fixing member.

Abstract: An antibody against a peptide having an amino acid sequence AVQGPEETVT QDC (expressed in single letter amino acid code) as represented by SEQ ID: NO. 1 corresponding to the 134- to 146-positions in human BAFF (B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family) protein which is preferably a monoclonal antibody; a method of producing the above antibody; a medicinal composition containing the antibody; utilization of the antibody; and a method of screening an inhibitory effect or an activating effect on BAFF with the use of the antibody.

Abstract: A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody.

Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing apparatus includes a rail for a sliding door fixed to the outside of a vehicle cabin and extending along a front-back direction of the vehicle, a support member for supporting the sliding door and movable along the rail, first and second pulleys supported respectively to opposed longitudinal ends of the rail, a cable turned around by the first and second pulleys and retained to the support member, thus being arranged in the form of a loop and a drive unit for rotatably supporting a drive wheel around which the cable is wound and configured for moving the support member back and forth according to a rotational direction of the drive wheel, the drive unit being fixed to the side of vehicle cabin. The drive unit is supported to the rail such that the drive unit is pivotable between a first posture where the drive unit projects relative to an attaching face of the rail to be attached to a vehicle body and a second posture where the drive unit is disposed along said attaching face.

Abstract: A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle opening/closing body driving apparatus which allows reduction in the number of components and reduction of cost and which allows application of appropriate tension to a cable. The invention also intends to reduce the workload needed at the time of cable installment and facilitate the installment. The apparatus includes a cable retained to the opening/closing body of the vehicle for opening/closing this opening/closing body, a drive wheel, a drive mechanism for moving the cable back and forth, a guide member for guiding the cable extending from the opening/closing body to the drive wheel and further guiding the cable past the drive wheel back to the opening/closing body, a support member for supporting either the guide member or the drive wheel and a tension applying member affixed to the support member and configured to apply a tension to the cable.

Abstract: A drive device is provided with a housing 11 and an electromagnetic clutch mechanism 14 accommodated in the housing. The electromagnetic clutch mechanism 14 is provided with an armature 41 rotatably supported in the housing 11, a rotor 42 arranged to face the armature 41 and rotatably supported in the housing 11, and a coil 46. An annular magnet 44 is fixed on the outer circumference surface of the rotor 42. A sensor 15 arranged inside the housing 11 detects a polarity change of the magnet 44 in association with rotation of the rotor 42. The magnet 44 is provided with an annular wall portion 44b extending toward the armature 41 beyond a surface on which the armature 41 is in contact with the rotor 42 with respect to the axial direction. The annular wall portion 44b is spaced radially outward from the armature 41. The annular wall portion 44b prevents abrasion powder produced on actuation of the electromagnetic clutch mechanism 14 from being scattered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a luggage storage device for a motorcycle. In an embodiment, the invention can allow the capacity of a storage box to be large enough to accommodate long goods therein. In an embodiment, the invention includes a storage box having a front helmet storage portion and a rear helmet storage portion. The front helmet storage portion is disposed under a front seat. The rear helmet storage portion is disposed under a rear seat, which together with the front seat, constitutes a tandem type riding seat. The storage box is disposed under the riding seat so as to extend from under a front end of the riding seat up to near an upper portion of a rear cushion that suspends a rear wheel from a rear portion of a vehicle body frame.

Abstract: A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody.

Abstract: An antibody against a peptide having an amino acid sequence AVQGPEETVT QDC (expressed in single letter amino acid code) corresponding to the 134- to 146-positions in human BAFF (B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family) protein which is preferably a monoclonal antibody; a method of producing the above antibody; a medicinal composition containing the antibody; utilization of the antibody; and a method of screening an inhibitory effect or an activating effect on BAFF with the use of the antibody.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle and a seat for a watercraft include a polyurethane-made first cushion body covered with a seat skin. A thermoplastic elastomer-made second cushion body is disposed between the first cushion body and a bottom plate 43. The relationships of t1<t2, 5 mm?t1?30 mm, and 20 mm?t2?50 mm are established, where t1 is the material thickness of the first cushion body, and t2 is the material thickness of the second cushion body. The resulting configuration provides a seat for a vehicle and a seat for watercraft which are capable of securing a good ride comfort.

Abstract: An attachment structure for installing a load sensor to a vehicle seat includes the load sensor having a plate-shaped strain unit and a strain gauge for detecting a strain of the plate-shaped strain unit. The load sensor is structured that one end of the plate-shaped strain unit is fixed to a seating portion of the vehicle seat and the other end of the strain unit is fixed to a vehicle body. Also, a strain portion is defined between each fixed end of the plate-shaped strain unit, and the strain portion is deformable in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle seat. In addition, a load input point from the seating portion is defined approximately at a central portion of the strain portion of the plate-shaped strain unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a luggage storage device for a motorcycle. In an embodiment, the invention can allow the capacity of a storage box to be large enough to accommodate long goods therein. In an embodiment, the invention includes a storage box having a front helmet storage portion and a rear helmet storage portion. The front helmet storage portion is disposed under a front seat. The rear helmet storage portion is disposed under a rear seat, which together with the front seat, constitutes a tandem type riding seat. The storage box is disposed under the riding seat so as to extend from under a front end of the riding seat up to near an upper portion of a rear cushion that suspends a rear wheel from a rear portion of a vehicle body frame.