Abstract: Provided are an aptamer having an inhibitory activity against NGF; a complex containing an aptamer having a binding activity or inhibitory activity against NGF and a functional substance (e.g., affinity substances, labeling substances, enzymes, drug delivery vehicles, drugs and the like); a medicament, a diagnostic agent, a labeling agent and the like containing an aptamer having a binding activity or inhibitory activity against NGF, or a complex containing the aptamer and the functional substance; and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides an aptamer possessing an inhibitory activity against IL-17, as well as a complex comprising an aptamer possessing a binding activity or inhibitory activity against IL-17 and a functional substance (for example, affinity substances, substances for labeling, enzymes, drug delivery vehicles, drugs and the like). The invention also provides a pharmaceutical drug, cell migration inhibitor, diagnostic reagent, detection probe, carrier, labeling agent, and the like comprising the aforementioned aptamer or complex, and methods of detecting and purifying IL-17 by using the aforementioned aptamer or complex.

Abstract: In a planetary gearset and an automatic transmission according to the invention, a pinion shaft on which a pinion gear is rotatably supported includes a bearing portion on which a bearing is attached and a polygonal portion having a polygonal outer periphery. An axial oil passage and radial oil passages that communicate with the axial oil passage are formed in the polygonal portion, and the inlet of each radial oil passage formed in the pinion gear faces the polygonal portion.

Abstract: The inventors examined the role of MK in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which is a human model for multiple sclerosis. As a result, they discovered that MK has the effect of inhibiting regulatory T cells, and that the autoimmune mechanism induced by type 1 helper T cells can be suppressed by inhibiting MK expression or its activity, thereby increasing the number of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, it was found that diseases associated with the functional disorder of regulatory T cells can be treated with the administration of an inhibitor that inhibits MK expression or activity.

Abstract: A mounting device is provided having a base, first mounting arms, second mounting arms, first engaging portions, and second engaging portions. The base is annular and has an elastic body. Both first and second mounting arms have elastic bodies and extend from said base in the outward radial direction of said base. The first engaging portions project orthogonally to the axis of said base from the edge of said first mounting arms. The second engaging portions project in the direction opposite to the projection direction of said first engaging portions, from the edge of said second mounting arms. The first engaging portions project parallel to each other in the same direction.

Abstract: An extendable pivot shaft mechanism of a camera for pivoting a rotatable grip on a camera body is provided to allow the rotatable grip both to rotate about a rotational axis and to move along the rotational axis relative to the camera body, the extendable pivot shaft mechanism includes an inner shaft, a middle cylinder and an outer cylinder which are concentrically arranged about the rotational axis. The inner shaft and the outer cylinder are fixed to one and the other of the grip and the camera body, respectively. One of the inner shaft and the outer cylinder serves as a rotatable shaft element which is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the middle cylinder. The other of the inner shaft and the outer cylinder serves as a linearly movable shaft element which is linearly movable along the rotational axis relative to the middle cylinder.

Abstract: In a planetary gearset and an automatic transmission according to the invention, a pinion shaft on which a pinion gear is rotatably supported includes a bearing portion on which a bearing is attached and a polygonal portion having a polygonal outer periphery. An axial oil passage and radial oil passages that communicate with the axial oil passage are formed in the polygonal portion, and the inlet of each radial oil passage formed in the pinion gear faces the polygonal portion.

Abstract: The inventors examined the role of MK in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which is a human model for multiple sclerosis. As a result, they discovered that MK has the effect of inhibiting regulatory T cells, and that the autoimmune mechanism induced by type 1 helper T cells can be suppressed by inhibiting MK expression or its activity, thereby increasing the number of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, it was found that diseases associated with the functional disorder of regulatory T cells can be treated with the administration of an inhibitor that inhibits MK expression or activity.

Abstract: An automatic transmission damper mechanism provided between a first hydraulic passage (23) to which an oil (L) is supplied and a second hydraulic passage (24) from which the oil (L) is supplied to a friction element (18) has: a container (8) provided between the first and second hydraulic passages (23, 24); a slide member (11) provided in the container (8) such that it can slide therein; and an elastic member (9) provided between an inner face of the container (8) and the slide member (11). The container (8) has a pressure chamber (28) defined by an inner face of the container (8) and the slide member (11) and communicating with a branch hydraulic passage (25) branching from the first hydraulic passage (23), and the slide member (11) has a communication hole (15) through which the first and second hydraulic passages (23, 24) are placed in communication by the elastic member (9) contracting under the pressure of the oil (L) supplied into the pressure chamber (28) through the branch hydraulic passage (25).

Abstract: Provided is a high-quality aptamer against midkine. An aptamer possessing an inhibitory activity against midkine; a complex comprising an aptamer possessing a binding activity or inhibitory activity against midkine and a functional substance (for example, affinity substances, substances for labeling, enzymes, drug delivery vehicles, drugs and the like); a pharmaceutical drug, cell migration inhibitor, diagnostic reagent, labeling agent and the like comprising an aptamer possessing a binding activity or inhibitory activity against midkine, or a complex comprising the aptamer and a functional substance; a cell migration inhibitor, a diagnostic reagent, a labeling agent and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel aptamer for IgG and a method for utilizing the same and the like. More specifically, the present invention provides an aptamer that binds to an Fc region of IgG (e.g., human IgG); a complex comprising an aptamer and a functional substance bound thereto (e.g., affinity substance, labeling substance, enzyme, drug, toxin, drug delivery vehicle); a solid phase carrier with an aptamer or complex immobilized thereon; medical equipment comprising a solid phase carrier; a method for antibody purification comprising adsorbing an IgG antibody to a solid phase carrier, and eluting the adsorbed IgG antibody with an eluent; a method for producing a purified antibody, comprising preparing an IgG antibody and purifying the prepared IgG antibody with a solid phase carrier and the like.

Abstract: A mounting device is provided having a base, first mounting arms, second mounting arms, first engaging portions, and second engaging portions. The base is annular and has an elastic body. Both first and second mounting arms have elastic bodies and extend from said base in the outward radial direction of said base. The first engaging portions project orthogonally to the axis of said base from the edge of said first mounting arms. The second engaging portions project in the direction opposite to the projection direction of said first engaging portions, from the edge of said second mounting arms. The first engaging portions project parallel to each other in the same direction.

Abstract: A pivot shaft mechanism includes a rotation support cylinder; an inner shaft provided in the rotation support cylinder to be relatively rotatable; an annular space formed between an inner peripheral surface of the rotation support cylinder and an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; engaging recesses formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; and a resilient ring member which includes an arc-shaped arm portion which is formed as a partial annular ring, and a pair of bent end portions. The resilient ring member is installed between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft with the arc-shaped arm portion installed in the annular space in a resiliently deformed state and the pair of bent end portions installed in the engaging recesses in a resiliently deformed state to apply a frictional resistance between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of selectively taking still images and moving images, includes a camera body including a photographing optical system; a grip mounted to the camera body to be rotatable relative to the camera body; a first manual operational member adopted for making the digital camera take the still images; and a second manual operational member adopted for making the digital camera take the moving images. The grip includes two adjacent non-parallel surfaces, neither of which faces the camera body, the first manual operational member and the second manual operational member being provided on one and the other of the two adjacent non-parallel surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: An extendable pivot shaft mechanism of a camera includes two concentric cylindrical members fixed to a camera body and a rotatable grip, respectively; an advancing/retreating lock control member supported by one of the concentric cylindrical members and linearly movable along a rotational axis without rotating relative thereto, the advancing/retreating lock control member being operated from outside the camera body or the grip; a rotation locking mechanism for changing a state of the advancing/retreating lock control member and the other of the two concentric cylindrical members between a rotation locked state and a rotation unlocked state in accordance with a linear movement of the advancing/retreating lock control member relative to the one of the concentric cylindrical members; and a lock biasing device for biasing the advancing/retreating lock control member in a rotation locking direction to cause the rotation locking mechanism to change to the rotation locked state.

Abstract: The polishing apparatus is capable of transferring a work piece to a top ring without moving the work piece from the center and capable of precisely polishing the work piece. The polishing apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring the work piece to the top ring. The transfer unit comprises: a guide member having a receiving section, which centers the work piece; a mounting table vertically moving with respect to the guide member, the mounting table having a mounting section, which receives the centered work piece; and a supporting mechanism supporting the mounting table and allowing the mounting table to move downward. The mounting table is relatively moved close to the top ring and presses the work piece onto the top ring so as to transfer the work piece to the top ring.

Abstract: The polishing apparatus is capable of transferring a work piece to a top ring without moving the work piece from the center and capable of precisely polishing the work piece. The polishing apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring the work piece to the top ring. The transfer unit comprises: a guide member having a receiving section, which centers the work piece; a mounting table vertically moving with respect to the guide member, the mounting table having a mounting section, which receives the centered work piece; and a supporting mechanism supporting the mounting table and allowing the mounting table to move downward. The mounting table is relatively moved close to the top ring and presses the work piece onto the top ring so as to transfer the work piece to the top ring.

Abstract: An extendable pivot shaft mechanism of a camera includes two concentric cylindrical members fixed to a camera body and a rotatable grip, respectively; an advancing/retreating lock control member supported by one of the concentric cylindrical members and linearly movable along a rotational axis without rotating relative thereto, the advancing/retreating lock control member being operated from outside the camera body or the grip; a rotation locking mechanism for changing a state of the advancing/retreating lock control member and the other of the two concentric cylindrical members between a rotation locked state and a rotation unlocked state in accordance with a linear movement of the advancing/retreating lock control member relative to the one of the concentric cylindrical members; and a lock biasing device for biasing the advancing/retreating lock control member in a rotation locking direction to cause the rotation locking mechanism to change to the rotation locked state.

Abstract: A pivot shaft mechanism includes a rotation support cylinder; an inner shaft provided in the rotation support cylinder to be relatively rotatable; an annular space formed between an inner peripheral surface of the rotation support cylinder and an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; engaging recesses formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; and a resilient ring member which includes an arc-shaped arm portion which is formed as a partial annular ring, and a pair of bent end portions. The resilient ring member is installed between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft with the arc-shaped arm portion installed in the annular space in a resiliently deformed state and the pair of bent end portions installed in the engaging recesses in a resiliently deformed state to apply a frictional resistance between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft.

Abstract: An extendable pivot shaft mechanism of a camera for pivoting a rotatable grip on a camera body is provided to allow the rotatable grip both to rotate about a rotational axis and to move along the rotational axis relative to the camera body, the extendable pivot shaft mechanism includes an inner shaft, a middle cylinder and an outer cylinder which are concentrically arranged about the rotational axis. The inner shaft and the outer cylinder are fixed to one and the other of the grip and the camera body, respectively. One of the inner shaft and the outer cylinder serves as a rotatable shaft element which is rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the middle cylinder. The other of the inner shaft and the outer cylinder serves as a linearly movable shaft element which is linearly movable along the rotational axis relative to the middle cylinder.