Abstract: To provide a technique of the differentiation from a primate embryonic stem cell into a vascular cell, and techniques using the same. A method for differentiating a primate embryonic stem cell into a vascular cell, comprising differentiating a primate embryonic stem cell into a VEGFR-2-positive and undifferentiated primate embryonic stem cell marker-negative cell, and if need, further differentiating the resulting cell, a method of the differentiation into a vascular cell, and a vascular cell obtained by the method.

Abstract: A plunger (45) and a piston (46) are displaceably held in a housing (104) for opening and closing a valve path (107) defined in the housing (104), and a single common seat block (44) provided for the plunger (45) and the piston (46) is fixed to the housing (104) and has seat portions (47) each formed from a soft material for respective of the plunger (45) and the piston (46) to be pressed thereon. This arrangement provides a valve device which is simplified in structure and can be manufactured with reduced man-hour.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus for a turbine fork of a turbine blade joined to a turbine disc, comprising: an ultrasonic testing sensor; a sensor mounting apparatus for mounting the ultrasonic testing sensor on a flat portion on a side surface of the turbine fork with the turbine blade joined to the turbine disc; and an ultrasonic testing apparatus for inspecting internal and external surfaces of the turbine fork by using reflected waves, which is received by the ultrasonic testing sensor, from the internal surface of the turbine fork.

Abstract: A guide body for an electromagnetic valve device is provided. The device includes a coil assembly surrounding the guide body, a plunger driven by magnetic force and slidably disposed inside the guide body. The guide body slidably guides the plunger in an open/close direction of the valve body along a guide face thereof. The guide body includes a first nonmagnetic section that supports a pole body and a part of the plunger at which the pole body and the plunger oppose each other, a second nonmagnetic section that supports the valve body, and extends at least throughout a sliding range of the valve body, and a magnetic section intermediate the first and second sections so that a portion of the lines of magnetic force passes therethrough. The guide face is formed so as to coaxially support the plunger and the valve body displaceable in the open/close direction.

Abstract: A seat block capable of maintaining a well-fitted state of a seat portion in a simple and reliable manner regardless of use conditions. A seat portion base body (43) is provided in a housing (67) provided with a valve passage (66) and allows a piston (28) for opening and closing a valve passage (66) to be pressed on the seat portion base body (43). A spring member (23) applies an elastic force to the seat portion base body (43) such that the elastic mechanism (23) cooperates with the housing (67) to retain the seat portion base body (43).

Abstract: A medical device (1) includes a main body (2); a first piercing needle (4) provided slidably with respect to the main body (2); a first holding plate (61) adapted to hold the first piercing needle (4) and provided slidably on the main body (2); and a second holding plate (62) adapted to hold a second piercing needle (3) and detachably and movably mounted on the first holding plate (61), wherein the second holding plate (62) is mounted so as to move to the first holding plate (61) in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A guide body for an electromagnetic valve device is provided. The device includes a coil assembly surrounding the guide body, a plunger driven by magnetic force and slidably disposed inside the guide body. The guide body slidably guides the plunger in an open/close direction of the valve body along a guide face thereof. The guide body includes a first nonmagnetic section that supports a pole body and a part of the plunger at which the pole body and the plunger oppose each other, a second nonmagnetic section that supports the valve body, and extends at least throughout a sliding range of the valve body, and a magnetic section intermediate the first and second sections so that a portion of the lines of magnetic force passes therethrough. The guide face is formed so as to coaxially support the plunger and the valve body displaceable in the open/close direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for preparing a conditioned medium of astrocyte-like cells derived from embryonic stem cells, characterized in that astrocyte-like cells, which are prepared by differentiation of embryonic stem cells, are cultured; the medium obtained by said method, the use of the conditioned medium for culturing neural cells as well as for inducing the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural cells.

Abstract: The eddy current testing apparatus includes a probe having an eddy current testing sensor including a pair of eddy current testing coils. The apparatus also includes an eddy current testing flaw detector inputting detection signals from the eddy current testing sensor. The diameter of a magnetic core used in each of the pair of eddy current testing coils is within the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a single liquid crystal panel in which a liquid crystal material is sealed in a clearance between two transparent substrates, at least one light source, and at least one light-conducting plate. The liquid crystal panel includes a transmitting region and a reflecting region. A part of a first surface of the liquid crystal panel is a first display surface for the transmitting region and a part of a second surface of the liquid crystal panel is a second display surface for the reflecting region. A two-sided display is provided from a single liquid crystal panel and a thin and light-weight liquid crystal display device is achieved.

Abstract: To provide a method for differentiating primate embryonic stem cells into vascular endothelial cells, and a technique using the method. A method for differentiating primate embryonic stem cells into early developmental vascular endothelial cells comprising differentiating primate embryonic stem cells into vascular endothelial cell parker-positive cell population; the early developmental vascular endothelial cells; a method for producing the vascular endothelial cells; a method for amplifying the vascular endothelial cells; a vascular lesion-therapeutic agent containing the early developmental vascular endothelial cells as an active ingredient; a method for revascularization comprising supplying the early developmental vascular endothelial cells; a method for transplantation comprising transplanting the early developmental vascular endothelial cells; and a method for treatment comprising administering the early developmental vascular endothelial cells in a therapeutically effective dose.

Abstract: Highly efficient gene transfer into primate-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells has successfully been achieved by using a simian immunodeficiency virus vector (SIV) pseudotyped with VSV-G protein, which is a surface glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) The present invention provides simian immunodeficiency virus vectors for gene transfer to primate ES cells. The method for gene transfer to primate ES cells using the vectors of the present invention is useful in, for example, research into embryology and disease, clinical applications, and experimental models for primates. The method is also useful in assaying and screening for genes and reagents able to enhance the specific differentiation of tissues or cells, and which are useful in preparing desired cells or tissues differentiated from ES cells.

Abstract: A plunger (45) and a piston (46) are displaceably held in a housing (104) for opening and closing a valve path (107) defined in the housing (104), and a single common seat block (44) provided for the plunger (45) and the piston (46) is fixed to the housing (104) and has seat portions (47) each formed from a soft material for respective of the plunger (45) and the piston (46) to be pressed thereon. This arrangement provides a valve device which is simplified in structure and can be manufactured with reduced man-hour.

Abstract: A screw loosening prevention structure and a gas-pressure device are provided. The structure includes a first member that is formed with a container space filled with gas, and includes a first threaded portion, a second member that includes a second threaded portion, wherein the second member is threadedly coupled with the first member by threadedly engaging the second threaded portion with the first threaded portion, and receives a pressure from the gas in the container space of the first member, and a spring member provided between the first and second members in a deformed state in which the displacement of the spring member is greater than a relative displacement of the first and second members due to a loosening factor including the gas pressure that is received by this second member.

Abstract: A shift lever device has resin pieces, and a resin outer tube which is formed at an outer side of a shift lever main body. The resin pieces and the resin outer tube can be molded separately. Therefore, the resin pieces independently can be molded with high precision. Even in a structure in which interposed portions of the resin pieces are interposed between a detent pin and inner walls of long holes of the shift lever main body, the interposed portions do not project-out unnecessarily at an inner side of the shift lever main body. Resin can be interposed between the detent pin and the long holes of the shift lever main body, without carrying out precise inspection or repair work.

Abstract: A golf ball having a predetermined radius, and a spherical outer surface with a multiplicity of dimples formed therein. A protrusion is formed in each of the dimples which are located in hit portions having a diameter of 5–15 mm, or alternatively, is formed in each of all the dimples. The protrusion has a distal end whose radial distance from the center of the golf ball is equal to the predetermined radius of the golf ball. The protrusion has a partition wall which divides a space in each dimple into a plurality of segmental spaces. The protrusion may have two partition walls which are perpendicular to each other and intersect at right angles for dividing a space in each of the dimples into four segmental spaces.

Abstract: A catheter kit for a burrow having a catheter and an obturator and excellent in operability. The catheter comprises a tube having, inside, a nutrient passage leading nutrition or chemicals from the outside of a body to the inside of a stomach and extending along the wall surface of the burrow and a non-balloon type endodwelling member fitted to the tip part of the tube, normally placed in an expanded state and reduced in diameter less than that in the expanded state when an external force acts thereon by the obturator, and indwelled in the stomach in a buried state in a living body. The obturator comprises a guide wire passage detachably engaged with the catheter and allowing a guide wire installed in the obturator ranging from the tip to the midway thereof to be inserted therein and an operation part for transmitting the external force to the endodwelling member fitted to the rear end thereof. The rear end part of the guide wire passage and the operation part are arranged in a separated state.

Abstract: A method for producing woody moldings and an apparatus for producing woody moldings that can reduce the number of processing steps and shorten the processing time. Cellulose based fine powdery particles and thermoplastic resin are kneaded and dissolved into a mixed material, and the mixed material is cooled and agitated into a powdery particulate solid. Then, the powdery particulate solid is molded into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus having a low image data input rate, in which the required capacity of a memory is reduced without causing flicker and ghosts. In the invention, right and left parallax image data is compressed, the compressed image data is stored in a frame memory, each of compressed image data for a right eye and compressed image data for a left eye, corresponding to the same display gate line, is read and decoded, line by line, and parallax image data for the right and left eyes for one frame are displayed multiple times, as alternating right and left fields, within one frame period.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus having a low image data input rate, in which the required capacity of a memory is reduced without causing flicker and ghosts. In the invention, right and left parallax image data is compressed, the compressed image data is stored in a frame memory, each of compressed image data for a right eye and compressed image data for a left eye, corresponding to the same display gate line, is read and decoded, line by line, and parallax image data for the right and left eyes for one frame are displayed multiple times, as alternating right and left fields, within one frame period.