Abstract: Transfusion of contaminated blood has become the major route of transmission for Chagas' disease. Current screening tests are insensitive and yield conflicting results, while confirmatory assays do not exist. The present invention relates to antigens and their use for serological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. More specifically, the present invention concerns assays which are able to reliably and accurately detect the presence of antibodies to various specific antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi in a highly sensitive and specific manner.

Abstract: A photothermographic material comprising a support, silver halide, an organic silver salt and a reducing agent is disclosed, meeting the following requirement: −15<100×(S1−S0)/S0<15 wherein S0 represents a sensitivity of the photothermographic material heat-developed after being allowed to stand at 23° C. and 50% Rh for a period of 3 days and S1 represents a sensitivity of the photothermographic material heat-developed after being allowed to stand at 55° C. and 80% RH for a period of 3 days. An image forming process by the use of the photothermographic material is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for exploring low molecular weight compounds which regulate positively or negatively the expression of human BMP-4 with reference to a reporter activity by using 5′ upstream region gene containing the human BMP-4 promoter and an animal cell introduced with a recombinant expression vector that has been connected to an appropriate reporter gene. The low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives obtained by the present method have morphogenetic activity and inhibiting activity for bone and cartilage through the expression of human BMP-4 and are useful as preventive or therapeutic agents for cartilage and bone diseases.

Abstract: A compound of the formula wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and its prodrug useful for treating osteoporosis.

Abstract: A surface treatment method for enhancing hydrophobicity of the surface of a film support is disclosed, comprising subjecting at least one side of the surface to a gas-discharge plasma treatment in a gas phase atmosphere comprising (a) an inert gas comprising argon or helium and (b) a reactive gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas or fluorinated hydrocarbon gas. There is also disclosed a photothermographic material by the use of the support having been subjected to the surface treatment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for varying valve timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, particularly a hydraulic camshaft adjusting device of a rotary piston type, said device comprising a drive pinion (2) connected in driving relationship to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a winged wheel (3) connected rotationally fast to a camshaft of the internal combustion engine. The drive pinion (2) comprises a hollow space formed by a circumferential wall (4) and two side walls (5, 6), at least one hydraulic working chamber (10) being formed in the hollow space by at least two limiting walls (8, 9). The winged wheel (3) comprises at least one radial wing (12), and with each wing (12) it divides one hydraulic working chamber (10) into two hydraulic pressure chambers (13, 14) which, when pressurized by a hydraulic pressure medium effect a pivoting or a fixing of the winged wheel (3) relative to the drive pinion (2).

Abstract: A subject of the invention is, as new chemical products, the compounds of formula (I) in which X represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom and Z represents a hydrogen atom or the remainder of an acid as well as their addition salts with acids. The compounds of formula (I) have antibiotic properties.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a color filter having a substrate comprising black matrix sections and image forming sections, comprises a step of applying a treatment onto the substrate so as to provide influence to a contact angle between an ink meniscus and the black matrix sections before applying an ink onto the substrate.

Abstract: A rotation stabilizing device of the invention has therein a rotary member which rotates around the central rotation axis, an inertia member which is arranged at the position different from that for the royary member in terms of the axial direction of the central rotation axis, and a connecting member which is provided with a viscoelastic member having viscosity and elasticity and connects the rotary member and the inertia member in a detachable manner through the viscoelastic member, and is characterized in that the connecting member is provided at the position which is away from the central rotation axis in the radial direction.

Abstract: In a gearshift device (38) of a manual transmission comprising at least one transmitting means (2) that is arranged for pivoting and axial displacement relative to the transmission, a low-friction transmission of gearshift movements is achieved by the inclusion of a rolling bearing (47) taking up thrust loads.

Abstract: A method of treating symptoms linked to menopause in warm-blooded animals by administering to warm-blooded animals in need thereof an amount of a compound of the formula wherein the substituents are defined as in the application sufficient to treat said symptoms.

Abstract: In order to easily and effectively press and stimulate an affected part to be pressed for treatment without depending on a specialist, an oral stimulator comprises a mounting portion (11) which is to be mounted on at least a part of the teeth and a pressing portion (12) which is integrally fixed to the mounting portion (11) so that it can press the affected part from inside the mouth in a state where the mounting portion (11) is mounted on the teeth.

Abstract: A strobe device, including: a strobe circuit board; a connecting conductor composed of a wire member; and a strobe emitting portion which includes; a) a light emitting tube, having electrode terminals on its both ends, b) a reflector for reflecting strobe light emitted by the light emitting tube toward a photographic object and c) a transmission window for covering a front surface of the reflector and for transmitting the strobe light. In the strobe device, the connecting conductor has a contact with the light emitting tube and electricity is supplied to the light emitting tube through the connecting conductor.

Abstract: Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs) play a pivotal role in clean energy production as well as in electrochemical processes and sensors. These gas-consuming electrodes are typically designed for liquid electrolyte systems such as phosphoric acid and alkaline fuel cells, and are commercially manufactured by hand or in a batch process. However, GDEs using the new electrolytes such as conductive polymer membranes demand improved electrode structures. This invention pertains to GDEs and gas diffusion media with new structures for systems using membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), and automated methods of manufacture that lend themselves to continuous mass production. Unexpected improvements in gas and vapor transport through the electrode are realized by incorporating a new dispersion process in the construction, reformulating the applied mix with solution additives, and creating a novel coating structure on a conductive web.

Abstract: A thermally developable silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a dye represented by formula (8), wherein X1 and X2 each represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom, or a tellurium atom; R5 and R6 each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R7 and R8 each represents a monovalent substituents, and plural R7 and plural R8 may form a ring structure with each other; m and n each represents an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having an original conveyance apparatus for conveying an original to a reading position, includes: a first mounting member for coupling the original conveyance apparatus to the image reading apparatus so that the original conveyance apparatus is displaceable with respect to the image reading apparatus substantially in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the original; a second mounting member for coupling the original conveyance apparatus to the image reading apparatus so that the second mounting member serves as a rotation axis when the original conveyance apparatus is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction; and a fixing member for fixing the original conveying member to the image reading apparatus after the original conveyance apparatus has been displaced with respect to the image reading apparatus with the second mounting member serving as the rotation axis.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of biology, and more particularly, to therapeutic chemistry, and discloses pharmaceutical compositions containing, as an active ingredient, an enzyme or an enzyme complex containing said enzyme, obtained by cultivating Streptomyces fradiae under conditions defined in French patent 2.600.340, as a mixture or in combination with a physiologically acceptable, non-toxic and inert carrier or vector. Said pharmaceutical compositions are useful for preventing or treating degenerative diseases, particularly those related to intestinal dysfunction.

Abstract: A subject of the invention is the compounds of formula (I) in which Y represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, n represents an integer comprised between 1 and 8, Z represents a hydrogen atom or the remainder of a carboxylic acid, optionally substituted on the heterocycle by one or more alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, O-alkyl, O-alkenyl, O-alkynyl, S-alkyl, S-alkenyl, S-alkynyl radicals containing up to 8 carbon atoms, one or more OH, NH2, C═N, NO2, CF3 radicals or one or more aryl radicals containing up to 14 carbon atoms or heteroaryl radicals containing one or more nitrogen oxygen or sulphur atoms, the aryl or heteroaryl radicals themselves being able to be substituted as well as their addition salts with acids, The products of formula (I) have antibiotic properties.