Abstract: A bacteria strain FERMBP-7046 belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, a strain FERMBP-7049 belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, a strain FERMBP-7047 belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, and a strain FERMBP-7048 belonging to the genus Alcaligenes are caused to act on an object of treatment, either individually or in a bacteria mixture including at least one of the foregoing strains. Thus it is possible to provide heavy oil degrading bacteria and a heavy oil degrading bacteria mixture which are inexpensively prepared, which simplify degradation and removal operations, and which can be stored and shipped simply, and to provide a nurturing composition for such bacteria, a method of degrading heavy oil using such bacteria, and building and civil engineering materials containing a substance obtained by heavy oil degradation treatment.

Abstract: This invention relates to glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, or its partial peptide or a salt thereof; a DNA coding for the protein; a recombinant vector; a transformant; a method for producing the protein; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof; and an antibody against the protein or its partial peptide. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof, and the DNA are useful for a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for hypoglycemia. The antibody can be used in the assay of the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof is useful as a reagent for the screening for candidate medical compounds.

Abstract: Cyclic pentapeptides are disclosed having the following formula (I)-Cyclo(-A1-A2-A3-A4-A5-)-wherein A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 are amino acid residues. The pentapeptide has amino acid residues in positions 1-2-3 to form a &ggr;-turn, and amino acid residues in positions 3-4-5-1 to form a &bgr;-turn in combination with the &ggr;-turn. D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3, and A5 and L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4. Compounds having &ggr;-turns and &bgr;-turns can be synthesized, regardless of the kinds of amino acid residues, and it is possible to synthesize compounds in which desired amino acid residues are introduced into sites of &bgr;-turn and &ggr;-turn based on their importance from the viewpoint of biological activity. The present invention is therefore available for design of compounds having biological activity.

Abstract: Radiopharmaceutical compounds are disclosed. A tropane compound is linked through the N atom at the 8-position to a chelating ligand capable of complexing technetium or rhenium to produce a neutral labeled complex that selectively binds to the dopamine transporter over the serotonin transporter with a ratio of 10 or more. These compounds can be prepared as separate diastereoisomers as well as a mixture of diastereoisomers. Also disclosed are radiopharmaceutical kits for preparing the labeled radiopharmaceutical compounds.

Abstract: Featured compounds have high monoamine transport affinity and are characterized by one of the following two general formulas set out above. The compounds bind selectively or non-selectively to monoamine transporters. The compounds are useful to treat various medical indications including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson's disease, cocaine addiction, smoking cessation, weight reduction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, various forms of depression, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and narcolepsy.

Abstract: Cyclic pentapeptides having a &ggr;-turn and a &bgr;-turn wherein the cyclic pentapeptide has the following formula (I): Cyclo(—A1—A2—A3—A4—A5—)  (I) wherein A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 are amino acid residues; said pentapeptide having amino acid residues in positions 1-2-3 to form a &ggr;-turn, and amino acid residues in positions 3-4-5-1 to form a &bgr;-turn in combination with the &ggr;-turn; in which D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3 and A5 and L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4 or wherein L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3 and A5 and D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4; are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte, said method comprising the steps of: (a) bringing together in an aqueous medium to form a mixture: (i) the sample; (ii) at least one specific binder for the analyte; (iii) a first binding agent coupled to either (1) exogenous analyte or (2) the specific binder for the analyte; (iv) a support comprising a second binding agent; b) adding an activator to the mixture, wherein the activator binds the first binding agent and the second binding agent of the support to immobilize the first binding agent; c)determining the amount of the analyte in the sample by detecting the immobilized first binding agent, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel composition comprising a betacellulin protein, or a fragment thereof, which is capable of promoting the differentiation of undifferentiated pancreatic cells into insulin-producing beta cells or pancreatic polypeptide producing F cells. This composition can also improve glucose tolerance in patients and inhibit the growth of undifferentiated pancreatic cells. The composition may further comprise activin and/or other molecules. Methods for treating mammals, including humans, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell cycle regulated repressor protein which binds to a DNA element present in the control sequences of the human cdc25C gene and other cell cycle regulated genes, as well as the use thereof in cell cycle regulated expression systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, or its partial peptide or a salt thereof; a DNA coding for the protein; a recombinant vector; a transformant; a method for producing the protein; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof; and an antibody against the protein or its partial peptide. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof, and the DNA are useful for a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for hypoglycemia. The antibody can be used in the assay of the protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof. The protein, its partial peptide or a salt thereof is useful as a reagent for the screening for candidate medical compounds.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for releasing a ligand from a complex thereof. The method comprises contacting a medium suspected of containing such complex with an effective amount of a compound effective in releasing the ligand. Another aspect of the present invention is an improvement in a method for the determination of an analyte that is a member of a specific binding pair in a sample suspected of containing such analyte. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing in an assay medium the sample and a binding partner for the analyte and (b) detecting the binding of the binding partner to the analyte. The improvement comprises including in the assay medium a compound of the invention in an amount sufficient to enhance the accuracy of the determination. The invention has particular application to a method for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex thereof.

Abstract: Radiopharmaceutical compounds are disclosed. A tropane compound is linked through the N atom at the 8-position to a chelating ligand capable of complexing technetium or rhenium to produce a neutral labeled complex that selectively binds to the dopamine transporter. These compounds can be prepared as separate diastereoisomers as well as a mixture of diastereoisomers. Also disclosed are radiopharmaceutical kits for preparing the labeled radiopharmaceutical compounds.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to assays for the detection of mycophenolic acid. The method comprises including in an assay medium suspected of containing mycophenolic acid a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. Another aspect of the present invention is an improvement in a method for the determination of mycophenolic acid in a sample suspected of containing such analyte. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing in combination in an assay medium the sample and a binding partner for the analyte and (b) detecting the binding of the binding partner to the analyte. The improvement comprises including in the assay medium a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. The present invention also provides assay reagents as well as packaged kits useful for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to quinidine derivatives and immunogenic conjugates and reporter conjugates prepared therefrom. The immunogenic conjugates and reporter conjugates are useful for eliciting antibodies and for performing immunoassays for quinidine. A particle agglutination immunoassay for quinidine is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic assay device comprising a fluorophore element comprising a fluorophore imbedded therein, and a reagent element. The fluorophore element and reagent element have opposed surfaces which are spaced apart throughout a liquid transport zone a distance effective to cause capillary flow of a sample liquid introduced therebetween throughout the liquid transport zone, the opposed surface of the fluorophore element carrying a plurality of projections arranged throughout the surface in the liquid transport zone, each projection being spaced apart from the others in a predetermined pattern and being in contact or virtual contact with the opposed surface of the reagent element.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to capacitors including one or more layers of dielectric material wherein at least one of the layers including a multiaxially oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) film. The present invention also provides lyotropic LCPs films having less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants and a method of preparing such films and capacitors including such films. In preferred embodiments, the invention further provides a capacitor wherein the liquid crystalline polymer film has less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for indicating von Willebrand factor deficiency in a blood sample or platelet-rich plasma sample which exhibits abnormal platelet function comprising (a) adding a von Willebrand factor preparation to the sample, and (b) testing the sample for platelet function. In this method, the von Willebrand factor preparation restores normal platelet function and indicates that the sample initially lacked the von Willebrand factor. The von Willebrand factor preparation comprises purified von Willebrand factor. The invention also discloses a method which further comprises separating the blood sample into a plasma layer and cellular component layer and removing the plasma layer, prior to the step of adding a von Willebrand factor preparation to the sample. In this embodiment the von Willebrand factor preparation comprises platelet-poor plasma containing a normal level of von Willebrand factor.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel test cartridges for use in the assay of liquid samples and methods of carrying out such assays. These test cartridges are particularly useful in assays which include at least one step during which the sample to be assayed and one or more components of the assay system are kept separated by a pierceable member. The test cartridges comprise a housing through which the sample flows during the assay. The housing includes a holding chamber for holding the sample and a test chamber separated by a pierceable member having a cut therein. The test chamber further includes a partition member which has an opening therethrough and includes at least one reagent for the assay. A transfer member movably mounted in the test chamber can move towards and pierce the pierceable member by moving through the cut and contact the liquid sample in the holding chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a cyclic hexapeptide represented by formula I or a salt thereof: ##STR1## wherein X and Y each represent .alpha.-amino acid residues, A represents a D-acidic-.alpha.-amino acid residue, B represents a neutral-.alpha.-amino acid residue, C represents an L-.alpha.-amino acid residue and D represents a D-.alpha.-amino acid residue having an aromatic ring group; and (2) a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide represented by formula I or a pharmaceutically aceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a human parathyroid hormone mutein which comprises at least one modification selected from the group consisting of (i) deletion of 3 to 6 amino acid residues on the N-terminal side in the amino acid sequence of human parathyroid hormones, (ii) substitution of another lipophilic amino acid residue for at least one methionine residue in the amino acid sequence, and (iii) substitution of a cysteine residue for one amino acid residue within the region of amino acid residue Nos. 34 to 47 in the amino acid sequence; (2) a recombinant DNA having a nucleotide sequence coding for the human parathyroid hormone mutein described in (1); (3) a vector containing the recombinant DNA described in (2); (4) a vector in which the recombinant DNA described in (2) is inserted into a region controlled by an E.