Abstract: A deletion type mutein of heparin-binding secretory transforming factor (hst-1) possesses excellent cell growth promoting activity and is stable. The present mutein can therefore be used as a therapeutic medicine such as a healing promoter for burns, wounds, surgical injuries etc.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a substrate for a magnetic disc comprising a glass substrate having fine protrusions on its surface, the protrusions having a height of 50 to 1000 .ANG., a width of 0.01 to 1 .mu.m, a density of 10 to 1000 per 100 .mu.m.sup.2 and an area ratio of 0.1 to 50%, and a ratio of peak height on a mean line (R.sub.p) to maximum height (R.sub.max) with respect to surface roughness of the substrate being at least 60%. Further, a process for preparing the substrate and a magnetic disc having the substrate are disclosed. Because the substrate according to the present invention has appropriate protrusions on its surface, a friction force and an adsorbing force between a head and a magnetic disc can be reduced, leading to the improvement of the CSS and the anti-head stick properties. In addition, the S/N ratio is not affected because the fine concave portions formed on the surface of the substrate are shallow.

Abstract: An optical memory medium having a transparent substrate, a recording layer and a reflective layer, the recording layer and the reflective layer being formed in this order on the transparent substrate. The recording layer is a diarylethene derivative dispersed in a non-polar polymeric binder. The optical memory medium with such a recording layer fully utilizes advantageous properties of the diarylethene derivative, such as good thermal stability of recorded state, excellent durability against repeated color changes between colored and colorless states, and photosensitive property to semiconductor laser light with a wavelength of 780 nm. The optical memory medium enables high-density recording and non-destructive readout.

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. 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 and contact the liquid sample in the holding chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides sensing electrodes and electrode assemblies for use in measuring the activity of ions in a fluid sample; measuring blocks which include a sensing module housing such sensing electrodes and a reference electrode; and a fluid analysis system which includes such measuring blocks.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a fused protein obtained by combining an antigen used for vaccine and a lymphokine by the application of gene engineering, (2) a recombinant DNA containing a nucleotide sequence coding for the above fused protein, (3) a transformant bearing the above recombinant DNA, (4) a method for producing the fused protein which comprises cultivating the above transformant, producing and accumulating the above fused protein in a culture, and collecting the fused protein, and (5) a hybrid protein obtained by chemically combining an antigen used for vaccine with a lymphokine. The resulting fused and hybrid proteins have strong immunogenicity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an N-vinylformamide composition comprising 250 ppm by weight or less of formic acid based on N-vinylformamide.According to the invention, the purity and polymerizing activity of N-vinylformamide are preserved for a long time.

Abstract: The present invention provides ligand/anti-ligand assays for detecting and/or measuring adherent proteins, including lipophilic serum or plasma proteins, such as serum amyloid A (SAA) and apolipoprotein Al (apoAl); cytokines such as IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha; pentraxins, such as CRP; and globular serum or plasma proteins such as albumin.

Abstract: Tissue equivalents are produced by applying a solution of collagen without cells to a permeable membrane, gelling to produce a collagen gel on the membrane, applying a mixture of collagen and a contractile agent to the collagen gel, gelling the mixture and allowing the resultant gel to undergo radial contraction which is controlled by the collagen gel on the membrane. A suitable contractile agent is fibroblast cells. A skin tissue equivalent is produced by disposing human epidermal cells on the contracted collagen gel and allowing epidermalization to occur. A nutrient medium can be supplied to the cells. An absorbent member may be disposed adjacent the permeable membrane opposite the collagen gel on the membrane. The permeable membrane can be the bottom of an inner well disposed in an outer well for containing a nutrient medium in contact with the membrane. The nutrient medium may be contained in the outer well in an agarose gel in contact with the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of preparing thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer film-based and tubular components having a controlled CTE and components produced by such methods. The methods of the present invention include treating a melt or dope of liquid crystalline polymer with simultaneous biaxial shearing forces and with an electric or magnetic field normal to each of the biaxial shearing forces.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates each provided with voltage applying means, an orientation control layer formed on at least one of the substrates, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal composition disposed between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound (a) having an optically active group of the formula (I): ##STR1## at least one compound (b) which is reverse to the compound (a) in the direction of a helical pitch induced in a nematic phase and at least one liquid crystal compound (c) exhibiting a smectic C phase, the liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least a smectic C phase, smectic A phase and nematic phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid monoclonal antibody having specificities against fibrin and thrombolytic substance, a polydoma which produces said antibody and thrombolytic agent comprising said antibody and thrombolytic substance which is immunologically coupled thereto, and methods of using said antibody in combination with thrombolytic substance for lysis or removal of thrombi.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary battery comprising a cathode, an anode and a nonaqueous electrolyte disposed and sealed between the cathode and the anode wherein the anode is made of a carbon material as its active material, in which the carbon material comprises a fine core particle of a metal or an alloy thereof, and a carbon layer which is arranged and stacked in an onion-like shell configuration centering on the fine core particle, at least part of the carbon layer having a crystal structure in which graphite-like layers are stacked and the fine core particle having an average diameter of about 10 to 150 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a mutein of a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), the DNA having introduced therein at least one nucleotide sequence coding for a glycosylation site, (2) a DNA coding for the mutein of (1), (3) a vector containing the DNA of (2), (4) a transformant transformed with the vector of (3), and (5) a process for producing the mutein which comprises cultivating in a culture medium the transformant of a yeast or animal cell transformed with a vector of (3), and producing and accumulating the mutein of (1) in the culture medium, whereby the FGF mutein into which at least one glycosylation site has been introduced is improved in productivity, stability and activities, and advantageously used as medicine.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein an orientation film is formed from a polyimide which is obtained by polymerization of an amine of the formula (I) ##STR1## and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride as main components and ferroelectric liquid crystals are oriented in liquid crystal cell using said orientation film.

Abstract: A cartridge for providing a liquid to be dispensed and devices for and methods of dispensing a liquid from such cartridges are disclosed. Such cartridges include a container having the liquid to be dispensed disposed therein, the container including a pierceable section and a piercer capable of piercing the pierceable section. The piercer is internal to the container for the liquid thereby making it possible to maintain the sterility of the liquid until the moment of use.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprises transparent electrodes formed on opposite surfaces of a pair of transparent substrates and a liquid crystal layer filled between the transparent substrate, in which the liquid crystal layer is formed of at least two kinds of liquid crystals which are separated each other and provided in the form of a layer in the direction horizontal to the substrate, a first kind of liquid crystal includes at least one kind of liquid crystal (liquid crystal I) showing that dielectric constant anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon.>0 and refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n>0 and a second kind of liquid crystal includes at least one kind of liquid crystal (liquid crystal II) showing that the dielectric constant anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon.<0 and the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n>0 or liquid crystal (liquid crystal III) showing that the dielectric constant anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon.>0 and the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n<0.