Abstract: Disclosed herein is a paper-making additive.comprising a specified cationic polymer having an amidine structure. The cationic polymer additive for paper-making according to the present invention has 20 to 90% by mole of units represented by the formula (1) and/or (2): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and X- denotes an anion; and has a reduced viscosity of 0.1 to 10 dl/g as measured in a 1N saline solution of 0.1 g/dl at 25.degree. C. The additives are excellent in improving paper or pulp properties, such as freeness, filler retention and paper strength.

Abstract: Novel substantially pure periplasmic 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are provided which are obtainable from gram negative bacterium capable of growing on restricted media containing cAMP or cGMP as a sole carbon source. Also provided is the isolated DNA coding for such enzymes and related methods of producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved collagen threads and methods of making and using such threads, including the production of yarn, as well as braided, knitted, and woven articles of manufacture, comprising such threads.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device having a pair of substrates each provided with voltage application means, an orientation control layer formed on at least one of the substrates, and a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal composition formed between the pair of substrates, the device being characterized in that the ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound (a) having an optically active group of the formula (I): ##STR1## and at least one compound (b) which is reverse to the compound (a) in the direction of a helical pitch induced in a nematic phase, the liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least a smectic C phase, smectic A phase and nematic phase at least 20 .mu.m in helical pitch.

Abstract: Hydroxyaryl enol ether alkali metal salts having the formula: ##STR1## in which T is a fused, substituted or unsubstituted polycycloalkylidene group, OR.sup.3 is an ether group Y is a light-emitting fluorophore-forming group which will be part of a luminescent substance formed by decomposition of a 1,2-dioxetane subsequently formed from the hydroxyaryl enol ether alkali metal salt, capable of absorbing energy to form an excited state from which it emits optically detectable energy to return to its ground state, and AM.sup.30 is an alkali metal cation, processes for the preparation of these intermediate salts, and their use as starting materials for acylation, phosphorylation and glycosylation reactions to give intermediates reactable to give stable, water-soluble chemiluminescent 1,2-dioketames, particularly ones that are enzymatically cleavable, are disclosed.

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 comprising a pair of substrates each having transparent electrodes over the surface thereof and an orientation film over the electrode, and a liquid crystal interposed between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal being a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition having incorporated therein a conjugated cyano compound or conjugated halogen compound serving as an electron acceptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices for the oral or nasal inhalation of finely divided materials such as medicinal agents and drugs.

Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) or a mutein of FGF is stabilized by bringing FGF or a mutein of FGF into contact with a glucan sulfate in an aqueous medium. Thus obtained composition comprising (a) FGF or a mutein of FGF and (b) a glucan sulfate is stabilized, so that it can be advantageously administered to warm-blooded animals.

Abstract: Novel silane coupler compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. Biguanidyl group or cyanoguanidyl group is introduced into silane coupler compounds.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition including: at least one optically active compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, k represents an integer of 0 or 1, and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom; andat least one compound selected from the group consisting of: compounds of the formula (II): ##STR2## where R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, ##STR3## and ##STR4## each represents ##STR5## X represents --O--, --CO-- or a single bond, m and n are independently an integer of 0 or 1; compounds of the formula (III): ##STR6## where R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are, the same or different, a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-15 carbon atoms, and p is an integer of 0 or 1;said ferroelectric liquid crystal composition exhibiting at least nematic phase, smectic A phase and smectic C phase.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device using uniaxially drawn polymer film as a phase difference plate, as the elevation angle becomes wider, the difference between the retardation of the phase difference plate and the retardation of the liquid crystal display panel becomes larger, and the optical compensation relation is broken, and the viewing angle becomes narrower. To solve this problem, uniaxially drawn polymer films are prepared separately from polycarbonate and polystyrene which differ in the optical properties, and they are disposed as the optical compensation plate at the front side and back side of a liquid crystal cell, or they are laminated and disposed at the front side and back side of a liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer dispersion-type liquid crystal display device having a high holding rate, a superior display quality and a high reliability; the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention composed of (i) a display electrode substrate, (ii) a counter electrode substrate and (iii) a liquid crystal layer interposed between said display electrode substrate and said counter electrode substrate, in which liquid crystals having a positive anisotropy in dielectric constant are dispersed in a transparent polymer; the transparent polymer is a photo cation polymerization setting-type transparent polymer and the liquid crystals are fluorine-containing aryl compounds.

Abstract: Processes for producing oriented films of semicrystalline thermoplastic polymers, such as polyimides, and films produced thereby are disclosed. One process includes partial crystallization or imidization, orientation and further crystallization or imidization. Another process includes rendering a film of semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer amorphous, orienting the film and introducing crystallinity.

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 A1 (apoA1); 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: The present invention provides collagen constructs and methods of making and using such constructs. The present invention also provides tissue equivalents having improved characteristics and methods of making and using such tissue equivalents. This invention also provides methods of producing highly concentrated solutions of collagen.

Abstract: Novel dimethylpolysiloxane compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. Biguanidyl group or cyanoguanidyl group are introduced into dimetylpolysiloxane compounds.

Abstract: High-molecular weight synthetic resins of polyhexamethylene adipates are disclosed with molecular weights greater than about 10,000, preferably greater than about 30,000, and a viscosity at 100.degree. C. of at least about 300 poise, preferably exceeding 6000.The polymerization is carried out with a ratio of diol/acid in the range 0.990 to about 1.03, preferably in the range of about 1.001 to about 1.01.

Abstract: A novel synthesis of compounds having the formula: ##STR1## wherein T is a stabilizing spiro-linked polycycloalkylidene group, R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aralkyl or heteroatom containing group, Y is an aromatic fluorescent chromophore, and Z is a cleavable group which, when cleaved, induces decomposition of the dioxetane ring and emission of optically detectable light, is disclosed. A tertiary phosphorous acid alkyl ester of the formula:(R.sup.1 O).sub.3 Pwherein R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group, is reacted with an aryl dialkyl acetal produced by reacting a corresponding aryl aldehyde with an alcohol of the formula:R.sup.3 OHwherein R.sup.3 is as defined above, to produce a 1-alkoxy-1-arylmethane phosphonate ester of the formula: ##STR2## reacting the phosphonate with base to produce a phosphonate-stabilized carbanion, reacting the carbanion with a ketone of the formula:T.dbd.