Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a substrate which comprises a fibrous material. According to the present invention, the surface is brought into contact with a type of amphiphilic block copolymer which comprises one or several hydrophilic polymeric blocks and one or several hydrophobic polymeric blocks. Approximately 0.01-3 g/m2 of the amphiphilic block copolymer are applied onto the surface. With the help of the present invention, it is possible to effectively modify the surface of paper in such a manner that it produces a good surface for printing, for instance for ink-jet printing.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a substrate which comprises a fibrous material. According to the present invention, the surface is brought into contact with a type of amphiphilic block copolymer which comprises one or several hydrophilic polymeric blocks and one or several hydrophobic polymeric blocks. Approximately 0.01-3 g/m2 of the amphiphilic block copolymer are applied onto the surface. With the help of the present invention, it is possible to effectively modify the surface of paper in such a manner that it produces a good surface for printing, for instance for ink-jet printing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a lipid or a lipid mixture from an organic source material comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, non-starch polysaccharide, any mixture thereof or degradation products thereof. According to the method, the source material is treated one or more times with water, an aqueous solution of acid or alkali, and the precipitate and the filtrate are separated. The precipitate obtained from the treatments mentioned above can be subjected to mechanical or thermo-mechanical grinding, or the precipitate can be treated with a strong acid, or the precipitate can be acidified and ground mechanically or thermo-mechanically. After the treatments, the precipitate and the filtrate are separated. A lipid-producing microorganism is contacted with the source material or the obtained filtrate(s) in a culture medium, whereby the microorganism cells begin to produce lipid, and the lipids are recovered.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for forming a lipid or a mixture of lipids from a starting material, which comprises at least one alcohol and a soap or a soap precursor, the process comprising adding a metal-ion forming agent to the starting material, whereby a mixture is formed, which contains an insoluble phase and a liquid phase, separating the insoluble phase from the liquid phase, contacting the lipid-producing microorganism with the liquid phase on a culturing substrate, whereby the microorganism cells begin producing lipid, and collecting the lipids. The present invention also concerns a process for forming a lipid or a mixture of lipids from an alcohol-containing liquid phase, which comprises at least one alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for forming a fatty acid, a fatty acid ester or a mixture thereof from a soap-comprising starting material, in which process a metal-ion forming agent is added to the starting material, whereby a mixture is formed, which contains an insoluble phase and a liquid phase, the insoluble phase is separated from the liquid phase, and an acid is added into the insoluble phase to form a fatty acid, or a monohydric alcohol and an acid catalyst are added to form a fatty acid ester, whereby two phases are formed, an aqueous phase and an organic phase, or, first, an acid is added and then a monohydric alcohol and an acid catalyst are added into at least a portion of the formed fatty acid to esterify the fatty acid.

Abstract: PDGF-D, a new member of the PDGF/VEGF family of growth factors, as well as the nucleotide sequence encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected and transformed host cells expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications, including methods for stimulating growth of a connective tissue or healing a wound in a mammal, which methods comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of PDGF-D polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding the PDGF-D polypeptides.

Abstract: VEGF-D, a new member of the PDGF family of growth factors, which among other things stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability, as well as nucleotide sequences encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected or transformed host cells for expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an antisense nucleic acid sequence which is antisense to a polynucleotide that encodes a VEGF-D polypeptide, vectors and host cells including the same. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting VEGF-D function or expression in a mammal, for example, in treating cancer, comprising administering to the mammal in need thereof a vector of the present invention.

Abstract: A non-invasive portable apparatus for analyzing the performance of gas-filled window glazing units is disclosed. The operation of the apparatus is based on discharging the spacing between the panels (2a, 2b) of the window glazing unit (1) by applying rapidly alternating electrical field to the spacing between the panels of the window glazing unit, on collecting and analyzing the emitted discharge light in different structural intervals. The discharge is created by a needle-like electrode (5), and the inner conducting layer (2a) of the glazing unit serves as another electrode. The localization of the discharge in the vicinity of the end of the needle-like electrode (5) makes it possible to collect the emitted light without routine adjustment of the optical system.

Abstract: VEGF-D, a new member of the PDGF family of growth factors, which among other things stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability, as well as nucleotide sequences encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected or transformed host cells for expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Provided are methods of stimulating the growth of lymphatic endothelia using an Flt4 ligand.

Abstract: PDGF-D, a new member of the PDGF/VEGF family of growth factors, is described, as well as the nucleotide sequence encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected and transformed host cells expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: VEGF-D, a new member of the PDGF family of growth factors, which among other things stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability, as well as nucleotide sequences encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected or transformed host cells for expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Provided are polypeptide ligands for the receptor tyrosine kinase, Flt4. Also provided are cDNAs and vectors encoding the ligands, pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic reagents comprising the ligands, and methods of making and using the ligands.

Abstract: VEGF-D, a new member of the PDGF family of growth factors, which among other things stimulates endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability, as well as nucleotide sequences encoding it, methods for producing it, antibodies and other antagonists to it, transfected or transformed host cells for expressing it, pharmaceutical compositions containing it, and uses thereof in medical and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plant biotechnology and specifically to a novel transformation protocol for obtaining transgenic turnip rape plants with Agrobacterium mediated transformation. In the protocol an internode section of the inflorescence carrying stem of mature turnip rape is used as explant.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the molecule contains: (1) a first sequence consisting of human cystatin B genomic DNA as set forth in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:1); (2) a second sequence, wherein said second sequence is a subsequence of said first sequence, is at least nucleotides in length, and is not present in human cystatin B cDNA; (3) a third sequence in which at least one nucleotide of said first or second sequences is replaced by a different nucleotide; or (4) a fourth sequence complementary to any of said first, second or third sequences; with the proviso that (I) if said molecule is an RNA molecule, U replaces T in said sequence of said molecule, and (ii) said third sequence is at least 95% identical to said first or second sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides antibodies that are reactive with VEGF-C, a polypeptide ligand for Flt4 receptor tyrosine kinase (VEGFR-3).

Abstract: VEGF-B polypeptides from the PDGF family of growth factors having the property of promoting mitosis and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, DNA sequences encoding these polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and antibodies which react with them. The VEGF-B polypeptides are useful in stimulating angiogenesis as well as in diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Provided are ligands for the receptor tyrosine kinase, Flt4. Also provided are cDNAs and vectors encoding the ligands, pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic reagents.