Abstract: A Factor X (hereinafter referred to as “FX”) with a high activity is provided. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently preparing a recombinant, two-chain FX which comprises intervening glycosylation at such an amino acid sequence that is essential for glycosylation in FX to thereby allow for expression of a recombinant FX with no glycosylation, and the recombinant FX with no glycosylation obtained by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhancing an enzymatic activity of ADAMTS-13 and/or a method of reducing reactivity to an anti-ADAMTS-13 neutralizing antibody as well as a mutant of ADAMTS-13 prepared by the methods. The method of the present invention is characterized by substituting at least one charged amino acid in a disintegrin-like domain, a cysteine-rich domain or a spacer domain of ADAMTS-13 other than the following amino acids with a different amino acid: arginine at position 326, aspartic acid at position 330, aspartic acid at position 343 and arginine at position 349 in the disintegrin-like domain, aspartic acid at position 480, arginine at position 488, arginine at position 498, arginine at position 507, aspartic acid at position 533 and aspartic acid at position 543 in the cysteine-rich domain, and glutamic acid at position 641 and arginine at position 660 in the spacer domain.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tape-formed oxide superconductor, in which a tape-formed wire material (6 in FIG. 1) is extended between a pair of reels (5a and 5b). Besides, a reactive gas is supplied form the gas supply ports of a reactive gas supply pipe (3a) vertically to the upper side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, a gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4a and 4b) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Likewise, the reactive gas is supplied vertically to the lower side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, the gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4c and 4d) for discharging the gas after the reaction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safe and effective method for enhancing an immune response and a medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising amyloid ? peptide that induces an enhanced immune response. An amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof with addition or insertion of cysteine and a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide or a method for enhancing an immune response using the peptide together with an adjuvant. A medicament for preventing or treating Alzheimer disease comprising an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response. A DNA vaccine, that may have the same effect, comprising the gene encoding an amyloid ? peptide or a portion thereof that induces an enhanced immune response with addition or insertion of cysteine.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abstract: A safe and effective hemostatic is provided. The invention relates to a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin as an effective ingredient and a hemostatic comprising said bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises the steps of immersing a bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric into a solution containing thrombin and of lyophilizing the obtained nonwoven fabric. The bioabsorbable synthetic nonwoven fabric holding thrombin in accordance with the present invention allows for quicker and more effective hemostasis.

Abstract: A Josephson device includes a first superconducting electrode layer, a barrier layer and a second superconducting electrode layer that are successively stacked. The first and second superconducting electrode layers are made of an oxide superconductor material having (RE)1(AE)2Cu3Oy as a main component, where an element RE is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and an element AE is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca. The barrier layer is made of a material that includes the element RE, the element AE, Cu and oxygen, where in cations within the material forming the barrier layer, a Cu content is in a range of 35 At. % to 55 At. % and an RE content is in a range of 12 At. % to 30 At. %, and the barrier layer has a composition different from compositions of the first and second superconducting electrode layers.

Abstract: A novel medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases is provided. A medicament for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases comprising as a main active ingredient preferably a selenocysteine-containing protein such as Selenoprotein P or a selenocysteine-containing peptide that consists of said protein or a series of said peptides. A medicament suited for ameliorating neurotransmission dysfunction diseases caused by various pathological conditions is provided.

Abstract: RE superconductive layer excelling in Jc and Tc is formed on an interlayer capable of preventing cracking and diffusion of substrate-constituting Ni element into YBCO layer and excelling in crystallinity and surface smoothness. The interlayer is formed by coating a surface of metal substrate with a mixed solution composed of an organometallic acid salt of cerium, an organometallic acid salt of a solid solution formation element capable of forming a solid solution with cerium and an organometallic acid salt of a charge compensation element capable of compensating for a charge mismatch attributed to a difference between the electron valences of respective ions of cerium and the solid solution formation element and subsequently carrying out heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere of 900 to 1200° C. whose pressure ranges from 0.1 Pa to below atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, a rare earth oxide superconductive layer is formed on the interlayer.

Abstract: An RE123-based oxide superconductor characterized by comprising a conductive layer containing an REBa2Cu3O7-?-based oxide superconductor formed using a mixed material of at least RE2BaO4 and a Bax—Cuy—Oz-based material and a holding member which holds said conductive layer, where, RE is one type or more of elements selected from La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y.

Abstract: A method for determining an appropriate treatment option for a patient who has been diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) but who may have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), by analyzing the amount and/or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and the amount of vWF in a patient that has been diagnosed with DIC is disclosed. Using the method of the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be made from among patients diagnosed with DIC, which could not previously be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers. Also disclosed is a kit for determining an appropriate treatment option, the kit comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13.

Abstract: A peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments containing one or more selenocysteine that has a lowered toxicity than selenocystine and that exhibits a cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity. The peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments according to the present invention has preferably the amino acid sequence from 260th to 362nd amino acid residues from the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences. A screening method for a peptide fragment having the cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity is also provided.

Abstract: A RE-type oxide superconducting wire having excellent angular dependence for magnetic field of Jc is obtained by finely dispersing magnetic flux pinning centers into a superconductor. A mixed solution which comprises a metal-organic complex solution including a metal element which composes a RE-type oxide superconductor whose Ba content is reduced and a metal-organic complex solution including at least one or more kinds of metals which are selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, or Ti which has a larger affinity for Ba is coated onto an intermediate layer of a composite substrate, and the assembly is then calcined to disperse artificially and finely oxide particles (magnetic flux pinning centers) including Zr. Thus, the angular dependence for magnetic field (Jc,min/Jc,max) of Jc can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: A modified Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) having resistance to a protease and a reduced toxicity and a vaccine comprising said modified SEB are provided. A modified SEB which has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 wherein each of the lysine at 97-position and the lysine at 98-position are substituted with any other amino acid, or a derivative thereof and a vaccine comprising said modified SEB or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing the immunogenicity using a microneedle device capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine. According to the method for enhancing the immunogenicity using the present microneedle device, a microneedle device having microneedles made of polylactic acid, coated with an influenza vaccine composed of an antigen having type A strain (H1N1), type A strain (H3N2), and type B strain as active ingredients is brought into direct contact with the skin so as to transcutaneously administer the aforementioned influenza vaccine. After the transcutaneous administration, lauryl alcohol is applied to the site of the skin where the microneedle device has been brought into direct contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rare earth element oxide superconductive wire material improved in orientation by forming the bed layer by the MOD method. In the superconductive wire material (10) produced by forming a MOD-CZO layer (2), an IBS-GZO (3), an IBAD-MgO layer (4), a LMO layer (5), a PLD-CeO2 layer (6) and a PLD-GdBCO superconductive layer (8) in this order on an electropolished substrate (1) in an oxygen atmosphere, the CeO2 layer has a value of ??=4.2 degrees, which is almost the same as in the case of using a mechanically polished substrate, and the GdBCO super conductive layer has a value of Ic=243 A (Jc=up to 5 MA/cm2), which is almost the same as in the case of using a mechanically polished substrate.

Abstract: A variant of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae surface protective antigen SpaA protein or of a shortened form of SpaA (?SpaA) in which a portion of SpaA protein is deleted for protection from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection and a process for preparing the same are provided. Introduction of amino acid substitution at a specific site in the amino acid sequence of SpaA or ?SpaA protein provides a variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein which is immunogenic and is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The variant of SpaA or ?SpaA protein of the present invention may easily be recovered and purified since it is expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies.

Abstract: A method for producing influenza virus on large scale is provided. A method for propagating influenza virus which comprises, after removing or decreasing a trypsin inhibitor secreted into culture of MDCK cells (cell line derived from dog kidney) by washing with a culture medium or a buffer, inoculating influenza virus into said cells and culturing said influenza virus-inoculated cells in a culture medium supplemented with trypsin.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a medium; a specimen; a method for preparing the specimen; a method for observing the specimen; a sample cell; and an electron microscope capable of easily solving the problem of charge-up and further capable of observing a real shape or the like of a sample with a SEM, a TEM or the like. For the purpose of achieving the above-described object, the present invention uses an electrical conductivity-imparting liquid medium, for use in a microscope, which includes an ionic liquid as an essential component thereof and is impregnated into the entirety of a SEM or TEM sample or applied to the observation surface of a SEM or TEM sample to impart electrical conductivity at least to the observation surface of the sample. According to the present invention, the charge built up on the sample surface can be released simply by impregnating or coating the sample with the ionic liquid, and hence the problem of charge-up can be easily solved.

Abstract: A superconducting thin film material that can realize attainment of an excellent property such as a high JC and a high IC and reduction of costs at the same time includes an orientated metal substrate and an oxide superconductor film formed on the orientated metal substrate. The oxide superconductor film includes a physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer formed by a physical vapor deposition method, and a metal organic deposition HoBCO layer formed on the physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer by a metal organic deposition method.