Abstract: A process for preparing 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (II): ##STR1## which comprises subjecting 5,6-dihydro-4-oxo-(S)-6-methyl-thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (I): ##STR2## to the action of a microorganism to reduce the thienothiopyran derivative having the formula (I), and collecting 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno-[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (II) from the reaction mixture, wherein said microorganism belongs to the genus selected from the group consisting of Ambrosiozyma, Arthroascus, Ashbya, Candida, Cryptococcus, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Lipomyces, Lodderomyces, Metschnikowia, Pachysolen, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Saccharomycopsis, Schwanniomyces, Sporidiobolus, Spolobolomyces, Stephanoascus, Trigonopsis, Trichosporon and Wingea, according to which, a simple and effective. process for preparing 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno-[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for and the treatment of NIDDM which comprises a cytotoxic cytokine or an inducer of a cytotoxic cytokine, as the effective ingredient.

Abstract: A sheep LFA-3 protein and derivertires thereof, and derivertives of a human LFA-3 protein, gene coding for the proteins, and processes for preparing the proteins. Said proteins have high affinity for human T-cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sticky composition for medical use comprising a tackifier resin and an oxyalkylene polymer having a silicon-containing group which can be crosslinked by forming a siloxane bond, wherein silicon atom thereof is bound with a hydroxyl group or hydrolytic group, and to a transdermal drug delivery preparation incorporating said sticky composition as a drug carrier. The sticky composition of the present invention possesses excellent adhesive properties, very low skin irritancy and good compatibility with the site of plastering and thus perform as a very safe and effective medical adhesive. The transdermal drug delivery preparation of the present invention offers excellent drug release from the sticky composition.

Abstract: Dislcosed is a curable composition of a partially trimerized prepolymer of the dicyanate ester of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each is alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, aryl or halogen; and A is a bridge selected from the group consisting of a direct bond, methylene optionally mono- or disubstituted by alkyl, perfluoroalkyl and/or aryl, a five or six membered cycloalkylene, sulfonyl, thio, oxy, carbonyl, phenylene, and xylylene optionally substituted by alkyl at on or both methylene carbon atoms is useful in the manufacture of electrical laminates having excellent dielectric properties in the GHz region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a microgranulated particle having particle size of not more than 0.2 mm, wherein a fine powder with the average particle size of not more than 10 .mu.m, which is being agitated, tumbled or fluidized, is granulated, with a solution containing a binder alone or a binder and a surfactant being sprayed onto the surface thereof. The present invention allows to produce pharmaceutical preparations for poorly soluble and poorly absorbable drugs and preparations requiring a high content of the active ingredient. Also, it can provide an easy-to-handle powdery microgranulated particle in the field of food and fertilizers.

Abstract: A process for preparing a synthetic resin powder having an improved blocking resistance suitable as a modifier for vinyl chloride resins, which comprises coagulating an aqueous latex of a graft copolymer suitable as a modifier for vinyl chloride resins, mixing the resulting, slurry with a latex of a specific polymer of methyl methacrylate, an aromatic vinyl compound, a crosslinkling monomer and optionally other copolymerizable monomers or a slurry formed from the specific polymer latex by coagulation, and recovering a powder from the resulting mixture containing the coagulated graft copolymer and the coagulated specific polymer.

Abstract: A curable composition containing (a) 100 parts by weight of an oxyalkylene polymer having a silicon atom-containing group to which a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group is bonded and capable of crosslinking on formation of a siloxane bond and (b) from 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a hydrolyzable silicon compound represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein X represents a hydrolyzable group; R.sup.1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2 represents a monovalent organic group containing an amino group or an imino group and having a carbon atom number to nitrogen atom number ratio (C/N ratio) of more than 3; m represents 0, 1 or 2; n represents 1, 2 or 3; and (m+n) is less than 4.

Abstract: An antistatic nonflammable resin composition comprising: (A) 30 to about 80 weight percent a styrene resin; (B) 70 to about 20 weight percent of a vinyl chloride resin; (C) 0.5 to about 5 weight parts based on (A)+(B) of at least one antistatic agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfonates and alkyl benzene sulfonates; and (D) 0.1 to about 5 weight parts based on (A)+(B) of at least one organic tin stabilizer containing sulfur. Molded articles from said composition possess a good appearance, excellent antistatic property and dust-repellency on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A process for crystallizing N.sup.2 -((S)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl)-N.sup.6 -trifluoroacetyl-L-lysyl-L-proline using one or a mixture of at least two kinds of compound having the general formula: CR.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 as a crystallizing solvent, optionally with an auxiliary solvent which controls crystallization condition.

Abstract: There are disclosed a resin composition capable of exhibiting a high melt viscoelasticity comprising 100 parts by weight of an aromatic copolyester resin which contains a branching component unit having at least three ester-forming groups in the ratio of 0.01 to 5 moles per 100 moles in total of aromatic dicarboxylic acid units and which has a limiting viscosity of 0.4 to 1.0 dl/g, and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of a compound having at least two acid anhydride groups in its molecule, and an aromatic polyester resin foamed body produced therefrom and a process for producing the foamed body.

Abstract: A solar module made by the sequential stacking of a conducting metal oxide layer, an amorphous semiconductor layer, a back metal electrode, and a passivating resin layer on a transparent substrate, in which the passivating resin layer includes a water vapor barrier layer having a permeability to water vapor of not more than 1 g/m.sup.2 day measured at a thickness of 100 .mu.m, with the water vapor barrier layer being a polymer having a backbone consisting essentially of carbon and hydrogen. This barrier layer prevents the oxidation of the back metal electrode by water vapor, so that the stability of the module is improved in outdoor use.

Abstract: A flame-retarded bedding product comprising (A) 85 to 15 parts by weight of a fiber comprising a polymer containing 17 to 86% by weight of a halogen, and 6 to 50% by weight of an Sb compound based on the polymer, and (B) 15 to 85 parts by weight of at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers and chemical fibers, the total amount of the fibers (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight. The bedding product has not only the desired flame resistance but also excellent visual feeling, feeling of touchness, hygroscopic property, washing resistance, durability, and the like.

Abstract: A flame-retarded interior good comprising (A) 85 to 15 parts by weight of a fiber comprising a polymer containing 17 to 86% by weight of a halogen, and 6 to 50% by weight of an Sb compound based on the polymer, and (B) 15 to 85 parts by weight of at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers and chemical fibers, the total amount of the fibers (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight. The interior good has not only the desired flame resistance but also excellent visual feeling, feeling of touchness, hygroscopic property, washing resistance, durability, and the like.

Abstract: Flame-retarded clothing comprising (A) 85 to 15 parts by weight of a fiber comprising a polymer containing 17 to 86 % by weight of a halogen, and 6 to 50 by weight of an Sb compound based on the polymer, and (B) 15 to 85 parts by weight of at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers and chemical fibers, the total amount of the fibers (A) and (B) being 100 parts by weight. The clothing has not only the desired flame resistance but also excellent visual feeling, feeling of touchness, hygroscopic property, washing resistance, durability, and the like.

Abstract: A curable composition suitable as top coats having an improved excellent acid resistance as well as excellent properties such as thermosetting property, appearance, water resistance, scratch resistance and weatherability, which comprises (A) a vinyl copolymer having a main chain substantially composed of a vinyl copolymer and having in its molecule both at least one hydrolyzable silyl group and at least one alcoholic hydroxyl group, (B) a silanol group-containing organopolysiloxne having at least one silanol group, and (C) a curing catalyst.

Abstract: A cognition enhancer comprising, as an effective ingredient, a bicyclic compound containing nitrogen atom having the general formula (I): ##STR1## or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A modified polyolefin prepared from an aqueous suspension containing (a) a crystalline polyolefin, (b) 1 to 500 parts by weight of a vinyl monomer per 100 parts by weight of the crystalline polyolefin, and (c) 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of a radical polymerization initiator per 100 parts by weight of the vinyl monomer by impregnating the crystalline polyolefin (a) with the vinyl monomer (b) and heating the aqueous suspension to polymerize the vinyl monomer (b) at a temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which the crystal region of the polyolefin (a) begins to substantially melt, which has an excellent effect of improving processability of other polyolefins and provides a polyolefin composition having excellent properties such as processability, impact resistance, rigidity and surface properties when the modified polyolefin is incorporated into polyolefins optionally with a core-shell graft copolymer and/or an inorganic filler.

Abstract: A novel dicyanate ester of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen, alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, aryl or halogen; A is a bridge selected from the group consisting of direct bond, methylene optionally mono- or di-substituted by alkyl, perfluoroalkyl and/or aryl, a five or six membered cycloalkylene, sulfonyl, thio, oxy, carbonyl, phenylene, and xylylene optionally substituted by alkyl at one or both methylene carbon atoms; with the proviso that when the cyanato group is at the para-position relative to the bridge A, both R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not hydrogen, and its prepolymer are useful in the manufacture of electrical laminates having excellent dielectric properties in GHz region.

Abstract: A porous hollow fiber of polysulfone suitable for use in filtration such as microfiltration and having a prolonged life, the hollow fiber having an inner surface with a network structure such that approximately circular openings having a minor axial length of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m are present in proximity to each other at intervals of not more than the average minor axial length of the openings, thus providing a surface fraction of openings of 50 to 90% and/or an outer surface of a structure such that the outer surface region has undergone fibrillation to a high degree to form fibrils oriented in the fiber axial direction at intervals of 0.2 to 3 .mu.m, thus providing a surface fraction of openings of at least 50%. The hollow fiber is prepared by a process characterized in that a polymer substance having an extremely high molecular weight such as polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone is added to the spinning solution of polysulfone, thereby improving the spinnability.