Abstract: The present invention relates to hirudin variants having high anti-thrombin and anti-platelet activity, methods for producing them, and anti-coagulants having said variants as active ingredients.Hirudin variants shown in formula (I) having tyrosine residues or having their hydroxyl group sulfated.Methods for producing hirudin variants by sulfating hydroxyl group of said tyrosine residues, and anti-coagulants having hirudin variants shown in formula (I) as active ingredients.Phe-Glu-A-Ile-Pro-B-Tyr(R)-Tyr(R) (I)?In the formula, A represents Glu or Pro, B represents Glu, Tyr (R), Glu-Asp or Glu-Tyr(R), and (R) represents the hydroxy group or its sulfated ester (--O--SO.sub.3 H) of tyrosine residue.

Abstract: Provided is a chimeric HV1/HV3 hirudin analog useful as an anti-coagulant, exhibiting higher anti-thrombin activity and less tendency to cause bleeding than hirudin HV1. Also provided are a method of producing hirudins and hirudin analogs, as well as other proteins, employing secretion vectors, and transformed microorganisms such as E. coli. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising various hirudins or the chimeric HV1/HV3 hirudin analog of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel arginine deiminase of an approximately 45,000 molecular weight derived from mycoplasma having an ability to decompose arginine, and the method of manufacturing this novel enzyme from mycoplasma. This enzyme is an effective anti-cancer agent, as it shows anti-cancer activities both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: A high-purity organic phosphine is obtained by washing organic phosphine or an organic solvent solution thereof with water, an alkaline aqueous solution or an acidic aqueous solution, whereby impurities, particularly, silicon compounds, 2-methoxy ethanol, and organic halides, contained in organic phosphine can be removed, so that such high-purity organic phosphine may be used as a raw material for high-performance compound semiconductor thin film with Groups III and V elements of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: An acidic pretreating solution for silver plating, which comprises as an agent for preventing the silver deposition by displacement, an inorganic acid and/or an organic acid, and a silver plating process which uses this pretreating solution. The pretreating solution provides long lasting preventive effect against silver deposition by displacement and the resulting silver plated layer firmly adheres to a metal substrate surface.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a flying magnetic head, the following surfaces are mirror-finished: a bonding surface 18a of a core block 18, a surface 18b of the core block 18 which is on the opposite side of the bonding surface 18a, a surface 19a of a core block 19, and a bonding end surface 2a of a slider 2 formed of a non-magnetic material such as ceramics and having a rectangular sectional configuration. Then, high-melting-point bonding glass layers m are deposited on these surfaces by sputtering or the like. Afterwards, the core blocks 18 and 19 and the slider 2 are put together and simultaneously bonded with each other by heating under pressure through the bonding glass layers m, thereby forming a flying magnetic head block.

Abstract: Pentafluorophenyl derivatives are expressed by the formula (I): ##STR1## where X represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen atom; Y represents any group of --CH.sub.2 OH, --COOH, --COCl, --CON.sup.1 R.sup.2, or --OSO.sub.2 R.sup.3 ; R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent an alkyl group which may have a substituted group, an aryl group which may have a substituted group, or a hydrogen atom except for R.sup.3. However, when X to a halogen atom, Y is the aforementioned groups other than --OSO.sub.2 R.sup.3. A racemate and/or an optical active form of the pentafluorophenyl derivatives can be used suitably as derivatizing agents for electron capture detection and optical resolution for analysis and as intermediates for medicines, agricultural chemicals, functional polymers, etc. The pentafluorophenyl derivatives are produced from pentafluorostyrene oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to improve the expression of a poorly expressed recombinant protein, such as platelet factor 4, by constructing a gene fusion such that unfavorable secondary structure formed between the region of the messenger RNA specifying the recombinant protein and the region of the messenger RNA containing the ribosome binding site is disrupted. The gene fusion is constructed by inserting a DNA segment of sufficient length to disrupt unfavorable long-range folding interactions which render the ribosome binding site inaccesible to ribosomes thereby interfering with the translation of mRNA. The invention further provides for the expression of recombinant platelet factor 4 and provides recombinant DNA vectors and methods for the bacterial production and recovery of said platelet factor 4.

Abstract: A magnetic head with a pair of mated core halves, the mating surfaces of the core halves being bonded with a predetermined gap length provided therebetween. The magnetic head has a gap portion where, on each of the mating surfaces of the core halves, a non-magnetic dielectric layer of SiO.sub.2 which is adjacent to the core half, a barrier layer, and a bonding glass layer are successively formed. The glass layers each associated with the corresponding core half are fusion pressure bonded together in such a manner as to form the gap portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fuel composition comprising a fuel oil added with at least two kinds of soaps selected from cerium, neodymium and lanthanum soaps and a fuel additive comprising an organic solution that contains at least two kinds of soaps selected from cerium, neodymium and lanthanum soaps.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition for the internal combustion engine comprising (i) a mineral lubricating base oil, a synthetic lubricating base oil or a mixture thereof, (ii) a specified amount of at least one alkyl molybdenum dithiophosphate having secondary alkyl ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a secondary alkyl group having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, X is O or S which may be the same or different, and the O/S ratio is from 3/1 to 1/3, and (iii) a specified amount of at least one alkyl zinc dithiophosphate having a primary alkyl group represented by the formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each a primary alkyl group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms which may be the same or different, and (iv) an additive of the lubricating oil containing the above components (b) and (c) for use in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A magnetic film of Fe-Si-Al alloy comprises a substrate and an Fe-Si-Al alloy film in which argon is entrapped. A thin-film laminated magnetic head comprises a pair of opposed substrates, and alternately laminated Fe-Si-Al alloy films entrapping argon therein and non-magnetic insulating films between the substrates. In the magnetic film and the head the substrates have a thermal expansion coefficient lower than that of the Fe-Si-Al alloy films and the amount of argon entrapped in the alloy films is controlled within the range of about 0.01 to about 0.3 wt. % so that internal stresses in the alloy films are substantially zeroed.

Abstract: Macrocyclic 2-halogenoketones are prepared by reacting a macrocyclic 2-hydroxyketone with a halogenating agent. This reaction may be carried out in the presence of a solvent and/or a catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing a magnetic film of Fe-Si-Al alloy in which argon is entrapped, by using a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus to apply RF bias to a substrate thereby depositing a Fe-Si-Al alloy film on the substrate. The alloy film produced has a thermal expansion coefficient of 110.times.10.sup.-7 to 170.times.10.sup.-7 .degree. C..sup.-1 and the substrate has a thermal expansion coefficient of 100.times.10.sup.-7 to 135.times.10.sup.-7 .degree. C..sup.-1. The amount of argon entrapped in the alloy film is controlled within the range of 0.01 o 0.3 weight percent so as to substantially zero the internal stresses in the alloy film.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for punching the tuyeres of a converter with a mechanical puncher mounted upon a carriage running on rails. Light intercepting plates encoded by light transmission holes are disposed opposite each tuyere. Light is shone towards the light intercepting plates and detected on the opposite side thereof by photoelectric elements the outputs of which are coupled to a digital processor which controls the speed and position of the carriage. The mechanical puncher has two cylinders each of which drives two punching rods to successively punch the tuyeres. If it is impossible to punch a tuyere with the mechanical puncher were moving in one direction, the position of the puncher is shifted by one tuyere to start the punching again in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Hardening of an unsaturated polyester resin is accelerated by use of (a) a zirconium and/or titanium chelate compound and (b) a cobalt and/or manganese compound as a hardening accelerator.

Abstract: A defoaming apparatus for breaking foams in a fermentation tank in which the direction of rotation of defoaming blades is opposite that of agitation blades and the speed of the defoaming blades is appreciably higher than that of the agitation blades. A sleeve is rotatably mounted around the drive shaft which operates the agitation blades with defoaming blades rigidly coupled to the sleeve. The sleeve is integrally provided with an external gear. Idler gears are disposed in meshing engagement between the internal gear and external gear.

Abstract: A catalyst is described for use in a process for oxidizing and/or cracking a heavy hydrocarbon under fluidizing conditions in the presence of the catalyst, including simultaneously or subsequently reducing iron oxides in said catalyst and then reacting the reduced oxidation-state iron with steam to produce hydrogen, said catalyst consisting essentially of from 30 to 60 wt % Fe, 0.1 to 10 wt % Ni, and 10 wt % or less SiO.sub.2, and having a specific surface area of from 0.1 to 30 m.sup.2 /g and an apparent specific gravity of from 2.5 to 4.0.

Abstract: A mechanical punching device for punching the tuyeres of a converter properly independently of the angle of inclination of the converter. Link mechanisms, each having two turning arms, are provided on both sides of a carriage with the two turning arms being connected together by the end shaft of the link drive device. The end shaft is a link drive device movable vertically so that the distance between one of the supporting shafts which serves as a fulcrum and one of the holding shafts of the mechanical puncher on the side of the punching rod is shorter than the distance between the other supporting shaft and the other holding shaft. The holding shafts slide along guide slots formed in the side wall of the carriage. The angle of inclination and horizontal and vertical positions of the mechanical puncher are thereby changed with a single operation of the link drive device.

Abstract: A process for processing a sulfur-containing heavy oil, which comprises:in a first zone, catalytically cracking a sulfur-containing heavy oil in the presence of fluidized catalyst particles containing about 30 to 60 wt % Fe to thereby convert the heavy oil to a light oil, deposit sulfur-containing coke on the catalyst particles, and partially fixing the decomposed sulfur compounds with the reduced iron contained in the catalyst particles as iron sulfide;in a second zone, contacting the catalyst from the first zone with an oxygen containing gas in an amount less than that theoretically required to thereby partially combust the coke on the catalyst, reduce the iron in the catalyst, and fix the sulfur compounds contained in the coke as iron sulfide; andin a third zone, contacting the reduced catalyst from the second zone with steam in a fluidized manner to produce hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide and to convert the reduced iron and iron sulfide in the catalyst to iron oxides, with the iron oxide-containing catalyst