Abstract: The subject invention provides Sia.alpha.2,3 Gal.beta.1,4GlcNAc.alpha.2,8-sialyltransferase and an enzymatically active fragment thereof, and a nucleotide sequence encoding said sialyltransferase. The subject invention also provides an extracellularly releasable protein capable of catalyzing Sia.alpha.2,3Gal.beta.1,4GlcNAc.alpha.2,8-sialyltransfer which comprises the enzymatically active fragment of the Sia.alpha.2,3Gal.beta.1,4GlcNAc.alpha.2,8-sialyltransferase together with a signal peptide.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for solidifying and shaping fluid which can be optically cured, including (a) an optically scanning device for scanning a level of fluid which can be optically cured, with a light beam, (b) a sinking device for sinking a layer having been cured by scanning carried out by the optically scanning device, below a level of the fluid, and (c) a recoat device for covering a cured layer having been sunk in the step (b), with a fluid which is not yet cured. The recoat device is formed with a recoater blade which horizontally moves above a level of the cured layer with a predetermined gap kept therebetween to smooth a level of the not yet cured fluid. The optically scanning device scans a level of not yet cured fluid having been smoothed by the recoater blade, with a light beam, simultaneously with scanning of the optically scanning device.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a novel ceramide glucosyltransferase having catalytic activity of glucose transfer from UDP-Glc to ceramide, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding the ceramide glucosyltransferase.

Abstract: A cyclotron comprises a dee, an ion source cone provided with an ion outlet through which ions are emitted, and an ion puller electrode mounted on the dee to pull out ions from the ion source cone through the ion outlet by applying a voltage between the ion source and the ion puller electrode. The ion source cone can be moved from outside the cyclotron without breaking the vacuum of the cyclotron. The ion puller electrode has a sliding aperture member provided with an aperture and capable of being moved relative to the dee. An operating projection of the ion source cone is brought into engagement with the aperture member, and then the ion source cone is moved to move the aperture member to a desired position. Thus, the aperture of the ion puller electrode can be positioned at an appropriate position opposite the ion outlet by moving the ion source cone without requiring any special mechanism for moving the ion puller electrode.

Abstract: A pair of magnetic field adjusting center rods are inserted in central portions of a pair of pole pieces of a magnet included in a cyclotron. One of the magnetic field adjusting center rods is provided with an ion source receiving hole and the other is provided with a magnetic field adjusting recess coaxially with the ion source receiving hole. The magnetic field adjusting center rods are provided at their ends facing each other with magnetic field correcting projections, respectively. The magnetic field correcting projections project toward each other to form pole faces facing each other with a small air gap. Thus, irregularities in a magnetic field created between the pole pieces are corrected so that the dispersion of ion beams and the distortion of an orbit of ions can be prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed are anti-obesity agents comprising 3-ketosteroidal compounds as defined in the specification. The present invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions and use of these compounds in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus generates X-rays from plasma formed by irradiating a laser beam to a target. The apparatus includes an X-ray transmitting film disposed at at least one side of the target with a predetermined gap provided therebetween. The X-ray transmitting film has a thickness such that the film is not broken due to an action in the X-ray generating process. The X-rays are taken out through the X-ray transmitting film. An X-ray microscope can employ such an X-ray generating apparatus, with the X-rays from the apparatus being guided to the sample, with the sample to be observed being disposed in the vicinity of the X-ray transmitting film, and with a detecting device for detecting an X-ray image formed by X-rays transmitted through the sample.

Abstract: An imaging method and an imaging device are disclosed which use no image forming optical system. A grid system 25 including an objective grid array 22 with a plurality of coplanarly arranged grids having pitches different from each other and a detector grid array 23 having a similarly enlarged configuration of the objective grid array, and a detector array 24 constitute a detection system. An energy ray such as an X-ray which has been transmitted through the grid system 25 is detected by the detector array 24 while rotating an object 20 under observation placed on a rotary table 21. A signal processing means 28 subjects signals detected by the detector array 24 to inverse Fourier transform to synthesize an image of the object 20, and the image is displayed on a display 29.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is provided blasticidin S (hereinafter referred to as BcS) deaminase, a gene coding for the BcS deaminase, a vector incorporating the BcS deaminase gene and a transformant or a transductant transformed or transduced with the vector.It is an object of the present invention to provide BcS deaminase, a BcS deaminase gene, a vector incorporating the BcS deaminase gene and a transformant containing the vector by focusing on the fact that blasticidin S is an aminonucleoside antibiotic capable of inhibiting a protein synthesis in the wide range of organisms and is generally used as an agricultural antibiotic.It is another object of the present invention to establish expression vectors of above-mentioned BcS gene and to produce useful plants having drug resistance against specific agricultural chemicals.

Abstract: A magnetoencephalograph comprising an oxide superconductor magnetic shielded vessel and a cryostat for cooling the magnetic shielded vessel, a multichannel SQUID and a cryostat for cooling the SQUID inserted together in the magnetic shielded vessel from one end of the magnetic shielded vessel, a magnetic-field detection unit situated in the vessel for detecting magnetic fields, and a coupling portion for coupling the SQUID and the magnetic-field detection unit with respect to the signals, and the SQUID and the magnetic-field detection unit being detachable. The magnetoencephalograph makes possible the detection of the very weak magnetic fields from the human brain and therewith reduction of the diameter of the opening of the magnetic shield vessel for inserting the SQUID. The reduction of the diameter of the SQUID opening in turn makes it possible to reduce the length of the magnetic shielded vessel, thereby preserving a high shielding effect of the magnetic shield vessel because of the L/D relationship.

Abstract: In an electron beam excited ion irradiation apparatus which irradiates ions to a material, an electrical discharge changes an inert gas into a plasma. Electrons are drawn from this plasma and are made into electron beams. The electron beams are passed through an active gas to create ion. When the ion is irradiated to a material, electron components of the electron beams, which are irradiated vertically to a surface of the material are changed their irradiation direction. Control of the range of electron beam irradiation is performed by a magnetic filed formed so as to surround the ion beams.

Abstract: A method for producing streptovaricin by culturing a streptovaricin producing strain in the presence of a nonionic adsorbent. This procedure substantially increases the production efficiency of the streptovaricin. A second embodiment wherein the streptovaricin producing strain is produced in the presence of fumaric acid or its water soluble salts to provide improvements in production efficiency is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the method for preparing chitosan of the present invention, chitosan is prepared by inoculating a filamentous fungi belonging to the family Mucoraceae into a culture medium for pre-cultivation containing yeast extract, malt extract, peptone, glucose and magnesium sulfate to perform pre-cultivation and then inoculating the pre-culture into a culture medium for main-cultivation having a composition essentially identical to that of the medium for pre-cultivation to perform the main-cultivation. Particularly preferred filamentous fungi belonging to the family Mucoraceae is Absidia coerulea. According to the method for preparing chitosan through the cultivation of microorganisms, chitosan exhibiting uniform quality can efficiently be produced and the method does not adversely affect the circumferential environment.

Abstract: A method for producing streptovaricin by culturing a streptovaricin producing strain in the presence of a nonionic adsorbent. This procedure substantially increases the production efficiency of the streptovaricin. A second embodiment wherein the streptovaricin producing strain is produced in the presence of fumaric acid or its water soluble salts to provide improvements in production efficiency is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a brassinosteroid is disclosed, wherein crown gall cells capable of producing the brassinosteroid are cultured in a culture medium in the presence of a cultivation aid selected from auxins, sterols, squalene, casamino acid and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent a halogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sub.

Abstract: A novel transition-metal compound having a bis-substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand of bridged structure (I) and a novel mixture of the compound (I) with an aluminoxane (B), each useful as catalyst component(s) for stereoregular olefin polymerization are provided, which compound (I) is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein M is Zr or Hf; Y is Si or Ge; R.sup.1.sub.n -C.sub.5 H.sub.4-n and R.sup.1.sub.q -C.sub.5 H.sub.4-q each represent an unsubstituted or substituted cyclopentadienyl group; n and q each represent an integer of 0 to 4, but cases of n=q=0 and n=q=4 are excluded; R.sup.1 s may be same or different and each represent H, silyl or hydrocarbon radical; R.sup.2 s may be same or different and represent H or hydrocarbon radical; and Xs may be same or different and represent H, halogen or hydrocarbon radical; and which aluminoxane is expressed by the formula (II) or the formula (III) ##STR2## wherein m represents an integer of 4 to 30 and R.sup.3 represents a hydrocarbon radical.

Abstract: Bis(di-, tri- or tetra-substituted-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dihalides represented by the following general formula [I] are provided, ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 denotes a substituent group on the cyclopentadienyl ring which is an alkyl radical of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sub.2.sup.1 --C.sub.5 H.sub.3 stands for a di-substituted cyclopentadienyl radical; and X is a halogen atom).This compound, when combined with an aluminoxane repesented by the following general formula [VII], gives a high-activity catalyst for the synthesis of polyolefins, ##STR2## (wherein m is an integer of 4 to 20; and R.sup.2 denotes a hydrocarbyl radical).