Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant plasmid having a gene which encompasses at least the entire coding region of human fibroblast interferon messenger RNA and a method for preparing such plasmid.

Abstract: The present invention is configured such that, in a low AC loss oxide superconductor constituted by providing an oxide superconducting layer 6 on a substrate 1, said oxide superconducting layer 6 is separated into a plurality of filament conductors 2 in parallel to the lengthwise direction of said substrate 1 by dividing grooves 3 plurally formed in the widthwise direction of said substrate, and a high-resistance oxide 8 is formed in said dividing grooves 3. Because of the invention, it is possible to increase the insulation properties of individually divided mated filament conductors, and to obtain an oxide superconductor that has low AC loss.

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: The present invention provides a human anti-?9 integrin antibody or an antibody fragment which specifically recognize human ?9 integrin and mouse ?9 integrin, inhibit interaction with their ligands, particularly, the antibody or antibody fragment which recognize loop regions of human and mouse ?9 integrins, a gene encoding the antibody or antibody fragment, a recombinant expression vector containing the gene, a transformant harboring the gene, production method of human anti-?9 integrin antibody or antibody fragment using the transformant, and an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of rheumatoid arthritis which contains the antibody or antibody fragment.

Abstract: There is established a superconducting magnet made of a high-temperature bulk superconductor and capable of trapping a high magnetic field with ease and stably. The superconducting magnet made of the high-temperature bulk superconductor, for use by trapping a magnetic field, is made of the bulk superconductor with an artificial hole therein, a low-melting metal impregnated into, and filling up at least the artificial hole, and a heat-conducting metal material embedded in portions of the high-temperature bulk superconductor, impregnated with, and filled with the low-melting metal. The superconducting magnet can be produced by a process involving the steps of providing the artificial hole in the high-temperature bulk superconductor, disposing the heat-conducting metal material in at least the artificial hole, applying a process of impregnating and filling up at least the artificial hole with the low-melting metal, and subsequently, executing a process of magnetizing.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide hepatitis C virus inhibitors capable of inhibiting viral replication in hepatitis C virus-infected cells. The replication of hepatitis C virus can be inhibited and hepatitis C virus-infected cells can be specifically injured by specifically inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 involved in the replication of hepatitis C virus. Thus, viral inhibitors comprising a substance inhibiting BGT-1 or AKR1C1 are effective for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Abstract: A tape-shaped oxide superconductor includes a 15 to 100 nm-thick Ce—Gd—O-based oxide layer (Ce:Gd=40:60 to 70:30 molar ratio) and a 100 nm-thick Ce—Zr—O-based oxide layer (Ce:Zr=50:50 molar ratio) as first and second intermediate layers are formed by MOD on an Ni-base alloy substrate having a half value width (FWHM:??) of 6.5 degrees. A 150 nm-thick CeO2 oxide layer as a third intermediate layer is formed on the second intermediate layer by RF sputtering. A 1 ?m-thick YBCO superconducting layer is formed by TFA-MOD on the three-layer structure. In the tape-shaped oxide superconductor, the ?? values of the first to third intermediate layers are (6.0 to 6.5) degrees, (6.0 to 6.6) degrees, and (6.0 to 6.6) degrees, respectively, and the Jc value of the YBCO superconducting layer in liquid nitrogen is 1.8 to 2.2 MA/cm2.

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 of enhancing the efficacy of a monoclonal antibody preparation wherein antigens from patients are tested for their reactivity with the antibody. An amino acid sequence of an expressed protein is deuced from a nucleotide sequence determined by isolation and analysis of a target molecule gene in a biopsy from a patient. This is compared with the previously determined amino acid sequence recognized by the monoclonal antibody preparation in order to assess the fitness of patients for administration of the monoclonal antibody preparation.

Abstract: A superconducting junction element has a lower electrode formed by a superconductor layer, a barrier layer provided on a portion of a surface of the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed by a superconductor and covering the barrier layer, and a superconducting junction formed by the lower electrode, the barrier layer and the upper electrode. A critical current density of the superconducting junction is controlled based on an area of the lower electrode.

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 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: A superconducting wire having at least a superconducting thin film and a stabilizing film formed one on top of another in order on a substrate having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, the superconducting wire having at least one cut made along a direction of the length of the superconducting wire, the superconducting wire being bendable at the cut in a width direction.

Abstract: When genes encoding three kinds of proteins constituting fibrinogen, an ? chain (or variant of ? chain), a ? chain and a ? chain (or variant of ? chain) are incorporated into an animal cell, a constitutional ratio of respective genes is such that a ? chain (and/or variant of ? chain) gene is an equal amount to a 1000-fold amount relative to an ? chain (and/or variant of ? chain) gene and a ? chain gene and, further, by using a baculovirus P35 gene, a recombinant fibrinogen highly producing cell is prepared.

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: An albumin preparation may be produced efficiently on a commercial basis that has reduced possibility of contamination of infectious viruses and has high safety and stability. The process according to the present invention comprises a step of filtration of a serum albumin-containing solution with a virus-removing membrane preferably with a pore size of 10 to 20 nm. In particular, said filtration is performed before heat treatment for inactivation of viruses. In a more preferable embodiment, said serum albumin-containing solution is treated with an anion exchanger and/or a prefilter before a step of said filtration.

Abstract: A novel prophylactic/remedy for immunopathy is provided which is not neutralized by a neutralizing antibody to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), known as one of superantigens, and may effectively act as a superantigen. A modified SEB having a reduced reactivity with a neutralizing antibody to SEB (anti-SEB antibody) and a prophylactic/remedy for immunopathy comprising as an active ingredient said modified SEB. The modified SEB of the present invention may be prepared with the evolutionary molecular engineering technique by introducing amino acid substitution in the amino acid sequence of SEB, especially at an epitope recognition site of the anti-SEB antibody in the amino acid sequence of SEB.

Abstract: A human anti-amyloid ? peptide (hereinafter referred to as “A?”) antibody that binds to A? to thereby inhibit aggregation of A? molecules, and a fragment of said antibody are provided. The antibody and a fragment thereof according to the present invention, comprising a variable region of a human-derived anti-A? antibody, strongly reacts with A? to thereby inhibit its aggregation and hence may be used as a medicament for the prophylaxis and treatment of Alzheimer dementia.

Abstract: A thin film superconductive wire material (16) and an electro conductive tape (15) are immersed in a solder bath (35) containing a solder, which includes Sn(tin) and Bi (bismuth), to bond the thin film superconductive wire material (16) and the electro conductive tape (15) and a composite superconductive wire material (10) is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a superconducting device including a substrate, a first superconducting pattern formed on the substrate, an insulating pattern formed on the first superconducting pattern, and a second superconducting pattern formed at the uppermost level in the multilayered superconducting pattern. A barrier layer of a Josephson junction is formed on the lower side of, or within the second superconducting pattern. The second superconducting pattern constitutes a circuit element on the insulating pattern.