Abstract: The present invention provides a polyethylene glycol-conjugated erythropoietin (PEG-conjugated EPO) prepared by PEG conjugation on the lysine residue at position 52 of native erythropoietin (native EPO). In order to achieve more sustained efficacy without losing physiological activities of native EPO, a glycoprotein rich in sugar chains, there has been a need to develop a PEG-conjugated EPO with significantly sustained efficacy by introducing a controlled number of PEG molecules at controlled positions. This PEG-conjugated EPO addresses such a need and provides more sustained efficacy.

Abstract: A self-diagnosing system for an encoder. The system includes an encoder circuit for outputting information detected by an encoder; a data preparing section provided in the encoder circuit and preparing data representing a state of an abnormal-state judgment factor in connection with at least one of the encoder and an electric motor combined with the encoder; a signal generating section provided in the encoder circuit and generating an abnormal-state signal when the data prepared in the data preparing section represents an abnormal state of the abnormal-state judgment factor; and a storage section provided in the encoder circuit and storing the data representing a state of the abnormal-state judgment factor when the signal generating section generates the abnormal-state signal. The storage section may store the data prepared in the data preparing section at a desired timing not later than the instant the signal generating section generates the abnormal-state signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polyethylene glycol-conjugated erythropoietin (PEG-conjugated EPO) prepared by PEG conjugation on the lysine residue at position 52 of native erythropoietin (native EPO). In order to achieve more sustained efficacy without losing physiological activities of native EPO, a glycoprotein rich in sugar chains, there has been a need to develop a PEG-conjugated EPO with significantly sustained efficacy by introducing a controlled number of PEG molecules at controlled positions. This PEG-conjugated EPO addresses such a need and provides more sustained efficacy.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary battery is disclosed, comprising a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode active material is a transition metal oxide capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and the negative electrode material comprises at least one silicic material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium selected from silicon, a silicon alloy and a silicide, and a process for producing the nonaqueous secondary battery is disclosed.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary battery is disclosed, comprising a positive electrode sheet containing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode sheet having at least one layer containing a negative electrode material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing a lithium metal salt, wherein the battery into which an electrolytic solution has been injected is sealed, subjected to charging treatment having at least two stages, and subjected to storage treatment having at least two steps. A process for preparing such the nonaqueous secondary battery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic material comprises a silver halide emulsion layer and a surface backing layer provided on a support. The surface backing layer contains an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound represented by the formula (I) or (II)C.sub.n1 H.sub.m1 --X.sup.1 --C.sub.n2 H.sub.m2 (I)C.sub.n3 H.sub.m3 --X.sup.2 --C.sub.n4 H.sub.m4 --X.sup.3 --C.sub.n5 H.sub.m5 (II)in which each of X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 is a divalent linking group selected from --CO--, --O--, --S--, --NR.sup.1 --, --SO--, --SO.sub.2 -- and a combination thereof; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an aliphatic group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; each of n1, n2, n3 and n5 is 4 to 100; each of m1, m2, m3 and m5 is 9 to 201; n4 is 3 to 100; m4 is 6 to 200; n1+n2 is 25 to 120; n3+n4+n5 is 30 to 150; at least one hydrogen atom of the groups C.sub.n1 H.sub.m1 --, --C.sub.n2 H.sub.m2, C.sub.n3 H.sub.m3 --, --C.sub.n4 H.sub.m4 -- and --C.sub.n5 H.sub.m5 is substituted with a polar group selected from --OH, --COOM.sup.1, --NH.sub.2, --N.sup.+ R.sup.2 R.sup.

Abstract: A process for producing a silver halide photographic material comprising a polyester support having thereon at least one light-sensitive layer and at least one undercoat layer is described, wherein the undercoat layer is provided by coating a solution containing gelatin for an undercoating binder having a calcium ion (Ca.sup.++) content of from 10 to 2,500 ppm based on dry gelatin.