Abstract: A peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments containing one or more selenocysteine that has a lowered toxicity than selenocystine and that exhibits a cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity. The peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments according to the present invention has preferably the amino acid sequence from 260th to 362nd amino acid residues from the C-terminal of selenoprotein P, or said amino acid sequence with one or several amino acid residues therein being deleted, substituted or added, or a partial sequence of either of the above amino acid sequences, or an amino acid sequence comprising as a part any of the above amino acid sequences. A screening method for a peptide fragment having the cytotoxicity-inhibitory activity is also provided.

Abstract: A novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, comprising as an active ingredient selenoprotein P and/or a peptide fragment or a series of peptide fragments derived from said protein is provided. The novel medicament for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially for ameliorating dyskinesia, according to the present invention is suitably applicable to diseases with decrease in motor function.

Abstract: This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease.

Abstract: A process for preparing a peptide fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity is provided. In order to obtain a selenoprotein P fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity, full-length selenoprotein P was reacted with various serine proteinases and the resulting fragments were electrophoresed and assessed for a cell death-inhibitory activity. A process for preparing a selenoprotein P fragment was established by identifying an enzyme that produced bands corresponding to a molecular weight of not more than 3.5×104 in electrophoresis. A process for preparing a peptide fragment having a cell death-inhibitory activity according to the present invention may be used for amelioration, treatment and prevention of diseases caused by cell death and for more efficient production of useful living substances.

Abstract: Novel humanized immunoglobulins and active fragments thereof which are specifically reactive to Fas ligand are provided, and a site on Fas ligand which is important to inhibit apoptosis induced by the Fas-Fas ligand interaction against Fas-expressing cells is demonstrated. The novel humanized immunoglobulins and active fragments thereof which are specifically reactive to Fas ligand are prepared from hybridomas which produce monoclonal antibodies specifically reactive to Fas ligand, via recombinant DNA techniques. The humanized immunoglobulins can inhibit the physiological reactions between Fas ligand and Fas such as apoptosis. Further, identification of the site which is on Fas ligand and responsible for apoptosis induction allows creation of recombinant proteins or peptides which are specifically reactive to the amino acids within the site so as to inhibit apoptosis, and to find new therapeutic or diagnostic agents.

Abstract: A human polyclonal antibody having an antibacterial and/or antiviral activity with a desired titer and a wide spectrum; and human polyclonal antibody composition for preventing and treating infections which contain this antibody. The human polyclonal antibody composition for preventing or treating infections contain the human polyclonal antibody which is obtained by administering as immunogen a bacterium and/or a virus or a component of the bacterium and/or the virus to a non-human animal having a human antibody gene locus and has an antibody titer against the bacterium and/or the virus exceeding that of human pool plasma.

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: A first printed circuit board includes a first insulating board substantially made of thermoplastic resin and a first conductive pattern. A second printed circuit board includes a second insulating board and a second conductive pattern. The first and second printed circuit boards are overlapped. The overlapped portion of the first and second printed circuit boards is heat pressed to connect the first and second printed circuit boards with a heat-pressing tool while the first insulating board is cooled at an area adjacent to an area pressed by the heat-pressing tool. With the heat pressing, the first and second lands are electrically connected and the thermoplastic resin is softened and plastically deformed to bond the first insulating board to the second insulating board. The thickness of the first insulating board is preferably controlled at the heat pressed area and the area adjacent to the heat pressed area by the cooling.

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant: R1—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)n]—H  (1) R2—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)q—H  (2) (R3)t—X—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)r—H  (3) where R1 stands for a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, m stands for an average added mol number of 4 to 15, A stands for a propylene, butylene or phenylethylene group, n stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 4, the addition shown in [ ] is in a random or block form, R2 stands for a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, p stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 3.9, q stands for an average added mol number of 0.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant:

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant: R1—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)n]—H  (1) R2—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)q—H  (2) (R3)t—X—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)r—H  (3) where R1 stands for a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, m stands for an average added mol number of 4 to 15, A stands for a propylene, butylene or phenylethylene group, n stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 4, the addition shown in [ ] is in a random or block form, R2 stands for a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, p stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 3.9, q stands for an average added mol number of 0.

Abstract: A shift-locking device for a vehicle transmission includes a manual shaft mechanically connected with a shift lever for rotating to a first position, a second position and a third position through operation of the shift lever, and mechanically connected to a parking control mechanism disposed in the transmission case. A first shift-locking shaft is connected to a brake pedal for rotating from a first position to a second position, and a locked member is provided on the manual shaft. A first lock member provided on the first shift-locking shaft is adapted to engage the locked member when the first shift-locking shaft is in the first position. A spring urges the first shift-locking shaft to the second position to release engagement between the locked member and the first lock member.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody useful for clinical application which recognizes the conserved region of V3-PND region of glycoprotein antigen having a molecular weight of about 1.2.times.10.sup.5 daltons (gp120) on a coating membrane of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and which has an ability to neutralize a broad range of various HIV variants, or a fragment thereof, and the chimeric and humanized antibodies derived therefrom are provided. By using as an immunogen a plurality of peptides having PND-Tip region containing the highly conserved GPGR sequence within PND of HIV gp120, a monoclonal antibody having a neutralizing activity to many HIV variants can be prepared. By transplanting the gene fragment coding for the variable region of said monoclonal antibody or complementarity determining region (CDR) of said region to a human antibody gene, a chimeric antibody or a reshaped antibody having an anti-HIV neutralizing activity which are effective for clinical application can be obtained.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly comprising, a planetary gear unit including a planetary gear set to shift receiving torque from a power source, a differential including a differential case, a cross pin having a pinion gear and a pair of output members, each output member having a differential side gear to engage with the pinion gear respectively, the differential transmitting the torque from the planetary gear unit to the output members via a circled carrier connecting between the planetary gear unit and the differential, wherein the planetary gears located outside of the differential case, the carrier supporting both ends of the cross pin and contacting with the differential case.

Abstract: A Gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for an amino acid sequence of a constant region of feline immunoglobulin .lambda. chain; a gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for an amino acid sequence of a constant region of feline immunoglobulin .kappa. chain; a gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for the constant region of feline immunoglobulin .gamma.

Abstract: A gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for an amino acid sequence of a constant region of canine immunoglobulin lambda chain; a gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for an amino acid sequence of a constant region of canine immunoglobulin kappa chain; a gene fragment which comprises a DNA sequence coding for the constant region of canine immunoglobulin gamma chain; a recombinant DNA molecule coding for an amino acid sequence of a mouse-dog chimeric antibody which comprises a gene fragment coding for an amino acid sequence of a variable region of a mouse immunoglobulin and a gene fragment coding for an amino acid sequence of a constant region of a canine immunoglobulin wherein the latter gene fragment; a polypeptide of a mouse-dog chimeric antibody which is expressed from a cell transformed with an expression vector for cells wherein said recombinant DNA molecule cording for an amino acid sequence of the mouse-dog chimeric antibody is incorporated; a dog-mouse heterohybridoma which

Abstract: A direct-coupled clutch for a torque converter 10 has a front cover 11, a piston clutch plate 12 having a frictional facing 12a, a turbine 13, a driven plate 14, secured to the piston clutch plate 12 for rotation in unison with the piston clutch plate, a disk 16 circumferentially movably arranged between the piston clutch plate 12 and the driven plate 14, a first resilient member 17 and a second resilient member 18 arranged between the piston clutch plate 12 and the turbine 13. The driven plate 14 has a first receiving part 15a and a second receiving part, formed radially more inwardly than the first receiving part, for carrying the second resilient member. The driven plate 14 has a first pawl for circumferentially compressing the second resilient member and a second pawl 14b formed radially more inwardly than the first pawl 14a. The disk 16 has a retainer 16a for circumferentially compressing the first resilient member 17. The clutch has a simplified structure.