Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a medicament for oral administration or intravenous administration that is effective for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production, comprising as an effective ingredient a pulverized product and/or extract obtained from Humulus lupulus and/or Angelica keiskei koidz., or xanthohumol and/or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. The medicament is useful as a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production, such as dementia or a nerve disorder.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent that is effective for a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production for treatment or prevention, comprising as an effective ingredient an aqueous extract of mushrooms. These agents are usable in the treatment or prevention of a disease requiring enhancement of nerve growth factor production such as dementia or nerve disorder.

Abstract: A wheel bearing includes a sealing device 5 positioned between inner and outer members 1 and 2. This sealing device 5 includes an elastic member 14, which eventually forms an encoder grid and is provided on a first annular sealing plate 11. A second annular sealing plate 12 is provided with sealing lips 16a to 16c. An engagement 18 between a cylindrical wall 11a of the first annular sealing plate 11 and the inner member 1 is provided with an elastic member 20 made of a material dissimilar to that for the elastic material 14. This elastic member 20 may be a rubber coated layer, resin paint layer, a thin film of adhesive material or a ring-shaped rubber member. Thereby, any possible ingress of water across an engagement surface of the annular sealing plate is prevented, accompanied by increase of the lifetime of the bearing, with no problem associated with separation and displacement of the annular sealing plates. The magnetic flux density can also be easily secured.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized recovering apparatus for recovering the ink ejecting ports forming plane of an ink jet head, an ink absorbing member disposed inward of a cap comes near to the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head with a predetermined distance to face to it. Subsequently, large ink droplets or water droplets adhering to the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head are absorbed in the absorbing member. Thereafter, the ink ejecting ports forming plane is cleanly wiped by a wiping member, whereby there does not arise a malfunction that ink droplets or water droplets are scattered away from the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head. Since a trough serving as recovering means is located adjacent to each head, a distance of relative displacement between the recovering means and the ink jet head can be reduced, resulting in the whole recovering apparatus being designed and constructed with small dimensions.

Abstract: A wheel bearing includes a sealing device 5 positioned between inner and outer members 1 and 2. This sealing device 5 includes an elastic member 14, which eventually forms an encoder grid and is provided on a first annular sealing plate 11. A second annular sealing plate 12 is provided with sealing lips 16a to 16c. An engagement 18 between a cylindrical wall 11a of the first annular sealing plate 11 and the inner member 1 is provided with an elastic member 20 made of a material dissimilar to that for the elastic material 14. This elastic member 20 may be a rubber coated layer, resin paint layer, a thin film of adhesive material or a ring-shaped rubber member. Thereby, any possible ingress of water across an engagement surface of the annular sealing plate is prevented, accompanied by increase of the lifetime of the bearing, with no problem associated with separation and displacement of the annular sealing plates. The magnetic flux density can also be easily secured.

Abstract: To provide a small-sized recovering apparatus for recovering the ink ejecting ports forming plane of an ink jet head, an ink absorbing member disposed inward of a cap comes near to the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head with a predetermined distance to face to it. Subsequently, large ink droplets or water droplets adhering to the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head are absorbed in the absorbing member. Thereafter, the ink ejecting ports forming plane is cleanly wiped by a wiping member, whereby there does not arise a malfunction that ink droplets or water droplets are scattered away from the ink ejecting ports forming plane of the ink jet head. Since a trough serving as recovering means is located adjacent to each head, a distance of relative displacement between the recovering means and the ink jet head can be reduced, resulting in the whole recovering apparatus being designed and constructed with small dimensions.

Abstract: A label printer performs recording on a roll label comprising a number of label sheets bonded in succession on a release sheet. The printer utilizes an ink jet method to attain a smaller size and to print information accurately. The printer comprises a conveyance section for conveying the label roll to an ink jet print head, an ink supply section for supplying ink to the head, and a recovery unit for making the head performance stable. A conveyance surface of the label roll is made substantially horizontal, with the ink jet print head and the recovery unit disposed above the surface and the ink supply section disposed underneath the surface.

Abstract: A printing medium feeding apparatus comprises a conveying belt, on which a roll-shaped printing medium is placed with the lower surface of the roll being in contact therewith to unwind the outer periphery of the roll. With the arrangement, setup of the roll to the feeding apparatus is completed easily by only placing the roll onto the conveying belt, as compared with a construction in which the center of a roll is rotatably supported. It is also possible to omit or simplify a transmission mechanism such as a train of reduction gears that is necessary for the case of central driving. Further, it is also possible to feed a constant amount of length at a constant drive speed irrespective of radius of the roll.

Abstract: Mixture containing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and 3-benzyl-6-carboxymethyl-2,5-dioxopiperazine are brought into contact with hydrochloric acid in an aqueous solvent to precipitate .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride and 3-benzyl-6-carboxymethyl-2,5-dioxopiperazine, which are then separated from each other by classification.

Abstract: A method of purifying .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester as a hydrochloride salt thereof which comprises:i) contacting a mixture of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylanaline methyl ester and .beta.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester with an aqueous medium containing (a) hydrogen chloride in an amount not more than ca. 2 mol., per liter of said aqueous medium, but not less than 1 mol., per mole of said of said mixture of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and .beta.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, and (b) an inorganic chloride selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl, NH.sub.4 Cl, CaCl.sub.2, and ZnCl.sub.2 in an amount of at least ca. 50 g., per liter of said aqueous medium, to form crystals of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride, andii) recovering the .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride crystals therefrom.

Abstract: A method for crystallizing alpha-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (APM) is disclosed. The APM is crystallized from a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 -alcohol/water solution (30-80:70-20 (v/v)). The ester crystallized by (i) concentrating the solution, (ii) cooling the solution, (iii) adjusting the water:alcohol ratio, or (iv) a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for the production of N-carbobenzoxy-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester characterized by the reaction of L-phenylalanine methyl ester with fine N-carbobenzoxy-L-aspartic anhydride crystals, is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for recovering .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester from a solution containing various methyl ester or demethylated derivatives of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and chloride ions is disclosed. This process uses a reverse osmosis membrane having a specific chloride inhibition rate to desalt and concentrate a solution containing a specified ratio of .delta.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester to its derivatives until a specific weight ratio of organic chloride ion to the sum of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and its derivatives is obtained. This desalted and concentrated solution is then contacted with an aqueous solvent containing methanol and hydrochloride acid to recover high yields of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride.

Abstract: The present invention deals with the inhibition of histamine release from mammalian mast cells by contacting such cells with sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid.

Abstract: A process for producing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or its hydrohalide, which comprises subjecting 3-benzyl-6-carboxymethyl-2,5-diketopiperazine to partial hydrolysis with a strong acid in a solvent mixture of methanol and water.

Abstract: A method for optical resolution of a DL-amino acid comprising reacting the DL-amino acid with an optically active N-acyl aspartic acid in a solvent or mixture of solvents, and separating the resulting two diasteromeric salts by way of the difference between their solubilities in the solvent or mixture of solvents. The difference in solubility may be enhanced by cooling, concentration, addition of a solubility-decreasing organic solvent, pH adjustment or salting out.

Abstract: .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester II type crystals consisting of two types of crystals, II.sub.A and II.sub.B type, which interconvert from one to the other depending upon the equilibrium moisture content of the crystals, wherein one type of crystal, II.sub.a, exhibits X-ray diffraction peaks at angles of diffraction of at least 20.6.degree., 21.2.degree., 5.0.degree. and 11.1.degree., and the other type of crystal, II.sub.B, exhibits X-ray diffraction peaks at angles of diffraction of at least 15.2.degree., 11.1.degree., 19.6.degree. and 4.5.degree., as measured by X-ray diffractometer using CuK.sub..alpha. radiation and wherein the equilibrium moisture content of either of the crystals at a relative humidity of 78% is not higher than about 3%.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and efficient method for the elimination of protecting groups, e.g. benzyloxycarbonyl group, from a protected amino acid, peptide or derivative thereof having at least one functional group protected by a protecting group, e.g. a lower alkyl ester of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine by catalytic hydrogen reduction to produce free amino acid, peptide or derivative thereof. In contrast to the conventional procedures in which the reaction is carried out in a solvent dissolving both the starting compound and the product compound or a solvent dissolving the starting compound but not dissolving the product compound, the inventive method utilizes a binary two-phase reaction medium composed of water and an organic solvent not freely miscible with water such as toluene.

Abstract: The reaction between L-aspartic acid and benzyloxycarbonyl chloride is carried out at a specific pH range, i.e., 12.0 to 13.5, whereby highly pure N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid can be obtained in high yields, while both the by-production of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-.alpha.- or .beta.-L-aspartyl-L-aspartic acid and the decomposition of benzyloxycarbonyl chloride to benzyl alcohol are suppressed.

Abstract: Hemi-alkali metal salts of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid, believed to have the formula: ##SPC1##Wherein Me is an alkali metal, is formed by reaction of 0.75 to 0.99 moles of an alkali metal hydroxide per mole of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid.