Abstract: A hair removing agent or a hair growth inhibiting agent is provided by determining an endogenous factor having a hair growth inhibitory activity, screening for substances having an activity similar to that of the endogenous factor or substances enhancing the activity or expression of the endogenous factor, and utilizing the physiological activities of such substances. It has been found that FGF18 inhibits hair growth. A method of screening for FGF18-like active substances, substances that promote the activity of FGF18 or substances that promote the expression of FGF18 to thereby obtain candidates for the hair growth inhibiting agent or hair removing agent is disclosed. Also disclosed is a hair growth inhibiting agent or a hair removing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, FGF18 and/or an FGF18 partial peptide, or an FGF18-like active substance and/or a substance that promotes the activity or expression of FGF18 (e.g., Digenea simplex extract).

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein having covalently bonded heparan sulfate sugar chains within its molecule is produced by ligating a cDNA encoding a peptide which can be modified with heparan sulfate sugar chains selectively to a cDNA encoding a heparin-binding protein and producing in an animal cell the gene product of the resultant ligated cDNA. This heparan sulfate sugar chain-modified heparin-binding protein is functionalized by covalently bonding thereto glycosaminoglycan sugar chains containing little chondroitin sulfate. For example, this heparin-binding protein is excellent in stabilities, such as thermostability, acid resistance, alkali resistance and in vivo stability. Further, the heparan sulfate sugar chain-modified heparin-binding protein is effective in cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, and has effect of regulating the physiological functions of FGFs. Thus, this heparin-binding protein is extremely useful as a medicine for preventing or treating various FGF-related diseases.

Abstract: A terahertz oscillation device includes a first electrode placed on the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode placed via the insulating layer toward the first electrode, and opposes the first electrode to be placed on the semiconductor substrate; a MIM reflector formed between the first electrode and the second electrode by sandwiching the insulating layer; a resonator adjoining of the MIM reflector and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate; an active element placed at the substantially central part of the resonator; a waveguide adjoining of the resonator and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate; and a horn apertural area adjoining of the waveguide and is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode which oppose on the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mutant protein having an altered fibroblast growth factor receptor specificity, which is produced by deleting one or more amino acid residues from the N-terminus of the amino acid sequence of naturally secreted fibroblast growth factor 18. The protein mutant can be used in a pharmaceutical composition for regulating hair regeneration or growth or a pharmaceutical composition for regulating bone or cartilage formation.

Abstract: It is intended to elucidate the effect of promoting hair follicle growth and to provide the following therapeutic agents for hair-related problems (1) to (3): (1) a hair growth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; (2) a hair regrowth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; and (3) a therapeutic agent for alopecia, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide.

Abstract: The laser device has a gain medium, first and second clads sandwiching the gain medium in the thickness direction, and a cavity structure for resonating the electromagnetic wave generated in the gain medium. The gain medium includes a plurality of active regions for generating an electromagnetic wave and at lease one connecting region sandwiched among the active regions. The first and second clads are each formed of a negative permittivity medium having a permittivity the real part of which is negative relative to the electromagnetic wave. A potential-adjusting portion is arranged between the connecting region and the first clad and between the connecting region and the second clad for adjusting the electric potential of the connecting region.

Abstract: An oscillation device has a resonant tunneling diode formed by interposing a gain medium including a first barrier layer, a quantum well layer and a second barrier layer between a first thickness adjusting layer and a second thickness adjusting layer. The oscillation device also has a switch for switching the polarity of a bias voltage being applied to the resonant tunneling diode. The first thickness adjusting layer and the second thickness adjusting layer have different thicknesses. Thus, a single oscillation device is driven to oscillate with different oscillation frequencies.

Abstract: It is intended to elucidate the effect of promoting hair follicle growth and to provide the following therapeutic agents for hair-related problems (1) to (3): (1) a hair growth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; (2) a hair regrowth promoting agent, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide; and (3) a therapeutic agent for alopecia, comprising as an active ingredient an expression vector incorporating a full-length FGF-18, a partial peptide thereof, or a cDNA encoding the full-length FGF-18 or the partial peptide.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein having covalently bonded heparan sulfate sugar chains within its molecule is produced by ligating a cDNA encoding a peptide which can be modified with heparan sulfate sugar chains selectively to a cDNA encoding a heparin-binding protein and producing in an animal cell the gene product of the resultant ligated cDNA. This heparan sulfate sugar chain-modified heparin-binding protein is functionalized by covalently bonding thereto glycosaminoglycan sugar chains containing little chondroitin sulfate. For example, this heparin-binding protein is excellent in stabilities, such as thermostability, acid resistance, alkali resistance and in vivo stability. Further, the heparan sulfate sugar chain-modified heparin-binding protein is effective in cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, and has effect of regulating the physiological functions of FGFs. Thus, this heparin-binding protein is extremely useful as a medicine for preventing or treating various FGF-related diseases.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method of functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: In the present invention, in order to expand the range of drug resistance markers available for use in a transgenic vector for animal cells, an expression vector comprising a multicloning site identical to those of the existing vectors and drug resistance marker genes different from those of the existing vectors is produced. The present invention provides an animal cell expression vector containing a multicloning site and a puromycin resistance gene or a blasticidin S resistance gene as a drug resistance marker gene, the expression of which is controlled by SV40 ori and SV40 pA.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method of functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: A heparin-binding protein functionalized by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain, a method for producing the protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing the protein as an active ingredient, as well as a method for functionalizing a natural protein having no sugar chain by covalently bonding thereto a sugar chain.

Abstract: There is dsiclosed a flame retardant resin composition comprising the following components (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F), wherein 1-10 parts by weight of (C), 2-10 parts by weight of (D), 0.05-2 parts by weight of (E) and 0.01-10 parts by weight of (F) are contained per 100 parts by weight of a resin whose weight ratio of (A)/(B) is 75/25-90/10.(A) a polycarbonate resin whose viscosity-average molecular weight is 16,000-29,000,(B) a polyalkylene terephthalate resin,(C) a copolymer containing a rubbery polymer and at least one selected from the group consisting of aromatic vinyl monomers, vinyl cyanide monomers, acrylic acid, acrylic esters, methacrylic acid, methacrylic esters and maleimide-type monomers as components,(D) an organic phosphorus-type flame retardant,(E) a fluorocarbon-type resin, and(F) an epoxy compound not containing halogens.

Abstract: This invention provides a heat resistant thermoplastic resin composition comprising (A) 5 to 95 parts by weight of a polyamide resin, (B) 5 to 95 parts by weight of a copolymer containing an unsaturated carboxylic acid, comprising 40 to 80% by weight of an aromatic vinyl compound, 15 to 50% by weight of a vinyl cyanide compound, 0.1 to 20% by weight of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and 0 to 30% by weight of other vinyl compounds copolymerizable therewith, (C) 5 to 50 parts by weight of a graft copolymer, which is obtained by a graft polymerizing 60 to 5% by weight of a vinyl compound in the presence of 40 to 95% by weight of a diene rubber of an average particle size of 0.1 to 2.0 .mu.m, and, (D) 0.1 to 30 parts by weight of a kaolin to 100 parts by weight of the sum (A), (B) and (C). This heat resistant thermoplastic resin composition can provide molded articles which are superior in heat distortion resistance, impact strength and surface appearance, and has a high flowability in its molding.

Abstract: A polyarylate comprising units derived from an aromatic carboxylic acid compound and units derived from a bisphenol compound and containing an epoxy group. According to the process of the present invention, the polyarylate having epoxy group can be economically prepared. Since the polyarylate of the present invention has epoxy group, it has the reactivity with amino group, hydroxyl group, acid anhydride group, or the like. Therefore, the polyarylate is mixed with another polymer to give a polymer alloy or is utilized as the precursor of a graft-copolymer, utilizing the reactivity.

Abstract: A resin composition which includes (A) 100 parts of a blend of a polyacrylate and a poly(alkylene-phenylene ester) and (B) 1-50 parts of a chemically modified polyolefin copolymer exhibits superior impact resistance, particularly low temperature impact resistance, while retaining good melt viscosity for molding. The polyacrylate may be produced by polymerizing a dihydric phenol formula I: ##STR1## with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, a dichloride derivative, an alkylated derivative or an arylated derivative thereof. The chemically modified polyolefin copolymer has a structural unit containing at least one amide group at and at least one glycidyloxy or glycidyl group, with the number of the structural unit contained in the copolymer being one per from 4 to 5,000 carbon atoms of the polyolefin moiety.

Abstract: An aromatic polyestersulfone having improved heat resistance, film-forming property, hydrolysis resistance and mechanical strength which comprises 1 to 100% by mole of recurring units of the general formula: ##STR1## and 99 to 0% by mole of recurring units of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R and R' are the same or different and each is an alkyl or alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Ar is a bivalent aromatic group, and x and y are 0 or an integer of 1 to 4 provided that the sum of x and y is from 1 to 8.

Abstract: Thermoplastic resin compositions having excellent heat distortion resistance, impact resistance, chemical resistance and molding properties. The compositions are mixtures of a polyarylate, a polyamide and a specified graft copolymer or modified polyolefin.

Abstract: A multilayer film comprising an aromatic polyester layer and a silicone resin layer formed on at least one surface of the aromatic polyester layer. The multilayer film has excellent transparency, heat resistance, dimensional stability, mechanical strength and optical property and an improved solvent resistance, and is useful as a material of a liquid crystal display panel.