Abstract: A producing apparatus (1) of fine particles includes two pipes constructed by an outer pipe (11) and an inner pipe (21) arranged in a concentric shape. The tip (21a) of the inner pipe (21) is spaced from the tip (11b) of the outer pipe (11) by a comparatively long distance. Fluid II is flowed toward the tip (21a) of the inner pipe (21) within the inner pipe (21). Fluid I is flowed toward the tip of the outer pipe (11) as a continuous phase within the outer pipe (11). The flow velocities of the fluid I and the fluid II within the outer pipe (11) and the inner pipe (21) are set to appropriate values by controlling the operations of respective pumps (14, 24) by commands from a controller (31). Thus, the fluid II exhausted from the tip (21a) of the inner pipe (21) becomes a droplet (3) having a in approximately spherical shape surrounded by the fluid I within the outer pipe (11) and having a predetermined desirable diameter.

Abstract: It is intended to construct a system for arbitrarily expressing a desired gene at a desired site in a plant. This object can be solved by providing a plant containing at least one promoter allowing a specific level of expression and a gene ligated to this promoter in an operable manner wherein the specificity of the promoter is determined based on the expression frequency of a gene containing the promoter in a cDNA database involving the promoter-containing gene. As a cDNA database, use may be made of those published in the genome project.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of conferring resistance to pathogenic fungi on a plant by transformation with a nucleic acid encoding Sarcotoxin 1a operatively linked to a signal peptide, and optionally linked via the hinge region of tobacco chitinase to a plant peptide, and plants thereby obtained.

Abstract: Dihydrate of 4-[[9-[(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxy)benzyl]-6,8-dimethylpurin]-2-yl-3-oxypropyl]pyridine N-oxide, drugs containing the same and a compound useful as an intermediate in the production of this dihydrate. Because of having a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitory effect, this dihydrate is useful as a preventive and/or remedy for asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease and/or other inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for efficiently producing a useful foreign protein in a plant. The present invention also relates to a method for expressing a foreign protein in a plant so as to provide the plant with a new property and to the breeding of a plant. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plant containing a gene encoding an anti-bacterial peptide derived from a Diptera insect and which confers resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Abstract: A plant exhibiting resistance to at least one disease is provided. The plant includes an expression cassette including a thionin gene from Avena sativa, which is capable of expressing the thionin protein. A method for producing the plant is also provided. The method includes the steps of constructing an expression vector containing an expression cassette including a thionin from Avena sativa gene, which is capable of expressing the thionin protein, transforming a plant cell with the expression vector, and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell. The plant exhibits resistance to at least one disease such as a disease caused by a plant pathogenic bacterium (e.g., a bacterium causing bacterial leaf blight of rice or a bacterium causing bacterial seedling blight of rice) or a plant pathogenic filamentous fungus (e.g., a fungus causing late blight of potato). A seed obtained from the above disease resistant plant is also provided.

Abstract: A prolineamide derivative represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## or a salt or hydrate thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has a protease inhibition activity and is useful as an active ingredient of pharmaceutical compositions is provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a disease caused by smooth muscle cell hyperplasia.