Abstract: Canine interleukin 12 and a method for producing it by genetic engineering are disclosed. The canine interleukin 12 includes a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:11 or corresponds to part of either of SEQ ID NOS:1 and 11, and a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:12 or corresponds to part of either of SEQ ID NOS:2 and 12, and relates to a production method thereof. There is also an immune disease remedy and preventive agent for dogs and cats containing canine interleukin 12, and a method of treating immune disease and a preventive method for dogs and cats using the immune disease remedy or preventive agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent, composed of canine interferon-&ggr;, for canine intractable dermatitis and a treatment for canine intractable dermatitis using the agent.

Abstract: A fiber of sea-islands phase separation wherein the sea component comprises a vinyl alcohol based polymer with high orientation and great crystallinity and the islands component comprises a water-insoluble cellulose based polymer with excellent absorptivity of alkaline solutions, thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, and wherein the size of the islands is 0.03 to 10 .mu.m and the strength is 3 g/d or more, is readily disintegrated into a fibril of a diameter of 0.05 to 8 .mu.m when a mechanical stress is imposed onto the fiber wet in water.From the fibril with good hydrophilicity, high strength, great particle captivity and excellent reinforcing performance, and additionally with good absorptivity of alkaline solutions and great thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, none of the fiber components therein is solubilized during fibrillation. Neither a beating process nor a beating solution causes foaming or environmental pollution.

Abstract: A reinforcing material for incorporation into a kneaded and shaped hydraulic material, comprising a fiber having a fineness of 5 d or more, an aspect ratio of from 10-500, a breaking tenacity of 5 g/d or more, an elongation (A) of from 6-20%, a flexing tenacity utilization factor (B) of 35% or more, and (B).ltoreq.4 (A).

Abstract: A vinyl-alcohol-based polymer and vinyl-halide-based polymer are dissolved in a common organic solvent for them, a typical example of which is dimethylsulfoxide, to obtain a dope wherein a solution of the vinyl-halide-based polymer having a particle size of 1-50 .mu.m is present in the solution of the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer. This dope is spun into a low temperature solidifying bath comprising a solidifying solvent such as methanol, and the organic solvent. The resultant is subjected to extraction, drying, dry heat drawing, and optional heat shrinking or acetalization to obtain fiber. In the fiber thus obtained, the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer makes sea phases, and the vinyl-halide-based polymer makes island phases whose size is 0.1-3 .mu.m. The crystallinity degree of the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer is 65-85%.The polyvinyl-alcohol-based flame retardant fiber is useful for clothes, industrial materials, living materials and the like.

Abstract: A fiber of sea-islands phase separation wherein the sea component comprises a vinyl alcohol based polymer with high orientation and great crystallinity and the islands component comprises a water-insoluble cellulose based polymer with excellent absorptivity of alkaline solutions, thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, and wherein the size of the islands is 0.03 to 10 .mu.m and the strength is 3 g/d or more, is readily disintegrated into a fibril of a diameter of 0.05 to 8 .mu.m when a mechanical stress is imposed onto the fiber wet in water. From the fibril with good hydrophilicity, high strength, great particle captivity and excellent reinforcing performance, and additionally with good absorptivity of alkaline solutions and great thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, none of the fiber components therein is solubilized during fibrillation. Neither a beating process nor a beating solution causes foaming or environmental pollution.

Abstract: A coating composition for a recording material and a process for producing the recording material are provided, wherein the coating composition includes an aluminum alkoxide, a binder and a hydrophilic solvent.

Abstract: A fiber of sea-islands phase separation wherein the sea component comprises a vinyl alcohol based polymer with high orientation and great crystallinity and the islands component comprises a water-insoluble cellulose based polymer with excellent absorptivity of alkaline solutions, thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, and wherein the size of the islands is 0.03 to 10 .mu.m and the strength is 3 g/d or more, is readily disintegrated into a fibril of a diameter of 0.05 to 8 .mu.m when a mechanical stress is imposed onto the fiber wet in water.From the fibril with good hydrophilicity, high strength, great particle captivity and excellent reinforcing performance, and additionally with good absorptivity of alkaline solutions and great thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, none of the fiber components therein is solubilized during fibrillation. Neither a beating process nor a beating solution causes foaming or environmental pollution.

Abstract: Methods for treating intractable dermatitis in dogs are described. The methods involve the administration by injection of formulations comprising canine interferon-.gamma. and, optionally, other agents. The canine IFN-.gamma. may be produced in recombinant expression systems such as E. coli or B. mori.

Abstract: By dissolving a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) and an incompatible vinyl polymer (B), preferably an acrylonitrile polymer in a common solvent to prepare a spinning stock solution of a phase separation structure wherein the polymer (B) is present at particle sizes of 2 to 50 .mu.m, and wet spinning or dry-wet spinning the resulting spinning stock solution in a solidifying bath containing a mixture of an organic solvent capable of solidifying both the polymers (A) and (B) and the solvent of the spinning stock solution at a weight ratio of 25/75 to 85/15, thereby drawing the resulting yarn by 8-fold or more, a fiber is provided; and from the fiber can be produced a fibril with good hydrophilicity, a higher strength, and excellent heat fusion resistance, along with excellent wiping performance, filtering performance, micro-particle capturing properties and reinforcing performance, readily, stably and inexpensively.

Abstract: A silicon nitride-silicon carbide composite sintered material which comprises 100 parts by weight of a silicon nitride component containing 92 to 99.5 mol % of silicon nitride including excessive oxygen and 0.5 to 8 mol % of the elements of Group IIIa in the Periodic Table as corresponding oxides thereof and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a silicon carbide component in a dispersed state, wherein the silicon nitride component has an average particle size of 1 .mu.m or less and an average aspect ratio of 2 to 10, and the silicon carbide component has an average particle size of 1 .mu.m or less, moreover, the total amount of Al, Mg, Ca respectively contained in the sintered material as calculated as oxides thereof is 0.5% by weight or less, and a manufacturing method thereof.According to the above-mentioned composite sintered material, it becomes possible to suppress deterioration of strength at 1400.degree. C. and realize excellent creep properties.

Abstract: By mixing a high-melting polyvinyl alcohol type polymer (A) and a low-melting water-soluble polymer (B) in a solvent for the polymer (A) to prepare a spinning solution and then subjecting the solution to low-temperature spinning so that the resulting filaments are solidified uniformly in the cross-sectional direction, there is formed a fiber of sea-islands structure comprising said high-melting polyvinyl alcohol type polymer (A) as the sea component and said low-melting water-soluble polymer (B) as the islands component. In this fiber, at least part of the islands component is present in a fiber zone ranging from the fiber surface to 2 .mu.m inside and the fiber surface contains substantially no islands component. This fiber ordinarily shows the performance of the matrix phase, i.e.

Abstract: A recombinant silkworm nuclear polyhedrosis virus containing DNA coding for a protein of feline interferon; the recombinant virus is constructed by cotransfection a recombinant plasmid having a gene coding for a protein of feline interferon and a silkworm nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA into established silkworm cells, and cloning the desired recombinant virus. The recombinant virus is useful for a mass-production of feline interferon.

Abstract: Noise produced by a chain drive mechanism is significantly reduced by providing rubber rings on the faces of a sprocket, with the rubber rings dimensioned so that they are not contacted by the chain as it comes into engagement with the sprocket. The rubber rings absorb sprocket vibration and are as effective in reducing noise as are conventional rubber rings which are contacted by link plates of a chain to alleviate the effects of collision shocks. Since the rings need not be contacted by the chain, it is possible to reduce their thicknesses so that the sprocket can be utilized in restricted spaces.

Abstract: This invention is directed to reduce the viscosity of a naphthalene type mixed liquid crystal and to improve display quality while maintaining a bookshelf layer structure. The ferroelectric liquid crystal composition of the present invention comprises 70 to 97 parts by weight of a naphthalene base mixed liquid crystal and 3 to 30 parts by weight of a predetermined tolan type liquid crystal.

Abstract: Optically active compounds having the following formulae (1), (2) or (3) ##STR1## wherein R and R' are C.sub.1-20 alkyl groups; X and Y.sub.1 are --, O, S, or divalent groups such as COO, OOC and OCOO; m is 0 or 1; n is 0 to 5; A.sub.2 is a cyclic group, such as p,p'-biphenylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 2,5-pyrimidinylene-1,4-phenylene, A.sub.1 --Y.sub.2 -pyridylene or A.sub.4 --Y.sub.2 --A.sub.5 ; Y.sub.2 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 or C.tbd.C; A.sub.3 is 2,6-naphthylene, A.sub.1 --Y.sub.2 -pyridylene or A.sub.6 --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --A.sub.7 ; and A.sub.1, A.sub.4, A.sub.5, A.sub.6 and A.sub.7 are cyclic groups, such as 1,4-phenylene and/or 4,4'-biphenylene.

Abstract: A recombinant silkworm nuclear polyhedrosis virus containing DNA coding for a protein of feline interferon; the recombinant virus is constructed by cotransfection a recombinant plasmid having a gene coding for a protein of feline interferon and a silkworm nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA into established silkworm cells, and cloning the desired recombinant virus. The recombinant virus is useful for a mass-production of feline interferon.

Abstract: Optically active compounds having the following formulae (1), (2) or (3) ##STR1## wherein R and R' are C.sub.1-20 alkyl groups; X and Y.sub.1 are --, O, S, or divalent groups such as COO, OOC and OCOO; m is 0 or 1; n is 0 to 5; A.sub.2 is a cyclic group, such as p,p'-biphenylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 2,5-pyrimidinylene-1,4-phenylene, A.sub.1 -Y.sub.2 -pyridylene or A.sub.4 -Y.sub.2 -A.sub.5 ; Y.sub.2 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 or C.tbd.C; A.sub.3 is 2,6-naphthylene, A.sub.1 -Y.sub.2 -pyridylene or A.sub.6 -CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -A.sub.7 ; and A.sub.1, A.sub.4, A.sub.5, A.sub.6 and A.sub.7 are cyclic groups, such as 1,4-phenylene and/or 4,4'-biphenylene.

Abstract: Liquid Crystal compounds represented by the following formula are disclosed. ##STR1## wherein R and R' are independently selected from alkyl groups containing 1.about.20 carbon atoms; X is --O--, --O--CO--O-- or direct bond; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are independently cyclic groups (such as phenylene and biphenylene), said cyclic groups may be substituted with 1.about.4 fluorine, chlorine or bromine atoms, or 1 or 2 substituent groups selected from the group consisting of cyano, nitro and trifluoromethyl groups; Y is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --C.tbd.C--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.N--, --N.dbd.CH--, --N.dbd.N--, --CH.sub.2 S--, --SCH.sub.2 -- or direct bond; and * represents asymmetric atom providing optical activity.

Abstract: A secondary battery or cell with improved rechargeability is obtained by combination of (A) a cathode active material comprising a chalcogen compound of a transition metal, (B) an electrolyte comprising an organic solvent having dissolved therein a lithium salt and (C) an anode active material comprising lithium metal in electrical contact with an electrically conductive carbonaceous material which is a pyrolysis residue of an organic material such as synthetic high polymers. The anode active material can be formed in situ within the battery, by self discharge of lithium metal into the carbonaceous material. The battery or cell is of excellent properties, such as stability or flatness of discharge voltage and electric capacity.