Abstract: There are provided pregnane derivatives represented by formula ##STR1## wherein A.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, A.sup.2 represents a substituent such as a hydroxyl group when A.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, or A.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom when A.sup.1 represents a hydroxyl group, or A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are combined together to form an oxo group; D.sup.1 represents a substituent such as a hydroxyl group, and D.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, or D.sup.1 and D.sup.2 are combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond; D.sup.3, D.sup.5 and D.sup.7 each represents a hydrogen atom, D.sup.4 represents a hydroxyl group, and D.sup.6 represents a substituent such as a hydroxyl group, or D.sup.3 and D.sup.4 may be combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond, or D.sup.4 and D.sup.5 may be combined together to form a single bond, or D.sup.5 and D.sup.6 may be combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond, or D.sup.6 and D.sup.

Abstract: An automated manufacture line includes a host controller device which sets individual control conditions and a plurality of automatic working devices which are connected to the host controller device and perform their automatic works.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide having the amino acid sequence: Lys Arg Ser Thr Asn, Arg Arg Tyr Lys Glu Lys Glu Lys or Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr and which peptide is capable of specifically binding to the antibody which is specific to the non-A, non-B hepatitis associated antigen. The peptide can be used as an anti-HCV antibody assay reagent with high sensitivity.

Abstract: Steroid compounds of the following general formulas (I), (II) and (III) are provided: ##STR1## In the above formulas, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group, R is a group of the formula --CH.sub.2 --X (in which X is a substituent such as a hydroxyl group), a carboxyl group or a protected carboxyl group, A.sup.1 is an aryl group, a lower alkyl group or an aralkyl group, and Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3 and Z.sup.4 each is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a protected hydroxyl group.The above steroid compounds are useful as intermediates for the synthesis of vitamin D.sub.3 derivatives having a hydroxyl group at the 1.alpha.-position.

Abstract: There are provided pregnane derivatives represented by formula ##STR1## wherein A.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, A.sup.2 represents a substituent such as a hydroxyl group when A.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, or A.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom when A.sup.1 represents a hydroxyl group, or A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are combined together to form an oxo group; D.sup.1 represents a substitutent such as a hydroxyl group, and D.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, or D.sup.1 and D.sup.2 are combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond; D.sup.3, D.sup.5 and D.sup.7 each represents a hydrogen atom, D.sup.4 represents a hydroxyl group, and D.sup.6 represents a substitutent such as a hydroxyl group, or D.sup.3 and D.sup.4 may be combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond, or D.sup.4 and D.sup.5 may be combined together to form a single bond, or D.sup.5 and D.sup.6 may be combined together to form an epoxy group or a single bond, or D.sup.6 and D.sup.