Abstract: A working fluid consisting essentially of CO2, a molecule having a low ratio of specific heats, is expanded by a gas turbine 4. Thus, even if the pressure changes between the inlet side and the outlet side of the gas turbine 4, a temperature drop as a temperature change is suppressed, so that an exhaust gas having a high temperature is obtained. Consequently, the difference between the temperature of the working fluid on the outlet side of a compressor 2 and the temperature of the exhaust gas on the outlet side of the gas turbine 4 is kept so great that a regeneration effect is enhanced, whereby thermal efficiency is increased without a decrease in the output.

Abstract: Biomass, including waste biomass, is gasified by a process in which the biomass is first carbonized, and the char and pyrolysis gas from the carbonizer are respectively fed to a high temperature gasifying part and a gas reformer part of a two-stage gasifier A gasifying agent is continuously fed to the gasifying part, and intermittently fed to the gas reformer, to maintain the temperature required to avoid tar formation in the gas reformer stage. Multiple carbonization chambers are operated in rotation. When the carbonization/gasification apparatus is used to provide fuel to an electric power generator set, exhaust heat from the generator power plant is fed back to the carbonizer, and can be supplemented by exchange of heat from the gas delivered to generator power plant from the outlet of the gasifier.

Abstract: Biomass, including waste biomass, is gasified by a process in which the biomass is first carbonized, and the char and pyrolysis gas from the carbonizer are respectively fed to a high temperature gasifying part and a gas reformer part of a two-stage gasifier. A gasifying agent is continuously fed to the gasifying part, and intermittently fed to the gas reformer, to maintain the temperature required to avoid tar formation in the gas reformer stage. Multiple carbonization chambers are operated in rotation. When the carbonization/gasification apparatus is used to provide fuel to an electric power generator set, exhaust heat from the generator power plant is fed back to the carbonizer, and can be supplemented by exchange of heat from the gas delivered to generator power plant from the outlet of the gasifier.

Abstract: A method of increasing proliferation of cells which comprises adding to cells a cellular proliferating amount of a primary hydroxyl group of N-acetylglucosamine selectively desulfated heparin having the following characteristics for an enzyme digestion product of the heparin: (1) contents of unsaturated disaccharides of the following formulae (a) and (b): measured by high performance liquid chromatography in the enzyme digestion product of the selectively desulfated heparin are less than 40% and 30 to 67%, respectively, (2) a content of disaccharides containing an N-substituted sulfate group is 75 to 95%, and (3) the weight average molecular weight Mw is 4,000 to 30,000 dalton.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a desulfated polysaccharide, which comprises reacting a sulfated polysaccharide having a saccharide in which a primary hydroxyl group is sulfated, as a constituent sugar, with a silylating agent represented by the following formula (I) 1

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a desulfated polysaccharide, which comprises reacting a sulfated polysaccharide having a saccharide in which a primary hydroxyl group is sulfated, as a constituent sugar, with a silylating agent represented by the following formula (I) wherein R1s are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R2 represents a lower alkyl group, and R3s are the same or different and each represent a lower alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom, and a desulfated heparin obtained by this production process.

Abstract: There is provided a glycosaminoglycan having a backbone structure comprising a repetitive disaccharide bearing a uronic acid residue and a glucosamine residue, and having sulfate groups, wherein substantially no sulfate group bound to the hydroxyl group at the 6-position of the glucosamine residue in the backbone structure is detected as determined by a chemical disaccharide analysis method in which the glycosaminoglycan is decomposed with nitrous acid, reacted with para-nitrophenylhydrazine and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, and the molar % of a uronic acid residue having a sulfate group at the 2-position is not less than 45% relative to total uronic acid residues, which is calculated from a disaccharide composition obtained by an enzymatic disaccharide analysis method in which the glycosaminoglycan is digested with glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The glycosaminoglycan can be used as an active ingredient of pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A peptide comprising a peptide (A) of an amino acid sequence being abundant in basic amino acid residues and a peptide (B) of an amino acid sequence comprising at least two consecutive, hydrophobic amino acid residues wherein the peptide (B) is linked to the C-terminal of the peptide (A) directly or via several amino acid residues. The novel peptide of the present invention has the activity to inhibit growth of smooth muscle cells and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide is useful for preventing or treating pathological conditions associated with growth of smooth muscle cells such as arteriosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, luminal stenosis after grafting blood vessel and smooth muscle sarcoma.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a desulfated polysaccharide, which comprises reacting a sulfated polysaccharide having a saccharide in which a primary hydroxyl group is sulfated, as a constituent sugar, with a silylating agent represented by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 s are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R.sup.2 represents a lower alkyl group, and R.sup.3 s are the same or different and each represent a lower alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom,and a desulfated heparin obtained by this production process.

Abstract: Novel anti-rheumatic agent containing 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A plurality of fasteners are joined together as they are laminated in the direction of the thickness thereof, to form a fastener assembly. Each of the fasteners consists of a substantially H-shaped body composed of a head section, a bar section opposed to the head section, and a filament section by which the head section and bar section are joined together. Each of the fasteners is obtained by punching a film or a sheet of a synthetic resin. After a plurality of such fasteners as described above have been laminated in the direction of the thickness thereof, the bar sections are fused together in such a manner that the fasteners can be separated one by one.