Abstract: The protein of the present invention and a DNA encoding the same can be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as infectious diseases. The protein of the present invention is also useful as a reagent for screening a compound or its salt capable of promoting or inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention. Furthermore, a compound or its salt inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention and a neutralization antibody inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention can also be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing allyl ether polymer having a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 1,000,000 and consisting of chains of at least one repeating unit of the formula: wherein A is an organic group having 1 to 100 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The protein of the present invention and a DNA encoding the same can be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as infectious diseases. The protein of the present invention is also useful as a reagent for screening a compound or its salt capable of promoting or inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention. Furthermore, a compound or its salt inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention and a neutralization antibody inhibiting the activity of the protein of the present invention can also be used as therapeutic/prophylactic agents for diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

Abstract: A polymer having a structure of the formula: in which X, Y and Z represent independently each other H, F, Cl, Br or I, provided that at least one of X, Y and Z is F; R represents a straight or branched fluorinated alkylene group which may contain an oxygen atom; x and y represent mole percentages and x is from 1 to 100% by mole; A is —CN, —NCO, —COOR′ in which R′ is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an acid anhydride group or an unsaturated hydrocarbon group; and M is a repeating unit derived from a copolymerizable monomer is treated with a crosslinking agent selected from ammonia, diamines and polyol compounds and crosslinked through the side functional groups of the polymer. This crosslinking method can be carried out at room temperature and provides a transparent fluoropolymer having better heat resistance than conventional transparent thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel protein which is useful in preventing/treating pulmonary and breast diseases associated with pulmonary and airway inflammation, a polynucleotide encoding the protein, a method of screening a compound inhibiting the activity of the protein, a compound obtained by the screening method, etc.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a method of screening a compound capable of inhibiting the activities of the disease-associated gene product, compounds obtainable by the screening method, etc. The compounds or a salt thereof that inhibits the activity of the protein having an amino acid sequence identical or substantially identical with the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a neutralizing antibody that inhibits the activity of that protein may be used as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for various diseases, for example, pulmonary/thoracic diseases and respiratory diseases accompanied by pulmonary/airway inflammation [e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (such as chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, diffuse panbronchiolitis, intrinsic asthma), bronchial asthma, cystis fibrosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, etc.], inflammatory bowel diseases, allergic conjunctivitis, and so on.

Abstract: A perfluorovinyl ether of the formula: RfO(CF2CFXO)nCF═CF2  (1) in which Rf is a perfluoralkyl group, X is a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group, and n is a number of 0 to 20 containing impurities is purified by removing a hydrogen fluoride adduct of the perfluorovinyl ether (1) through distillation, the perfluorovinyl ether (1) is distilled in the presence of a ketone or an ether having a lower boiling point than that of the perfluorovinyl ether (1) while refluxing such a solvent. This method can remove the hydrogen fluoride adduct of a perfluorovinyl ether as an impurity and provide a high purity perfluorovinyl ether.

Abstract: A hexafluoropropylene oxide oligomer of the formula: RfO[CF(CF3)CF2O]nCF(CF3)COF in which Rf is a group represented by the formula: F(CF2)m— in which m is an integer of 1 to 8, or the formula: (CF3)2CF(CF2)q— in which q is an integer of 0 to 6, and n is a number of 3 to 20 is heated and thermally decomposed in a solvent at a temperature of at least 100° C. in the presence of a compound which generates a fluoride (F−) ion to obtain mainly the dimer, trimer and tetramer of hexafluoropropylene oxide. Thus, the valuable low molecular weight oligomers of hexafluoropropylene oxide can be obtained from high molecular weight oligomers of hexafluoropropylene oxide which have been discarded.

Abstract: In order to provide a spiral wound type gasket, in which centering of the gasket body is easy and a good sealing property at a low superficial pressure can be obtained, the spiral wound type gasket is constructed by winding a metal hoop member having an approximately V-shaped cross section and a filler member in a spiral, superposed on each other. In this gasket, an extremity bent portion of the V shape of the hoop member is directed towards the inner peripheral side and in this way it is possible to obtain a good centering and to prevent bulge-out of the filler member towards the interior of the pipe.

Abstract: The present inventions provide methods to produce fluorinated vinyl ether by reacting fluorinated carboxylic acid halogenide with a metal compound below the decomposition temperature for the corresponding metal salt in the absence of solvent and then raising the temperature of the produced corresponding metal salt above the decompostion temperature. With these production methods, fluorinated vinyl ether of a high purity can be obtained on an efficient basis.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention has the step of forming an insulation material on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate. A groove is formed to extend from the surface of the material film to the substrate. The groove is buried with a first insulation film. By use of the first insulation film as an etching mask, the material film is removed, so that a projecting portion projecting to the first insulation film from the main surface can be obtained. A second insulation film is formed on a side surface of the projecting portion in a sloped shape, which is from the top portion of the projecting portion to the main surface.

Abstract: A spiral gasket apparatus, capable of being held on an inclined flue gas outflow pipe without falling off therefrom, is constructed by winding a metal hoop member and a filler member, superposed on each other. A part of the hoop member from the beginning extremity of the hoop member on the inner side, which is wound as many as several turns to a welded fixed portion thereof, is raised inward by using the welded fixed portion as a fulcrum. An extremity portion thereof is folded back to form a superposition part. Since the raised part of the hoop member acts as a spring and is brought elastically into contact with an inclined flue gas outflow pipe, the gasket is held on the flue gas outflow pipe.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply device, a die setting device, a separating device and a deburring device. The supply device includes a mold material feeding device, an extruding device for receiving a mold material from the mold material feeding device and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutting device for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer device for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutting device and transferring the same.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply device, a die setting device, a separating device and a deburring device. The supply device includes a mold material feeding device, an extruding device for receiving a mold material from the mold material feeding device and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutting device for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer device for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutting device and transferring the same.

Abstract: There are disclosed cloning of an alkaliprotease secretion gene of a mold and a DNA fragment containing a part or all of the alkaliprotease gene. A plasmid into which the DNA fragment is integrated, a transformant obtained by using the plasmid and the production of a useful protein by using the transformant are also disclosed.

Abstract: To planarize the surface of a semiconductor substrate having convex and concave portions as with the case of a trench structure or a multilayer interconnection structure, a burying film is formed all over the surface of the semiconductor substrate to bury the convex portions; a stopper layer is selectively formed on the burying film at the concave portions; and the burying film is removed flatwise by mechanical polishing until the surface of the convex portion is exposed. The method can simply realize a highly precise planarized structure. Further, it is also preferable to form another stopper layer on the surfaces of the convex portions.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the upper flaps of a box including a front inner flap folding body, back inner flap folding body, and left and right outer flap folding bodies for moving the respective flaps of a box into its upper opening plane. The novel apparatus further includes a cooperating tape head for securing the flaps in their folded position.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply device, a die setting device, a separating device and a deburring device. The supply device includes a mold material feeding device, an extruding device for receiving a mold material from the mold material feeding device and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutting device for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer device for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutting device and transferring the same.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention has the step of forming an insulation material on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate. A groove is formed to extend from the surface of the material film to the substrate. The groove is buried with a first insulation film. By use of the first insulation film as an etching mask, the material film is removed, so that a projecting portion projecting to the first insulation film from the main surface can be obtained. A second insulation film is formed on a side surface or the projecting portion in a slope shape, which is from the top portion of the projecting portion to the main surface.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the bottom flaps of a box including a bottom flap folding mechanism and top pressing mechanism located above the bottom flap folding mechanism for controlling box lifting during a box folding operation. The novel features of the claimed invention allow for controlled guiding of a box frame throughout a folding and sealing operation.