Abstract: Disclosed herein are high-temperature oxide superconductors of RBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8 type, with Ba partly replaced by Sr or Ca, or with R and Ba partly replaced by Ca and Sr, respectively, as represented by the chemical composition formula of R(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8 or R(Ba.sub.1-z Ca.sub.z).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8 or (R.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x) (Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8. They exhibit superconductivity at high temperatures. Especially, the last one exhibits superconductivity at a higher temperature than the former two. All of them can be made with a less amount of Ba as a deleterious substance, and the first two have improved sinterability. The best results are obtained when they are produced by the process involving the hot hydrostatic pressure treatment of the mixture of raw materials at 850.degree.-1100.degree. C. in an atmosphere composed of an inert gas and oxygen. The process permits a wider selection of Ba raw materials.

Abstract: A process for producing an oxide superconductor, comprising putting a formed body of raw material powders for forming an oxide superconductor on silver or silver oxide within a pan which does not melt at the melting point of silver, heating the pan to a temperature higher than the melting point of silver to bring the formed body to a semi-molten state with the formed body being floated on molten silver, cooling the pan and taking the formed body out of the re-solidified silver. This process enables a large bulk material having a diameter of 10 cm or more to be produced without occurrence of cracking.

Abstract: The generation of a reaction product is suppressed between a metallic substrate and plasma in depositing a ceramic intermediate layer on the metallic substrate in a process for depositing an oxide film on the metallic substrate by thermal plasma flash evaporation method. Thus, there is no reaction phase in the ceramic intermediate layer and the metallic substrate, and an intermediated buffer layer of only oxide ceramic is deposited on a flat surface of the metallic substrate. The intermediate ceramic layer is deposited in inert atmosphere of a low oxygen concentration at a temperature of less than 600.degree. C. for the metallic substrate. Then, a superconducting thin film is deposited on the ceramic intermediate layer.

Abstract: A mobile communication system contains a mobile switching center connected to a plurality of base stations constituting a radio service zone and a plurality of mobile stations. The mobile switching center monitors the usage of a traffic channel for each radio service zone and has a usage threshold value for each radio service zone, and informs those to the mobile station via the base station. The busy mobile station compares the traffic channel usage information and the usage threshold value information and the radio zone communicated. When the traffic channel usage is greater than the usage threshold value, the mobile station selects a hand-over radio zone destination based on the received signal strength and quality, and the traffic channel usage information and the usage threshold value information of the adjacent zone, and then transmits a hand-over request designating the hand-over radio zone destination to the mobile switching center.

Abstract: A hard film 2 is applied to cover an outer circumferential surface of a piston ring 1 by an ion plating process. Either 3 percent to 20 percent by weight of oxygen, or 2 percent to 11 percent by weight of carbon is included in a solid solution state in a crystal structure of CrN in the hard film 2. The Vickers hardness of the hard film 2 is in a range of 1600 to 2200.

Abstract: Novel peptides represented by the general formula: ##STR1## and physiologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof; where (A) represents H-, H-Gly, H-Lys-Gly, H-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-Gly-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gly, H-ser, H-Ser-Ser, H-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser, H-Ser-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser;(B) represents H-Cys or Pmp;(C) represents Phe-, pCl-Phe, pF-Phe, pNO.sub.2 -Phe or Cha;(D) represents Ile, Val, Aib, tLeu, Gly or Leu;(E) represents Lys or Arg;(F) represents Ile, Leu or Met;(G) represents Ser or Ala;(H) represents Met or Gln;(I) represents --OH, -Asn-OH, -Asn-Ser-OH, -Asn-Ser-Phe-OH, -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-OH or -Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr-OH; and the symbol " . . . " represents a disulfide bond;provided that 1) .alpha.-hANP, 2) .alpha.-hANP (7-28) and 3) CNP-22 are excluded from the scope of that general formula.Also disclosed are agents for suppressing the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells that contains those peptides as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an oxide superconductor having a high critical current density, a uniform structure and an excellent mechanical property and thermal stability, which comprises heating raw material powders of a REBaCuO system at 1050.degree. C. or higher, cooling the material for solidification, pulverizing and mixing the solidified material to homogeneously disperse the structure of the solidified material, molding the material, optionally mixed with silver oxide or silver, into a predetermined shape, and reheating the molding to 1050.degree. C. or higher to grow a superconducting phase.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor thin film of Y.sub.1.+-..alpha. Ba.sub.2.+-..beta. Cu.sub.3.+-..gamma. O.sub.7-.delta. with a smooth surface having a low density of particles being generated without decreasing superconductivity is produced by the steps of applying a pulsed laser beam to the target formed of an oxide material having an apparent density of 95% or more, substantially composed of Y.sub.1.+-..alpha. Ba.sub.2.+-..beta. Cu.sub.3.+-..gamma. O.sub.7-.delta., which is obtained from a molded body of an amorphous powder by subjecting it to partial melting, followed by gradual cooling, depositing and accumulating an irradiated and evaporated oxide material of the target on a substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Pb-based Cu oxide superconductor. The method includes the steps of mixing powders of a raw material containing at least Pb, Sr, Ce, M, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and Cu in a proportion to have the composition of the formula (I),Pb.sub.a (M.sub.1-x-y Ce.sub.x Sr.sub.y).sub.4 Cu.sub.3-a O.sub.z(I)where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and a, x, y, and z denote the numbers which satisfy 0.3.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.7, 0<x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.3.ltoreq.y<0.5, 8.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.9.5, respectively, forming the mixed powder into a shaped body, and firing the shaped body at a temperature of 900.degree. to 1150.degree. C. in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of pulling a crystal of a metal oxide is disclosed, in which the growth of the crystal is performed in a liquid phase having a composition which is different from the metal oxide and which contains components constituting the metal oxide. The liquid phase is in contact with a solid phase located at a position separated from the position at which the crystal of the metal oxide grows. The solid phase has a composition different from that of the metal oxide and supplies components constituting the metal oxide to the liquid phase.

Abstract: To ensure a well-oriented crystal structure, there is provided a process of producing an oxide superconductor of a Y--Ba--Cu--O system with a composition having an atomic ratio Y:Ba:Cu of 1.0-2.0:2.0-2.5:3.0-3.5, the process comprising the steps of: preparing a semimelt including solid and liquid phases and consisting of Y, Ba, Cu and O in the atomic ratio; and solidifying the semimelt to form the oxide superconductor by so controlling a moving speed of a solidification front to have two components of different values in two perpendicularly intersecting directions.

Abstract: The disclosed superconductive material has a characteristic in accordance with which electrical resistance disappears at a temperature of at least more than the boiling point of 20.3.degree. K. (-252.7.degree. C.) of liquid hydrogen and relates to La-Ba-Cu-O series superconductive material.Said superconductive material consists essentially of a composition having the formula(La.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.2 CuO.sub.4-x/2wherein, M=Ba or Ba(Sr, Ca) and x=0.04.about.0.20 as a main body, wherein the material has a K.sub.2 NiF.sub.4 crystal structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oxide superconductor having a composition expressed by formula La.sub.2-X Sr.sub.X CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.6 (0<X.ltoreq.0.6), comprising the steps of: preliminarily burning a raw powder having a predetermined composition, and sintering the powder to obtain a sintered body; and subjecting the sintered body to hot isostatic pressing at a temperature falling within a range of from 940.degree.-1600.degree. C. under total pressure of 10 MPa or more and oxygen partial pressure of 2 MPa or more. By virtue of the step of subjecting the sintered body to hot isostatic pressing, a superconductor can be manufactured at a temperature and under a pressure within respective wide ranges. Further, the composition of the superconductor can be selected within a wide range of 0<X.ltoreq.0.6. Moreover, the superconductor can be manufactured by performing quenching after the hot isostatic pressing.

Abstract: A method of producing a superconductor of metal oxides having the following composition:(M.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)(Ba.sub.1-y Sr.sub.y).sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.8wherein M stands for a rare earth element, x is 0 or a positive number of less than 1 and y is 0 or a positive number of less than 1, is disclosed, which includes hydrdolyzing an organic solvent solution or dispersion containing (a) alkoxide or fine particulate of a hydroxide of the rare earth element M, (b) alkoxides orfine particulate of hydroxides of Ca, Ba and Sr and (c) alkoxide, nitrate or fine particulate of hydroxide of copper in presence of water and nitrate ions. The alkoxides or hydroxides of Ca and Sr are present only when x and y are not zero, respectively. The hydrolyzed product is then dried, shaped and pyrolyzed to obtain the superconductor.

Abstract: Disclosed are an oxide superconductor, and an optimum process for producing the same. The oxide superconductor comprises a base material phase including an oxide superconducting material, the oxide superconducting material including barium (Ba) at least and being free from grain boundaries, and precipitation phases contained in an amount of 1 to 50% by volume in the base material phase and dotted therein in a manner like islands, the precipitation phases being oxides of a metal selected from the group consisting of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), strontium (Sr), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co) and vanadium (V), and being products of decomposition reaction of the base material phase. In the production process, the constituent materials are treated thermally at a partially melting temperature in order to give the above-described novel structure to the oxide superconductor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of forming an oxide superconducting film comprising the steps of (1) mixing (a) the vapors of organic metal materials in such proportions as to provide a predetermined metal composition, or (b) said organic metal materials in such proportions as to provide a predetermined metal composition vaporizing and mixture, and (2) bringing the mixture into contact with a heated substrate so that an oxide superconducting film is formed on said substrate by a chemical vapor deposition process, wherein laser light is applied onto said substrate during formation of said oxide superconducting film on said substrate, whereby the crystallographic orientation of said oxide superconducting film being formed in the irradiated area of said substrate is such that the c-axis is parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a layered copper oxide as an insulator for superconductor or as a superconductor, which has a chemical composition represented by the formula of (R,Ce).sub.3 Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (M,Cu)O.sub.11, wherein R is a rare earth element other than Ce and M is one or both of Pb and T1, and has a crystal structure comprising a (M,Cu)Sr.sub.2 (R,Ce)Cu.sub.2 O.sub.7 ; unit of a TlBa.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.7 (1-2-1-2)-type structure and a [(R,Ce)O.sub.2 ].sub.2 unit of a fluorite-type structure alternately put on each other, or a chemical composition represented by the formula of (R,Ce).sub.3 Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (M,Cu)O.sub.10+z, wherein R is a rare earth element other than Ce, M is one or both of Pb or Tl, and has a crystal structure comprising a (R,Ce)Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 (Cu,M)O.sub.6+z unit of a YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.3 O.sub.6+.delta. -type structure and a [(R,Ce)O.sub.2 ].sub.2 unit of a fluorite-type structure alternately put on each other, wherein z is in the range of 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor which has a composition expressed by the following general formula and whose crystal structure is 1222-phase structure.Pb.sub.a (M.sub.1-x-y Ce.sub.x Sr.sub.y).sub.4 Cu.sub.3-a O.sub.z (I)(where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu, and a, x, y, and z denote the numbers which satisfy 0.3.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.7, 0<x.ltoreq.0.25, 0.3.ltoreq.y<0.5, 8.5.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.9.5, respectively). A Pb-based Cu oxide superconductor manufacturing method comprising the steps of mixing powders of raw materials containing at least Pb, Sr, Ce, M (where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu groups) and Cu in the proportion to have the composition shown in the general formula (I) above, optionally forming the mixed powder into a shape body, and firing the obtained powder mixture or the shape body in the temperature range of 900.degree.

Abstract: A precursor of a C-terminal amidated peptide represented by the general formula P-X-Gly-Y.sub.n, wherein P is a peptide residue. X is an amino acid residue the C terminal of which (on the Gly side) can be converted in vivo to a --CONH.sub.2 group. Gly is a glycine residue, Y is a basic amino acid residue, n is an interger of 2 to 4 and a further amino acid residue other than Y or a peptide residue may be attached to Y.sub.n, is produced by a gene engineering technology. The precursor exhibits in vivo physiological activity like the C-terminal amidated peptide.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor comprises a composition represented by the composition formula: (Nd.sub.x --Ce.sub.y --L.sub.z).sub.2 CuO.sub.4-d (wherein L is an element selected from Ca and Mg, and x+y+z=1). The compositions of Nd, Ce and L of the oxide superconductor corresponds to a point falling inside an area of Nd--Ce--L ternary diagram surrounded by straight lines (A-B), (B-C), (C-D) and (D-A) connecting point (A) with point (B), point (B) with point (C), point (C) with point (D) and point (D) with point (A), respectively, the points (A), (B), (C) and (D) being points (x=1, y=0, z=0), (x=0.4, y=0.6, z=0), (x=0.4, y=0.3, z=0.3) and (x=0.1, y=0, z=0.9), respectively, in the Nd--Ce--L ternary diagram. Above-described Nd--Ce--L--Cu--O oxides can exhibit superconductivity within a wide range of composition when heat-treated in an atmosphere of nitrogen.