Abstract: A detachable hula hoop having waterproof reservoirs is provided with hollow arc sections each including a neck; a first connection end at a first end and including an opening, a channel, and a first recess on a surface; a plug including a cylindrical member and a head; a second connection end at a second end and including a closed member and a second recess on a surface; and a reservoir. The first recess is complimentarily disposed in the second recess to fasten the first and second connection ends together. The cylindrical member is disposed in the neck, the head urges against an annular shoulder to block the neck, and the head is urged against by the closed member.

Abstract: A detachable hula hoop having waterproof reservoirs is provided with hollow arc sections each including a neck; a first connection end at a first end and including an opening, a channel, and a first recess on a surface; a plug including a cylindrical member and a head; a second connection end at a second end and including a closed member and a second recess on a surface; and a reservoir. The first recess is complimentarily disposed in the second recess to fasten the first and second connection ends together. The cylindrical member is disposed in the neck, the head urges against an annular shoulder to block the neck, and the head is urged against by the closed member.

Abstract: A sialidase capable of cleaving a glycoconjugate to yield 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid (KDN) is isolated from hepatopancreas of mollusks. Preferably, the sialidase is isolated by processing crude oyster hepatopancreas to form a crude extract of the sialidase enzyme. The crude enzyme is further concentrated and refined utilizing sequential column chromatography fractogel EMD DEAE-650 (M), sephacryl S-200, and fractogel EMD SP 650 (M) chromatography, respectively. Using this procedure, the sialidase is purified over 155 fold with a 17% recovery. Ferric ion exerts a three fold stimulation in the activity of the sialidase, at a concentration of 3 mM. The sialidase cleaves 4-methylumbelliferyl-KDN, KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcCer, KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.6Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcCer, or KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.6GalNAc-o1 to yield KDN.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to the isolation, purification and utilization of sialidase-L, a novel enzyme capable of producing 2,7-anhydro N-acetylneuraminic acid by the selective cleavage of sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic bonds. The instant invention also relates to a method for the preparation of 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid using sialidase-L. The instant invention also relates to methods for selectively cleaving sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic linkages and providing a means to selectively destroy the selectin ligands for the treatment of selectin-mediated inflammation. The instant invention also relates to methods for using 2,7-anhydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and sialidase-L for the selective sialylation of acceptor glycosides to form sialic acid-.alpha.2.fwdarw.3D-galactose glycosidic linkages.

Abstract: Ceramide-glycanase which cleaves the entire oligosaccharides intact from glycosphingolipids and alkylglycolipids. The enzyme does not hydrolyze monosaccharides from these glycoconjugates. The enzyme is obtained from the muscle tissue of annelids such as earthworms and leeches by homogenization in water, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel permeation chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and is essentially free from exo-glycosidase activity. Also disclosed is a method for obtaining oligosaccharides by hydrolysis of glycolipids, alkylglycolipids, and glycosphingolipids by the ceramide-glycanase.