Abstract: A Faraday rotator mirror which is compact, allows high workability of manufacturing and has high reliability and high coupling efficiency is provided. The Faraday rotator mirror comprises a graded-index fiber, a Faraday rotator and a reflector mirror, wherein light incident via the graded-index fiber passes through the Faraday rotator to be reflected on the reflector mirror, and the reflected light passes through the Faraday rotator and emerges through the graded-index fiber.

Abstract: A Faraday rotator mirror which is compact, allows high workability of manufacturing and has high reliability and high coupling efficiency is provided. The Faraday rotator mirror comprises a graded-index fiber, a Faraday rotator and a reflector mirror, wherein light incident via the graded-index fiber passes through the Faraday rotator to be reflected on the reflector mirror, and the reflected light passes through the Faraday rotator and emerges through the graded-index fiber.

Abstract: A kit for the determination of the ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell to bind to a polysaccharide herein provided comprises a detection reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide; and a reference reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled material of a polysaccharide different from that used in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide, and/or an immunostimulant polysaccharide which is not labeled with any fluorescent material and whose polysaccharide moiety is identical to that included in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide. The use of this kit would permit the estimation of the polysaccharide-binding ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell in a higher precision of estimation.

Abstract: The ability of a polysaccharide to act as an immunostimulant may be assessed by comparing the degree of binding of a detection reagent, which contains a fluorescence-labeled version of the polysaccharide, with the binding of a reference reagent, which contains a fluorescence-labeled version of a different polysaccharide. The ability of a polysaccharide to act as an immunostimulant may also be assessed by comparing the degree of binding of a detection reagent, which contains a fluorescence-labeled version of the polysaccharide, with the binding of a different type of reference reagent, which contains both the same fluorescence-labeled version of the polysaccharide and an unlabelled version of the same polysaccharide.

Abstract: A kit for the determination of the ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell to bind to a polysaccharide herein provided comprises a detection reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide; and a reference reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled material of a polysaccharide different from that used in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide, and/or an immunostimulant polysaccharide which is not labeled with any fluorescent material and whose polysaccharide moiety is identical to that included in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide. The use of this kit would permit the estimation of the polysaccharide-binding ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell in a higher precision of estimation.

Abstract: A kit for the determination of the ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell to bind to a polysaccharide herein provided comprises a detection reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide; and a reference reagent comprising a fluorescence-labeled material of a polysaccharide different from that used in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide, and/or an immunostimulant polysaccharide which is not labeled with any fluorescent material and whose polysaccharide moiety is identical to that included in the fluorescence-labeled immunostimulant polysaccharide. The use of this kit would permit the estimation of the polysaccharide-binding ability of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell in a higher precision of estimation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immune activator composition containing either &bgr;-glucan or a component derived from a mushroom (e.g., a shiitake mushroom). The invention further provides a method of treating a subject in need thereof by administering the immune activator composition thereto. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of activating immunity or a method of regulating immunity by administering superfine particles of the immune activator composition to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Adapter-type optical isolator 1 has split sleeve 7 within housings A and B. Polarization-independent optical isolator is of such a structure that optical isolator device 3 which is an integral assembly of a Faraday rotator and a birefringent crystal element is provided within hollow cylindrical magnet 4. Beam changing elements 5a and 5b are in the form of optical coupling lenses or core-flared fibers. Adapter-type optical isolator 1 has the polarization-independent optical isolator and beam changing elements 5a and 5b fitted snugly within the bore of split sleeve 7 in the central area in such a way that the polarization-independent optical isolator is held between beam changing elements 5a and 5b.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elastase inhibitory polypeptide comprising a C-terminal half of a human secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and having an elastase inhibitory activity wherein inhibitory activity of a trypsin-like serine protease does not exceed 1/10 of elastase inhibitory activity, and polypeptides having the above-mentioned biological activity wherein one or more than one amino acid is added, one or more than one amino acid is deleted and/or one or more than one amino acid is replaced. The present invention also provides a process for the production of the above-mentioned protein or other protein via a corresponding fused protein.

Abstract: This invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trypsin-like enzyme which can be present at the trachea of human lungs, and can selectively digest a synthetic substrate for trypsin and a synthetic substrate for thrombin, and fibrinogen; and a process for producing the trypsin-like enzyme by genetic engineering utilizing the nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: An optical coupler having a tapered fused region produced by locally heating the periphery of a plurality of aligned optical fibers, each having a core and a cladding, so that the optical fibers fuse together at the heated part, and then drawing the resulting fused region by pulling. The length of the fused region is not longer than 10 mm. The tapered fused region may be provided in such a manner that a plurality of optical fibers are disposed to intersect each other at a predetermined angle, and the intersecting portions are locally heated so as to fuse together and then subjected to pulling. The tapered fused region may be provided at each of two or more positions.

Abstract: A lipid metabolism improving drug or pharmaceutical composition contains pantetheine-S-sulfonic acid as an active ingredient. When an effective dose of pantetheine-S-sulfonic acid or a pharmaceutically active, non-toxic salt thereof is administered to an animal, such as a human, in pure form or composition form, the lipid concentration in the plasma is lowered, lipid peroxide concentration in the serum and liver is lowered, B-lipo protein-cholesterol concentration in serum is decreased and HDL-cholesterol concentration is increased.