Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation and cloning of the .alpha.-chain of the human IL-3 receptor, which, when expressed together with the .beta.-chain of the human IL-3 receptor, forms a high affinity receptor for human IL-3. The invention further relates to a method for detecting agonists and antagonists of human IL-3 by the use of a cellular host expressing genes for the .alpha.- and .beta.-chains of the human IL-3 receptor.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding the .beta. chain of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, as well as the .beta. chain itself, are provided. The .beta. chain may be expressed with the .alpha. chain in cellular hosts to form compositions useful in screening agonists and antagonists of human GM-CSF.

Abstract: A low- to medium-level radioactive waste sealing container is constructed by depositing a foundation coating consisting essentially of zinc, cadmium or a zinc-aluminum alloy over a steel base, then coating an organic synthetic resin paint containing a metal phosphate over the foundation coating, and thereafter coating an acryl resin, epoxy resin, and/or polyurethane paint. The sealing container can consist of a main container body, a lid placed over the main body, and fixing members for clamping and fixing the lid to the main body. Each fixing member may consist of a material obtained by depositing a coating consisting essentially of cadmium or a zinc-aluminum alloy over a steel base.

Abstract: A process for annealing a heat fused cast refractory product casts a molten refractory material in a mold which is held in a heat insulating material as an annealing medium, said mold being held in said packed heat insulating material which has a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.04 to 0.3 Kcal/m. hr. .degree.C. (at 200.degree. C.) as a heat insulating property and a contraction coefficient of up to 45% under a pressure of 50 Kg/cm.sup.2 as a mechanical strength for supporting a mold.

Abstract: A spinel type dense fused refractory product having excellent corrosion resistance comprises a crystalline structure consisting essentially of more than 50% by weight of composite spinel phase comprising RO component selected from MgO and FeO and R'.sub.2 O.sub.3 component selected from Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and periclase phase and a small content of glass matrix phase which consists essentially of the following constituents, analytically on a weight basis; a ratio of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of 3.5 to 5.5; and 20% to 40% of MgO; 1.5% or less of CaO; 15% or less of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (FeO is also calculated for Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) and 5% or less of SiO.sub.2.