Abstract: To provide a heat-resistant oxide which is excellent in heat resistance and durability at high temperature and has high activity, a heat-resistant oxide which has an oxide crystal structure and in which a rate of a solid solution of a noble metal in the oxide crystal structure is 50% or more is obtained by heat-treating (secondarily baking) a precursor composition comprising zirconia, at least one coordinative element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements, alkaline earth elements, aluminum and silicon, and at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium and palladium at 650° C. or higher.

Abstract: There is disclosed a construction which facilitates preventing of organic electroluminescence films from being broken by contact between desiccant members and the organic electroluminescence films which are provided inside an organic electroluminescence display device. Organic electroluminescence films are formed on a substrate An interior of an organic electroluminescence display device is sealed by a rear glass plate which is sealingly bonded to the substrate. The rear glass plate has recess portions in which desiccant members are mounted by double-side adhesive tapes. Thick portions are provided between respective adjacent recess portions of the rear glass plate, whereby the rear glass plate is prevented from being made to flex, and contact between the desiccant members and the organic electroluminescence films formed on the substrate is prevented.

Abstract: Inside surround desiccant pattern A surrounding an organic EL element by bonding an element substrate to a sealing board, outside surround desiccant pattern C surrounding the inside surround desiccant pattern A, and internal desiccant pattern (having a thinner film thickness than the inside surround desiccant pattern A) surrounded by the inside surround desiccant pattern A are formed on the sealing board by one time screen printing. For this purpose, a screen mask is utilized on which opening patterns for the inside and outside surround desiccant patterns A, C and an opening pattern having a narrower opening width than the opening patterns for A and C for forming an internal desiccant pattern are formed. With this configuration, it has been achieved to manufacture a highly reliable organic EL display apparatus in more simplified process.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying catalyst includes a rare-earth element, an alkaline-earth element, and a precious metal. A part of the rare-earth element and a part of the alkaline-earth element form a composite oxide. The composite oxide and a part of the precious metal form a solid solution.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with which, not only suppression in a drop in polarization efficiency, but also with which hue shift and light leakage do not substantially occur, under a high humidity/high temperature environment is provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film, a protective film mainly composed of a cyclic-olefin-based resin and laminated on at least one side of the polarizing film, and an anchor coat agent film and an adhesive layer interposed between the polarizing film and the protective film. The amount of change in optical in-plane retardation of the protective film is 5 nm or less, after 24 hours in an atmosphere of 80° C., and the wetting tension of the laminated surface is 500 ?N/cm (23° C.) or more. The anchor coat agent is made of polyester polyol and polyisocyanate, and the adhesive layer is made of polyvinyl-alcohol-based adhesive.

Abstract: A joint for piping includes a pipe with an annular swelling wall and a connector body with a socket that includes locking pieces. The locking pieces hold the annular swelling wall when the pipe is inserted through the connector body to connector the pipe to the connector body. A projected member on the pipe fits in a recess on the connector body to prevent rotation between the pipe and the connector body.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with a drop in polarization efficiency, hue shift, and light leakage do not substantially occur under a high humidity/high temperature environment, and a liquid crystal display device utilizing the same are provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film wherein after being subjected to an atmosphere of 80° C. and 90% RH for 24 hours, the retention of the polarization efficiency is 0.97 or more, the retention of the luminance is 3.0 or less, and an absolute value for the amount of change in value “a” is 0.6 or less and an absolute value for the amount of change in value “b” is 1.0 or less, according to the Hunter-Lab method. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes such a polarizing plate affixed thereto.

Abstract: Inside surround desiccant pattern A surrounding an organic EL element by bonding an element substrate to a sealing board, outside surround desiccant pattern C surrounding the inside surround desiccant pattern A, and internal desiccant pattern (having a thinner film thickness than the inside surround desiccant pattern A) surrounded by the inside surround desiccant pattern A are formed on the sealing board by one time screen printing. For this purpose, a screen mask is utilized on which opening patterns for the inside and outside surround desiccant patterns A, C and an opening pattern having a narrower opening width than the opening patterns for A and C for forming an internal desiccant pattern are formed. With this configuration, it has been achieved to manufacture a highly reliable organic EL display apparatus in more simplified process.

Abstract: A joint for piping includes a pipe with an annular swelling wall and a connector body with a socket that includes locking pieces. The locking pieces hold the annular swelling wall when the pipe is inserted through the connector body to connector the pipe to the connector body. A projected member on the pipe fits in a recess on the connector body to prevent rotation between the pipe and the connector body.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with which a drop in polarization efficiency, hue shift, and light leakage do not substantially arise, under a high humidity/high temperature environment is provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention comprises a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film, a protective film having thereon two anchor coat agent layers, mainly composed of a cyclic-olefin-based resin, laminated on at least one side of the polarizing film, with an adhesive. The amount of change in optical in-plane retardation of the protective film is 5 nm or less after 24 hours in an atmosphere of 80° C., and the wetting tension of the anchor coated surface of the protective film is 500 &mgr;N/cm (23° C.) or more. The anchor coat agent layers include a first layer made of polyisocyanate and polyester polyol and/or polyether polyol, and a second layer made of polyvinyl alcohol. The adhesive is made of polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: Methods of screening for iNOS activity inhibitors are provided using the binding activity of candidate compounds towards the iNOS monomer (or a mutant thereof) as an index. Dimerization of iNOS is the final step in the acquisition of iNOS enzyme activity. The screening methods according to this invention enable quick screening of iNOS inhibitory compounds that have excellent specificity and rapid action properties through simple manipulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of &agr;-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with which a drop in polarization efficiency, hue shift, and light leakage do not substantially arise, under a high humidity/high temperature environment is provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention comprises a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film, a protective film having thereon two anchor coat agent layers, mainly composed of a cyclic-olefin-based resin, laminated on at least one side of the polarizing film, with an adhesive. The amount of change in optical in-plane retardation of the protective film is 5 nm or less after 24 hours in an atmosphere of 80° C., and the wetting tension of the anchor coated surface of the protective film is 500 &mgr;N/cm (23° C.) or more. The anchor coat agent layers include a first layer made of polyisocyanate and polyester polyol and/or polyether polyol, and a second layer made of polyvinyl alcohol. The adhesive is made of polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with which, not only suppression in a drop in polarization efficiency, but also with which hue shift and light leakage do not substantially occur, under a high humidity/high temperature environment is provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film, a protective film mainly composed of a cyclic-olefin-based resin and laminated on at least one side of the polarizing film, and an anchor coat agent film and an adhesive layer interposed between the polarizing film and the protective film. The amount of change in optical in-plane retardation of the protective film is 5 nm or less, after 24 hours in an atmosphere of 80° C., and the wetting tension of the laminated surface is 500 &mgr;N/cm (23° C.) or more. The anchor coat agent is made of polyester polyol and polyisocyanate, and the adhesive layer is made of polyvinyl-alcohol-based adhesive.

Abstract: A polarizing plate with a drop in polarization efficiency, hue shift, and light leakage do not substantially occur under a high humidity/high temperature environment, and a liquid crystal display device utilizing the same are provided. The polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polyvinyl-alcohol-based polarizing film wherein after being subjected to an atmosphere of 80° C. and 90% RH for 24 hours, the retention of the polarization efficiency is 0.97 or more, the retention of the luminance is 3.0 or less, and an absolute value for the amount of change in value “a” is 0.6 or less and an absolute value for the amount of change in value “b” is 1.0 or less, according to the Hunter-Lab method. A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes such a polarizing plate affixed thereto.

Abstract: DNA fragments which contain a sequence of DNA which encodes a protective peptide-fused &agr;-hANP in which the protective peptide has a C-terminus lysine residue which is directly fused to the N-terminus of the &agr;-hANP, vectors which contain such a DNA sequence, and microorganisms transformed which such a vector are useful for the production of &agr;-hANP.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: An expression vector containing both a DNA encoding an L-sorbose dehydrogenase and a DNA encoding an L-sorbosone dehydrogenase; a transformant having an ability to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter 2KLGA) at high yields from D-sorbitol, which is prepared by transforming, with said expression vector, a microorganism capable of producing L-sorbose at high yields from D-sorbitol, which has no or low 2KLGA-decomposing activity or a host microorganism having, in addition to the above-mentioned properties, no or low L-idonic acid-producing activity; and a process for producing 2KLGA, which comprises culturing said transformant in a medium containing D-sorbitol. According to the present invention, 2KLGA useful for the production of L-ascorbic acid can be produced with ease and in larger amounts by a single operation of culture.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase (SNDH) both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: An expression vector containing both a DNA encoding an L-sorbose dehydrogenase and a DNA encoding an L-sorbosone dehydrogenase; a transformant having an ability to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter 2KLGA) at high yields from D-sorbitol, which is prepared by transforming, with said expression vector, a microorganism capable of producing L-sorbose at high yields from D-sorbitol, which has no or low 2KLGA-decomposing activity or a host microorganism having, in addition to the above-mentioned properties, no or low L-idonic acid-producing activity; and a process for producing 2KLGA, which comprises culturing said transformant in a medium containing D-sorbitol. According to the present invention, 2KLGA useful for the production of L-ascorbic acid can be produced with ease and in larger amounts by a single operation of culture.