Abstract: Disclosed is a method of enhancing absorption (pinocytosis efficiecy) of immunoglobulins administered to postnatal domestic mammals (e.g., bovine) by using selenium. As an example of a selenium compound added, sodium selenite is particularly effective.

Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro gravity environmental control apparatus, such as a plant cultivating apparatus, an animal raising apparatus, and a micro gravity environmental control method, such as a plant cultivating method, an animal raising method, a breeding method, capable of cultivating a plant and raising an animal by using soil and also capable of recovering moisture supplied to the soil so as to reuse the moisture, under a weightless environment or a micro gravity environment. There is provided a micro gravity environmental control apparatus comprising a chamber, an air suction pipe arranged in the vicinity of a lower end portion within the chamber, and an air sucking part communicated and connected with the air suction pipe and used for sucking air within the chamber out of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a diagnostic method for paratuberculosis by which an animal infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis can be diagnosed at a high sensitivity in the sub-clinical infection stage before the specific antibody level begins to increase and a large number of specimens can be treated. The present invention provides: a diagnostic method for paratuberculosis characterized by collecting the blood of a subject animal, adding an anti-IL-10 antibody and a Mycobacterium avium subsp.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of reducing the total amount of stored protein, to develop a technique required therefor, and to provide a plant and its seeds developed by the above method and a method of using such a plant and seeds. More specifically, a nucleic acid molecule containing a consecutive nucleic acid sequence of at least 15 in length which is complementary with a nucleic acid sequence encoding prolamin polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence having a homology of at least about 70% to the complementary nucleic acid sequence having at least 15 nucleotide length. A method of reducing the expression dose of a protein in a seed of a plant which comprises: A) the step of providing the above-described nucleic acid molecule; B) the step of transferring the nucleic acid molecule into the cells of the plant; C) the step of re-differentiating the cells to construct a transgenic plant; and D) the step of obtaining seeds from the transgenic plant.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to clone a gene which is involved in synthesis of fatty acid having trans-11-, cis-13-conjugated double bonds from fatty acid having a double bone at position ?12.

Abstract: By coating the outer surface of carbon nanotubes with various polymers of different properties, such properties as insulation property, reactivity, optical visibility, solvent dispersion property and so on are given to the outer surface of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel esterase derived from Ideonella sp. 0-0013 strain (FERM BP-08660) having the following properties: (1) function, substrate specificity: hydrolyzes methyl 3-hydroxypalmitate to generate 3-hydroxypalmitic acid and methanol; (2) optimal temperature for functioning: 37° C.; (3) optimal pH and stable pH range: pH 7 or more to pH 10 or less; (4) temperature stability: 97% of the enzyme is stable at 43° C.; (5) inhibition, activation, and stabilization: activated by sodium ion and potassium ion, and inhibited by strontium ion, iron ion (divalent), and methyl palmitate; (6) molecular weight: about 46,500 Da (by SDS-PAGE), about 41,000 Da (by a gel filtration method); and (7) isoelectric point: pI 4 (by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing method); a microorganism producing the enzyme; and a method of producing the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmental stress-tolerant plant. The invention discloses a transgenic plant containing a gene in which a DNA encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 with the deletion of amino acids from positions 136-165 thereof, the DNA being operably linked downstream of a stress responsive promoter.

Abstract: An automatic irrigation system having a simplified structure can intermittently supply water (and liquid fertilizer) required by farmer products under water saving conditions depending on the weather condition of the day independent of the size of an irrigation area. Water from a water source is pumped by a motor pump driven with electric power generated by a solar panel and stored in a storage tank. When a predetermined amount of water is stored in the tank, a water draining device continuously drains the stored water. This cycle is repeated in proportion to an amount of solar radiation incident on the solar panel. The water is then guided to the irrigation area with a tube irrigation system.

Abstract: A method that comprises analyzing codon types encoding amino acids at positions 127 and/or 172 of the amino acid sequence of the bovine growth hormone, and evaluating the growth ability and/or the ability to accumulate fat in the muscle of cattle based on the analytical results.

Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel ester compound and the use thereof as a sex attractant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for searching for relationships between base sequences in order to efficiently analyze the relationship between a sample base sequence and known base sequences. In the system, a theoretical value calculating portion calculates theoretical restriction fragment length values based on restriction enzyme data. The comparing portion produces analysis result data by comparing theoretical restriction fragment patterns with measured restriction fragment patterns, calculating the degree of similarity of the sample base sequence to known base sequences.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a male sterile plant of the family Solanaceae by utilizing a plant expression cassette including a nucleic acid which is DNA encoding zinc finger transcription factors (ZPT2-5) derived from Petunia and a promoter operatively linked to the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmental stress-tolerant plant. The invention discloses a transgenic plant containing a gene in which a DNA encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, operably linked downstream of a stress responsive promoter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing cellulose comprising the steps of: (i) culturing filamentous fungus having the ability to produce cellulose; and (ii) recovering cellulose from a culture obtained by the step (i) and cellulose produced by filamentous fungi. The present invention provides technology to produce cellulose from filamentous fungi. Further, the present invention provides novel cellulose, which is produced by filamentous fungi and can be utilized as various industrial materials, additives, and the like.

Abstract: A picture mapping system comprises a vehicle adapted to travel on an agricultural field; a camera mounted on the vehicle for continuously taking pictures of various portions of the agriculture field; a computer mounted on the vehicle for receiving and processing pictures taken by the camera; and GPS receiver means for receiving information signals transmitted from GPS satellites and/or GPS base stations. In particular, the camera is moved continuously by the vehicle travelling on the field, the pictures taken by the camera are continuously fed into the computer, positional information signals transmitted from GPS satellites and/or GPS base stations are also fed to the computer to determine the positions and the orientations of various pictures taken by the camera device, thereby synthesizing together the pictures on the display of the computer to obtain an overall picture representing the entire field.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to clone a gene which is involved in synthesis of fatty acid having trans-11-, cis-13-conjugated double bonds from fatty acid having a double bone at position ?12.

Abstract: A delicious, multifunctional soybean food, which has no unpleasant odor specific for a soybean and a less astringent taste. A soybean which completely lacks lipoxygenase and lacks group A acetyl saponin or soyasapogenol A, is used.