Abstract: A four blend for producing fried instant noodles and a method for producing fied instant noodles from the flour blend. The flour blend contains farina, sodium lactate, and oligosaccharide. The fried instant noodles prepared from the flour of the present invention can be cooked within a short time, have a reduced oil absorption during deep-frying, and yet maintain excellent texture and taste.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein of the following formula (I) having immunomodulatory activity: X-Y-Z (I) wherein X represents an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, each of Y and Z is absent or represents an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. The above protein is derived from helminth and can be used to treat various immune diseases due to its immunomodulatory activity. The above protein can also be used to treat various allergic diseases due to is ability to stimulate the production of non-specific IgE.

Abstract: A method of adding oil and fat to porous feed is disclosed wherein porous feed together with oil and fat are continuously inserted into a partially evacuated chamber of an oil and fat adding apparatus while, simultaneously, porous feed that has remained therein for a specified time is continuously being removed from the chamber. The continuous nature of this method allows porous feed having high fat and oil content to be produced more rapidly than previously possible.

Abstract: Eicosapentaenoic acid or its ester is separated and purified from a mixture containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid or its ester effectively at low cost by a process, which comprises developing the mixture by a mixed solvent of an ether solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent, using a column filled with a silica gel having a particle diameter of 1-100 micrometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging spacers for liquid crystal displays from the tip together with a gas flow, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from a member to be sprayed, and comprising:

Abstract: A four blend for producing fried instant noodles and a method for producing fied instant noodles from the flour blend. The flour blend contains farina, sodium lactate, and oligosaccharide. The fried instant noodles prepared from the flour of the present invention can be cooked within a short time, have a reduced oil absorption during deep-frying, and yet maintain excellent texture and taste.

Abstract: Optically active alcohols of formulae (1) and (2) which are useful as intermediates for the synthesis of (RRR)-optical isomers of 1,4-benzodioxin-2-carboxylic acid derivatives which are useful as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for diabetes, hyperglycemia and the like.

Abstract: Depsipeptides represented by the formula (1): (wherein: R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group of 5-20 carbon atoms or a straight or branched alkoxymethyl group of 5-15 carbon atoms; R2 is —A—B, —A—B—W, —A—B—W—D or —A—B—W—D—E, R3 is a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a benzyloxy group, —Z, —Z—G or —Z—G—J, the above A, B, D, E, G and J independently each other are a residue of an amino acid selected from alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, lysine, hydroxylysine, arginine, cysteine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine and the like or an N—(C1-C4) alkyl derivative of these amino acid residues; the above W and Z independently each other are a residue of an amino acid selected from aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine, serine or lysine) or pharmacologically acceptable

Abstract: A depsipeptide containing a non-natural amino acid(s) having the formula (1) wherein R1 represents a C5-C20 alkyl group and others; R2 represents —O—CO—CH(R5)—X—CH(R6)—NH— (wherein X represents N(R7)—CO, CH2—CO, CH2—CH2 and others, R5, R6, and R7 represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group); R3 represents and wherein the remaining substituent variables are as defined herein. The above depsipeptides have a promoting activity on the production of apolipoprotein E, and are useful as a therapeutic agent for neurologic damages, especially dementia, and hyperlipemia.

Abstract: An improved modified fish oil type material which does not generate special fish oil offensive odor after long term preservation and does not generate offensive odor by heating, that is, superior at preservation stability and heat stability, a fish oil type composition containing said material, a method for preparation thereof, an emulsion prepared using said material and composition and foods and cosmetics containing said material, composition or emulsion.

Abstract: The powder paint feeder for powder coating directly is installed to a powder paint tank of a fluidized bed type. In the powder paint feeder, a cylindrical screw casing is inserted into the powder paint tank and fixed thereto and has an introducing port into which the powder paint fluidized in the powder paint tank is introduced and a discharging port through which the powder paint dispersed externally of the powder paint tank is discharged. A screw is accommodated in the screw casing and feeds the powder paint introduced from the introducing port to the discharging port while compacting it. A deaerating device is disposed to the screw casing and deaerates the fluidized powder paint to accelerate the compaction of the powder paint. A dispersing blade is mounted on the rotational shaft of the screw in the vicinity of the discharging port downstream of the screw for dispersing the compacted powder paint. A driving device rotates the rotational shaft of the screw.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active alcohols having formula (1) and (2) wherein R is (R)-1-phenylethylamino or (S)-1-phenylethylamino. The active alcohols can be prepared by acylating a racemate of formula (3) in the presence of a hydrolase, followed by alcoholysis or hydrolysis. R in formula (3) is the same as that defined for formula (1) and (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a bicyclic depsipeptide having the formula (1) wherein: R is a straight or branched alkyl group of 5-20 carbon atoms or a straight or branched alkoxymethyl group of 5-15 carbon atoms; A, D, E and J independently are a residue of an amino acid selected from the group of alanine, valine, leucine, etc.; B and F are the same or different and a residue of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, hydroxylysine and serine; G is a disulfide bond, an amido bond or an ester bond; W is a residue of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid and glutamic acid; Z is a residue of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid and glutamine; l, m, n, p and q independently are 0 or 1; or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of noodles by machines, which comprises the steps of: (i) preparing a noodle dough with 38 to 55% of water added to a raw material, (ii) forming the noodle dough into a noodle sheet, (iii) maturing the noodle sheet at a temperature of 30 to 35° C. and a relative humidity of 70 to 90% for 10 to 60 minutes, (iv) rolling a matured noodle sheet followed by cutting into strands of noodles, and (v) stretching the strands at a stretching ratio of 1.5 to 2 times into desired strands of a noodle product. The process comprises further the step of adding an edible oil and lipase to the noodle dough. Those processes can produce simply the noodles of high quality having good eating quality in a short time period with good productivity.

Abstract: A finely-divided powder spray apparatus of the invention comprises a spray nozzle pipe disposed at a position spaced apart from a member to be sprayed a prescribed interval; a support unit of the spray nozzle pipe for supporting it so that it can be inclined; a first joint unit disposed to the upper end of the spray nozzle pipe; two linearly-moving actuators that each move in respective linear paths that are fixed relative to each other and each provided with a second joint unit; and two rods for coupling each of the second joint units with the first joint unit; wherein the finely-divided powder is sprayed onto the member to be sprayed from the spray nozzle pipe which is inclined in an arbitrary direction by combining the movements of the two linearly-moving actuators.

Abstract: Flour blends which contain waxy wheat flour and which are suitable for the preparation of deep fried foods, steamed Chinese manju, dough sheets, okonomi-yaki, and takoyaki are described. These flour blends make it possible to obtain foods which have excellent texture and flavor when consumed immediately after preparation or after being heated or thawed.

Abstract: A 1,4-benzodioxin derivative represented by formula (I) ##STR1## wherein A is an aryl group or a (C.sub.3 -C.sub.8)cycloalkyl group, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 individually are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form a methylenedioxy group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom or CO.sub.2 R.sub.5, R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, X is a radical of formula (II) or (III) ##STR2## wherein n is 1 or 2. The compounds are useful for a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for diabetes, hyperglycemia and obesity.

Abstract: An indazole compound having a piperazinyl moiety in the structure thereof, which is a 5-HT.sub.4 receptor agonist which is useful in the treatment of digestive tract disorders.

Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of electric charge on a finely divided powder. When the finely divided powder is supplied into a powder transportation pipe in a substantially discrete particle state and transported therethrough in a discrete particle state by a stream of a compressed gas having a very small water content whose dew-point is 0.degree. C. or less, electric charge is inevitably produced by friction on the powder by the collision thereof against the inner wall of the transportation pipe. By controlling the dew-point of the compressed gas, the amount of frictional electric charge produced on the powder can be controlled even if there is a change in the type of the finely divided powder, the piping system, the spray nozzle, the type and state of the gas serving as a carrier medium, and environmental conditions such as the atmosphere.

Abstract: A novel Pseudomonas fluorescens is disclosed which has an antagonist property against pathogenic fungi of the genera Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia and Gaeumannomyces and which has a DNA that forms a PCR product band at about 800 bp when replicated and amplified by PCR using a primer DNA having the base sequence of 5'-GGCAACTGCACAAGCGCCA (SEQ ID NO: 1) and a primer DNA having the base sequence of 5'-GCCAATCACGCCCTCAAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 2) and then electrophoresed on agarose gel. This microorganism can also promote the growth of plants. A material for controlling pathogenic fungi of plants, particularly, lawn grass, a plant growth promoting material and a compost comprising the microorganism are also disclosed.