Abstract: A method of evaluating inhibitory effect on damp-dry malodor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms which produce damp-dry malodor-causing substances and a test substance into contact with each other in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component; detecting expression of at least one kind of gene selected from a fatty acid desaturase gene and a ? oxidation-related enzyme gene derived from the microorganisms; and thereby evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance based on a change in expression amount of the at least one kind of gene.

Abstract: A method of evaluating inhibitory effect on damp-dry malodor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms which produce damp-dry malodor-causing substances and a test substance into contact with each other in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component; detecting expression of at least one kind of gene selected from a fatty acid desaturase gene and a ? oxidation-related enzyme gene derived from the microorganisms; and thereby evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance based on a change in expression amount of the at least one kind of gene.

Abstract: A method of screening a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby selecting a test substance having a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function; and a method of evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby evaluating the damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preservative efficacy-enhancing agent capable of allowing an antiseptic agent to exhibit a high preservative efficacy even when the antiseptic agent is used at a low concentration; a preservative efficacy-enhancing composition containing the same; and a method for enhancing a preservative efficacy of antiseptic agents. The present invention relates to: (1) a preservative efficacy-enhancing agent for antiseptic agents which includes an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) as an effective ingredient; (2) a preservative efficacy-enhancing composition including 0.01 to 30% by mass of an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) and 0.01 to 1.0% by mass of an antiseptic agent (B); and (3) a method for enhancing a preservative efficacy of an antiseptic composition which includes the step of allowing 0.01 to 30% by mass of an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) to coexist with an antiseptic agent (B) in the composition.

Abstract: A method of screening a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby selecting a test substance having a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function; and a method of evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby evaluating the damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance.

Abstract: A method for producing an antimicrobial-containing solution includes mixing an alkaline aqueous solution which dissolves a phenol-based antimicrobial, and has a pH of 9 or higher and acid which has a pH 6 or lower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preservative efficacy-enhancing agent capable of allowing an antiseptic agent to exhibit a high preservative efficacy even when the antiseptic agent is used at a low concentration; a preservative efficacy-enhancing composition containing the same; and a method for enhancing a preservative efficacy of antiseptic agents. The present invention relates to: (1) a preservative efficacy-enhancing agent for antiseptic agents which includes an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) as an effective ingredient; (2) a preservative efficacy-enhancing composition including 0.01 to 30% by mass of an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) and 0.01 to 1.0% by mass of an antiseptic agent (B); and (3) a method for enhancing a preservative efficacy of an antiseptic composition which includes the step of allowing 0.01 to 30% by mass of an amphiphilic galactose derivative (A) to coexist with an antiseptic agent (B) in the composition.

Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Abstract: A method of secondarily welding one end of a shroud glass tube covering an arc tube body having a discharge emitting portion, having the other end welded primarily to one of the arc tube body ends, to the other end side of the arc tube body, while discharging air from, and introducing an inactive gas into, the tube through the opening end of the glass tube to hold a negative pressure. Heating and melting from a side is carried out. The opening end of the glass tube is connected to a piping passage component for discharging air and introducing an inactive gas through a rotatable magnetic fluid seal unit. Secondary welding is carried out with the rotation of the glass tube around an axis. The glass tube rotated with respect to secondary side heater is uniformly heated, molten and softened circumferentially, and welded along the arc tube body outer periphery.

Abstract: A method of secondarily welding one end of a shroud glass tube covering an arc tube body having a discharge emitting portion, having the other end welded primarily to one of the arc tube body ends, to the other end side of the arc tube body, while discharging air from, and introducing an inactive gas into, the tube through the opening end of the glass tube to hold a negative pressure. Heating and melting from a side is carried out. The opening end of the glass tube is connected to a piping passage component for discharging air and introducing an inactive gas through a rotatable magnetic fluid seal unit. Secondary welding is carried out with the rotation of the glass tube around an axis. The glass tube rotated with respect to secondary side heater is uniformly heated, molten and softened circumferentially, and welded along the arc tube body outer periphery.

Abstract: A mite repellant and/or miticide composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of jasmonoide, linear sesquiterpene alcohol and linear diterpene alcohol. The mite repellant and/or miticide composition according to the invention has excellent repellent effect, growth-inhibiting effect and mite repellant and/or miticide effect on mites inhabiting houses.

Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Abstract: An input/output control device uses all of its cache memory effectively and allows cache memory modules to be added in increments of one. When cache memory included in the input/output control device is operating normally and the input/output control device receives a write request from a processing device, the input/output control device returns a write request completed response after writing data to cache memory as set forth in configuration information included in the input/output control device. The write data in the cache memory is then written to one or more disk devices asynchronously with the write completed response. When there is a problem with a cache memory module, the write data that was to be written to the region controlled by the cache memory module where the problem occurred is divided among the remaining cache memory modules.

Abstract: During communications between a station apparatus and home apparatus, the station apparatus transmits a test signal TS, the home apparatus having received the test signal recognizes a change in state of a metallic transmission channel in the middle of the communications, estimates an output level suitable for a current state, and requests the station apparatus to transmit data with an estimated output level using a test signal NS, and the station apparatus transmits data with the output level requested from the home apparatus, and thus changes a transmission level set at the time of starting communications to a level corresponding to the change in state.

Abstract: A mite repellant and/or miticide composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of jasmonoide, linear sesquiterpene alcohol and linear diterpene alcohol.

Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.

Abstract: File control apparatus adapted to be operatively connected to a host device for controlling a plurality of memory devices includes a cache memory for storing data blocks sent to or retrieved from the at least one memory device by the host. A control unit controls data transfer between the memory devices and the cache memory. A continuous data information generating device is included for generating continuous data information indicating whether the data blocks from the same memory device are updated continuously The control unit stores the continuously updated data blocks from the same memory device back to that same memory device as a single data block in accordance with a least recently used (LRU) scheme.

Abstract: An input/output control device uses all of its cache memory effectively and allows cache memory modules to be added in increments of one. When cache memory included in the input/output control device is operating normally and the input/output control device receives a write request from a processing device, the input/output control device returns a write request completed response after writing data to cache memory as set forth in configuration information included in the input/output control device. The write data in the cache memory is then written to one or more disk devices asynchronously with the write completed response. When there is a problem with a cache memory module, the write data that was to be written to the region controlled by the cache memory module where the problem occurred is divided among the remaining cache memory modules.