Abstract: The present invention relates to microbe cultures, a process for producing the same, and utilization thereof.

Abstract: Solutions containing microorganisms differing in characteristics from each other and living in symbiosis with each other and enzymes characterized by containing aerobic microorganisms, anaerobic microorganisms and at least one basidiomycete belonging to the family Pleurotaceae living in symbiosis, metabolites thereof and enzymes; carriers obtained by adsorbing the components of the above solutions onto finely ground carbonaceous materials; and porous materials obtained by adsorbing the components of the above solutions onto porous materials. Because of having various effects of absorbing, adsorbing and decomposing harmful matters, deodorizing, decolorizing, etc., these materials are applicable to various uses in the fields of agriculture and environment.

Abstract: A diode failure detecting device in a rotary rectifier having fuses provided respectively for phases and connected in series to rectifying diodes. Light emitting diode circuits in one embodiment are connected in parallel respectively to the fuses which are arranged on the peripheral surface of a rotor. The LED's preferably emit light in different emission spectra when the respective fuses are blown out. An optical fiber sensor is provided on the side of a stator, for detecting when the LED's emit light and a photo-electric converter converts optical signals applied thereto through the optical fiber sensor into electrical signals through optical spectral discrimination separately according to the phases of the rectifier. A logic circuit determines the flow of over-current in the rectifying diodes from an output of the photo-electric converter. In a second embodiment, flags on the fuses are optically scanned to determine the presence of a blow fuse.

Abstract: An automatic specimen sealing system which provides totally automated sealing of glass slides. Slides are ejected sequentially at predetermined intervals onto a conveyor at a predetermined orientation. The size of the specimens held on the slides is detected, and liquid adhesive is supplied onto the slides in an amount determined in accordance with the thus-detected specimen sizes. Glass covers are then placed over the specimens, with the size of the glass covers being also selected in accordance with the specimen size. The slides with the covers placed thereon are next fed to a binding device where the covers and slides are bound together. Finally, the slides are assembled in trays.

Abstract: A system of sorting elongated pieces such as asparagus, wherein each of the elongated pieces are successively conveyed by a conveyer and detected as a still image by a sensor such as a TV camera. In processing a signal representative of the still image a stem diameter of the piece and a ratio of the spike maximum diameter of the piece to the stem diameter are obtained as sorting out factors by calculation. When the calculation values of the sorting out factors satisfy predetermined reference values, the piece is further sorted out according to size. The stem diameter is measured at a position which is spaced from the cut end of the stem by a predetermined dimension toward the spike thereof.