Abstract: There is provided an endoglucanase enzyme, which is useful for reducing fuzz of regenerated cellulose-containing fabrics, improving the touch and appearance, color clarification, localized variation in color, reducing stiffness and using it as components of a detergent, as well as deinking waste paper and improving freeness of paper pulp. A cDNA coding for the endoglucanase enzyme NCE5 was cloned and its DNA sequence and amino acid sequence derived from it were determined.

Abstract: A deinking method using a cellulase which enables the load upon the environment to be reduced; and an evaluation method whereby a cellulase effective in deinking and the effective addition level of the cellulase can be appropriately determined. By proposing pulp-swelling activity (PSA) that elevates the water-retention value of pulp after pulp is reacted with cellulase, it becomes possible to select an enzyme that is effective in cellulase-deinking treatment without lowering the paper strength and to determine the effective enzyme dosage. Namely, a method of deinking waste paper is provided wherein the selection of an effective cellulase and the optimization of the enzyme dosage with the use of PSA as an indication make it possible to minimize the cellulase addition level and lessen the amount of the deinking agent.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating housing and a retainer. The housing has a plurality of contact accommodating cavities. The retainer is moveable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. The retainer has first retainer arms that extend into a front surface of the housing. The first retainer arms have a second locking member formed on a top surface in a vicinity of a free end of the first retainer arms and a third locking member formed on a bottom surface in substantially a center of the first retainer arms. The second and third locking members are configured to abut the housing in the temporary locking position so that the retainer is prevented from moving from the temporary locking position to the main locking position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulase preparation comprising nonionic surfactants together with endoglucanases derived from Zygomycetes; a detergent composition comprising the above cellulase preparation with detergent components; a method of treating fabric which comprises treating cellulose-containing fabric with the above cellulase preparation so as to improve the properties of the fabric; a method of deinking waster paper which comprises a step of treating waste paper with the above cellulase preparation together with a deinking agent; and a method of improving the freeness of paper pulp which comprises a step of treating paper pulp with the above cellulase preparation.

Abstract: A novel cholesterol oxidase is disclosed. The enzyme according to the present invention has the following properties: acts on cholesterol to convert it to cholest-5-en-3-one; acts 3&bgr;-sterols but not on 3&agr;-hydroxysteroids; optimum pH: 5.0-8.5; and stable pH: 4 to 11. This enzyme carries out the oxidation reaction at high velocity at low substrate concentrations, reacts in a broad pH range, is heat resistant, and reacts at high reaction velocity even in the presence of an organic solvent. The enzyme according to the present invention is useful as a reagent for measuring cholesterol concentration, as a composition for the extermination of harmful insects, and as a bleaching agent.

Abstract: A novel &bgr;-fructofuranosidase and its gene are disclosed. A polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 or No. 3 is an enzyme having &bgr;-fructofuranosidase activity and high transferase activity, and is capable of efficiently producing fructooligosaccharides.

Abstract: An expressing system which enables a large amount of production of a protein in Humicola, in particular, Humicola insolens, and particularly host-vector systems and a process for producing a protein using the systems, wherein an expression vector comprising the regulator sequences, i.e., the promoter, the signal sequence, and the terminator, of the cellulase NCE1 gene or NCE2 gene derived from Humicola insolens is constructed and used. The expression vector enables highly efficient production of cellulase NCE4, for example, in Humicola insolens at a rate as high as about 4.5 g or more per one liter of culture.

Abstract: A highly active cellulase suitable for use in a removal of nap of cellulose-containing fibers, a process for reducing cellulose-containing fibers and a process for decoloring denim-dyed cellulose-containing fibers, and its gene are provided. A novel cellulase NCE4 isolated from Humicola insolens is a highly active cellulase, and can be used for various treatments of cellulose-containing fibers.

Abstract: Mesophilic xylanases derived from Acremonium cellulolyticus. A mesophilic xylanase I, derived from the mold Acremonium cellulolyticus, capable of non-specifically hydrolyzing xylan mainly into xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose, having an optimal pH at 3.5 and an optimal temperature for action at 55.degree. C. as determined by saccharifying activity for soluble xylan as a substrate and a molecular weight of 30,000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A mesophilic xylanase II having an optimal pH a 3.8, an optimal temperature for action at 55.degree. C. and a molecular weight of 25,500. A mesophilic xylanase III having an optimal pH at 3.5, an optimal temperature for action at 50.degree. C. and a molecular weight of 33,500.

Abstract: A method of rate calculation in which, in connection with a reaction in which the substrate of an enzyme undergoes the action of the enzyme to be converted to a reaction product, a signal correlated to the concentration of the reaction product is measured at different points of time, those measured values obtained which exceed the upper limit preset in accordance with the detection limit of a detector to be used are excluded while selecting those measured values obtained at different points of time at least equal in number to the independent parameters of the approximating function and which are not greater than said upper limit and the measured values thus selected are weighted by a finite value to effect approximation by said function, provided that said finite value for weighting at least a portion of the measured values are changed continuously in accordance with the magnitudes of said specific measured values.

Abstract: This invention aims at improving the breeding activity of boars, especially at preventing the reduction of fertilization capacity in the hot season. Particularly, this invention provides a method for improving the breeding activity of boars with the use of a feed for breeding boars which contains saccharides mainly composed of oligosaccharides.

Abstract: A method for preventing redeposition of desorbed dyes to pre-dyed fabrics or its garments, which comprises adding colloid at the treatment of pre-dyed fabrics or its garments. A dye antiredeposition agent to be used at the treatment of pre-dyed fabrics or its garments, which contains a colloid in an amount of 0.4 g or more per 500 avicelase units of cellulose. The present invention has rendered possible simple and efficient prevention of redeposition of dyes at the time of the treatment of pre-dyed fabrics or its garments. Especially, when an enzyme is used in the treatment, adverse influenced upon the enzyme is characteristically small.

Abstract: An automatic sample pretreatment device is provided which is capable of conducting a series of treatments or reactions from pretreatment to measurement automatically in a short time by employing a separate reaction system from the reaction system for measurement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a convenient and economical method for improving the rate of raising newborn piglets from the pregnancy of the sow to the weaning of the piglets. The method reduces the incidence of premature piglets and increases the lacteal yield of breeding sows by feeding the breeding sows a feed containing saccharides mainly composed of oligosaccharides.

Abstract: A fructose transferring enzyme is immobilized by adsorption on a granular carrier having a primary to quaternary amine. The carrier is preferably an epoxy polymer, a vinyl polymer or a chitosan derivative having a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. Immobilization can be performed without or with a crosslinking agent. The immobilized enzyme is used for producing fructooligosaccharides by passing a sucrose solution through a column containing the immobilized enzyme.

Abstract: A method for preventing deterioration of a food is disclosed wherein an oosaccharide originating from agar or carrageenan or both agar and carrageenan are added to the food. The method is effective to prevent deterioration of foods attributed to retrogradation of gelatinized starch.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel baker's yeast having sucrose-nonfermentability and suitability for making bread. Further, this invention relates to a process for making bread containing fructooligosaccharide, using said yeast.