Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyor, a first folding roller, a second folding roller, a third folding roller, a guide, a motor, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The motor causes the second folding roller to perform either forward rotation in which the second folding roller rotates to convey a sheet on a main conveying path in a conveying direction and to convey the sheet on a reflux conveying path from a joining position toward a branching position or backward rotation in a direction opposite to the forward rotation. The driving force transmission mechanism rotates the guide toward a first posture from a second posture in conjunction with the forward rotation of the second folding roller and rotates the guide from the first posture toward the second posture in conjunction with the backward rotation of the second folding roller.

Abstract: An object is to provide a master cylinder that ensures the responsivity during brake actuation, improves a release delay during brake release, ensures the responsivity during automatic braking, and quickly releases the residual pressure in the hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: In a setting step, a plurality of steel plates configuring a rotor core stacked in an axial direction of a rotor is set in a predetermined position in a mold that is capable of being opened and closed by relative movement in the axial direction. In a casting step, molten metal is fed into a molten metal introduction passage to form a conductive member of the rotor. The molten metal introduction passage has a ring-shaped gate that is opened so as to oppose one axial end surface of the steel plates set in the mold. In a cutoff step, the molten metal is cut off in the molten metal introduction passage so as to be separated into a gate side and a molten metal introduction opening side. In a mold-releasing step, the mold is opened such that a casting configuring the rotor is removed from the mold.

Abstract: An object is to provide a master cylinder that ensures the responsivity during brake actuation, improves a release delay during brake release, ensures the responsivity during automatic braking, and quickly releases the residual pressure in the hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: In a setting step, a plurality of steel plates configuring a rotor core stacked in an axial direction of a rotor is set in a predetermined position in a mold that is capable of being opened and closed by relative movement in the axial direction. In a casting step, molten metal is fed into a molten metal introduction passage to form a conductive member of the rotor. The molten metal introduction passage has a ring-shaped gate that is opened so as to oppose one axial end surface of the steel plates set in the mold. In a cutoff step, the molten metal is cut off in the molten metal introduction passage so as to be separated into a gate side and a molten metal introduction opening side. In a mold-releasing step, the mold is opened such that a casting configuring the rotor is removed from the mold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a more efficient method for producing acrylamide from acrylonitrile by the action of a microbially-derived enzyme, nitrile hydratase. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for producing acrylamide from acrylonitrile using a biocatalyst having nitrile hydratase, which comprises the step of keeping acrylonitrile while cooling to less than 30° C. Moreover, the present invention also provides an apparatus for producing acrylamide from acrylonitrile using a biocatalyst having nitrile hydratase.

Abstract: A biological process for predominantly producing an optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group directly from a racemic .alpha.-hydroxynitrile or a mixture of an aldehyde corresponding to the nitrile and prussic acid as a substrate is disclosed, comprising reacting a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus, Alcaligenes, Brevibacterium or Pseudomonas with the substrate in a neutral to basic aqueous medium. A desired optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group can be obtained quantitatively at a high optical purity.

Abstract: Cells having enzyme activity, and the enzyme activity thereof, are preserved for a prolonged period of time, as a suspension of microbial cells or as a suspension of immobilized cells in particles, in an aqueous medium that is a neutral or weakly basic aqueous solution of inorganic salts, having a molarity ranging from 100 mM to the saturation concentration of the inorganic salts. Preferably, the microbial cells are cells containing the enzyme, nitrile hydratase or nitrilase, such as Gordona terrae or Rhodococcus rhodochrous, and the inorganic salts are phosphates, borates, sulfates, sulfites or hydrochlorides. The present invention provides an industrially useful method for preserving a large quantity of cells or immobilized cells in particles having nitrile hydratase or nitrilase enzyme activity for a prolonged period of time (e.g., 300 days) without cell lysis or enzyme deterioration even at room temperature.

Abstract: A biological process for predominantly producing an optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group directly from a racemic .alpha.-hydroxynitrile or a mixture of an aldehyde corresponding to the nitrile and prussic acid as a substrate is disclosed, comprising reacting a microorganism belonging to the genus Gordona with the substrate in a neutral to basic aqueous medium. A desired optically active .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group can be obtained quantitatively at a high optical purity.