Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lactic acid or its salts that can be performed easily, reduce complicated steps, and provide high lactic acid yield and high productivity, wherein said process comprising the following steps: (a) cultivating thermotolerance Bacillus genus bacteria to obtain a seed culture; (b) increasing cell number of bacteria by inoculating the seed culture obtained from step (a) into a fermenter containing an initial carbon source under an aerobic condition; (c) fermenting the seed culture obtained from step (b) in the fermenter under a microaerobic condition to obtain lactic acid or its salts; wherein the step (b) comprising at least one addition of the carbon source under any one of the following conditions, which are independent to each other, to increase a concentration of the carbon source: —when the concentration of carbon source in the fermenter reduces to 50% or less comparing to the initial concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel Bacillus aerolacticus BC-001 species and a method for producing lactic acid or its salts using said bacteria, wherein the novel bacteria species can produce L-lactic acid or its salts with high optical purity from carbohydrate carbon sources, including oligosaccharide, disaccharide and monosaccharide, wherein said bacteria can grow well under an aerobic condition, tolerate to high temperature in a range of 45 to 60° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lactic acid or its salts that can be performed easily, reduce complicated steps, and provide high lactic acid yield and high productivity, wherein said process comprising the following steps: (a) cultivating thermotolerance Bacillus genus bacteria to obtain a seed culture; (b) increasing cell number of bacteria by inoculating the seed culture obtained from step (a) into a fermenter containing an initial carbon source under an aerobic condition; (c) fermenting the seed culture obtained from step (b) in the fermenter under a microaerobic condition to obtain lactic acid or its salts; wherein the step (b) comprising at least one addition of the carbon source under any one of the following conditions, which are independent to each other, to increase a concentration of the carbon source: —when the concentration of carbon source in the fermenter reduces to 50% or less comparing to the initial concentration.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods and compositions for the vaccination of porcine animals against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Described herein are immunological and/or vaccine compositions comprising a DNA vector encoding a PRRSV protein, particularly a truncated ORF7 protein, which are administered to porcines using needle-free delivery. The plasmid can include more than one nucleic acid molecule such that the plasmid can express more than one antigen. Also disclosed are methods for using and kits employing such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides the new method for extracting lutein from natural materials wherein the said method comprises of modification of natural lutein ester in the natural materials to free lutein and/or low molecular weight lutein ester, extraction of the said natural materials with supercritical fluid at the optimal conditions. The said method yields high amount of crude lutein with high purity due to the mild condition used for extraction. Therefore, no degradation of the desired product is occurred. The crude lutein can be further purified with chromatography in order to obtain the highly purified lutein. The method according to this invention can be applied to the extraction of xanthophylls or others beside lutein.

Abstract: A method of making a block polyimide copolymer containing a first small block copolymer segment and a second larger block segment includes the steps of (a) reacting a first aromatic acid dianhydride with an aromatic diamine in a molar ratio from about 10:100 to about 50:100, respectively, to obtain the small block copolymer, (b) reacting the small block copolymer and excess amount of diamine with a second acid dianhydride in such a quantity that a total aromatic acid dianhydride and a total aromatic diamine are equimolar to obtain a precursor solution containing the first small block copolymer segment and the second larger block segment, (c) forming a film, laminate, or coating on a substrate, and (d) cyclodehydrating the film, laminate, or coating by chemical or thermal imidization.

Abstract: A process for isolation and purification of polysaccharide gel and fiber from dried fruit-hull of Durio zibethinus L. Two polysaccharide products are obtained. The process involves hot water extraction of crude polysaccharide gel from fruit-hulls, filtration and precipitation in acid-lower aliphatic alcohol and further purification by reprecipitation of concentrated aqueous crude polysaccharide gel, after demineralization using cation-exchange resin, in acid-lower aliphatic alcohol and washing in alcohol. Dried polysaccharide gel is derived as creamy to white product. Polysaccharide gel is used as dressing-patch, film-dressing, sustained-release dressing, gelling agent; used in food preparation such as jelly, medical-food products. Fiber residue after hot water extraction is treated to isolate polysaccharide fiber. The process comprises alkali hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, decolorization and washing in dilute acid, sodium chloride and water to derive white polysaccharide fiber.

Abstract: A photocoupler comprising a light emitting device and a light detecting device both of which are made of amorphous semiconductors. The light emitting device is an amorphous semiconductor thin film light emitting diode which emits light when stimulated by an electric stimuli. The light detecting device is either an amorphous semiconductor thin film solar cell which produces an electric signal when exposed to light or a photoconductive type amorphous semiconductor thin film whose electrical conductivity varies when exposed to light. Both of these light detecting devices thus give an indication of detected light. These types of photocouplers have low production costs, can be manufactured in different sizes are relatively easy to mass produce and are compact as well as light weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts which comprise element(s) of group IB, and element(s) and/or compound(s) of the transition metals, with or without support. The catalyst are activated with O.sub.2 and/or oxygen containing compound(s) or the mixture of oxygen and/or oxygen containing compound(s) with inert gas(es) to make them more active.

Abstract: An amorphous semiconductor thin film light emitting diode comprising of a first electrode metal sheet substrate, amorphous semiconductor layers and a second optically transparent electrode. The first electrode metal sheet substrate acts as the support of the electrode and provides ruggedness, good thermal stability and dissipation of heat, good reflectance and flexibility. The device may further include electrically insulating layers which cause a pattern of light to be emitted by the diode, by controlling the passage of current through areas of the amorphous semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and purification of the diterpene alcohol Plaunotol from the leaves of the medicinal plant, Croton sublyratus Kurz. The process involves extracting firstly with a lower aliphatic alcohol followed by extracting from the alcohol solution with a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Then impurities are hydrolysed and the required Plaunotol separated by extraction with a hydrocarbon. This process is simple and gave much better yields than prior processes.