Abstract: The present invention provides novel organic compounds, which absorb the light in the ultra violet and the infrared regions, have improved light tolerance and solubility in solvents, and have thermal tolerance suitable for uses to which the organic compounds are applied, and provides uses of the same. The above objects are solved by providing indolenine compounds and methine dyes, which have a bis-indolenine skeleton composed of two indolenine rings linked together at their respective C-3 positions via a divalent linking group, and by providing optical recording media containing the methine dyes.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a peptide vaccine for preventing and/or treating diseases caused by amyloid ?-peptide, such as Alzheimer's disease. The present invention solves the above object by providing a peptide vaccine constructed by inserting a peptide having an amino acid sequence of a cell attachment motif of a cell adhesive molecule to a peptide which consists of a peptide having an amino acid sequence of multiagretope type T-cell epitope, which has been generated immunological memory, or a peptide including the same; an linker peptide; and a peptide having an amino acid sequence of a B cell epitope which is a specific region of amyloid ?-peptide or a peptide including the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel ketose 3-epimerase, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, and a process for producing a ketose by using the enzyme. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a ketose 3-epimerase which is obtainable from a microorganism of the genus Rhizobium, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, and a process for converting D- or L-ketohexose into corresponding D- or L-ketohexose by epimerizing the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of the D- or L-ketohexose; and D- or L-ketopentose into corresponding D- or L-ketopentose by epimerizing the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of the D- or L-ketopentose; by using the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an accelerator for mineral absorption and a composition containing the accelerator. The object is solved by providing an accelerator for mineral absorption comprising cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof and a composition containing the accelerator.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein, particularly, a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein specific to TNF-R1 or TNF-R2; tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; or tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient, and the object is solved by providing a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein where one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 29th, 31st, 32nd, 145th, 146th and 147th, or the group consisting of 84th to 89th from the N-terminal of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is/are replaced with other amino acid residue(s); a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; and a tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide a solution for tissue adhesion prevention and a method for tissue adhesion prevention that are applicable to general surgery and in which covering condition during surgery is stable and convenient. The invention is the solution for tissue adhesion prevention of which the active ingredient is trehalose. Also, it contains at least one or more among antioxidants, chelates, antiseptics, hemostatics, anti-inflammatory agents, and polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, salts of polysaccharides and salts of mucopolysaccharides having lubricating properties. This solution for tissue adhesion prevention is provided as any form of perfusion fluid, spray fluid, solution for spray or vaporization administration, foam-like aerosol preparation, injection solution for intravenous fluids, intravenous fluid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an immunomodulating agent in gut that can be ingested continuously in daily diet without adverse side effect. The object is attained by providing an immunomodulating agent in gut comprising a cyclic tetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an option of non-reducing saccharide by providing a novel non-reducing saccharide composed of glucose as constituents and to provide a novel enzyme forming the non-reducing saccharide, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the non-reducing saccharide, and uses thereof. The present invention solves the above object by providing a novel cyclic saccharide having a structure of cyclo{>6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1>4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1>6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1>4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1>}, cyclic maltosylmaltose, novel cyclic maltosylmaltose-forming enzyme, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the cyclic maltosylmaltose or a saccharide composition comprising the same, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a particulate composition containing anhydrous crystalline 2-O-?-D-glucosyl-L-ascorbic acid having a significantly, hardly solidifiable property compared to conventional ones in a grade for use in quasi-drugs; a process for producing the same; and uses thereof. The present invention solves the above object by providing a particulate composition containing anhydrous crystalline 2-O-?-D-glucosyl-L-ascorbic in an amount of over 98.0% by weight but less than 99.9% by weight, on a dry solid basis; or a degree of crystallinity of 90% or higher for anhydrous crystalline 2-O-?-D-glucosyl-L-ascorbic acid, when calculated based on a profile of powder X-ray diffraction analysis of the particulate composition, and a dynamic vapor sorption level of 0.01% by weight or lower, when kept at 25° C.

Abstract: A method of utilizing the physiological activity of a rare saccharide, wherein physiological-activity sensitive cells are treated with the rare saccharide to modify the function of the cells. A composition containing, as an active ingredient, a rare saccharide which is introduced into physiological-activity sensitive cells and has an effect of modifying the function of the cells. The cells are human cells. The composition is a functional food, a drug, or a cosmetic. The rare saccharide is a rare saccharide belonging to aldose and/or ketose. The aldose is D-allose, and the cells are selected from the group consisting of cancer-cell proliferation inhibitory activity sensitive cells and active-oxygen production inhibitory activity sensitive cells. The ketose is D-psicose, and the cells are selected from the group consisting of chemokine secretion inhibitory activity sensitive cells, microglia migration inhibitory activity sensitive cells, and hypoglycemic activity sensitive cells.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an external dermatological formulation having satisfactory blood flow-promoting effect, antiinflammatory effect, antibacterial effect, moisturizing effect, whitening effect, UV-absorbing effect, UV-scattering effect, antioxidant effect, hair growing effect, hair nourishing effect, emusifying effect, astringent effect, wrinkle-reducing effect, cell-activating effect and/or transdermal absorption-promoting effect with a satisfactory safety and skin feeling; The object is solved by providing an external dermatological formulation comprising a saccharide derivative of ?,?-trehalose and one or more members selected from substances having any one of blood flow-promoting effect, antiinflammatory effect, antibacterial effect, moisturizing effect, whitening effect, UV-absorbing effect, UV-scattering effect, antioxidant effect, hair growing efect, hair nourishing effect, emulsifying effect, astringent effect, wrinkle-reducing effect, cell-activating effect and transdermal

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide by providing a novel non-reducing saccharide composed of glucose as constituents, a novel enzyme forming the non-reducing saccharide, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the non-reducing saccharide, and uses thereof are provided by use of an isocyclomaltooligosaccharide(s) having a structure represented by Formula 1, Cyclo{?6)-[?-D-Glcp-(1?4)]n-?-D-Glcp-(1?}, wherein “n” is 4 or 5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide inducing the production of an antibody in permucosal administration in the presence of no immunological adjuvant, a composition containing the polypeptide, and use thereof. The present invention solves the above object by providing a polypeptide inserted with a cell attachment motif of a cell adhesive molecule to the peptide which has an amino acid sequence of multiagretope type T cell epitope at the amino terminal side of an inserted linker peptide, and an amino acid sequence of a B cell epitope at the carboxyl terminal side of the inserted linker peptide, a composition containing the polypeptide, and use thereof.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing bakery products using rice flour as a major ingredient, which products have improved qualities, such as appearance, crumb, taste, and shelf life as well as satisfactory handleability, as well as excellent qualities. Premixed flours containing rice flour, gluten and a saccharide such as an oligosaccharide or a sugar alcohol, are provided for making these bakery products. Fermented doughs for making the bakery products from the premix are also provided.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process of the same, cyclotetrasaccharide, and saccharide composition comprising the saccharide which are obtainable by using the enzyme; and is solved by establishing an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme which forms a saccharide, having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end, by catalyzing the ?-glucosyl-transfer from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and having the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end without substantially increasing the reducing power; ?-isomaltosyl-transferring method using the enzyme; method for forming ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide; process for producing a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{66)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition of metal ion compound whose inherent and unsatisfactory properties for its industrial application such as deliquescence, reducing power, oxidizing power, low solubility in water, etc., are improved; and their preparation and uses. The present invention solves the above object by providing an associate of trehalose or maltitol and a metal ion compound or bittern component, and their preparation and uses.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide a method of inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation in order to produce a satisfactorily flavorful processed cacao bean product and an agent for inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation which is used for the method, and solves the above objects by providing a method of inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation during the process and/or preservation, and an agent for inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation which comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of maltitol, ?,?-trehalose and saccharide derivatives of ?,?-trehalose as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein, particularly, a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein specific to TNF-R1 or TNF-R2; tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; or tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient, and the object is solved by providing a tumor necrosis factor mutant protein where one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 29th, 31st, 32nd, 145th, 146th and 147th, or the group consisting of 84th to 89th from the N-terminal of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is/are replaced with other amino acid residue(s); a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor; and a tumor necrosis factor preparation containing it as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: Problem: To develop a method for producing a novel sweetener containing glucose, fructose, and psicose, which is produced from glucose liquid sugar using an isomerase and an epimerase; use of the novel sweetener as a food or drink material; and a novel sweetener capable of preventing obesity caused by the intake thereof. Means of Resolution: An isomerase and an epimerase are allowed to act on glucose liquid sugar produced in a glucose liquid sugar production plant to thereby produce D-psicose, thereby providing a novel sweetener (product) that maintains the degree and quality of sweetness of a glucose-fructose mixed solution and never causes obesity, a method for producing the same, and use of the same.

Abstract: A protein which induces the IFN-? production by immunocompetent cells and has a molecular weight of 19,000±5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE or gel filtration method and a pI of 4.8±1.0 on chromatofocusing. The protein is isolated from mouse liver and can be purified by a monoclonal antibody specific to it. The monoclonal antibody can be also used for assaying the protein.