Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing puffed snack having a hard surface layer and soft inside, and having a good texture and a difference in color tone between the surface layer and the inside. After spraying a coating liquid or water onto the surface of a dough extruded from an extruder in the form of a rope, the extrudate is dried so that the moisture content of the sprayed extrudate becomes 5 to 12% by weight and then cut. The apparatus used for this manufacturing method comprises a spray device for uniformly spraying the surface of the dough extruded from a nozzle hole of an extruder, a drying device arranged on the downstream side of the driving device, a drawing mechanism comprising belts spanned in a tensioned state so as to clamp the extrudate, a holding cylinder for holding the extrudate and arranged adjacently on the downstream side of the drawing mechanism, and a cutting blade arranged in close proximity to the outlet side opening of the holding cylinder to cut the extrudate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme that synthesizes a cyclic depsipeptide, particularly the substance 1022, and a gene thereof. A cyclic depsipeptide synthetase according to the present invention comprises (a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or (b) a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 that have one or more modifications selected from a substitution, a deletion, an addition and an insertion and has cyclic depsipeptide synthetase activity. A cyclic depsipeptide synthetase gene according to the present invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a cyclic depsipeptide synthetase. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector and a transformant for expressing the cyclic depsipeptide synthetase, and a mass production system for the cyclic depsipeptide. The present invention further provides a method for producing the cyclic depsipeptide synthetase.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds that have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides. Compounds represented by formula (I) or agriculturally and horticulturally acceptable acid addition salts thereof have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel ?-glucosidase and a gene that codes for the enzyme, and to develop a technique of utilizing the ?-glucosidase or a composition that contains the enzyme for processing plants or plant-derived substances. According to the invention, there are provided a novel enzyme showing a ?-glucosidase activity and derived from filamentous fungi of the genus Acremonium, a gene that codes for the enzyme, a method of using the gene for expressing ?-glucosidase, an enzyme composition that contains ?-glucosidase, and a method of processing plants or plant-derived substances with the enzyme or the enzyme compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compounds useful for prevention or control of diseases derived from fungi, a process for producing the same, and novel antifungal agents using the novel compounds. The compounds useful for prevention and treatment of diseases derived from fungi according to the present invention include novel compounds represented by formula (I). The compounds represented by formula (I) have potent antifungal activity against diseases derived from fungi, and do not have phytotoxicity to mammals and agricultural and garden plants, from which diseases should be eliminated, and, even when applied to agricultural and garden plants, have high photostability.

Abstract: This invention relates to crystals of compounds of formula (I), wherein TBS represents t-butyldimethylsilyl, and Ph represents phenyl, or its salt or solvate. Compounds of formula (I) are synthesis intermediates of 2-substituted-1?-methyl carbapenem compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The crystals of the present invention have excellent handleability and can realize the production of carbapenem compounds having excellent antimicrobial actibity in a simpler manner with improved yield and purity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coprecipitate of 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H), 10-dio xo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine and a water-soluble polymer, excellent in solubility and absorbability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for efficiently producing a compound represented by formula (I): wherein R1 represents aryl, amino, alkyl, or alkoxy; R2 represents a protective group of the carboxylic acid; and R3 represents an alkali metal, a hydrogen atom, alkyl, aryl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, or trialkylsilyl. This process is characterized by reacting a compound of formula (II) with a compound of formula (III) in the presence of a transition metal compound.

Abstract: Disclosed are 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H), 10-dioxo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine, which has been rendered amorphous and possesses improved absorption and dissoluvability, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. Also disclosed are processes for producing 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H), 10-dioxo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine, which has been rendered amorphous, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Abstract: Provided are a process for producing purified anthocyanidin glucoside in which a rhamnose end of anthocyanidin rutinoside is cleaved using rhamnosidase to convert the anthocyanidin rutinoside component into anthocyanidin glucoside, the anthocyanidin glucoside component being then purified and isolated; or a crystalline anthocyanidin glucoside salt obtained by further crystallizing the purified anthocyanidin glucoside and a process for producing the same. Also provided are a process for producing purified anthocyanidin rutinoside in which a glucose end of anthocyanidin glucoside is cleaved using ?-glucosidase to degrade and remove the end, the anthocyanidin rutinoside component being then purified and isolated; or a crystalline anthocyanidin rutinoside salt obtained by further crystallizing the purified anthocyanidin rutinoside and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: A tyrosinase activity inhibitor and an ameliorant for facial blood flow that are excellent in terms of safety, and medicinal compositions, food compositions, and cosmetic preparations that contain the inhibitor and the ameliorant as active ingredients are provided. A tyrosinase activity inhibitor and an ameliorant for facial blood flow that contain anthocyan obtained by concentration or extraction of plant material, and medicinal compositions, food compositions, and cosmetic preparations that have an inhibitory action on tyrosinase activity and ameliorating action on facial blood flow are provided.

Abstract: Provided are: an inhibitor of the formation of an advanced glycation end product (AGE) and aldose reductase for treating and preventing both various diseases relating to AGE formation, such as complications related to diabetes and various diseases relating to aldose reductase inhibition; pharmaceutical preparations, compositions, and food and drink that contain these active ingredients; and pharmaceutical preparations and foods prepared by blending compositions containing anthocyanin, because such anthocyanin obtained through condensation or extraction from raw plant materials or the like is useful as an inhibitor of AGE formation and aldose reductase.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compounds useful for the control of harmful organisms, harmful organism control agents using the same, and processes for producing the novel compounds. The useful novel compounds according to the present invention include compounds represented by formula (1).

Abstract: A 4-phenyl-4-oxo-2-butenoate derivative is stably supplied in a short period of time, at low cost, in high purity and on an industrial scale by a process for producing the 4-phenyl-4-oxo-2-butenoate derivative, which comprises simultaneously or continuously reacting a sulfuric ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon and a maleic anhydride derivative.

Abstract: [Objective] An objective of the present invention is to provide compounds that are effective against various resistant bacteria which cause current clinical problems, for example, pneumococci including penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoneae (PRSP), Haemophilus influenzae including bata-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae (BLNAR), and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis.

Abstract: A triterpene derivative useful for the treatment of hepatic disorders is disclosed. This compound comprises as an active ingredient a triterpene derivative represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein R1 represents a hydroxyl group, arylmethyloxy, lower alkoxy, or lower alkanoyloxy, R2 represents lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, —CH2OR5, formyl, —COOR6, or —CH2N(R7)R8, or R1 and R2 may combine with each other to form —O—C(R9)R10—O—CH2—, R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, aryl, hydroxymethyl, —N(R11)R12, formyl, —COOR6, or —OR13, or R3 and R4 may combine with each other to form oxo, hydroxyimino, or alkylidene and X represents O, CH2, or NH.

Abstract: There is provided a pest control agent comprising a compound represented by formula (I) as active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having saponin-decomposing activity, more specifically a protein which can decompose a glycoside having soyasapogenol B as an aglycone to produce soyasapogenol B, a polynucleotide encoding such a protein, and a method of producing soyasapogenol B on a large scale using the same. A protein according to the present invention are concerned with (a), (b) or (c), namely (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; (b) a protein that has at least 50% homology to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) and having saponin-decomposing activity; or (c) a protein comprising a modified amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) that has one or more amino acid residues deleted, substituted, inserted, or added and having saponin-decomposing activity.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a harmful organism control agent that possesses excellent control effect against harmful organisms and can be safely used. The present invention provides a compound of formula (1) or a salt thereof. The present invention also provides a harmful organism control agent comprising the compound of formula (1). wherein R1, n, R2, and R3 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A cellulase preparation comprising an endoglucanase derived from Zygomycetes, a cellulose-binding-domain-deleted endoglucanase, or a modified or homologous protein thereof, together with a reducing agent is disclosed. Further, a method of treating cellulose-containing fabric, comprising the step of treating the fabric with the cellulase preparation to improve a property of the fabric, a method of deinking waste paper, comprising the step of treating the waste paper with the cellulase preparation. together with a deinking agent, and a method of improving freeness of paper pulp, comprising the step of treating the paper pulp with the cellulase preparation, are disclosed.