Abstract: A process for producing starch noodles, which comprises adding 45-55 parts by weight of hot water to 100 parts by weight of starch obtained from at least one member-selected from the group consisting of potato, sweet potato, tapioca, corn, wheat and a product thereof followed by being mixed to prepare large particles of dough and then extruding the dough under degassing at degrees of vacuum of not less than 650 Torr to produce a dough sheet. Starch noodles can be produced efficiently in simple procedures without separately preparing starch paste and without using special rollers. Further, starch noodles thus produced are highly transparent and less melted by boiling.

Abstract: This invention relates to the structural gene for the membrane-bound aldehyde dehydrogenase derived from microorganisms belonging to the genus Acetobacter, said structural gene having a molecular size of about 3.6 Kb and having a restriction enzyme cleavage map as shown in FIG. 1; to a plasmid containing said structural gene; to an acetic acid bacterium transformed by said plasmid; and to an acetic acid fermentation process using said transformant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid coulometric analysis for the quantitative determination of a sample substance with high reproducibility without any application of voltage etc. from the outside, as well as a galvanic cell and a device for use in said coulometric analysis. According to the present invention, a wide variety of components can be analyzed by selection of electroactive substance introduced into the galvanic cell. The present invention enables a simple and easy analysis for food components such as glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, etc., water quality such as COD, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel clinical examination method which comprises analyzing the alteration in the amount of a specific component in oligosaccharides of immunogloblin G. Human diseases such as liver diseases, malignant hypertension, immunogloblin A-nephropathy, pediatric disorders, etc., are examined in terms of the alteration in bisecting N-acetylglucosamine-containing oligosaccharides in immunogloblin G from collected humor. The present invention provides highly accurate information in a manner applicable to practical operation for examination of liver diseases, allergic diseases, malignant hypertension, immunogloblin A nephropathy, pediatric disorders, as well as aging-dependent variations and the therapeutic effect of interferon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid coulometric analysis for the quantitative determination of a sample substance wherein the coulometric analysis has high reproducibility without any application of voltage, etc., from an outside source, as well as a galvanic cell and a device for use in said coulometric analysis. According to the present invention, a wide variety of components can be analyzed by selection of electroactive substance introduced into the galvanic cell. The present invention enables a simple and easy analysis for food components such as glutamic acid, ascorbic acid, etc., water quality such as COD, etc.

Abstract: A polysaccharide substance having the following formula is provided: ##STR1## Also provided is a method of producing the polysaccharide substance in which an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is chemically bonded to a silane agent at the reducing terminal of the resultant oligosaccharide, the oligosaccharide compound is then polymerized to an average degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme. Another method for producing the polysaccharide substance is provided in which an aldehyde group at the reducing terminal of an oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization from 3 to 10 is oxidized with an oxidizing agent, and the saccharide chain of the oxidized product is polymerized to a degree of polymerization from 11 to 500 in the presence of an enzyme, followed by the addition of an acid. The polysaccharide substance has excellent solvent resistance and is useful as a separating agent for chromatography, especially for the separation of chiral compounds.

Abstract: A BOD analyzer is prepared having a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to the genus Klebsiella in the membrane. Specifically, the BOD analyzer has a flow cell equipped with a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane, and a liquid passage which is connected with an entrance of the flow cell and which is equipped with an outlet. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to Klebsiella oxytoca 12092 strain in a porous hydrophilic membrane having an average pore size of 0.65-3 .mu.m in diameter by using at least one gelating agent selected from alginic acid or salts thereof, agar, gellan gum, xathane gum, gelatine, carageenan, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, pectin, or pullulan. The BOD analyzer can be used for batch or continuous BOD analysis and enables carrying out BOD analysis in a short period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel fructosylamine deglycase characterized by the specificity to amadori compounds of catalyzing oxidation of the compounds to produce an .alpha.-ketoaldehyde, an amine derivative and hydrogen peroxide; a method of producing the novel enzyme by cultivating microorganisms belonging to the genus Candida and having an ability of producing the novel enzyme; and a method of quantitative determination of amadori compounds by applying the novel enzyme to a sample containing amadori compounds to measure the amount of the hydrogen peroxide to be formed by the oxidation reaction or measure the amount of the oxygen to be consumed by the reaction to thereby obtain the amount of the amadori compounds from the measured value. The invention provides a novel enzyme characterized by the high specificity to the reaction with amadori compounds, especially that having therein a saccharide moiety as bonded to the .epsilon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the amount of free sulfurous acid and bound sulfurous acid in a sample using a bacterium belonging to Thiobacillus thiooxidans or Thiobacillus ferrooxidans of in which the sample is treated with acid and/or alkali to give free sulfurous acid alone in the sample. Then, the total amount of free sulfurous acid in the sample is measured by an oxidation reaction of free sulfurous acid to sulfuric acid using a bacterium belonging to Thiobacillus thiooxidans or Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Abstract: A variety of plant diseases and damage by certain pests in agricultural and horticultural plants can be efficiently controlled without substantial chemical injuries by applying a plant-protecting composition which comprises (a) 1 part by weight of a chitosan hydrolyzate having an average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000, obtained by acid hydrolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan and (b) 0.25 to 4 parts by weight of acetic acid. Any possible chemical injury to plants caused by applying the composition can be further reduced when the composition is admixed with a deproteinized juice of alfalfa leaves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a BOD analyzer comprising a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to the genus Klebsiella in membrane. Specifically, the present invention relates to a BOD analyzer comprising flow cell equipped with a microbe sensor containing an oxygen electrode and a microbe membrane; and a liquid passage which is connected with the entrance of the flow cell and which is equipped with an outlet. The microbe membrane is made by immobilizing microorganisms belonging to Klebsiella oxytoca 12092 strain in a porous hydrophilic membrane having an average pore size of 0.65-3 .mu.m in diameter by using at least one gelating agent selected from the group consisting of alginic acid or salts thereof, agar, gellan gum, xanthane gum, gelatine, carageenan, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, pectin, and pullulan.

Abstract: There is provided a structural gene of membrane-bound alcohol dehydrogenase complex having a molecular size of about 7.0 kilo base which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Acetobacter represented by Acetobacter altoacetigenes and shown by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID. NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2. This enzyme increases the efficiency of acetic acid fermentation and may be effectively utilized for quantitative determination of alcohol.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium best suited as a separation medium is composed of a gel solution and contains a water-soluble polymer and permits great improvement of the enzymic protein recovery character. A gel holder is provided with stopper members and thus can hold even a soft or slippery while maintaining a fixed shape thereof, thus permitting reliable separation and purification of an intended substance without possibility of denaturing of the substance. A slab type electrophoretic apparatus permits automatic detection of the electrophoretic state of a sample and automatic completion of the electrophoresis under optimum conditions without setting measurement condition, permits continuous measurement of the buffer solution temperature, which is important for obtaining an electrophoretic condition for maintaining the enzymic function, and permits separation and purification of a large quantity of an enzyme or like physiologically active substance in a very simple operation.

Abstract: An enzyme sensor, which comprises an enzyme-modified electrode and a counter electrode, wherein the enzyme-modified electrode comprises, as electrode components, an enzyme and/or an enzyme-containing substance and mediator. The enzyme sensor is useful in analysis, such as the analysis of compounds in foods or components in the living body, the diagnosis of diseases and the control of reaction processes. The preparation of the enzyme-modified electrode is also described.

Abstract: In a sulfur dioxide detector using SO.sub.2 -oxidant microbes, a bio-membrane is located at one end of an oxygen concentration sensor, the bio-membrane containing the SO.sub.2 -oxidant microbes between an immobilized membrane and a gas permeable membrane. The sensor has an electrode in contact with the immobilized membrane. A dish-shaped or frusto-conical cell has an open end which is in contact with the gas permeable membrane so that SO.sub.2 -laden solution supplied to the cell causes sulfurous acid to oxidize to sulfuric acid as the SO.sub.2 permeates through the bio-membrane so as to change an output from the sensor. An inlet and outlet hole are formed on a sidewall of the cell. The outlet hole is located to be always directly above the inlet hole so as to drain foam formed when the SO.sub.2 -laden solution is supplied to the cell through the inlet hole and drained from the outlet hole.

Abstract: A dental plaque-degrading composition containing endodextranase produced by Arthrobacter globiformis W31 exhibiting high degradation efficacy to insoluble glucan produced by Streptococcus mutans IFO 13955, the dental plaque-degrading composition additionally containing .alpha.-amylase of various origins. These compositions are useful for preventing the settlement of Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity and the formation of new dental plaque and for preventing the dental caries, and provided in the form of dentifrices, denture detergents, troches, mouth washes, chewing gums or candies.

Abstract: A novel foodstuff is produced by reacting a milk-coagulating enzyme which is produced by a milk-coagulating enzyme-producing microorganism belonging to genus Aspergillus, genus Mucor, or genus Rhizopus and which exhibits a milk-coagulating activity (A) and a protease activity (B) such that the ratio of (A)/(B) is larger than 0.1, with soymilk thereby inducing coagulation, and collecting a resulting coagulated material. The novel foodstuffs produced have the benefit of lacking the bitterness and astringency common to soybean, abounds in emulsifying activity, exhibit a high water-retention property, and are smoothly agreeable to the taste. Thus, they have extensive utility as substitutes for raw materials in conventional processed foods. They are especially suitable for use as raw materials for emulsifiable foods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing vinegar by acetic acid fermentation utilizing an automatic alcohol analyzer for measurement of alcohol concentration in a fermenting broth, a feeding apparatus for feeding alcohol solution as raw material to the fermenting broth, and a control computer controllably coupled to the alcohol analyzer and to the feeding apparatus.

Abstract: A method for measuring the alcohol concentration of an acetic acid fermentation broth which comprises (a) forming a sample gas containing volatile components present in the acetic acid fermentation broth, the volatile componentscomprising alcohol and acetic acid; (b) passing the sample gas through an absorption column packed with a material which binds acetic acid whereby the acetic acid is absorbed on the material; (c) passing the sample gas which has passed through the absorption column to a gas sensor for measuring the alcohol content of the gas by outputting an electrical signal which correlates to the alcohol content of the sample gas; and (d) determining the alcohol content of the sample gas in response to the electrical output signal from the gas sensor.

Abstract: A novel species of acetic acid bacteria belonging to the genus of Acetobacter, to which a scientific name of Acetobacter altoacetigenes MH-24 (FERM BP-491) is given. The bacteria can grow in a culture medium containing at least 4 w/v % of acetic acid with a pH of 3.5 at the highest. Pure samples of species have been isolated and used for the fermentation production of vinegar without undertaking the conventional inoculation process using the prior art seed vinegar to provide a high-quality vinegar of high acetic acid concentration such as white vinegar, with high production efficiency.