Abstract: An antimicrobial agent with a high degree of safety is provided, which is derived from a natural product and can exhibit growth-inhibitory activity against acid-resistant and heat-resistant bacteria such as Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, which is resistant against pasteurization and causes spoilage of fruit juice. The antimicrobial agent against acid-resistant and heat-resistant bacteria contains as an effective ingredient alpha-type thionin and/or beta-type thionin. A preservative for fruit juice is also provided, which contains as an effective ingredient the alpha-type thionin and/or beta-type thionin.

Abstract: An artificially synthesized gene encoding a protein having a trypsin inhibitor activity, which is designed so as to be expressed in rice in a stable manner, includes a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence from Glu at the 1st position to Ser at the 172th position represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing.

Abstract: Flour blends which contain waxy wheat flour and which are suitable for the preparation of deep fried foods, steamed Chinese manju, dough sheets, okonomi-yaki, and takoyaki are described. These flour blends make it possible to obtain foods which have excellent texture and flavor when consumed immediately after preparation or after being heated or thawed.

Abstract: A fixed roller is laterally axially supported by a movable body so as to ow an axial center line of the fixed roller to extend in parallel to a lateral direction, and driven to rotate an upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller backward, and a plurality of split press rollers respectively having the axes inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an axial center line of the fixed roller as viewed in plan are arranged in a row in a lateral direction above the fixed roller in the manner of supporting the split press rollers by press roller frames. The split press rollers are energized to the descending side by oil-hydraulic cylinders respectively provided between a frame of the body and the press roller frames so as to bring the lower peripheral surface side of each split press roller into contact with the upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller under the action of pressure.

Abstract: Plant glycogen is a polysaccharide derived from rice and contains a high molecular weight group whose weight average molecular weight is 5.00 to 7.60 million and a low molecular weight group whose weight average molecular weight is 0.30 to 1.10 million, the glycogen is a glucose polymer, being easily dissolved in cold water and hot water, and being rendered viscous at the time of degree of water addition of 25 to 200%. The process for producing plant glycogen, includes immersing finely ground rice in water or a water-containing solvent, subjecting it to solid-liquid separation to give an extract, heating it to remove thermally precipitated solids and proteins, adding the resulting liquid layer to an organic solvent, and recovering the resulting white precipitates, followed by purification, if necessary.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing a composition having an ability of promoting degradation of accumulated cellular fats, a substance having such ability was developed from naturally-occurring safe materials. Thus, according to the present invention, a composition for promoting fat-degradation in a fat cell comprising containing an isoflavone in an amount effective to promote the fat-degradation in said fat cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound for poultry feeds characterized by making it possible to increase the content of a highly unsaturated fatty acid in the yolk of eggs laid, decrease the percentage of breakage of eggs laid and extend the egg-laying period, and containing a long-chain unsaturated fatty acid calcium salt having carbon atoms of more than 18 alone, or said long-chain unsaturated fatty acid calcium salt together with a molasses, a browning material formed by heating saccharide, a browning material formed by heating saccharide and amino acids and the like as effective ingredients, and a method for feeding poultry characterized by compounding said compound with a poultry feed, and feeding the resultant feed to poultry.

Abstract: Disclosed are .gamma.-aminobutyric acid-enriched food materials to be obtained by dipping at least one material chosen from among germs of rice, rice bran containing germs, whole rice, germs of wheat and wheat bran containing germs in water at a pH of from 2.5 to 7.5 and at 80.degree. C. or lower. Also disclosed is a method for producing .gamma.-aminobutyric acid by extracting the .gamma.-aminobutyric acid-enriched food material with an acid followed by purifying the resulting extract by ion-exchanging chromatography. These products are useful as particular nutrient foods or additives to foods for patients suffering from hypertension.

Abstract: An object of spherical shape is disposed in such a way that it changes the peed of any flow of two-dimensionally varying direction to the same extent. The dynamic pressure on the object, relative to the ambient, is so measured that there exists a unique and theoretically determined relation between the pressure and the speed of approaching flow.