Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find and produce cathepsin L having high activity under neutral to alkaline conditions and at a low temperature range. The present inventors succeeded in discovering novel cathepsin L having activity even at a low temperature range from hepatopancreas of Japanese northern shrimp. The present inventors further determined the gene sequence encoding said novel cathepsin L, thus enabling production thereof by genetic recombination.

Abstract: The present invention provides fried Chinese dumplings, such as fried jiao-zi, shao-mai, won-ton, and steamed bread, unfried Chinese dumplings, and methods for producing the same, wherein deterioration of the crispness of their browned skin is sufficiently inhibited after the dumplings are fried, even when a certain period of time is passed after frying, or even when the dumplings are stored in a frozen state. The unfried Chinese dumpling of the present invention has a crispness deterioration inhibitor provided on the external surface of the dough sheet for inhibiting deterioration with time of crispness of the dough sheet after the dumpling is fried. The inhibitor comprising grain powders and a starch hydrolysate (A-1) in powder form having a bulk density of not lower than 3.0 ml/g.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a process for amplifying DNA.

Abstract: To prepare high-performance specific gene-amplification primers for detecting, quantitatively determining or identifying Vibrio parahaeinolyticus having low possibility of mis-identification and practically sufficient amplification efficiency and amplification specificity. We have determined the nucleotide sequences of rpoD genes encoding RNA polymerase ?70 factor of type strains of the genus Vibrio and of stock strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (strains containing and those not containing toxin gene); elucidated the phylogenetic relation, and identified nucleotides which are characteristic in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, thereby enabling the design of probes containing them and having high specificity, and primers for gene amplification having high specificity and excellent amplification efficiency.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find and produce cathepsin L having high activity under neutral to alkaline conditions and at a low temperature range. The present inventors succeeded in discovering novel cathepsin L having activity even at a low temperature range from hepatopancreas of Japanese northern shrimp. The present inventors further determined the gene sequence encoding said novel cathepsin L, thus enabling production thereof by genetic recombination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and removing unstripped residual shell left on shellfish. This method and apparatus are characterized by irradiating a light of specific wave-range onto stripped shellfish after finishing the shell-stripping work thereof. A CCD camera is used to examine the shellfish. It is then determined if there is residual shell on the stripped shellfish on the basis of information on the intensity of fluorescent light that can be obtained from the image taken by the CCD camera. Any shell is then removed.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a process for improving the efficiency of a DNA amplification reaction, and a process for improving the hybridization specificity of an oligonucleotide to a DNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a complex of enzyme, protein and carrier comprising two or more molecules of an enzyme conjugated through amino group or other group to a carrier such as polylysine, and a protein (for example, antibody) with a specific binding potency to other substance(s) (for example, antigen) conjugated to at least one of said two or more molecules of the enzyme, which enables accurate assay of a trace amount of a substance at a high sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a complex of enzyme, protein and carrier comprising two or more molecules of an enzyme conjugated through amino group or other group to a carrier such as polylysine, and a protein (for example, antibody) with a specific binding potency to other substance(s) (for example, antigen) conjugated to at least one of said two or more molecules of the enzyme, which enables accurate assay of a trace amount of a substance at a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A human monoclonal antibody useful for the treatment of various diseases caused by human connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and preventing the onset of the above diseases; medicinal uses thereof; and various monoclonal antibodies having various characteristics against various mammalian CTGFs useful for detecting and assaying CTGFs present in body fluids of mammals suffering from various diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a complex of enzyme, protein and carrier comprising two or more molecules of an enzyme conjugated through amino group or other group to a carrier such as polylysine, and a protein (for example, antibody) with a specific binding potency to other substance(s) (for example, antigen) conjugated to at least one of said two or more molecules of the enzyme, which enables accurate assay of a trace amount of a substance at a high sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzyme-antibody complex where one or more molecule(s) of enzyme into which a maleimide group or a thiol group is introduced is/are covalently conjugated to a carrier (polylysine, aminodextyan and so forth) in which a thiol group when a maleimide group is introduced into the enzyme or to a maleimide group when a thiol group is introduced into the enzyme via them, and a maleimide group is introduced into at least one amino group remaining in the above complex and is covalently conjugated to a maleimide group of the above complex via a thiol group obtained by reduction of antibody fragment or antibody. The resulting complex is useful as an enzyme-labeled antibody particularly in immunohistochemistry and in enzyme immunoassay and makes an immunoassay with high sensitivity possible.

Abstract: A batter for application to a material for frying contains edible oils and fats, water, an edible moisture holding material having a moisture holding amount of not less than 100 g/100 g by a centrifugal method under 2000 G, a foaming agent having foaming force of not less than 50 mm when measured as a 0.1 wt % aqueous solution at 25.degree. C. by Ross-Miles test, and an emulsion stabilizer. A material for frying contains a filling and a multi-layer formed externally of the filling, the multi-layer containing a layer of the aforementioned batter. A frozen fried material for microwave cooking is prepared by frying the material for frying and freezing the fried material.

Abstract: A method for preparing a spring roll involves putting an ingredient material on a dough sheet of the spring roll, rolling up the dough sheet to wrap the ingredient material, and frying the rolled spring roll. A food material containing a main component selected from polysaccharides, powders of grains and mixtures thereof is attached to 40% or more surface area of the dough sheet based on a total surface area of the dough sheet of the spring roll before the spring roll is fried.

Abstract: A questionnaire producing and aiding system according to the present invention is arranged to store a questionnaire element including a question and a plurality of reply choices which have been previously produced in a memory thereof. When a questionnaire is produced, the saved questionnaire element is used while adding, correcting and deleting the contents so that a questionnaire sheet is produced. Therefore, the questionnaire producing operation can be performed efficiently. The data about the produced questionnaire sheet are stored in a portable recording medium.The questionnaire reply gathering system according to the present invention is arranged to read data about the questionnaire sheet from the storage medium to display the contents of the questionnaire sheet on the terminal display apparatus, and to gather reply data supplied from the terminal input apparatus to be stored in the portable storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening and freezing heat processed cereals is disclosed. The cereals are in the form of separate grains when in a raw state and exhibit agglutinating properties after heat processing so as to become affixed to one another. The apparatus mainly includes a cylindrical rotary drum adapted for receiving the cereals previously heat processed and for loosening the cereals so as not to form lumps or blocks while the cereals are frozen, a unit for rotating the drum, a loosening member provided in the inside of the drum for carrying up the cereals and falling down in the drum, and a fluid blowing unit. The drum includes a netted wall having a mesh size to prevent the cereals from passing through the drum. The blowing unit is adapted to blow chilling fluid into the inside of the drum through the netted wall for blowing up and simultaneously freezing the cereals.

Abstract: Square pillar or block ice having a beautiful striped pattern is made by cooling and freezing raw water for ice making in an ice can, the raw water containing at least one soluble material and being subjected alternately to a degree of agitation effective for forming a transparent ice layer and to agitation required for forming a semi-transparent ice layer, thereby forming a striped pattern of the semi-transparent ice layer.

Abstract: Ice, in particular, block ice containing soluble materials dispersed therein is produced in an effective manner on a commercial scale by a process comprising cooling and freezing raw water for ice making in an ice can while air blowing and agitating by a blowing means, characterized by adding and dissolving soluble additives or materials in the raw water, effecting the air blowing and agitating with air under a pressure close to a minimum pressure required for dispersing bubbles in the raw water and thereby dispersing and incorporating the soluble additives or materials in the ice without substantially deteriorating the transparency of the ice.