Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat sensitive recording material comprising a recording layer formed on a substrate and containing a colorless or light-colored basic dye and a color acceptor, the material being characterized in that the basic dye is 3-(N-ethyl-N-p-tolyl)amino-6-methyl-7-p-toluidinofluoran, the color acceptor is bis(3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone and/or 4-hydroxy-4'-isopropoxydiphenylsulfone.

Abstract: A process for the mass propagation of a woody plant comprising the steps of removing a shoot tip from the woody plant, transplanting the shoot tip to an artificial medium containing inorganic salts and plant growth hormones as main ingredients, and rotary-culturing the shoot tip under illumination to form shoot primordia, and stationary-culturing the shoot primordia in a liquid medium to regenerate shoots. Further, a process for the regeneration of plants comprising the steps of preparing a shoot primordium by rotary-culturing a shoot tip of a plant, treating the shoot primordium with at least one enzyme to prepare a protoplast, culturing the protoplast in an artificial medium containing plant hormones and inorganic and organic salts as main ingredients to form a callus, and incubating the callus in a regeneration medium to regenerate a shoot; plus intermediate materials of the process, and processes for production of the intermediate materials.

Abstract: An automatic selection apparatus for sheet material can automatically distinguish whether sheet materials such as sheets of paper are good or bad. While the sheet materials are carried one by one in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction in the manufacturing process or working process of the sheet materials with a leading edge thereof being held by a gripper, an optical type defect detection device detects a defect in the sheet material. Accordingly, vibration of the sheet material is avoided and the defect can be accurately detected. A controller receives a signal from the defect detection device and drives a switching device which opens and closes the gripper at a defective sheet discharged portion or a good sheet stacked portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is agricultural paper to be made into pots for raising seedlings. It is made up of a first layer made chiefly of natural pulp and a second layer made of synthetic fibers having a basis weight of 3-15 g/m.sup.2, said first layer and second layer being joined to each other by the wet papermaking process which intertwines the fibers of the two layers at their joining interface. The second layer is formed by fusion bonding composite synthetic fibers of polymers having different plasticizing temperatures.

Abstract: A composition useful for rapidly and safely effecting a fat-desensitizing treatment for litho printing plates with a high efficiency, and for providing a hydrophilic membrane having a high durability in printing operations on the surfaces of the litho printing plates, comprises (A) a phytic acid or its functional derivative; (B) a metal salt of the formula MX.sub.

Abstract: An improved paper-making hydrous acid filler is prepared by classifying or pulverizing a slurry containing fine particles of hydrous silicic acid, which is obtained by neutralizing sodium silicate with sulfuric acid, by a wet classifier or a wet pulverizer, so that the proportion of particles having a particles size of 1 to 30 .mu.m is at least 80% and the proportion of particles having a particle size of at least 70 .mu.m is not more than 0.4%. The filler has a function of improving the ink receptivity of the paper of the internal additive type and is capable of improving the opacity of the paper after printing.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin emulsion composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of a film-forming resin and a protective colloid for said emulsion, wherein the protective colloid comprises at least one photosensitive saponified polyvinyl acetate derivative which is at least partially grafted onto the film-forming resin, and the photosensitive saponified polyvinyl acetate derivative comprises a backbone formed of saponified polyvinyl acetate and at least one photosensitive unit and at least one hydrophobic unit bonded to the backbone.

Abstract: An electrophotographic litho printing plate material which has a high storage stability and is useful for providing litho printing plates having an enhanced high quality image-forming durability, an improved printing durability, and an excellent dimensional stability, comprises (A) a substrate sheet; (B) an intermediate coating layer comprising (a) wet ground white mica fine particles having an average size of 5 to 50 .mu.m, (b) a waterproofing agent comprising an organic silane compound of the formula (1): R.sub.n SiX.sub.4-n (1) wherein n=1 or 2, R=aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, at least one R being chemically reactive, and X=hydrolyzable substituent, and (c) a thermoplastic resin binder; and (C) a photoconductive coating layer containing photoconductive pigment particles and an electrically insulating polymeric binder.

Abstract: Porous carbon plates are made by forming a sheet from a mixture comprising 65-90 weight parts of a carbon fiber-forming organic fiber and 10-35 weight parts of a pulp according to a paper-making method; impregnating the sheet with a solution of an organic polymeric substance to prepare an impregnated sheet; subjecting the impregnated sheet to an oxidizing treatment; and then carbonizing the infusibilized sheet at a temperature of at least 800.degree. C. in an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A one-faced or double-faced release sheet presenting an adequate barrier against coating solutions of release agent, good adhesion to release agents, high heat resistance and minimum heat shrinkage comprising a support sheet having a release layer formed on at least one side thereof with an undercoated layer being disposed between said support sheet and the release layer, said undercoated layer being formed from a mixture of a soap-free type acrylic resin emulsion and oxidized starch.

Abstract: A method for cultivating, under alkaline conditions, microorganisms in a culture medium containing, as a carbon source, the extracted liquor or spent liquor derived from alkaline pulping is presented. In this cultivation, organic acids contained in the extracted liquor or spent liquor can be effectively utilized. Typical microorganisms cultured are bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium.