Abstract: A cationized hyaluronic acid and/or a salt thereof includes a quaternary ammonium group-containing group, and has a degree of cationization of 0.15 to 0.6.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oil-in-water emulsified food product containing plant sterol, which has the effect of reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood, and having a smooth texture and excellent emulsification stability. An oil-in-water emulsified food product containing a complex of plant sterol with egg yolk lipoprotein is provided. This oil-in-water emulsified food product can be obtained by a production method having a step wherein a liquid dispersion of a complex is prepared by adding a water-based medium as needed to egg yolk lipoprotein and plant sterol followed by stirring and mixing; a step wherein water-phase ingredient(s) are added as needed, stirred and mixed; and a step wherein oil-phase ingredient(s) are added and an emulsification treatment is performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phospholipid composition comprising two or more phospholipids, the electric conductivity and pH of a 5 wt. % suspension of the phospholipid composition in deionized water being in the range of 130 to 220 .mu.S/cm and in the range of 6.5 to 9.5, respectively; a process for producing the same; and the use of the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance. In particular a method for freezing a substance is disclosed wherein the strain FERM BP-4191 is incorporated into an ice nucleus forming substance and added to a food substance. For example, the addition is conducted by contacting the surface of the substance or by blending, or by pouring thereon the ice nucleus forming substance onto the substance to be frozen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance.

Abstract: A hydroponic culture system comprising an angle panel having a plurality of holes for supporting plants with roots projecting through the holes, and a hydroponic solution feeding means comprising a hydroponic solution spraying means for supplying a hydroponic solution onto the roots of the plants and a hydroponic solution pumping means for supplying the hydroponic solution to the hydroponic solution spraying means, in which the hydroponic solution spraying mechanism is movable along the longitudinal direction of the angle panel, or the angle panel is disposed in a plant cultivation structure which is supplied with carbon dioxide through a duct for controlling the environment within the structure, or a plurality of angle panels are disposed in a plurality of rows and top edges of the adjacent angle panel rows are connected with canopies to form substantially triangular-sectioned spaces between the adjacent angle panel rows for enhanced lighting efficiency, thereby cultivating the plants systematically and almo

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting rotten albumen in broken raw eggs which may include sound yolk are disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for casting ultraviolet light onto the albumen, an optical filter system filtering a complex of fluorescence of the albumen and the yolk and an ultraviolet light reflected from or transmitted through the albumen so as to transmit only the components due to fluorescence of the albumen, and a discriminator which compares the level of a signal corresponding to the fluorescence of the albumen to a threshold level corresponding to the fluorescence of the sound albumen. The method and the apparatus are applicable to both separating-type and nonseparating-type automatic egg breakers.

Abstract: An optical egg inspecting apparatus includes a first transducer unit having a first sensitivity range of 400 to 500 nm in wavelength which corresponds to the absorption spectrum range of yolk (the yellow) and a second transducer unit having a second sensitivity range of 500 to 700 nm in wavelength which corresponds to the visual range excluding the first range. Therefore, the first transducer unit can detect eggshells but cannot detect the yolk, while the second transducer unit can detect both shells or yolk. When the first unit does not detect shells and additionally the second unit detects yolk, the presence of yolk included in egg white is decided even where the egg white includes shells. Further, the two transducer units cannot detect the presence of egg white because a polarized beam projected onto and reflected from egg white to be inspected is shut off by an analyzer having polarization axes arranged perpendicular to those of the polarized beam.

Abstract: A sterilizer which has two transfer chains moving through sterilizing and cooling tanks; open-backed transfer containers with holes in their walls and locking members at both ends, which are supported between the chains; and inner vessels containing the materials being treated, which have holes in the walls thereof and locking means, which are engageable with the locking members, at both ends thereof, and which are adapted to be removably inserted into the containers. Projections extend inward from the circumferential edges of the holes in the walls of the containers and/or inner vessels, serving to support the materials and define liquid passages between the materials and the inner surfaces of the containers and/or inner vessels.

Abstract: The present invention is a sterilizing apparatus for continuously sterilizing foods, medicines, chemicals, etc. in the manufacture of those products. A hot water storage vessel and a cooling water storage vessel are mounted within a pressure tank, and such products passes through the hot water storage vessel while being carried by chain and are thereby sterilized. The hot water storage vessel is covered with an outer frame assembly and a heat insulating material is inserted therebetween to minimize heat loss. Further, the bearings for supporting the rotating shaft of sprockets which guide the movement of the chain are attached not to the hot water storage vessel but to the outer frame assembly to prevent the bearings from being changed in position or distorted by heat, thereby assuring a smooth rotation of the sprockets.

Abstract: Peeling of the shells of boiled eggs is realized continuously, promptly and simply by introducing the boiled eggs into a cylinder through which water is flowing, the cylinder performing circular movement about a substantially horizontal axis with the magnitude of the circular movement increasing gradually from an initial portion towards a terminal end portion. The boiled eggs are firstly made to collide with the inner surface of the cylinder by small circular movement of the cylinder, and rendered more elastic with the eggshells of fine fragments to the degree that the shell membrane remains unbroken. Next, the shell membrane is broken by applying a whirling water stream and a centrifugal force generated by large circular motion. The boiled egg contents are then separated from the eggshells so smoothly as to be slipped out of their shells.

Abstract: A high-pressure sterilizer comprises a high-pressure tank having an inlet and an outlet for the objects to be treated and also having formed therein a heating chamber containing a heating liquid and a cooling chamber containing a cooling liquid, and transfer means for continuously transferring the objects to be treated through said inlet and outlet of the high-pressure tank while passing through the liquids in said heating and cooling chambers to thereby continuously sterilize the objects to be treated by heating. Said heating chamber and cooling chamber are separated by a pair of partition walls to form a space therebetween. Said transfer means are disposed in alignment with passage holes formed in said partition walls in opposed relation below the liquid level and with cylindrical passages provided in the tank in alignment with said passage holes.