Abstract: A novel peptide found as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in octopuses, a member of mollusks. The structure and the activities of the peptide have been unraveled. The peptide finds use as a reagent used in the studies of correlations between the structure and the activities of GnRH and the information processing mechanisms of the nervous systems in higher animals. It can also serve as a base compound in the development of pesticides and drugs. The peptide has the GnRH activity and has the following amino acid sequence (I): (I) <Glu-Zaa-Zaa-His-Zaa-Ser-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Pro- Gly-NH2 wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid and Zaa represents any amino acid. Specifically, the peptide has the following amino acid sequence (1): (1) <Glu-Asn-Tyr-His-Phe-Ser-Asn-Gly-Trp-His-Pro-Gly- NH2 wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a lipase activity inhibitor which shows a high inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase, regulates the absorption of fat from meals and/or contributes to the regulation or prevention of obesity, a food and a drink containing the same, and a tea-origin lipase inhibitor being highly preferable and not worsening taste. It is also intended to provide a method of producing the lipase inhibitor. It is further intended to provide antioxidative agent. To overcome these problems, an epigallocatechin dimer (oolong homo bis flavans) or trimer is added to foods or drinks. Thus, the absorption of fat from meals can be regulated and an antioxidative effect can be obtained. The above compounds can be produced by reacting epigallocatechin gallate with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid.

Abstract: To construct the apparatus convenient in the respects of both the installing space and movability of a culturing vessel. The plant culturing vessel includes a culturing vessel 1 capable of culturing a plant therein, a tank 4 capable of reserving a culturing liquid 3 for the plant therein, a communication passage 26 communicating between the vessel 1 and the tank 4, and a pump P incorporated in the communication passage 26, the pump P being capable of feeding the liquid 3 reserved in the tank 4 to the plant culturing vessel 1. The tank 4 includes a support portion 9 capable of supporting the culturing vessel 1 upwardly of the tank 4. The communication passage 26 is disposed along the support portion. The pump P is provided integrally with the tank.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for ejecting a beverage into a receptacle, including a housing including a taking-in/out space, nozzles provided in the beverage dispenser for ejecting the beverage, obstacle detection module for detecting an obstacle around the nozzle, alarm generator for issuing an alarm when the detection module detects the obstacle, and a nozzle cover for covering the plurality of nozzles and the obstacle detection module to partially close the taking-in/out space. The alarm may not be issued from the alarm means when the beverage is ejected or a switch may be provided for causing the alarm generator inoperative. Thereby, those around the dispenser are informed of the fact that an operator has had unauthorized access to the nozzle in the beverage dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing flavan-3-ol monomers or acylates thereof derived from teas as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said inhibitors. More specifically, the present invention provides lipase inhibitors containing at least one of flavan-3-ol monomers represented by the formula: wherein R1 and R3 independently represent H or OH, R2 represents H, R4 represents H, G, 3MeG or p-cou, R5 represents H or G, R4? and R5? independently represent H or G, R4? represents H or G, and G, 3MeG and p-cou respectively represent the groups of the formulae: or acylates thereof; as well as foods and beverages and medicines containing said lipase inhibitors.

Abstract: A novel peptide found as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in octopuses, a member of mollusks. The structure and the activities of the peptide have been unraveled. The peptide finds use as a reagent used in the studies of correlations between the structure and the activities of GnRH and the information processing mechanisms of the nervous systems in higher animals. It can also serve as a base compound in the development of pesticides and drugs. The peptide has the GnRH activity and has the following amino acid sequence (I): <Glu-Zaa-Zaa-His-Zaa-Ser-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Zaa-Pro-Gly-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 7) ??(I) wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid and Zaa represents any amino acid. Specifically, the peptide has the following amino acid sequence (1): <Glu-Asn-Tyr-His-Phe-Ser-Asn-Gly-Trp-His-Pro-Gly-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 1) ??(1) wherein <Glu represents pyroglutamic acid.

Abstract: Tachykinin peptide isolated and purified from the posterior salivary gland of the mollusk Octopus vulgaris. The tachykinin peptide provides a new approach for developing medicaments and pesticides through studies on the structural activity correlation at the molecular level, is characterized by: (1) number of amino acid residues is 12; (2) N terminal of the peptide is Lys; (3) an amino acid sequence of 5 amino acids from C-terminal is represented by the following amino acid sequence: Phe-Xaa-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 6), (wherein, Xaa is Val, lie, Phe or Tyr), especially following amino acid sequences are provided: Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 1), Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Ile-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, such as a food and pharmaceutical agent, which comprises dihomo-?-linolenic acid, and which has the effect of preventing or treating skin diseases; a composition such as a food and pharmaceutical agent which comprises dihomo-?-linolenic acid and which has the effect of preventing or treating skin diseases; and a composition which comprises dihomo-?-linolenic acid and which has the effect of preventing or treating diseases related to increased mast cell count.

Abstract: Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desired brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.

Abstract: Beverages with little sedimentation and low viscosity exhibit excellent flavor derived from fruit juice, as well as a process for their production and processed fruit juice used in the process. Adding processed mango juice containing large amounts of insoluble components as flavor components derived from the juice provides beverages with little sedimentation and low viscosity, exhibiting excellent flavor derived from the juice, even after depulping, a treatment to prevent sedimentation.

Abstract: An economical process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage with an enhanced flavor in a process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage produced through a step of heat sterilization of coffee and milk as the main raw materials. The process includes adding a strongly basic substance and/or basic amino acid to the coffee component and conducting the heat sterilization after the milk component is admixed to the coffee component. Coagulation at the step of admixing milk component is prevented and precipitation which tends to arise after the heat sterilization is prevented with the use of a much smaller amount of emulsifier and thickening agent.

Abstract: A ?5 fatty acid desaturase gene, a ?6 fatty acid desaturase gene, and a ?6 fatty-acid-chain elongase gene are isolated from a single species of Marchantiales. By introducing these genes into higher plants, transformed plants which can produce arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are obtained.

Abstract: A method for preservation of a microorganism capable of microbial production of a polyunsaturated fatty acid or a compound comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, which method comprises: (a) forming spores in a spore-forming medium at pH 4-7 containing a nutrient source comprising an inorganic salt and a saccharide; (b) suspending the spores obtained in (a) in sterilized water, or sterilized water containing a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to prepare a spore suspension, and adding a cryoprotectant at 5-15% to prepare a cryopreserving spore suspension; and (c) preserving the cryopreserving spore suspension obtained in (b) at between ?100° C. and ?20° C.

Abstract: An economical process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage with an enhanced flavor in a process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage produced through a step of heat sterilization of coffee and milk as the main raw materials. The process includes adding a strongly basic substance and/or basic amino acid to the coffee component and conducting the heat sterilization after the milk component is admixed to the coffee component. Coagulation at the step of admixing milk component is prevented and precipitation which tends to arise after the heat sterilization is prevented with the use of a much smaller amount of emulsifier and thickening agent.

Abstract: Beverages with little sedimentation and low viscosity exhibit excellent flavor derived from fruit juice, as well as a process for their production and processed fruit juice used in the process. Adding processed mango juice containing large amounts of insoluble components as flavor components derived from the juice provides beverages with little sedimentation and low viscosity, exhibiting excellent flavor derived from the juice, even after depulping, a treatment to prevent sedimentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient extraction method of Maca extract having safe anti-allergic effects enabling long-term intake, and a food and beverage product, a perfumery and a cosmetic as well as a pharmaceutical preparation comprising thus obtained Maca extract showing anti-allergic effect. In the provided extraction method of Maca extract, the temperature of extracting solution is from 20° C. to 75° C. when Maca extract is extracted by adding aqueous solution containing ethanol being ethanol concentration of from 20 to 100 by volume %.

Abstract: To provide a malt fermented beverage having refreshing finish, namely clear taste while ensuring robust feel by making use proportion of malt in starting materials high. Provided is a malt fermented beverage which includes an alcohol-containing material obtained by fermentation using wheat/barley as a part of starting material, serving as a component A; and an alcohol-containing distillate obtained by distilling an alcohol-containing material at least partly made of wheat/barley, serving as a component B; and is produced by adding the component B to the component A. Preferably, the component A is beer, and the component B is mugi shochu.

Abstract: A container stopper includes a core formed of an elastic material and having a liquid-contact surface and an outer peripheral surface continuous with the liquid-contact surface coated with a skin made of a synthetic resin. The skin is a skin made of a polyester resin or a synthetic resin having a polyester resin as a main component thereof, and the polyester skin is bonded to the liquid-contact surface and the outer peripheral surface of said core through a bonding layer formed of a polyethylene resin or having a polyethylene resin as a main component thereof. The polyethylene bonding layer has a thickness of 80 to 300 ?m at a center portion of the liquid-contact surface, a thickness of 70 to 100 ?m at an outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral surface adjacent the liquid-contact surface and a thickness of 30 ?m or more over the entire liquid-contact surface.