Abstract: The invention relates to specific bacterium and proteins with xylanase activity derived from the bacteria, in particular to xylanases which are free of any significant cellulase activity and which are active at high temperature and at neutral to alkaline pH. Xylanases having these characteristics are particularly useful in the bleaching of wood pulps, such as kraft pulps. The preferred bacterium designated B230 was isolated from white-rotted kerri wood in Western Australia; a sample of which has been deposited under the provision of the Budapest Treaty in the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories under the accession number N94/41262. This preferred bacterium is a gram positive, obligatively aerobic, rod-shaped with a centrally-located spore and has the taxomonic characteristics of Bacillus subtilis (by VITEK method).

Abstract: The present invention discloses high density antagonistic microbe base materials and a method of producing the same, more particularly, a method for preparing high density antagonistic microbe base material comprising the steps of: inoculating a mixture of native microbes as main components to organic medium to obtain crude bacteria by subculture; and further inoculating the obtained crude bacteria in a culture medium consisting of crushed soil from volcanic rocks mineral, combined nutrients and water, culturing and then being subjected to air ventilation under agitating the cultured material along the rise in temperature.

Abstract: Crude drug extracts containing soluble silicon compounds as an effective component are obtained by subjecting a crude drug to extraction with water or an aqueous solvent, preferably at an alkaline pH. The crude drugs subjected to extraction to obtain the extracts may be derived from animals, plants, etc. The quality of the crude drug extract can be standardized using the soluble silicon compounds as an index. The soluble silicon compounds exhibit inhibitory action towards the production of plasma kallikrein. The amount of soluble silicon compounds in the dry extract may be used as an index whereby the quality of various crude drugs can be standardized which contributes to providing crude drug extracts having a stable or consistent quality. Consequently, the present invention greatly contributes to the appropriate standardization of pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A method of producing biosynthetic copolymers comprising glucose and glucose analogs is provided. Glucose:glucose analog copolymers such as glucose:glucosamine, glucose:N-acetylglucosamine and glucose:glucosamine:N-acetylglucosamine are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;-sialylated oligosaccharide glycosides. Specifically, in the disclosed methods, &agr;2,3-sialyltransferase is used to transfer an analogue of sialic acid, employed as its CMP-nucleotide derivative, to the non-reducing sugar terminus of an oligosaccharide having a fucosyl group in the penultimate saccharide unit to the non-reducing sugar terminus. The analogue of sialic acid and the oligosacchairde employed in this method are selected to be compatible with the sialyltransferase employed.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic-producing Streptomyces sp. is provided that exhibits antifungal activity only on certain specific plant pathogens. Also provided is a method of treating or protecting plants from fungal infections comprising applying an effective amount of an antibiotic-producing Streptomyces sp. having all the identifying characteristics of NRRL Accession number B-30145. The invention also relates to fungicidal compositions comprising this novel Streptomyces strain and the antibiotics and metabolites produced by this strain either alone, or in combination with other chemical and biological pesticides.

Abstract: In order to lower the painfulness of injection of the remedy containing the products of lignin basic hydrolysis and oxidation, pyrophosphate, NaCl and water the value of pH of the remedy is adjusted to a neutral one by the addition of HCl.

Abstract: The invention concerns a heteropolysaccharide (HP) characterised in that it is obtainable by fermenting in a medium comprising at least an Agrobacterium radiobacter I-2001 (or DSM 12095) strain, one of its recombinants, or one of its mutants, and a carbon source capable of being assimilated by said strain, one of its recombinants or one of its mutants. The invention also concerns a method for preparing said heteropolysaccharide and its use as thickening and/or gelling agent.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an organic material comprising an oxidation step during which an organic material undergoes the oxidising action of an enzymatic means capable of generating hydrogen peroxide, wherein said oxidation step is carried out, wholly or partly, in the presence of 0.001% to 1% of a metal selected from ruthenium, palladium and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of using steam ironing of fabrics as a way of causing reduction of physiological and/or subjective reactivity to stress in a human is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a stress reducing composition comprising one or more of a volatile natural essential oil and water. The composition is adapted to not cause staining of fabrics. The method includes delivering the stress reducing composition into a liquid container of a steam iron and heating the steam iron. The method further includes releasing vapors of the stress reducing composition produced within the liquid container of the steam iron upon heating into ambient air. The method still further includes the step of causing reduction of physiological and/or subjective reactivity to stress in the human by one of more of transdermal ingestion or inhalation of the vapors by the human.

Abstract: This invention relates to a water-based composition having at least one of ant-bacterial or anti-fungal properties and use thereof for skin care and for fabric treatment. The composition is not only effective as an anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal material when included in a skin care gel or lotion for topical use, such as in a sun screen composition, or in conjunction with sanitary elastic gloves as a coating therein, it is gentle to the user's skin and may include constituents which advantageously indicate its presence. The composition is not only effective as an anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal material when used as a liquid to treat fabric employed for personal hygiene aids including disposable diapers for children and adults, sanitary napkins, and wipes, it is gentle to the skin and may be formulated to provide odor control. Users include humans and animals.

Abstract: An entirely aqueous method for concentrating water soluble polysaccharides having molecular weights of at least about 50 kDa. The method comprises evaporating a water soluble polysaccharide-containing solution until surface film formation occurs, and harvesting the resulting film which is enriched in the polysaccharide. The polysaccharide may be of plant or animal origin, and includes polysaccharides such as guar gum, xanthan gum and pectin.

Abstract: A device for performing a biological modification of a fluid, the device includes (a) a chamber having an inlet for intake of the fluid and an outlet for outflow of the fluid; and (b) a collection of micro-organ cultures of at least one organ for performing the biological modification of the fluid, each individual micro-organ culture of the collection including cells and having dimensions, such that cells positioned deepest within the individual micro-organ culture are at least about 100 micrometers and not more than about 225 micrometers away from a nearest surface of the individual micro-organ culture, thereby in vivo organ architecture (organ structure) of organ units (e.g., acinus of liver) is maintained within each individual micro-organ culture, the collection of micro-organ cultures being located within the chamber and the collection of micro-organ cultures being in contact with at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for systemically or locally administering by implantation a beneficial agent to a subject are described, and include, for example, compositions having burst indices of 8 or less for systemic applications and systems releasing 10% or less of the total dose of beneficial agent in the first 24 hours after implantation for local applications. The compositions include a biocompatible polymer, a biocompatible solvent having low water miscibility that forms a viscous gel with the polymer and limits water uptake by the implant, and a beneficial agent.

Abstract: A delivery system and method for delivering soluble dietary fibers in a chewable tablet form which is palatable and demonstrates a high degree of consumer acceptability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the separation of flour into one gluten fraction and at least one other fraction, comprising the steps of: mixing the flour and a liquid to obtain a dough, separating the dough into a fraction comprising gluten and at least one other fraction, recovering at least the gluten fraction, wherein an oxidoreductase is added at any of steps a), b) or c).

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating bacterial infections in patients comprising an effective amount of 3.5-dihydroxy-4-pent-4′-enoyl-1′-oxymethylbenzoic acid (Oenostacin) isolated from Oenothera biennis.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed for treating AIDS, herpes, and other viral infections by means of lipid derivatives of antiviral agents. The compounds consist of nucleoside analogues having antiviral activity which are linked, commonly through a phosphate group at the 5′ position of the pentose residue, to one of a selected group of lipids. The lipophilic nature of these compounds provide advantages over the use of the nucleoside analogue alone. It also makes it possible to incorporate them into the lamellar structure of liposomes, either alone or combined with similar molecules. In the form of liposomes, these antiviral agents are preferentially taken up by macrophages and monocytes, cells which have been found to harbor the target HIV virus. Additional site specificity may be incorporated into the liposomes with the addition of ligands, such as monoclonal antibodies or other peptides or proteins which bind to viral proteins.

Abstract: There is provided a method of production of an immunostimulatory &bgr;-glucan-mannan preparation, comprising the step of autolysis of cells of a microorganism at a pH of 5 to 6 and a temperature of 35 to 60° C. for 6 to 48 hours, and separating solid material roam the autolysed product. The &bgr;-glucan-mannan preparation may be incorporated as a food component or be used as a pharmaceutical for treatment of conditions such as immuno-suppression, hypercholesterolaemia, hypoglycaemia and heavy metal excretion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to simplified synthesis, new carbohydrate-based products and practical use of different carbohydrate-based products. Examples of these are (Gal&agr;1-3Gal), GlcNAc&bgr;1-3Gal, &agr;- or &bgr;-glycosides thereof, Gal&agr;1-3Gal- containing tri-, or higher oligosaccharides, &agr;- or &bgr;-glycosides thereof, GlcNAc&bgr;1-3Gal containing tri-, tetra-, or higher oligosaccharides, and derivatives and/or &agr;- or &bgr;-glycosides thereof, Gal&agr;1-3GalGlcNAc&bgr;1-3Gal, &agr;- or &bgr;-glycosides thereof, Gal&agr;1-3Gal&bgr;1-4GlcNAc&bgr;1-3Gal&bgr;1-4Glc, or other higher oligosaccharides containing the Gal&agr;1-3Gal-structure, &agr;- or &bgr;-glycosides thereof, modified carbohydrates, di-, tri-, oligo-, or polyfunctional products containing carbohydrate structures, and the use of the products for synthesis, affinity purification, diagnostic applications and therapy.