Abstract: Provided are microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides. Further provided is a method for producing polysaccharides including: culturing microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides as polysaccharide-producing organisms to produce the polysaccharides. Further provided is a method for producing an organic compound including: culturing microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides to produce at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, vitamin C, vitamin E, pigments, and proteins.

Abstract: Provided are microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides. Further provided is a method for producing polysaccharides including: culturing microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides as polysaccharide-producing organisms to produce the polysaccharides. Further provided is a method for producing an organic compound including: culturing microalgae of the genus Euglena that fall under Euglena gracilis strain EOD-1 (Accession No. FERM BP-11530) or its mutant strain and that are capable of producing at least polysaccharides to produce at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, vitamin C, vitamin E, pigments, and proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment method of biologically treating the subject water containing phenol, thiocyanate and the like, which improves the quality of treated water, while suppressing a reduction in treatment efficiency. As a means for achieving the aforementioned object, the present invention relates to a biological treatment method including introducing subject water containing a COD component, wherein the COD component is at least one of phenol and thiocyanate, into a biological treatment tank containing sludge containing bacteria capable of decomposing the COD component to thereby biologically treat the COD component with the bacteria, wherein, before the introduction of the subject water into the biological treatment tank, a step of counting the total number of bacteria contained in the sludge is carried out, so that the amount of the COD component loaded on a single bacterium per unit time can be controlled within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Provided is a method for culturing microalgae in a liquid at least containing a brewed beverage. Further provided is a method for using microalgae that enables efficient use of organic compounds stored by the microalgae cultured by the aforementioned culture method within their cells.

Abstract: The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment method of biologically treating the subject water containing phenol, thiocyanate and the like, which improves the quality of treated water, while suppressing a reduction in treatment efficiency. As a means for achieving the aforementioned object, the present invention relates to a biological treatment method including introducing subject water containing a COD component, wherein the COD component is at least one of phenol and thiocyanate, into a biological treatment tank containing sludge containing bacteria capable of decomposing the COD component to thereby biologically treat the COD component with the bacteria, wherein, before the introduction of the subject water into the biological treatment tank, a step of counting the total number of bacteria contained in the sludge is carried out, so that the amount of the COD component loaded on a single bacterium per unit time can be controlled within a predetermined range.

Abstract: Provided is a simulation method, whereby the calibration operation load can be reduced while minimizing a lowering in prediction accuracy, and a simulation apparatus. It is also intended to provide a biological treatment method, whereby the required operation load can be reduced, and a biological treatment apparatus. These problems can be solved by employing as parameters the maximum reaction speed in the reaction of decomposing a material to be treated with a bacterium and the amount of the above-described material to be treated that is loaded per bacterial cell in a unit time during the biological treatment process or the amount of the above-described material that has been treated per bacterial cell in a unit time in a state where these parameters are in a definite functional relation.

Abstract: A digital signature generating apparatus generates a digital signature of digital data. The digital signature generating apparatus includes a receiving unit, the secret key changing unit and a digital signature generating unit. The receiving unit receives one of a first command and a second command. The first command includes information indicating one of a plurality of secret keys, and the plurality of secret keys are included in the digital signature generating apparatus. The secret key changing unit changes a secret key used by the digital signature generating apparatus to a secret key specified by the first command, if the first command is received by the receiving unit. The digital signature generating unit generates the digital signature of the digital data from a hash value extracted from the second command, if the second command is received by the receiving unit.

Abstract: The safety of an operator which may be endangered by an erroneous instruction by the operator or a robot control system is ensured by making more stringent a condition regarding the separation of the operator from the vicinity of a robot when an operation program of the robot is activated. An interlock to which a condition regarding activation of the operation program of the robot is added is provided in a feeding unit which is connected to a robot controlling unit by wireless connection for charging a teaching unit, so as to provide a robot system which improves the safety of the operator.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel microorganism which has an excellent ability to solubilize a variety of organic solid matter such as biological sludge including raw sludge and excess sludge discharged from sewage treating processes at sewage treatment plants, night soil treatment plants or the like, or organic sludge discharged from production processes or wastewater treatment processes at food plants, chemical plants or the like. A novel microorganism of the present invention belongs to genus Geobacillus, which has an ability to produce a solubilizing enzyme for solubilizing organic solid matter such as organic sludge or biological sludge.

Abstract: This invention provides a digital camera having a watermarking function that obviates the need to set various settings again upon setting of an image sensing mode and embedding mode. To this end, an image recording apparatus according to the invention, which includes an image sensing means for sensing an object and a means for embedding predetermined data in image data obtained by the image sensing, comprises a means for setting a first item for defining a mode for the image sensing, and a means for setting a second item for defining a mode for the embedding on the basis of the first item. The image sensing means senses an object on the basis of the first item. The embedding means executes the embedding on the basis of the second item. Alternatively, the apparatus is configured such that the sequence of setting of items for defining an embedding mode and image sensing mode is reversed.

Abstract: Provided is an IC card (10) having an EEPROM (104) for storing secret keys for a plurality of digital signatures, and a coprocessor (106) for generating a digital signature using any one of the plurality of secret keys. If a key change command has been received, the secret key used by the IC card (10) is changed to a secret key specified by the key change command. As a result, a secret key for a digital signature that is different from that of a general user can be provided to a special user without raising the cost of manufacturing the IC card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the, quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5)is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5) is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: This invention provides a digital camera having a watermarking function that obviates the need to set various settings again upon setting of an image sensing mode and embedding mode. To this end, an image recording apparatus according to the invention, which includes an image sensing means for sensing an object and a means for embedding predetermined data in image data obtained by the image sensing, comprises a means for setting a first item for defining a mode for the image sensing, and a means for setting a second item for defining a mode for the embedding on the basis of the first item. The image sensing means senses an object on the basis of the first item. The embedding means executes the embedding on the basis of the second item. Alternatively, the apparatus is configured such that the sequence of setting of items for defining an embedding mode and image sensing mode is reversed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5)is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5) is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5) is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method of treating an organic waste water, which is capable of separating and recovering phosphorus components in a liquid or solid form, is provided. According to the method of the present invention, reuse of phosphorus components can be facilitated, while the content of phosphorus components contained in a large quantity of a primary treated liquid can be reduced.

Abstract: A visual axis detecting apparatus includes a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of detecting lines for receiving light from an eye, a first calculator for (i) detecting a change of luminance for neighboring pixels on the detecting lines, for (ii) calculating a number of pixels whose luminance is changed and a position of a center of gravity of the change of luminance as coordinates of an edge of a pupil of the eye from an amount of the change of luminance, for (iii) obtaining a plurality of coordinates of the edge of the pupil from the plurality of detecting lines, and for (iv) performing a correcting calculation of the plurality of coordinates of the edge of the pupil on the basis of an aspect ratio of a pixel of the image sensor, a second calculator for calculating a position of a center of the pupil from the plurality of coordinates of the edge of the pupil corrected by the first calculator, and a visual axis calculator for calculating a position of a visual axis by using the position of the c