Abstract: A dielectric lens antenna having a lens comprising a dielectric material and a heating body disposed on a surface of the lens. The dielectric lens antenna has a snow-melting function, which prevents degradation in lens-efficiency.

Abstract: This invention has an object of providing an air conditioner for a railway vehicle which can restrict a reduction in the introduced volume of outside air during a high-speed running of a vehicle and which can achieve lower noise. To achieve this object, the air conditioner for a railway vehicle includes an external cover 4 provided along the same surface as a vehicle surface, an air intake port 5 with a periphery provided on the external cover 4 and having a roundness in the cross-sectional configuration of an inside edge portion 12a of the intake port periphery, an air intake louver 11 disposed in the air intake port 5 to intersect a vehicle running direction, and an air exhaust port 3 for exhausting air that has been heat-exchanged, wherein an upper end surface 11a of the louver 11 is recessed from the surface of the exterior cover 4, and a cross-sectional configuration of the edge portion 11b of the upper end surface 11a has a roundness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image processing device that can process a halftone dot image without producing moire therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an antenna in which a signal is directly transferred from a planar dielectric transmission line to a primary radiator without having to perform transmission mode conversion from the planar dielectric transmission mode to another mode such as a coplanar transmission mode, a microstrip transmission mode, or a waveguide transmission mode thereby eliminating the transmission loss which would otherwise occur due to the transmission mode conversion. A dielectric resonator is disposed in the vicinity of the end of the planar dielectric transmission line PDTL formed between two slots disposed on both sides of a dielectric plate. Furthermore, a slotted plate, a lens supporting base, and a dielectric lens are disposed one on another.

Abstract: A novel Pseudomonas fluorescens is disclosed which has an antagonist property against pathogenic fungi of the genera Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia and Gaeumannomyces and which has a DNA that forms a PCR product band at about 800 bp when replicated and amplified by PCR using a primer DNA having the base sequence of 5'-GGCAACTGCACAAGCGCCA (SEQ ID NO: 1) and a primer DNA having the base sequence of 5'-GCCAATCACGCCCTCAAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 2) and then electrophoresed on agarose gel. This microorganism can also promote the growth of plants. A material for controlling pathogenic fungi of plants, particularly, lawn grass, a plant growth promoting material and a compost comprising the microorganism are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image processing device that can prevent the occurrence of moire patterns when processing a dot image.

Abstract: A method for producing nucleoside-5'-phosphate esters inexpensively and in high yields by phosphorylating a nucleoside with a phospahte group donor using an acid phosphatase having an increased affinity for the nucleoside and/or an increased temperature stability at a pH of pH 3.0 to 5.5, to produce a nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester. Mutant acid phosphatases having increased affinity for nucleosides and/or an enhanced temperature stability are also provided.

Abstract: Nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester is produced inexpensively and efficiently by allowing an acid phosphatase, especially an acid phosphatase having a lowered phosphomonoesterase activity to act under a condition of pH 3.0 to 5.5 on a nucleoside and a phosphate group donor selected from the group consisting of polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, phenylphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, and carbamyl phosphate or a salt thereof to produce nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester, and collecting it.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a D-.alpha.-amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents phenyl, hydroxy-substituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid to the D-.alpha.-amino acid.The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids to the D-.alpha.-amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range.

Abstract: The radiation directivity of radio waves can be controlled more easily over a wider range by using the disclosed dielectric lens. A dielectric lens element having a curved surface is bonded to one of the surfaces of a laminate element in the shape of a flat plate in which a plurality of dielectric layers whose relative dielectric constants are different for adjacent layers are laminated. By controlling the distribution mode of the relative dielectric constants in the laminate element, the radiation directivity for the entire dielectric lens apparatus can be controlled; therefore, the radiation directivity can be controlled more easily over a wider range. A focal point may be positioned within or at the surface of the laminate element, and a signal processing circuit may be formed within and/or at the surface of the laminate element.

Abstract: In a process for the production of a D-.alpha.-amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents phenyl, hydroxy-substituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid to the D-.alpha.-amino acid.The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids to the D-.alpha.-amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene derived from Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 strain which encodes a polypeptide having nitrile hydratase activity being capable of hydrating nitriles to amides. The invention also relates to a recombinant DNA containing the gene, and a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA. The present invention further relates to a method of producing nitrile hydratase using the transformant and of amides using nitrile hydratase.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed the amino acid sequence and nucleotide sequence of the .alpha.- and .beta.-subunits of two types of nitrile hydratase derived from Rhodococcus rhodochrous J-1. The DNA fragment encoding nitrile hydratase is inserted into an expression vector and the recombinant vector is used for transformation. The transformant contains multiple copies of the gene and can produce much higher level of nitrile hydratase compared with conventionally used microorganisms.

Abstract: An antimicrobial adhesive composition for dental use comprising the following polymerizable monomers: an antimicrobial monomer, an monomer containing at least one acidic group, and a monomer containing at least one alcoholic hydroxy group, in combination with water and a polymerization catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed the amino acid sequence and nucleotide sequence of the .alpha.- and .beta.-subunits of two types of nitrile hydratase derived from Rhodococcus rhodochrous J-1. The DNA fragment encoding nitrile hydratase is inserted into an expression vector and the recombinant vector is used for transformation. The transformant contains multiple copies of the gene and can produce much higher level of nitrile hydratase compared with conventionally used microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene derived from Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 strain which encodes a polypeptide having nitrile hydratase activity being capable of hydrating nitriles to amides. The invention also relates to a recombinant DNA containing the gene, and a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA. The present invention further relates to a method of producing nitrile hydratase using the transformant and of amides using nitrile hydratase.

Abstract: A process for the production of a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of bishomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella and capable of producing at least one of the fatty acids to obtain a cultured product, and recovering at least one of the fatty acids; and a process for the production of lipid containing such fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for the production of 8,11-eicosadienoic acid or a lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid comprising the steps of, culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce an omega 9 type polyunsaturated fatty acid in a medium supplemented with a .DELTA.5 desaturase inhibitor, or adding a .DELTA.5 desaturase inhibitor to a medium in which said microorganism has been cultured and further culturing the microorganism to produce 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, or a lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, and recovering the 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, or the lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to a new enzyme that selectively hydrolyzes D-pantolactone in D,L-pantolactone and has the following characteristics:(a) action: acts on pantolactone to produce the corresponding acid;(b) specificity for substrate: acts specifically on D-pantolactone but not on L-pantolactone;(c) pH stability: stable at pH5-9;(d) optimal pH: 7.0-7.5;(e) optimal temperature: ca. 50.degree. C.; and(f) effect of various metal ions or inhibitors: inhibited by Cd.sup.2+, Hg.sup.2+ or Cu.sup.2+ EDTA, as well as a process for the preparation thereof. The enzyme is preferably produced by cultivating the microorganisms of the genera Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Gibberella, and most preferably the microorganism Fusarium oxysporum IFO 5942.

Abstract: A composition for inhibiting .DELTA..sup.5 -desaturase comprising an effective ingredient selected from the group consisting of lignan compounds, curcumin and piperonyl butoxide. As the lignan compounds sesamin, sesaminol, episesamin, episesaminol, sesamolin, 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4 -hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 2,6-bis-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, and 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6 -(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]-octane are used. Moreover the effective ingredient may be a sesame oil extract or sesame seed extract.