Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring glycated hemoglobin in a sample, which comprises directly oxidizing glycated hemoglobin in a sample, and then measuring a substance produced or consumed by the oxidation; and a method for measuring glycated hemoglobin in a sample, which comprises directly oxidizing glycated hemoglobin in a sample using an enzyme, and then measuring a substance produced or consumed by the oxidation. A method for measuring glycated hemoglobin of the present invention is useful for diagnosing lifestyle-related disease such as diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein comprising an amino acid sequence in which arginine at position 61 of a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted to an amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, serine, threonine, proline, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, and aspartic acid; and a method for measuring a glycated hemoglobin in a sample, wherein the method comprises reacting a glycated hemoglobin in a sample with a protease to produce a glycated hexapeptide, then reacting the produced glycated hexapeptide with the aforementioned protein, and measuring a substance produced or consumed by the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein comprising an amino acid sequence in which arginine at position 61 of a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted to an amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, serine, threonine, proline, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, and aspartic acid; and a method for measuring a glycated hemoglobin in a sample, wherein the method comprises reacting a glycated hemoglobin in a sample with a protease to produce a glycated hexapeptide, then reacting the produced glycated hexapeptide with the aforementioned protein, and measuring a substance produced or consumed by the reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring glycated hemoglobin in a sample, which comprises directly oxidizing glycated hemoglobin in a sample, and then measuring a substance produced or consumed by the oxidation; and a method for measuring glycated hemoglobin in a sample, which comprises directly oxidizing glycated hemoglobin in a sample using an enzyme, and then measuring a substance produced or consumed by the oxidation. A method for measuring glycated hemoglobin of the present invention is useful for diagnosing lifestyle-related disease such as diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: A method for producing pyruvic acid from polysaccharide alginic acid that is contained in large amounts in brown algae using the ability to assimilate alginic acid possessed by a lactate-dehydrogenase-gene-deficient Sphingomonas sp. A1 strain (ldh strain) is provided. The method for producing pyruvic acid comprises culturing the lactate-dehydrogenase-gene-deficient Sphingomonas sp. A1 strain (ldh strain) in a medium containing alginic acid, and causing the strain to produce pyruvic acid from alginic acid and then to secrete pyruvic acid into the medium.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing ethanol from mannitol using yeast and a yeast strain that produces ethanol from mannitol. The method for producing ethanol from mannitol comprises culturing yeast strains capable of mannitol assimilation and ethanol production from mannitol in a medium containing mannitol.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing ethanol from polysaccharide alginate contained in a large amounts in brown algae, using the alginate assimilation capacity of the Sphingomonas sp. strain A1 and the strong ethanol production capacity of bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis. Specifically, a method for producing ethanol using alginate as a raw material comprises causing genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in Sphingomonas sp. strain A1-derived alginate assimilation and genes encoding enzymes involved in ethanol production to co-exist in a single microorganism and then culturing the microorganism in a medium containing alginate.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing ethanol from mannitol using yeast and a yeast strain that produces ethanol from mannitol. The method for producing ethanol from mannitol comprises culturing yeast strains capable of mannitol assimilation and ethanol production from mannitol in a medium containing mannitol.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing ethanol from polysaccharide alginate contained in a large amounts in brown algae, using the alginate assimilation capacity of the Sphingomonas sp. strain A1 and the strong ethanol production capacity of bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis. Specifically, a method for producing ethanol using alginate as a raw material comprises causing genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in Sphingomonas sp. strain A1-derived alginate assimilation and genes encoding enzymes involved in ethanol production to co-exist in a single microorganism and then culturing the microorganism in a medium containing alginate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker comprises a plurality of diaphragms, connecting components, and piezoelectric elements. The plurality of diaphragms are each formed by a laminated material in which a core layer made of an insulating material is laminated to skin layers each made of a conductive material so as to form the skin layers on both surfaces of the core layer. The connecting components each corresponds to a plate-shaped component of the insulating material and connects between at least two of the plurality of diaphragms. Piezoelectric elements are mounted on surfaces of the plurality of diaphragms, respectively. The plurality of diaphragms are insulated from each other such that separate voltages are applied to the piezoelectric elements mounted thereon, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for preparing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The process of the present invention comprises performing phosphorylation using a polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) as substrates in the presence of a polyphosphate-dependent NAD+ kinase from a Mycobacterium, wherein the reaction solution contains 0.1-15% by weight of the polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, and 5-150 mM of a divalent metal ion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker comprises a plurality of diaphragms, connecting components, and piezoelectric elements. The plurality of diaphragms are each formed by a laminated material in which a core layer made of an insulating material is laminated to skin layers each made of a conductive material so as to form the skin layers on both surfaces of the core layer. The connecting components each corresponds to a plate-shaped component of the insulating material and connects between at least two of the plurality of diaphragms. Piezoelectric elements are mounted on surfaces of the plurality of diaphragms, respectively. The plurality of diaphragms are insulated from each other such that separate voltages are applied to the piezoelectric elements mounted thereon, respectively.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker improved in acoustic features by weight reduction of a diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker without decreasing stiffness of the diaphragm or a coefficient of thermal expansion of surfaces of the piezoelectric speaker is provided. The diaphragm having placed thereon a piezoelectric element is made of a sandwich-laminate clad material using different materials. For example, surface materials made of 42 alloy each having a thickness of 10 ?m and a core material made of aluminium having a thickness of 30 ?m form a clad material having a thickness of 50 ?m. The formed clad material is processed into an arbitrary shape to form the diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker. With this diaphragm, it is possible to keep the stiffness and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the 42-alloy diaphragm having the thickness of 50 ?m, and also achieve weight reduction by approximately 40%.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker is manufactured by processing a plate to form a frame, a plurality of vibrating plates and a plurality of dampers. The plurality of dampers are connected to the frame and the plurality of vibrating plates so that each of the plurality of vibrating plates linearly vibrates. At least one piezoelectric element is arranged on the plurality of vibrating plates. An edge is formed for preventing air from leaking through a gap among the plurality of vibrating plates, the plurality of dampers, and the frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for preparing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The process of the present invention comprises performing phosphorylation using a polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) as substrates in the presence of a polyphosphate-dependent NAD+ kinase from a Mycobacterium, wherein the reaction solution contains 0.1-15% by weight of the polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, and 5-150 mM of a divalent metal ion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker improved in acoustic features by weight reduction of a diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker without decreasing stiffness of the diaphragm or a coefficient of thermal expansion of surfaces of the piezoelectric speaker is provided. The diaphragm having placed thereon a piezoelectric element is made of a sandwich-laminate clad material using different materials. For example, surface materials 7 made of 42 alloy each having a thickness of 10 &mgr;m and a core material 8 made of aluminium having a thickness of 30 &mgr;m form a clad material having a thickness of 50 &mgr;m. The formed clad material is processed into an arbitrary shape to form the diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker. With this diaphragm, it is possible to keep the stiffness and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the 42-alloy diaphragm having the thickness of 50 &mgr;m, and also achieve weight reduction by approximately 40%.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker includes a frame; a vibrating plate; a piezoelectric element provided on the vibrating plate; a damper connected to the frame and to the vibrating plate for supporting the vibrating plate so that the vibrating plate linearly vibrates; and an edge for preventing air from leaking through a gap between the vibrating plate and the frame.

Abstract: To provide an immunomodulator in which DNA can be administered orally or percutaneously, not through injection, or can be taken daily like a food, or an immunomodulator food or feed. DNA derived from cells of procaryotes such as Bacillus subtilis, lactic acid bacteria, amino acid producing bacteria and Escherichia coli is added to food or molded to be able to administer the same orally, percutaneously or permucosally, or formed into food, feed or the like.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker includes a frame; a vibrating plate; a piezoelectric element provided on the vibrating plate; a damper connected to the frame and to the vibrating plate for supporting the vibrating plate so that the vibrating plate linearly vibrates; and an edge for preventing air from leaking through a gap between the vibrating plate and the frame.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition for eucaryotic microorganisms and method of suppressing the growth of eucaryotic microorganisms requires a procaryotic DNA extract. The antimicrobial composition is effective against numerous types of eucaryotic microorganisms and can be safely added to food and cosmetic products.