Abstract: In a pivotal lever-type connector, at the same time when a male connector housing is fitted into a predetermined position relative to a female connector housing, so that the female connector housing and the male connector housing are brought into a provisionally-fitted condition, distal end portions of elastic retaining arms, after abutting respectively against male connector housing-side inclining surfaces, are guided respectively onto female connector housing-side inclining surfaces, and slide on the respective female connector housing-side inclining surfaces in respective directions to decrease the distance therebetween, so that a pivotal lever is pivotally moved, thereby canceling the provisionally-fitted condition.

Abstract: In a pivotal lever-type connector, a pivotal lever includes a metallic pivotal lever body which is disposed generally in straddling relation to a hood portion of a female connector housing, and can be engaged with engagement projections of a male connector housing, and a synthetic resin-made pivotal movement operating portion mounted on the pivotal lever body to cover a pivotally-moving end portion of the pivotal lever body. The pivotal movement operating portion has synthetic resin-made elastic retaining arms molded integrally with a body of this operating portion.

Abstract: In a pivotal lever-type connector, at the same time when a male connector housing is fitted into a predetermined position relative to a female connector housing, so that the female connector housing and the male connector housing are brought into a provisionally-fitted condition, distal end portions of elastic retaining arms, after abutting respectively against male connector housing-side inclining surfaces, are guided respectively onto female connector housing-side inclining surfaces, and slide on the respective female connector housing-side inclining surfaces in respective directions to decrease the distance therebetween, so that a pivotal lever is pivotally moved, thereby canceling the provisionally-fitted condition.

Abstract: In a pivotal lever-type connector, a pivotal lever includes a metallic pivotal lever body which is disposed generally in straddling relation to a hood portion of a female connector housing, and can be engaged with engagement projections of a male connector housing, and a synthetic resin-made pivotal movement operating portion mounted on the pivotal lever body to cover a pivotally-moving end portion of the pivotal lever body. The pivotal movement operating portion has synthetic resin-made elastic retaining arms molded integrally with a body of this operating portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a measles virus mutant gene coding for a measles virus mutant H protein antigen, wherein said gene coding for a measles virus mutant H protein antigen is at least one member selected from the group consisting of the following genes (a) to (c): (a) a gene coding for an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; (b) a gene coding for an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11; and (c) a gene coding for an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 12. By the use of the measles virus mutant gene of the present invention, it has become possible to provide efficiently and economically a gene vaccine which is adapted for an epidemic strain of measles virus, and a diagnostic reagent capable of accurately detecting infections with an epidemic strain of measles virus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a measles virus mutant antigen, comprising at least one protein antigen selected from the group consisting of (I) a measles virus mutant H protein antigen and (II) a measles virus mutant F protein antigen,

Abstract: A high-protein food of plate form having a protein content of 40% by weight or more and a bulk density of 0.02 to 0.40 g/cm3, which is obtained by puffing-molding a compound protein raw material having a protein content of 40% by weight or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a measles virus mutant antigen consisting essentially of a measles virus mutant H protein antigen, wherein said measles virus mutant H protein antigen is at least one member selected from the group consisting of the following amino acid sequences (a) to (c): (a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; (b) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 11; and (c) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4 or SEQ ID NO: 12 By the use of the measles virus mutant antigen of the present invention, it has become possible to provide efficiently and economically a live attenuated measles vaccine which is adapted for an epidemic strain of measles virus, and a diagnostic reagent capable of accurately detecting infections with an epidemic strain of measles virus.

Abstract: A high-protein food of plate form having a protein content of 40% by weight or more and a bulk density of 0.02 to 0.40 g/cm3, which is obtained by puffing-molding a compound protein raw material having a protein content of 40% by weight or more.

Abstract: In a power supply apparatus which supplies a high-tension alternating voltage to a load, field-effect transistors (N-MOS) are disposed between both ends of a converter transformer having a center tap and the ground respectively, and a field-effect transistor (P-MOS) is disposed between the center tap and a power supply. In an ordinary operation, a transistor connected to the center tap is being on and transistors at the both ends of the converter transformer are alternately switched at the same frequency by a converter transformer driving circuit, thereby generating the high-tension alternating voltage on the side of a secondary winding of the converter transformer. When the generation of the high-tension alternating voltage is stopped, the driving circuit is controlled to cause the transistor connected to the center tap to be off and cause the transistors at the both ends of the converter transformer to be on, thereby preventing an unstable output voltage generated when output oscillation is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a hypoallergenic wheat flour, which comprises mixing water or aqueous ethanol solution to wheat flour, and then mixing a protease having a high collagenase-like activity and being applicable to food preparation with the mixture. The present invention also provides a hypoallergenic wheat flour produced by the above method, and wheat flour processed food products made from this hypoallergenic wheat flour as a raw material. The present invention makes it possible for a patient suffering from wheat-associated allergy to safely take various food products made from the wheat flour.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance. Further, a method for lyophilizing a food using the strain as an ice nucleus-forming substance is disclosed; wherein the method is carried out by adding the strain to the food, thereby freezing the food, and then vaporizing moisture from the frozen food to effect drying. The food types which may be lyophilized using the method include tea extracts, fruit juices, soy sauce, sauces, drippings, soups fermented soy bean paste and agar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance. In particular a method for freezing a substance is disclosed wherein the strain FERM BP-4191 is incorporated into an ice nucleus forming substance and added to a food substance. For example, the addition is conducted by contacting the surface of the substance or by blending, or by pouring thereon the ice nucleus forming substance onto the substance to be frozen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new ice nucleus-forming bacterium strain, Xanthomonas campestris INXC-1 (FERM BP-4191), a process for the cultivation of the new ice nucleus-forming bacterium, an ice nucleus-forming substance containing the ice nucleus-forming bacterium, and the uses of the ice nucleus-forming substance.

Abstract: An antifreezing agent used in an aqueous medium system comprising a protein which is enzymatically modified with covalent incorporation of an amino acid ester. The antifreezing agent can keep an unfrozen state of the system down to -10.degree. C., and does not exert any harmful effect to biological bodies.

Abstract: A modified protein composition which is produced by contacting a water-soluble protein, such as plant seed proteins, cow milk protein, animal meat proteins, fish meat proteins, egg proteins and microorganisms proteins, with a cysteine-enriched plastein in an amount of at least 1% by weight on the basis of the water-soluble protein in an aqueous medium, and if desired, heating the resultant under a mild condition (e.g. at a temperature of 40.degree. to 90.degree. C.), said cysteine-enriched plastein being produced by hydrolyzing a protein with an enzyme having an endopeptidase activity and subjecting the hydrolyzate to dehydration-condensation with a protease having an esterase activity in the presence of an activated cysteine (e.g. lower alkyl cysteinate, N-acetyl-L-cysteine or L-cysteinyl-L-cysteine).

Abstract: Method for the preparation of a low-phenylalanine plastein comprising hydrolyzing stepwise a certain albumin or globulin protein with an endopeptidase having an affinity for the aromatic acid components, and an exopeptidase, subjecting the hydrolyzate thus-obtained to gel-filtration to divide it into two fractions, one being constituted with aromatic amino acids and the other being constituted with oligopeptides almost free from the aromatic amino acids, and then subjecting the latter fraction to usual plastein synthesis. Tyrosine and/or tryptophan may be added to the substrate at the plastein synthesis in order to incorporate them into the plastein molecules. The resultant plasteins may be purified through ultra-filtration in order to remove the remaining free amino acids and low-molecular peptides.