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: An electronic money system and a payment-accepting apparatus that further facilitate the use of cards substituting cash money. The electronic money use fee is computed on the basis of the information about the timing with which the amount of money data equivalent to an amount of money used are withdrawn from an information card, thereby allowing the user owning the information card to use an electronic money system regardless of whether time zones having different profit rates. Consequently, the user owning the information card always may pay by the information card, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the information card that substitutes cash money.

Abstract: It is an object to increase advertising effectiveness by a synergetic effect between communication using a mobile phone or the like, and an electronic money system. The present embodiment is configured such that an advertisement is transmitted to a user's mobile phone via e-mail, and if the user purchases an article in values based on the advertisement, cashback is performed through the user's mobile phone in values. Thus, giving a feeling of value to the user makes it possible not only to increase advertising effectiveness but also to confirm the advertising effectiveness. If purchasing an article in values according to an advertising mail sent to a mobile phone 3, the user can receive the cashback from an electronic money server 2, thus allowing the user to obtain a feeling of value. Moreover, the electronic money server 2 can know whether or not the user has conducted purchasing activities in accordance with the advertising mail, allowing the advertising effectiveness to be measured and confirmed.

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: An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

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: It is an object to increase advertising effectiveness by a synergetic effect between communication using a mobile phone or the like, and an electronic money system. The present embodiment is configured such that an advertisement is transmitted to a user's mobile phone via e-mail, and if the user purchases an article in values based on the advertisement, cashback is performed through the user's mobile phone in values. Thus, giving a feeling of value to the user makes it possible not only to increase advertising effectiveness but also to confirm the advertising effectiveness. If purchasing an article in values according to an advertising mail sent to a mobile phone 3, the user can receive the cashback from an electronic money server 2, thus allowing the user to obtain a feeling of value. Moreover, the electronic money server 2 can know whether or not the user has conducted purchasing activities in accordance with the advertising mail, allowing the advertising effectiveness to be measured and confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention offers an electronic money system and electronic money terminal that allow the user who uses an installment payment plan to decide the installment amount each time he/she pays it. Instead of debiting the amount data equivalent to consumption from an information card 50, the present invention accumulates the amount data equivalent to consumption as data on the transaction history of installment payments, receives part or all of the accumulated installment balance as an installment amount, subtracts the received installment amount from the installment balance to determine a new balance, and thereby allows the user to pay any part of the installment balance as an installment amount.

Abstract: An electronic money system is provided which requires lower management and running cost, and features higher flexibility. An acquirer/brand holder managing an electronic money brand manages all keys used for authentication processing in the system, and issues the keys as necessary. The acquirer/brand holder distributes keys according to a tie-up agreement to IC card issuers, a POS center, an MMK center, and an affiliate merchant terminal unit. The POS center, the MMK center, and the affiliate merchant terminal unit are apparatuses for users to use the IC cards or for managing them. The acquirer/brand holder, however, does not distribute issued keys to cybershops which users can access by using a personal computer and a reader/writer. Instead, in this case the acquirer/brand holder saves the issued key itself, and carries out authentication processing with a predetermined IC card upon a request from the cybershop.

Abstract: An electronic money system is provided which requires lower management and running cost, and features higher flexibility. An acquirer/brand holder managing an electronic money brand manages all keys used for authentication processing in the system, and issues the keys as necessary. The acquirer/brand holder distributes keys according to a tie-up agreement to IC card issuers, a POS center, an MMK center, and an affiliate merchant terminal unit. The POS center, the MMK center, and the affiliate merchant terminal unit are apparatuses for users to use the IC cards or for managing them. The acquirer/brand holder, however, does not distribute issued keys to cybershops which users can access by using a personal computer and a reader/writer. Instead, in this case the acquirer/brand holder saves the issued key itself, and carries out authentication processing with a predetermined IC card upon a request from the cybershop.

Abstract: An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

Abstract: An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

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: An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

Abstract: An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

Abstract: An electronic money system is provided which requires lower management and running cost, and features higher flexibility. An acquirer/brand holder managing an electronic money brand manages all keys used for authentication processing in the system, and issues the keys as necessary. The acquirer/brand holder distributes keys according to a tie-up agreement to IC card issuers, a POS center, an MMK center, and an affiliate merchant terminal unit. The POS center, the MMK center, and the affiliate merchant terminal unit are apparatuses for users to use the IC cards or for managing them. The acquirer/brand holder, however, does not distribute issued keys to cybershops which users can access by using a personal computer and a reader/writer. Instead, in this case the acquirer/brand holder saves the issued key itself, and carries out authentication processing with a predetermined IC card upon a request from the cybershop.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engine intake air preheating device having(A) an intake air preheater for preheating air to be fed into an engine, the preheater including a first metal hydride and being disposed within an intake air feeding tube for heat exchange with the intake air,(B) a hydrogen storage container including hydrogen or a second metal hydride, and(C) a pipe having a valve and connecting the intake air preheater to the hydrogen storage container so that hydrogen can move between them;and also an engine preheating device having(A') an engine preheater for preheating an engine, the preheater including a first metal hydride and being mounted on the engine for heat-exchange with the engine,(B) the hydrogen storage container, and(C) the pipe.There is also provided a method for preheating intake air at the time of starting the engine using an engine intake air preheating device such as the one according to the present invention.