Abstract: A small diameter piston is provided at one end of a valve shaft having a plurality of the valves, a large diameter piston is provided at the other, the valve shaft is moved by the acting of pilot pressure. A first operated passage communicating with a large diameter pressure chamber is opened and blocked by a first solenoid, a second operated passage communicating with a small diameter pressure chamber is opened and blocked by a first solenoid. A by-pass for communicating between an intake port and the small diameter pressure chamber is formed. A fluid passage changing block is provided at the outside of the small diameter piston of a housing. A by-pass communicating hole and a communicating hole for a second operated passage are opened at the fluid passage changing block in order to convert the initial position and the actuated position. The valve shaft is operated by the operation of the first solenoid with communicating between the by-pass and the small diameter pressure chamber at the initial position.

Abstract: A valve-coupling assembly comprising a manifold electromagnetic valve and couplings fitted thereto. The manifold electromagnetic valve is connected to the actuators through tubes respectively, and controls the operations of the respective actuators. Connecting members, each having pipe couplings connected thereto with tubes respectively, are detachably mounted on either one of the electromagnetic valves and a manifold block. With this arrangement, either of a manifold piping system and a valve piping system is selected. Either of a smaller-diameter tube and a larger-diameter tube is selectively connected to the aforesaid pipe coupling. Fastening of the tube connected and fastened to the pipe coupling is released by a fastening-releasing member, whereby the tube is easily removed and replaced by a tube having a diameter of a different size.

Abstract: A process for producing glutathione, involves cultivating a strain belonging to the genus Saccharomyces and having both an ability to produce glutathione and a resistance to 1,2,4-triazole or sodium azide in a culture medium accumulating glutathione in the microbial cells, harvesting the cells, and recovering the glutathione therefrom.

Abstract: L-lysine is produced in enhanced yields by culturing an L-lysine-producing microorganism in a nutrient medium supplemented by the culture liquor of an L-leucine-producing microorganism.