Abstract: A composition for film formation containing a polycyclic polyphenolic resin having repeating units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydroxy compounds represented by the formulas (1-0), (1A), and (1B), wherein the repeating units are linked by a direct bond between aromatic rings:

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel resin that is useful as a film forming material for lithography and the like. The problem can be solved by a resin containing a constituent unit represented by the following formula (1) or (1)?: wherein the variables in the formulas are as described in the specification.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple method which enables precise diagnosis of wood decay at an early stage of decay and an agent used for the diagnosis method. The invention provides a method for diagnosing wood decay, wherein wood decay is judged by contacting extract of wood to be examined (test subject wood) with an antibody obtained by sensitizing an animal to an antigen which is a protein having a molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 obtained by culturing a naturally occurring wood-destroying fungus and an agent for the diagnosis method.

Abstract: A method for treating wood, characterized by impregnating wood with a metal-containing treating agent containing lignin and/or lignin derivatives and a metal, a metal compound, and/or a metal ion and oxidizing and/or macromolecularizing of the lignin and/or lignin derivatives in the wood to fix the metal component in the wood, and wood and woody materials obtained by the treating method. According to the method of the present invention, while effectively utilizing lignins, lignosulfonic acids, or lignosulfonic acid salts, leaching of the metal component can be suppressed to a low level to thereby retain the effects due to the incorporation of the metal components for a prolonged period.

Abstract: A process for macromolecularizing phenolic compounds or aromatic amine compounds by the action of a catalyst comprising an enzyme having a polyphenol oxidizing activity in the alkali region; applications of the compounds obtained by the above process to thickeners, stabilizers, coagulants, emulsifiers, dispersants, water retainers, antioxidants, adhesives, concrete admixtures, dyes, coating materials, petroleum recovering agent, soil conditioner, a blow-applied seed bearing surface soil stabilizer, deodorants, smell eliminators, agricultural chemical spreaders, feeding stuff binders, bactericides, antimicrobial agents, viral infection inhibitors, bioadhesion preventives, biotic repellents, insecticides, poultices, ink bases or wood treating agents; and method of waste water disposal, a method of deoxygenation and a method of treating wood, concrete or soil in which use is made of the above reaction.

Abstract: A method for treating a porous article by efficiently performing macromolecularization in a porous article using an enzyme having a polyphenol oxidizing activity in an alkaline pH region, a phenolic compound and/or an aromatic amine compound, a composition for use in the treatment method, and treated products from the porous article obtained by the treatment method which are given or increased in strength, wear resistance, weatherability, rust-preventing properties, flame resistance, antibacterial properties, antiseptic properties, sterilizing properties, insect-repellent properties, insecticidal properties, antiviral properties, organism-repellent properties, adhesiveness, chemical agent-slow-releasing properties, coloring properties, dimension stability, crack resistance, deodorizing properties, deoxidizing properties, humidity controlling properties, moisture conditioning properties, water repellency, surface smoothness, bioaffinity, ion exchangeability, formaldehyde absorbing properties, chemical agent el

Abstract: A process for macromolecularizing phenolic compounds or aromatic amine compounds by the action of a catalyst comprising an enzyme having a polyphenol oxidizing activity in the alkali region; applications of the compounds obtained by the above process to thickeners, stabilizers, coagulants, emulsifiers, dispersants, water retainers, antioxidants, adhesives, concrete admixtures, dyes, coating materials, petroleum recovering agent, soil conditioner, a blow-applied seed bearing surface soil stabilizer, deodorants, smell eliminators, agricultural chemical spreaders, feeding stuff binders, bactericides, antimicrobial agents, viral infection inhibitors, bioadhesion preventives, biotic repellents, insecticides, poultices, ink bases or wood treating agents; and method of waste water disposal, a method of deoxygenation and a method of treating wood, concrete or soil in which use is made of the above reaction.

Abstract: A process for macromolecularizing phenolic compounds or aromatic amine compounds by the action of a catalyst comprising an enzyme having a polyphenol oxidizing activity in the alkali region; applications of the compounds obtained by the above process to thickeners, stabilizers, coagulants, emulsifiers, dispersants, water retainers, antioxidants, adhesives, concrete admixtures, dyes, coating materials, petroleum recovering agent, soil conditioner, a blow-applied seed bearing surface soil stabilizer, deodorants, smell eliminators, agricultural chemical spreaders, feeding stuff binders, bactericides, antimicrobial agents, viral infection inhibitors, bioadhesion preventives, biotic repellents, insecticides, poultices, ink bases or wood treating agents; and method of waste water disposal, a method of deoxygenation and a method of treating wood, concrete or soil in which use is made of the above reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyphenol oxidases from bacteria, particularly from the genus Bacillus including, without limitation, B. licheniformis, B. natto, and B. sphaericus, In some embodiments, the polyphenol oxidase has an optimum reaction pH of about 7; an optimum reaction temperature between 60° C. and 80° C.; and a molecular weight of 51,000 measured by gel filtration chromatography. The enzymes of the invention are useful for oxidizing and/or bleaching a variety of substrates.

Abstract: A method for preparing dimethylolcarboxylic acid derivatives represented by general formula (1) ##STR1## (wherein R is a hydrogen atom, an amino group, an alkyl group, or an alkyl group having a hydroxyl group) to react with a culture broth, cells or a processed cell product of a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus or Agrobacterium having an ability to oxidize a methylol group of the tris(hydroxymethyl) derivative represented by general formula (2) ##STR2## wherein R has the same meaning as defined above. According to this invention, dimethylolcarboxylic acid derivatives can be produced efficiently under mild conditions by using microorganisms belonging to the genus Rhodococcus or Agrobacterium and having an ability to oxidize tris(hydroxy-methyl) derivatives to produce dimethylolcarboxylic acid derivatives.