Abstract: A method of producing a molding product including a non-design surface and a design surface including a leather textured surface and adjacent to the non-design surface includes: injecting molten plastic into a forming cavity of a molding tool including a first forming surface to form the non-design surface and a second forming surface to form the design surface; and blowing air toward a boundary between the non-design surface and the first forming surface until a gap is created between the non-design surface and the first forming surface and toward a boundary between the design surface and the second forming surface via a hole formed in the first forming surface until a gap is created between the design surface and the second forming surface after the injecting of the molten plastic.

Abstract: Provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be an inorganic salt of a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be a calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron or sodium salt. Also provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide and a second component, wherein the second component is selected from the group consisting of moisturizing agents, whitening components, ultraviolet absorbents, anti-inflammatory agents, cell-activating agents and antioxidants. The moisturizing agent may be ascorbic acid or an ascorbic acid derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries function. The present invention provides dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries function which contain a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity.

Abstract: The present application discloses a molded article, and a process for preparing a molded article consisting essentially of (i) high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan and (ii) low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan, wherein the process comprises the step of: adding the low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan to a solution comprising the high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan to gel the solution, wherein the low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and, the high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

Abstract: A sucrose phosphorylase (SP) having improved thermostability obtained by modifying a natural SP and a method for producing the SP having improved thermostability is provided. This SP having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural sucrose phosphorylase, in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 14, a position corresponding to position 29 and a position corresponding to position 44 in motif sequence 1; a position corresponding to position 7, a position corresponding to position 19, a position corresponding to position 23 and a position corresponding to position 34 in motif sequence 2; and a position corresponding to position 19 in motif sequence 3, and wherein the enzyme activity of the SP having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating the SP having improved thermostability in 20 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.0) at 55° C.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention was to enhance the skin whitening effects and blackening prevention effects and supply safe and stable topical agents for dermatological use. For that purpose 4-Hydroxyphenyl-?-D-glucopyranoside was combined with auxiliary agents such as ascorbic acid and its derivatives, crude drugs and its extracts, hydroxycarboxylic acid and its salts, oil soluble glycyrrhiza extract, gentian extract, phenol derivatives and their salts, placenta extract, kojic acid and its derivatives, glucosamine and its derivatives, azelaic acid and its derivatives, retinol and its derivatives, pyridoxin and its derivatives, tocopherol and its derivatives, chitosan and its decomposition products, caffeic acid derivatives, hydroxycinnamate and its derivatives, Umbelliferae plant extracts, mycelial cultures and their extracts, plant leaves and their extracts.

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen comprising a step of: allowing a branching enzyme having the ability to synthesize glycogen to act on a substrate in a solution to produce a glycogen, wherein the substrate is an ?-glucan being linked mainly with ?-1,4-glucosidic bonds and having a degree of polymerization of 4 or more, and the number-average molecular weight of saccharides in the solution before initiation of the reaction is more than 180 but not more than 150,000. (The branching enzyme activity of the branching enzyme)/(the molecular-weight-decreasing activity of the branching enzyme) can be 500 or less. The branching enzyme can be a thermostable branching enzyme.

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.

Abstract: Provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be an inorganic salt of a phosphorylated saccharide. The phosphorylated saccharide may be a calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron or sodium salt. Also provided is an external preparation for skin, comprising a phosphorylated saccharide and a second component, wherein the second component is selected from the group consisting of moisturizing agents, whitening components, ultraviolet absorbents, anti-inflammatory agents, cell-activating agents and antioxidants. The moisturizing agent may be ascorbic acid or an ascorbic acid derivative.

Abstract: A sucrose phosphorylase (SP) having improved thermostability obtained by modifying a natural SP and a method for producing the SP having improved thermostability is provided. This SP having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural sucrose phosphorylase, in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 14, a position corresponding to position 29 and a position corresponding to position 44 in motif sequence 1; a position corresponding to position 7, a position corresponding to position 19, a position corresponding to position 23 and a position corresponding to position 34 in motif sequence 2; and a position corresponding to position 19 in motif sequence 3, and wherein the enzyme activity of the SP having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating the SP having improved thermostability in 20 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.0) at 55° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for adsorbing or trapping an undesired material, wherein the composition comprises a functional ?-1,4-glucan as an active ingredient. Specifically, ?-1,4-glucan is allowed to be functionalized to provide said composition for adsorbing or trapping an undesired material. There are provided a composition comprising a functional ?-1,4-glucan, all or a part of which is in a form of V-type crystal or an amorphous form, as well as an article comprising the composition as a functional material.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen comprising a step of: allowing a branching enzyme having the ability to synthesize glycogen to act on a substrate in a solution to produce a glycogen, wherein the substrate is an ?-glucan being linked mainly with ?-1,4-glucosidic bonds and having a degree of polymerization of 4 or more, and the number-average molecular weight of saccharides in the solution before initiation of the reaction is more than 180 but not more than 150,000. (The branching enzyme activity of the branching enzyme)/(the molecular-weight-decreasing activity of the branching enzyme) can be 500 or less. The branching enzyme can be a thermostable branching enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries function. The present invention provides dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries functions which contain a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity.

Abstract: A method for extracting a hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound, comprising the step of bringing an aqueous solution containing the hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound and a saccharide into contact with a polar organic solvent to obtain an aqueous phase and an organic phase, whereby the hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound is transferred to the organic phase. The saccharide concentration of the aqueous solution may be at least 12 g per 100 ml of the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution may further contain a phase separation assisting agent. The phase separation assisting agent may be selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium citrate, magnesium sulfate, and ammonium sulfate.

Abstract: A first method for producing glucan comprises the step of allowing a reaction solution containing sucrose, a primer, inorganic phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate, sucrose phosphorylase, and glucan phosphorylase to react to produce glucans. The maximum value of the sucrose-phosphate ratio of the reaction solution from the start of the reaction to the end of the reaction is no more than about 17. A second method for producing glucan comprises the step of allowing a reaction solution containing sucrose, a primer, inorganic phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate, sucrose phosphorylase, and glucan phosphorylase to react to produce glucans. The reaction is conducted at a temperature of about 40 C to about 70 C.

Abstract: A method for production of an ?-glucan from a ?-1,4-glucan is provided, comprising: reacting a solution containing ?-1,4-glucan, a primer, a source of phosphoric acid, ?-1,4-glucan phosphorylase, and ?-1,4-glucan phosphorylase to produce an ?-glucan. In this method, said ?-1,4-glucan may be cellobiose, and said ?-1,4-glucan phosphorylase may be cellobiose phosphorylase.

Abstract: A disintegrant for tablets consisting of an ?-1,4-glucan having a degree of polymerization of not less than 180 and less than 1230 and a dispersity (weight average molecular weight “Mw”/number average molecular weight “Mn”) of not more than 1.25 or a modified product thereof. A binder for tablets consisting of an ?-1,4-glucan having a degree of polymerization of not less than 1230 and not more than 37000 and a dispersity of not more than 1.25, or a modified product thereof. A binding-disintegrating agent for tablets consisting of a low molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan or a modified product thereof, and a high molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan or a modified product thereof, wherein the low molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of not less than 180 and less than 1230 and a dispersity of not more than 1.25, and wherein the high molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of not less than 1230 and not less than 37000 and a dispersity of not more than 1.25.

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.