Abstract: A vehicular reduction unit is provided with a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear, a stepped pinion in which a first gear engaged with the sun gear and a second gear having fewer teeth than the first gear are connected on the same shaft, a first ring gear engaged with the first gear, a second ring gear engaged with the second gear and a carrier for outputting orbital motion of the stepped pinion, a case for housing the planetary gear mechanism, a first brake and a second brake. Rotation of the carrier is output when either one of the first brake and the second brake is in an engaged state.

Abstract: A parking mechanism of a transmission with a planetary gear mechanism for speed changing and outputting the rotation of a driving force source, includes a plurality of friction elements which change a speed ratio of the planetary gear mechanism by being engaged or released; and an engaging unit which engages the friction elements. The engaging unit maintains at least two interlock friction elements, which are engaged to interlock the transmission, out of the plurality of friction elements in engaged states when the operation of the driving force source stops due to a key-off operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing tagatose crystals from an aqueous system using no organic solvent. In this method, seed crystals of tagatose are added to a tagatose solution in which a tagatose purity of solid contents in the solution is at least 70% and a solid contents concentration in the solution is 60 to 98 mass %, and crystallization of tagatose is carried out by stirring and cooling the solution while keeping a degree of super saturation of tagatose at 1.25 or lower. It is preferred that the solution containing tagatose is a solution containing no organic solvent. It is further preferred that a part of massecuite for which the crystallization is completed is added to a mother liquor so as to produce the tagatose crystals semi-continuously or continuously. It is furthermore preferred that the tagatose crystals formed from the massecuite are separated by centrifugation or filtration and dried to obtain tagatose crystals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing tagatose crystals from an aqueous system using no organic solvent. In this method, seed crystals of tagatose are added to a tagatose solution in which a tagatose purity of solid contents in the solution is at least 70% and a solid contents concentration in the solution is 60 to 98 mass %, and crystallization of tagatose is carried out by stirring and cooling the solution while keeping a degree of super saturation of tagatose at 1.25 or lower. It is preferred that the solution containing tagatose is a solution containing no organic solvent. It is further preferred that a part of massecuite for which the crystallization is completed is added to a mother liquor so as to produce the tagatose crystals semi-continuously or continuously. It is furthermore preferred that the tagatose crystals formed from the massecuite are separated by centrifugation or filtration and dried to obtain tagatose crystals.

Abstract: CGTase enzymatically acts on starch, dextrin, amylopectin, and amylose to produce primarily ?-CD, with quantities of ?- and ?-CD produced being smaller than the quantity of ?-CD produced, has an optimum pH of 10.5-11.0, an optimum temperature of about 60° C., a stable pH of 6-11, and temperature stability, exhibits residual activity of not less than 90 percent with a 15 minute-treatment at 50° C., is produced by culturing a Bacillus clarkii (for example, FERM B-7156), reacts with starch or the like to produce principally ?-cyclodextrin.

Abstract: CGTase having the following enzymatic chemical properties: (1) Function and substrate specificity: funtioning on starch, dextrin, amylopectin, and amylose to produce primarily &ggr;-CD, with the quantities of &bgr;- and &agr;-CD produced being smaller than the quantity of &ggr;-CD produced; (2) Optimum pH: 10.5-11.0; (3) Optimum temperature: About 60° C.; (4) Stable pH: 6-11; and (5) Temperature stability: With a 15 minute-treatment at 50° C., residual activity of not less than 90 percent is exhibited. A method of manufacturing cyclodextrin glucanotransferase in which a microorganism belonging to the species Bacillus clarkii (for example, FERM BP-7156) and having the ability to produce cyclodextrin glucanotransferase is cultured, cyclodextrin glucanotransferase is produced in the cultured product, and the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase that has been produced is collected.

Abstract: Disclosed are an assimilation accelerator which contains &bgr;-glucooligosaccharide as an active ingredient, a calcium-supplementing diet which contains &bgr;-glucooligosaccharide and a calcium material, and a method for accelerating calcium assimilation using the calcium assimilation accelerator.

Abstract: At least one enzyme selected from .alpha.-amylase of various types, an oligosaccharide-forming amylase, .beta.-amylase and a debranching enzyme and an enzyme capable of forming nigerooligosaccharide by transglycosylation and/or condensation reaction are allowed to successively or simultaneously act on a material comprised of at least one selected from i) starch, ii) a maltooligosaccharide with a degree of polymerization not lower than maltose and iii) a dextrin, to form nigerooligosaccharide, which is thereafter optionally reduced to obtain a starch sugar composition containing the nigerooligosaccharide or a reduction product thereof. This starch sugar composition may be added to food and drink as at least part of its sweeteners, whereby various advantages can be provided, e.g., not only a sweetness can be imparted, but also the quality of sweetness can be improved, and the moisture retention of foods can be improved.

Abstract: A .beta.-glucooligosaccharide-containing composition comprising at least one material selected from food, drink and medicine, and at least one selected from a glucooligosaccharide comprising at least one .beta.-1,6 bond and a reduced product thereof. A method of improving intestinal floras, comprising administering to a human or animal for ingestion a physiologically effective amount of at least one selected from a glucooligosaccharide comprising at least one .beta.-1,6 bond and a reduced product thereof. The ingestion of the .beta.-glucooligosaccharide and/or the reduced product thereof can bring about promotion of the selective growth of useful bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, inhibition of the growth of harmful bacteria or putrefactive bacteria, and hence improvement in the intestinal floras.