Abstract: The present invention provides a modified ethylenediamine-N,N?-disuccinate:ethylenediamine lyase. The present invention also provides a protein that comprises the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; or a protein that comprises an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or more amino acid residues, and has an ethylenediamine-N,N?-disuccinate:ethylenediamine lyase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having an improved nitrile hydratase activity, whereby heat resistance has been improved when compared with a wild-type nitrile hydratase activity, wherein the amino acid sequence of a nitrile hydratase is modified; a gene DNA encoding the above protein; a recombinant vector having the above gene DNA; a transformant or transductant having the above recombinant vector; a nitrile hydratase collected from a culture of the above transformant or transductant, and a production method thereof; and a method for producing an amide compound.

Abstract: An information processor having a normal-operation mode in which coherence control is performed for making data in a cache memory of a processor identical to data in a main memory and a power-saving mode in which the coherence control is suppressed to lower the power consumption from power consumption in the normal-operation mode and entering the normal-operation mode when an input/output device accesses the main memory in the power-saving mode includes an attribute setting module for setting a device area of the main memory, accessed by the input/output device of the information processor to a non-cacheable attribute for exempting said device area from said coherence control even in the normal-operation mode; an operation mode setting module for allowing the input/output device to access the device area while keeping the operation mode of the information processor in the power-saving mode when the input/output device requests access to the device area in the power-saving mode.

Abstract: A device, method, and computer program product for a self-calibrating input device are provided. The input device includes a designated value change unit operable to change a designated value using a variation amount associated with the designated value, the designated value being changed using a predetermined first variation amount when a first designated value change directive is received from an operator, and a variation amount change unit operable to alter the variation amount associated with the designated value from the predetermined first variation amount to a smaller second variation amount when a second designated value change directive that is opposite the first designated value change directive is received from the operator within a predetermined variation amount change period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for efficiently producing an optically active ?-amino acid and an optically active ?-amino acid amide. After contacting with cells or processed cells thereof having an ability to asymmetrically hydrolyse, a water solvent is substituted with at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of linear, branched, or cyclic alcohol having 3 or more carbon atoms and the optically active ?-amino acid is preferentially precipitated from the alcohol solution. The addition of basic compounds, particularly potassium compounds to the alcohol solution containing the optically active ?-amino acid amide, which is obtained after the separation of the optically active ?-amino acid, enables the purification of the amide without the inclusion of amino acid into amino acid amide. Thus, the amide is subjected to the step of racemization and then recycled.

Abstract: A method for producing lactones, which comprises reacting an amide compound of Formula (I): [wherein X represents a halogen atom; R, R? and R1 to R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or any desired substituent; and n represents an integer of 0 to 2] with an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An information processor having a normal-operation mode in which coherence control is performed for making data in a cache memory of a processor identical to data in a main memory and a power-saving mode in which the coherence control is suppressed to lower the power consumption from power consumption in the normal-operation mode and entering the normal-operation mode when an input/output device accesses the main memory in the power-saving mode includes an attribute setting module for setting a device area of the main memory, accessed by the input/output device of the information processor to a non-cacheable attribute for exempting said device area from said coherence control even in the normal-operation mode; an operation mode setting module for allowing the input/output device to access the device area while keeping the operation mode of the information processor in the power-saving mode when the input/output device requests access to the device area in the power-saving mode.

Abstract: A portable information processor includes a computer main body and a digitizer connected by a flexible hinge defined in a cover. The hinge allows the computer main body and the digitizer to assume different superposed states by means of a flexible separable portion of the cover. In the superposed state of the computer main body and the digitizer, arbitrariness in folding back the separable portion causes runout between the computer main body and the digitizer. In spite of this runout, the superposed state can be accurately detected by means of an optical sensor, including an infrared radiator and an infrared-ray detector, disposed in the computer main body. A flexible reflection member is fixed to a predetermined surface of the separable portion of the leather cover, while assuring a predetermined area. If the computer main body and the digitizer assume a superposed state, light emitted from the infrared radiator is reflected by the flexible reflection member and is incident on the infrared-ray detector.

Abstract: An input device for inputting a designated value specified by an operator includes a designated value change unit for changing the designated value by a predetermined first variation amount when it receives a designated value change directive from an operator requesting the designated value to be changed and a variation amount change unit that changes the variation amount in the designated value change unit to a second variation amount that is smaller than the first variation amount when it receives a directive for changing the designated value in a direction different from the direction by the designated value change directive within a predetermined variation amount change period after receiving the designated value change directive, and that maintains the variation amount in the designated value change unit as the first variation amount when it receives a directive for changing the designated value in a direction different from the direction by the designated value change directive after the variation amoun

Abstract: An intelligent battery pack in an electronic device such as a PC, sends such information as a voltage, a current, etc. related to power consumption to a controller via a line when the PC is driven by a battery. When the AC adapter is supplying electrical power to the device, the power source is changed to the battery pack once only during the measuring time so as to display data using both measuring and communicating functions of the battery pack. Consequently, no special electric power detector is provided in the power supply system of the AC adapter.

Abstract: An intelligent battery pack in an electronic device such as a PC, sends such information as a voltage, a current, etc. related to power consumption to a controller via a line when the PC is driven by a battery. When the AC adapter is supplying electrical power to the device, the power source is changed to the battery pack once only during the measuring time so as to display data using both measuring and communicating functions of the battery pack. Consequently, no special electric power detector is provided in the power supply system of the AC adapter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for efficiently producing an optically active &agr;-amino acid and an optically active &agr;-amino acid amide. After contacting with cells or processed cells thereof having an ability to asymmetrically hydrolyse, a water solvent is substituted with at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of linear, branched, or cyclic alcohol having 3 or more carbon atoms and the optically active &agr;-amino acid is preferentially precipitated from the alcohol solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein having amidase activity that stereoselectively hydrolyzes &agr;-amino acid amides and &agr;-hydroxy acid amides, and a gene encoding said protein.

Abstract: A method for switching among a plurality of key functions allocated to a special key, whereby the occurrence of a phenomenon that is contrary to a user's intent can be prevented. When a key event detector 14 detects the depression of a special key, it sets a register 18 by which a request is asserted to output a make scan code that is supposed to be output when the special key is independently depressed and that is originally allocated for the special key. A key event analyzer 15 and a code generator 16 output a scan code to carry out a predetermined key function in response to the depression of a key. But if the register 18 is set when the special key is released, the key event analyzer 15 and the code generator 16 output the above described make scan code.

Abstract: A charge control method by which batteries can be efficiently charged, even if the charging is aborted, as well as a computer which employs such a charge control method is provided. The charge to the main battery is started and then the charge to the,main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 200 to 204). Next, the charge to the second battery is started and then the charge to the second battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 206 to 210). Next, the charge to the main battery is restarted and then the charge to the main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches 100%. Thereafter, the charge to the second battery is restarted and then the charge to the battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches 100% (steps 212 to 222).

Abstract: A portable information processor includes a computer main body and a digitizer connected by a flexible hinge defined in a cover. The hinge allows the computer main body and the digitizer to assume different superposed states by means of a flexible separable portion of the cover. In the superposed state of the computer main body and the digitizer, arbitrariness in folding back the separable portion causes runout between the computer main body and the digitizer. In spite of this runout, the superposed state can be accurately detected by means of an optical sensor, including an infrared radiator and an infrared-ray detector, disposed in the computer main body. A flexible reflection member is fixed to a predetermined surface of the separable portion of the leather cover, while assuring a predetermined area. If the computer main body and the digitizer assume a superposed state, light emitted from the infrared radiator is reflected by the flexible reflection member and is incident on the infrared-ray detector.

Abstract: A charge control method by which batteries can be efficiently charged, even if the charging is aborted, as well as a computer which employs such a charge control method is provided. The charge to the main battery is started and then the charge to the main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 200 to 204). Next, the charge to the second battery is started and then the charge to the second battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 206 to 210). Next, the charge to the main battery is restarted and then the charge to the main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches 100%. Thereafter, the charge to the second battery is restarted and then the charge to the battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches 100% (steps 212 to 222).

Abstract: A lipstick composition containing a nonaqueous polymer dispersion in which the polymer is dispersed in a volatile silicone and perfluoroalkyl denaturated silicone or perfluoroalkyl denaturated methylphenyl polysiloxane with a specific structure. Also a lipstick composition containing volatile silicone oil and or volatile hydrocarbon oil and perfluoroalkyl denaturated silicone and or perfluoroalkyl denaturated methylphenyl polysiloxane with a specific structure.

Abstract: A process for producing an L-amino acid from the corresponding DL- and/or L-amino acid amide represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having one to 4 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, by action of an enzyme having hydrolytic activity to L-amino acid amides which is produced by Enterobacter cloacae or Pseudomonas sp.

Abstract: A process for the production of a 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyronitrile which comprises reacting an epihalohydrin with a halohydrin-halide-lyase originating from a microorganism selected from the group consisting of: Corynebacterium sp. N-2354 FERM BP-2726 and Microbacterium sp. N-4701 FERM BP-2644 in the presence of an alkali cyanide to thereby convert the epihalohydrin into the 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyronitrile and collecting the product thus formed is disclosed. According to this process, a 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyronitrile which is highly useful in the syntheses of various medicines and physiologically active substances can be easily and efficiently produced from an inexpensive starting material.