Abstract: A protease having the following characteristics: (i) a molecular weight of 21,000±1,000 (by SDS-PAGE) and (ii) specific protease activity cutting the Gly-Phe site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (1) below, cutting the Gly-Phe site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (2) below, or cutting the Ser-Leu site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (3) below: Pro-Gln-Gly-Phe-Gln-Gly-Pro (1) (SEQ ID NO: 4) Pro-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ala-Gly-Pro (2) (SEQ ID NO: 5) Gln-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Thr-Pro. (3) (SEQ ID NO: 6) DNA encoding this protease, including vectors containing this DNA, and a method for producing this protease by transforming a cell with this DNA.

Abstract: A rubber-cord complex having an improved wet heat adhesive property between a rubber and a cord comprising a drawn plated wire, and including a metal cord comprising a drawn plated wire prepared by providing a brass plated layer on the surface of an element wire and drawing the resulting plated wire, and a rubber vulcanized and bonded to the cord, wherein in a wet heat deterioration state of the drawn plated wire after being subjected to the vulcanization to bond the rubber thereto and further held under an atmosphere having a temperature of 50 to 100° C. and a humidity of 60 to 100% for one hour to 20 days, the average grain size of crystal grains present in the brass plated layer is not more than 50 nm, and the grain boundary of the crystal grains has a fractal dimension of 1.001 to 1.500.

Abstract: A protease having the following characteristics: (i) a molecular weight of 21,000±1,000 (by SDS-PAGE) and (ii) specific protease activity cutting the Gly-Phe site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (1) below, cutting the Gly-Phe site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (2) below, or cutting the Ser-Leu site of a peptide or protein comprising amino acid sequence (3) below: (1) (SEQ ID NO:4) Pro-Gln-Gly-Phe-Gln-Gly-Pro (2) (SEQ ID NO:5) Pro-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ala-Gly-Pro (3) (SEQ ID NO:6) Gln-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Thr-Pro. DNA encoding this protease, including vectors containing this DNA, and a method for producing this protease by transforming a cell with this DNA.

Abstract: A rubber product-reinforcing metallic cord is provided which comprises three to five metallic filaments, which shows a high degree of penetration of rubber without reducing compressive rigidity, and which can be manufactured at low facility and production costs. A rubber product-reinforcing metallic cord 7 is formed by twisting together a pre-strand 6 comprising a first metallic filament 1 and a second metallic filament 2 helically wrapped around the first filament 1, and a fifth metallic filament 3 (or 5) with a twist pitch P. The metallic cord 7 may be formed by twisting together two of such pre-strands, or by twisting together two of such pre-strands and the fifth metallic filament.

Abstract: A rubber-cord complex 9 having an improved wet heat adhesive property between a rubber and a cord comprising a drawn plated wire, and including a cord 10 comprising a drawn plated wire 17 prepared by providing a brass plated layer 16E on the surface of an element wire 15 and drawing the resulting plated wire, and a rubber 12 vulcanized and bonded to the cord 10, wherein the rubber-cord complex 9 has an adhesion reaction layer 25 formed by a cross-linking reaction of sulfur and copper, between the rubber 12 and the brass plated layer 16E, and in a wet heat deterioration state after being subjected to the vulcanization to bond the rubber 12 thereto and further held under an atmosphere having a temperature of 50 to 100° C. and a humidity of 60 to 100% for one hour to 20 days, the adhesion reaction layer 25 has an average thickness of 50 to 1,000 nm, and the interface S between the adhesion reaction layer 25 and the rubber has a fractal dimension of 1.001 to 1.300.

Abstract: A rubber product-reinforcing metallic cord is provided which comprises three to five metallic filaments, which shows a high degree of penetration of rubber without reducing compressive rigidity, and which can be manufactured at low facility and production costs. A rubber product-reinforcing metallic cord 7 is formed by twisting together a pre-strand 6 comprising a first metallic filament 1 and a second metallic filament 2 helically wrapped around the first filament 1, and a fifth metallic filament 3 (or 5) with a twist pitch P. The metallic cord 7 may be formed by twisting together two of such pre-strands, or by twisting together two of such pre-strands and the fifth metallic filament.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing gelatin with reduced endotoxin content. The method comprises processing a starting material gelatin-containing solution containing gelatin and an endotoxin with an ultrafiltration film having a molecular weight cut-off falling within a range of from 20,000 to 300,000 and having a molecular weight cut-off capable of passing at least a portion of the gelatin contained in the starting material gelatin-containing solution to obtain a permeate that is a gelatin-containing solution with a reduced endotoxin content. A gelatin having an average molecular weight falling within a range of 1,000 to 300,000 and an endotoxin content of less than 1 EU/mL per 1.0 percent of protein.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber reinforcing steel cord is provided, wherein the steel cord has a steel wire plated with metal containing copper and having on its surface an oil layer containing a cobalt compound, and includes an application step in which the oil containing a cobalt compound is applied to the steel wire or a steel cord plated with metal containing copper, and a step of twisting the steel wires.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protease, DNA encoding this protease, a recombinant vector comprising this DNA, and a method for manufacturing the protease using the transformant.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonantigenic stabilizer that can be obtained with a high yield, inducing no anaphylaxis, and has an effect of stabilizing a physiologically active substance, and provides a physiologically active substance stabilized thereby. The nonantigenic stabilizer contains not less than 70% of peptides which can be obtained by specifically decomposing relatin or collagen using a collagenase that have a molecular weight not more than 20,000 and an amino acid sequence (Gly-x-Y)n. The physiologically active substance contains 0.005-15 percent by weight of the nonantigenic stabilizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (1) for making molded resin products, comprising: measuring instruments (18a-18d) which continuously feed various molding materials containing cellulose fine powder (3), resin powder (7), and FRP powder (5) and measuring various molding materials according to a given proportion; mixing hopper (19) and pelletizer (20) which always receive various materials measured by measuring instruments (18a-18d) and continuously fed in a certain proportion to make particles by mixing, melting, and pelletizing various materials; extruder (22) which makes molded resin products by mixing and melting the particles to form a required form. By using this apparatus, waste FRP can be simply and effective recycled and molded resin products can be made in high productivity.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread reinforcing belt made of metallic cords, each of the metallic cords is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is not less than 0.15 mm but less than 0.25 mm, the six to twelve metallic filaments are grouped into a plurality of bunches each including two to four filaments, the filaments of each bunch are twisted together at a first twisting pitch, the bunches are twisted together into the cord at a final twist pitch Pc of from 10 to 40 mm, the first twisting pitch is more than the final twist pitch, and the bunches each include at least one waved filament which is two-dimensionally waved at wave pitches Pw in a range of from 5 to 30 times the diameter (d) of the filament and a wave height (h) in a range of from 0.2 to 3.0 times the diameter (d).

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.

Abstract: A heat-insulating container (1) comprises a disc-shaped upper lid (10), a disc-shaped lower lid (20) and a cylindrical sidewall portion (30) which are all made of a synthetic resin foam. The cylindrical sidewall portion (30) is made up of two or more separate pieces (31) divided along the circumference. When necessary, the entire container is accommodated in a container protector (50) to ensure its strength. The heat-insulating container (1) allows the temperature of a heat-insulated item to be controlled below a preferable temperature for a long time. When not used as a heat-insulating container, its entire volume can be reduced, thereby allowing the space required for its distribution or storage to be reduced. Since the container is made up of a plurality of parts, molding costs can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber reinforcing steel cord is provided, wherein the steel cord has a steel wire plated with metal containing copper and having on its surface an oil layer containing a cobalt compound, and includes an application step in which the oil containing a cobalt compound is applied to the steel wire or a steel cord plated with metal containing copper, and a step of twisting the steel wires.

Abstract: A steel cord is formed by compactly twisting steel filaments together, the steel filaments including a plurality of zigzag filaments and optionally a nonzigzag filament, the zigzag filament being zigzaged two-dimensionally and made up of straight segments each extending between the zigzag peak points, the nonzigzag filament being straight. In case the cord is composed of only the zigzag filaments, the zigzag filaments include at least two kinds of zigzag filaments having different zigzag pitch lengths. In case the cord is composed of both the zigzag filaments and nonzigzag filaments, some of the zigzag and nonzigzag filaments are first loosely twisted together into a bunch, and then a plurality of bunches are twisted together into the cord. In any case, the zigzag pitch length and zigzag wave height of each zigzag filament are substantially constant along the length thereof.