Abstract: A novel glutamate dehydrogenase derived from the genus Pseudomonas which is specific to L-glutamic acid, requires NAD.sup.+ and NADH as coenzymes, does not act on NADP.sup.+ and NADPH, is with an optimum pH 10.5-11.5 (oxidative deamination), a pH stability of 5-10 (at 25.degree. C.; 20 hours), an optimum temperature of about 60.degree. C. (oxidative deamination) and a molecular weight of about 280,000 (gel filtration) or about 41,000 (SDS-PAGE) and is not activated by ADP. A reagent composition for measuring an amount of ammonia characterized in containing a glutamate dehydrogenase which is not activated by ADP and is NADH-dependent, .alpha.-ketoglutaric acid or a salt thereof and NADH; and a reagent composition wherein urease or creatinine deiminase is further added to the above-mentioned reagent composition.

Abstract: A novel alkaline phosphatase and a method for the production of the alkaline phosphatase are described. A method for detecting a ligand in a sample and a method for analyzing the sequence of nucleic acid in a sample using the alkaline phosphatase are also described.

Abstract: A novel alkaline phosphatase and a method for the production of the alkaline phosphatase are described. A method for detecting a ligand in a sample and a method for analyzing the sequence of nucleic acid in a sample using the alkaline phosphatase are also described.

Abstract: A novel glutamate dehydrogenase is derived from the genus Pseudomonas and is specific to L-glutamic acid, requires NAD.sup.+ and NADH as coenzymes, does not act on NADP.sup.+ and NADPH, has an optimum pH 10.5-11.5 (oxidative deamination), a pH stability of 5-10 (at 25.degree. C.; 20 hours), an optimum temperature of about 60.degree. C. (oxidative deamination) and a molecular weight of about 280,000 (gel filtration) or about 41,000 (SDS-PAGE) and is not activated by ADP.

Abstract: A novel protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity, a DNA fragment having a gene encoding said protein, a recombinant vector having said DNA fragment, a transformant transformed with said vector, a method for producing the protein having heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity by the use of said transformant, a reagent for GOT determination, comprising the above-mentioned novel protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity and a method for determining GOT activity, which comprises the use of said reagent. According to the present invention, a protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity and having higher purity and superior heat stability can be obtained. In addition, a reagent for GOT determination which is superior in long-term storage can be prepared by the use of the protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity.

Abstract: A novel protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity, a DNA fragment having a gene encoding said protein, a recombinant vector having said DNA fragment, a transformant transformed with said vector, a method for producing the protein having heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity by the use of said transformant, a reagent for GOT determination, comprising the above-mentioned novel protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity and a method for determining GOT activity, which comprises the use of said reagent. According to the present invention, a protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity and having higher purity and superior heat stability can be obtained. In addition, a reagent for GOT determination which is superior in long-term storage can be prepared by the use of the protein having a heat-resistant malate dehydrogenase activity.

Abstract: A self-sealing compression packaging bag for compression sealing of an article on evacuation and a compression packaging kit using the bag. Clothing is introduced at an opening part of a bag formed of a film material exhibiting self-adherent properties and provided with an evacuating port. An evacuating tube is introduced into the evacuating port and the inside of the bag is evacuated through the tube by a vacuum pump. The opening part is automatically sealed at this time, and the evacuation port is automatically sealed on extracting the evacuating tube. Tight sealing of the bag may be achieved automatically on evacuation without the need for heat compression bonding. Also, the bag is portable.

Abstract: A tongue assembly for use in a seat belt device is formed of a tongue main body engaging a buckle and a slider slidably disposed over the main body. A first slit is situated in a middle portion of the main body to extend in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the main body relative to the buckle. A first wall portion is fixed to the main body to project upwardly from an upper surface of the main body along the first slit at a side of a rear portion. A second wall portion is formed in an upper side of the slider and has a surface opposing to the first wall portion. A second slit is formed at a lower side of the slider so that a rear edge of the second slit at a side of a rear portion of the main body is situated close to an insertion portion of the main body with respect to the surface of the second wall. A third slit is further formed in the rear portion of the main body.

Abstract: An illuminated seat belt buckle comprises a light source disposed within the buckle for emitting light and a member of light transmission material in the buckle forming a path for conducting light from the light source to a selected portion of the buckle. The member includes a first portion to receive light from the source, a second portion forming an angle with the first portion such the direction of the path changes, and a totally internally reflecting prism for reflecting the light from the first portion to the second portion.

Abstract: In an illuminated buckle for a seat belt system, an illuminating source is furnished in the buckle and a luminous cover section transmits the light from the illuminating source so as to emit light on the top and both lateral sides of the buckle main body. The lighted lateral sides of the buckle cover facilitate locating the buckle at night and also allow ready confirmation when the belt is not in place about the body of the occupant in a vehicle.

Abstract: In an illuminated buckle for a seat belt system, the ejector component of the buckle is made of light-transmitting material, and an optical path for guiding light towards the ejector component is provided within the buckle. When the tongue is not inserted in the buckle, the light-transmitting ejector component is exposed outside the buckle and serves as an illuminated marker for insertion of the tongue into the buckle. When the tongue is inserted, the ejector component is shielded from the exterior of the buckle, and escape of the light from the buckle is prevented.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for a vehicular internal combustion engine are disclosed in which a feedback correction quantity for the ignition timing value is calculated on the basis of a result of detection of at least one of an occurrence of engine knocking and a position at which a combustion pressure becomes maximum and the feedback correction quantity is added to a basic ignition timing angle value based on engine operating conditions to determine a final ignition timing angle value. The feedback correction quantity is limited by a limit value set so as to be varied with the increase of a vehicle speed when the feedback correction quantity is advanced toward an advance angle value. The limit value is retarded when the vehicle speed is low, thus suppressing a combustion noise. On the other hand, the limit value is advanced when the vehicle speed is high, thus achieving the engine output torque and fuel economy.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system detects transition of air/fuel ratio changing between rich and lean for checking if updating condition is satisfied. Updating value is derived based on a feedback correction value which is derived for adjusting air/fuel ratio toward a stoichiometric value. With the updating value thus derived, one of a plurality of learnt correction value which are set with respect to various engine driving range.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fuel injection quantity for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which upon start of the engine acceleration, a quantity corresponding to an air quantity sucked into an engine cylinder (for example, a pressure in an intake air passage downstream of a throttle valve) is detected, an indicated mean effective pressure (P.sub.i) is detected, gains and phases of both detected values are matched with each other, respectively, so that an expected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived from the detected value of the air quantity corresponding quantity, a deviation between the expected value and detected value of the indicated mean effective pressure is derived, a correction quantity for a basic injection quantity at the time of an acceleration of a vehicle through the engine is derived on the basis of the deviation, and a fuel injection quantity outputted from a fuel injection valve is determined on the basis of the corrected fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus for assuring stabilized operating performance by detecting the combustion state of gas mixture within an engine cylinder and determining the amount of air supplied to the cylinder in dependence on the detected combustion state.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring cylinder combustion in an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder to control the engine by employing a pressure sensor sensitive to combustion pressure in the cylinder for producing a sensor signal indicative of a sensed cylinder combustion pressure level. From the sensor signal, there are extracted a knock signal in a predetermined high frequency range and a cylinder combustion pressure signal in a predetermined low frequency range. The apparatus includes an electrical circuit which provides a first indication in response to an abnormal condition of the high frequency knock signal and a second indication in response to an abnormal condition of the low frequency cylinder combustion pressure signal. The circuit provides a failure indication of the sensor signal being unreliable for use in controlling the engine in the presence of the first and/or second indications. The engine is controlled independently of the sensor signal upon occurrence of the failure indication.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc-shaped magnetic recording medium particularly suitable for high density recording obtainable a high output power with low noise. In the disc-shaped magnetic recording medium according to the present invention, a ferromag netic powder having a coercive force of about 1,000 Oe or higher and a BET specific surface area in the range from about 25 to 70 m.sup.2 /g is employed. This allows a decrease in noise level and satisfies the electromagnetic performance requirements for high density recording. A random (unoriented) orientation or a circumferential orientation of the ferromagnetic powder in the magnetic layer provides high output power without causing a variation in output power.

Abstract: An arrangement serves to swirl air flow into an engine to an adjustable degree. The degree of swirl in the air flow affects the duration of combustion of a mixture of air and fuel in the engine. The degree of swirl is adjusted so as to hold the duration of mixture combustion within an acceptable range, the acceptable range varying in accordance with engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A system for detecting and controlling an engine knocking the determination of occurrence of knocking is based on a present data on the detected pressure vibration energy in a combustion chamber of the engine and a value associated with a previous data on the detected pressure vibration energy in the combustion chamber so that an accurate detection of engine knocking can always be achieved. Furthermore, the knocking can be discriminated from the background noise even when the engine revolution speed is high.

Abstract: A basic pulse width T.sub.p is determined in accordance with the throttle valve opening and speed of an engine, and the basic pulse width T.sub.p is corrected when the peak value of cylinder pressures exceeds a given range established by the average value of the peak pressure values.