Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for synthesizing a carotenoid composition by a genetic recombination technique. A transformant in which a first promoter, an upstream gene of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene including a crtY and crtZ operably linked to the first promoter, a second promoter having higher promoter intensity than the first promoter, and a ZEP gene and a CCS gene operably linked to the second promoter have been introduced into a host cell.

Abstract: One purpose of the present invention is to provide a high molecular weight glucan having both properties low digestion rate and high digestibility. A high molecular weight glucan that has property digested slowly and contains almost no indigestible ingredients is produced by enzymatic reactions of (1) a specific concentration of branching enzyme and (2) 4-?-glucanotransferase and/or an exo-type amylase to a branched glucan used as a substrate.

Abstract: One purpose of the present invention is to provide a high molecular weight glucan having both properties low digestion rate and high digestibility. A high molecular weight glucan that has property digested slowly and contains almost no indigestible ingredients is produced by enzymatic reactions of (1) a specific concentration of branching enzyme and (2) 4-?-glucanotransferase and/or an exo-type amylase to a branched glucan used as a substrate.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a method of improving the affinity of a solvent for the surface of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. Further object of the invention is providing a molded article comprising a hardly soluble or insoluble substances using the solution of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. A method for improving affinity of a substance surface for a solvent, comprising: bringing the substance surface into contact with water-soluble xylan and the solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A solution comprising an added water-soluble xylan, a substance, and a solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A molded article comprising the added water-soluble xylan and the hardly soluble substance.

Abstract: A method for producing an amylose-containing rayon fiber, comprising the steps of: mixing an aqueous alkaline solution of amylose with viscose to obtain a mixed liquid, spinning the mixed liquid to obtain an amylose-containing rayon fiber, and bringing the amylose-containing rayon fiber into contact with iodine or polyiodide ions, thereby allowing an amylose in the amylose-containing rayon fiber to make a clathrate including the iodine or polyiodide ions, wherein the amylose is an enzymatically synthesized amylose having a weight average molecular weight of 3×104 or more and 2×105 or less. A method for collecting iodine from brackish water with high efficiency utilizing the amylase-containing rayon fibers.

Abstract: Objective is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive coating. In more specific embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive and transparent coating, while being excellent in environmental safety and dispersion stability. An aqueous composition for conductive coating, comprising a water-soluble xylan, a resin and a carbon nanotube in an aqueous medium. The carbon nanotube may be a multilayer carbon nanotube or a single-layer carbon nanotube.

Abstract: A method for producing an amylose-containing rayon fiber, comprising the steps of: mixing an aqueous alkaline solution of amylose with viscose to obtain a mixed liquid, spinning the mixed liquid to obtain an amylose-containing rayon fiber, and bringing the amylose-containing rayon fiber into contact with iodine or polyiodide ions, thereby allowing an amylose in the amylose-containing rayon fiber to make a clathrate including the iodine or polyiodide ions, wherein the amylose is an enzymatically synthesized amylose having a weight average molecular weight of 3×104 or more and 2×105 or less. A method for collecting iodine from brackish water with high efficiency utilizing the amylase-containing rayon fibers.

Abstract: Objective is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive coating. In more specific embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous composition for conductive coating which enables to form a conductive and transparent coating, while being excellent in environmental safety and dispersion stability. An aqueous composition for conductive coating, comprising a water-soluble xylan, a resin and a carbon nanotube in an aqueous medium. The carbon nanotube may be a multilayer carbon nanotube or a single-layer carbon nanotube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable article formed from enzyme-synthesized amylose using phosphorylase, wherein the enzyme-synthesized amylose is composed of glucose monomers exclusively bonded by ?-1,4-glucosidic likage and has a weight average molecular weight of not less than 100 kDa, preferable not less than 600 kDa. The enzyme-synthesized amylose employed in the present invention has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of not more than 1.25 and can be chemically modified if desired. The biodegradable article of the present invention can be produced by (a) the enzyme-synthesized amylose and/or its modified one, or a combination of the amylose (a) and another polymer material (b).

Abstract: A fuel tank fixing structure for a low-profile fuel tank is provided with a plate-shaped attachment member formed so as to fit the fuel tank. The plate-shaped attachment member is brought into contact with the fuel tank at least at a part of a lower wall of the fuel tank and a part of a side wall of the fuel tank, and fixed to an underside portion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a method of improving the affinity of a solvent for the surface of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. Further object of the invention is providing a molded article comprising a hardly soluble or insoluble substances using the solution of a hardly soluble or insoluble substances. A method for improving affinity of a substance surface for a solvent, comprising: bringing the substance surface into contact with water-soluble xylan and the solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A solution comprising an added water-soluble xylan, a substance, and a solvent, wherein the substance is hardly soluble or insoluble in the solvent in the absence of the water-soluble xylan. A molded article comprising the added water-soluble xylan and the hardly soluble substance.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel cap comprises a casing body for opening/closing a filler opening of a filler neck communicating with a fuel tank; and a lid that is equipped at an upper portion of the casing body and is formed of a conductive material, and the vehicle fuel cap forms a discharge portion in the lid for discharging static charge in the lid to the filler neck, wherein the discharge portion comprises a projection form provided on an inner peripheral face of the lid opposite to an outer peripheral edge of the filler opening, and on the inner peripheral face a longitudinal groove is formed at both sides of the discharge portion and along an axial direction of the casing body.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a canister, a fuel vapor supply tube and a booster pump. The booster pump compresses fuel vapors retained in the canister and feeds the fuel vapors in the form of a compressed gas to fuel injectors of an engine via the fuel vapor supply tube.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat cushion; and a front end transfer member which supports a front end of the seat cushion movably in a front-rear direction of a vehicle; and a rear end transfer member which supports a rear end of the seat cushion movably in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; wherein the seat cushion is storable in a storage concave part provided in a vehicle floor further to a rear than the seat cushion, and the front end transfer member is provided on a vehicle floor adjacent to the front of the storage concave part, and the rear end transfer member is provided on a vehicle floor adjacent to a side of the storage concave part, or provided on a side interior surface of the storage concave part.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat cushion; and a front end transfer member which supports a front end of the seat cushion movably in a front-rear direction of a vehicle; and a rear end transfer member which supports a rear end of the seat cushion movably in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; wherein the seat cushion is storable in a storage concave part provided in a vehicle floor further to a rear than the seat cushion, and the front end transfer member is provided on a vehicle floor adjacent to the front of the storage concave part, and the rear end transfer member is provided on a vehicle floor adjacent to a side of the storage concave part, or provided on a side interior surface of the storage concave part.

Abstract: A fuel tank in which at least a part of a fuel storing unit is formed of a flexible film is provided with a main chamber having a variable volume by deforming according to a storing amount of a fuel, a sub-chamber having a volume which is kept substantially constant, and a fuel pump housed inside the sub-chamber. The main chamber and the sub-chamber are integrally formed to form the fuel storing unit.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a canister, a fuel vapor supply tube and a booster pump. The booster pump compresses fuel vapors retained in the canister and feeds the fuel vapors in the form of a compressed gas to fuel injectors of an engine via the fuel vapor supply tube.

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 fuel tank in which at least a part of a fuel storing unit is formed of a flexible film is provided with a main chamber having a variable volume by deforming according to a storing amount of a fuel, a sub-chamber having a volume which is kept substantially constant, and a fuel pump housed inside the sub-chamber. The main chamber and the sub-chamber are integrally formed to form the fuel storing unit.

Abstract: A fuel tank fixing structure for a low-profile fuel tank is provided with a plate-shaped attachment member formed so as to fit the fuel tank. The plate-shaped attachment member is brought into contact with the fuel tank at least at a part of a lower wall of the fuel tank and a part of a side wall of the fuel tank, and fixed to an underside portion of the vehicle body.