Abstract: An (S)-1-phenyl-2-substituted propane derivative shown by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a lower alkyl group, etc., or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; and X represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected with a protective group, or a halogen atom etc., can readily be produced (i) by permitting a microorganism belonging to the genus Torulaspora, the genus Candida, the genus Pichia or the like to act on a phenylacetone derivative and asymmetrically reducing the compound, or (ii) by sterically inverting an (R)-enantiomer. (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-?(2-phenyl-1-methylethyl)amino!ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (I). The ethanol derivative is useful as an anti-obesity agent and the like.

Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of an epoxide such as 3-chlorostyrene oxide and the product optically active epoxide is recovered. The microorganism able to produce an optically active (S)-epoxide from the mixture of enantiomers of the epoxide include, for example, a microorganism strain belonging to the genus Candida, the genus Rhodosporidium, the genus Rhodococcus and the genus Nosardioides. Examples of the microorganism capable of producing an optically active (R)-epoxide from said mixture include a microorganism strain belonging to the genus Trichosporon, the genus Geotrichum, the genus Corynebacterium, the genus Micrococcus and the genus Brevibacterium. The objective optically active epoxide can efficiently be obtained with ease and simplicity from the corresponding mixture of enantiomers of the epoxide.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter which allows an input current of an input AC power source to have harmonic currents of reduced levels and which supplies a stabilized output DC voltage to a load is realized by a simple circuit configuration. The converter has: a converter circuit consisting of a choke coil which receives a rectified voltage from a rectifying circuit, a switch element, and a diode; a smoothing capacitor which smooths the output voltage of the converter circuit and supplies the smoothed voltage to a load; and a control circuit consisting of a current detection circuit, a voltage detection circuit, and a pulse-width control circuit. In order to stabilize the output voltage, the switch element is turned on and off so that the peak value of the input current of the converter circuit is limited in a DC-like manner, thereby allowing the input current to have a trapezoidal waveform.

Abstract: A microorganism that is capable of acting on a 4-halo-acetoacetic acid ester shown by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X represents a halogen atom and R represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, alkenyl group, cycloalkyl group or aryl group, to produce an optically active 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on said 4-halo-acetoacetic acid ester and the product optically active 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester is harvested. Thus, the desired optically active 4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester of high optical purity can be produced with commercial efficiency.

Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol, and the residual optically active 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol is harvested. The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (R)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Hansenula, Rhodotorula, Protaminobacter, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Macrophomina, Preussia and Talaromyces. The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (S)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Geotrichum, Leucosporidium, Pichia, Torulaspora, Trichosporon, Escherichia, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Aspergillus, Emericella, Absidia, Fusarium, Dactylium, Serratia and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: Optically active 1,3-butanediol can be obtained by treating an enantiomorphic mixture of 1,3-butanediol with a microorganism or cells thereof which have been ground, acetone-treated, or lyophilized capable of acting on an enantiomorphic mixture of 1,3-butanediol so as to leave (R)- or (S)-1,3-butanediol as such. Further, optically active 1,3-butanediol can be obtained by treating 4-hydroxy-2-butanone with a microorganism or cells thereof which have been ground, acetone-treated, or lyophilized capable of asymmetrically reducing the 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into (R)- or (S)-1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: An (S)-1-phenyl-2-substituted propane derivative shown by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a lower alkyl group, etc., or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; and X represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected with a protective group, or a halogen atom etc., can readily be produced (i) by permitting a microorganism belonging to the genus Torulaspora, the genus Candida, the genus Pichia or the like to act on a phenylacetone derivative and asymmetrically reducing the compound, or (ii) by sterically inverting an (R)-enantiomer. (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-[(2-phenyl-1-methylethyl)amino]ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (I). The ethanol derivative is useful as an anti-obesity agent and the like.

Abstract: A capstan motor is controlled by a signal derived from a frequency generator that has been converted to a voltage that reflects the instantaneous change in velocity of the rotating motor. Acceleration of the motor is found by using a mean velocity obtained as a reciprocal of the pulsed signal from the frequency generator and then estimating the instantaneous velocity based on the derived acceleration. The estimated instantaneous velocity is converted to a drive voltage for the capstan motor so that the motor can be started and stopped with a respective constant acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: An enantiomeric mixture of a 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid is treated with an enzyme which can asymmetrically hydrolyze the mixture, for example, a lipase originating in a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Candida or Chromobacterium to form a mixture of an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol with an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid, and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol or a derivative thereof and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid or a derivative thereof are each separately recovered from the mixture. The process allows simple and easy preparation of the above optically active compounds having a high optical purity, thus being extremely industrially advantageous.

Abstract: Optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid can be obtained by treating 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid with an optionally treated microorganism capable of asymmetrically reducing the 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid to thereby asymmetrically reduce the same into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (s) -2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a dispersing device which can disperse filaments uniformly and widely on a moving collector surface by suppressing the turbulence of an air flow as a carrier medium for the filaments to thereby reduce the disturbance of the filaments.The dispersing device (1) of the present invention is formed as a dispersing pipe consisting of a pair of dispersing plates (2) vertically extending so as to be opposed to each other and a pair of side plates (3) connecting the dispersing plates. The dispersing pipe has an upper end formed with a filaments inlet and a lower end formed with an oblong filaments outlet (5) surrounded by the dispersing plates and the side plates. The dispersing pipe has a shape such that a space t between the dispersing plates is decreased with an increase in distance z from the filaments inlet toward the filaments outlet (5), and that a space w between the side plates is increased with the increase in the distance z.

Abstract: An optically active 1,3-butanediol can be produced by either (1) treating a mixture of 1,3-butanediol enantiomers with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically assimilating said mixture, or (2) preparing a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, and collecting optically active 1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: An optically active 1,3-butanediol can be produced by either (1) treating a mixture of 1,3-butanediol enantiomers with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically assimilating said mixture, or (2) preparing a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone, and collecting optically active 1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: In a non-contact type IC card, a re-access inhibition time setting circuit 12 sets a re-access inhibition period of time for inhibiting the re-access for a fixed period of time after an operation of a main circuit 16 is finished. This prevents a double write operation of history in the card due to the re-access in a short period of time. Moreover, two areas 321 and 322 are disposed in a memory 32 to write data alternately in these areas. In a read operation, when data of one of the areas is destroyed, the normal data in the other area is read; whereas, when each data is normal, the data last recorded is read. Consequently, the disabled state of the read operation due to wrong data can be prevented.

Abstract: An optically active 2-hydroxy acid derivative is produced by treating a 2-oxo acid derivative with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing said 2-oxo acid derivative into an optically active (R)- or (S)-2-hydroxy acid derivative represented by the formula (II) and recovering the optically active (R)- or (S)-hydroxy acid derivative thus formed. Optically active 2-hydroxy acid derivatives are important intermediates in the synthesis of various drugs such as a remedy for hypertension.

Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of 3-phenyl-1, 3-propanediol, and the residual optically active 3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol is harvested.The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (R)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Hansenula, Rhodotorula, Protaminobacter, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Macrophomina, Preussia and Talaromyces.The genera of those microorganisms which are able to leave (S)-3-phenyl-1,3-propanediol include Candida, Geotrichum, Leucosporidium, Pichia, Torulaspora, Trichosporon, Escherichia, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Aspergillus, Emericella, Absidia, Fusarium, Dactylium, Serratia and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: An air gun apparatus which permits stable, fine spinning and is capable of discharging fine filaments at a certain degree of dispersion and affording a non-woven fabric of uniform shape is provided. The air gun includes an air nozzle and an accelerator tube. The air nozzle has a filament inlet and outlet. The filaments are discharged from the filament outlet while being pulled by compressed air. The accelerator tube is formed at a specific diameter to length ratio and is connected to the air nozzle in the filament discharging direction. The non-woven fabric producing apparatus is provided with a guide tube and a separator nozzle, with an air flow rate regulator being disposed between the guide tube and the separator nozzle. The air flow rate regulator has an exhaust port for exhausting to the exterior a portion of the compressed air which is used for carrying the filaments.

Abstract: Optically active 1,3-butanediol can be obtained by treating an enantiomorphic mixture of 1,3-butanediol with a microorganism or cells thereof which have been ground, acetone-treated, or lyophilized, capable of acting on an enantiomorphic mixture of 1,3-butanediol so as to leave (R)- or (S)-1,3-butanediol as such.Further, optically active 1,3-butanediol can be obtained by treating 4-hydroxy-2-butanone with a microorganism or cells thereof which have been ground, acetone-treated, or lyophilized, capable of asymmetrically reducing the 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into (R)- or (S)-1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: In order to stably maintain a combustion capability in a combustion furnace for coal gassification, it is necessary to exhaust molten slag produced within the furnace without the slag stagnating. The present invention provides, in a combustion furnace for coal gassification, a slag exhausting device which is configured in such a manner that the cooling of molten slag being exhausted from the furnace is minimized to prevent the slag from solidifying and causing other slag to stagnate. The slag exhausting device is disposed at the center of a bottom wall of the combustor, and has a lower cylindrical portion and an upper bank opening upwardly and flared at an angle of 300.degree.-45.degree.. The height H from the bottom wall to the top of the upper bank, a height L and an inner diameter ds of the cylindrical lower portion and a diameter D of the combustor are set to satisfy the relations of ds/D=0.2-0.4, L/ds=0.2-0.6 and H/D=0.05-0.15.

Abstract: An air nozzle for use in the production of nonwoven fabric that is adapted to receive spun filaments from a spinning nozzle and feed the filaments in an air jet into a receiver. The air nozzle is directed to the prevention of any abrasion of the inner surface of the nozzle body by an additive, such as titanium white, contained in filaments, and thus to the prevention of any defects in the nonwoven fabric. The inner surface of a nozzle body for guiding filaments is formed using a ceramic material to protect that surface. The nozzle body has a conical passage whose diameter gradually decreases from an inlet for receiving the filaments from the spinning nozzle, and a straight passage continuing from the conical passage and extending with a constant diameter, at least part of the inner surface of the conical passage and/or the straight passage being formed as a ceramic surface.