Abstract: the present invention provides a method for producing a protein having a supramolecular structure in which a bioactive substance is encapsulated, comprising: (I) bringing a subunit of a protein, which forms a supramolecular structure, a bioactive substance, and a solution for forming the protein having the supramolecular structure from the subunit into contact with one another in a flow micro mixer.

Abstract: A compatibility prediction method includes predicting compatibility between a prediction target food and a prediction target drink using: a model for predicting the compatibility between the prediction target food and the prediction target drink, and measurements that are values related to predetermined information obtained when a measuring instrument measures aroma components of the prediction target food and the prediction target drink or calculations calculated based on the measurements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a refolded protein, the method comprising a step for mixing, inside a micro mixer, a buffer and a solubilization solution for a protein that has lost higher order structure or that has become insoluble.

Abstract: An organic compound-encapsulating ferritin may be prepared by: (1) mixing an organic compound with ferritin in a buffer to obtain a mixture of the organic compound and ferritin; and (2) incubating the mixture in the buffer, wherein the buffer has a pH of 3 or more and less than 13, and the buffer has a pH of 3 or more and less than 7 when the organic compound has a pKa less than 7, and has a pH of 6 or more and less than 13 when the organic compound has a pKa of 7 or more.

Abstract: A relay device connected to a game device receives an increase instruction for increasing a credit number via a communication unit that communicates with an outside, and stores the credit number to be increased. The relay device generates pseudo medal detection pulses, and supplies medal detection pulses obtained by a logical sum between normal medal detection pulses that are generated in the game device and the pseudo medal detection pulses to a game device. When receiving the increase instruction, the relay device generates a pseudo discharge signal that gives an instruction to discharge medals inserted in the game device out of the device, and supplies a discharge signal obtained by a logical sum between a normal discharge signal that is generated in the game device and the pseudo discharge signal to the game device. After the pseudo discharge signal is generated, the relay device generates the pseudo medal detection pulses, whose number corresponds to the credit number stored in a storage unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing machine and a game apparatus using the same by which it is easier to give the participants of the drawing an impression like drawing is carried out fairly when the computer drawing in which a winning-probability of each of drawing-objects is changed is carried out.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing an L-amino acid which includes the steps of culturing a bacterium, which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is able to produce an L-amino acid, in a medium containing glycerol as a carbon source to produce and accumulate an L-amino acid in the medium, and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture. The culture is performed as a fed-batch culture or a continuous culture, and a feed medium containing glycerol is added to the fermentation medium so that the glycerol concentration in the fermentation medium is 5 g/L or higher.

Abstract: There are provided trehalose transporter gene and a method of introducing trehalose into cells by using the gene. Candidates for the trehalose transporter genes were searched in P. vanderplanki EST, resulting in being obtained cDNA designated as Tret1. Tret1 encodes a 504 amino acid protein with 12 trans-membrane structures. Tret1 expression was induced by desiccation stress and predominant in the fat body. Functional expression of TRET1 in Xenopus oocytes showed that transport activity was specific for trehalose and independent of extracellular pH and electrochemical membrane potential. The direction of transport of TRET1 was reversible depending on the concentration gradient of trehalose. Apparent Km and Vmax of TRET1 for trehalose were extraordinarily high values. These results indicate that TRET1 is a facilitated, high-capacity trehalose-specific transporter. Tret1 is widespread in insects. Furthermore, TRET1 conferred trehalose permeability upon cells including those of vertebrates as well as insects.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display control device, etc., capable of preventing a specific object, which is required not to be seen by the user when the specific object is positioned outside a visible field, among various objects located in a virtual field from being seen by the user in an easy method when the specific object is positioned outside the visible field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing machine and a game apparatus using the same by which participants of drawing can intervene in a process of drawing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing machine and a game apparatus using the same by which it is easier to give the participants of the drawing an impression like drawing is carried out fairly when the computer drawing in which a winning-probability of each of drawing-objects is changed is carried out.

Abstract: There are provided trehalose transporter gene and a method of introducing trehalose into cells by using the gene. Candidates for the trehalose transporter genes were searched in P. vanderplanki EST, resulting in being obtained cDNA designated as Tret1. Tret1 encodes a 504 amino acid protein with 12 trans-membrane structures. Tret1 expression was induced by desiccation stress and predominant in the fat body. Functional expression of TRET1 in Xenopus oocytes showed that transport activity was specific for trehalose and independent of extracellular pH and electrochemical membrane potential. The direction of transport of TRET1 was reversible depending on the concentration gradient of trehalose. Apparent Km and Vmax of TRET1 for trehalose were extraordinarily high values. These results indicate that TRET1 is a facilitated, high-capacity trehalose-specific transporter. Tret1 is widespread in insects. Furthermore, TRET1 conferred trehalose permeability upon cells including those of vertebrates as well as insects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game apparatus that enables game progression control for increasing game attractiveness and adjusting the payout ratio.

Abstract: A TiCN-based cermet comprises 5-25 weight % of a binder phase mainly composed of Co and/or Ni, the balance being substantially a hard phase and inevitable impurities, the hard phase being mainly composed of carbide, nitride and/or carbonitride and containing at least Ti and W, the cermet having a cross-section microstructure in which the number of Ti-rich particles having an area of 0.02 &mgr;m2 or more is 1000 or less per a unit area of 1000 &mgr;m2.

Abstract: This invention provides a cermet alloy having a structure comprising a hard phase and a bonding phase, wherein the hard phase comprising carbide particles rich An TiC, those rich in WC and (Ti, W, MO)C or (Ti, W, Mo)(C, N) and the bonding phase comprising at least one of Co and Ni. Mo contents in the bonding phase satisfies the conditions: 1.0.ltoreq.Mo (wt %)/Ti (wt %) and 6 (wt %).ltoreq.Ti+Mo. The cermet alloy has superior hardness and toughness as well as improved heat resistance and is applicable as a material for a wet machining tool.

Abstract: There can be provided a TiC-base cermet alloy whose hardness is equal to or higher than that of a Ti(C, N)-base cermet alloy and which is excellent in toughness by strengtening the binder phase of the TiC-Base cermet alloy which does not involve the problem of denifrification at the time of sintering. The titanium-carbide-base cermet alloy comprises a hard phase which contains titanium carbide as a main component and a binder phase which contains one or both of Co and Ni as main components, wherein amounts of Ti and Mo in the binder phase satisfy the conditions, by weight T: 0.85.ltoreq.Mo (wt. %)/Ti (wt. %), and 6 wt. %.ltoreq.[Ti +Mo].