Abstract: Arranged on both sides of a thin plate are optical displacement gauges that irradiate measurement lights onto surfaces of the thin plate and receive the measurement lights reflected by the surface so as to measure displacements of the surfaces of the thin plate. Variation of thickness of the thin plate is obtained on the basis of the displacements of the surfaces of the thin plate measured by each of the optical displacement gauges. Each of the optical displacement gauges detects the displacement of a respective surface of the thin plate with high accuracy by irradiating the measurement light to the thin plate two times.

Abstract: Arranged in both sides of the thin plate are optical displacement gauges that irradiate measurement lights to surfaces of a thin plate and receive the measurement lights reflected by the surfaces so as to measure displacements of the surfaces of the thin plate. Variation of thickness of the thin plate is obtained on the basis of the displacements of the surfaces of the thin plate measured by each of the optical displacement gauges. Each of the optical displacement gauges detects the displacement of the surface of the thin plate with high accuracy by irradiating the measurement light to the thin plate two times.

Abstract: Optical displacement gauges 20 are respectively arranged on both sides of a thin sheet material w, and displacement of surface position of the thin sheet material w is measured by irradiating measurement light L1 to the surface of the thin sheet material w. Thickness variation of the thin sheet material w is obtained from the measurement results of displacement of the surface position of the thin sheet material w.

Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes an object measuring device, a holding base, a reference plane measuring device, and a length measuring unit. The holding base holds an object-to-be-measured on its surface and has a reference plane provided on its back side so that a measured surface of the object and the reference plane can be simultaneously scanned by the object measuring device and the reference plane measuring device, respectively. Therefore, the object and the reference plane can sway integrally with each other, and the accuracy of measurement of the measured surface is not influenced by any moving straightness deviation of the holding base unless any change occurs in relative positions of the reference plane and the measured surface. Therefore, the shape of the measured surface can be measured with the flatness accuracy of the reference plane.

Abstract: Muconic acid is obtained from the culture of strains of Arthrobacter sp. mutant strains, strains belonging to Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum, Corynebacterium lilium, genus Brevibacterium or genus Microbacterium.

Abstract: Androstane steroids are produced by microbiological conversion of a sterol substrate with a microorganism belonging to the genus Mycobacterium wherein the medium used contains at least 0.1% by weight of egg yoke as a dry weight.

Abstract: 9.alpha.-hydroxy-3-oxopregna-4,17(20)-diene-20-carboxylic acid and its methyl ester, and methods of microbiological production thereof, one comprising cultivating a Rhodococcus species in the presence of the corresponding 3-oxopregna-4,17(20)-diene-20-carboxylic acid or its methyl ester, and the other comprising cultivating Mycobacterium species NRRL B-8054 and a Rhodococcus species in the presence of a sterol substrate.

Abstract: Steroidal alcohols are produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Mycobacterium and capable of producing 20 .alpha.-hydroxymethylpregna-1,4-dien-3-one or 20 .alpha.

Abstract: The improvement in a process for the production of 17-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione by the microbiological oxidation of a sterol, its 4-en-3-one derivative or its 1,4-dien-3-one derivative, which comprises adding to the culture medium at least one glyceride-containing substance selected from the group consisting of glycerides, fats, oil seeds and oil fruits in an amount sufficient that the culture medium contains at least 0.3 percent by weight of glycerides.

Abstract: The improvement in a process for the production of 17-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione by the microbiological oxidation of a sterol, its 4-en-3-one derivative or its 1,4-dien-3-one derivative, which comprises adding to the culture medium at least one glyceride-containing substance selected from the group consisting of glycerides, fats, oil seeds and oil fruits in an amount sufficient that the culture medium contains at least 0.3 percent by weight of glycerides.