Abstract: An electrically power assisted wheelchair includes a hand rim, a wheel that is rotated by receiving a torque applied to the hand rim, and a drive controller configured or programmed to apply auxiliary power to the wheel based on the torque applied to the hand rim. The drive controller is configured or programmed to decelerate rotation of the wheel when the wheel is rotating and no torque is applied to the hand rim in a brake mode in which a brake torque acting in a direction reverse to a rotation direction of the wheel is applied to the wheel.

Abstract: An electrically power assisted wheelchair includes a hand rim, a wheel that is rotated by receiving a torque applied to the hand rim, and a drive controller configured or programmed to apply auxiliary power to the wheel based on the torque applied to the hand rim. The drive controller is configured or programmed to decelerate rotation of the wheel when the wheel is rotating and no torque is applied to the hand rim in a brake mode in which a brake torque acting in a direction reverse to a rotation direction of the wheel is applied to the wheel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel DNA or a derivative thereof concerning the expression and secretion of a phenoloxidase gene originating in a basidiomycete (particularly a white rot fungus such as, for example Coriolus hirsutus IFO 4917) possessing the ability to produce and secrete a phenoloxidase, a novel organism containing the DNA and a protein-coding DNA, and a method for the production of proteins by the use of the novel organisms. The aforementioned "DNA concerning expression" generally refers as to a region existent on the upstream side of a structural gene and necessary for the initiation of transcription (promoter) and to a region existent on the downstream side thereof and necessary for the termination of the transcription (poly A signal or terminator), for example. The "DNA concerning secretion" generally refers to a DNA which codes a signal peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostable xylanase selected from xylanase XP1 having a molecular weight of about 22,500, an isoelectric point at around 8.1 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 70.degree. C. or xylanase XP2 having a molecular weight of about 32,000, an isoelectric point at around 8.5 and an optimum temperature for reaction of 80.degree. C., a gene encoding for the thermostable xylanase, a method for producing the xylanase, applications of the xylanase, a bleaching agent containing the xylanase as an active ingredient, a method for bleaching pulp by using the bleaching agent and Bacillus sp. 2113 and Bacillus sp. 208 both having an ability to produce a thermostable xylanase.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting apparatus in which spray nozzles for spraying slurry solution upward are arranged in a tower body through which gas passes, wherein a liquid inlet portion of the spray nozzle is of a bell shape having a radius of curvature of 0.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contacting apparatus in which spray nozzles for spraying slurry solution upward are arranged in a tower body through which gas passes, wherein a liquid inlet portion of the spray nozzle is of a bell shape having a radius of curvature of 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCTase) gene, a recombinant DNA containing the OCTase DNA, a transformation system for a basidiomycete, and production of useful proteins using the system.More particularly, this invention relates to the OCTase gene of Coriolus hirsutus to afford an efficient host-vector system in basidiomycetes (particularly a white rot fungus such as Coriolus hirsutus IFO 4917) for the preparation of useful proteins. OCTase is the enzyme to transform ornithine to citrulline in arginine biosynthesis in organisms. The present invention provides the OCTase genes of C. hirsutus, the useful Arg.sup.- auxotrophic mutant of C. hirsutus deficient in the OCTase gene, the efficient condition for the preparation of protoplasts and the transformation of the mutant with the cloned OCTase gene and the recombinant DNA's including a promoter, a signal peptide-coding DNA and a protein-coding DNA, the construction of the novel host-vector system of C.

Abstract: A method for cultivating, under alkaline conditions, microorganisms in a culture medium containing, as a carbon source, the extracted liquor or spent liquor derived from alkaline pulping is presented. In this cultivation, organic acids contained in the extracted liquor or spent liquor can be effectively utilized. Typical microorganisms cultured are bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium.

Abstract: A method for removing malodorous sulfur compounds from a fluid containing such compounds. In this method, fungi belonging to genera Cephalosporium, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Mucor can be used for effectively removing malodorous sulfur compounds from a fluid.