An object is to obtain a β-amylase having heat resistance even to high temperatures exceeding 60° C. By screening β-amylase producing bacteria from a soil sample, a novel Bacillus halosaccharovorans strain having a novel β-amylase with heat resistance and the β-amylase from the novel B. halosaccharovorans strain were obtained.

A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer.

A managing apparatus for positioning rental vehicles includes a memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the managing apparatus to access model information and location information for a plurality of autonomous vehicles, receive a request including a delivery location and a chosen model for renting, select an autonomous vehicle of the chosen model from among the plurality of autonomous vehicles based on the model information, the location information, and the delivery location, instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to fully-autonomously or semi-autonomously travel to the delivery location, and instruct the selected autonomous vehicle to switch to manual operation mode at the delivery location for manual operation by a vehicle rental customer.

An oxidative stress inhibitor 100 of the present invention contains silicon particles capable of generating hydrogen. In a preferred aspect of the oxidative stress inhibitor 100, the following effects (a) and/or (b) can be exhibited. (a) The total amount of generation (total amount of production) is increased. (b) The amount of generation of hydrogen per unit time (i.e. rate of generation of hydrogen), particularly the rate of generation of hydrogen in the initial stage is increased.

A peptide composition comprises a collagen peptide, and at least three first compounds selected from the group consisting of isovaleric aldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, phenylacetaldehyde and methional.

Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of a spray-dried powder consisting essentially of LNT and/or LNnT, the spray-dried powder, its use for the manufacture of nutritional compositions, and nutritional compositions containing the spray-dried powder.

An autonomous robot vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a conveyance system and a compartment coupled to the conveyance system. The conveyance system autonomously drives the autonomous robotic vehicle between one or more storage locations and one or more delivery locations. The compartment receives one or more items stored at the one more storage locations. The compartment includes a temperature control module configured to maintain the compartment within a predetermined temperature range to provide temperature control for the one or more items as the conveyance system drives between the one or more storage locations and the one or more delivery locations.

An autonomous robot vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a conveyance system and a compartment coupled to the conveyance system. The conveyance system autonomously drives the autonomous robotic vehicle between one or more storage locations and one or more delivery locations. The compartment receives one or more items stored at the one more storage locations. The compartment includes a temperature control module configured to maintain the compartment within a predetermined temperature range to provide temperature control for the one or more items as the conveyance system drives between the one or more storage locations and the one or more delivery locations.

The present invention provides a method for producing lipid particles that have a desired particle diameter, the method comprising: (A) a step for preparing, in a first mixing region, a primary dilution by mixing a first solution containing a lipid and an alcohol with a second solution containing water; (B) a step for feeding the primary dilution from the first mixing region to a second mixing region through a liquid feed pipe within a prescribed time; and (C) a step for preparing a secondary dilution by mixing the primary dilution with a third solution containing water in the second mixing region, wherein the steps (A)-(C) are continuously carried out, and the particle diameter of the lipid particles is controlled by adjusting at least one condition selected from the group consisting of the concentration of the alcohol and the concentration of the lipid in the primary dilution, the prescribed time, and the temperature during mixing.

An object of this invention is to suppress the harsh taste particular to an extract of a plant of the genus Salacia.

An oral composition comprises an extract of a plant of the genus Salacia and naringin, the naringin being present in an amount of 0.001 to 6 parts by weight per part by weight of the extract of a plant of the genus Salacia, on a dry weight basis. A method for ameliorating the harsh taste of an extract of a plant of the genus Salacia comprises combining 0.001 to 6 parts by weight of naringin with 1 part by weight of the extract of a plant of the genus Salacia, on a dry weight basis.