Abstract: The furnace of the present invention includes a body of a furnace having a cylindrical shape; a steel shell which is arranged at an inside surface of the furnace; and a lining refractory which is arranged at an inside of the steel shell and includes a plurality of refractory blocks, wherein: each of the refractory blocks includes a hot-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape exposed to a middle of the furnace, and a cold-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape larger than the hot-face end surface, the cold-face end surface being arranged at an outer periphery side of the furnace; the refractory blocks are arranged such that each position of the hot-face end surface is positioned along the radial direction of the furnace at a predetermined reference position; and the refractory blocks are arrayed along the circumferential direction of an inside surface of the steel shell, thereby being stacked in a honeycomb manner.

Abstract: A trehalose compound having high immunopotentiating activity and low toxicity is represented by formula (1). (In the formula, X and X? each represents a phenyl, a naphthyl, R1—CHR1— (wherein R1 and R2 each represents a C7-C21 alkyl group or the like) or the like; and n and n? each independently represents an integer of 0-3). The compound exhibits a high activating effect on macrophages and neutrophils.

Abstract: A trehalose compound having high immunopotentiating activity and low toxicity is represented by formula (1). (In the formula, X and X? each represents a phenyl, a naphthyl, R1—CHR1— (wherein R1 and R2 each represents a C7-C21 alkyl group or the like) or the like; and n and n? each independently represents an integer of 0-3). The compound exhibits a high activating effect on macrophages and neutrophils.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound having an excellent neurotrophic factor activity-enhancing effect, and a process for producing the same. The bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound of the present invention is represented by formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different, and represent a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-5 alkoxy group, an aryl C1-5 alkoxy group, a C2-5 alkenyloxy group, or an aryl C2-5 alkenyloxy group, or R1 and R2 together represent ?O or ?CH2; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —CH2—O—R4; R4 represents a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-5 alkylcarbonyl group, or an aryl C1-4 alkyl group that may have a substituent on an aryl ring; and a carbon-carbon bond between “a” and “b” represents a single bond or a double bond. The bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound has an excellent neurotrophic factor activity-enhancing effect.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel trehalose compound having a high affinity for an adenosine A3 receptor. The trehalose compound of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1): wherein X and X? represent a hydrogen atom, and the like; Y and Y? independently represent an oxygen atom, and the like; R1 and R2 independently represent a C1-C6 alkyl group; and R3 and R4 independently represent a C3-C6 alkyl group. The trehalose compound of the present invention has a remarkably high affinity for an adenosine A3 receptor.

Abstract: The furnace of the present invention includes a body of a furnace having a cylindrical shape; a steel shell which is arranged at an inside surface of the furnace; and a lining refractory which is arranged at an inside of the steel shell and includes a plurality of refractory blocks, wherein: each of the refractory blocks includes a hot-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape exposed to a middle of the furnace, and a cold-face end surface which has a hexagonal shape larger than the hot-face end surface, the cold-face end surface being arranged at an outer periphery side of the furnace; the refractory blocks are arranged such that each position of the hot-face end surface is positioned along the radial direction of the furnace at a predetermined reference position; and the refractory blocks are arrayed along the circumferential direction of an inside surface of the steel shell, thereby being stacked in a honeycomb manner.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel sphingosine compound with an inhibitory activity against sphingomyelinase, and a method for producing the sphingosine compound. The novel sphingosine compound or a salt thereof according to the invention is represented by Formula (1): wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, and the other is a group represented by Formula (G): wherein n is 0 or 1; and R3 is hydrogen, C1-23 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-8 cycloalkyloxy, phenyl, or furil.

Abstract: A trehalose compound having high immunopotentiating activity and low toxicity is represented by formula (1). (In the formula, X and X? each represents a phenyl, a naphthyl, R1—CHR1— (wherein R1 and R2 each represents a C7-C21 alkyl group or the like) or the like; and n and n? each independently represents an integer of 0-3). The compound exhibits a high activating effect on macrophages and neutrophils.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel trehalose compound having a high affinity for an adenosine A3 receptor. The trehalose compound of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1): wherein X and X? represent a hydrogen atom, and the like; Y and Y? independently represent an oxygen atom, and the like; R1 and R2 independently represent a C1-C6 alkyl group; and R3 and R4 independently represent a C3-C6 alkyl group. The trehalose compound of the present invention has a remarkably high affinity for an adenosine A3 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound having an excellent neurotrophic factor activity-enhancing effect, and a process for producing the same. The bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound of the present invention is represented by formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different, and represent a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-5 alkoxy group, an aryl C1-5 alkoxy group, a C2-5 alkenyloxy group, or an aryl C2-5 alkenyloxy group, or R1 and R2 together represent ?O or ?CH2; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a group —CH2—O—R4; R4 represents a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-5 alkylcarbonyl group, or an aryl C1-4 alkyl group that may have a substituent on an aryl ring; and a carbon-carbon bond between “a” and “b” represents a single bond or a double bond. The bis(tetrahydrofuran) compound has an excellent neurotrophic factor activity-enhancing effect.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel sphingosine compound with an inhibitory activity against sphingomyelinase, and a method for producing the sphingosine compound. The novel sphingosine compound or a salt thereof according to the invention is represented by Formula (1): wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, and the other is a group represented by Formula (G): wherein n is 0 or 1; and R3 is hydrogen, C1-23 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-8 cycloalkyloxy, phenyl, or furil.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel trehalose compound that exhibits excellent immunostimulating activity and that can be supplied in a large quantity in an industrial scale, and a method for producing the trehalose compound, wherein the trehalose compound of the present invention exhibits excellent immunostimulating activity, and is represented by general formula (1) below: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be the same or different, and independently represent a C10-16 alkyl group. The trehalose compound of the present invention is produced by removing a protective group (R5) for a hydroxyl group from a trehalose compound represented by general formula (5) below: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same as above. R5 is a protective group for a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A fire-resistant heat insulating material excellent in resistance to heat, resistance to slag, resistance to molten iron, resistance to wear, and resistance to mechanical impulse is provided. A highly endurable heat insulating material characterized by being provided on the surface of a layer of inorganic heat insulating fibers through the medium of a coating film of surface hardening material with a flame sprayed film of a fire-resistant ceramic substance.

Abstract: A fire-resistant heat insulating material excellent in resistance to heat, resistance to slag, resistance to molten iron, resistance to wear, and resistance to mechanical impulse is provided. A highly endurable heat insulating material characterized by being provided on the surface of a layer of inorganic heat insulating fibers through the medium of a coating film of surface hardening material with a flame sprayed film of a fire-resistant ceramic substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a refractory and heat insulating material excellent in heat resistance, slag resistance, molten steel resistance, wear resistance, and mechanical impact resistance, and relates to a highly durable heat insulating material characterized by having a thermally sprayed film of refractory ceramic on a surface of a formed body of an inorganic refractory fiber which surface is covered with a cloth material or was covered with the cloth material until it burned out by flame fusion coating of refractory ceramic powder material during the fabricating process of the heat insulating material, with an application film of a surface hardening material acting as an intermediary layer between the thermally sprayed film and the fiber body.

Abstract: Two DC electric arc furnaces are provided side by side. The both DC electric arc furnaces are connected by a duct. Each of two power source apparatuses is mounted near and associated with each of the DC electric arc furnaces. The anodes of the both power source apparatuses are mutually connected by an anode cable and the cathodes of the apparatuses by a cathode cable. The anodes and the cathodes of the both DC elecric furnaces are connected to the anode cable and the cathode cable, respectively, via a connection circuit adapted to supply electric power alternately to either of the DC electric arc furnaces. When a raw material is molten in one of the DC electric arc furnaces, electric power is supplied by the both power source apparatuses to this DC electric arc furance. The exhaust gas at a high temperature produced in this DC electric arc furnace is sent to the other DC electric arc furnace through the duct and preheats another raw material charged there beforehand.

Abstract: There is disclosed an aluminum sintered body prepared by sintering aluminum nitride and additives, which consists essentially of(a) aluminum nitride,(b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal, an aluminum compound of an alkaline earth metal, and an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal and an alkaline earth metal, and(c) at least one element selected from the transition elements consisting of Groups IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of the periodic table, and/or at least one compound comprising the element, and the rare earth element, alkaline earth element and transition element are supplied by the additives.

Abstract: There are disclosed an aluminum sintered body comprising(a) aluminum nitride,(b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal, an aluminum compound of an alkaline earth metal, and an aluminum compound of a rare earth metal and an alkaline earth metal, and(c) at least one element selected from the transition elements consisting of Groups IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of the periodic table, and/or at least one compound containing said element,and a process for preparing the same comprising mixing aluminum nitride with(i) at least one of compound selected from the group consisting of a rare earth metal and/or an alkaline earth metal; and(ii) at least one of element selected from the group consisting of a transition element of Groups IVa, Va, VIa, VIIa and VIII of the periodic table, and/or at least one of a compound containing said element;and then molding and sintering the mixture.

Abstract: A cladding glass for optical fiber comprises 60 to 80% by weight of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2), 0.5 to 10% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), 9 to 17% by weight of an alkali metal oxide, 3 to 15% by weight of boron oxide (B.sub.2 O.sub.3) and more than 0 but not more than 3% by weight of fluorine (F). The cladding glass of this invention can simultaneously satisfy low refractive index and lowered viscosity, and is also excellent in water resistance and weathering resistance.

Abstract: A water-cooled furnace cover comprising a plurality of jackets each internally provided with a water channel. These jackets are arranged side by side to form a body portion of the cover. A number of fins extend from a surface of the body portion facing the interior of the furnace so that a slag layer may be adhered to the fins to easily form a heat insulating layer.