Abstract: Aromatic amide compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen, a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group; Ar is an optionally substituted aromatic group; the groupC - - - -Cis C.dbd.C or HC--CH; X is hydrogen, CH.sub.2 COOH or CH.sub.2 CONHAr; and Y is hydrogen or COOH; provided that when X is CH.sub.2 COOH or Y is COOH, the COOH may be taken together with the adjacent hydroxy group on the benzene ring to form a lactone ring by dehydration, a quinone form thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof have potent nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion inducing activity, and are thus useful as a drug for the treatment or prophylaxis of degenerative nervous system disorders such as senilic dementis, and Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel polypeptide whose N-terminus is EAQ and which is composed of 60 amino acids. The polypeptide is produced from human breast cancer cell MCF7, or human gastric cancer cell MKN-45 or KATO-III, which polypeptide has a isoelectric point of 4.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkenyl group which may be substituted; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently means a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group or, taken together, mean a butadienylene group; and X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 each means a free hydroxy group or an esterified or etherified hydroxy group, has nerve growth factor secretion inducing activity, and a mammal suffering from degenerative nervous system disorders such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, etc. is treated by administering said compound to said mammal.

Abstract: A ceramic-coated terminal for electrical connection wherein an electrically conductive ceramic coating layer is provided on surface of the base material of the terminal and an electrically conductive intermediate layer is optionally provided between the base material and the electrically conductive ceramic coating layer, which terminal has good mechanical properties and durability.

Abstract: An improved optical connector for connection between two pairs of optical connectors is proposed. It consists of a female housing and a male housing. One of the housings is adapted to hold plugs carrying the optical fibers with some clearance left with respect to the inner wall to allow lateral displacement of the plugs for self-alignment between the optical fibers connected.

Abstract: A connector for connecting optical fibers together with a gap between their ends is proposed. It includes a body with a pair of walls, a pair of sleeves, a pair of plugs, and a pair of rod lenses carried by the sleeves. The rod lenses assure transmission of light with minimum loss in spite of the presence of a gap between the opposed ends of the optical cables.

Abstract: An arrangement is proposed which is adapted to prevent misconnection between two optical connectors each having a female half and a male half. The female half is formed with a projection and the male half is formed with a hole to receive the projection. A guide plate having one corner beveled is mounted on the projection to prevent misconnection.

Abstract: A protector for a molten metal casting stream includes first and second pipes telescopically connected to each other to form a pipe assembly, and an urging means mounted about the pipe assembly so as to force it to extend in the lengthwise direction.