Abstract: New isoquinoline derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts represented by the following general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Ar is an aromatic ring which may be substituted, and n shows 0, 1 or 2, have an inhibitory activity against apoptotic neuronal cell death. These compounds are useful for agents of prevention and treatment of neuronal neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral ischemic injury such as stroke, and peripheral neuropathy in diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: In a method of continuous casting for rolling down a cast strand at the final stage of solidification to reduce segregation and center porosity at the center of the casting as much as possible and in particular prevent spot-shaped segregation, the rolling down is started after the center solid phase ratio of the casting reaches 0.2 and the rolling down is executed so as to compensate the total amount of volume contraction by solidification and cooling of strand in the section of the rolling down until the center solid phase ratio reaches 0.9 and thereafter the rolling down in continuously executed by a rolling down gradient of 0.08%/m or more to 1.5%/m or less.

Abstract: A machining information determination system and method for operating the same in which control data and optimum machining information of a machine tool can be determined automatically from the comparison of a model having the shape of a workpiece before machining and a model having the shape of the workpiece after machining. A CAD apparatus creates before- and after-machining workpiece shape information based on before- and after-machining models of the workpiece. Information regarding the material of the workpiece and stage of machining to be applied to the workpiece is entered via an input unit. Based on the information from the CAD apparatus and the input unit, a machining determination apparatus determines the optimum machining information for machining the workpiece. The optimum machining information and the information from the CAD apparatus is inputted into a CAM apparatus, which creates NC data, applied to the workpiece via a machine tool.

Abstract: A control system for detecting a potentially faulty detector which may be causing faulty actuation of an actuator of a controlled system has an input-signal memory for storing the state of an input signal from the detector, an auxiliary input-signal memory for storing the state of an input signal provided by an auxiliary-signal generator, an arithmetic-logic unit for generating an output signal to be applied to the actuator in accordance with predetermined logic in conformity with the states of the input signals stored in the input-signal memory and auxiliary input-signal memory, and an output-signal memory for storing the state of an output signal generated by the arithmetic-logic unit. An identification code of an abnormal output signal corresponding to the abnormal actuator which is designated, and an input signal that has influenced a logical operation, performed by the arithmetic-logic unit, and which gave rise to the designated abnormal output signal, is extracted.

Abstract: To provide a continuous casting method to diminish as much as possible center segregation and center porosity in the center of the cast piece, structure, a continuous casting method includes the application of reduction to a cast piece in the final solidification stage of the cast piece draw out process of continuous casting. The reduction is commenced at a point after the center solid fraction of the cast piece has reached 0.2, and the reduction gradient is decreased as the center solid fraction grows larger. The enlargement of the center solid fraction is divided into at least three zones with an optimal reduction gradient (%/m) established for each of the zones.

Abstract: Particular hexahydropyrano [3,2-b] [1,4] benzothiazine derivatives represented by the following general formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts thereof. ##STR1## The compounds can facilitate the metabolic turnover of inositol phospholipids at a hippocampus playing an important part in memory, and improve cerebral function leading the memory. The compounds can be utilized as agents for activating brain metabolism and improving cerebral function.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds and salts thereof, have the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a guianidinobenzoyloxy group and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy, cyano, --COR.sub.3 (wherein R.sub.3 is an amino or lower alkyl group) or --COOR.sub.4 group [wherein R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or --CH.sub.2 CONR.sub.5 R.sub.6 group (wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are the same or different and selected from a hydrogen atom and lower alkyl groups)], and wherein R.sub.1 is a hydroxy group and wherein R.sub.2 is a --COR.sub.3 (wherein R.sub.3 is an amino or lower alkyl group) or --COOR.sub.4 group [wherein R.sub.4 is a (C.sub.1, C.sub.3 or C.sub.4) alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or --CH.sub.2 CONR.sub.5 R.sub.6 group (wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are the same or different and selected from a hydrogen atom and lower alkyl groups)]. The compounds, wherein R.sub.1 is a guanidinobenzoyloxy group, are useful protease inhibitors as anti-trypsin agents.

Abstract: A novel and efficient method is proposed for the preparation of isosorbide-5-nitrate which is a promising medicinal compound for several diseases due to disorder in heart. The method comprises direct nitration of isosorbide with a concentrated nitric acid in a specific reaction medium containing an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, e.g. benzene, in addition to conventional acetic acid and acetic anhydride. After neutralization of the reaction mixture and removal of the dinitrate as a byproduct therefrom, the reaction mixture is admixed with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide so that a sodium salt of isosorbide-5-nitrate is precipitated in the form of a hydrate, which is a novel compound not known in the prior art. This hydrate sodium salt is then decomposed with an acid to give the desired isosorbide-5-nitrate in a high yield.

Abstract: A novel and very elegant method is proposed for the preparation of N.sub.1 -(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-substituted or -unsubstituted uracil, especially, N.sub.1 -(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil, by the reaction of the corresponding 5-substituted uracil compound with 2,3-dihydrofuran. The reaction is performed in the presence of a chlorosilane compound, e.g. dimethyldichlorosilane, and a catalytic amount of an organic amine compound and can proceed very rapidly without disadvantageous side reactions to give the objective compound with high purity in a high yield.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high-sensitivity differential refractometer which is characterized by having a light source disposed outside a housing, a reflecting mirror attached at the end portion thereof to a reflecting mirror-supporting plate connected with the end of a movable plate, said movable plate being so constructed as to rotate around a vertical axis and permit free change of the angle formed between said reflecting mirror-supporting plate and the movable plate, a twisting member disposed inside a lead-in tube and said lead-in tube fastened to a removable case and built in a metallic block inside the housing.

Abstract: A granular filler for liquid chromatography consisting essentially of a porous copolymer of (A) a glycidyl monovinyl ester of glycidyl monovinyl ether and (B) an alkylene glycol divinyl ester with component (A) being crosslinked by component (B) to form a gel copolymer, said copolymer containing in its molecule epoxy groups ascribable to component (A) or modified groups resulting from the ring-opening reaction of the epoxy groups with a modifying compound having a hydrophilic, oleophilic or ion exchangeable group.