Abstract: The invention concerns a wavelength-division multiplex soliton signal fiber optic transmission system; to reduce the effects of collision jitter on the soliton channels, it proposes quasi-distributed amplification combining lumped amplification and distributed amplification. In this way it is possible to combine pumping of a lightly doped line fiber an dumped amplification by an EDFA in the repeaters. Reduncant and common pumping means are advantageously used for the lumped amplification and the distributed amplification and the gain of the lumped amplification is advantageously controlled automatically.

Abstract: A combustion state detecting apparatus for an internal-combustion engine improves the signal-to-noise ratio of an ionic pulse signal to achieve good interfacing characteristic, high detection accuracy, and high control reliability without adding to cost. An electronic control unit (2A) which detects the combustion state in a spark plug according to an ionic pulse signal (Gi) includes: an edge detecting circuit (36) for detecting an end edge of an ionic pulse contained in the ionic pulse signal in a detection zone from a second reference crank angle to a first reference crank angle; a level detecting circuit (37) for detecting the level of the ionic pulse signal at the first reference crank angle; and a circuit (38) for determining the combustion state of the internal-combustion engine according to a detection result (Ni) received from the edge detecting circuit and a detection result (Li) received from the level detecting circuit.

Abstract: An additive for masticating natural rubber comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of benzoic acids, naphthoic acids, dicarboxylic acids and compounds represented by Formula (IV): ##STR1## wherein m and n each represent an integer of 1 to 3; p represents an integer of 1 to 4; m+n+p=6; X is O, NR.sup.8 or (R.sup.9 O).sub.q ; R.sup.6 is a C.sub.1 .about.C.sub.24 alkyl, a C.sub.2 .about.C.sub.24 alkenyl, or a C.sub.6 .about.C.sub.24 aryl group; and R.sup.7 is H, OH, an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; R.sup.8 is H or a C.sub.1 .about.C.sub.24 alkyl group; R.sup.9 is a C.sub.1 .about.C.sub.4 alkyl group; q is an integer of 1 to 5, a mastication method and a natural rubber composition each of which uses the additive, and a pneumatic tire using the natural rubber composition.

Abstract: A viscous liquid stirring device comprising a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft which are arranged in parallel to each other in the horizontal plane in the vessel. The rotary shafts have a plurality of rotors thereon and are rotated at the same speed and in the same direction that the upper face of the first rotary shaft moves away from the second rotary shaft. A viscous liquid inlet portion is formed on the top portion of the inner wall of the end plate of the vessel.