Abstract: An image pickup head for an image pickup device capable of permitting the observed section at a subject to be illuminated with a uniform lumination while preventing the reflection of light at the observed section from adversely affecting an image of the observed section. A first polarizing element having a predetermined polarization plane is arranged in the optical path of light projected from the projection end of a light guide onto a subject, while a second polarizing element having a predetermined polarization plane is arranged in the optical path of light reflected at the subject and guided to an image pickup element. The polarization planes of the first and second polarizing elements are varied relative to each other to provide an image either including or free of light reflected at the surface of the subject.

Abstract: A novel (-)-optically active piperazine derivative of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein the mark of * indicates an optically active carbon) shows an increased cerebral circulation-improving effect as well as an enhanced safety.

Abstract: A novel glycerol derivative which is effective to reduce blood pressure has the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 10-22 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is lower acyl, benzoyl, aryl, mono-, di- or triarylalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl; Q is substituted or unsubstituted alkylene containing 1-4 carbon atoms, l is 0 or 1; Y is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group or a nitrogen-containing bridged heterocyclic group (--(Q).sub.l -- is attached to a carbon atom contained in a hetero-ring of the heterocyclic group) in which Y is the bridged heterocyclic group where l is 0; and each of R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

Abstract: An image magnifying and pick-up system including a lighting light-guide device for guiding illuminating light to the surface of an observed portion of a specimen. The device includes a light-guide cap mounted at the front end of a lens tube. The light-guide cap includes an outer surface adapted to be abutted against the surface of the specimen, so that illuminating light from optical fibers is guided through the lens tube and light-guide cap may be projected on to the surface of the specimen. The light-guide cap is formed of a transparent material into a substantially hemi-spherical shape and has a central observation aperture, so that the illuminating light may be introduced via an annular end surface of the light-guide cap through the cap to the peripheral surface of the observation aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of quantitative assay for a vitamin B.sub.12 -containing substance which comprises culturing marine methanol-utilizing bacteria having B.sub.12 auxotrophy in a medium for quantitative assay of the bacteria containing pyrroloquinoline-quinone and a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester and, quantitatively determining vitamin B.sub.12 in the vitamin B.sub.12 -containing substance as a function of the degree of growth thereof and, to a reagent for the B.sub.12 -containing substance comprising a kit for combination of an ampule or vial having sealed therein a dry viable bacteria composition of a marine methanol-utilizing bacteria for inoculation and an ampule or vial having sealed therein a medium for the bacteria containing pyrroloquinoline-quinone and a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, or in addition thereto, further an ampule or vial having sealed therein a standard dilution of vitamin B.sub.12 having a serial concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat resistant austenitic cast steel consisting essentially of 0.03 to 0.09% by weight of carbon, 2.0% by weight or less of silicon, 3.0% by weight or less of manganese, 0.11 to 0.30% by weight of nitrogen, 6 to 15% by weight of nickel, 15 to 19.5% by weight of chromium, 0.01 to 1.0% by weight of vanadium, 1 to 5% by weight of molybdenum, and the balance of iron. The heat resistant austenitic cast steel exhibits excellent mechanical properties such as mechanical strength, elongation, reduction of area and fracture time caused by creep fracture, particularly, under high temperatures. If a turbine casing is formed of the cast steel, it is possible to increase the steam temperature and pressure.

Abstract: An actuator is arranged such that an operation stroke is obtained by a shape memory element made of a shape memory alloy member for recovering a memorized shape when the shape memory alloy member is heated, and that shape recovery control of the shape memory element is performed by Joule heat generated by a current supplied thereto. The shape memory element of this actuator has a mechanism such as conductive layers made of copper-plated layers covering part of the surface of the shape memory alloy. This mechanism decreases an electrical resistance of at least one portion of the element such that it is smaller than the electrical resistance of any other portion thereof. The conductive layers contribute to the partial shape recovery control of the shape memory element with high precision.

Abstract: Disclosed is a corrosion-resistant non-magnetic steel comprising, in terms of weight percentage, 0.4% or less of carbon, above 0.3% but up to 1% of nitrogen, 2% of less of silicon, 12 to 20% of chromium, 13 to 25% of manganese and the balance consisting substantially of iron, the total content of the chromium and manganese being at least 30%.

Abstract: Compounds of the following general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkanoyl group;R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or the group --COCH.sub.2 R.sup.5 in which R.sup.5 represents a lower alkyl group or an aryl or pyridyl group bonded through a sulfur atom;R.sup.4 represents a methyl group which may be substituted by aryl, pyridyl, pyridylthio, hydroxyl or arylthioamino, an aryl group, a nitrile group, a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having 1 to 4 hetero atoms selected from nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or a tetrahydropyranyl group which may be substituted by methoxy;A represents the group --OCO--, --OSO.sub.2 --, --O-- or --S--, or A and R.sup.4, taken together, represent a halogen atom, a nitrile group or a group of the formula ##STR2## in which R.sup.

Abstract: Stainless steel suitable for use as water turbine elements for water power plants having high cavitation erosion resistance, comprised of at least one of either carbon of no more than 0.2 weight percent or nitrogen of 0.02-0.3 weight percent, together with silicon of 2.0 weight percent or less, chromium of 10.0-20.0 weight percent, nickel of 0.5-10.0 weight percent, manganese of over 2.0-20.0 weight percent, and the balance of essentially iron, and in which the ferrite phase has not been formed but where at least either the epsilon phase or the austenite phase has been essentially formed.

Abstract: Martensitic stainless cast steel suitable for use as turbine elements for water power plants having high cavitation erosion resistance and consisting essentially of carbon of 0.1 wt % or less, silicon of 1.0 wt % or less, manganese of 2.0-9.0 (exclusive of 2.0) wt %, nickel of 0.5-8.0 wt %, chromium of 11.0-14.0 wt %, and the balance of essentially iron.

Abstract: Self-rotating and travelling tendency of a circular tablet in its erect posture along an inclined transferring path and an impeding effect upon the tendency which occurs when the tablet is defective one having a breakage or a speckle, are advantageously utilized by the present invention for detecting flaws in tablets and for discriminating the defective tablets from normal ones.Transferring path bridging equipment in a tablet processing line, is usually composed of a parallel but spaced pair of rails having shoulders on right opposed faces thereof and upper side plates above said shoulders. The shoulders are capable of carrying the tablets thereon or therein between and having an inclination sufficient for giving the normal tablet a self-rotating and travelling tendency along the path in a given direction. The upper side plates are capable of permitting unobstructed passage of the tablet in its erect posture but make it stagnate on the path in a reclined posture.

Abstract: Seed crystals of one optically active enantiomer of 6-chlorotryptophan methanesulfonate or 6-chlorotryptophan benzenesulfonate are added to a supersaturated solution of DL-6-chlorotryptophan methanesulfonate or DL-6-chlorotryptophan benzenesulfonate. Crystallization of the optically active enantiomer results. The crystals are recovered. Alternatively, crystals of the optically active enantiomer may be added to a hot solution of DL-6-chlorotryptophan methanesulfonate or DL-6-chlorotryptophan benzenesulfonate to produce a supersaturated solution. The solution is then cooled to crystallize out the optically active enantiomer. Optically active 6-chlorotryptophan is prepared by treating optically active 6-chlorotryptophan methanesulfonate or 6-chlorotryptophan benzenesulfonate with an alkaline agent or an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: In order to recognize confusable characters exactly, a pattern recognition system is described wherein, when more than two reference patterns having a similarity to the input unknown pattern larger than a predetermined threshold level are detected by a first discriminating circuit, one or more suitable feature comparators are selected from a plurality of feature comparators by the control signals corresponding to the reference patterns or the category thereof detected by the first discriminating circuit and the selected one or more feature comparators determine the identity of the input unknown pattern by comparing selected features thereof to the corresponding portions of the plural reference patterns under consideration.