Abstract: The present invention provides a mitochondrial function-improving agent containing a lactic acid bacterium belonging to Lactobacillus farciminis or Pediococcus acidilactici, a culture of the lactic acid bacterium, or a culture supernatant of the lactic acid bacterium.

Abstract: A fiber bundle which has a pieced part formed by jetting a pressurized fluid against a fiber-bundle overlap is formed either by directly superposing the ending part of a fiber bundle composed of many fibers on the beginning part of another fiber bundle composed of many fibers or by superposing the end part and the beginning part on a jointing fiber bundle composed of many fibers, whereby the many fibers of the fiber bundles are interlaced with one another to thereby piece up the fiber bundles. The pieced part comprises an opened-fiber part in which the fibers have been opened and interlaced-fiber parts respectively located on both sides thereof, each interlaced-fiber part being composed of a plurality of constituent interlaced parts located apart in the width direction for the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A fiber bundle which has a pieced part formed by jetting a pressurized fluid against a fiber-bundle overlap is formed either by directly superposing the ending part of a fiber bundle composed of many fibers on the beginning part of another fiber bundle composed of many fibers or by superposing the end part and the beginning part on a jointing fiber bundle composed of many fibers, whereby the many fibers of the fiber bundles are interlaced with one another to thereby piece up the fiber bundles. The pieced part comprises an opened-fiber part in which the fibers have been opened and interlaced-fiber parts respectively located on both sides thereof, each interlaced-fiber part being composed of a plurality of constituent interlaced parts located apart in the width direction for the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A fiber bundle which has a pieced part formed by jetting a pressurized fluid against a fiber-bundle overlap is formed either by directly superposing the ending part of a fiber bundle composed of many fibers on the beginning part of another fiber bundle composed of many fibers or by superposing the end part and the beginning part on a jointing fiber bundle composed of many fibers, whereby the many fibers of the fiber bundles are interlaced with one another to thereby piece up the fiber bundles. The pieced part comprises an opened-fiber part in which the fibers have been opened and interlaced-fiber parts respectively located on both sides thereof, each interlaced-fiber part being composed of a plurality of constituent interlaced parts located apart in the width direction for the fiber bundle.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of the present invention have the are configuration as stated below to achieve the object; carbon fibers, characterized in that a polymer having polar groups and groups capable of reacting with a matrix resin are deposited on the fiber surfaces. Furthermore, the carbon fibers of the present invention can be produced by heating the carbon fibers, on the surfaces of which either (1) a monomer having both polar groups and groups capable of reacting with the matrix resin, or (2) the mixture of a monomer having polar groups and a monomer having groups capable of reacting with the matrix resin, is deposited, to polymerize the monomer. The present invention can provide carbon fibers unlikely to cause fluffing and fiber breaking even if rubbed by guide bars and rollers in sophisticated processing, and since they are excellent in adhesion properties to the matrix resin, a carbon fiber reinforced composite material excellent in bending properties and compressive properties can be obtained.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of the present invention have the are configuration as stated below to achieve the object; carbon fibers, characterized in that a polymer having polar groups and groups capable of reacting with a matrix resin are deposited on the fiber surfaces.

Abstract: The carbon fibers of the present invention have a polymer having polar groups and groups capable of reacting with a matrix resin deposited on the fiber surfaces. The carbon fibers can be produced by depositing a monomer having both polar groups and groups capable of reacting with the matrix resin or a mixture of a monomer having polar groups and a monomer having groups capable of reacting with the matrix resin onto the fiber surface and heating to polymerize the monomer(s) forming a polymer having polar groups and groups capable of reacting with a matrix resin. The resultant fibers have excellent adhesion properties to the matrix resin and are unlikely to cause fluffing and fiber breakage.