Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a composition for sleep improvement, which contains a highly safe substance as an active ingredient, and a method of improving sleep. The present invention relates to, for example, a composition for sleep improvement, which contains L-ergothioneine or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A provided powder/granular material feeding device fully satisfies the function of sufficiently preventing bridges and ratholes and the function of favorably stabilizing the filling rate of an outlet portion. Moreover, the powder/granular material feeding device does not require consumable items such as a flexible chute or leave a large amount of powder/granular material in a specific region inside a chute. The powder/granular material feeding device includes: a hopper 1 that receives powder/granular material; an outlet portion 2 that discharges powder/granular material; a chute 3 that guides, into the outlet portion 2, powder/granular material dropped from the hopper 1; and a stirring part 4 that rotates stirring members 4b about a shaft 4a protruding so as to tilt diagonally upward from the lower part of the interior of the chute 3.

Abstract: A fetal movement information processing device and method for accurately grasping and predicting the healthy development state of a fetus, namely, the well-being state of the fetus by adequately detecting and recording information on the fetal movement of a pregnant woman.

Abstract: A fetal movement information processing device and method for accurately grasping and predicting the healthy development state of a fetus, namely, the well-being state of the fetus by adequately detecting and recording information on the fetal movement of a pregnant woman.

Abstract: A method of continuously draw-molding a fiber reinforced plastic rod formed with a spiral groove includes the steps of arranging in parallel a plurality of reinforcing fibers under tension, impregnating an unhardened thermosetting resin in the reinforcing fibers with tension being applied to the reinforcing fibers, winding a tape having a resin impregnable property and an expandible and contractible property around a fiber bundle composed of the thermosetting resin impregnated reinforcing fibers in a spiral fashion with a winding angle being substantially equal to an angle of the spiral groove with respect to an axial direction of a rod to be molded, passing the fiber bundle with the wound tape in a heating mold provided with a hole having a cross section substantially equal to that of the rod to be molded to heat and harden the thermosetting resin, and taking up the tape thereafter.

Abstract: A fixing device for a tensioning member of a prestressed concrete may unimly act holding force for the tensioning member on the overall peripheral surface of the tensioning member mating with the wedge. The device includes a stationary grip through which the tensioning member extends, a wedge press fitted to the grip with holding the tensioning member for fixing the tensioning member relative to the grip under a given tension, and a buffer member disposed between the tensioning member and the wedge, the buffer member having both elasticity and plasticity.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic reinforcement for concrete structure comprises a core made of a fiber reinforced plastic material composed of a matrix resin and reinforcing fiber, uneven profile portion integrally formed on the peripheral surface portion of the core having alternately arranged first higher portions and second lower portions, and the reinforcing fiber extending in series across the core and the uneven profile portion.

Abstract: A device for advancing and retracting a writing element in a writing instrument, of the type comprising a cylinder, a stationary cam provided on an inner surface of the cylinder, a rotary cam follower disposed inside the stationary cam to be rotatable and slidable axially of the cylinder, the rotary cam follower being in abutting engagement at a front end thereof with the writing element, and a knocking rod disposed in the cylinder and having a front cam portion. When the knocking rod is pushed forward, the knocking rod, the stationary cam and the rotary cam follower cooperate to advance the writing element and maintain the same in an advanced position and to allow the writing element to retract to a retracted position. The knocking rod has projections which are in slidable engagement with slots formed axially through the cylinder. The knocking rod has slots to make it resilient.