Abstract: A vehicle visibility assist device is started up when a switching operation of a switch for an external vehicle light is detected and when it is determined by a brightness sensor that it is darker outside of the vehicle than a predetermined threshold. The visibility assist device projects infrared light to a region outside the vehicle, captures a reflection of the light, processes an image of the region outside the vehicle, and projects the image onto a surface visible to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arc-melting apparatus, which attains extremely high efficiency by preheating scraps using exhaust gas from the melting chamber. The arc-melting apparatus needs for no device to carry and supply an iron source to a melting chamber, which makes it possible to preheat the next charge. The arc-melting apparatus has a melting furnace which melts scraps, a preheating shaft connected directly to an upper part of one side of the melting furnace, an arc electrode for melting scraps in the melting furnace, a bucket for supplying scraps to the preheat shaft so as to continuously maintain scraps in the melting furnace and in the preheating shaft, a tapping portion having a tapping hole, being projected outward from the melting furnace and a tilting device for tilting the melting furnace on a side of the tapping portion. The tapping portion is arranged at an orthogonal direction to the direction of the supplied cold iron source.

Abstract: A secretory vector expressed in mycobacteria comprising a promoter, a signal sequence having ligated therewith a DNA nucleotide sequence encoding heterologous polypeptide and replicator region capable of replication in mycobacteria is disclosed. A transformant that has been transformed with the secretory vector, as well as a vaccine comprising the transformant is provided.

Abstract: Semi-solidified metal compositions are stably produced by pouring molten metal into a cooling agitation vessel, agitating it while cooling to produce a slurry of semi-solidified metal composition at a solid-liquid coexistent state and discharging out the semi-solidified metal composition from a discharge port of the vessel. In this case, the cooling agitation is carried out so that a relation of fraction solid, solidification rate and shear rate satisfies the following equation (1).eta.=a/2(1/f.sub.s -1/f.sub.scr).ltoreq.10 (1).

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for stably and continuously producing a solid-liquid metal mixture in which non-dendritic primary solid particles are dispersed into the remaining liquid matrix, molten metal is charged into a clearance between a wall member and a rotating agitator composed of a cylindrical drum having a horizontally rotational axis.

Abstract: The gap between an insertion hole formed in a covering of a ladle and an electrode inserted through the insertion hole is sealed by sealing means. The sealing means has a cap seal longitudinally and slidably fitted over the electrode. A base seal is hermetically disposed between the cap seal and the covering in such a manner that a gap is provided between the electrode and the base seal. The base seal has a gas injection nozzle intended to discharge a gas toward the electrode and another gas injection nozzle intended to discharge the gas downwardly. The use of the base and cap seals enables securing the sealing functions thereof despite any movement of the electrode, thus preventing the pickup of [N] as well as the reoxidation of molten steel. When a gas seal is effected by the formation of a flow of gas rotating around the electrode about the axis thereof, the sealing performance can be more enhanced.

Abstract: Three electrodes are dipped into slag on molten steel in a ladle. The electrodes are connected to a three-phase AC voltage. An arc is formed between each electrode and molten steel upon energizing the electrodes. The molten steel is heated by arc heat. Each electrode has a gas flow path extending longitudinally along its center. The gas flow path is open at the lower end of each electrode to constitute a gas injection port. Ar gas is injected from the gas injection port through the gas flow path. Nitrogen is removed from the arc region between the electrodes and the molten steel and its peripheral region to prevent the nitrogen pickup phenomenon of molten steel. If a powder mixture of chromium ore and carbon is added to the Ar gas, chromium ore is reduced by carbon with arc heat to add reaction product of chromium to the molten steel. If a flux powder is added to the Ar gas, the flux is melted and slagged by the arc heat.