Abstract: A water-tight optical fiber cable constructed without the need of a viscous water-blocking compound. At least one water-absorbing fibrous braid is placed adjacent each optical fiber to absorb any water which may be present in or enter the cable. Additionally, one or more water-absorbing fibrous braids may be disposed between a tape layer and the surrounding protective sheath of the cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber characteristic measuring method and apparatus are disclosed whereby measurements of a plurality of different parameters of an optical fiber can be carried out automatically and successively with a minimum of operator time required. A stage is provided which is movable along a straight line, and a setting station is arranged in the direction of movement of the stage. A plurality of measurement stations are provided having first holders for holding fibers provided on the side of the measuring devices and arranged along a straight line extending parallel to the direction of movement of the stage with a predetermined distance therebetween. The stage is provided with a plurality of second holders for holding the optical fibers to be measured, with the second holders being arranged along a straight line extending parallel to the direction of arrangement of the first holders with the same distance as the predetermined distance therebetween.

Abstract: A multi core optical fiber made of quartz glass comprising at least two cores the centers of which are arranged substantially on one line. The distances between the centers of the adjacent cores are substantially the same in the longitudinal direction. A first cladding covers the cores and the second cladding covers the first cladding and has a larger refractive index than the first one. The fiber has improved mechanical strength and low cross-talk even if the distance between the adjacent cores is short.

Abstract: The production of epoxide from .alpha.-olefin or .alpha.,.omega.-diene using an epoxide producing microorganism that belongs to Nocardia genus, wherein said microorganism is cultured aerobically in a medium containing more than one straight-chain .alpha.-olefin and/or straight-chain, .alpha.,.omega.-diene chosen from .alpha.-olefins having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and .alpha.,.omega.-dienes having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or cells obtained by culturing said microorganism in a medium containing assimilable carbon sources is allowed to react aerobically in a medium containing more than one .alpha.-olefin and/or .alpha.,.omega.-diene selected from said straight-chain .alpha.-olefins and/or .alpha.,.omega.-dienes, and produced .alpha.-epoxide or .alpha.,.omega.-diepoxide or a mixture of these is separated and harvested.

Abstract: Long-chain alpha-hydroxyalkanoic acids are prepared from alpha olefins having 10 to 18 carbon atoms by first adapting a microorganism of the Candida lipolytica species to assimilate the alpha olefins in such a way that the so-adapted microorganism produces as the major metabolite of said assimilation alpha-hydroxyalkanoic acids having the same number of carbon atoms as the alpha olefins when the adapted microorganism is cultivated in an aqueous nutrient medium containing the alpha olefins. The adaptation procedure comprises first cultivating the Candida lipolytica species in an aqueous nutrient medium containing kerosene boiling range hydrocarbons and then repetitively cultivating in a series of separate successive steps in an aqueous nutrient medium containing an alpha olefin the successive microorganism cultures obtained in the preceding cultivation steps beginning with the culture obtained using the kerosene hydrocarbons as the carbon source.

Abstract: Alcohol is manufactured from cellulosic materials by a one-step process involving the simultaneous reaction of a cellulosic material, a cellulase and an alcohol-producing microorganism.