Abstract: A prediction device includes a state detector that detects a state related to sleepiness of a driver; an eye-closure duration detector that detects an eye-closure duration of the driver; and a microsleep predictor that predicts that the driver is in the microsleep state, on conditions that the state detector detects the state related to the sleepiness of the driver and that the eye-closure duration detector detects the eye-closure duration that is no shorter than a first duration and no longer than a second duration.

Abstract: A parallel driving device that drives parallel-connected semiconductor elements includes a control unit and a gate driving circuit. The control unit detects a temperature difference between the semiconductor elements on the basis of detected values by temperature sensors that detect temperatures of the individual semiconductor elements. The control unit generates a control signal for changing the timing at which to turn on a first semiconductor element specified from the semiconductor elements on the basis of the temperature difference. The gate driving circuit generates a first driving signal for driving the semiconductor elements, and generates a second driving signal that is the first driving signal delayed on the basis of the control signal, and applies the second driving signal to the first semiconductor element.

Abstract: A rubber composition for covering a steel cord, that can improve wet heat adhesiveness while maintaining vulcanization rate is provided. The rubber composition for covering a steel cord comprises, per 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber, 1.0 to 5.0 parts by mass of an imidazole type age resister, and sulfur, wherein a sulfenamide type vulcanization accelerator is not contained, or even when contained, the amount of the sulfenamide type vulcanization accelerator is 1.5 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a register circuit system includes a first register circuit, a step-down circuit, and a second register circuit. The step-down circuit generates a second power voltage from a first power voltage. The second power voltage is a power voltage of a potential level lower than the first power voltage. The second register circuit is supplied with the second power voltage from the step-down circuit. The first register circuit keeps holding data during a period of time in which the step-down circuit is stopping the generating of the second power voltage.

Abstract: A rubber composition obtained by dry-mixing a natural rubber wet master batch yielded by mixing at least a natural rubber latex and a carbon-black-containing slurry solution with each other in a liquid phase and drying the resultant mixture, a dry rubber made mainly of a polybutadiene rubber, and an oil, wherein when the total amount of rubber components in the rubber composition is regarded as 100 parts by mass, the natural rubber is contained in an amount of 50 parts or more by mass, and the polybutadiene rubber is contained in an amount of 20 to 50 parts by mass, and the oil has a pour point of ?10 C or lower, and an aniline point of 90 C or higher, and the blend amount of the oil is from 15 to 40 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the rubber components.

Abstract: A rubber composition obtained by dry-mixing a natural rubber wet master batch yielded by mixing at least a natural rubber latex and a carbon-black-containing slurry solution with each other in a liquid phase and drying the resultant mixture, a dry rubber made mainly of a polybutadiene rubber, and an oil, wherein when the total amount of rubber components in the rubber composition is regarded as 100 parts by mass, the natural rubber is contained in an amount of 50 parts or more by mass, and the polybutadiene rubber is contained in an amount of 20 to 50 parts by mass, and the oil has a pour point of ?10 C or lower, and an aniline point of 90 C or higher, and the blend amount of the oil is from 15 to 40 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the rubber components.

Abstract: A rubber composition obtained by dry-mixing a natural rubber wet master batch yielded by mixing at least a natural rubber latex and a carbon-black-containing slurry solution with each other in a liquid phase and drying the resultant mixture, a dry rubber made mainly of a polybutadiene rubber, and an oil, wherein when the total amount of rubber components in the rubber composition is regarded as 100 parts by mass, the natural rubber is contained in an amount of 50 parts or more by mass, and the polybutadiene rubber is contained in an amount of 20 to 50 parts by mass, and the oil has a pour point of ?10 C or lower, and an aniline point of 90 C or higher, and the blend amount of the oil is from 15 to 40 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the rubber components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medicinal composition, which comprises a peptide as an effective ingredient and as bases, epsilon aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid and an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer represented by the following formula (I):HO(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.a --(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.b --(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.c H (I)wherein a, b and c stand for integers of 1 or greater, respectively. According to this medicinal composition, the peptide can be absorbed at a high rate through the mucosa and further, its pharmacological effects are prolonged over for a long time.

Abstract: When a powdered extract of Kampo medicine is encapsulated as such in hard capsules, the pharmaceutical effects of the Kampo medicine cannot be fully achieved, since the dissolution of the content of the hard capsules requires a long period of time. Therefore, the present invention aims at providing Kampo medicine hard capsules having good dissolution properties.The present invention provides a process for producing Kampo medicine hard capsules which comprises compacting Kampo medicine extract powder, mixing magnesium stearate with the compacted Kampo medicine extract powder and filing the mixture into gelatin hard capsules.It is preferable that the weight ratio of the magnesium stearate to the Kampo medicine powdered extract ranges from 0.5/100 to 3/100. Furthermore, it is preferable that said Kampo medicine is selected from Oren-gedoku-to, Sho-saiko-to, Ninjin-to, San'o-shashin-to, Mao-bushi-saishin-to, Anchu-san, Keishi-bukuryo-gan, Byakko-ka-ninjin-to, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to and Sairei-to.

Abstract: A novel compound 5-(2,4-dioxotetrahydro-3-furanylmethyl)norbornane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride has been provided. The compound is prepared by hydrogenating 5-(2,4-dioxotetrahydro-3-furanylmethyl)-5-norbornene-2,3-di-carboxylic acid anhydride. The compound may be used as a hardening agent for epoxy resins, a raw material of producing polyimides, polyamides and polyesters, and a raw material for a plasticizer for vinyl chloride polymers.

Abstract: A method of operating a flash smelting furnace which includes a reaction shaft, a concentrate burner disposed at the top of the reaction shaft, a settler disposed with one end thereof connected to the lower part of the reaction shaft, an uptake disposed as connected to the other end of the settler, and at least one lance pipe disposed through the ceiling of the settler between the reaction shaft and the uptake and adapted to permit forced supply of at least powdery raw materials and a reaction gas into the melt in the settler includes the steps of blowing the powdery raw materials containing only a small amount of incombustible substances and the reaction gas into the reaction shaft through the concentrate burner, blowing powdery raw materials containing at least incombustible substances through the lance pipe, and employing means capable of at least retaining the heat of the melt.

Abstract: A flash smelting furnace which comprises a reaction shaft, a concentrate combustion device disposed at the top of the furnace shaft, a settler disposed with one end thereof connected to the lower part of the reaction shaft, an uptake disposed as connected to the other end of the settler and at least one lance pipe extending through the ceiling of the settler between the reaction shaft and the uptake and adapted to blow at least powdery raw materials and a reaction gas into the melt inside the settler.

Abstract: A method of treating the slag from a copper converter comprises introducing the molten slag from a copper converter into a furnace having tuyeres through which air can be blown into the molten slag, blowing into the slag through the tuyeres at least 6% by weight of pulverized coal with air or oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen content of 21 to 40% by volume to separate molten metallic copper from the slag, the amount of the air having a ratio of 0.3 to 0.7 to theoretical combustion of the coal, adding a source of sulfur to the separated copper to form a molten matte, maintaining the matte at a reduced pressure not exceeding 0.6 mm Hg for at least five minutes in a vacuum refining apparatus to remove impurities from the matte by volatilization, and treating the refined matte in a copper converter used for the treatment of a matte produced by a smelting furnace.

Abstract: A silicate ore containing gold and silver is melted with the slag from a copper converter and a reducing agent. A source of CaO may also be added to the slag so that the treated slag may contain at least 3.0% by weight of CaO. Copper is recovered from the slag and absorbs gold and silver from the ore. This method drastically improves the capacity for the treatment of a silicate ore containing gold and silver during the smelting of copper. It enables the complete melting of the ore without leaving any ore undissolved.

Abstract: A method of oxygen lancing for a copper-producing converter. An oxygen-enriched gas, such as oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen, having a gage pressure of at least 1 kg/cm.sup.2 is blown onto the surface of a molten bath through at least one top lancing tube of the non-immersion type having a lower end located within the converter and held at a height within 0.4 m above the surface of the bath as measured when the bath is at a standstill, while air is simultaneously blown into the bath through tuyeres.

Abstract: An improved method of operating a converter for producing copper includes introducing at least a part of a flux and a cold charge in powdery form into a molten charge in the converter through at least one lance.