Abstract: The present invention is intended to find a novel function of a component in pre-germinated brown rice and to provide a safe and effective agent or functional food for prevention or improvement of a neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy The present invention provides an agent or functional food for prevention or improvement of a neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy including a total lipid fraction of pre-germinated brown rice as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: Waves in which fine recesses and projections extend continuously along root circles Y of spline teeth 72 formed on an outer circumferential surface 73 of a separator plate 7 are formed. A reference numeral 76 denotes a recessed portion of the separator plate. A distance W between the teeth is set larger than the width T of one tooth. A fluid film is formed in the recessed portion formed by the waves in an initial period in the time of engagement of the clutch. As a result, a friction coefficient in the initial period of the time of engagement of the clutch decreases, and friction characteristics thereof are improved. During the manufacturing of the separator plate, a circumferential surface 74 not having spline teeth is stamped out, and spline teeth 72 of an outer circumferential surface 73 thereafter.

Abstract: A heater-equipped spark plug comprises an insulator having an insulator nose which holds thereon a center electrode in the vicinity of a free end of an axial bore, a lead wire arranged along a surface of the insulator, a heater formed on the insulator nose by baking a metal paste and connected to the lead wire; and a high softening-point glass layer covering and holding the heater in place with an alumina layer interposed between the high softening-point glass and the heater. Preferably, the alumina layer can have a thickness of 20-200 .mu.m and the high softening-point glass layer can have a thickness of 30-500 .mu.m.

Abstract: An igniter plug is disclosed for use in jet and other internal combustion engines. The igniter plug has a center electrode having a firing tip, which is mounted within an insulator which in turn is mounted within an exterior metal shell. A ground electrode is integral with or in electrical contact relationship with the metal shell and is disposed in a spaced, spark gap relation with the firing tip of the center electrode. An electrically semiconducting surface is disposed adjacent the spark gap and in electrical contact with the center electrode and with the ground electrode. The electrically semiconducting surface is formed by a sintered ceramic body having an actual density of more than 95 percent of its theoretical maximum density, and consists essentially of 67-80 wt % of silicon carbide particles and 20-33 percent by weight of grain boundary phase of alumina particles, as well as one or more sintering aids selected from magnesia, silica or calcia.

Abstract: Resistor compositions for producing a resistor for use in resistor-incorporated spark plugs and comprising a glass, an inorganic aggregate, and carbon black and/or a carbonaceous substance as a regulating agent for resistance value, with or without a stabilizing agent for resistance under load of the resistor, are now modified by addition of a reducing metallic powder such as powder of Al, Mg, Zn, Sn, Ti, Zr, Fe, Ga and Ag or alloys thereof, to improve the service life characteristics under load of the resistor. Such compositions are further modified by additional presence of a ceramic aggregate of a particle size of 100 to 800 .mu.m, to improve the electric wave noise-preventing property.