We present a new auditory illusion, the gap transfer illusion, supported by phenomenological and psychophysical data. In a typical situation, an ascending frequency glide of 2,500 msec with a temporal gap of 100 msec in the middle and a continuously descending frequency glide of 500 msec cross each other at their central positions. These glides move at the same constant speed in logarithmic frequency in opposite directions. The temporal gap in the long glide is perceived as if it were in the short glide. The same kind of subjective transfer of a temporal gap can take place also when the stimulus pattern is reversed in time. This phenomenon suggests that onsets and terminations of glide components behave as if they were independent perceptual elements. We also find that when two long frequency glides are presented successively with a short temporal overlap, a long glide tone covering the whole duration of the pattern and a short tone around the temporal middle can be perceived. To account for these results, we propose an event construction model, in which perceptual onsets and terminations are coupled to construct auditory events and the proximity principle connects these elements.

Summary. A 24‐year‐old male was admitted to Kansai Medical University Hospital, complaining of fever, skin exanthema, jaundice, brown urine and lymphadenopathy. The patient was diagnosed as having haemolytic anaemia caused by a cold agglutinin following rubella infection. The cold agglutinin of the patient reacted strongly with group OI red blood cells (RBC), Oi cord RBC, Oi adult RBC and neuraminidase‐treated RBC, and much weaker with protease (papain, ficin, bromelin)‐treated RBC; it was identified as anti‐Pra. Cold agglutinins of anti‐Pra specificity following rubella infection in adults have rarely been reported.

Air-steam gasification of waste biomass was performed using a downdraft-fixed gasifier at atmospheric pressure and 1173K. The effect of a chemical property of waste biomass feedstock on the product distribution and product gas composition was statistically investigated. Twelve types of waste biomass and three types of model compounds of woody biomass were employed as feedstock. Gas, water soluble compound, water insoluble-acetone soluble compound, acetone insoluble compound, and char were obtained as products. Regardless of the variety of feedstock, the volatile matter content was the factor affecting the distribution to gas and product gas composition. The distribution to gas, i.e., the conversion to gas on a carbon basis, increased from 52.8 to 97.9C-mol% with an increase in the volatile matter content in the feedstock. The distributions to the water soluble compound, water insoluble-acetone soluble compound, and acetone insoluble compound were independent of the chemical property, and would be affected by the nitrogen and ash contents in the feedstock. The main product gas was H2 (20-35mol%), CO (15-30mol%), CO2 (20-35mol%), and CH4 (5-10mol%). When the volatile matter content was more than 70wt%, the molar ratio of H2 to CO in the product gas (H2/CO) decreased with an increase in the volatile matter content, while the molar ratio of H2 to CO2 (H2/CO2) was approximately unity and independent of the chemical property.In waste biomass with a volatile matter content of 70-80wt%, syngas with the desired H2/CO ratio for methanol synthesis was obtained. In waste biomass with a volatile matter content of more than 80wt%, syngas with the desired H2/CO ratio for dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis was obtained. Key WordsWaste biomass, Air-steam gasification, Volatile matter, Ash Japanese oak, red pine bark, larch, used ground coffee beans, residue of squeezed soybeans, residue of squeezed satsuma, tea waste, Shiitake mushroom fungus-bed, palm tree bark, eucalyptus, bamboo, and Japanese cedar were used as waste biomass feedstock. These feedstock were ground and sieved to attain a powder with a particle size of 0.106-1mm. Prior to use, the feedstock were dried overnight at 378K to reduce their water contents less than 10 wt%. Cellulose crystalline (MERCK; less than 0.035mm), xylan (from Beechwood, SIGMA; less than 0.035mm), and lignin (Lignin, organosolv; Aldrich; less than 0.035mm) were used as model compounds of woody biomass. Since the ash content of the purchased xylan was 9.8wt%, the xylan was demineralized by leaching with acetic acid at room temperature. This treatment reduced ash content in the xylan, which was determined as an incombustible residue of 0.4wt%. The elemental analysis of the feedstock was performed using an elemental analyzer (CHN corder MT-5, YanacoNew Science Inc.). The proximate analysis was carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer (Thermo plus TG8120; Rigaku). Approximately 15mg of each feedstock was heated to 378K under nitrogen flow; this temperature was maintained until the weight remained...

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