Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a copolymer useful for the manufacture of tires by coupling the ends of a living polymer obtained from copolymerization of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic monomer in the presence of an organolithium catalyst and a hydrocarbon solvent with a multi-reactive polysiloxane compound and then modifying the remaining uncoupled ends of the polymer with an amine compound. The use of the copolymer thus obtained for the fabrication of tires improves the affinity to silica as well as carbon black used as a reinforcing material and provides enhanced properties required for tires, such as increased wet traction, reduced rolling resistance, and increased tread wear.

Abstract: The invention is directed in part to oral dosage forms comprising a combination of an orally analgesically effective amount of an opioid agonist and an orally active opioid antagonist, the opioid antagonist being included in a ratio to the opioid agonist to provide a combination product which is analgesically effective when the combination is administered orally, but which is aversive in a physically dependent subject. Preferably, the amount of opioid antagonist included in the combination product provides at least a mildly negative, “aversive” experience in physically dependent addicts (e.g., precipitated abstinence syndrome).

Abstract: Presented is a reusable printing form including a printing area that has a metal oxide surface, in particular a native oxidized titanium surface, which is treated with at least one amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. In an advantageous embodiment, n-heptadecanyl hydroxamic acid {CH3-(CH2)16-C(O)—NH—OH} and/or n-octadecanyl phosphonic acid {CH3-(CH2)17-P(O)—(OH)2} is used. Also described is a method for imaging a reusable printing form. The reusable printing form can be used for offset printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering an input text stream includes receiving a definition of a filter configuration and modifying the input text stream according to the filter configuration so as to generate a filtered text stream. The filtered text stream includes positioning information for the input text stream. The positioning information may be useable by a downstream scanning device of a parser.

Abstract: This invention relates to a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: a sequence of signal peptide for Bacillus cell wall protein (CWP); a tag sequence for separation and purification of the fusion protein; a linker sequence; a sequence for chemical or enzymatic cleavage; and an exogenous polypeptide sequence, the sequences being linked in order, the signal peptide, tag and linker being optional sequences; and wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein is ligated to 3′-end of a nucleic acid sequence comprising a Bacillus promoter region; to a vector comprising the DNA; to a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus comprising the vector; and to a process for preparation of a useful polypeptide by culture of the bacterium.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a protein which binds to DRE to activate the transcription of genes located downstream of the DRE, a gene encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the gene, a transformant comprising the recombinant vector, a transgenic plant comprising the gene, and a method for producing the gene using the transformant are provided. The present invention is useful for creating a stress tolerant plant.

Abstract: There is provide a process for producing a coated preparation composed of a hydrophilic core material coated with a coat material selected from hydrophobic hot-melt lipid to control dissolution of the core material in water and to prevent blocking during the production thereof. In this process, the melted coat material is added dropwise to the core material with fluidizing the core material to form at least one coating layer about the core material in the presence of, or by addition of &bgr;-form seed crystals of the coat material. Further, there is provided a water-soluble vitamin preparation having an improved flavor which contains a coated water-soluble vitamin having an unpleasant flavor produced by the novel process.

Abstract: The invention is related to a novel compound represented by NdHA4 wherein A is a carboxylate, and to a diene polymerization catalyst using the novel compound. NdHA4 has monomeric structure and does not contain water, bases and salts. NdHA4 is mixed with a halogen compound and an organic metal compound to prepare a catalyst system. The catalyst system in the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene (BD) or isoprene produces high cis polydiene with a high activity (100 g BD/4.0×10−5 mole Nd) and without gel formation. The polydiene thus obtained is useful for tires and golf balls and as a polystyrene modifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intelligent control system for current distribution in a vehicle. The current distribution and communication transmission are handled by a central unit which is divided into structurally discrete junction modules (2), each of which connects to its own cable branch (4). Each junction module controls independently the power supply and communication transmission for the cable branch (4) attached thereto. The central unit is further provided with elements for the transmission and reception of communication between the junction modules (2). The intelligence required for the load-specific operating control is decentralized to connecting sockets (3) present in the cable branches (4).