Abstract: A thin-film optical initiator having an inert, transparent substrate, a reactive thin film, which can be either an explosive or a pyrotechnic, and a reflective thin film. The resultant thin-film optical initiator system also comprises a fiber-optic cable connected to a low-energy laser source, an output charge, and an initiator housing. The reactive thin film, which may contain very thin embedded layers or be a co-deposit of a light-absorbing material such as carbon, absorbs the incident laser light, is volumetrically heated, and explodes against the output charge, imparting about 5 to 20 times more energy than in the incident laser pulse.

Abstract: A gustatory stimulant component is described that can be molded into soft-bodied lures or mixed into doughbaits, gels, pastes, or viscous liquids. The stimulant contains a mixture of electrolytes that simulate or mimic the electrolytes in natural prey for enhancing the retention time of the bait within the fish mouth.

Abstract: The invention relates to fire-extinguishing technology, in particular a process for producing aerosol-forming pyrotechnical compositions for extinguishing fires. The process includes the steps of mixing powdery combustible binder, oxidizing agent and dicyandiamide. The combustible binder is a polycondensate of formaldehyde and a organic compound, of a fraction from 70 to 120 &mgr;m. The oxidizing agent is an alkali nitrate of a fraction from 15 to 25 &mgr;m. The dicyandiamide is a fraction from 40 to 80 &mgr;m. Subsequently, there is added to the above, respective fractions of the combustible binder of 10 to 25 &mgr;m of the oxidizing agent of 1 to 7 &mgr;m and of the dicyandiamide of 7 to 15 &mgr;m. The weight ratios of the fractions of combustible binder, oxidizing agent and dicyandiamide are 70:30, 25:75 and 80:20.

Abstract: A bullet that will retain markings from a firearm barrel when fired from such firearm. The bullet comprises a right cylindrical core with opposed ends, one such opposed end having a tapered section integrally connected thereto. The core is formed from a lead-free composition of a polymer and filler and selectively retains it's integrity when fired from the firearm or is frangible. The right cylindrical core has a jacket that is cylindrical and formed from a thermoplastic polymer or copper. The thermoplastic polymer has a softening point above firearm barrel temperatures.

Abstract: Liquid propellants for the purpose of generating hot gases are described, which propellants comprise solution of a dinitramide compound and a fuel, and are especially suited for space applications, and exhibit the following properties exhibit the following properties: low toxicity; no toxic or combustible vapors; high theoretical specific impulse (as compared to hydrazine); high density (as compared to hydrazine); easily ignitable; storable at a temperature between +10° C. and +50° C.; low sensitivity.

Abstract: Molecular sieve zeolites are incorporated in the inflator device to assist in the inflation of airbags in passenger vehicles. The pre-loading of the molecular sieve zeolites with gases such as air or nitrogen or carbon dioxide provides for rapid airbag inflation and following inflation, additionally provides the remediation of at least a portion of the toxic waste gases generated by the exploding inflator device. Molecular sieve zeolites, particularly zeolites X, having been exchanged with lithium or calcium, provide high-capacity gas storage and enhanced toxic waste gas adsorption. The use of molecular sieve zeolites reduces risk of injury to occupants of vehicles from exposure to hot, toxic waste gases following airbag deployment.

Abstract: A detonating cord has a core of highly brisant PBXN-8 explosive surrounded by an inner braided layer of polyamide yarn, a flexible sealing sleeve of silicone rubber coated with glue, and an outer braided layer of polyamide yarn adhered to the sealing sleeve. Booster cups may be crimped to opposite ends of detonating cord to place booster charges adjacent the core to assure more reliable detonation of associated ordnance. The method of manufacture of detonating cord calls for providing a core of explosive PBXN-8 slurry, weaving an inner braided layer of polyamide yarn on the core, squeezing moisture out of the core of explosive PBXN-8 slurry during the weaving of the inner braided layer, applying a flexible sleeve of silicone rubber on the inner braided layer, coating glue on the flexible sleeve, and weaving an outer braided layer of polyamide yarn on the glue. Optionally, squeezing the core of explosive PBXN-8 slurry between rollers may be desirable to further remove excess moisture.

Abstract: A low sensitivity gun propellant is disclosed having improved impetus and ballistic potential comprising RDX particles combined with at least one matrix component and plasticizer components including nitroglycerin and amounts of methyl nitrato ethyl nitramine and ethyl nitrate ethyl nitramine.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex, and at least one cool burning organic nitrogen-containing compound. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts, nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: A method of improving the adhesion of an ink jet ink formulation to a substrate, which method includes adding to the ink jet ink formulation an amount of a chelate of a transition metal or a chelate of a mixture of transition metals effective to improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate; printing the substrate with the chelate-containing ink jet ink formulation; and treating the printed substrate with heat for a time and at a temperature to further improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate. The ink jet ink formulation typically will include a diluent system and colorant. The chelate typically will be present in the ink jet ink formulation in a range of about 0.001 up to about 20 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chelate-containing ink jet ink formulation. A particularly desirable chelate is zirconium lactate. The present invention also provides an article and a substrate produced by the foregoing method.

Abstract: Breathable microporous films are provided having controlled regional breathability with thick high WVTR regions and thinner low WVTR regions. The zoned breathable microporous films can be made by selectively applying heat and pressure to the microporous film such as by feeding a microporous film through a pair of heated nip rollers with one of the rolls having a raised surface area.

Abstract: The subject invention is related to human MMP-8alt genes and gene products and their differential expression when comparing a patient with a disease state to a control. A further aspect of the invention concerns compounds which antagonize the biological activity of MMP-8alt protein and methods for identifying these compounds. Another aspect of the present invention concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds for the treatment of arthritis, cancer, and disease caused by cellular apoptosis including but not limited to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's chorea.

Abstract: A papermaker's fabric having a system of primary machine direction yarns which form seaming loops at each end of the fabric and a system of secondary machine direction yarns. A system of cross-machine direction yarns are interwoven with the primary and secondary systems of machine direction yarns in a weave pattern that provides adjacent balancing yarns that maintain the seam loops in substantially vertical alignment.

Abstract: Monolithic films are provided having controlled regional breathability with high WVTR regions and low WVTR regions. The zoned monolithic films are be made by selectively applying adhesive to the monolithic film.

Abstract: An electronic streak camera is described which includes a housing enclosing an objective lens disposed along an optical axis for forming an image of optical radiation from an emissive body, a pinhole field stop at the focal point of the objective lens, a collimating lens for collimating radiation passing the pinhole field stop, a prism for splitting the radiation from the collimating lens into a characteristic optical spectrum of the radiation, an imaging lens for forming an image of the radiation from the prism.

Abstract: Water-dissipative copolyesters are primer coatings for substantially amorphous polymeric films providing improved ink adhesion and improved slip characteristics. The primer coatings comprise copolyester having repeat units from a dicarboxylic acid component comprising 8 to 25 mole percent 5-sulfoisophthalic acid and 75 to 92 mole percent isophthalic acid and repeat units from a diol component comprising 25 to 100 mole percent diethylene glycol, 0 to 75 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol, and 0 to 30 mole percent ethylene glycol, based on 100 mole percent dicarboxylic acid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The polymeric films are preferably polyester, polycarbonate or poly(vinyl chloride). These copolyesters primer coatings are generally dispersed in water or water/alcohol mixtures to a solids content of 20 to 35 weight percent.

Abstract: Biological toxins are indirectly detected by using polymerase chain reaction to amplify unique nucleic acid sequences coding for the toxins or enzymes unique to toxin synthesis. Buffer, primers coding for the unique nucleic acid sequences and an amplifying enzyme are added to a sample suspected of containing the toxin. The mixture is then cycled thermally to exponentially amplify any of these unique nucleic acid sequences present in the sample. The amplified sequences can be detected by various means, including fluorescence. Detection of the amplified sequences is indicative of the presence of toxin in the original sample. By using more than one set of labeled primers, the method can be used to simultaneously detect several toxins in a sample.

Abstract: A method for removing sulfur from liquid compositions containing aliphatic or cylic organic sulfur-containing compounds, e.g., dibenzothiophene includes activating the sulfur-containing compound by oxidizing either the organic sulfur or adjacent carbon atoms in the presence of a suitable active biocatalyst (ie., microorganism, enzyme, etc.) followed by treating of the activated compound by techniques such as fluidized catalytic cracking so as to remove the sulfur therefrom.

Abstract: Methods are presented to produce duplex (DP) microstructures, nearly lamellar (NL) microstructures, and fully TMT lamellar (TMTL) microstructures in gamma titanium aluminide alloy articles. The key step for obtaining a specific type of microstructure is the post-hot work annealing treatment at a temperature in a specific range for the desired microstructure. The annealing temperatures range from Te+100° C. to T&agr;−25° C. for duplex (DP) microstructures, from T&agr;−25° C. to T&agr;−5° C. for nearly lamellar (NL) microstructures, and from T&agr; to T&agr;+60° C. for fully TMT lamellar (TMTL) microstructures, where Te is the titanium-aluminum eutectoid temperature of the alloy and T&agr; is the alpha transus temperature of the alloy. The times required for producing specific microstructures range from 2 min to 15 hours depending on microstructural type, alloy composition, annealing temperature selected, material section size, and desired grain-size.

Abstract: Breathable microporous films are provided having controlled regional breathability with high WVTR regions and thicker low WVTR regions. The zoned breathable microporous films are be made by selectively applying adhesive to the microporous film.