Abstract: A soil improving agent comprising malic acid and/or grape sugar is mixed with soil to enable the ground after consolidation to have good water permeability and strength.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a synthetic flux oil can contain and deliver asphaltites, such as gilsonite, more easily and readily to an asphalt to improve its properties. The synthetic flux oil includes the asphaltite and a carrier oil. Depending on the nature of the carrier oil, the synthetic flux oil may or may not need to be heated during mixing and incorporation into the asphalt.

Abstract: Novel starch-based glue paste compositions are disclosed composed of (i) a carrier paste containing 5 to 16 wt % of a starch selected from the group consisting of corn starch, wheat starch, rye starch, oat starch, barley starch, potato starch, tapioca starch and pea starch, each being native starch or chemically modified starch, or any mixture thereof and (ii) a main paste with a total starch content of 25 to 50 wt % composed of a mixture of 10 to 30 wt % native rice starch or an acetylated version thereof having an amylose content of 12 to 20 wt %, 1 wt % other compounds and a complementary amylopectin content of 87 to 79 wt %, and 90 to 70 wt % of a starch or mixture of starches selected from the above defined group. Processes for the manufacture of the novel glue paste compositions based on the Stein-Hall method are disclosed, as well as a premix of starches for said manufacture.

Abstract: A ceramic material includes at least two different components. Each of the components is present in separate phases. Each of the components has a perovskite structure which contains silver in A positions and niobium or tantalum in B positions. A composition of a first component and a composition of a second component has respective permittivities TK?A and TK?B. In the ceramic material, temperature components of the permittivities TK?A and TK?B have different signs within a temperature interval.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a dielectric ceramic composition which enables its firing temperature to be lowered and which has an excellent electrical properties, particularly temperature dependence of resonance frequencies. A dielectric ceramic composition according to the invention comprises an oxide of a barium titanate family having a composition formula represented as BaTixO2x+1 (3.5?x?5.0); a first chemical element group consisting of at least one kind of alkaline-earth metals, silicon, zinc, aluminium, titanium, copper, bismuth and molybdenum; and a second chemical element group consisting of at least one kind of alkali metals and boron. A weight ratio of a total of each chemical element in the first and second chemical element groups to the oxide (the total of each chemical element/the oxide) is between 45/55 and 65/35 inclusive when the ratio is determined by converting said each chemical element to its oxide.

Abstract: A sculpting/modeling medium is provided comprised of a nontoxic premixed loose ground cellulose material present in the amount ranging from 10–15% by weight; a vegetable adhesive present in the amount ranging from 75–85% by weight; and water present in the amount of 5–10% by weight. The medium may also include a quantity of food coloring or dyes blended in a proportion such that the color of the medium is due primarily to the dyed color of the cellulose. Also present is a method of making the same.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and composition for providing chemically-resistant roughened copper surfaces suitable for subsequent multilayer lamination. In one embodiment, a smooth copper surface is contacted with an adhesion promoting composition under conditions effective to provide a roughened copper surface, the adhesion promoting composition comprising an oxidizer, a pH adjuster, a topography modifier, and a sulfur-containing coating stabilizer. In another embodiment, a smooth copper surface is contacted with an adhesion promoting composition under conditions effective to provide a roughened copper surface, the adhesion promoting composition comprising an oxidizer, a pH adjuster, and a topography modifier. Then, in a subsequent step, the roughened copper surface is contacted with an acid resistance promoting composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a transparent and tenacious coating film using an inorganic paint composition prepared by adding a borate salt into an alkali metal silicate, and further mixing thereto lepidoblastic transparent silica with a thickness of 0.01 to 0.5 ?m and a surface diameter of 2 to 5 ?m. The alkali metal silicate is solidified with metal ions issued from the borate salt to form a coating film, which contains a glass formed by solidifying dissolved boric acid in the coating film. The coating film can be made tenacious without impairing transparency by dispersing many flakes of transparent silica as laminated layers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for extracting protein, oil and starch from grain. The method includes: Providing kernels or seeds comprising a germ and pericarp comprising protein, oil, and starch; Steeping the kernels or seeds in a steeping reactor for a time effective to soften the kernels and seeds; Milling the steeped corn kernels to separate the germ from the starch/pericarp forming a germ stream and a starch/pericarp stream; Subjecting the germ to rapid pressurization/depressurization in order to extract oil and protein from the germ; and separating the starch from the pericarp.

Abstract: A method produces starch or starch-containing products from starch-containing plant raw materials. The method is distinguished by the inclusion of an electric pulse method.

Abstract: An edible, hardenable coating composition is disclosed which comprises high levels of low viscosity propylene glycol alginate and a surfactant, which may additionally contain a filler, a pigment and optionally a small amount of a secondary film former and/or a strengthening polymer. The coating composition of the present invention may be applied to pharmaceutical and veterinary solid dosage forms, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticide tablets, and foods and provides an elegant prompt release coating which does not retard the release of active ingredients from the coated substrate.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprising at least a main component containing a dielectric oxide of a composition expressed by {(Sr1?xCax)O}m.(Ti1?yZry)O2 and a first subcomponent containing at least one type of compound selected from oxides of V, Nb, W, Ta, and Mo and/or compounds forming these oxides after firing, wherein the symbols m, x, and y showing the molar ratio of the composition in the formula contained in the main component are in relations of 0.94<m<1.08, 0?x?1.00, and 0?y?0.20 and the ratio of the first subcomponent with respect to 100 moles of the main component, which is converted to the metal element in the oxide, is 0.01 mole?first subcomponent<2 moles. According to this dielectric ceramic composition, it is possible to obtain a superior resistance to reduction at the time of firing, obtain a superior capacity-temperature characteristic after firing, and improve the accelerated life of the insulation resistance.

Abstract: A storage stable aqueous dispersion useful in preparing sizing compositions for glass fibers contains a normally solid nucleating agent, a nonionic surfactant, and a base. The nucleating agent is a mixture of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid. Also disclosed are the process of making the dispersion, and the use of the sized glass fibers in glass fiber reinforced polyolefin composites having improved mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, and notched and unnotched IZOD.

Abstract: Environmentally friendly biopolymer adhesives are described, wherein the adhesives comprise biopolymer particles, more preferably starch microparticles, and most preferably starch nanoparticles, and their aqueous dispersions. Applications for the biopolymer particle adhesives are described, that are environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum based synthetic adhesives. The biopolymer particle adhesives provide are biodegradable as well as repulpable, and thus provide bio-based recycling-friendly alternatives to synthetic adhesives derived from petroleum resources.

Abstract: A foundry mold and the method of making it is disclosed and claimed. Black liquor is extracted from a pulping process and used as a resin which when combined with an aggregate forms a foundry mold, foundry core or a briquette. The black liquor can be combined with another material to accelerate the cure and to resist moisturization of the mold, core or briquette.

Abstract: A hard film for cutting tools which is composed of (Ti1?a?b?c?d, Ala, Crb, Sic, Bd) (C1?eNe) 0.5?a?0.8, 0.06?b, 0?c?0.1, 0?d?0.1, 0?c+d?0.1, a+b+c+d<1, 0.5?e?1 (where a, b, c, and d denote respectively the atomic ratios Al, Cr, Si, and B, and e denotes the atomic ratio of N.

Abstract: A process for the production of liquid sugar by forming a sugar solution of water and natural sugar containing juice, adjusting the pH of a sugar solution to the range of from 1.0 to 2.0 to obtain an inverted juice, filtering the inverted juice, decolorizing the inverted juice to obtain sugar syrup, demineralizing the sugar syrup, evaporating the demineralized sugar syrup, and cooling the sugar syrup to form the liquid sugar.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for constructing buildings using non-wood construction products and buildings constructed from such non-wood construction products. The invention further includes a method and apparatus for manufacturing high-performance fiber-reinforced cellular concrete (HPFRCC) products and the use of such products as replacements for conventional wood lumber construction products. The products of the invention have the necessary strength, durability, nailability, and sawability for direct substitution for dimensional wood lumber in wood-frame construction applications. The invention also includes externally reinforced retaining wall systems that include stackable blocks formed of fiber-reinforced cellular concrete.

Abstract: An aqueous coating liquid for forming a magnesium oxide film comprising (a) a magnesium carboxylate derived from a carboxylic acid having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, (b) a surfactant, (c) a polyhydric alcohol compound, and (d) a solvent made substantially of water, wherein the magnesium carboxylate is contained in a ratio of 5 wt % or more and 50 wt % or less. The surfactant is contained in a ratio of 0.01 wt % or more and 2.5 wt % or less, and the polyhydric alcohol compound is contained in a ratio of 0.05 wt % or more and 40 wt % or less, based on a weight of the entire coating liquid. The magnesium carboxylate content is the same with or larger than that of the polyhydric alcohol compound, and a total weight of the magnesium carboxylate and the polyhydric alcohol compound is 80 wt % or less of the weight of the entire coating liquid; and wherein the magnesium carboxylate, the surfactant, and the polyhydric alcohol compound are dissolved in the solvent.

Abstract: A nano-sized powder of barium titanate is compacted and sintered by spark plasma sintering under conditions creating a high heating rate to achieve a densified material that demonstrates superior permittivity.