Abstract: A system including a plurality of gas flow control units in cabinets which are connected to distribute process gas, on demand, to a plurality of utilization locations known as "tool" locations in a semi-conductor manufacturing plant. Transducers are used in the system to measure pressures and other control parameters. Zero calibration of the transducers is provided by automatically subjecting each transducer to a reference computer routine to compute the difference between the standard value and the transducer output, and store the difference as an "offset" to correct the output of the transducer. Thus, re-calibration is performed simply and quickly, at a relatively low labor cost and with relatively little downtime for the system.

Abstract: A rotary disk storage system is provided for use with portable or laptop computers which is designed to achieve an overall maximum height ("Z-height") not greater than 17 mm. In attaining this result, the top cover and lower base plate of the housing of this rotary disk storage system are sealed by a pressure sensitive adhesive which permits the top cover to "float" on the lower base plate. Moreover, the reduced overall height is attained by forming the spin motor which rotates the magnetic disks integrally with the lower base plate. Further, IC chips are mounted on the printed circuit board to provide signal processing to a host computer, these IC chips being mounted on one side of the printed circuit board to face the lower base plate of the disk storage system. When the rotary disk storage system of the present invention is assembled, each of these IC chips is accommodated within differentially-sized pockets formed in the bottom surface of the lower base plate.

Abstract: A layer element carries on a base at least one regularly arranged monomolecular layer containing a fullerene and a polymeric amphiphilic compound, in particular a polymethacrylic ester derivative. It is suitable for purposes of nonlinear optics.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment process having improved solids separation characteristics and reduced biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the purified wastewater comprising the steps of: passing wastewater containing suspended solids and biodegradable organic substances through a main aerobic biological oxidation zone; passing the effluent from said aerobic biological oxidation zone to an aerobic/mixing zone and therein mixing said effluent with effluent from the anoxic/anaerobic zone; passing the effluent from said aerobic/mixing zone to a settling zone and therein separating purified wastewater and sludge containing suspended solids; passing a portion of the sludge formed in the settling zone and volatile acids to an anoxic/anaerobic zone; and recycling an effective amount of the effluent from said anoxic/anaerobic zone to said aerobic/mixing zone.

Abstract: A polymer containing triazine rings that has a molecular weight of 5,000-1,000,000 and that comprises a recurring unit represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently S, NR.sup.1 (R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group) or O; Y may be an alkylene group, a divalent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring group that do not contain chromophore moieties or a group in which said aromatic ring groups are bonded or condensed together; Z is either a spacer group comprising a group represented by --G--(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- (n is an integer of 1-10) or a direct bond (G is S, NR.sup.4 or O, and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group); and A is an organic chromophore moiety in which an electron donative group and an electron attractive group are conjugated via a .pi.-electron system. The polymer is lightproof, forms a thin film of high quality and has a high glass transition point.

Abstract: Optically active 1,3-dioxolane derivatives which carry a mesogenic radical in the 4-position and have the general formula (I) ##STR1## are suitable for use as doping agents in liquid-crystal mixtures--in particular ferroelectric liquid-crystal mixtures. The symbols in the general formula have the following meanings:R.sup.1 is composed analogously to the part of the general formula on the right-hand side of X or is an alkyl or alkylene radical which can be substituted,R.sup.2, R.sub.3 and R.sup.4 are H or alkyl (R.sup.4 is also alkenyl) which can also be substituted [R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, together with the C(2) of the dioxolane ring are also a cycloaliphatic radical or a keto group], J, l and n are zero, 1 or 2 and k and m are zero or 1, subject to the proviso that, if k is zero n is zero and if n is zero m is zero and 1.ltoreq.J+l+n.ltoreq.3,--A.sup.1, --A.sup.2 and --A.sup.3 are an aromatic, heterocyclic or aliphatic ring system, --M.sup.1 and --M.sup.2 are --CO--O, --0--CO, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, --CH.dbd.

Abstract: A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity comprising carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, wherein, as measured on an area basis, substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter. A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity is prepared by combining carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, with a polymeric material, mixing the combination to distribute the fibrils in the polymeric material and applying shear to the combination to break down the aggregates until substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter.

Abstract: Substituted pyridines, their preparation, and their use as pesticides and fungicides.The invention relates to compounds of the formula ##STR1## and to salts thereof in which 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the radicals R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are an aliphatic, alicyclic or araliphatic radical bonded by a --O--CH.sub.2 -- or --O--CO--, and the remaining ones of these radicals are H, halogen or an aliphatic or aromatic radical, X is O, S or optionally substituted imino, Y is a bond or a bivalent radical and Z is an aromatic radical or optionally substituted cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl. The invention furthermore relates to processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides, in particular as insecticides, acaricides and fungicides.

Abstract: The invention relates to deacetylase genes, to processes for their isolation, and to their use, in particular for the production of transgenic plants using tissue-specific promoters. It is possible to prevent the development of certain parts in these plants in a targeted manner. With the aid of deacetylase genes, it is furthermore possible to identify and isolate tissue-specific promoters in transgenic plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of supporting a catalyst which involves attaching a catalyst to either a furry fiber, a furry plate or a discrete carbon fibril. The furry fiber or furry plate include a carbon fiber or plate and a plurality of carbon fibrils adhering to the outer surface of the carbon fiber or plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to herbicidal compositions which compriseA) a compound of the formula I or salts thereof ##STR1## in combination with B) one or more compounds selected from the group comprising growth-regulator-type herbicides, dicamba and its salts, diflufenican, nitrodiphenyl ethers, sulfonylureas which differ from that of the formula (I) and their salts, and selective grass herbicides.They are particularly suitable for selectively controlling weeds in rice, soya and other crops.

Abstract: Combinations of active substances of the formula (I) ##STR1## (i.e., sulcotrione), with herbicides from the group comprising fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, quinchlorac, molinate, thiobencarb, butachlor, pretilachlor, mefenacet, esprocarb, dimepiperate, HW-52, cinmethylin, anilophos, benfuresate, triazofenamide, benzofenap, pyrazoxyfen and TFH-450, have advantages on application, for example a synergistic increase in action, in particular in the case of important weeds in cereals, maize and rice.

Abstract: A trellis and trellise kit are provided with poles and lattice netting in which the lattice netting can be rolled up on the poles to which they are attached. Two crossbars are provided. They can be easily slipped on and off the poles to detach them from the netting, and the trellis can be formed into a compact package for shipping, warehousing, or storage by the user in a protected location. The poles preferably have square cross-sections. A pair of crossbars is provided with square holes slightly larger than the poles, so that the crossbars fit slidably onto the poles. The crossbars have very simple hook structures which engage the upper and lower edges of the netting to stretch it tight. Advantageously, the netting is made to bend across at least one edge of the crossbars, and at least one edge of each of the poles, so as to relieve strain on the fastening structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified SiO.sub.2 gels (xerogels), the preparation thereof and the use thereof as thermal insulators. The xerogels are prepared by acidifying an aqueous waterglass solution, polycondensing the silicic acid produced thereby, by adding a base, to an SiO.sub.2 gel, removing the water from the resulting gel by extractive distillation with an organic solvent which forms with water an azeotrope which separates on cooling into two phases, reacting the gel with a silylating agent, and then drying at pressures and temperatures which are below the critical pressure and/or the critical temperature of the organic solvent used for removing the water.

Abstract: 1,2-di-substituted indan expressed by general formula (I) wherein X is a substituent which can be drawn out under an acidic condition to form a carbocation at 1-position of an indan skeleton, Y is a halogen atom, and X and Y can be in either cis- or trans-configuration forming either a racemic body or an optically active substance; or 1,2-di-substituted indan expressed by general formula (I') wherein X is a substituent which can be drawn out under an acidic condition to form a carbocation at 1-position of an indan skeleton, and X and OH group can be in either cis- or trans-configuration forming either a racemic body or an optically-active substance; or cis-1,2-epoxyindan expressed by general formula (VI) wherein R is phenyl or a lower alkyl group, oxazoline ring is in cis-configuration forming either a racemic body or an optically active substance is reacted, under an acidic condition, with a nitrile expressed by general formula (II) wherein R is phenyl or a lower alkyl group to produce cis-1-aminoindan-2-ol

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I) and their salts as defined below, ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is CO--Q--R.sup.8, where R.sup.8 .dbd.H or RR.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl,R.sup.4 is H, R, RO, OH, RCO, RSO.sub.2, PhSO.sub.2R.sup.5 is RSO.sub.2, PhSO.sub.2, PhCO, RNHSO.sub.2, R.sub.2 NSO.sub.2, RCO, CHO, COCOR', CW--T--R.sup.9, CW--NR.sup.10 R.sup.11, CW--N(R.sup.12).sub.2 orR.sup.4 and R.sup.5 together are the chain (CH.sub.2).sub.m B or --B.sup.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.m1 B-- where B.dbd.SO.sub.2, CO; m=3, 4; m.sup.1 =2, 3;T and W.dbd.O, S; Q.dbd.O, S, NR.sup.13 where R.sup.13 .dbd.H, R;R.sup.6 .dbd.H, R, RO, RCO, ROCO, Hal, NO.sub.2, CN;R.sup.7 .dbd.H, CH.sub.3 ; R.sup.9 .dbd.R; R.sup.10, R.sup.11 .dbd.H, R; N(R.sup.12).sub.2 =heterocycleA=pyrimidinyl and triazinyl radical or an analog thereof,where R=(substituted) aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, are suitable as selective herbicides. They are prepared by analogous processes via sulfonamides.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel phenanthrene derivatives of the formula (I) which are particularly suitable for use in liquid-crystal mixtures. The compounds of formula (I) have a broad range of applications. Depending on the choice of substituents, they can be used as base materials from which liquid-crystalline phases are predominantly composed. They can also be added to liquid-crystalline base materials to modify the dielectric and/or optical anisotropy of a dielectric and to optimize its threshold voltage or viscosity. Liquid-crystalline mixtures containing compounds of formula (I) are particularly suitable for use in electrooptical switching and display devices.

Abstract: A non-superconductive Ag-based sheath formed surrounding a superconducting tape or wire is stripped by placing a Bi- or Pb-based metal material on the Ag-based sheath to be removed; and then heating the Bi- or pb-based metal material to 250.degree. C.-450.degree. C. to dissolve the Ag-based sheath; and removing the dissolved Ag-based sheath.