Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with low caking tendency and high absorption under pressure, comprising polymerization of a monomer solution or suspension, drying of the resulting polymer gel, grinding, classifying, thermal surface postcrosslinking and coating with silicon dioxide, wherein the water-absorbing polymer particles have been coated, before, during or after the surface postcrosslinking with aluminum cations.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cyclic tertiary amine of the formula I where A is a C4-alkylene group, a C5-alkylene group or a —(CH2)2—B—(CH2)2— group, where B is oxygen (O) or an N—R1 radical and R1 is C1-C5-alkyl, aryl or C5-C7-cycloalkyl, and the radical R2 is a linear or branched C2-C16-alkyl, C5-C7-cycloalkyl or C7-C20-aralkyl, in which (i) an amino alcohol II from the group consisting of 1,4-aminobutanol, 1,5-aminopentanol, aminodiglycol (ADG) and aminoethylethanolamine of the formula IIa where R1 is as defined above or hydrogen (H), in which case R1?R2 in the amine I, is reacted with a primary or secondary alcohol R2OH (III) at a temperature in the range from 150 to 270° C. in the liquid phase in the presence of a copper-comprising heterogeneous catalyst in a reactor.

Abstract: Co-agglomerated dispersions and methods for their preparation are described herein. The co-agglomerated dispersions are prepared by co-agglomerating an anionic polymer dispersion and inert particles. The polymers for use in the co-agglomerated dispersions are derived from one or more monomers including at least one conjugated diene monomer. The inert particles have a particle size of less than 2 ?m. Also described herein is an aqueous dispersion including co-agglomerated particles formed from at least one polymer and at least one inert material. Further described herein are foamed polymers, latex-based adhesives, waterproofing membranes, sound absorbing coatings, and methods for their preparation and use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for electro-chemical applications comprising an alloy of platinum and a transition metal, wherein the transition metal has an absorption edge similar to the absorption edge of the transition metal in oxidic state, measured with x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) wherein the measurements are performed in concentrated H3PO4 electrolyte. The invention further relates to a process for an oxygen reduction reaction using the catalyst as electrocatalyst.

Abstract: A colorant composition for tinting or coloring surface coverings or paint is. provided that has a low volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration, alkylphenoi ethoxylate surfactants (APE) free and hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) free. Additionally, the colorant composition has performance properties substantially equal to or better than tinters possessing high VOC concentrations. The colorant composition includes a colorant component, a dispersant including a polyamide, a surface active agent, water, and optional additives, The polyamide is a high molecular weight polyamide. having at least two anchoring amines, and the surface active agent includes phosphoric acid, phosphate esters, or salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device, especially an electroluminescent devices, comprising a compound of the formula especially as host for phosphorescent compounds. The hosts may function with phosphorescent materials to provide improved efficiency, stability, manufacturability, or spectral characteristics of electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: The aqueous alkaline cleaning composition comprising (A) at least one thioamino acid having at least one secondary or tertiary amino group and at least one mercapto group and (B) at least one quaternary ammonium hydroxide; the use of the alkaline cleaning composition for the processing of substrates useful for fabricating electrical and optical devices; and a method for processing substrates useful for fabricating electrical and optical devices making use of the said aqueous alkaline cleaning composition.

Abstract: Process for preparing isocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phos-gene comprising (a) providing at least one amine-comprising feed stream and at least one phosgene-comprising feed stream, (b) mixing the feed streams to form at least one reaction mixture in a mixing zone, (c) reacting the at least one reaction mixture in a reaction zone and (d) working-up the product mixture obtained from (c).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing yield related traits by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a BET1-like polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding this BET1-like polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention. The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a CRT (Calreticulin). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a Calreticulin, which plants have improved growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants.

Abstract: A method and composition for immobilizing an antimicrobial active ingredient on a surface of a substrate, in which the surface of the substrate is treated with a composition comprising (i) a solvent, (ii) a hydrophobin, (iii) a cationic antimicrobial active ingredient, (iv) optionally additives or auxiliary components, which permits a long-lasting antimicrobial finishing of the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of agricultural plants under essentially non-existent pathogen pressure, wherein the plants, the plant propagules, the seed of the plants and/or the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow are treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising a) the Bacillus subtilis strain with NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or a cell-free extract thereof, and/or a mutant of this strain or extract having all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain or extract as component (I), and b) optionally at least one chemical compound as component (II), selected from the active compound groups A) to J): A) strobilurins; B) carboxamides; C) azoles; D) heterocyclic compounds; E) carbamates; F) other active substances; G) growth regulators; H) herbicides; J) insecticides.

Abstract: Swellable nonwovens with reduced washoff loss are produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, like diodes, organic field effect transistors and/or solar cells. The compounds of the formula I have excellent solubility in organic solvents. High efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when said compounds are used in semiconductor devices or organic photovoltaic (PV) devices (solar cells).

Abstract: A process for long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrolein, in which the propene present in the reaction gas input mixture is partially oxidized as this gas mixture passes through the fixed catalyst bed which is accommodated in two spatially successive temperature zones A, B, and, in long-term operation, as a measure to counteract the reduction in the quality of the fixed catalyst bed, the temperature of at least one of the two temperature zones is increased such that the difference TB?TA becomes increasingly greater, where TB is the temperature of temperature zone B, and TA the temperature of temperature zone A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing high-functionality polyethers having a Hazen color number of less than 500, by converting tris(hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate (THEIC) and one or more difunctional alcohols and/or modifying reagents with the aid of acidic catalysts. The present invention further relates to high-functionality polyethers having a color number of less than 10, obtainable by such a process, and to the use of these high-functionality polyethers as adhesion promoters, thixotropic agents, rheology modifiers of polymers, in printing inks, paints and coatings, or as units for preparation of polyaddition or polycondensation polymers.

Abstract: Composition in the form of a solution and/or dispersion, comprising: at least one polyazole with an intrinsic viscosity, measured in at least 96% by weight sulfuric acid, in the range from 3.0 to 8.0 g/dl, and orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) and/or polyphosphoric acid, wherein the polyazole content, based on the total weight of the composition, is in the range from 0.5% by weight to 30.0% by weight, the H3PO4 and/or polyphosphoric acid content, based on the total weight of the composition, is in the range from 30.0% by weight to 99.5% by weight, the H3PO4 and/or polyphosphoric acid concentration, calculated as P2O5 (by acidimetric means), based on the total amount of H3PO4 and/or polyphosphoric acid and/or water, is in the range from 70.5% to 75.45%. Additionally protected are particularly advantageous processes for preparation and for use of the inventive composition.

Abstract: The use of copolymers obtained by free-radical polymerization of a mixture of i) 30 to 80% by weight of N-vinyllactam, ii) 10 to 50% by weight of vinyl acetate, and iii) 10 to 50% by weight of a polyether, with the proviso that the total of components i), ii) and iii) equals 100% by weight, as solubilizers for slightly water-soluble substances.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a coolant cross-over for circulating an engine coolant between a first engine component, e.g., a first cylinder head, and a second engine component, e.g., a second cylinder head. The coolant cross-over defines a first outlet in fluid communication with the first engine component, a second outlet in fluid communication with second engine component, and further defines a passage interconnecting the first outlet and the second outlet. The coolant cross-over comprises a polymer. A sleeve comprises polyaromatic sulfide and is disposed within the passage for separating the engine coolant from the nylon which forms the coolant cross-over to prevent physical, thermal and/or chemical degradation of the polymeric coolant cross-over by the engine coolant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material having two or more superimposed wood layers. Said layers are joined together by means of a one component polyurethane adhesive containing a prepolymer having free NCO groups and a wood having a volume fraction of libriform fibres in the region of between 50-70% is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a layer comprising at least one semiconductive metal oxide on a substrate, comprising at least the steps of: (A) applying a porous layer of at least one semiconductive metal oxide to a substrate, (B) treating the porous layer from step (A) with a solution comprising at least one precursor compound of the semiconductive metal oxide, such that the pores of the porous layer are at least partly filled with this solution and (C) thermally treating the layer obtained in step (B) in order to convert the at least one precursor compound of the semiconductive metal oxide to the semiconductive metal oxide, wherein the at least one precursor compound of the at least one semiconductive metal oxide in step (B) is selected from the group consisting of carboxylates of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids having at least three carbon atoms or derivatives of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, alkoxides, hydroxides, semicarbazides, carbamates, hydroxamates, isocyanates, am