Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated SRT nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel SRT proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing SRT nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides isolated SRT proteins, mutated SRT proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and methods for the improvement of production of a desired compound from C. glutamicum based on genetic engineering of SRT genes in this organism.

Abstract: A process for preparing ?-(3-arylthio)acetophenones of the general formula I in which the substituents R1 and R2 are each independently C1-C6-alkyl, SiR33 where the substituent R3 is a C1-C6-alkyl radical, or an optionally substituted phenyl or benzyl radical, which comprises reacting, in methanol acetophenones of the general formula II in which the substituent X is Cl or Br with a thiolate of the general formula III in which M is an alkali metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing prepolymers containing isocyanate groups by reacting a) diisocyanates with b) compounds having at least two hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanate groups in the presence of c) catalysts, and subsequently separating off the excess monomeric diisocyanates, wherein the diisocyanates a) used are unsymmetrical diisocyanates and the catalysts c) used are organometallic catalysts and these organometallic catalysts are removed, blocked or deactivated before the monomeric diisocyanates are separated off.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MCP proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MCP nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides isolated MCP proteins, mutated MCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and methods for the improvement of production of a desired compound from C. glutamicum based on genetic engineering of MCP genes in this organism.

Abstract: A description is given of a process for preparing aldehydes, carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides, in particular phthalic anhydride, in which a gaseous stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed at elevated temperature over a bed of a first catalyst and a bed which is made up of a second catalyst having a higher activity than the first catalyst and is located downstream of the first catalyst in the flow direction of the gaseous stream, wherein the catalytically active composition of the first catalyst comprises at least vanadium oxide, titanium dioxide and antimony oxide and the ratio of vanadium, calculated as V2O5, to antimony, calculated as Sb2O3, in the first catalyst is from 3.5:1 to 5:1. The source of antimony oxide used for the first catalyst is preferably particulate antimony trioxide having a mean particle size of from 0.5 to 5 ?m. The process allows the desired oxidation products to be obtained in high yield over longer periods of time.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding compositions, comprising A) from 15 to 99.94% by weight of a polyoxymethylene homo- or copolymer B) from 0.05 to 10% by weight of a nonpolar polypropylene wax, C) from 0.01 to 5% by weight of at least one ester or amide of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids having from 10 to 40 carbon atoms with saturated aliphatic alcohols or amines having from 2 to 40 carbon atoms, D) from 0 to 80% by weight of other additives, where the total of the percentages by weight of components A) to D) is always 100%.

Abstract: A multilayer effect pigment includes a transparent substrate, a layer of high refractive index material on the substrate, and alternating layers of low refractive index and high refractive index materials on the first layer, the total number of layers being an odd number of at least three, all adjacent layers differing in refractive index by at least about 0.2 and at least one of the layers having an optical thickness which is different from all of the other layers. The resulting multilayer effect pigment is not a quarter-wave stack. The present effect pigments may be used in cosmetic and industrial applications.

Abstract: A curable coating composition comprises (a) a compound having two types of functionality, functionality A and functionality B, that react in curing the coating, (b) a second material having functionality C that reacts with functionality A in curing the coating, and (c) a crosslinker having a plurality of functional groups D that react at least with functionality B in curing the coating. Functional groups D may also react with functionality C and/or with a functional group formed as a result of the reaction of functionality C with functionality A. The curable coating composition is applied to a substrate and cured under conditions appropriate for reactions of the functionalities A, B, C, and D.

Abstract: The invention relates to reflectance sensors built up from an optical unit, a sample analysis unit and a system control unit, and to a method of measuring the reflectance of a sample in the form of a liquid pigment preparation, and to the use of a reflectance sensor according to the invention for the measurement of the reflectance of liquid pigment preparations in various process stages during the production, further processing and use of the liquid pigment preparations.

Abstract: The use of copolymers containing a) from 60% to 99% by weight of at least one vinyllactam or N-vinylamine selected from the group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylpiperidone, N-vinylcaprolactam or N-vinylformamide, and b) from 1% to 40% by weight of at least one monomer of the general formula where b1) R1, R2, R3 each denote oxygen, C1-C4-alkyl, C6-aryl, C7-C10-alkylaryl and R4 denotes the general formula II X denotes oxygen, NH, NR (where R=R1) R5 denotes C1-C6-alkyl, phenyl, A denotes OH, NH2, NR2 (wheret R2=R1) R6, R7 R8 each denote hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl n denotes an integer between 1 and 4 B, F each denote C, N D denotes C1-C4-alkyl, O, NH p denotes an integer between 0 and 15 E denotes N, O l, m each denote 0 or 1 R9, R10, R11 each denote hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, C6-C10-aryl, C7-C10-alkylaryl and s, q each denote an integer between 0 and 2. For E=nitrogen the s+q sum is equal to 1 or 2. For E=oxygen the s+q sum is equal to zero.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the swellability and the swelling kinetics of superabsorbent material (9) such as polymer gels, for example, which comprises introducing a defined volume of the dry superabsorbent material (9) into a measuring vessel (7), using a movable element (4) within said measuring vessel (7) to apply a restraining force (12) to said superabsorbent material (9) and capturing the expansion of said superabsorbent material (9) contactlessly within a chamber (14) in a continuous manner by capturing the change in height of a piston (4) which bounds said chamber (14), travels in a measuring vessel (7) and is marked with a height scale (6).

Abstract: A method for the production of polyetherols is disclosed. The method includes the utilization of aluminum phosphonate catalysts for the formation of the very low unsaturation polyether polyols. The aluminum phosphonate catalyst preferably has a general structure of RPO—(OAlR?R?)2, wherein O represents oxygen, P represents pentavalent phosphorous, Al represents aluminum, R comprises a hydrogen, a methyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R? and R? independently comprise a halide, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, or an aryloxy group. Polyols produced according to the disclosed procedure have properties identical to or more beneficial than those produced utilizing the typical base catalysts.

Abstract: A transgenic plant transformed by a Cell Cycle Stress-Related Protein (CCSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated CCSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding CCSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.

Abstract: A polypeptide with pyruvate decarboxylase activity, derived from the pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis by substitution of an amino acid in position 553.

Abstract: A) Provision of an n-butane-containing feed gas stream a; B) introduction of the n-butane-containing feed gas stream a into at least one dehydrogenation zone and nonoxidative catalytic dehydrogenation of n-butane to give a product gas stream b comprising n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen, low-boiling secondary constituents and possibly water vapor; C) removal of hydrogen, the low-boiling secondary constituents and, if appropriate, water vapor to give a C4 product gas stream c consisting essentially of n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene and butadiene; D) separation of the C4 product gas stream c into a recycle stream d1 consisting essentially of n-butane and a stream d2 comprising 1-butene, 2-butene and butadiene by extractive distillation and recirculation of the recycle stream d1 consisting essentially of n-butane to the dehydrogenation zone; E) introduction of the stream d2 comprising 1-butene, 2-butene and butadiene into a selective hydrogenation zone and selective hydrogenation of butadiene to

Abstract: The present invention relates to pyrimidines of the formula I in which the index n and the substituents L, R1-R3 are as defined in the description and R4 corresponds to one of the formulae and to processes and intermediates for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising them and to their use for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing haloalkanes by reaction of alcohol with hydrogen halide, wherein the reaction of the alcohol with the hydrogen halide occurs in the presence of an ionic liquid at a temperature which is above 100° C. for at least part of the time and, at least at the time of the commencement of the reaction, the water content is not more than 25 mol % based on the amount of liquid, where the ionic liquid is not octyltrimethylammonium chloride.

Abstract: Fungicidal mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) the triazolopyrimidine derivative of the formula I, and 2) metconazole of the formula II, in a synergistically effective amount, methods for controlling harmful fungi from the class of the Oomycetes using mixtures of the compound I with the compound II, the use of the compound I with the compound II for preparing such mixtures and compositions comprising these mixtures are described.

Abstract: Process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion by polymerization of at least one olefinically unsaturated compound in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one dispersant and a solid polymerization catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel nucleic acid molecules, to the use thereof for constructing genetically improved microorganisms and to methods for preparing fine chemicals, in particular amino acids, with the aid of said genetically improved microorganisms.