Abstract: A substrate for mushroom cultivation comprises a polyene fungicide, in particular, natamycin. Mushrooms cultivated in such substrates can be harvested earlier than mushrooms cultivated in substrates which do not include polyene fungicides. Alternatively, mushrooms grown in a substrate comprising a polyene fungicide achieve a greater size than mushrooms grown for the same amount of time in a substrate which does not include a polyene fungicide.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (&sgr;10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min−1 and of at least about 1.4 times their dynamic modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides radiation-curable compositions for coating plastic substrates, wherein the compositions, after cure, have a combination of sufficient adhesion, flexibility, and hardness. The compositions include: (a) metal oxide particles; and (b) a poly(meth)acrylate compound.

Abstract: A condensation polymer, obtained through reaction of an alkanolamide and a cyclic anhydride to form a hydroxyalkylamide, followed by polycondensation of the hydroxyalkylamide, has at least two carboxylic acid end groups connected to an alkylamide groups via an ester linkage. The polymers may be used in powder paint compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flame-retardant polyester or polyamide composition that contains a combination of a compound derived from triazine and an organic phosphorus compound. By choosing as the triazine compound a melamine condensation product, for example melam, a UL 94 V-0 and GWFI 960° classification can be obtained for glass-fibre reinforced polyester or polyamide with a relatively low concentration of flame-retardant additives, and without good mechanical properties being affected. Unusual is moreover that the CTI value can again be brought to 600 Volt for this glass-fibre reinforced polyester or polyamide. In a preferred embodiment use is made of a phosphorus-containing compound containing more than 14 wt. % P. The use thereof with for example melamine cyanurate results in optimum flame-retardant behaviour at a low total concentration of flame-retardant additives. Important additional aspects are improved crystallisation behaviour and a high stiffness.

Abstract: The invention relates to high-strength polyethylene fibers of mainly ethylene component having an intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;], when fibrous, of no less than 5, and having a strength of no less than 20 g/d and an elasticity modulus of no less than 500 g/d, and, in the measurement of the temperature variance of the dynamic viscoelasticity of the fibers, the &ggr; dispersion loss modulus peak temperature is no greater than −110° C. and the loss tangent (tan &dgr;) is no greater than 0.03.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation-curable solvent-free coating composition for optical fiber having a radiation-curable urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer comprising an alkyd backbone, a reactive diluent, a photoinitiator and, optionally, an additive.

Abstract: The invention relates to 1,3-disubstituted-3-oxopropane-1-sulfonic acids and sulfonates and enantiomerically inriched forms thereof. The invention further relates to the use of these enantiomerically inriched compounds to resolve mixtures of enantiomers, in particular mixtures of enantiomers of amino-functionalized compounds.

Abstract: A marine feed composition is described comprising microbially derived arachidonic acid (ARA) or ARA in the form of a triglyceride. The ARA is suitably produced by a fungus, such as of the genus Mortierella, although the feed composition itself is free of microbial cells. These forms of ARA have been found to give better growth and pigmentation promotion in marine organisms (shrimps and fish) than corresponding phospholipid forms of ARA from fish oil. The ARA can be in the form of an oil, e.g. an oil-in-water emulsion or may first be fed to larvae, rotifers or nauplii which are themselves included in a composition as “live” feed for larger organisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making pelletized fuel containing plastic and cellulose particles in which a feed stream containing plastic and cellulose particles is supplied to a pelletizing device. The process is used in particular in processes for recycling household and industrial waste streams into pelletized fuel. The invention also relates to pelletized fuel, to the use of the pelletized fuel as secondary fuel and to various methods of firing furnaces with the pelletized fuel. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the feed stream contains at least 40 wt. % plastic and the pelletizing device has an annular mould with holes whose effective hole length (L) and hole diameter (D) ratio (R) is at least 5. Besides a high calorific value, the pelletized fuel obtained has a good hardness, good bulk, storage and transport properties and a good grindability.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a hydrogenated polymer composed of conjugated diene monomer units and monomer units containing a nitrile group, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of hydrazine, an oxidizing compound and a metal compound as catalyst, a metal compound containing a metal atom in an oxidation state of at least 4 being used as catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation curable resin composition suitable for use as a primary coating material for optical fibers, which can form a cured coating with a low modulus of elasticity exhibiting a high breaking strength, and small light transmission loss; the coating composition comprises (A) a polymer containing polymerizable unsaturated groups in an average amount of 1.2 per molecule, a urethane bond in a molecular chain, and having a number average molecular weight from 3,000 to 30,000, (B) a poly-functional monomer having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups, (C) a monomer having one polymerizable unsaturated group, and (D) a radiation active initiator. The secant modulus of the coating is less than 0.15 kg/mm2, the tensile strength is more than 0.15 kg/mm2.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide in which the composition of the various process streams is measured via an ultrasonic measuring principle and in which the results of these measurements are used for process control. The process is particularly suitable for continuous measurements in a urea process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material and a process for manufacturing the composite material by applying at least a single organic barrier layer to a substrate to reduce the oxygen permeability of the substrate. Depending on the intended application, the composite material may also include an outer cover layer over the barrier layer to improve moisture resistance. The preferred materials are triazines, particularly melamine, that are vapor-deposited onto the substrate to form a thin, durable transparent barrier layer.

Abstract: A radiation-curable fiber optic coating composition for an inner primary coating includes a coloring agent, preferably a dye or a dye precursor, compatible with the fiber of the fiber optic and capable of imparting a pre-selected color to the inner primary coating, or another coating. The coloring agent can be a reactive dye. Any of the dyes preferably is stabilized by a stabiliser in the colored coating layer, or, preferably, in a more exterior layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system and a process for the preparation of a nonracemic chiral alcohol by hydrogenation of a ketone using the catalyst system, wherein the catalyst system comprises ruthenium, a nonracemic nonatropisomeric chiral diphosphine ligand, an achiral diamine ligand, and a base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system and a process for the preparation of a nonracemic chiral alcohol by hydrogenation of a ketone using the catalyst system, wherein the catalyst system comprises ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, a bidentate amine ligand, and an organic base selected from alkylamidines, alkylguanidines, aminophosphazenes, and proazaphosphatranes.

Abstract: A radiation-curable composition for an ink base, ink composition, outer primary composition, buffering material or matrix material for fiber optics includes, in the uncured state, a secondary amino or tertiary amino silicone-containing additive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a knot in a first and a second rope, each rope having a left and a right end, between which is a turning point, characterised in that, at the turning points, the first and the second rope cross both ends of the second, on one side, and of the first rope, on the other side, respectively, the left and right end of each rope forming an intersection after the turning points and the knot between the intersections comprising at least four crossings of the two ropes. The invention also relates to a method for making the knot and to the use of the knot in fishing nets. In particular, the invention relates to HPPE fishing nets comprising knots according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation curable colored coating composition for coloring a coated optical fiber wherein the coating, when disposed and cured to surround an optical fiber coated with an internal coating, and when said colored fiber is coated with a matrix material and assembled into an optical fiber ribbon, said colored coating has a degree of adhesion to the internal coating which is higher than the degree of adhesion to the matrix material and said optical fiber assembled into said optical fiber ribbon shows, upon aging for at least two weeks in water at 60° C., an increase in the attenuation of the transmitted signal at 1550 nm of less than 0.05 db/km with respect to the attenuation of the assembled optical fiber measured before aging. The invention also relates to said colored coating composition when used in an optical fiber ribbon.