Abstract: Optical disc adhesives and lacquers comprising components that undergo free-radical polymerization when exposed to radiation and a cure-enhancing amount of R-SH, wherein R is a heterocycle; cationic, free-radical, and hybrid adhesives for digital versatile discs (DVD) comprising components that undergo cationic and/or free-radical polymerization when exposed to radiation and a corrosion-inhibiting amount of R-SH, R1-R2 and/or an acyclic thiol, wherein R is a heterocycle, R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl as a substituent of R2 or forming with R2 a bicyclic structure, and R2 is a heterocycle comprising at least one double bond and at least two N atoms; and optical media, e.g., CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, and the like, that include one, or a combination, of the foregoing inventive adhesive or lacquer compositions.

Abstract: Method for preparing a concrete mortar which contains a fraction of inorganic grains having a diameter <500 &mgr;m, wherein the fraction containing the inorganic grains is added in the form of a granular material which contains the inorganic grains which, with the aid of a water-soluble polymer, are bound so as to form the granular material. As a result, a homogeneous mortar is obtained.

Abstract: Recombinantly produced serum albumin is purified in a series of steps, optionally by incubation with an anion-exchange adsorbent, followed by affinity chromatography employing a hydrophobic solid phase and using a water-soluble lipid anion as desorbens in the aqueous phase. Said immobile phase comprises a carrier coupled to a 2-mercapto or 2-hydroxy alkanoic acid.

Abstract: Optical disc, e.g., CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, comprising a polymer substrate and a radiation-cured coating provided by curing a radiation-curable coating composition having a pH greater than or equal to 3 and comprising at least one acrylate monomer, and advantageously diacrylate monomers and oligomers and monomers having acrylate functionalities of from 1 to at least 3, wherein the optical disc exhibits jitter of no greater than about 35 ns after being subjected to an environment having a temperature of at least 80° C. and a relative humidity of at least 85% for a period of at least 96 hours.

Abstract: Biologically active deletion and substitution mutants of hIL-3 are provided. Preferred mutants are those having one or more deletions at the N-terminus (amino acids 1-14) and/or the C-terminus (amino acids 116-133, 120-130 and/or 130-133). Preferred substitution mutants include Cys16 →Ala16 and/or Cys84→Ala84, Glu50→Lys50 and Lys79 →Glu79. These mutants can be used to formulate pharmaceutical compositions. Also disclosed are antibodies directed against specific epitopes localized between amino acids 29 and 54.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components, wherein the nylon content in the residue is measured and used to control the depolymerization process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying an impure stream of caprolactam while recovering not only pure caprolactam but also medium-to-high pressure steam. Preferably, the stream of impure or crude caprolactam, which comprises at a minimum a substantial portion of water, is obtained from depolymerization of a polyamide-containing composition. The resulting purified caprolactam will have a purity greater than 90 weight percent and the recovered steam will have a temperature sufficiently high to provide a driving force for use with other equipment, for instance, heat exchange equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing vitamin B12, wherein said process comprises the steps of (a) culturing a strain of the genus Propionibacterium in a first fermenter under anaerobic conditions to obtain a culture of Propionibacterium, (b) transferring at least part of the culture obtained in (a) to a second fermenter and subjecting this culture to oxygen, (c) replacing in the first fermenter part of the volume transferred in (b) with fresh culture medium and (d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) at least once.

Abstract: An enzyme preparation composition comprising a mixture of enzymes comprising an enzyme with homogalacturonan activity, more specifically pectin lyase, and an enzyme with endoglucanase activity, wherein the enzymes are in relative proportions to produce cloud volume from fruit or vegetable material. The preparation is such that enzymes which reduce the cloud volume by more than 5% are excluded, and wherein the endoglucanase has both CMCase activity and xyloglucanase activity in a ratio of at least 0.7.

Abstract: Optical fiber coatings are disclosed having excellent ribbon stripping and adhesion behavior. The coatings are radiation-curable. The excellent stripping and adhesion behavior can be achieved by several means which include by use of additives, by use of radiation-curable oligomers having higher molecular weight, or by use of coatings having certain thermal properties. Combination of means can be employed. Stripping behavior can be measured by crack propagation and fiber friction measurements.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions include a reduced transition metal complex of structure (I) and a cocatalyst. where, L1 and L2, may be the same or different, are anionic ligands, other than cyclopentadienyl group, amido group or phosphidino group. At least L1 is able to non-covalently interact with reduced transition metal M via one or more functional groups; for example, L1 can be a phenyl group in which at least one of the ortho-positions is substituted with a functional group capable of donating electron density to the transition metal M. L1 can also be a methyl group in which one or more or the alpha-positions is substituted with a functional group capable of donating electron density to the transition metal M. X, K, and m are defined in the specification. These catalysts may be easily formed as solids and provide improved catalytic performance.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of N-carboxy-t-leucine anhydride in which the corresponding N-carboxy-t-leucine is subjected to a cyclization with the aid of an acyl halogenide. Preferably, acetyl chloride is used as acyl halogenide. The N-carboxy-t-leucine anhydride obtained optionally is subsequently converted into a t-leucine-N-substituted amide with the aid of the corresponding amine. Preferably, methyl amine is chosen as the amine, and the reaction is carried out in a mixture of water and methanol as solvent.

Abstract: A UV-curable acrylate base adhesive composition for digital versatile discs and other substrates, a method for bonding verstile digital disc layers together with a UV-curable adhesive, and a digital versatile disc bonded by a UV-curable or a radiation curable adhesive. The adhesive comprises acrylate functional components, non-acrylate reactive diluents (e.g. having acrylamide, or N-vinyl functionality) and thiol compounds.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation-curable, glass optical fiber coating composition which when suitably cured exhibits resistance to attack from hydrocarbon gel cable filing material. The composition contains about 10 to about 90% by weight of a first radiation-curable oligomer; from 0 to about 40% by weight of a reactive diluent; from 0 to about 40% by weight of a photoinitiator; from 0 to about 10% by weight of a pigment; and about 10 to about 90% by weight of a second radiation-curable oligomer according to the following formula: R1-L1-C1-L2-R2  (1) where: R1 and R2, independently, each represent a radiation-curable functional group; L1 and L2, independently, each represent an an alkyleneoxy chain having from about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms, wherein L1 and L2 are linked to C1 through an oxygen atom C1 comprises a hydrocarbon having from about 5 to about 40 carbon atoms and containing at least one cyclic group.

Abstract: A diastereomer complex obtained via a process for the separation of enantiomers is disclosed, wherein separation can be rapidly effected such that enantiomers are obtained with high e.e. values. The process permits the separation of mixtures of enantiomers in which more than one resolving agent is used, of which at least one resolving agent is optically active, and which yields a diastereomer complex containing at least two resolving agents in optically active form. The process provides for, inter alia, a diastereomer complex having at least three compounds of which at least two compounds are resolving agents in optically active form, and at least one compound is an enantiomer in optically active form. Also provided is a diastereomer complex having at least three compounds of which at least one compound is a resolving agent in optically active form, and at least two compounds which are enantiomers in optically active form.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the application of a pectin esterase substantially free from depolymerase activity in the maceration of apple pulp. The use of purified pectin esterase leads to a low amount of pectin degradation products in the juice and to the conservation of protopectin in the apple pomace. Furthermore, the juice yield and the pressability are increased through the use of purified PE.

Abstract: Polymer composition containing: A. 100-40 wt. % of a propylene block copolymer, with a melt index of at least 1.0 dg/min (230° C., 16 kg) and containing block a1 of propylene monomer units and optionally ethylene monomer units, and block a2 of propylene monomer units and ethylene monomer units; B. 0-30 wt. % of an impact modifier; C. 0-50 wt. % of filler, and D. 0.1-10 parts per 100 parts A1 of ultra high molecular weight polypropylene. These polymer compositions are useful for injection molding large parts at high injection rates without exhibiting surface defects.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elastomeric copolymer derived from components comprising a) ethylene, b) an &agr;-olefin, c) a non-conjugated polyene (C) having one C═C bond that is copolymerizable using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, and d) optionally a non-conjugated polyene (D) which in the molecule contains two or more C═C bonds that are copolymerizable using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The copolymer is characterized by, inter alia, a specific branching coefficient BC. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such copolymers.

Abstract: A radiation-curable coating composition for an optical fiber comprising a reactive functionality-terminated urethane oligomer, wherein said oligomer comprises the reaction product of (i) a semi-crystalline polyol, and (ii) a non-crystalline polyol in the mole ratio of semi-crystalline polyol to non-crystalline polyol of at least about 1:1, (iii) at least one isocyanate, and (iv) an endcapping compound capable of supplying the functionality terminus.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition that contains a dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer (a) on the basis of a thermoplastic polyolefin and an at least partly dynamically vulcanized rubber, a thermoplastic polyester block copolymer (b) and a compatibilizer (c). The thermoplastic polyolefin is preferably a propylene homo- or copolymer. The rubber is preferably an EPDM or EPM copolymer. The thermoplastic polyester block copolymer is preferably a polyether ester block copolymer. The thermoplastic elastomer composition according to the invention for instance contains 20-80 parts (a), 80-20 parts (b), and 1-40 parts (c), the sum of the parts (a+b+c) being 100. The thermoplastic elastomer composition according to the invention also relates to molded articles that contains the thermoplastic elastomer composition.