Abstract: The present invention relates to coated photonic crystal fibers including a photonic crystal fiber and a protective coating surrounding the photonic crystal fiber. The coating is obtained by curing a resin composition, which may include a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer. The present invention also relates to a coated photonic crystal fiber including a photonic crystal fiber and a protective coating having a refractive index below 1.45.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to genetic materials useful for the preparation of astaxanthin from beta-carotene, such as polypeptides having astaxanthin synthase activity, DNA fragments coding for astaxanthin synthase, recombinant organisms and the like. Those novel genetic materials may be derived from Phaffia rhodozyma. The present invention also provides a process for the production of astaxanthin.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are useful for identifying articles which are at least partly made from at least one polymer. The process and apparatus use an optical spectrometer and a transport system, whereby the articles to be identified are moved by the transport system past the optical spectrometer, where they are irradiated, response measured and analyzed. An external reference object is also transported, by the transport system, past the optical spectrometer such that it becomes possible to use the measured response for the reference object to identify, with greater accuracy, the articles to be identified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine wherein L-3,4,-dihydroxyphenylalanine is produced in a fermentation medium by aerobic fermentation of a recombinant microorganism having L-tyro-sine-3-hydroxy-mono-oxygenase activity and at least the metabolic pathways: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, aromatic amino acid pathway, or derivative pathways thereof, which process comprises (i) a growth phase and a production phase, wherein L-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine is produced in the fermentation medium, and 10 (ii) a downstream processing phase, and in which process L-3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine is produced from a carbon source and the pH is in the range of from 1 to 7 during at least part of the production phase and/or downstream processing phase.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of retinal (I) comprises reacting a 5-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-1,4-pentadiene derivative (IIa) or a 5-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-2-enyl)-1,4-pentadiene derivative (IIb) or a 5-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ylidene)-1-pentene derivative (IIc) or a 5-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-penta-1-en-4-yne derivative (IId) or a 5-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-2-enyl)-penta-1-en-4-yne derivative (IIe) with a 1,3-butadiene derivative H2C?C(CH3)CCH?CHOR4 (III) in the presence of a Lewis or Brönsted acid and subjecting the compound obtained in each case [(IVa), (IVb), (IVc), (IVd) or (IVe), respectively] to basic or acidic conditions to eliminate therefrom the moiety R2H and thus produce, according to the immediate precursor, retinal itself or a particular derivative thereof [(I?), (I?), (Va) or (Vb), respectively] and, where in two cases such derivative is produced featuring a triple bond [derivative (Va) or (Vb)], hydrogenating this to produce retinal (I) or the derivative (I?), resp

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 (?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 storage 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: Novel proteins of microorganism E-396 (FERM BP-4283) and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins have been discovered to provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoids, especially zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, adonixanthin and canthaxanthin.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid curing resin composition exhibiting excellent adhesion to PET-PET, MS-PET and the like, having excellent processability, heat resistance and water resistance, and having a high-cure rate. A liquid curing resin composition containing the following components (A) and (B): (A) 30 to 70 wt. % of a urethane (meth)acrylate having a number-average molecular weight of from 10000 to 40000, and (B) 30 to 60 wt. % of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a glass transition point, in the form of a homopolymer, of 60° C. or greater.

Abstract: The invention relates to a curable resin composition, cured products thereof, and laminated materials. The curable composition comprises: (A-1) acicular oxide particles, the oxide being an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, zirconium, titanium, zinc, germanium, indium, tin, antimony, and cerium, (B) a compound having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups, (C) a photopolymerization initiator is provided. After cure, the composition has excellent scratch resistance. In addition, it may have excellent antistatic characteristics and transparency. In a preferred embodiment the composition also comprises (A-2) particles other than the acicular particles (A-1), being oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, zirconium, titanium, zinc, germanium, indium, tin, antimony, and cerium.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing urea-containing polymers by contacting a hydroxy-functional organic compound having a functionality of two or more, with a coupling agent in the presence of a strong base, wherein the coupling agent is a carbonylbislactam compound having the general formula (I): wherein n is an integer from 3 to 15, and that the contacting is conducted at a temperature between 0° C. and 80° C. The polymers thus obtained are believed to be new and are useful e.g. in tissue engineering and coatings applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hydrogenated polymer comprising the steps of hydrogenation of at least one carbon-carbon double bond of an unsaturated polymer in latex in the presence of hydrazine, an oxidizing compound and a catalyst, followed by separation of the hydrogenated polymer from the latex. After the separation of the hydrogenerated polymer from the latex a mixing step is carried out in which the hydrogenated polymer is first mixed with an amine group containing compound and next the hydrogenated polymer is mixed with a compound that is capable of reacting with an amine. The invention also relates to the hydrogenated polymer.

Abstract: Process for the drying of polymers containing N or amino, ammonium or spirobicyclic ammonium groups, comprising cationic N-containing groups, and suitable counterions, in which the gelled and washed polymers obtained by polymerization, crosslinkage and optionally alkylation are dried continuously using a gaseous medium under normal pressure or overpressure in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a consensus protein from a group of amino acid sequences of a defined protein family, proteins and polynucleotides so obtained, and compositions containing such proteins.

Abstract: A process for preparing enantiomer-enriched heterocyclic (R)- and (S)-cyanohydrins of the formula (I), where R1, R2, R3, R4 independently of one another are H, an unsubstituted or substituted C1–C24-alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl radical, where one or more carbon atoms in the chain can be replaced by an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, an SO or an SO2 group, an unsubstituted or substituted aryl or heteroaryl radical or heterocyclic radical or halogen, hydroxyl, NR5R6, acetyl, oxo, C1–C6-carbalkoxy, C1–C6-carbalkoxyamino, COOR7, cyano, amide, benzoylamino or NO2, R5 and R6 are H, C1–C6-alkyl radical, phenyl radical, benzyl radical or COOR7, or together form a C2–C8-alkylene or heteroalkylene radical, R7 is H or C1–C6-alkyl, n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, X, Y and Z can be an unsubstituted or substituted carbon atom or a radical selected from the group consisting of N, O, S or NR5R6, where R5 and R6 are as defined above, SO or SO2, and at least one of the radicals X, Y and Z is not a carbon atom, where the compo

Abstract: Foamed composition comprising: 100 parts by weight elastomeric polymer (A), comprising monomeric units of ethylene and an ?-olefin, 1-50 parts by weight olefinic polymer (B), and further comprising 98-65 weight % monomeric units of ethylene; and 2-35 weight % monomeric units of an alpha-olefin having 4-12 carbon atoms, polymer B having a density of 880-915 kg/m3. The composition shows a very good foam structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting molten urea with a gas stream that contains ammonia and/or carbon dioxide, in which use is made of an additional stream the temperature of which differs from the temperature of the molten urea and/or the gas stream. The additional stream preferably contains ammonia. The method is preferably part of a process for the preparation of melamine.

Abstract: The preparation of a proteinaceous substance suitable for use in a foodstuff is described which comprises fungal fells of the order Mucorales. The cells are grown in a fermentor vessel in a liquid which is mixed during fermentation, after which the RNA content of the fungal cells is reduced to below 4% the fungal cells processed into an edible substance. This substance is then mechanically texturized into edible textured product for inclusion into foodstuffs, for example in the form of chunks as a meat substitute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing chiral ?-hydroxycarboxylic crystalline acids consisting in transforming cyanhydrins (R) or (S) into ?-hydroxycarboxylic acids (R) or (S), respectively by enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of melamine, comprising a first mixing step in which at least two melamine-containing flows, originating from at least two different processes for the preparation of melamine, are brought into contact with each other, with a mixture being formed. In one embodiment, at least one melamine-containing flow contains melamine from a low-pressure gas-phase process for the preparation of melamine and at least one melamine-containing flow contains melamine from a high-pressure liquid-phase process for the preparation of melamine.

Abstract: A photohardenable composition especially suitable for use in solid imaging. The compositions are characterized by their improved photospeed in combined with excellent initial green strength. The compositions allows for the production of articles by solid imaging processing techniques that show little or no distortion, high accuracy, excellent clarity. The compositions are low in toxicity and have low sensitivity to water.