Abstract: Microbial strains capable of producing enhanced levels of sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and/or derivatives thereof are disclosed. Additionally, there are disclosed methods based on mutagenesis, or other selection techniques, whereby such strains can be produced. As a preferred example thereof, mutant strains of Pichia are provided that are capable of producing about 50% or more of such compounds than wild type strains.

Abstract: Provided is a ribbon assembly having the functional capability of providing break-out of ink coated or colored outer primary coated optical glass fibers from the ribbon assembly. The ink coating or colored outer primary coating is formulated from a benzophenone compound and at least about 1 wt. % of a homolytic photoinitiator to provide a level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and matrix material which is less than the level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and an adjacent underlying coating. Also provided are ink coating and colored outer primary coating compositions adapted to form ink coatings and colored outer primary coatings suitable for use on optical glass fibers contained in a ribbon assembly.

Abstract: Process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising &egr;-caprolactam and steam is obtained, wherein the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa. The invention also encompasses a process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile by performing a hydrolysis and a subsequent step as described above.

Abstract: An optical glass fiber coating composition comprising: (A) a urethane (meth)acrylate polymer, (B) a (meth)acrylate compound represented by the following formula (1), go wherein R1 is a hydrogen or a methyl group (C) a reaction diluent, and (D) a polymerization initiator. The composition has superior storage stability over a long period of time and, at a cured state, exhibits excellent UV resistance, heat resistance, yellowing resistance, and oil resistance.

Abstract: Process to separate &egr;-caprolactam from an aqueous mixture containing &egr;-caprolactam and at least 0.5 wt % oligomers, wherein the separation is performed by extraction using an organic extraction agent. The aqueous mixture may be obtained in a process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile or in a process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocaproic acid.

Abstract: Radiation-curable inner and outer primary optical fiber coatings are disclosed having both fast cure speed and reduced rates of yellowing. The compositions comprise particular photoinitiators and UV absorbers which are used in amounts to provide the combination of properties. The UV absorber can have ethylenic unsaturation. Outer primary coatings can be formulated to screen inner primary coatings and have fast cure speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copolyether ester composition for products that show particularly good aging behaviour when exposed to dynamic deformation at elevated temperatures and in contact with greases. The copolyether ester composition comprises a mixture of at least 2 copolyether esters A and B, composed of hard segments derived from at least one alkylene diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid and soft segments derived from at least one polyalkylene oxide glycol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid, in which the concentration of soft segments X in A and the concentration of soft segments Y in B lie between 30 and 65 wt. %, relative to the copolyether ester and the molecular weights of X and Y lie between 500 and 3000 and |Mx−My|≧400.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for improving the efficiency of feed utilization and/or for promoting the growth of animals in which an animal is fed a diet which comprises a composition comprising feed substance and a ready for use phospholipase additive. Preferably said composition also comprises at least one phospholipid. Said compositions are used to improve fat digestibility and to promote growth of the animal. The phospholipid is preferably lecithin and the preferred phospholipase is a mammalian phospholipase A2. In a preferred embodiment the phospholipase is produced using recombinant DNA technology to express the enzyme in a suitable host such as a microorganism or a transgenic plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ballistic-resistant molded article containing a compressed stack of monolayers, with each monolayer containing unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibers and at most 30 wt. % of a plastic matrix material and with the fiber direction in each monolayer being rotated with respect to the fiber direction in an adjacent monolayer, characterized in that the density (&rgr;P) of the compressed stack is at least 98.0% of the theoretical maximum density. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the molded article. The ballistic-resistant article may be used in, for instance, helmets, as inserts in bullet-proof vests, as armoring on military vehicles and in ballistic-resistant panels.

Abstract: A liquid curable resin composition exhibiting superior storing stability and suitable for use as a material for optical fiber ribbon matrix, a bundling material, and a material for up-jacketing fibers. The composition contains a first polydimethylsiloxane compound which contains (i) at least two urethane bonds, (ii) an unreactive organic group attached to at least one end of the first polydimethyl-siloxane, and (iii) a (meth)acrylol group attached to at least one end of the first polydimethylsiloxane, and a second polydimethylsiloxane compound which contains (i) at least two urethane bonds and (ii) an unreactive organic group attached to at least one end of the second polydimethylsiloxane, and optionally a third polysiloxane compound which does not contain urethane bonds.

Abstract: Cationic and hybrid radiation-curable pressure sensitive adhesive compositions for digital versatile discs and other substrates, a method for bonding versatile digital disc layers together with a cationic or hybrid radiation-curable pressure sensitive adhesive, and a digital versatile disc bonded by cationic or hybrid radiation-curable pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an alkyl pentenoate respectively an aryl pentenoate by contacting an alkoxy-butene respectively an aryloxy-butene compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising palladium, a phosphorus ligand and an acid promotor, wherein the molar ratio of 3-alkoxy-1-butene to 1-alkoxy-2-butene, respectively the molar ratio of 3-aryloxy-1-butene to 1-aryloxy-2-butene, is higher than 4.

Abstract: A solid imaging apparatus and method produces an integral three-dimensional object from a multiplicity of cross sectional portions of the object by selectively exposing successive layers of a liquid photoformable composition to actinic radiation. The apparatus includes a vessel for containing the composition so as to present a free surface, and a movable platform disposed within the vessel below the free surface. Part of the composition is transferred above the free surface by lowering and raising a dispenser at predetermined positions located away from the platform. A doctor blade contacts the composition transferred above the free surface, and then moves over the platform to form a substantially uniform layer of the composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved hydroformylation process in which the catalyst system is composed of a Group VIII metal and organic phosphite ligand having the structure P(OR)2-OR′O—P(OR)2 or P(OR)3, where R and R′ are organic residues which may be the same or different and where the R or R′ contain at least one C9 to C40 aliphatic group positioned as a tail extending away from the primary ligand structure rendering the ligand lipophilic.

Abstract: Car part made from a polyamide composition wherein the polyamide substantially consists of 60-99 wt. % units derived from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and diamines and the remaining chain units are derived from cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and an aliphatic diamine or cycloaliphatic diamine(s) and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Optical fiber primary coating systems are disclosed having excellent ribbon stripping and adhesion behavior. The coatings are radiation-curable. The excellent stripping and adhesion behavior can be inner primary coating composition having a slip enhancing component and a high modulus outer primary coating composition. Combination of means can be employed. Stripping behavior can be measured by crack propagation and fiber friction measurements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic sheeting which is suitable, in particular, for application in the construction industry. It is obtained by employing polyetherester block copolymers and has good humidity-regulating properties and water impermeability. Flame retardancy in accordance with DIN 4102 B2 is obtained by employing melamine, melamine compounds or melamine condensates in the polyetherester composition for the sheeting.

Abstract: A reactor for the synthesis of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide at elevated temperature and pressure is provided with perforated reactor trays in which at least a pair of spaced part perforated reactor trays each have at least one opening at least a distance closer towards the periphery than the center, such as on or near the edge of a perforated reactor tray, and each of such pair perforated reactor trays is provided with a tube with a height of 50-500 mm located on and depending from an underside, e.g. bottom side in a column reactor, of each of such pair perforated reactor tray. The tubes extend to no more than 1/3 of the distance between two adjacent reactor trays.

Abstract: Multicrystalline melamine powder having the following properties:specific surface area: 0.7-5 m.sup.2 /glevel of oxygen-containing components <0.7 wt %color APHA less than 17melamine: >98.5 wt %melam: <1.3 wt %Multicrystalline melamine powder obtainable via a high-pressure process in which solid melamine is obtained by the melamine melt being transferred to a vessel where the melamine melt is cooled with an evaporating cooling medium, the melamine melt having a temperature between the melting point of melamine and 450.degree. C. being treated with 0.1-15 mol of ammonia per mole of melamine and then being sprayed via spraying means and cooled with an evaporating cooling medium within a vessel in an ammonia environment at an ammonia pressure of 0.1-25 MPa, the melamine melt being converted into melamine powder having a temperature between 200.degree. C. and the solidification point of melamine, the melamine powder then being cooled to a temperature below 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A fermentation process is disclosed for producing an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor such as lovastatin or compactin. In particular, it relates to a process wherein at least part of the assimilable nitrogen source and, optionally, the carbon source is provided continuously or intermittently to the culture.