Abstract: A process is disclosed for obtaining octafluorocyclobutane of increased purity from a mixture comprising (a) octafluorocyclobutane and (b) at least one halocarbon impurity which is difficult to separate from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation (e.g., azeotropes of octafluorocyclobutane with such halocarbons). The process involves (1) contacting the mixture with a catalyst in the vapor phase in the presence HCl and/or HF at a temperature sufficient to react component (b) impurity with HCl and/or HF to provide a product mixture comprising halogenated product which is more easily separated from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation than the unreacted impurity; and (2) separating halogenated product obtained in (1) from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation.

Abstract: A termination for an electric cable includes a conductive element, a conductive shank, an insulating body, a casing of insulating material, and electric field control means. The conductive shank connects to an upper extremity of the conductive element and is adapted for connection of the termination to an electric installation. The insulating body includes a cylindrical portion surrounding a lower extremity of the conductive element, the cylindrical portion being adapted for connection of the termination to the electric cable, the conductive element and the insulating body constituting a rigid assembly adapted to resist a predetermined transverse stress. The termination also includes a joining assembly having an electric connection element connecting a conductor of the electric cable and the conductive element of the termination, and a flexible joint covering the electric connection element and a length of the cylindrical portion of the insulating body.

Abstract: A library is composed of viral vectors in which each of the vectors (a) involves a peptide expression cassette containing a random nucleotide sequence, (b) transduces a eukaryotic cell to allow expression of the random nucleotide sequence, and (c) is produced by (i) conventional random oligonucleotide synthesis or (ii) random codon synthesis where codons encode an even distribution of random amino acids.

Abstract: A composition and a process for producing the composition are provided. The composition comprises repeat units derived from 1,3-propanediol; an organic acid, preferably a dicarboxylic acid, its salt, its ester, or combinations of two or more thereof; a polyether diol; and a sulfonated comonomer. The polyether diol can be present in the composition in the range of from about 10 to about 80 weight %. The process comprises contacting 1,3-propanediol with the organic acid, the polyether diol, and the sulfonated comonomer. The sulfonated comonomer can have the formula of (R′OC(O))2A(R)zS(O)2OM in which each R′ can be the same or different and is each independently hydrogen, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, or a C1 to C4 hydroxyalkyl group; each R is independently a C1 to C4 alkyl group; A is an alkylene or arylene group; z is a number of from 0 to 2; and M is hydrogen, alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion, quaternary ammonium, or ammonium ion.

Abstract: The invention comprises polymer compositions containing 3-hydroxypropanoxy terminated polymer that exhibit reduced levels of degradation product emissions during processing, by contacting the polymer in the molten state with a melt stable, organic nitrogen-containing stabilizing compound, such as polyamide.

Abstract: A process for making HMD in which a butadiene hydrocyantion reaction product that contains phosphorous-containing impurities is treated with ozone.

Abstract: Cathodic electrodeposition coating compositions containing, in addition to conventional self-cross-linking or external cross-linking film-forming binders as well as optionally cross-linking agents, pigments, extenders, additives conventionally used in coating agents and solvents, from 0.1 to 5 wt-%, based on the resin solids content of the coating compositions, of one or more sulphonamides, when coated on a galvanized surface, produce coatings that are substantially free of pinholes.

Abstract: A device for dilating nasal passageway which includes a resilient bar having pads on opposite ends for insertion into respective nasal passageways and the bar when bent causes a biasing outward force on the pads to dilate the anterior section of the nasal cavity with said bar having notches thereon which can be selectively cut to reduce the bearing force on the pads.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for making a reactive silane oligomer having low polydispersity, viscosity and volatility. The process utilizes reacting unsymmetrical difunctional silane monomers with water, diol monomers, or a combination thereof to make the reactive silane oligomer. The unsymmetrical difunctional silane monomers are with silane reactive groups having significantly different reactivities. Use of such reactive silane oligomers results in multi-component coating compositions having high miscibility, low VOC, low viscosity and high percentage of solids.

Abstract: Sulphaminoheparosansulphates obtainable from the Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide by deacetilation and the subsequent sulfation with the sulphuric anhydride/trimethylamine adduct carried out at 0° C., for times ranging from 0.25 to 2 hours and using a reactant/polysaccharide ratio (SO3 equivalents/available OH groups equivalents) equal to 5 have been found having high anti-metastatic activity and low anticoagulant activity.

Abstract: A receiver is described, for instance for GSM systems, wherein a plurality of digital signals each comprising a training sequence (xp(t)) usable to generate an estimation of the transmission channel are received in diversity (A.1 . . . A.N) in the form of a plurality of replicas (10.1 . . . 10.N) each comprising a respective replica of the training sequence. The received digital signal is subjected to a delaying action thereby obtaining a plurality of versions of such signal, each comprising a respective set of signal replicas. Each version is subjected to a respective filtering action (23.1 . . . 23.N) independently from the other versions, by employing a respective first set of filtering coefficients (w*11 . . . w*N1 . . . w*Nj) obtained starting from a respective initial set of filtering coefficients.

Abstract: A reliable and rapid method to identify differentially expressed genes in microbes has been developed. The method relies on the use of a large number of arbitrarily primed PCR reactions. The method has been used to identify the DNA sequences of genes involved in the degradation of the picric acid from Rhodococcus erythropolis strain HL PM-1, and genes involved in cyclohexanol degradation from a consortium of organisms.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a protein involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the protein involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the protein involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the manufacture of CF3CF═CF2, and optionally a least one compound selected from CF3CH2CF3 and CF3CHFCHF2. The process involves contacting a reactor feed including a precursor stream of at least one halogenated propane of the formula CX3CH2CHyX(3−y) and/or halogenated propene of the formula CX3CH═CHyX(2−y), where each X is Cl or F and y is 0, 1 or 2 (provided that the average fluorine content of the precursor stream is no more than 5 fluorine substituents per molecule) with HF and Cl2 in a chlorofluorination reaction zone containing a fluorination catalyst and operating at a temperature between about 150° C. and 400° C.

Abstract: This invention provides an antimicrobial annuloplasty rings, and methods for making the same, wherein the annuloplasty rings have a desired degree of initial rigidity to facilitate ease of handling during implantation but which becomes flexible some time after implantation. The annuloplasty ring contains a relatively rigid insert enclosed by a fabric sheath, the insert being at least partly comprised of a biodegradable material. Following surgical implantation of the annuloplasty ring, the rigid insert component of the ring, upon exposure to blood and/or other physiological fluids, undergoes a controlled biodegradation which decreases its rigidity, thereby increasing the flexibility of the implanted annuloplasty ring. Furthermore, at least some portion of the annuloplasty ring of the invention has incorporated therein one or more antimicrobial agents in a manner which reduces the likelihood of device infection following implantation.

Abstract: There are provided an electrocatalyst having an excellent poisoning resistance to carbon monoxide for use in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells, an electrode, a membrane-electrode assembly, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, using said electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst is comprised of a cubic platinum-ruthenium solid solution alloy and a hexagonal ruthenium supported together on a conductive carbon carrier.

Abstract: A copolymer composition and its use as a soil release agent for fabrics comprising monomers copolymerized in the following percentages by weight (a) from about 30% to about 49% of at least one monomer of formula I: Rf—Q—A—C(O)—C(R)═CH2  I  wherein Rf is a straight or branched-chain perfluoroalkyl group of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, R is H or CH3, A is O, S or N(R′), wherein R′ is H or an alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, Q is alkylene of 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkylene of 3 to about 15 carbon atoms, —(CnH2n)(OCqH2q)m—, —SO2—NR′(CnH2n)—, or —CONR′(CnH2n), wherein R′ is H or an alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, n is 1 to about 15, q is 2 to about 4, and m is 1 to about 15; (b) from about 10% to about 70% of at least one monomer or a mixture of monomers selected from formula IIA, formula IIB, and formula IIC: (R1)2N—(CH2)r—Z—C(O)—C(R2)&box

Abstract: An electrophoretic display element includes at least one substrate and at least one cell defined by a cell wall. The cell is disposed on the substrate and contains a suspending medium. In some embodiments, the cell has a width that is not greater than about three times a height of the cell wall.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the treatment of aqueous waste stream containing aldehydes and ketones, in particular, alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, which can be rendered non-toxic to biological treatment systems by contacting the waste stream with organic polyamines and/or inorganic ammonium compounds at essentially ambient conditions.