Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide. A second embodiment of the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine then contacting the resulting modified diamine with diacid and/or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recovering the chlorine value from a particulate feed stream of metal chlorides wherein the total energy and reactant mass flow are managed to minimize the build up of deposits of solids on the reactor walls and maximize the conversion of the metal chlorides to metal oxides and chlorine.

Abstract: A high solids coating composition comprising a branched hydroxy-functional polyester oligomer and a curing agent; and the oligomer itself containing at least 20% by weight of the binder of at least one of the following tertiary acid ester end groups: where R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from CH3 and CH2OH; the composition being suitable as an automobile clearcoat or pigmented topcoat.

Abstract: A septic tank effluent filter includes a housing positioned external to and downstream a septic tank for receiving the effluent prior to it being released into a drainfield positioned downstream the housing. The housing includes an inlet port and an offset outlet ports on an opposing wall for connection between the septic tank and drainfield. A cylindrical container is carried within the housing and is connected directly to the outlet port for having the effluent flow from within the housing through the uniformly perforated cylindrical wall of the container to outlet port. A circular base plate of the container provides a baffle and prevents the undesirable direct streaming of the effluent from the inlet port to the outlet port. A plastic mesh bag is filled with polystyrene plastic beads having a large surface to volume ratio, thus a large surface area within a desirable space.

Abstract: An optical fibre cable includes at least one optical fibre and a polymer-based outer sheath, characterized in that the sheath is an extruded double-layer sheath, including an extruded first inner polymer layer and an extruded second outer polymer layer. The first inner polymer layer is substantially devoid of tracking resistance, and the second outer polymer layer has high tracking resistance. The second outer polymer layer includes a polymeric mixture containing a polymer and an inorganic oxide or hydroxide in an amount of at least 40% by weight with respect to the total weight of the second outer polymer layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the treatment of aqueous waste stream containing aldehydes and/or 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable comprising a filling material and to the composition of said filling material. In particular, the filling composition according to the present invention comprises an internal polyolefin oligomer to provide an improved capacity for wetting the coating surfaces of the optical fibers which it comes into contact with, and provides better slip of the optical fibers embedded in the composition. The oligomers of the invention comprise internal polyolefins obtained by polymerizing two or more hydrocarbon monomeric units having at least one unsaturation distributed randomly along the whole hydrocarbon chain wherein a mixture of these monomeric units comprises a maximum of 10% of monomeric units having the double bond in the &agr;-position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone passage from a proximal location, the device including (1) a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone passage; (2) a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and (3) an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide a method for transport and/or storage of live baits adapted to alleviate a loss occurring in the course of transport and/or storage and to maintain a freshness of the live baits for a long period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for modifying polyamide polymers by attaching a substituted or unsubstituted 2-hydroxy-ethyl modifying group to the amide nitrogen atoms and the modified product formed. The process comprises contacting an epoxy containing molecule with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

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

Abstract: Overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings for reflecting light in a plurality of wavelength each with a selected narrow linewidth are described. Each fiber Bragg grating has a selected period so as to reflect light in a wavelength with a selected narrow linewidth. The overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings can be used in various applications, including a multiwavelength laser source. One embodiment of a multiwavelength laser source includes a laser diode having first and second facets from which output light is emitted and an optical fiber section having an end located near the second facet to receive output light from the laser diode. The optical fiber section includes overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings for reflecting output light in the wavelengths with selected narrow linewidths back into the laser diode through its second facet. The output light emitted from the first facet has very narrow linewidths about the selected linewidths.

Abstract: A continuous process is provided for preparing silica microgels using carbon dioxide as a gel initiator at a pressure of at least about 172 kPa (about 25 psig). Consistent performance of microgel can be produced with varying production rates.

Abstract: A process for producing difluoromethane is disclosed which includes the step of contacting a gaseous mixture containing CH2Cl2 and hydrogen fluoride with a catalyst containing a catalytically effective amount of trivalent chromium supported on a carbon having an ash content of less than 0.5 percent by weight, at a temperature of from about 180 ° C. to about 375° C. The catalyst and temperature conditions of this process allow the concurrent reaction CCl3CF3 with HF to form CCl2FCF3. CH2ClF and unreacted CH2Cl2, each of which may be recovered as an azeotrope with HF, may be recycled.

Abstract: An optical device to perform an asynchronous and parallel processing of a N bits serial stream of an optical digital signal comprises a) a serial to parallel converter which converts the serial stream of N bits into a first parallel pattern of N bits carrying the same information as the serial stream of N bits; b) an optical system to produce, from the parallel pattern of N bits, a first two-dimensional (2-D) image made of N rows and M columns (N×M) of bits, each column being associated to the digital optical signal by a predetermined relationship; c) a logic device to perform logic operations on the bits of the first 2-D image; and d) a device to send to an output the results of the logic operations.

Abstract: Motorized tool for extruding or sucking in semi-dense materials, such as sealants and similar substances includes a body in pistol form containing a screw and nut system driven by a reversible electric motor to move a piston. The electric motor is controlled by a trigger switch connected to an electronic variator for controlling the motor rotation speed and an adjustable stop device is provided to select the length of the backward stroke of the trigger switch and therefore the rotation speed of the motor. Furthermore, a switch for selecting the rotation direction of the motor, consisting of the button of a microswitch, is located in front of the trigger.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for changing the fluorine content of halogenated hydrocarbons containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, in the presence of a multiphase catalyst. The process involves producing the catalyst by heating a single phase solid catalyst precursor having the formula (NH3)6Cr2−xMxF6 (where x is in the range of 0.1 to 1 and M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Sc, V, Fe, Ga and In) to about 400° or less to produce a multiphase composition wherein a phase containing crystalline M fluoride is homogeneously dispersed with a phase containing chromium fluoride. Also disclosed are multiphase catalyst compositions consisting essentially of chromium fluoride and a crystalline fluoride of at least one metal selected from the above group (provided the atom percent of Cr is at least equal to the atom percent of the crystalline fluoride metals). Phases of the crystalline fluorides are homogeneously dispersed with phases of the chromium fluoride.

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

Abstract: The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments encoding acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase enzymes to modify plant lipid composition are disclosed. Also disclosed are chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences may be used to create transgenic plants with altered levels of saturated fatty acids.