Abstract: The processability of polymer fibers, and more specifically of aramid fibers, was intended to be improved. This object was attained by the use of resin solutions or dispersions of resins in an organic solvent containing0.2 to 20 percent by weight of at least one polyamide resin based on long-chain branched dicarboxylic acids and having terminal carboxylic and/or amino groups,0.02 to 10 percent by weight of a copolymer compatible therewith and containing carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride groups and carboxylic acid esters,0 to 5 percent by weight of further auxiliary materials, andorganic solvents to make 100 percent by weight for the surface treatment of polymer fibers.

Abstract: A handle bag 16 in a bag pack 2 suitable for suspension and opening on a bag rack 4 has a front wall 22, a rear wall 24, a pair of laterally spaced handles 20, and an area of a cold releasable adhesive 8 between the rear wall 24 of the bag 16 and the front wall 42 of its immediately subsequent bag 40. The front wall 22 is joined opposite the rear wall 24 and defines an enclosure 26 having an open top 28, opposed two sides 30 and a bottom 32. The handles 20 and the opposed sides 30 are substantially symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis 50. The area of the cold releasable adhesive 8 is centered about the longitudinal axis 50 and is positioned closer to the open top 28 than to the bottom 32. The area of the cold releasable adhesive 8 is preferably in the range of about 1 sq. inch to about 4 sq. inches.

Abstract: A cutting guide to be removably attached to any one of a number of hand operated power cutting tools such as, for example, a circular saw for cutting a substantially planar workpiece. The cutting guide includes an L-shaped guide plate having first and second sets of channel ears affixed thereto. First and second position adjustable guide arms are slidable received through respective ones of the first and second sets of channel ears such that the guide arms are arranged in perpendicular alignment relative to one another. The first guide arm is selectively positioned to engage and travel along a side of the workpiece so that the cutting tool moves in a cutting path that is parallel to the side of the workpiece. The second guide arm extends to a point that is spaced from an end of the workpiece so as to move with the cutting tool towards and into engagement with the end of the workpiece to thereby limit the length of the cutting path to the distance from which the second guide arm is spaced from the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, using a computer model, to control a manufacturing or distribution process, which determines a demand forecast by using an optimized historical weighting factor, determines an upper and a lower bound of a planned inventory by explicitly accounting for the customer order lead time, and computes a production schedule at predetermined intervals to maintain an actual inventory between the upper and lower bounds of the planned inventory.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrile-carboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.

Abstract: An improved optical switch having a first optical fiber and a plurality of N optical fibers. The first optical fiber forms an optical path with any one of the N optical fibers by an alignment of a longitudinal axis of an end of the first optical fiber with a longitudinal axis of an end of the one of N optical fibers. A switch in optical path is performed by a relative movement of the first optical fiber with respect to the N optical fibers for a realignment of the longitudinal axis of the end of the first optical fiber with a longitudinal axis of an end of another one of the N optical fibers.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a pair of hoses including a unitary body having a substantially cylindrical main section having a hollow interior, a projection extending outward from the main section and connectable to a first hose, a first edge portion extending outward from the main section, a second edge portion extending outward from the main section at a distance from the first edge portion to define a space therebetween, and a rim defining an aperture through which a second hose is insertable into the interior of the main section. The projection has a hollow interior in flow communication with the interior of the main section. The connector also includes a locking device arranged in the space between the first and second edge portions for locking the second hose in connection with the main section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clear cosmetic stick composition comprising (a) from about 3-15% of a soap gelling agent; (b) from about 10-90% of at least one polyhydric alcohol solvent; and (c) from about 0.5-10% of a combination of the clarifying agents pentadoxynol 200 and ethoxylated jojoba esters. The composition is useful, for example, as the base for a deodorant stick.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition comprising poly(butylene terephthalate), a reinforcing component, and a mixed flame retardant containing melamine pyrophosphate and an aromatic phosphate oligomer in selected proportions exhibits improved flame resistance, relatively low melt viscosity for good melt processability, and good physical properties, particularly tensile strength and tensile elongation.

Abstract: A holder for use in building construction for holding anchor bolts, rebar, in-concrete plumbing, and the like, in predetermined positions during the pouring of concrete therearound. The holder is molded in one piece from a suitable plastic and includes an elongated base plate, the front end of which has an end hole therethrough; a sleeve upstanding from the base plate over the end hole; elongated first and second side ribs upstanding from the top surface of the base plate along the side edges thereof and connected to the sleeve; an end rib partially wrapped around the sleeve and connected to the side ribs; a center rib upstanding from the base plate between the side ribs and also connected to the sleeve; webs upstanding from the base plate, interconnecting the side and center ribs, and having nail holes therethrough. The holder preferably also has an end plate.

Abstract: A dual band, stacked microstrip antenna produces circular polarization. A two-layer, 90.degree. microstrip coupler is mounted to a hi-band patch and a lo-band patch and provides two inputs to the antenna to excite two orthogonal linearly polarized radiation patterns in quadrature. The coupler outputs are connected to the antenna by two conducting pins that connect directly to the groundplane of the lower patch. The coupler uses the hi-band patch as a groundplane and is transparent to the radiation from the antenna. An antenna input connector is connected to the coupler input by means of a coaxial line through the center of the antenna. The isolation port is terminated in a surface mounted 50-ohm resister to ground through a quarter wave length open transmission line.

Abstract: A method for determining the absolute humidity of air by aid of a capacitive sensor and a temperature sensor as well as a heating element. The sensor temperature is changed upon reaching a predetermined humidity limit value. In order to eliminate the risk of falsified measuring values and to enable long-time stable and accurate measuring also in the high-humidity range, the determination of the humidity of air until reaching the predetermined humidity limit value is effected by evaluating the value measured for the capacity of the sensor. Upon reaching a predetermined limit value, the temperature of the sensor is controlled to a constant sensor capacity by heating and is evaluated.

Abstract: A process for preparing 5-chloro-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one comprising contacting 3-chloro-1-(chlorphenyl)-1-propanone with a catalyst selected from sulfuric acid and solid acid catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions containing a preservative-effective amount of hinokitiol-containing microcapsules, the microcapsules comprising a matrix containing collagen and a glycosaminoglycan.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for manufacturing sheets having a starch-bound matrix reinforced with fibers and optionally including an inorganic mineral filler. Suitable mixtures for forming the sheets are prepared by mixing together water, unmodified and ungelatinized starch granules, a cellulosic ether, fibers, and optionally an inorganic mineral filler in the correct proportions to form a sheet having desired properties. The mixtures are formed into sheets by passing them between one or more sets of heated rollers to form green sheets. The heated rollers cause the cellulosic ether to form a skin on the outer surfaces of the sheet that prevents the starch granules from causing the sheet to adhere to the rollers upon gelation of the starch. The green sheets are passed between heated rollers to gelatinize the starch granules, and then to dry the sheet by removing a substantial portion of the water by evaporation.

Abstract: Methods for the enzymatic resolution of mixtures of enantiomers, such as .beta.-lactam compounds, which may be employed as intermediates in the preparation of taxanes such as taxol, the latter useful in the pharmaceutical field.

Abstract: A system and method for printing postage indicia, including a desired postage amount, onto a piece of mail. A user takes a postal dispensing device to, or establishes information communication with, an authorized agent of a postal authority in order to obtain a replenishment of the amount of postage stored within the portable postage dispensing device. A desired amount of postage is entered into the dispensing device by an authorized agent through a host processor-based system. The user is then able to access this stored postage at the user's location through a network of processor-based systems. By using the network of processor-based systems the user is able to couple the portable dispensing device to a first processor-based system and then allow distribution of postage amounts to multiple ones of the networked processor-based systems. These ones of the networked processor-based systems may then print an authorized postage indicia on a postal item.