Abstract: Disclosed are random copolymers derived from ethylene and at least two different alkyl acrylate comonomers, with or without an acid cure site-containing comonomer. In particular, disclosed are copolymers derived from copolymerization of (a) from 10 to 50 weight % of ethylene; (b) from 5 to 55 weight % of a first alkyl acrylate; (b) from 15 to 80 weight % of a second alkyl acrylate; and (d) from 0 to 7 weight % of a monoalkyl ester of 1,4-butene-dioic acid. Such copolymers exhibit lower glass transition temperatures (Tg) relative to previous ethylene copolymers comprising a single alkyl acrylate comonomer and maintain the good heat and fluid resistance when employed to produce cured elastomeric compositions as well as the improved low temperature properties. This invention also provides compounded compositions comprising these copolymers, and cured compositions (i.e.

Abstract: A water-resistant telecommunication cable is disclosed comprising a solid and compact element surrounding at least one optical transmitting element, wherein the element is made from a vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymer having a hydrolysis degree of about 60% to about 95% and a polymerization degree higher than about 2,500; at least a first solid plasticizer having a melting point between 50° and 110° C., and a second solid plasticizer having a melting point equal or higher than 140° C., in an amount of about 10–30 and 1–10 parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the copolymer, respectively; the water-soluble polymer material showing: a complex modulus (G*) equal to or higher than 2.5 106 Mpa; a ratio of the viscous modulus to the elastic modulus (tan ?) equal to or lower than 2.30; and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 20° to about 35° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing the resistivity of a non-machined conductive flow field plate for use in a fuel cell. The process includes the step of annealing the conductive flow field plate by heating the conductive flow field plate to a temperature between 25° C. (room temperature) and a temperature slightly lower than the material softening temperature of the material composition of the conductive flow field plate; maintaining the conductive flow field plate at that temperature for an effective period of time; and, cooling the conductive flow field plate to room temperature.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling the flow of fluent material from a machine, the machine having a frame including a hopper and a tube mounted to the hopper, an auger within the tube and a hose mounted to the tube. The control valve has a clamp, which has a first arm mounted to the frame on a first side of the hose and a second arm mounted to the frame on an opposite side of the hose. The first arm is movably mounted to the frame in a direction toward the hose. A prime mover is drivingly linked to the first arm and the frame for displacing the first arm toward the hose, thereby clamping the hose between the first and second arms for restricting the flow of fluent material through the hose.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are refrigerant and heat transfer fluid compositions comprising 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone and at least one hydrofluorocarbon for use in refrigeration and air conditioning systems employing a centrifugal compressor. The compositions may be azeotropic or near-azeotropic.

Abstract: A touch panel module includes a touch unit and a memory unit jointly connecting to a connection socket through buses to become an integrated single module. The connection socket has another end connecting to a command unit through another bus thereby to provide a common memory function.

Abstract: A donor element is described for use in a thermal imaging process. The donor element includes a support; a heating layer, and a colorant containing thermally imageable layer comprising a crosslinkable binder having a number average molecular weight of about 1,500 to about 70,000. A process for making a color filter using a thermal imaging process, and a liquid crystal display using this color filter are also described.

Abstract: A motorized floor stripper for stripping a floor covering away from a floor surface. The floor stripper has wheels and a motor mounted to a frame. An operator uses handles on the frame to move the floor stripper across the floor. The motor is coupled to an eccentric driver, which may be an eccentric cam. The eccentric driver is coupled in turn to a driven member. The driven member is coupled to the frame at a coupling point, and a working element such as a blade is attached to the driven member opposite the eccentric driver. When the motor drives the eccentric driver, the driven member drives the working element in a motion that depends on the configuration of the eccentric driver, the driven member, and the coupling point. By adjusting the location of the coupling point relative to the frame, the operator may adjust the motion of the working element to achieve a motion particularly suitable for removing the floor covering that is being stripped away from the floor.

Abstract: An upper jaw of the gripper is provided posteriorly to a fulcrum shaft, with opposed portions for a double effect cooperation with an eccentric element keyed on the shaft which controls the orientation of the gripper. The opening and closure movement of the gripper, in an appropriate phase of the distributor (D) of the film, is ensured by the cooperation of a roller of an action lever of the fulcrum shaft with a cam-function lever, horizontally fulcrumed with one end of a support fixed to the frame of the machine and provided on the other end with a trigger and hook device which, when actuated by the roller, deactivates and allows the lifting of the lever via an elastic return device. Subsequent to the lifting, the gripper closes and grasps the film from the distributor.

Abstract: A measurement sensor comprising a PSD (30) as an optoelectronic receiver, a transmitter (10, 12) for generating spots (22, 26), optics (14, 32) for reproducing the spots (22?, 26?) on the PSD (30) and means (44, 46, 48, 50, 52) for processing output signals (I1, I2) generated by said PSD (30) and for controlling the transmitter (10, 12) depending on the processed output signals (I1, I2) in order to measure the distance between the target (24) and the sensor by a triangulation technique is disclose closed. The transmitter comprises at least two optoelectronic signal sources (10, 12) for projecting at least two spots (22, 26) independent from each other on a target (24), the means (44, 46, 48, 50, 52) comprising a digitally controlled potentiometer (48) for balancing the output signals (I1, I2) and a digital processor (52) adapted for controlling the potentiometer (48).

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation, sequencing, and recombinant expression of genes encoding either a nitrile hydratase (NHase) or amidase (Am) from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D, where the NHase is useful for catalyzing the hydration of nitriles to the corresponding amides, and the amidase is useful for hydrolysis of amides to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Also provided are transformed host cells containing polynucleotides for expressing the nitrile hydratase or amidase enzymes from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides that alter tocol content in seeds. The invention further provides expression cassettes, host cells and transformed plants containing the nucleic acids. The present invention further provides methods for altering tocol content in seeds.

Abstract: Process for converting certain lactones to their alpha-methylene substituted forms in a supercritical or near-critical fluid phase reaction using an oxynitride catalyst or a composite oxynitride catalyst incorporating lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium or combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a mixture of levulinic acid esters and formic acid esters from biomass and olefins, and the composition prepared therefrom. This invention also relates to usage of the mixture of these esters as fuel and as fuel additives for gasoline fuel, diesel fuel, and biofuel.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding insect protoxins or insect toxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of a modified insect protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by an insect gut protease produces an active insect toxin in the gut of the insect pest. Cleavage of a modified insect toxin of the invention at a proteolytic activation site results in the production of an active insect toxin in the insect gut that displays improved pesticidal activity relative to the insect toxin that lacks the proteolytic activation site. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin and modified insect toxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided.

Abstract: An online payment method is disclosed which permits users to make realtime debit card payments over the Internet. The payor and payee preregister with the system by sending their PAN, encrypted PIN and encryption key to the system database using a debit card reader, and then enter user names and secret IDs to be associated with the PAN and PIN numbers. When an online transaction is made the payor enters its user name and ID which is sent to the system along with the transaction amount and the payee user name. The system sends out a standard POS transaction using the stored PAN, encrypted PIN and encryption key. If approved it sends out a credit POS transaction to the payee in the same way.

Abstract: Design optimization methods can be used to design concrete mixtures having optimized properties, including desired strength and slump at minimal cost. The design optimization methods use a computer-implemented process that is able to design and virtually “test” millions of hypothetical concrete compositions using mathematical algorithms that interrelate a number of variables that affect strength, slump, cost and other desired features. The design optimization procedure utilizes a constant K (or K factor) within Feret's strength equation that varies (e.g., logarithmically) with concrete strength for any given set of raw material inputs and processing equipment. That means that the binding efficiency or effectiveness of hydraulic cement increases with increasing concentration so long as the concrete remains optimized. The knowledge of how the K factor varies with binding efficiency and strength is a powerful tool that can be applied in multiple circumstances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite system comprising an electrode and a membrane, which can be used as a fuel cell element or an ion-exchange membrane.

Abstract: Process for converting certain lactones to their alpha-methylene substituted forms using an oxynitride catalyst or a composite oxynitride catalyst incorporating lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A polymer-based microfluidic device and its manufacturing methods. This microfluidic device is suitable for chromatographic and electrophoretic separations in which the detection of the components in the fluid is by means of ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The device further comprises at least one cooling channel adjacent the separation channel, said cooling channel conducting a cooling fluid through the device for removing heat from the the separation channel. At least one section of the separation channel has an increased cross-sectional dimension with respect to other sections of said channel to provide an increased optical path length when the device is used in an ultraviolet detection arrangement.