Abstract: Compounds of Formula (1), their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts, are disclosed which are useful for controlling undesired vegetation wherein A, R1, R2a, R2b, W, Y, and Z are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula (1) and a method for controlling undesired vegetation which involves contacting the vegetation or its environment with an effective amount of a compound of Formula (1).

Abstract: A composition and a process for producing the composition are disclosed. The composition comprises an alkoxylated phosphite ester which has the formula of (HO[{CH(R)}mO]n)3P in which each R can be the same or different and can be independently hydrogen or an alkyl group, or combinations of two or more thereof and m is a number from 2 to about 20 and n is a number from 2 to about 20. The process comprises contacting a trialkyl phosphite with an alkylene glycol or polyalkylene glycol to produce a mixture followed by heating the mixture. Also disclosed in a process for using the composition, which comprises contacting a carbonyl compound, in the presence of the composition, with an alcohol.

Abstract: This invention is an architectural glazing structure for exterior mounting that is a glass laminate having enhanced resistance to being pulled from a frame upon being subjected to severe positive and/or negative pressure loads. This invention is particularly suitable for architectural structures having windows that can be subjected to the extreme conditions prevalent in a hurricane, or window that can be placed under severe stress from repeated forceful blows to the laminate.

Abstract: Polyamide compositions and blends toughened with polyvinylbutyral and containing glass fiber are disclosed, together with articles of manufacture. These materials may also contain non-reactive polymers and antioxidants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an agent for treating cardiovascular diseases, especially cardiac hypertrophy, wherein said method and agent consist in increasing testosterone concentration in pathological tissues to normal levels or inhibiting and/or eliminating metabolites from testosterone metabolism. The testosterone concentration in pathological tissues can be increased to normal levels by administering at least one substance from the following groups: testosterone; substances with effects similar to those of testosterone; testosterone mimetics; substances that enhance testosterone synthesis; substances that inhibit testosterone metabolism.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises an electrophoretic medium having a plurality of charged particles suspended in a suspending fluid, and two electrodes disposed on opposed sides of the electrophoretic medium. At least one of the electrodes is light-transmissive and forming a viewing surface. The display has a closed optical state in which the charged particles are spread over substantially the entire viewing surface so that light cannot pass through the medium, and an open optical state in which the electrophoretic particles form chains extending between the electrodes so that light can pass through the electrophoretic medium. Insulating layers are disposed between the electrodes and the electrophoretic medium. Similarly electrophoretic displays are provided equipped with color filter arrays or reflectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to the genetic manipulation of plants to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate, particularly in the peroxisomes. Methods for producing such polymers in plants and host cells are provided. Such methods find use in producing biodegradable thermoplastics in plants and other organisms. Nucleotide molecules, expression cassettes, and genetically manipulated host cell, plants, plant tissues, and seeds are also provided.

Abstract: A mixing and distribution device for fixing paste, for multicomponent bone cement, comprising a box-like body that forms internally a receptacle closed in an upper region by a detachable and fluid-tight lid, inside which devices for mixing components of the fixing paste are accommodated and are coupled to a piston that forms a venting chamber toward the lid and a mixing chamber toward the bottom of the receptacle; the mixing chamber is connected to a channel for distributing bone cement, controlled by valve devices, and the venting chamber is connected to a venting channel associated with suction devices. The mixing devices are constituted by longitudinally elongated mixing blades arranged so as to slide within complementary through slots formed in the piston; a rotation pivot is locked coaxially on the piston and is arranged so that it can slide through a corresponding fluid-tight hole formed in the lid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for vapor-depositing strip-shaped substrates with a transparent barrier layer made of aluminum oxide by reactively vaporizing aluminum and admitting reactive gas in a strip vapor-deposition installation. The invention provides that, before coating with aluminum oxide, a partially enclosed layer made of a metal or of a metal oxide is applied to the substrate by magnetron sputtering.

Abstract: The invention provides dispersions of rigid-chain conjugated polymers, processes for their manufacture and the use thereof for the manufacture of electronic components. The process according to the invention comprises the steps of a) preparing a solution of the polymer in a strong acid or in a liquid mixture comprising a Lewis acid; and b) introducing the solution prepared in step a) into an aqueous surfactant solution so as to form a dispersion of the polymer. Thus, the invention provides a dispersion of such a polymer in an aqueous or organic or aqueous-organic dispersion medium, wherein the size of the dispersed polymer particles lies in the range of 10 to 800 nm. The dispersions according to the invention may be used for the manufacture of a thin film of the polymer, in particular, for electronic components.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting a signal used for the detection of the movement of an object in a space represented by a set of data Aij, associated with pixels forming a multidimensional space i, j, evolving with time, and represented at a succession of instants T, wherein the data are associated with the parameter A in the form of a digital signal DATA(A), composed of a sequence Aijt of binary numbers of n bits associated with synchronization signals defining the instant T of the space, and the position i, j in this space, in which the signals Aijt are received, in which the threshold and the gain in detection sensitivity of the parameter A are adapted. The detection sensitivity of the parameter variation is also adapted.

Abstract: Many discovery problems, e.g., subgroup or association rule discovery, can naturally be cast as n-best hypotheses problems where the goal is to find the n hypotheses from a given hypothesis space that score best according to a certain utility function. We present a sampling algorithm that solves this problem by issuing a small number of database queries while guaranteeing precise bounds on confidence and quality of solutions. Known sampling approaches have treated single hypothesis selection problems, assuming that the utility be the average (over the examples) of some function—which is not the case for many frequently used utility functions. We show that our algorithm works for all utilities that can be estimated with bounded error. We provide these error bounds and resulting worst-case sample bounds for some of the most frequently used utilities, and prove that there is no sampling algorithm for a popular class of utility functions that cannot be estimated with bounded error.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an oxidosqualene cyclase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the isolated polynucleotides of the invention, in sense or antisense orientation, operably linked to a suitable regulatory sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to sulfonimide-containing polymers, specifically sulfonimide-containing poly(arylene ether)s and sulfonimide-containing poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, and processes for making the sulfonimide-containing poly(arylene ether)s and sulfonimide-containing poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, for use conductive membranes and fuel cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the spatial co-ordinates of an object, whereby the object is illuminated with patterns of light from at least two directions by means of a projection device. A calibrating camera and at least one measuring camera at least partially record the patterns of light projected onto the object, the calibrating camera being fixed in relation to the object. The projection device is calibrated by means of at least four phase measuring values, the measuring camera is calibrated using at least two phase measuring values, the three-dimensional co-ordinates of the object are calculated using at least one phase measuring value. The projection device and the measuring camera are thus transferred together into the desired positions.

Abstract: This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant glucosyltransferases, heretofore undescribed, that exhibit catalytic activity with p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) as a substrate and only attach glucose to the aromatic carboxyl group of pHBA, to form the pHBA glucose ester. These enzymes have potential applications both in vitro and in vivo, and their primary amino acid sequences can be used to identify other proteins that have similar kinetic properties.

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

Abstract: An oxygen monitoring system measures the oxygen concentration in a patient's blood for use as a physiological control parameter in rate responsive pacing. The oxygen monitoring system includes an oxygen monitoring circuit embedded in a cardiac stimulation lead and monitors the blood oxygen in a patient's venous system that passes through and into the lead. The oxygen monitoring circuit includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and an IC chip electrically interconnected between the electrodes and programmed to carry out an oxygen concentration measuring process. Oxygen surrounding the electrodes causes current to flow between the electrodes and the IC chip varies the value of current generated by a current source coupled between the working electrode and counter electrode in a manner to maintain the voltage between the working electrode and reference electrode at a preselected value. The variation of the current source value is a direct measure of the blood oxygen concentration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reclaiming polyesters or polyester mixtures from polyester or waste containing polyester. The aim of the invention is to reclaim polyesters or polyester mixtures of good quality in a cost-effective manner. To achieve this aim, the polyester and/or waste containing polyester is heated in a bath of dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester to temperatures in excess of 150° C. In this process, polyester is dissolved in the dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester or a dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester mixture and subsequently extracted from the solution by means of solid-liquid separation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric/oligomeric methacrylate functionalized amide acetals are effective in preparing coating composition based on their reaction with isocyanates.