Abstract: A process is described for reducing the discoloration of PO3G. The discolored polymer is contacted with adsorbent and separated therefrom, for instance, by filtration. The treated polytrimethylene, preferably, has an APHA color of less than about 50 and a molecular weight of about 250 to about 5000.

Abstract: Disclosed are plant sterol biosynthetic enzymes, genes, and their uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vapor barrier for use in the thermal insulation of buildings which can be used, in particular, for thermal insulation procedures in new buildings or in the renovation of old buildings. The vapor barrier in accordance with the invention is thereby capable of achieving water vapor exchange under different ambient conditions. This is achieved by using a material which has a water vapor diffusion resistance which is dependent on the ambient humidity and which also has adequate tensile strength and tear resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing and processing polyester block copolymers, in particular, polyester side-chain grafted, rigid side-chain and/or semi-rigid side-chain polymers. According to the invention, the monomeric units of rigid side-chain and/or semi-rigid side-chain polymers are, preferably in the melt, polycondensated together with monofunctionalized and/or difunctionalized, cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides to form polymers having anhydride terminal and/or side groups. The formed polyester anhydrides are reacted with the hydroxyl groups and/or with the ester groups of meltable linear polyesters in order to form side-chain grafted, rigid side-chain and/or semi-rigid side-chained polymers and, together with meltable polyesters, they form molecularly reinforced blends.

Abstract: A superconducting cable comprising at least a superconducting conductor and a cryostat, including a thermal insulation and an inner tube, with a protecting element between the superconducting conductor and the inner tube, to prevent damages to the superconducting material by the inner tube of the cryostat.

Abstract: An extrusion die for meltblowing molten polymers having a row of die orifices each having at least two separate polymer supply ports entering from an entrance portion of the die, each of the polymer supply ports communicating with separate rows of extrusion capillaries having exit openings at an exit portion of the die, gas supply ports entering from the entrance portion of the die and arranged laterally to the polymer supply ports, the gas supply ports communicating with gas jets extending through the die and arranged laterally to the exit openings of the extrusion capillaries, wherein the rows of extrusion capillary exit openings and the gas jets communicate with a blowing orifice in the exit portion of the die.

Abstract: An optical detection device for detecting an intensity of a light beam in a detection window and for detecting data transmitted by the light beam includes a first detection diode and an array of at least two second detection diodes in a detection window. In addition, provision is made for a first readout circuit connectable to the first detection diode, for reading out the first detection diode at a first readout speed to detect the data, and for a second readout circuit connectable to the second detection diodes, for reading out the second detection diodes at a second readout speed smaller than the first readout speed, so as to detect the intensity of the light beam.

Abstract: A non-ionic graft copolymer has a hydrophobic backbone and non-ionic, hydrophilic side chains having a molecular weight of at least 500, preferably 100–2000 is substantially insoluble in water, but soluble in an aqueous vehicle, and is particularly suited for use in aqueous coating compositions in which water comprises no more than 80% by weight of the vehicle for the composition.

Abstract: In a two-step precondensate process for preparing polyamides diamines are reacted with dicarboxylic acid dihalides in a polar, non-basic, inert organic liquid medium under conditions such that a condensation product having a low degree of polymerization is formed. The resulting condensation then is contacted with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble acid acceptor by continuously feeding the components into a reactor system having a total residence time from about 2 seconds to about 2 minutes, and having a Peclet number greater than about 3.5 to form a polyamide product having a high degree of polymerization.

Abstract: A method of producing a textile preform to be used for making a fiber reinforced plastic composite product involves the following steps. A two- or three-dimensional semi-finished textile material or article is produced by essentially any textile production process, such as weaving, knitting or braiding. A binder is applied to the textile material, which is then subjected to a reforming and/or draping process by being applied onto a carrier and reforming tool having a contour or geometry adapted to that of the desired preform that is to be produced. Thereby, the previously unfixed fibers of the textile material are brought into the desired finished orientation and are then fixed, and the cross-sectional shape of the material is changed. This produces the preform having the desired contour, geometry and fiber orientation. The preform may then be subjected to further processing steps to form the finished composite product.

Abstract: An electronic information browsing system that provides a book-like interface—a virtual book—for presenting electronic contents. Specifically, an electronic information browsing system that allows users to configure its behavior via data and program specification encapsulated in a dynamic file format. Configurable behavior includes but not limited to the kind of contents to be displayed in the virtual book, the sources of the contents to be displayed, the static aspects of the virtual book such as the book dimensions and the dynamic aspects of the virtual book such as when a page is to be flipped, how the flipping of pages is contingent upon the execution of certain pre-specified events, etc.

Abstract: A multiple component spunbond web is provided in which the spunbond fibers are polymeric sheath-core fibers with a sheath made of a blend of polyethylene and an acid copolymer and a polyester or polyamide core. The spunbond webs can be thermally bonded have an improved combination of strength, softness, and heat sealability and can be used to prepare multi-layer composite sheets including spunbond-meltblown-spunbond fabrics suitable for use in medical garments and other end uses.

Abstract: Polymer compositions comprising polyester, boron component, and epoxy component. Articles made from these compositions, particularly articles requiring excellent hydrolysis resistance properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying book and similar paper-based materials in wet or frozen state, in which the material dried is exposed to microwave irradiation with frequency from 500 MHz to 10 GHz and in which the book or similar paper-based materials is lined with ceramic slabs before the drying. In this arrangement the materials are subsequently exposed to microwaves under atmospheric or reduced pressure. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes microwave drying oven modified for a batch or continuous operation, which includes adjustable ceramic slabs capable to absorb both moisture and microwaves.

Abstract: A method for improving the carcass quality of an animal is described. This method invovles the preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments comprising all or substantially all of a corn oleosin promoter, a stearoyl-ACP desaturase and a delta-12 desaturase which can be used individually or in combination to modify the lipid profile of corn are described. Chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic corn plants having altered lipid profiles are also described.

Abstract: A device applied to electric connectors of energy provided with unit of detonation incorporated in a button for detonation of cartridge with powder comprising a device for the installation of pressure electrical connectors on two electrical conductors, the tool has three main components the first is called power unit with a piston, the second is the power unit (2) and the third is a cartridge carrier, the power unit (2) and the shooting unit (9) being coupled through a thread (8) that holds them firmly together, therefore forming only one set, on its interior is the cartridge carrier (14) and the metallic cartridge (12) with gunpowder, properly placed, the shooting unit (9) has on its interior a compound system by pins and springs linked to a shooting button (34) that will cause the detonation of the cartridge (12) with gunpowder by the impact of a detonation needle (57) on this cartridge (12), also a piston (11) on the interior of the power unit (2) will be impelled against one of the components of the elect

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing information transmission, computation, and especially Internet server functionality by means of hardware modules are provided. Software implementing an Internet server is converted to hardware by using a merging circuit module that merges input packets from a plurality of circuits into one output. A designer is free from a problem of complicated input/output timing control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating composition for coating various substrates, particularly automotive bodies. A crosslinkable component of the composition includes an acid functional acrylic copolymer polymerized from a monomer mixture comprising 2 percent to 12 percent of one or more carboxylic acid group containing monomers, percentages based on total weight of the acid functional acrylic copolymer, and 0.2 percent to 2 percent of amorphous silica, percentages based on total weight of the crosslinkable component. The crosslinking component can includes polyisocyanates, melamines, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of business-to-business (B2B) commerce and in particular to a real-time, computer implemented system and method for conducting a reverse auction for procuring maintenance, repair and operations components over the Internet. Integral to the present invention is a Reverse Auction Module (RAM) which is a web-based system that allows buyers or sourcing agents (SA) to electronically solicit a group of remotely situated potential suppliers to bid on a requirement. Those suppliers that respond before bid closing will have their bids evaluated by the system against multiple criteria. The system then presents the SA with the results of the evaluation. The SA or buyer is able to accept the recommendation or override the recommendation and create a proposal based on the bid information from one of the suppliers. The proposal is then given to the customer.