Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing and preparing fibers. The system provides a first separator that is connected downstream of a tubular dryer, a fiber outlet of said separator being connected to a second separator by a connecting conduit. A size application device (9), formed by a section of conduit containing an internal tube (14) that is provided with air passages (13) and has a greater flow cross-section than the connecting conduit, is integrated into said connecting conduit. The internal tube is surrounded by an external tube (15), which together with the internal tube defines an annular chamber that has at least one compressed air connection (20).

Abstract: A convertible retaining ring pliers has a pivot, first and second jaws and first and second handles rotatably secured about the pivot. A pair of transfer pins is slidably disposed for selective movement in the first and second jaws and the first and second handles for establishing alternative operating positions enabling the jaws to move inwardly as the handles move inwardly and allowing the jaws to move outwardly as the handles inwardly. A switching mechanism is mounted to the handles and pivot for providing simultaneous shifting of the transfer pins in the jaws of the handles. The switching mechanism includes first and second flexing spring plates which are mounted on opposite ends of the pivot and disposed on opposite external surfaces of the handles. Each of the spring plates includes a pair of boss pins engageable with opposite ends of the transfer pins.

Abstract: A print control for flexographic printing, particularly a flexographic printing form comprising a print control element, and a process for producing such a flexographic printing form.

Abstract: A two-stage cure coating composition of a binder and a crosslinking component; the binder comprises and acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 to 50,000 and hydroxyl moieties in the range of 7.0 to 40.0 weight; wherein at least 40.0 weight percent of the hydroxyl moieties are provided by hydroxy butyl acrylate; the crosslinking component comprises an organic polyisocyanate; and the first stage curing of a finish of the composition forms a water spot free finish within 90 minutes of application and the composition has a pot life of less than a 2 second rise in Zahn cup viscosity in 150 minutes; and the invention also is directed to a method of producing a finish on a substrate utilizing the coating composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing silanes comprising styryl groups, said silanes being represented by the general formula (I): (St)bSiR?aR4?a?b with improved yields through a reaction with magnesium in a solvent mixture comprising from 30:70 to 70:30 (v/v) of diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: An eyewear assembly comprises a primary lens assembly including a primary frame that secures a pair of primary lenses in position relative to one another. A pair of extensions is provided, each of the extensions positioned on an outer periphery of the primary frame. An arm is connected to each extension by a hinge. A safety shield is carried by the eyewear assembly and extends around a portion of the periphery of one of the primary lenses and extends longitudinally along one of the arms, wherein an open space between the primary lens, the arm, and an eye of the wearer is substantially enclosed. The safety shield has an aperture formed therein that extends from the primary lens rearward proximal the hinge, wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a portion of an auxiliary lens assembly.

Abstract: A ketolase gene has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12 strain encoding a carotenoid modification enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The gene and gene product are the first isolated from a Rhodococcus strain. Six conserved amino acid motifs have been identified as the characteristic of this type of ketolase enzymes. The gene and gene product of the present invention may be used in a variety of ways for the production of keto-carotenoid compounds in a variety of organisms.

Abstract: The invention is a method of bonding a ceramic part to a metal part by heating a component assembly comprised of the metal part, the ceramic part, and a very thin essentially pure interlayer material of a compatible interlayer material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is greater than the temperature of the eutectic formed between the metal part and the metal interlayer material, but that is less than the melting point of either the interlayer material, the ceramic part or the metal part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the ceramic part and the metal part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly for implantation in living tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter for the gene encoding metallothionein. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter for the gene encoding metallothionein. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: A method of electrically contacting a semiconductor layer (13) coated with at least one dielectic layer (12) which is coated with a metal layer the metal layer (11) is applied on the dielectric layer (12) and the metal layer (11) is temporarily locally heated in a line, linear or dotted pattern by means of a source of radiation (9) in a controlled manner in such a way that a local molten mixture, is formed consisting exclusively of the metal layer (11), the dielectric layer (12) and the semiconductor layer (13) are located directly underneath the metal layer (11) and upon solidification, leads to an electrical contact between the semiconductor layer (13) and the metal layer (11).

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of a transponder in its vicinity is provided, which comprises an antenna, a pulse generation unit, a unit adapted to feed the antenna with the pulses and a unit for measuring the damped oscillations of the antenna as a consequence of being fed with the pulses, the unit for measuring the damped oscillations of the antenna determining whether a transponder is present or not in the vicinity of the antenna on the basis of the characteristics of the damped oscillations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing N-aryl-2-lactams and N-cycloalkyl-2-lactams by reductive amination of lactones with aryl amines utilizing a metal catalyst, which is optionally supported.

Abstract: A bi-directional locking socket for use with a seal device which includes a shackle having a plurality of locking elements on a surface thereof. The socket comprises a locking insert forming a locking arrangement including a body defining a chamber therein. The locking insert further includes opposing top and bottom ends where the top end defines a top opening communicating with the chamber, and the bottom end defines a bottom opening communicating with the chamber. A plurality of mirror image spaced fingers define a passageway extending through the chamber. The plurality of fingers allow passage of the locking elements as a free end of the shackle is pulled through the passageway via either the top or the bottom openings in opposite insertion directions, and lock with a locking element of the shackle when the shackle movement is in an opposite direction to the insertion direction. In the alternative, the socket has a chamber with the locking arrangement formed one piece therewith.

Abstract: A process for preparing beta-fructofuranosidase enzyme and a process for producing fructooligosaccharides, in which the preparation of the enzyme is obtained by cultivating the fungus Aspergillus niger, either wild or mutated, in a preferably semi-solid culture medium, in order to produce an extracellular enzyme, which is submitted to transfructosylation for producing fructooligosaccharides comprising sugars which are formed by one unit of sacrose and by two, three and four units of fructose.

Abstract: A trading information exchange system includes a gateway allowing access of suppliers and retailer workstations and retailer systems to a backbone sub-system. An application layer interacts with a work flow engine via a supporting framework and a commerce platform. The latter have direct access to the gateway for monitoring supplier and retailer accesses and to the database for logging purposes. Collaborative applications comprise a timer program interacting with a work queue in the work flow engine. The timer program operates on a test-and-wait or a test-and-return basis. A community management function interacts with the work flow engine to define roles and the roles are linked with activities in process nodes. Each process node comprises an activity, case packet item variables, and rules defining routing of the activities to the work queues.

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

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: A stamped film to be connected to an additional film has a stamped pattern defining at least one dividing line that is interrupted in a regular pattern by webs, wherein the webs each have a width that is, on average, less than an average spacing between two adjacently positioned ones of the webs, respectively. The stamped pattern has, at least in one direction, several dividing lines extending parallel to one another or has several dividing lines extending perpendicularly to one another. When mirroring the stamped film at a mirror plane that intersects the stamped film centrally and perpendicularly to the dividing lines, the webs of the dividing lines will not be superimposed on webs of a stamped film that has not been mirrored when superimposing the mirrored stamped film on the stamped film that has not been mirrored. The stacked films form electrochemical or electrochromic compounds.