Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in the ratio of peracetic acid formation to peracetic acid hydrolysis specific activities (PAAF/PAAH ratio). The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.

Abstract: Combinatorially generated peptides are provided that have binding affinity for polypropylene (PP). The peptides may be used to deliver benefit agents to various PP surfaces.

Abstract: A fragrance disperser in one form includes a single fan that passes air over a wicked single or double fragrance. A second form has the fan reversible to provide two different airstreams that evaporate respective different fragrances one after the other. Where two fragrances are provided, the evaporation may be by respective electrical heaters. A fragrance source may be formed by two sheets joined together to form two chambers each receiving a respective wick and having respective exposed wick portions. The source may incorporate a source of electrical power. An alternative source has a reservoir for fragrance and a wick located in an air passage forming part of the source so that an air flow is guided through the passage past the wick to evaporate fragrance. Where two fragrances are provided, the fragrance sources may be located side-by-side and matching fragrances may have, for example, matching indicia on the sources so that the match can be easily determined visually.

Abstract: A process is provided to improve the specific activity of an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity when converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid under aqueous reaction conditions. Inclusion of an effective amount of at least one amine protectant improves the specific activity and catalytic productivity of the enzyme catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided to improve the specific activity of an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity when converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid under aqueous reaction conditions. Inclusion of an effective amount of at least one amine protectant improves the specific activity and catalytic productivity of the enzyme catalyst.

Abstract: A composition for imparting surface properties to substrates comprising a polymer of at least one polyurethane having at least one urea linkage prepared by: (i) reacting (a) at least one diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof, having isocyanate groups, and (b) at least one fluorinated compound selected from the formula (I): Rf1-L-X??(I) wherein Rf1 is a monovalent, partially or fully fluorinated, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 2 to 100 carbon atoms; optionally interrupted by 1 to 50 oxygen atoms; wherein the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms is at least 2:1 and no oxygen atoms are bonded to each other; L is a bond or a linear or branched divalent linking group having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, said linking group optionally interrupted by 1 to about 4 hetero-radicals selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NR1—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, and —N(R1)C(O)— wherein R1 is H or C1 to C6 alkyl, and said linking group optionally substituted with CH2Cl; X is an isocyanate-reactive grou

Abstract: Disclosed are high frequency-active blends comprising (a) copolymers of ethylene and maleic anhydride or its functional equivalents and (b) ethylene copolymers with polar comonomers such as ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers and ethylene/(meth)acrylate/carbon monoxide terpolymers; and films, powders, multilayer structures, and articles prepared therefrom.

Abstract: The genes encoding ryanodine receptor homologs have been characterized from multiple insect families including lepidopteran tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), homopteran green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), corn plant hopper (Peregrinus maidis), cotton melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) and fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster). The full-length genes have been isolated, cloned and amplified in bacterial cells. Expression in insect cells shows that the recombinant protein folds into a functional calcium release channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode, including a conductive layer containing a conductive component selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, cobalt, titanium, lead, aluminum, tin, and alloys comprising one of these metals as the principal ingredient thereof, and an oxidation protection layer containing boron oxide, said oxidation protection layer covering the top surface of the conductive layer, or covering both the top surface and the sides of the conductive layer, or covering all locations where the conductive layer has been formed; the electrode being formed by air firing the conductive layer and the oxidation protection layer simultaneously.

Abstract: A liquid fluoropolymer coating composition includes a fluoropolymer selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride, solvent, a compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer, and a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Vasculature closure devices, and systems and methods for their use, are provided. In one embodiment, the vasculature closure device includes an expandable support frame deployable within a vessel and a sealing membrane at least partially supported by the expandable support frame. Upon expanding the support frame, the vasculature closure device is configured to intraluminally position the sealing membrane against a puncture site existing in a vessel wall.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer film includes coating a polymeric substrate film with a liquid fluoropolymer coating. The liquid fluoropolymer coating includes a fluoropolymer, solvent, a compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer, and a cross-linking agent. The process further includes cross-linking the compatible cross-linkable adhesive polymer to form a cross-linked polymer network in the fluoropolymer coating, removing the solvent from the fluoropolymer coating, and adhering the fluoropolymer coating to the polymeric substrate film.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomic layer deposition of a material on a moving substrate comprises a conveying arrangement for moving a substrate along a predetermined planar or curved path of travel and a coating bar having at least one precursor delivery channel. The precursor delivery channel conducts a fluid containing a material to be deposited on a substrate toward the path of travel. When in use, a substrate movable along the path of travel defines a gap between the outlet end of the precursor delivery channel and the substrate. The gap defines an impedance Zg to a flow of fluid from the precursor delivery channel. A flow restrictor is disposed within the precursor delivery channel that presents a predetermined impedance Zfc to the flow therethrough. The restrictor is sized such that the impedance Zfc is at least five (5) times, and more preferably at least fifteen (15) times, the impedance Zg. The impedance Zfc has a friction factor f.

Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 25% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of EPA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing EPA within said host cells.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a wheel rim and a wheel disk that attaches to the wheel rim. The wheel rim includes an inner region for receiving a wheel hub and defines a rotational axis. The wheel disk includes a section for attachment to the wheel hub and an attachment flange for securing the wheel disk and the wheel rim together. The attachment flange includes a first side corresponding to the inner region and a second side corresponding to the wheel rim, where the attachment flange extends from the section in a direction that is transverse to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A MEMS scan controller with inherent frequency and a method of control thereof applied to controllers of a MEMS mirror of bidirectional scanning laser printers are disclosed. The amplitude of the MEMS mirror is adjusted by using the inherent frequency so that scan data string is sent within effective scanning window with preset frequency of a laser source of the laser printer and a certain time interval. Thus the controller is simplified and the high precision scanning is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising a fluorinated olefin having the formula E- or Z -C3F7CH?CHC3F7, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, fluoroether, or alkanes and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the one compound selected from the group consisting of alcohols, halocarbons, fluoroalkyl ethers, hydrofluorocarbons, alkanes is either methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, n-propanol, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, n-propyl bromide, C4F9OCH3, C4F9OC2H5, HFC-43-10mee, HFC-365mfc, heptane, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface.

Abstract: Introducing one or more stimulating drugs to the vagus nerve and/or one or more branches of the vagus nerve to treat movement disorders uses at least one implantable system control unit (SCU) with an implantable pump with at least one infusion outlet. Optional electrical stimulation may additionally be supplied by an implantable signal/pulse generator (IPG) with one or more electrodes. In certain embodiments, a single SCU provides one or more stimulating drugs and the optional electrical stimulation. In some embodiments, one or more sensed conditions are used to adjust stimulation parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ?9 desaturase, which has the ability to convert palmitic acid [16:0] or stearic acid [18:0] into palmitoleic acid [16:1] or oleic acid [18:1], respectively. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?9 desaturase along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using this ?9 desaturase in oleaginous yeast is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the weight of a preform for optical fibers during a chemical deposition process for the formation of a preform is disclosed. The apparatus has at least one elastic constraint associated with at least one end portion of an elongated element made of a chemical deposition substrate for the formation of the preform, a device for inducing an oscillation, for example axial, on said elongated element, a device for detecting the frequency of oscillation of said elongated element, and a device for calculating the weight of the preform according to the detected frequency of oscillation. Advantageously, the device allows the realisation of a method for measuring the weight of the preform wherein the errors in measurement caused by thermal drift effects, by the axial distribution of the masses on the preform and by loads which are different from the mass of the preform in formation are reduced to below the required precision in measurement.