Abstract: An intermediate polymer preform of elongated shape for manufacturing a microstructured optical fibre is made from a mould with a tubular par containing a pattern of hole generating elements (wires, rods or tubes) extending along it. The hole generating elements are releasably attached to an upper and to a lower base of the mould. The mould is cleaned by circulating a filtered solvent in it. The mould is filled with a fluid polymer optical material or polymer precursor. The polymer material or precursor is consolidated so that it cannot change its shape under operating stress conditions at ambient temperature. The hole generating elements are released from the upper and lower base. The consolidated core preform is extracted from the mould. The process can further include calibrating the intermediate preform.

Abstract: The invention discloses a hydrogenation process for removing impurities and controlling acid for use in downstream processing of biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol. Preferably, the biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol, before the contacting, has an initial color and, after the contracting, has a color that is lower than the initial color.

Abstract: A process for the production of a CED (cathodic electrodeposition) coating with improved adhesion towards subsequent layers by cathodic electrodeposition of a coating layer of a CED coating composition onto an electrically conductive substrate and thermal curing by baking in an indirectly heated circulating air oven operated with a proportion of fresh air in the circulating air of the oven of 0 to 20 vol. %, wherein the CED coating composition used contains at least one water-soluble metal nitrate corresponding to a quantity of 1 to 10 mmol of nitrate per 100 g of resin solids content, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of metals of atomic numbers 20 to 83, with the exception of chromium, arsenic, rubidium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, cadmium, antimony, caesium, osmium, iridium, platinum, mercury, thallium and lead, and wherein at most 50 area-% of the CED-coated substrate surface are rinsed with water prior to thermal curing.

Abstract: Polyurethaneurea resins containing at least one group of the formula (I) —NH(CO)XOR1O(CO)CHR2CH2N[CnH2nSi(OR3)3](CO)NH—??(I) and/or at least one group of the formula (II) {—NH(CO)XO}a{CH2?CR2(CO)O}bR4{O(CO)CHR2CH2N[CnH2nSi(OR3)3](CO)NH—}c??(II) wherein X=[O(CH2)4]q(OC2H4)x(OC3H6)y[(CH2)5(CO)]z; q=0 to 10; x=0 to 20; y=0 to 20; z=0 to 10; n=2 or 3; a=1 or 2; b=0 to 4; c=1 to 5; R1=—C2H4—, —C3H6—, —C4H8—, —CH(CH2O(CO)R5)CH2— or —CH2CH(O(CO)R5)CH2—; R2=H or CH3; R3=C1 to C4 alkyl; R4=a+b+c-valent, saturated hydrocarbon residue of a (cyclo)alkane polyol with a+b+c hydroxyl groups; R5=an acid residue of a monocarboxylic acid, with the proviso that a+b+c=3 to 6 and wherein the sequence of the subformulae indicated q, x, y and z may be varied at will and q, x, y and z in each case merely state the number of instances of the particular subformulae contained in the formulae (I) and (II).

Abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3? ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.

Abstract: An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.

Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus that treats a substrate under treatment has an interface section, a substrate loading/unloading section, a reduced pressure atmosphere conveyance chamber, and an exposure treatment chamber. The interface section has a conveyance mechanism that can freely load and unload the substrate under treatment from another device into the apparatus or vice versa. The substrate under treatment can be loaded and unloaded into and from the substrate loading/unloading section in one direction by the conveyance mechanism of the interface section. The reduced pressure atmosphere conveyance chamber is disposed adjacent to and perpendicular to the direction of the substrate loading/unloading section and has a conveyance mechanism that conveys the substrate under treatment under a reduced pressure atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for addressing a bistable electro-optic display having at least one pixel comprises applying an addressing pulse to drive the pixel to a first optical state; leaving the pixel undriven for a period of time, thereby permitting the pixel to assume a second optical state different from the first optical state; and applying to the pixel a refresh pulse which substantially restores the pixel to the first optical state, the refresh pulse being short relative to the addressing pulse.

Abstract: An electrolysis device is provided. The electrolysis device includes an ionizer unit having first and second plate assemblies that each provide a different surface area that is contacted by water when the unit is in use. The plate assemblies may each provide a different surface area by providing a different number of plates. The plate assemblies are formed from integral pieces of material, to enhance the reliability of the device. The present invention further provides a control unit programmed to provide an output to the ionizer unit that varies in polarity over time.

Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus that treats a substrate under treatment has an interface section, a substrate loading/unloading section, a reduced pressure atmosphere conveyance chamber, and an exposure treatment chamber. The interface section has a conveyance mechanism that can freely load and unload the substrate under treatment from another device into the apparatus or vice versa. The substrate under treatment can be loaded and unloaded into and from the substrate loading/unloading section in one direction by the conveyance mechanism of the interface section. The reduced pressure atmosphere conveyance chamber is disposed adjacent to and perpendicular to the direction of the substrate loading/unloading section and has a conveyance mechanism that conveys the substrate under treatment under a reduced pressure atmosphere.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises discrete droplets of an electrophoretic internal phase comprising a fluid and carbon black particles in the fluid. The droplets are surrounded by a polyurethane binder formed by a diisocyanate and a polyether diol, at least 20 mole per cent of the diisocyanate being an aromatic diisocyanate.

Abstract: Chemical reactions are carried out with molten fluoropolymer, most conveniently in an extruder, wherein the reaction zone in the extruder is isolated from the melting zone, and the molten fluoropolymer is subdivided in the reaction zone sufficiently that contact and reaction between the reactant and the molten fluoropolymer in the reaction zone is essentially free of mass transfer limitation, followed by devolatilization in isolation from the reaction zone, and cooling the devolatilized fluoropolymer.

Abstract: An electrical power cable with a foamed, compressible, semiconductive insulation shield which serves as both a cushioning layer and an electrical shield.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are 1-ethoxy-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane refrigerant or heat transfer fluid compositions further comprising at least one hydrofluorocarbon, which are useful in refrigeration or air conditioning apparatus or as heat transfer fluids. The compositions of the present invention are also useful in centrifugal compressor apparatus that employ two-stage or other multi-stage centrifugal compressors or single slab single pass heat exchangers.

Abstract: Disclosed here in are refrigerant or heat transfer fluid compositions comprising C4F9OC2H5 compositions and at least one hydrofluoroether, which are useful in refrigerain or air conditioning apparatus or as heat transfer fluids. The compositions of the present invention are also useful in centrifugal compressor apparatus that employ two-stage compressors or single slab single pass heat exchangers.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanopowder is produced by a process, comprising: (a) reacting titanium tetrachloride and an oxygen containing gas in the vapor phase in a flame reactor, at a flame temperature of at least about 800° C. in the presence of (i) water vapor in an amount ranging from about 1000 to about 50,000 parts per million, based on the weight of titanium dioxide under production, (ii) a diluent gas in an amount greater than about 100 mole percent based on the titanium tetrachloride and oxygen containing gas and (iii) a nucleant consisting essentially of a cesium substance wherein the cesium substance is present in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 5000 parts per million, based on the weight of the titanium dioxide under production, the pressure of reaction being sufficient to form titanium dioxide nanopowder.

Abstract: A system and method of use of a storage capacitor to improve the appearance and addressing characteristics of an electronically driven display. The capacitor is formed by the overlap of portions of electrodes used to address different pixels, or by the overlap of an addressing line and a conductor. An insulator layer situated between the capacitor electrodes can be the same insulator layer present in an FET transistor used to address the pixel. Methods of use of capacitors to achieve improved display addressing are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for an information display cap are described. The apparatus may include an information display cap having a body with a continuous outer surface and inner surface. The body may have multiple hanger attachment members connected to the inner surface and arranged to attach the information display cap to a hanger. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hole transport polymer comprising a polymeric backbone having linked thereto a plurality of substituents comprising fused aromatic ring groups, with the proviso that the polymer does not contain groups selected from triarylamines and carbazole groups. It further relates to devices that are made with the polymer.

Abstract: A photoresist element comprising a substrate; an etch resistant layer; and at least one photoresist layer prepared from a photoresist composition comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of: (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound characterized in that at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound is polycyclic; (b) a branched polymer containing protected acid groups, said polymer comprising one or more branch segment(s) chemically linked along a linear backbone segment; (c) fluoropolymers having at least one fluoroalcohol group having the structure: —C(Rf)(Rf?)OH, wherein Rf and Rf? are the same or different fluoroalkyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or taken together are (CF2)n wherein n is 2 to 10; (d) amorphous vinyl homopolymers of perfluoro(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole) or CX2?CY2 where X?F or CF3 and Y?—H or amorphous vinyl copolymers of perfluoro(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole) and CX2?CY2; and (e) nitr