Abstract: An improved pressure vessel comprising a polymer inner bladder inside a containment envelope is provided which is well-suited for transporting hazardous materials therewithin via air transport. The improved pressure vessel features a seal placed over the closure of the containment envelope which has been found to suppress failure of the pressure vessel by creep which occurs as a result of the high internal pressure that the pressure vessel experiences at high altitudes. The seal also serves to indicate whether or not the containment envelope has been tampered with after having been sealed.

Abstract: A continuous process for the manufacture of dianhydro sugar alcohols by dehydration of the corresponding sugar alcohols or monoanhydro sugar alcohols in the presence of a dehydration catalyst, using evolved water vapor as a carrier for continuous separation of the product from the reaction mass.

Abstract: The invention herein provides a method to improve retention of tensile properties upon aging in poly(trimethylene terephthalate) cast film. The method involves first nucleating the poly(trimethylene terephthalate) resin prior to film formation and controlling the quench temperature during casting of the film. The quench temperature should be controlled to a temperature in the range of from about 10° C. below the Tg of the poly(trimethylene terephthalate) to about 15° C. above the Tg of the poly(trimethylene terephthalate).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing 5-methyl-N-aryl-2-pyrrolidone, 5-methyl-N-cycloalkyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone by reductive amination of levulinic acid with nitro compounds utilizing a metal catalyst, which is optionally supported.

Abstract: Improvements and modifications are provided in the type of frustrated total internal reflection electrophoretic systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,920.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: Dual cure coating composition comprising resin solids, said resin solids being composed of (a) 30 to 90 wt. % of at least one hydroxy-functional polyester urethane having olefinic double bonds, (b) 0 to 60 wt. % of at least one binder other than the polyester urethane (a) and/or at least one reactive diluent, and (c) 10 to 50 wt.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition of (a) an acid copolymer, (b) a salt of a high molecular weight, monomeric organic acid; (c) a thermoplastic polymer selected from copolyetheresters, elastomeric polyolefins, styrene diene block copolymers, elastomeric polyolefins thermoplastic polyurethanes and copolyetheramides; (d) cation source; and (d) optionally a filler. Also included is use of such compositions in components of one-, two- and three-piece golf balls or multi-layered golf balls made therefrom.

Abstract: A switching and retaining device applied to cellular phones and their peripheral communication equipment is provided. More particularly, it relates to a switching and retaining device that is coupled to a cellular phone and its peripheral equipment and can carry out telecommunication automatically between the cellular phone and its peripheral equipment. It is made up of a base mount with a retaining mount secured thereto and having a holding arm controlled to slidably extend and retract by way of a control unit. There is an input terminal, an output terminal and a power terminal that are placed on the base mount and are coupled to the peripheral equipment of a cellular phone and a power source by conduction wires. On the retaining mount is disposed a receiving cavity for accommodation of a cellular phone.

Abstract: A composition and method for forming a hydrocarbon polymer composition of molded articles that exhibit desirable combinations of stiffness and impact resistance, wherein the composition contains a mineral filler.

Abstract: Systems and methods for infrared sensing a compound's concentration in aqueous solution are provided. In various non-limiting embodiments, the invention provides infrared sensing of methanol's concentration in aqueous solution in connection with a fuel circulation process for a direct methanol fuel cell. In some embodiments, flow-through infrared sensing technique are provided. In other embodiments, window type infrared sensing techniques are provided. As a result of the infrared sensing, an accurate real-time measurement of the concentration of a compound of interest in aqueous solution is affordably obtained.

Abstract: The invention describes a cable, in particular for electric energy transportation or distribution, in which an electrically insulating layer is present, consisting of a material substantially free of lead or derivatives thereof, and having high resistance to water. This material includes an elastomer terpolymer having the following composition: a) 50-90 moles percent of ethylene; b) 10-50 moles percent of an &agr;-olefin; c) 0.16-5 moles percent of 5-vinyl-2-norbornene; the sum of the moles percent of a), b), c) being 100, said terpolymer having a branching index of less than or equal to 0.5 and a molecular weight distribution index Mw/Mn of greater than or equal to 6.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a bistable electro-optic material having a viewing surface and an opposed writing surface; a deformable member disposed adjacent but spaced from the writing surface of the electro-optic material, and bearing elongate electrodes facing the writing surface of the electro-optic material; and a movable member disposed on the opposed side of the deformable member from the electro-optic material and movable parallel to the elongate electrodes, the movable member contacting and deforming the deformable member such that a portion of each elongate electrode contacts or lies closely adjacent the writing surface of the electro-optic material.

Abstract: Unit (100) comprising a portion of holey optical fibre (12) having a length Lc comprising a core region (13) and a cladding region (14), said cladding region (14) comprising, in turn, a plurality of holes passing through it longitudinally, said holes having a respective diameter and being spaced, two by two, according to a respective pitch, said unit comprising also a temperature adjusting device (16) for bringing and maintaining the holey optical fibre (12) at temperature values T selectable in a predetermined interval of temperatures Tx-Ty.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods and compositions for inhibiting endothelial cell tube formation, the initial step of tumor angiogenesis. More specifically, the present invention relates to tripeptides that show inhibition of angiogenesis-mediated processes.

Abstract: An automotive device attachable to a vehicle has an external rearview mirror including a mirror element and an end support attachable to a vehicle and supporting the mirror element, and a lateral blinker including a light source and a supporting element which supports the light source, the supporting element with the light source being incorporated in the external rearview mirror.

Abstract: An encapsulated electrophoretic display having a plurality of non-spherical capsules disposed substantially in a single layer on a substrate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is formed of a supporting substrate with first and second conductive traces on a first surface. A piezoelectric material layer is laminated to the supporting substrate with a first surface of the piezoelectric material layer electrically connected to the second conductive trace and a second surface of the piezoelectric material layer electrically conducted to the first conductive trace. A protective coating is applied over the piezoelectric material layer so that at least a portion of the first and second conductive traces are exposed.

Abstract: An operating knob (20) for an optical system (100) is disclosed. The operating knob (20) has a first and a second coaxially arranged rotating element (21, 22). The first and the second rotating element (21, 22) have at least partly conical form. The first rotating element (21) has at the side directly opposing the second rotating element (22) a larger diameter than the second rotating element (22) and a step is formed at the side of the second rotating element (22) directly opposing the first rotating element (21), wherein the step possesses a diameter which is approximately the diameter of the first rotating element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and a method for reducing the production of persistent bio-accumulative and toxic pollutants in solid carbonaceous reduction reactions in carbochlorination processes.