Abstract: Sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters are provided. The copolyesters are produced from a mixture of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, ethylene glycol, other glycols, and components containing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfo groups, such as a metal 5-sulfoisophthalic acid derivative. The copolyesters have lower sulfonation than known sulfonated polyesters, and provide advantageous thermal properties for some end uses. The sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters are useful in forming coatings or films on various substrates, and in packaging. Some compositions comprising the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters are biodegradable, as are some of the sulfonated aromatic-aromatic copolyesters.

Abstract: A system for cleaning air in a vehicle by ultraviolet light includes an exposure chamber for exposure of air to ultraviolet light. An ultraviolet light source is mounted in the exposure chamber. A collection plenum chamber is connected to a first end of the exposure chamber. An air valve is connected to the collection plenum chamber. An expansion plenum chamber is connected to a second end of the exposure chamber including passages for distribution of air to the exposure chamber. An inlet conduit connected to the expansion plenum chamber directs air to the expansion plenum chamber. The system reliably cleans air and may be packaged so as to be integrated into existing vehicle structures, such as a passenger service unit of an airplane.

Abstract: Lipoxygenase genes from Vitis vinifera and polypeptides encoded thereby are provided.

Abstract: A distributed emergency building lighting system senses the presence or absence of AC power at the input of a switch controlling lighting in a designated area or an input stimulus such as an alarm to provide low-level marking for visual delineation of the path of egress or lighting of a predetermined designated area by illuminating an EL panel in accordance with code requirements. Self-diagnostic testing verifies operational conditions of the battery and illumination circuit to ensure code compliance.

Abstract: A low temperature electrolysis process that can be used for producing an alkali metal from an alkali metal halide is provided, which comprises electrolyzing an electrolyte composition comprising at least one alkali metal halide and a co-electrolyte comprising (a) a halide or halides of Group IIIA, Group IB, or Group VIII metals and (b) a halide-donating compound.

Abstract: A composition comprising finely divided particles of (a) an electrically-conductive material; (b) one or more inorganic binders; and (c) tin, wherein components (a), (b) and (c) are in a liquid vehicle, said composition being suitable for use in the manufacture of an electrically-conductive pattern on a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a TiO2 pigment coated sequentially in a wet treatment process with hydrous silica and hydrous alumina both in the presence of citric acid wherein the resulting pigment is coated with from 1 to 4% amorphous alumina based on the weight of the untreated TiO2; from 3 to 6% silica glass based on the weight of the untreated TiO2.

Abstract: A laminated entry and exit material for drilling planar sheets such as printed circuit boards having a metal foil layer bonded to a fibrous core layer with an adhesive containing a particulate lubricant such as graphite or polyethylene glycol and cold or hot pressed. A second metal layer is preferably bonded to the fibrous core layer. The core of one embodiment of the exit material includes a particulate lubricant such as graphite or polyethylene glycol incorporated in the core at the time of manufacture of the core. The circuit board is placed between the entry and exit materials. Drill friction and heat are reduced by the lubricants and the heat sink provided by the foil thereby extending the service life of a drill.

Abstract: Porous microcomposites have been prepared from perfluorinated ion-exchange polymer and metal oxides such as silica using the sol-gel process. Such microcomposites possess high surface area and exhibit extremely high catalytic activity.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an aromatic polyamide composition for molding which is of superior rigidity, strength, toughness, dimensional stability, resistance to chemicals, external surface appearance and sliding characteristics in high-humidity, high-temperature environments, which has a low coefficient of linear expansion and which is of low warpage. In a representative composition, 5 to 170 parts by weight of wollastonite of a number average length of approximately 5 &mgr;m to approximately 180 &mgr;m and a number average diameter of approximately 0.1 &mgr;m to 15.00 &mgr;m and the average aspect ratio of which is greater than 3:1 is compounded with 100 parts by weight of semi-aromatic polyamide in which the quantity of aromatic monomer in the monomer component that forms the polyamide is greater than 20 mol % and the melting point of which is greater than 280° C.

Abstract: A process for operation of a laser device (1) is described, whereby circulating light pulses each comprising spectral components according to a plurality of longitudinal modes of a resonator configuration (3) are generated in the resonator configuration (3) and subjected to a compensation of group velocity dispersion, and a predetermined linear dispersion is introduced into the light path of the resonator configuration (3), so that at least one mode has a predetermined frequency and/or the mode distance between the modes has a predetermined value. Furthermore, regulations for stabilizing the laser device on the basis of this process and applications of the regulations for the generation for stabilized, ultra-short light pulses, generation of optical frequencies and in the frequency and/or time measuring technique as well as in the spectroscopy are described.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producting cables, in particular cables for the distribution of electrical energy or cables for telecommunications, more particularly, cables having at least one covering layer comprising a composition of high viscosity. More particularly, the present invention concerns cables having at least one covering layer comprising a polymeric composition comprising a mineral filler capable of imparting one or more specific properties to the aforesaid cables. In accordance with the present invention, said production process comprises the stages of: conveying at least one conducting element inside of an extruder; feeding the polymeric material, optionally premixed with other components of said composition, into said extruder, filtering the material transferred and plasticized by the screw of said extruder; depositing said material onto said at least one conducting element, the filtration operation being performed with a filtration efficiency greater than 0.

Abstract: A fastener for securing an article having a first end terminating in a stop member for substantially permanent insertion into an article, requiring destruction of the fastener for removal, a second end having an enlarged member and a connection member between said first end and said second end, wherein the fastener further comprises means for retaining security information. Also, a method for securing an article, at least a portion of which is made of a material through which a needle can pass, including the step of passing a needle with a stop member of a fastener through the material of the article to be secured, the fastener having a first end terminating in the stop member, a second end having an enlarged member and a connection member between the first end and the second end, wherein removal of the fastener requires destruction of the fastener.

Abstract: A hardware and software system including a controller that can be operatively combined with several methods of display on a display screen under software and hardware control for the purpose of browsing through data stored in a memory device. The browsing of the data stored in a memory device is facilitated in such a way that it allows a rapid view of what contents are present and the organization of the material in the data, as well as rapid access to the items in the data involved. The controllers in the system have specialized functions for effecting various actions on the data displayed on the display screen in such a way that users can rapidly browse through the data involved. The methods of display may include interaction with CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, a portable optical large volume storage disk, a portable large volume non-optical storage medium, a TV, and an HDTV.

Abstract: A process for dyeing certain textile fibers, utilizing vat acid dyeing and specific additional (second) reducing agents such as &agr;-hydroxyalkylsulfinic acids, their salts and 1,2,4-trithiolane, resulting in excellent depth of shade and washfastness, is provided.

Abstract: Olefin polymerizations employing a complex of a Group 8, 9, or 10 transition metal with a bidentate ligand as part of the polymerization catalyst system are improved by adding to the polymerization a silicon compound in which at least one atom of a Group 15 or 16 element is bound to a silicon atom. The polymerizations often have increased polymer productivity and/or the polymerization catalyst has a longer half life.

Abstract: The present invention describes an axial flow fan blade that presents innovation on its shape that results in a lower noise emission and in a higher efficiency. The axial flow fan blade, object of the present patent, has a lower vortex emission than the blades available on the previous art. This lower vortex emission is responsible for a lower level of pressure fluctuations, which results in a lower noise emission, and is also responsible for a lower energy expense on the vortex formation, which results in an efficiency increase. The present axial flow fan blade can be employed in various applications where it is necessary to move any gas.

Abstract: A process is provided which can be used to treat aqueous streams comprising soluble biomaterials, especially proteins, wherein the concentration of soluble biomaterials is substantially reduced. The process comprises adjusting the pH of a substantially aqueous to less than or equal to pH 3 to produce a first pH-adjusted stream, which is in turn adjusted to greater than pH 3 to produce a second pH-adjusted stream followed by addition of a flocculant to produce a flocculated material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coating compositions which can be used as the clear coat for automotive finishing or refinishing, the coating composition contining a film-forming binder which contains (A) hydroxyl-containing acrylic polymer and polyhydroxyl-tertiary amine, (B) organic polyisocyanate, and (C) catalyst, to provide a coating film which is quick to cure at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A process for determining changes in a liquid medium, in particular a liquid coating agent or its components, caused by shear stress, in which a given volume of the medium is allowed to pass repeatedly through a shear unit under reproducible conditions.