Abstract: Spinal cord injury and other injuries and diseases of the nervous system often result in the inability to sense the need to empty the rectum or to control the timing of bowel movements. This invention includes microminiature electronic devices implanted on or around the large bowel to sense the volume and nature of rectal contents and to stimulate peristaltic contractions to empty the large bowel when it is convenient for the patient to do so.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus for forming folded containers comprising a film attaching unit, a fold/glue unit, and a common transport system coupling the film attaching unit to the fold/glue unit. The film attaching unit can have a pattern glue applicator for applying a pattern of glue to a blank and a film applicator operatively coupled to the pattern glue applicator to apply a film to the blank. The fold/glue unit is configured to receive the blank directly from the film attaching unit, and the fold/glue unit can have a plurality of fold-members for folding portions of the blank and at least one glue gun for applying glue to portions of the blank. The blank transport system can comprise a synchronized carrier to transport the blank through a portion of the film attaching unit and a plurality of non-synchronized carriers to transport the blank through the film attaching unit and/or the fold/glue unit without removing the blank from the transport system.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing biodegradable aliphatic polyesters from one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids or diesters of the said acids and one or more linear or branched aliphatic glycols, comprising a first esterification or transesterification step and a second deglycolation under vacuum step, in which the catalyst is monobutylstannoic acid both for the esterification or transesterification step and for the deglycolation under vacuum step.

Abstract: The invention provides a profiled polyamide yarn having a yarn weight of from 5 to 300 dtex a filament weight of from 0.5-7 dtex and a non-circular profiled filament cross-section, wherein the polyamide comprises from 0.01 to 3% by weight of a non-white pigment melt dispersed therein. The yarns have a high, metallic lustre due to the combined effect of profiling and the non-white pigment. The invention also provides textile fabrics comprising the yarns, and garments comprising the said fabrics. The invention also provides methods of making the inventive yarns by spinning a polyamide melt having the non-white pigment dispersed therein.

Abstract: Thermoplastics with high resilience (high coefficient of restitution) and softness (low Atti compressions) and their use in golf ball components. Melt-processible, highly-neutralized ethylene acid copolymers and process for making them by incorporating an aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid in the acid copolymer and then neutralizing greater than 90% of all the acid groups present.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming star shaped microgels which include a core of crosslinked polymer and multiplicity of substantially linear polymeric arms of macromonomers attached to the core. The process includes polymerizing monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a chain transfer agent to form macromonomers each having a terminal polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group and then polymerizing, in presence of the macromonomers, the monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and multi-olefinic crosslinking monomers. The microgels of the present invention can be used as rheology control agents in waterborne and solvent-borne coatings and in adhesives and cosmetics.

Abstract: A perfluoropolyether and a composition comprising the perfluoropolyether are provided in which the perfluoropolyether comprises at least one bromine or iodine atom at the primary position of the perfluoropolyether. Also provided is a process for producing the composition in which the process comprises contacting a perfluoropolyether acid fluoride moiety with a metal bromide or metal iodide or a suitable polyether secondary iodide under a condition sufficient to effect the production of a perfluoropolyether comprising at least one bromine or iodine at the primary position.

Abstract: We describe a system of electronically active inks which may include electronically addressable contrast media, conductors, insulators, resistors, semiconductive materials, magnetic materials, spin materials, piezoelectric materials, optoelectronic, thermoelectric or radio frequency materials. We further describe a printing system capable of laying down said materials in a definite pattern. Such a system may be used for instance to: print a flat panel display complete with onboard drive logic; print a working logic circuit onto any of a large class of substrates; print an electrostatic or piezoelectric motor with onboard logic and feedback or print a working radio transmitter or receiver.

Abstract: There is provided soybean protein products of significantly lowerstachyose content as a function of an improved soybean having a seed stachyose content of less than 50 &mgr;mol/g. Improved soybean lines are provided as are methods of using such reduced stachyose soybeans.

Abstract: A method for producing partially fluorinated epoxides and corresponding polyether homopolymers of these polyfluorinated epoxides is described. Also described is a method for incorporating a fluoroalcohol functional group into a polymer as a pendant group. Certain perfluorinated olefins are also described. These polyfluorinated epoxides and the associated polymers and methods relating to them are useful components in photoresists, particulary in lithographic photoresists for use at low ultraviolet wavelengths (e.g., 157 nm).

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

Abstract: A polyimide film that exhibits improved peel strength when clad with a metal layer is prepared by reacting a polyamic acid polymer and an esterified polyamic acid oligomer. The esterified oligomer has from two to twenty repeating units and at least two crosslinkable groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl, cyano, hydroxy, alkyne, maleimide, norbornene and sulfonyl groups. The polyamic acid is dissolved in a solvent to form a polyamic acid solution, which has a minimum gel-film forming temperature, or a minimum green film forming temperature, associated therewith. The esterified polyamic acid oligomer has an imidization temperature, which is higher than the minimum gel-film forming temperature, or the minimum green film forming temperature, of the polyamic acid solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for patterning ceramic tape wherein a photoresist is applied to a ceramic tape, which enables the photoresist, after being exposed patternwise, and developed, to act as a development mask for the tape. The tape then undergoes a development stage, which ultimately removes undesired sections of tape. The tape contains polymeric binder(s) with acidic or alkaline functional pendant groups but not photosensitive ingredients. Therefore, the tape is aqueous processable but itself cannot be photoimaged. However, when this tape is used with conventional photoresists that have the development chemistry opposite from that of the tape, it allows the photoresist to be used as a development barrier layer for the tape.

Abstract: The invention relates to hydroxy-functional (meth)acrylic copolymers having an OH value from 40 to 260 mg KOH/g, a number average molecular mass (Mn) from 1500 to 20000 g/mole and a glass transition temperature Tg from −40° C. to 80° C., containing A) polymerized monomers of at least one epoxy-functional, olefinically unsaturated monomer, B) at least one compound having a carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group in the molecule that is reacted with the epoxy functional group of the polymerized olefincially unsaturated monomers, C) at least one additional polymerized olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of radical polymerization which is different from component A) and D) optionally at least one lactone reacted with the polymer. It also relates to processes for making the copolymers and to coating compositions that contain the hydroxy-functional (meth)acrylic copolymers and to the use thereof in multi-layer automotive coatings.

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

Abstract: A forceps is described which is self-locking and is used for raising slabs. It is of the type which has two jaws in hard steel which are reciprocally hinged so that they may be closed or opened with automatic locking when they come in contact with the product to be moved. The forceps is characterized by the fact that it is composed of three elements, precisely a fixed body (2), a cam (3) and a movable carriage which holds the cam, and in which the fixed jaw comes in contact in a gripping manner with the pushing force generated by the counterposed cam thus achieving in this manner the closure of the product being raised.

Abstract: The invention features a reflective display device and a method of making a reflective display device that has reduced light loss and/or pixel cross talk due to internal reflection. The device includes a window layer, a plurality of reflective particles, a material portion disposed between the window layer and the plurality of reflective particles, and a refractive layer disposed between the window and the material portion. The plurality of reflective particles scatters light received from the ambient environment. The window layer has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the ambient environment. The refractive layer has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the window layer and less than an index of refraction of the material portion.

Abstract: The invention refers to a diagnosis appliance for the diagnosis of vascular diseases of a patient. The appliance consists of: a camera to photograph des background of at least one eye of the patient; a medium for digital storage of the image of the eye background taken with the camera; a medium for reading the stored image and a medium for determining specified parameters by evaluation of the stored image. This makes a quick and cost-saving examination possible to identify stroke risk endangered patients.

Abstract: A pipe connection fitting having at one end a tapered edge (1) which communicates at its base with tightening nut (2) which communicates with male pipe threads (3) which communicates with extension member (4) having an angle cut (6) with a flow port (5) through the center of the fitting. Positive differential pressure is created by installing a differential pressure fitting facing into the fluid stream of a flow line. Negative differential pressure is created by installing a differential pressure fitting facing away from the fluid stream of a flow line. Tubing connects the fittings to a pressure tank containing the fluid to be injected in the flow line. Fluid flow past the fittings in the flow line motivates flow from the flow line to the pressure tank and from the pressure tank back to the flow line. The fitting being made of rigid plastic or metal.