Abstract: The present invention provides a cardable fiber blend which forms a moldable fiber batt, the blend comprising fibers having a modulus of 550 g/denier or more with fibers of a thermoplastic polymer wherein the high modulus polymer fibers are all uncrimped fibers or a mixture of crimped and uncrimped fibers. The moldable batt is useful in making speaker cones.

Abstract: Polyolefins made preferably only from ethylene using a selected ethylene oligomerization catalyst to form &agr;-olefins and a polymerization catalyst which can copolymerize ethylene and &agr;-olefins produces a novel polymer which advantageous rheological properties.

Abstract: Polyolefins, especially branched polyethylenes, can be made by combining a catalyst that can oligomerize ethylene to one or more alpha-olefins and a polymerization catalyst which can copolymerize ethylene and &agr;-olefins, by first carrying out the process in, for example, a continuous stirred tank reactor or its equivalent, and then in a plug flow reactor or its equivalent. The process minimizes the occurrence of (unreacted) &agr;-olefins in the final polymer product.

Abstract: Optical fibers are produced by means of a direct sleeving technique that allows the sintering and collapsing of the outer jacket tube onto the inner core rod to be achieved directly during the drawing phase of optical fiber manufacture. In the course of the optical fiber manufacturing process, either a mechanical guide holding a sleeving tube concentrically around an annular gap and core rod or a preform having an enclosed annular gap/cavity are mounted in a drawing tower. A vacuum may be maintained in the annular gap/cavity of this assembly. A heat source is then applied to one end of the preform/assembly such that the extreme end of the tube is collapsed onto the core as fiber is drawn in a controlled manner. This single-step process allows to speed up the sleeving process, without introducing possible asymetries in the final preform and in the fibers drawn therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cardable fiber blend which forms a moldable fiber batt, the blend comprising fibers having a modulus of 550 g/denier or more with fibers of a thermoplastic polymer wherein the high modulus polymer fibers are all uncrimped fibers or a mixture of crimped and uncrimped fibers. The moldable batt is useful in making speaker cones.

Abstract: A hand-free device equipped with expansion function modules allows a basic hand-free handset to attach expansion function modules depending on users' requirements so that the existing hand-free handset can be upgraded to equip additional or new function without obsolete. The invention consists of a hand-free main body and externally connected expansion function modules of various function desired. The function may be selected based on users' requirements such as GPS, PDA enabling, or audio control dialing, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for gating an optical signal comprising: an input stage arranged to receive and combine first and second optical control signals (ON, OFF) of first and second wavelengths, and an optical signal (SIGNAL IN) to be gated of a third wavelength. A gain medium is arranged to receive the signals SIGNAL IN, ON and OFF from the input stage. The gain medium (e.g. YAG) comprises a transition metal dopant (e.g. Cr4+) that has an excited state populatable by the first control signal and depopulatable by the second control signal to allow selective amplification of the optical signal to be gated by stimulated emission from the excited state responsive to the control signals. The amplification process has a very fast switch-on time that is several orders of magnitude faster than in prior art devices based on the rare earth dopant Er3+.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid where acetone cyanohydrin is converted to 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity, or having a combination of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities. The invention also encompasses production of methacrylic acid wherein the 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid produced with the catalyst described is dehydrated to produce methacrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an &agr;-melanocyte stimulating hormone (&agr;-MSH) analogue, labeled with an amino acid-type paramagnetic spin probe, for example, Toac, or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid, and methods for the synthesis thereof. The preferred analogue of the invention, acetyl-Toac0-&agr;-MSH (abbreviated as EPM-2) is the first such analogue that maintains entirely the natural &agr;-MSH activity.

Abstract: A pet bowl having an interior dished portion for receiving pet food, water or the like has a rather large suction cup held centrally to the underside of the pet bowl for securing the bowl to a surface such as a floor. The suction cup underlies at least a major portion of the lateral extent of the dished portion of the bowl, and may be held removably to the pet bowl by a bracket. The surface of the suction cup preferably has upstanding portions to engage the undersurface of the bracket to depress the suction cup assuredly upon downward movement of the bowl. The bracket may have a keyed opening, and a knob with an enlarged end extends upwardly from the suction cup and may be fitted within the keyed opening to hold the suction cup removably to the bracket. Further, a tab may extend from the rim portion of the suction cup to be accessed through an opening in the sidewall of the pet bowl for enabling the rim of the suction cup to be lifted and release the suction cup from the floor.

Abstract: An optical intensity modulator for high-speed RZ and NRZ data modulation based on a balanced three-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The three arms are joined at the input and output sides of the device by three-way couplers. The input coupler is structured to couple approximately equal powers into the first and third arms and no more than 50% power into the second arm. In the straight sections of the arms, there is arranged an AC electrode structure for applying an RF modulation signal and a DC electrode structure for biasing the device at a working point. The AC electrode structure is arranged so that an applied modulation signal induces a negative phase shift (−&Dgr;&phgr;) in the first arm in relation to the second arm and a positive phase shift (+&Dgr;&phgr;) in the third arm in relation to the second arm.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for measuring optical, especially calorimetric, parameters on liquid, colored media, especially on wet lacquers, in which the liquid, colored medium is applied to a continuously moving, cylindrical support, a film of the liquid, colored medium forms on the continuously moving, cylindrical support, and optical, especially calorimetric, parameters are measured on the film of the liquid, colored medium.

Abstract: A process of producing solid surface material is provided with a thin layer of filled polymer integrally formed with a backing of bubble-filled polymer, without an interface or transition zone in the polymer mix, using two-step wet-on-wet casting.

Abstract: A process and a device 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.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: A self-contained system uses light reflectivity to examine intensity of a dyed spot on a device membrane surrounded by background area to discern information about the specimen that produced the spot. In a preferred embodiment, a master clock alternatively drives one LED focussed upon the spot center, and then drives two LEDS focused on the background area. Light reflected from the spot and background is detected by preferably two photodetectors (“PDs”) spaced-apart a multiple of 90° azimuthal, a configuration discovered to minimize the effects of uneven membrane topography upon light intensity measurements. The PD outputs are average-summed together and are input to a phase lock-in amplifier system that enhances detected signal/noise by measuring signal voltage without producing noise. The lock-in system simultaneously positively and negatively amplifies the average-summed PD outputs, which amplified signal is then switched in synchronism with the LED drive signals.

Abstract: An adjustable baby bottle holder for hand crib includes a clipping member. A flexible attaching member accepts the clipping member. The flexible attaching member has a partially open base, a centerline, a first extension and a second extension. The partially open base forms an interior channel that accepts the handle of a hand crib. The teeth on the first extension form valleys between each tooth that are separated from the centerline by a distance ‘d1’, which gradually decreases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

Abstract: An air and water hose apparatus for use in an air supply system for firefighters. The air and water hose apparatus has an air hose completely within the water hose. The air and water hose apparatus comprises only a single length of the overall water hose of the system. This ensures that no part of the air hose is exposed to possible damage. The system supplies high pressure air to the firefighters. The system allows for easy connect and disconnect of the air and water hose apparatus to the firefighter's mask and preferably can be used with standard self-contained breathing apparatus having a mask and a regulator. A branched conduit allows several firefighters to be attached to a single air and water hose apparatus.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition for the preparation of flexographic printing forms for corrugated board direct printing comprising a radial (polystyrene-polybutadiene)nX block copolymer, with X=Sn or Si and n=2 or 4, with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 80,000-300,000, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1.00-1.40, a content of di- block copolymers of less than 15% by weight, which is extended with up to 50% by weight of a paraffinic oil.