Abstract: The present invention provides for an etch and mar resistant low VOC clear coating composition most suitable for use as a top clear coat in multi-layered OEM or refinish automotive coatings. The coating composition includes polyisocyanate, polyester polyol and melamine components, where more than half of total composition solids include the polyester polyol and melamine components. The polyisocyanate component includes an aliphatic polyisocyanate. The composition may be formulated as a two-pack or one-pack coating composition, wherein the isocyanate functionalities are blocked with a blocker such as a mono-alcohol.

Abstract: The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments encoding plant fatty acid modifying enzymes associated with modification of the delta-9 position of fatty acids, in particular, formation of conjugated double bonds are disclosed. Chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic plants having altered lipid profiles. The preparation and use of nucleic acid fragments encoding plant fatty acid modifying enzymes associated with formation of a trans delta-12 double bond also are disclosed. Chimeric genes incorporating such nucleic acid fragments and suitable regulatory sequences can be used to create transgenic plants having altered lipid profiles.

Abstract: The use of at least one &ggr;-RAR receptor-specific agonist ligand to prepare a pharmaceutical composition for increasing the rate of apoptosis in at least one cell population in which apoptosis may be induced by activating &ggr;-RAR receptors is disclosed. The composition is particularly useful for treating a disease or disorder related to an insufficient rate of apoptosis in at least one cell population in which apoptosis may be induced by activating &ggr;-RAR receptors. The use of at least one &ggr;-RAR receptor-specific agonist ligand as the apoptosis inducer in a cosmetic composition is also disclosed. Said composition may be used to prevent and/or control photo-ageing or chronological ageing of the skin.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising A) a stationary acid component selected from the group consisting of a perfluorinated ion exchange polymer on an inert support, a silane modified perfluorosulfonic acid, and a sulfated metal oxide; and B) a mobile acid component selected from the group consisting of chlorosulfonic acid, fluorosulfonic acid, a fluorinated monosulfonic acid, a fluorinated sulfonimide, a fluorinated disulfonic acid, and an adjunct acid mixture is disclosed.

Abstract: Wholly aromatic synthetic fibers spun from liquid-crystalline polymer solutions, having a crystal size (110 plane) of not greater than 50 Å and an ionic substance content of no more than 1.0 wt % are disclosed. Said fibers having a low ionic substance content while retaining the inherent high heat resistance and high Young's modulus, and are useful particularly for electrical and electronic parts.

Abstract: A circuit board manufacturing system is provided which includes a production assembly line with a carrier handling system for a plurality of feeder/programming/buffer systems. The feeder/programming/buffer system has a flexible feeder mechanism for s receiving unprogrammed device in a number of different manners, a programming mechanism for performing a programming operation on the unprogrammed devices at a high rate of speed, and a buffer mechanism for providing the programmed micro devices to the carrier handling system. The carrier handling system has its own buffer section and is integrated with an assembly handling system of the production assembly line to populate the programmed devices on to the circuit boards.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method whereby 3,4-tetrahydrofurandiol is hydrogenated in the presence of Rh, Re, Pd, Ru and Ni catalysts, optionally supported, to form tetrahydrofuran and its precursors.

Abstract: A device for covering and protecting machinery has at least one covering and protective surface and a plurality of modular elements positioned side by side. Each modular element has a central body, on opposite sides of which there extend first and second lateral protrusions, respectively. The ends of the first and second protrusions of two adjacent modular elements overlap in such a way as to form a T shape, and are connected to each other by a cylindrical hinge positioned between them. Each central body, together with at least the first or the second lateral protrusion forms a corresponding portion of the covering and protecting surface, and the surface portions formed by the modular elements are placed side by side in contact with each other so as to make a substantially uninterrupted covering and protecting surface.

Abstract: The invention provides thermoplastic polymer alloy compositions based on syndiotactic polystyrene, ethylene copolymers and styrene block copolymers. They are useful in high temperature, chemical resistant molding applications. The compositions are formed by melt-blending under high shear. Preferably the composition contains syndiotactic polystyrene, an epoxy group-containing ethylene copolymer, an acid group-containing styrene copolymer, and optionally a styrene-containing block copolymer.

Abstract: Methods and networks are provided for enabling live video communication by performing image analysis and motion prediction outside the transmitter/encoder, i.e., either in the receiver or in a separate unit. In one aspect, a method for the transferring of moving pictures from a sending station to a receiving station comprises: obtaining, at the receiving station, a predicted picture frame through at least one motion compensation technique; comparing, at the receiving station, the predicted picture frame with the actual picture frame corresponding thereto; generating, at the receiving station, a deviation signal corresponding to the difference between the actual and the predicted frames; transmitting the deviation signal to the sending station; and respectively updating a data model contained in each of the sending and receiving stations, based on the deviation signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding scorpion toxins that are K-channel modifiers. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a substantial portion of the K-channel modifier, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the K-channel modifier in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Photoresists and associated processes for microlithography in the extreme, far, and near UV are disclosed. The photoresists in some embodiments comprise (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 and at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound contains at least one fluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom; and (b) at least one photoactive component.

Abstract: The invention provides for a substrate coated with a non-stick coating which resists abrasion force, the coating comprising a fluoropolymer resin containing ceramic particles to deflect the abrasion force away from the coating wherein the ratio of the thickness of the coating to the longest diameter of said ceramic particles is in the range of 0.8-2.0. Further, the invention provides for a substrate coated with a non-stick coating which resists abrasion force, the coating comprising an undercoat and an overcoat, each containing fluoropolymer resin, the undercoat also containing ceramic particles extending from the undercoat, the overcoat telegraphing the particles extending from the undercoat through the thickness of the overcoat to deflect the abrasion force away from the coating. Preferably, the ratio of the combined thickness of the undercoat and the overcoat to the longest diameter of the ceramic particles is in the range of 0.8-2.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to honeycomb structures having cell walls of increased thickness wherein multiple layers of cell wall material are not bonded together except on two opposite cell wall sides. The invention also includes a process for making such honeycomb structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor electronic device includes a die of semiconductor material and a support. The die of semiconductor material includes an integrated electronic circuit and a plurality of contact pads associated with the electronic circuit and connected electrically to the support by wire leads. Each contact pad may include a lower layer of aluminum, copper, or alloys thereof, and an upper layer including at least one film of a metal and/or metallic alloy including nickel, palladium, or alloys thereof, and being deposited by an electroless chemical process.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating specific patient groups for Central Nervous System disorders, including but not limited to Tourette Syndrome, are provided. The methods of the present invention comprise the utilization of pharmaceutical compositions comprising quinolinones (and derivatives thereof) in patients with symptoms of a Central Nervous System Disorder who are otherwise free of cardiac disease and/or who have not been given organic nitrates.

Abstract: A system provides two distinct solutions for encoding and decoding servo positioning data for a hard disk drive. A first solution includes: encoding each group of four bits of a pattern signal in a Matched Spectral Null (MSN) format through an intermediate rate {fraction (4/6)} code; providing a duplicated bit for each bit of the six bit code word obtained with the previous step. A second solution includes: encoding each group of four bit of the pattern signal adding a parity check bit as an intermediate rate ⅘ code; encoding each of the five bits using the biphase map. Both solutions include subsequently: reading a servo wedge information signal using a read and write channel of the hard disk drive; and using a trellis Partial Response decoding scheme matched to said encoded word for obtaining angular and radial information for the head positioning.

Abstract: An electronic device serving as a connecting component between a power supply and data transmission system and at least one of an actuator and sensor, and including a two-pole system and device terminal, a two-pole power supply output, a data processor controller electrically connected to the system and device terminal, and at least one choke for data separation or decoupling between the system and device terminal and the power supply output. The electronic device has expanded applications, such as an expanded address range and high current load capacity by electrically connecting an isolation amplifier circuit effective only for AC voltage parallel to the at least one choke.

Abstract: The machine comprises a working station (P) and a fixed bed (10) disposed to the rear side of the working station (P). For rotating a wheel (20) there is provided a unit which is carried by a support bracket (30) connected to the fixed bed (10) in such a manner as to be able to swivel about a horizontal axis (A) passing through the working station (P), and comprises, for rigidly locking the wheel rim, a motorized mandrel (32) disposed with its axis (B) perpendicular to and cutting or nearly cutting the swivel axis (A), so that the tire of the wheel (20) carried by the mandrel (32) is traversed, in a virtually central position, by the swivel axis (A) of the support bracket (30). The machine also comprises means (12) for swivelling the support bracket (30) between two operative positions, in the first of which the axis of rotation (B) of the wheel is disposed in a horizontal position, and in the second of which the axis of rotation (B) of the wheel is disposed in a vertical position.

Abstract: A synthetic polymer filament is characterized by a four-sided void that extends centrally and axially through the filament. Each apex of the void extends toward the approximate midpoint of one side of the exterior configuration of the filament. The four-sided void has a modification ratio in the range from about 1.2 to about 2.0 and occupies from about five percent 5% to about thirty percent 30% of the cross sectional area of the filament. A spinneret plate for producing the thermoplastic synthetic polymer filament has a cluster of four orifices centered about a central point. Each orifice includes a generally isosceles triangle-shaped major portion from which extends a pair of legs, each leg of one orifice being spaced from the leg of an adjacent orifice to define a gap therebetween.