Abstract: An overhead trim system for a motor vehicle has a mounting bracket coupled to an overhead area of the motor vehicle and an integrally formed trim member. The integrally formed trim member is configured to extend along a selected length of a perimeter of the overhead area and defines a hinge. The integrally formed trim member is coupled to the mounting bracket to define a cavity configured for receipt of an airbag module. The hinge in a first position is capable of retaining the airbag module within the cavity and in a second position is capable of enabling the airbag module to expand.

Abstract: An overhead trim system for a motor vehicle has a mounting bracket coupled to an overhead area of the motor vehicle and an integrally formed trim member. The integrally formed trim member is configured to extend along a selected length of a perimeter of the overhead area and defines a hinge. The integrally formed trim member is coupled to the mounting bracket to define a cavity configured for receipt of an airbag module. The hinge in a first position is capable of retaining the airbag module within the cavity and in a second position is capable of enabling the airbag module to expand.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer readable medium or media, having: (a) a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a

Abstract: A system and method for presenting an incoming telephony call on a display of a television set is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the incoming telephony call, selecting at least one of a plurality of images based at least in part on a caller identification number associated with the incoming telephony call, generating a computer video image to be presented on the display, the computer video image comprising the selected at least one image, and providing the computer video image to the television set.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring a complex system, such as a fleet of aircraft, having multiple sub-systems described by a plurality of operating parameters. Data pertaining to the operating parameters is continually generated during operation of the vehicles. The data is normalized to take into account variability factor and stored in a central database. New incoming data from the sub-systems is continually compared with the stored data to identify abnormalities. The invention is applicable to the monitoring of a fleet of aircraft.

Abstract: The invention provides in silico models for determining the physiological function of human cells, including human skeletal muscle cells. The models include a data structure relating a plurality of Homo sapiens reactants to a plurality of Homo sapiens reactions, a constraint set for the plurality of Homo sapiens reactions, and commands for determining a distribution of flux through the reactions that is predictive of a Homo sapiens physiological function. A model of the invention can further include a gene database containing information characterizing the associated gene or genes. A regulated Homo sapiens reaction can be represented in a model of the invention by including a variable constraint for the regulated reaction. The invention further provides methods for making an in silico Homo sapiens model and methods for determining a Homo sapiens physiological function using a model of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides an in silico model for determining a S. cerevisiae physiological function. The model includes a data structure relating a plurality of S. cerevisiae reactants to a plurality of S. cerevisiae reactions, a constraint set for the plurality of S. cerevisiae reactions, and commands for determining a distribution of flux through the reactions that is predictive of a S. cerevisiae physiological function. A model of the invention can further include a gene database containing information characterizing the associated gene or genes. The invention further provides methods for making an in silico S. cerevisiae model and methods for determining a S. cerevisiae physiological function using a model of the invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring a complex system, such as a fleet of aircraft, having multiple sub-systems described by a plurality of operating parameters. Data pertaining to the operating parameters is continually generated during operation of the vehicles. The data is normalized to take into account variability factor and stored in a central database. New incoming data from the sub-systems is continually compared with the stored data to identify abnormalities. The invention is applicable to the monitoring of a fleet of aircraft.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the production of polyvinyl alcohol containing keto-ester groups wherein a polymer containing polyvinyl alcohol units is contacted with a compound having keto-ester forming groups under conditions for forming keto-ester groups on the polymer. The improvement in the process comprises:contacting a solid polymer containing vinyl alcohol units with a liquid phase acetoacetate of the formula: ##STR1## where R is chosen independently from alkyl groups under conditions for converting the alcohol functionality to the keto ester form; and then, removing unreacted acetoacetate forming group and volatile byproduct alcohol from the solid polymer.

Abstract: An improved energy absorbing lightweight vehicle steering wheel constructed of a rim portion, a spoke portion and a hub portion arranged in the same plane having continuous downwardly extending flanges and is made of an aluminum alloy consisting of at least 95% aluminum and at least 1% magnesium. The steering wheel yields at a constant load level to a large deformation by absorbing impact energy during a vehicle impact to avoid injury to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A method for treating paper which comprises applying to the surface of the paper an aqueous medium containing a sizing composition consisting essentially of 75 to 99.9 wt % polyvinyl alcohol which is at least 95 mole % hydrolyzed and 0.1 to 25 wt % ketene dimer represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.1 are the same or different hydrocarbyl groups having 8-30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method for preparing a compatible blend of polyolefin and thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol comprising:(a) melting polyolefin in the initial elements of a melt extruder,(b) adding and melt blending an unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride with the melted polyolefin downstream in the extruder,(c) adding peroxide to the melt blend and grafting the unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride onto the polyolefin, and(d) melt blending thermoplastic PVOH into the grafted polyolefin/unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride melt mixture.

Abstract: A multilayer structure, especially a multilayer film, for packaging alkaline, or caustic, compositions. The multilayer structure consists essentially of:(1) a first layer of an acid functional polymer that is soluble in aqueous alkaline medium,(2) a second layer of a partially hydrolyzed, thermoplastic PVOH, and, optionally,(3) a third layer of a fully hydrolyzed, thermoplastic PVOH.

Abstract: An extrudable polyvinyl alcohol composition useful for packaging and molding applications is prepared by melt blending polyvinyl alcohol and thermoplastic modified starch to provide a product which has reduced water sensitivity, improved modulus and reduced elongation at high relative humidity.A method for extruding the polyvinyl alcohol composition comprises:adding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol composition to both melt it and essentially eliminate the polyvinyl alcohol crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol.The thermoplastic modified starch may be added to the polyvinyl alcohol before or during the melting of the polyvinyl alcohol and elimination of its crystallinity, or the starch may be blended with the thus treated polyvinyl alcohol and then melt extruding the polyvinyl alcohol/starch blend.

Abstract: A solid state process for modifying polyvinyl alcohol using a Michael-type addition wherein dry polyvinyl alcohol powder is sprayed with a solution of a monomer capable of Michael-type addition in an amount sufficient to swell the polyvinyl alcohol or maintain its swollen state, but not dissolve or form a slurry of the polyvinyl alcohol. The swollen polyvinyl alcohol is sprayed with a catalyst and the temperature is raised to initiate the reaction between the polyvinyl alcohol and the monomer.

Abstract: In a melt extrudable polyvinyl alcohol composition consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol and plasticizer, which has been made melt extrudable by adding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol to both melt and substantially eliminate the crystallinity in the melt while simultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol, the improvement which comprises 5 to 25 wt % poly(butylene terephthalate)-polytetrahydrofuran block copolymer for improved impact resistance.

Abstract: A modified polyvinyl alcohol and a solid state process for producing modified polyvinyl alcohol wherein polyvinyl alcohol powder is sprayed with a sufficient amount of a solution of a polymerizable monomer to swell the polyvinyl alcohol powder but not dissolve it or form a slurry. The swollen polyvinyl alcohol powder is sprayed with a free radical source (an initiator) and the temperature is raised to initiate a reaction between polyvinyl alcohol and the polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: An extrudable polyvinyl alcohol composition useful for packaging and molding applications is prepared by melt blending polyvinyl alcohol and thermoplastic polyethylene oxide to provide a product which has improved pH stability and salt solution solubility. Useful extruded articles prepared from such compositions include films and containers.A method for extruding the polyvinyl alcohol composition comprises:adding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol composition to both melt it and essentially eliminate the polyvinyl alcohol crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol.The thermoplastic polyethylene oxide may be added to the polyvinyl alcohol before the polyvinyl alcohol is melted and its crystallinity eliminated or blended with the thus thermally treated polyvinyl alcohol and then melt extruding the polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide blend.

Abstract: A method for extruding polyvinyl alcohol which comprisesadding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol to both melt it and essentially eliminate the crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol.Rapidly cooling the extruded melt reduces the heat history and improves the resulting color of the extrudable polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method for extruding polyvinyl alcohol which includesadding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol to both melt it and essentially eliminate the crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol andrapidly cooling the extruded melt reduces the heat history and improves the resulting color of the extrudable polyvinyl alcohol.