Abstract: A method of optimizing a wastewater treatment plant includes: providing an oxidation ditch having a dissolved oxygen set-point and including: an aeration system having an aerobic zone; and an anoxic zone; measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of the anoxic zone; and based on the measured oxidation-reduction potential: increasing or decreasing the dissolved oxygen set-point; increasing or decreasing a dose of supplemental nutrients; and/or increasing a dose of supplemental carbon or metal salts.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to faun a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to faun a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: A process for treating BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes the steps of providing wastewater influent into an anoxic zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the anoxic zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes providing the mixed liquor into one more further treatment zones and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the further treatment zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. The process also includes selectively recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the anoxic zone as recycled activated sludge.

Abstract: A process for treating BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes providing wastewater influent into an anaerobic zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the anaerobic zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes providing the mixed liquor into an oxygen-deficit aeration zone and recycling denitrified mixed liquor from the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to the anaerobic zone for mixing therein with wastewater. In addition, the process includes transferring the mixed liquor from the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to an oxygen-surplus aeration zone and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the oxygen-surplus aeration zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. The process also includes recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the oxygen-deficit aeration zone as recycled activated sludge.

Abstract: A process for treating biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes providing wastewater influent to an oxygen-deficit aeration zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes transferring the mixed liquor from the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to an oxygen-surplus aeration zone and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the oxygen-surplus aeration zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. In addition, the process includes recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the oxygen-deficit aeration zone as recycled activated sludge.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: Contaminated wastewaters comprising biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus are treated by an activated sludge process. The process utilizes an activated sludge tank, a solid-liquid separator, and a bioreactor to significantly reduce, or eliminate, waste activated sludge (WAS) within a sludge stream. A sidestream reactor is employed downstream from the bioreactor to remove soluble phosphates left in the sludge stream by the low WAS process. Within the sidestream reactor, a source of multivalent metal ions is added to a slightly alkaline sludge stream to precipitate the phosphates. The solid phosphates have a specific gravity higher than that of the organic matter in the sludge stream and may be separated from the sludge stream based upon differential settling velocity.

Abstract: A catalyst system and a process for the bulk addition polymerization or of polycyclic olefins, such as norbornene, methylnorbornene, ethylnorbornene, butylnorbornene or hexylnorbornene, 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonapthalene, 5,5?-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and 1,4,4a,4b,5,8,8a,8b-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanobiphenylene are disclosed. The catalyst includes an organonickel or organopalladium transition metal procatalyst and an activator compound. Polymerization can be carried out in a reaction injection molding process to yield thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymeric articles possessing high glass transition temperatures.

Abstract: A loudspeaker motor structure uses variable geometry to change the effective magnetic field acting on the voice coil of the motor structure. A magnet generates the magnetic field, which couples into a front plate, a back plate, and a pole piece. In one loudspeaker, the front plate and the pole piece have notches and slots. Rotating the pole piece relative to the front plate varies the width of the gap between the pole piece and the front plate, and the effective magnetic field in the gap. In another loudspeaker, the pole piece moves up and down in relation to the back plate. This movement varies the magnetic coupling between the pole piece and the back plate and, consequently, the effective magnetic field in the gap between the pole piece and the front plate. Variations in the effective magnetic field in the gap result in variations of the loudspeaker parameters.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.

Abstract: Addition polymers derived from norbornene-functional monomers are terminated with an olefinic moiety derived from a chain transfer agent selected from a compound having a terminal olefinic double bond between adjacent carbon atoms, excluding styrenes, vinyl ethers, and conjugated dienes and at least one of said carbon atoms has two hydrogen atoms attached thereto. The addition polymers of this invention are prepared from a single or multicomponent catalyst system including a Group VIII metal ion source. The catalyst systems are unique in that they catalyze the insertion of the chain transfer agent exclusively at a terminal end of the polymer chain.

Abstract: Addition polymers derived from norbornene-functional monomers are terminated with an olefinic moiety derived from a chain transfer agent selected from a compound having a terminal olefinic double bond between adjacent carbon atoms, excluding styrenes, vinyl ethers, and conjugated dienes and at least one of said carbon atoms has two hydrogen atoms attached thereto. The addition polymers of this invention are prepared from a single or multicomponent catalyst system including a Group VIII metal ion source. The catalyst systems are unique in that they catalyze the insertion of the chain transfer agent exclusively at a terminal end of the polymer chain.

Abstract: A single component ionic catalyst consists essentially of an organonickel complex cation, and a weakly coordinating neutral counteranion. The cation is a neutral bidentate ligand removably attached to a Group VIII transition metal in an organometal complex. The ligand is easily displaced by a norbornene-type (NB-type) monomer in an insertion reaction which results in an unexpectedly facile addition polymerization. A NB-type monomer includes NB or substituted NB, or a multi-ringed cycloolefin having more than three rings in which one or more of the rings has a structure derived from NB, and a ring may have an alicyclic alkyl, alkylene or alkylidene substituent. The insertion reaction results in the formation of a unique propagating species more soluble in a polar than in a non-polar solvent and devoid of an available .beta.-hydrogen for termination. The ensuing propagation of a polymer chain proceeds without measurable unsaturation.

Abstract: A noise suppression system for use on internal combustion engines and small enough for use in automotive applications is disclosed. A cancellation noise generator and actuator speakers produce a noise to combine with and cancel the engine noise carried in exhaust gases in a mixing chamber. The resultant noise leaving the mixing chamber is measured by a circular tubular microphone array to control the noise generator.

Abstract: A noise cancellation system, comprising a symmetrical assembly of microphone inputs is disclosed. A controller receives the output of the microphone assembly and generates an electrical cancellation signal having a polarity opposite the polarity of a portion of a noise to be cancelled and a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the portion of the noise to be cancelled. An actuator receives the electrical cancellation signal and outputs an audio cancellation signal.

Abstract: Dielectric supports for electronic components, such as circuit boards, are provided which are comprised of two or more bulk polymerized norbornene-type monomers. The monomers may be easily processed into circuit boards, etc. by reaction injection molding. The copolymers obtained exhibit high heat distortion temperatures and good dielectric properties and a balance of properties that make them, for example, well suited for molded wire board materials.

Abstract: Vapor phase chlorosulfonated polyolefins usually contain as much as about 100 to 200 parts of more per million of sulfur dioxide in the chlorosulfonated polyolefin particles, even after degassing, that is released over a period of time. The amount of sulfur dioxide released from vapor phase chlorosulfonated polyolefins can be reduced to an amount of less than 0.