Abstract: The invention involves generating and presenting, typically electronically, a number of design alternatives to persons who are participating in the design, selection, or market research exercise. The participants (referred to as “selectors”) transmit data indicative of their preferences among or between the presented design alternatives, and that data is used to derive a new generation of design alternatives or proposals. The new designs are generated through the use of a computer program exploiting a genetic or evolutionary computational technique. The process is repeated, typically for many iterations or cycles.

Abstract: The invention involves generating and presenting, typically electronically, a number of design alternatives to persons who are participating in the design, selection, or market research exercise. The participants (referred to as “selectors”) transmit data indicative of their preferences among or between the presented design alternatives, and that data is used to derive a new generation of design alternatives or proposals. The new designs are generated through the use of a computer program exploiting a genetic or evolutionary computational technique. The process is repeated, typically for many iterations or cycles.

Abstract: The invention involves generating and presenting, typically electronically, a number of design alternatives to persons who are participating in the design, selection, or market research exercise. The participants (referred to as “selectors”) transmit data indicative of their preferences among or between the presented design alternatives, and that data is used to derive a new generation of design alternatives or proposals. The new designs are generated through the use of a computer program exploiting a genetic or evolutionary computational technique. The process is repeated, typically for many iterations or cycles.

Abstract: The invention involves generating and presenting, typically electronically, a number of design alternatives to persons who are participating in the design, selection, or market research exercise. The participants (referred to as “selectors”) transmit data indicative of their preferences among or between the presented design alternatives, and that data is used to derive a new generation of design alternatives or proposals. The new designs are generated through the use of a computer program exploiting a genetic or evolutionary computational technique. The process is repeated, typically for many iterations or cycles.

Abstract: A method of determining the glomerular filtration rate of a subject comprises (1) obtaining a serum sample S.sub.pre and a urine sample U.sub.pre from a subject; (2) administering to the subject an amount of a paramagnetic substance that is filtered by the kidneys and is readily detectable by NMR in serum and urine; (3) allowing for the concentration of the substance to equilibrate between the blood and the extravascular spaces; (4) separating an aliquot of the urine sample v.sub.A and obtaining a serum sample from the subject at the time t.sub.A ; (5) calculating a urine rate (v/a).sub.A from the formula (v/a).sub.A =V.sub.A /a.sub.

Abstract: New catalysts for isocyanurate foams comprising the potassium salt of a carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer. The novel foams are obtained by the polymerization of an aromatic polyisocyanate, and a polyether or polyester polyol in the presence of a blowing agent and said copolymer useful as an isocyanurate group formation catalyst. The novel foams are useful in preparing rigid, flexible, semirigid or semi-flexible materials such as panels, slabs or sprayed foam surfaces.

Abstract: Modified isocyanurate foams having excellent thermal stability, low friability, adhesion, cell structure and the like are disclosed. The novel foams are obtained by the polymerization of a mixture of methylene-bridged polyphenylpolyisocyanates having an average functionality of about 2.1-2.4 consisting essentially of from about 60% to about 75% by weight methylene diphenylisocyanate having an isomer content consisting essentially of about 60 to about 80% 4,4'-isomer, about 18% to about 33% 2,4'-isomer, and about 2% to about 7% 2,2'-isomer by weight of the methylene diphenylisocyanate, and about 25% to about 40% by weight higher functionality methylene-bridged polyphenyl-polyisocyanates, in the presence of an isocyanurate group formation catalyst, a blowing agent and a polyether or polyester polyol. The novel foams are useful for preparing rigid components exposed to high temperatures and can be formulated to be fire resistant.