Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for measuring optical signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) in an optical communication system. A channel filter is adapted to select one specific optical communication channel from a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical communication system, wherein the channel comprises an optical signal carrying digital bit information and noise from associated optical power amplifiers in the system. At least one optical delay interferometer is adapted to measure at least two interferograms of the noisy signal. The invention provides a mechanism for calculating the in-band OSNR from extinctions of the interferograms measured at different optical delays by referring to each other, wherein said optical delays are selected to be substantially less than a bit period of the optical channel.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities from an acetic acid production intermediate is disclosed. The method comprises extracting the intermediate with a hydrocarbon extracting agent. The extraction is preferably performed with the alkane distillation bottom stream which comprises methyl iodide, acetic acid, and hydrocarbon impurities. The extraction forms a light phase which comprises the hydrocarbon impurity and the extracting agent and a heavy phase which comprises methyl iodide and acetic acid. The extraction heavy phase is optionally recycled to the alkane distillation or to the carbonylation reaction.

Abstract: A network device connects between a client and a server. The network device is configured to store information regarding an application operating on the server; receive a first message, from the client, intended for the server; generate a second message in response to the first message; send the second message to the client; receive a third message from the client; generate, based on the information regarding the application on the server, a fourth message, that includes the information regarding the application operating on the server; send the fourth message to the client; receive a service request from the client in response to the fourth message; and establish, based on the service request, a connection between the client and the server.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities from an acetic acid production intermediate is disclosed. The method comprises extracting the intermediate with a hydrocarbon extracting agent. The extraction is preferably performed with the alkane distillation bottom stream which comprises methyl iodide, acetic acid, and hydrocarbon impurities. The extraction forms a light phase which comprises the hydrocarbon impurity and the extracting agent and a heavy phase which comprises methyl iodide and acetic acid. The extraction heavy phase is optionally recycled to the alkane distillation or to the carbonylation reaction.

Abstract: An electron-beam cured poly(arylene ether) composition exhibits an excellent balance of flexibility, chemical resistance, and resistivity per unit volume. The chemical resistance of the composition is substantially improved by electron beam curing. The electron-beam cured poly(arylene ether) composition is useful for the fabrication of extruded articles, including insulation for automotive wire and cable.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition is prepared by melt blending a poly(arylene ether) and an other resin, where the poly(arylene ether) has a particular molecular weight distribution. The thermoplastic composition exhibits significantly increased melt flow compared to compositions containing poly(arylene ether)s with similar intrinsic viscosities but different molecular weight distributions. The increased melt flow facilitates preparation of the thermoplastic composition and subsequent article fabrication procedures.

Abstract: A method of purifying a poly(phenylene ether) is described. The method includes mixing a poly(phenylene ether) solution comprising a poly(phenylene ether) and a poly(phenylene ether) solvent with first washing solvents including a C1-C4 alkanol and water to form a first liquid phase including poly(phenylene ether) and poly(phenylene ether) solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising C1-C4 alkanol and water, and separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase. The first and second liquid phases combined comprise about 60 to about 95 weight percent poly(phenylene ether) solvent, about 4 to about 32 weight percent C1-C4 alkanol, and about 1 to about 36 weight percent water. When optionally combined with evaporative removal of the poly(phenylene ether) solvent, the method reduces C1-C4 alkanol usage compared to the antisolvent precipitation method, and it produces poly(phenylene ether) having reduced catalyst metal ion residue and reduced color.

Abstract: A composition is prepared by oxidative copolymerization of specific amounts of 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, and a hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane. The composition exhibits an increased heat resistance relative to a corresponding composition prepared by copolymerizing 2,6-dimethylphenol and hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane, without 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. The composition is useful as a flame-retardant additive in polymer compositions that require high heat resistance.

Abstract: The present discloses a steel rail for high speed and quasi-high speed railways and a manufacturing method thereof. The steel rail having a superior rolling contact fatigue property can be obtained by reducing content of carbon in conjunction with controlled cooling after rolling. The steel rail includes 0.40-0.64% by weight of C, 0.10-1.00% by weight of Si, 0.30-1.50% by weight of Mn, less than or equal to 0.025% by weight of P, less than or equal to 0.025% by weight of S, less than or equal to 0.005% by weight of Al, more than 0 and less than or equal to 0.05% by weight of a rare earth element, more than 0 and less than or equal to 0.20% by weight of at least one of V, Cr, and Ti, and a remainder of Fe and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A capillary is utilized to form the wedge wire bond comprised in a wire interconnection. A wire holding device is located above a wire clamp and the capillary to secure the wire while the wire clamp is open and not clamping onto the wire. The wire clamp and the capillary may be lifted relative to the wire in a direction away from the wedge wire bond and towards the wire holding device so as to pay out a length of wire from the capillary. At a predetermined height of the capillary, the wire clamp is closed to clamp onto the wire, and thereafter, the capillary and wire clamp may be moved further away from the wedge wire bond to cause the wire to break away from the wedge wire bond and to form the wire tail with a desired length extending from the capillary.

Abstract: A fiber is prepared by melt extruding a composition including specific amounts of a polyamide and a polyphenylene ether along with a compatabilizer. Particular combinations produce fibers having a desirable combination of good tenacity and low denier per fiber. Compared to a fiber prepared from polyamide alone, the present fiber exhibits improved heat resistance and flame resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides a solution for the full integration of a coherent receiver on Indium Phosphide (InP) or other material that has a number of advantages over current coherent receiver design. PIN waveguides can be reverse biased and forward biased to modify the mode effective index so as to realize an integrated polarization beam splitting function and the 90 degree optical hybrid. The fabrication tolerance is therefore greatly increased; resulting in much reduced complexity and cost for the final receiver.

Abstract: A method and a system for voice communication, especially for a user who has voice or speaking problems, are disclosed. The method requires a communication sheet and a digital voice signal processing device. The communication sheet comprises a plurality of communication units and a plurality of function units for a user to click with the digital voice signal processing device. The plurality of function units comprise a whole sentence unit, and the method comprises a method for performing a function of emitting the sound of a whole sentence, which comprises the following steps: receiving sounds of words selected by the user; searching a voice file according to each of the sounds of words; receiving a command generated by the user's clicking the whole sentence unit; and playing voice files in order.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition comprises from 30 wt % to 65 wt % of a polyolefin, 15 wt % to 65 wt % of a conjugated diene-based elastomer, 0.5 wt % to 15 wt % of an olefin elastomer, and 0.5 wt % to 25 wt % of a maleated polyolefin. The weight ratio of olefin elastomer to conjugated diene-based elastomer is within the range of 0.04 to 1. The adhesive of the invention has improved adhesion to styrenic polymer layer, barrier layer, and polyolefin layer. It is suitable for extruded multilayer films, sheets, and many other related applications.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that includes a poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer is prepared by a method that includes oxidatively copolymerizing a monohydric phenol and a hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane. The oxidative polymerization includes a monohydric phenol addition period characterized by a first temperature, a build period following the addition period and characterized by a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and a temperature ramp period between the addition period and the build period. During the temperature ramp period, the temperature is increased at an average rate of about 0.01 to about 0.35° C. per minute, which improves the efficiency with which the hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane is incorporated into the poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer.

Abstract: A piston guide ring for use in a piston-cylinder assembly includes a compatibilized polyamide-poly(arylene ether) blend. The compatibilized polyamide-poly(arylene ether) blend includes about 35 to about 95 parts by weight polyamide and about 5 to about 65 parts by weight poly(arylene ether), based on 100 parts by weight total of the polyamide and the poly(arylene ether). The piston guide rings provide improved compressive strength at elevated operating temperatures, more isotropic mold shrinkage, and reduced moisture absorption compared to piston guide rings prepared from polyamide.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for measuring optical signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) in an optical communication system. A channel filter is adapted to select one specific optical communication channel from a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical communication system, wherein the channel comprises an optical signal carrying digital bit information and noise from associated optical power amplifiers in the system. At least one optical delay interferometer is adapted to measure at least two interferograms of the noisy signal. The invention provides a mechanism for calculating the in-band OSNR from extinctions of the interferograms measured at different optical delays by referring to each other, wherein said optical delays are selected to be substantially less than a bit period of the optical channel.

Abstract: A method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent includes treating a poly(arylene ether)-containing solution with a devolatilizing extruder to form an extruded composition, and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device that does not immerse the extruded composition in water. The composition may be used to isolate a poly(arylene ether) from the solvent-containing reaction mixture in which it is prepared, or to remove solvent from a multi-component poly(arylene ether)-containing thermoplastic composition.

Abstract: A flame retardant poly(arylene ether) composition is described. In addition to the poly(arylene ether), the composition includes a polyolefin component, and a flame retardant composition that includes a metal dialkyl phosphinate. The polyolefin component can be a polyolefin polymer and/or the polyolefin block of a poly(alkenyl aromatic)-polyolefin block copolymer. The composition is particularly suitable as a replacement for poly(vinyl chloride) in insulation for wire and cable.

Abstract: A tunable laser device (1) comprises integrally formed first and second ridge waveguides (5, 6). A longitudinally extending ridge (12) defines first and second light guiding regions (19, 20) of the first and second waveguides (5, 6) A plurality of first and second slots (27, 28) extending laterally in the ridge (12) adjacent the first and second waveguides (5, 6), produce first and second mirror loss spectra of the respective first and second waveguides (5, 6) with minimum peak values at respective first and second wavelength values. The spacing between the second slots (28) is different to that between the first slots (27) so that with one exception the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectrum occur at different wavelength values. The first and second waveguides (5, 6) are independently pumped with variable currents to selectively vary the common wavelength at which the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectra occur to produce Vernier tuning of the device.