Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising using ionic liquids for the polycondensation of 1,3-propanediol reactants to produce polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode immersed in an electrolyte in the presence of a reductant and oxidant, wherein the distinguishing feature is that all of the elements of the fuel cell communicate freely with each other and there is no membrane or other separator between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Quinoline and naphthyridine derivatives useful in the treatment of bacterial infections in mammals, particularly humans.

Abstract: A process for preparing fluorinated alkyl carboxylate esters comprises reaction of a silver carboxylate or silver carboxylate precursor, such as silver (I) iodide with a fluorinated alkyl iodide and a carboxylic acid. Preferably the fluorinated alkyl iodide has the general formula CF3(CF2)nCH2CH2I, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 1 to 29 and the carboxylic acid is acetic acid, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I? in which R1 is H, C1–C12alkyl; C5–C12cycloalkyl; C2–C18alkyl which is interrupted by one or more O; SR4; OR5; or is a group of formula II or III R2, R21 and R3 independently of one another, are H or —Y—T as defined in claim 1, where T is a reactive group selected from OH, acryl- and methacryloxy and arylcarbonate groups, and further symbols are as defined in claim 1, are effective as crosslinking agents for polymeric networks, especially as in flexographic printing plates, coatings, and plastic containers or films. Further provided is a method of protecting the content of a clear or lightly colored plastic container or film against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation, which method comprises permanently and covalently bonding one or more UV absorbing moieties of a durable s-triazine UV absorber via condensation to a suitable polymer component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data storage medium encoded with the corresponding structure coordinates of molecules and molecular complexes which comprise the active site binding pockets of IMPDH. Such data storage material is capable of displaying such molecules and molecular complexes, or their structural homologues, as a graphical three-dimensional representation on a computer screen. This invention also relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to solve the structure of homologous proteins or protein complexes. In addition, this invention relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to screen and design compounds, including inhibitory compounds, that bind to IMPDH or homologues thereof. This invention also relates to molecules and molecular complexes which comprise the active site binding pockets of IMPDH or close structural homologues of the active site binding pockets. This invention also relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions which are inhibitors of IMPDH.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of a stabilized polyester that is low in the generation of aldehydes which comprises reacting one or more diacids with one or more diols in an esterification process, and/or one or more diesters with one or more diols in a transesterification process in the presence of an effective amount of a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyhydric alcohol which is for example poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol), maltitol, isomalt, sorbitol, xylitol, sucrose, mucic acid dibutylester, mucic acid di(phenyl-1-ethyl)ester, pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol; (b) a compound of the formula II, which is for example di-iso-octyl-phosphinic acid; (c) a sterically hindered amine which is for example Tinuvin 123 or Tinuvin 622; (d) a polyacrylamide or a cationic acrylamide copolymer; or (e) a hydroxyamine and/or a nitrone.

Abstract: An article, apparatus and method for attaching a roll of web material to a treated core is disclosed. The article includes a core pre-treated with adhesive and the apparatus includes an adhesive, a conveyor, an applicator unit and roller drums. The method includes activating a treated core with adhesive, aligning the activated area of the treated core with a tail end of the roll of web material, adhering the tail end of the roll of web material with the activated area of the treated core, and winding the roll of web material around the treated core.

Abstract: A turbo decoder having two modes of operation decodes received information as per an N-state Radix-K trellis where N and K are integers equal to 1 or greater. The turbo decoder uses an in-line addressing technique that allows it to operate as a Serial Convolutional Code decoder in the first mode of operation and a Parallel Convolutional Code decoder in the second mode of operation. The decoder uses an in line addressing technique that allows it to use the same block of memory to store and retrieve states of the trellis as it processes received information. The turbo decoder can also operate as per an N-state Radix-K trellis where N is an integer equal to 2 or greater and K is an integer equal to 4 or greater.

Abstract: Improvements in human interaction with barrier movement operators are disclosed. A controller of the barrier movement operator is capable of a number of learning modes in which the controller cooperates with a user to learn operating parameters. The controller guides and corrects the necessary actions by the user. The barrier movement operator also includes an input/output unit remote from the main controller of the operator. Human interaction with the remote input/output unit enables diagnosis of operator faults remotely.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a polymer and methods of using the composition to increase the traction of an article of manufacture on an icy surface. The polymer can be a silicate polymer, a plancheite-derived polymer, a pinacol polymer, an indanol polymer, a phenol polymer, or an m-xylylene polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.

Abstract: A method for managing contents of a web site. A request to access a web site is received from a requester, wherein the web site comprises a sparse tree directory comprising elements used to build the web site. The sparse tree directory comprises a web site page hierarchy located at the root directory of a shape hierarchy, wherein the web site page hierarchy comprises a directory structure of the web application and the shape hierarchy defines user shapes accommodated by the web application. The sparse tree directory also comprises a first subdirectory corresponding to a first value of a dimension and a second subdirectory corresponding to a second value of the dimension, wherein the first subdirectory comprises a first element and the second subdirectory comprises a second element. A shape of the requestor is generated, wherein the shape defines elements that can be accommodated by the requester. The sparse tree directory is cached. The sparse tree directory is searched for elements defined by the shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter that are useful as ionic liquids. The compositions of the invention are based on an N-substituted pyrrolidinone, said pyrrolidinone having a pendant ammonium cation that is separated from the pyrrolidone ring by a variable length alkyl spacer.

Abstract: Benzotriazole UV absorbers substituted with a ultra long ester or amide moiety wherein the ester or amide group is a hydrocarbyl group of 25 to 100 carbon atoms or is a group of alkyl of 25 to 100 carbon atoms interrupted by 5 to 39 oxygen atoms and terminated with an omega-OH or an omega-OR group exhibit excellent stabilization efficacy while they concomitantly do not bloom when incorporated into polyolefin films. These benzotriazole UV absorbers also provide excellent protection to white, dyed, dipped, unscented and/or scented candle wax from discoloration and degradation.

Abstract: A tool for measuring compliance with building construction codes comprises at least one indentation having a diameter that is representative of a maximum or minimum diameter of a handrail or grab bar, as permitted by code standards. The indentation is positioned adjacent a handrail or grab bar to determine compliance with relevant code standards. The tool may also include a tab positioned adjacent The indentation to simultaneously measure the distance a grab bar or handrail is spaced from a wall, and the diameter of the handrail or grab bar.

Abstract: Processes using alpha, omega-difunctional aldaramides as monomers and crosslinkers are disclosed. The processes can be used to form polymers, particularly crosslinked polymers.