Abstract: It is described a method for monitoring an optical communications system comprising at least one optical channel connecting a transmitter and a receiver. The method comprises: measuring, at the receiver, a transmission parameter of the optical channel for a pre-defined measuring time interval; on the basis of the measurements of the transmission parameter in the time interval, checking the presence of at least one anomaly in the measurements, the at least one anomaly being indicative of a subsequent failure of the system; and in the presence of the at least one anomaly, applying an identification algorithm to the measurements, the algorithm comprising a classifier, wherein the classifier is configured to, on the basis of the measurements, identify a cause of the failure, the classifier being based on a machine learning technique.

Abstract: Multilayer polypropylene films comprising a base layer A, at least one skin layer B adhered to said base layer A and a metal layer M deposited on the surface of said skin layer, wherein said skin layer B comprises a propylene copolymer containing from 3% to 6% by weight of C4-C10 alpha-olefin units, said propylene copolymer having a xylene soluble fraction at 23° C. of less than 4.0 wt %, a VICAT softening temperature higher than 135° C. and an indentation value according to the VICAT test method lower than or equal to 0.05 mm at 120° C.

Abstract: Multilayer polypropylene films comprising a base layer A, at least one skin layer B adhered to said base layer A and a metal layer M deposited on the surface of said skin layer, wherein said skin layer B comprises a propylene copolymer containing from 3% to 6% by weight of C4-C10 alpha-olefin units, said propylene copolymer having a xylene soluble fraction at 23° C. of less than 4.0 wt %, a VICAT softening temperature higher than 135° C. and an indentation value according to the VICAT test method lower than or equal to 0.05 mm at 120° C.

Abstract: Polymers obtained from the polycondensation of at least one di-s-triazine of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R represents a linear or branched alkyl radical containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms,X represents a halogen, andn is an integer within the range of from 5 to 30, with at least one other copolymerizable monomer, capable of yielding a liquid-crystalline, thermotropic polymer.

Abstract: Thermotropic di-s-triazinic derivatives are taught having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein: m is zero or an integer of from 1 to 5,n is an integer of from 5 to 30, andX is a halogen, such as chlorine, or a CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.m O-- group.