Abstract: An interactive input system comprises computing structure; and an input device detecting at least one electronic device displaying a recognizable pattern within a three-dimensional (3D) input space and providing output to the computing structure. The computing structure processes the output of the input device to recognize the pattern displayed by the at least one electronic device in the 3D input space; detect the state of the at least one electronic device; and modify image data by applying a transition to digital content associated with the displayed pattern based on the detected state of the at least one electronic device.

Abstract: An interactive input system comprises computing structure; and an input device detecting at least one electronic device displaying a recognizable pattern within a three-dimensional (3D) input space and providing output to the computing structure. The computing structure processes the output of the input device to recognize the pattern displayed by the at least one electronic device in the 3D input space; detect the state of the at least one electronic device; and modify image data by applying a transition to digital content associated with the displayed pattern based on the detected state of the at least one electronic device.

Abstract: A process for postcrosslinking a water-absorbing polymer comprises said polymer being treated with a postcrosslinker and, during or after said treating, being postcrosslinked and dried by temperature elevation, said postcrosslinker being a compound of the formula I where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, C2-C12-alkenyl or C6-C12-aryl, wherein C1-C12-alkyl, C2-C12-alkenyl or C6-C12-aryl may be halogen substituted. The liquid-absorbing polymers are useful in hygiene articles and packaging materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for postcrosslinking a water absorbing polymer by the polymer being treated with at least one postcrosslinker and postcrosslinked and dried during or after the treatment by raising the temperature, the at least one postcrosslinker being a cyclic carbamate or a cyclic urea, wherein the cyclic carbamate or the cyclic urea was obtained by reacting respectively an aminoalcohol or a diamine with a cyclic carbonate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing compounds of the formula (I) by reacting compounds of the formula (II) with thiolates (RS)nM. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing compounds of the formula (II) from ?-butyrolactone.

Abstract: Processes are described comprising: (i) providing a reactant comprising 1,2-dichloroethane; and (ii) reacting the reactant with ammonia to form a reaction product comprising one or more ethylene amines and hydrogen chloride, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of an organic, nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing compound which reacts with the hydrogen chloride to form an ionic liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispersion or solution of a polymer in water, organic solvents or mixtures thereof. The invention is characterised in that the polymer contains at least 0.001 mols of 3,4 dihydroxyphenyl groups (calculated at 109 g/mol) for 100 g polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing quaternary phosphonium salts by reacting a ternary phosphine with an optionally substituted, saturated or monounsaturated or polyunsaturated electrophile having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms in ternary solvent mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing vitamin A acetate by reacting ?-vinylionol with triphenylphosphine in the presence of sulfuric acid in a solvent mixture consisting of 60 to 80% by weight methanol, 10 to 20% by weight water and 10 to 20% by weight aliphatic, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbons having 5 to 8 carbon atoms to give ?-ionylideneethyltriphenylphosphonium salts and subsequent Wittig reaction with 4-acetoxy-2-methylbut-2-enal.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for preparing ionic liquids (I) by reacting ionic liquids (II) whose anion is a halide with an acid (III), with the resulting hydrogen halide being scavenged by means of an amine and the resulting ammonium halide being able to be separated off.

Abstract: Processes are described comprising: (i) providing a reactant comprising 1,2-dichloroethane; and (ii) reacting the reactant with ammonia to form a reaction product comprising one or more ethylene amines and hydrogen chloride, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of an organic, nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing compound which reacts with the hydrogen chloride to form an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for postcrosslinking a water absorbing polymer by the polymer being treated with at least one postcrosslinker and postcrosslinked and dried during or after the treatment by raising the temperature, the at least one postcrosslinker being a cyclic carbamate or a cyclic urea, wherein the cyclic carbamate or the cyclic urea was obtained by reacting respectively an aminoalcohol or a diamine with a cyclic carbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for jointly producing (i) formic acid (III); (ii) a carboxylic acid comprising at least two carbon atoms (II) and/or the derivatives thereof; and (iii) a carboxylic acid anhydride (VII). According to said method, (a) a formic acid ester (I) is transesterfied to formic acid (III) and the corresponding carboxylic acid ester (IV) by means of a carboxylic acid comprising at least two carbon atoms (II); (b) at least one portion of the carboxylic acid ester (IV) formed in step (a) is carbonylated in order to obtain the carboxylic acid anhydride (V); and (c) at least one portion of the carboxylic acid anhydride (V) formed in step (b) is further dehydrated by means of a carboxylic acid (VI) so as to form a carboxylic acid anhydride (VII) and the carboxylic acid (II).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for gel post-crosslinking or surface post-crosslinking water-absorbing hydogels with morpholine-2,3-diones, to the post-crosslinked hydrogels and to the use thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for characterizing atmospheric refractivity and its evolution in time and space utilizing passive radiation emission measurement devices are disclosed. Based on an instrument such as a passive microwave radiometer, ancillary meteorological measurements and other information and observations, the apparatus and methods provide useful signatures for characterizing atmospheric refractivity. The system can observe to any vector in the sky, giving directional as well as zenithal measurements of the refractivity profile, its spatial and temporal gradients, and the spatial and temporal trending of the profile and its gradients.

Abstract: A process for preparing maleic anhydride by heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase oxidation of an n-butene-containing hydrocarbon stream by means of oxygen-containing gases in a shell-and-tube reactor having two successive reaction zones, where the first, feed-side reaction zone contains at least one catalyst which is suitable for the oxydehydrogenation of n-butenes to 1,3-butadiene and the second, product-side reaction zone contains at least one catalyst which is suitable for the oxidation of 1,3-butadiene to maleic anhydride, is carried out using a shell-and-tube reactor which has at least one heat transfer medium circuit in the region of the first, feed-side reaction zone and at least one further heat transfer medium circuit in the region of the second, product-side reaction zone.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for mitigating precipitation effects realized at an antenna system of an instrument such as a microwave radiometer are disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a blower mechanism that enables instrument operation even during precipitation events (rain, snow, sleet, or excessive condensation) by causing a flow of air at relatively high velocity tangentially across the antenna system. The air flow is of sufficient force to disallow contact by hydrometeors with the antenna or antenna window of the system by redirecting the path of the falling hydrometeors in flight and/or to sweep hydrometeors reaching or formed at the window from the vicinity of the window. Other mechanisms for such precipitation effects mitigation are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for gel or surface postcrosslinking of water-absorbent hydrogels using morpholine-2,3-diones and to the postcrosslinked hydrogels and their use.

Abstract: A process for preparing maleic anhydride by heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase oxidation of an n-butene-containing hydrocarbon stream by means of oxygen-containing gases in a shell-and-tube reactor having two successive reaction zones, where the first, feed-side reaction zone contains at least one catalyst which is suitable for the oxydehydrogenation of n-butenes to 1,3-butadiene and the second, product-side reaction zone contains at least one catalyst which is suitable for the oxidation of 1,3-butadiene to maleic anhydride, is carried out using a shell-and-tube reactor which has at least one heat transfer medium circuit in the region of the first, feed-side reaction zone and at least one further heat transfer medium circuit in the region of the second, product-side reaction zone.