Abstract: This invention relates to processes for the removal of phosphorous from aqueous waste streams comprising phosphorous-containing compounds produced in the manufacture of glyphosate, in order to meet and typically exceed environmental regulations. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of phosphorous-containing compounds utilizing biological treatment system(s), oxidizing agent(s), and/or precipitant(s). The processes of the invention are also applicable to the removal of phosphorous compounds from phosphorous-containing waste streams other than those waste streams resulting from the manufacture of glyphosate.

Abstract: A method for forming an acrylic emulsion includes a step of forming pre-emulsion by combining a monomer composition with an amphoteric surfactant in water and then polymerizing the pre-emulsion by combining the pre-emulsion with a radical initiator in a reactor to form a reaction mixture. The monomer composition includes one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid monomers and (meth)acrylic monomers, and combinations thereof. An acrylic emulsion formed by the method is also provided.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence voice interaction method and a near-end electronic device thereof are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: receiving a voice input by a user; transmitting the voice to a remote artificial intelligence server; determining whether the voice has ended; when determining that the voice has ended and has not received a stop recording signal transmitted by the remote artificial intelligence server, it stops transmitting the voice to the remote artificial intelligence server; before determining that the voice has ended, and has received the stop recording signal from the remote artificial intelligence server, it stops transmitting the voice to the remote artificial intelligence server; and receiving a response signal send back from the remote artificial intelligence server.

Abstract: A multicolor paint composition includes a continuous phase having a first rheology modifier and an optional second rheology modifier, a first discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuous phase, and a second discontinuous phase immiscibly dispersed in the continuous phase. The first discontinuous phase includes a first colorant having a first colorant strength, and an emulsion of a non-thixotropic polymer. The second discontinuous phase includes a second colorant having a second colorant strength, a third rheology modifier, and an emulsion of a first thixotropic polymer.

Abstract: A method for forming an emulsion polymer includes a step of forming a pre-emulsion by combining a monomer composition with a siloxane-containing composition in water and polymerizing the pre-emulsion by combining the pre-emulsion with a radical initiator in a reactor to form a reaction mixture. Characteristically, the monomer composition includes one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid monomers, (meth)acrylic monomers, styrene monomers, vinyl acetate monomers, vinyl ester monomers, and combinations thereof. A paint composition that includes the emulsion polymer is also provided. This invention describes a method to provide excellent burnish and mar resistance while avoiding problems with film appearance that can result from siloxane addition.

Abstract: A method for forming an emulsion polymer includes a step of forming a pre-emulsion by combining a monomer composition with a siloxane-containing composition in water and polymerizing the pre-emulsion by combining the pre-emulsion with a radical initiator in a reactor to form a reaction mixture. Characteristically, the monomer composition includes one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid monomers, (meth)acrylic monomers, styrene monomers, vinyl acetate monomers, vinyl ester monomers, and combinations thereof. A paint composition that includes the emulsion polymer is also provided. This invention describes a method to provide excellent burnish and mar resistance while avoiding problems with film appearance that can result from siloxane addition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for copper etch monitoring and control are described. Certain embodiments include utilizing thin-film cells to measure the absorbance of a copper etch solution to determine the etch rate of the solution. In another embodiment, a method of controlling etch rate of a copper etch solution includes detecting characteristics of the copper etch solution utilizing a sensor device, e.g., flow cell and/or attenuated total reflection probe, calculating, based on the detected characteristics of the copper etch solution, the etch rate of the copper etch solution, and adjusting the etch rate of the copper etch solution in response to the calculated etch rate deviating from a specified value.

Abstract: A sealer composition includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes water and a hydroxyl functionalized acrylic resin. The second component includes an epoxy silane cross-linker. Characteristically, the first component and second component are mixed at most 40 hours prior to application of the sealer composition to a substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an extended spectroscopic wafer characterization metrology that provides highly sensitive chemical bonding transformation information in the extended mid-IR region (e.g., 1 ?m-25 ?m). The extended spectroscopic metrology described herein utilizes both total internal reflection and transmission infrared spectroscopy with angle dependent spectroscopic acquisition to optimize high detection sensitivity for the measurement of fundamental chemical bonding vibrations and associated rotational-vibrational structure for fabricated film stacks and nanostructures on a wafer substrate that has been polished on the both sides.

Abstract: A versatile, thermally stable and economically effective corrosion inhibition treatment for copper (Cu) metal and selected metals surface through a single step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of selected inhibitor compounds at temperatures as low as 100-200° C. is described in this invention. The resulting CVD deposited inhibition coating is thermally stable to 300° C. and protects Cu and selected metals from active corrosion in various technologically important operational environments. The selective coating for copper metal is achieved by controlling the chemistry of bonding between the Copper metal surface and inhibitor material used. The technique can be accomplished by using one or more inhibitors separately or in combination in order to create an all-terrain stable & robust corrosion prevention coating for copper metal.

Abstract: A sealer composition includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes water and a hydroxyl functionalized acrylic resin. The second component includes an epoxy silane cross-linker. Characteristically, the first component and second component are mixed at most 40 hours prior to application of the sealer composition to a substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of utilizing epigenetic information to separate one type of DNA from a mixture of multiple DNAs. The applications of the methods of the invention include, for example, the detection of chromosomal abnormality (e.g., aneuploidy, cancer cells), identification of genome abnormality, direct detection of DNA with abnormal copy number and development of indicators for the above-mentioned detection and identification.

Abstract: A paint composition with improved hiding power includes water, a film-forming polymer, pigments, and a plurality of hollow glass spheres dispersed in the paint composition. Advantageously, the hollow glass spheres encapsulate air voids in coatings formed from the paint composition.

Abstract: A method of detecting audio input mode applied to an electronic device is disclosed. According to how the user presses the start button of the electronic device, the audio input mode is determined to be a short-press mode or a long-press mode. The method of detecting an audio input mode includes: detecting if a pressing time of the start button is less than a threshold time; if so, determining that the audio input mode is the short-press mode; if not, detecting if an audio time of the receiving audio of the microphone exceeds an audio threshold time during the pressing time; if so, determining that the audio input mode is the long-press mode; if not, determining that the audio input mode is the short-press mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for the removal of phosphorous from aqueous waste streams comprising phosphorous-containing compounds produced in the manufacture of glyphosate, in order to meet and typically exceed environmental regulations. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention relate to the removal of phosphorous-containing compounds utilizing biological treatment system(s), oxidizing agent(s), and/or precipitant(s). The processes of the invention are also applicable to the removal of phosphorous compounds from phosphorous-containing waste streams other than those waste streams resulting from the manufacture of glyphosate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for copper etch monitoring and control are described. Certain embodiments include utilizing thin-film cells to measure the absorbance of a copper etch solution to determine the etch rate of the solution. In another embodiment, a method of controlling etch rate of a copper etch solution includes detecting characteristics of the copper etch solution utilizing a sensor device, e.g., flow cell and/or attenuated total reflection probe, calculating, based on the detected characteristics of the copper etch solution, the etch rate of the copper etch solution, and adjusting the etch rate of the copper etch solution in response to the calculated etch rate deviating from a specified value.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence voice interaction method and a near-end electronic device thereof are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: receiving a voice input by a user; transmitting the voice to a remote artificial intelligence server; determining whether the voice has ended; when determining that the voice has ended and has not received a stop recording signal transmitted by the remote artificial intelligence server, it stops transmitting the voice to the remote artificial intelligence server; before determining that the voice has ended, and has received the stop recording signal from the remote artificial intelligence server, it stops transmitting the voice to the remote artificial intelligence server; and receiving a response signal send back from the remote artificial intelligence server.

Abstract: A composition for forming a hydrophilic coating includes an organic binder having an average particle size from about 1 to about 100 nm and an inorganic binder having an average particle size from about 1 to about 40 nm. The composition further includes an inorganic photocatalyst that catalyzes an oxidation-reduction reaction. Characteristically, the photocatalyst includes a photocatalytic metal oxide having an average particle size from about 1 to about 50 nm. Advantageously, coatings formed from the composition have improved stain resistance, low contact angle, and resistance to dirt adherence, while maintaining a clear optical character.

Abstract: A method of detecting audio input mode applied to an electronic device is disclosed. According to how the user presses the start button of the electronic device, the audio input mode is determined to be a short-press mode or a long-press mode. The method of detecting an audio input mode includes: detecting if a pressing time of the start button is less than a threshold time; if so, determining that the audio input mode is the short-press mode; if not, detecting if an audio time of the receiving audio of the microphone exceeds an audio threshold time during the pressing time; if so, determining that the audio input mode is the long-press mode; if not, determining that the audio input mode is the short-press mode.

Abstract: A method for forming a pigmented aqueous slurry includes a step of combining a dispersant having pigment affinic groups with water to form an aqueous dispersant mixture. Pigment is added to the aqueous dispersant mixture to form an aqueous pigment mixture. The aqueous pigment composition is ground until the average particle size is less than 30 microns to form a pigmented aqueous slurry.