Abstract: The invention is in the field of papermaking. It provides methods for improving the compressive strength of paper and board by improving the moisture resistance of paper and board. The invention also provides paper and board with an improved compressive strength as well as a composition for improving the compressive strength of paper and board. More in particular, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of paper wherein the process comprises a wet phase and a dry phase, wherein an enzymatically oxidized lignin is added in the wet phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the conversion of biomass into carbohydrates, notably reducing sugars. It provides means and methods for increasing the yield of enzymatic digestion of a biomass, in particular in methods wherein cellulose is converted into sugars using a cellulose-converting enzyme. More in particular, the invention provides a method for producing a reducing sugar from a lignocellulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is contacted with a pectate lyase at a pH between 9 and 12, wherein the pectate lyase comprises an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the conversion of biomass into carbohydrates, notably reducing sugars. It provides means and methods for increasing the yield of enzymatic digestion of a biomass, in particular in methods wherein cellulose is converted into sugars using a cellulose-converting enzyme. More in particular, the invention provides a method for producing a reducing sugar from a lignoceliulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is contacted with a pectate lyase at a pH between 9 and 12, wherein the pectate lyase comprises an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: A subjective test method for characterizing the deflated handling performance of self-supporting tires includes the steps of positioning tires on selected wheels of a test vehicle and then subjecting the tire—test vehicle combination to a plurality of different driving maneuvers such that a variety of testing objectives can be evaluated. Exemplary driving maneuvers are representative of a vehicle's operation in steady state, transient state, throttle lift-off, and/or emergency driving situations. Testing objectives that are obtained in accordance with each test maneuver may include both objective criteria that may be obtained via vehicle instrumentation and subjective criteria that may be assigned grade ratings by a test driver. Uniformity of testing maneuvers and driver solicitation is preferred to minimize dispersion in test results.

Abstract: A heating floor or plate for heating an object such as a substrate placed on its surface. A plate is provided whose surface temperature can be accurately adjusted so that the heat quantity supplied by two surface zones of the plate can be different even if the zones are small and contiguous. The plate has n zones, each having placed therein an electrically conducting heating element. n+1 sensors are used to measure the temperature of the plate, where n is an integer greater than 1. Data output from the sensors is processed and compared with at least one reference value and the result used to regulate the intensity of the current flowing in the elements based on the comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gaseous phase chemical treatment reactor for wafers. The aim of the invention is to produce a reactor in which only the face of the wafer to be treated is in fact treated. This aim is achieved with the aid of a reactor comprising at least one treatment chamber (19) located within a main chamber (9) and connected by one of its ends to means (17) for injecting a treatment gas onto a wafer (1) and by its other end to a means (15) for securing said wafer, in that the latter is gripped between a heating susceptor or base (13) and the retaining means (15) in such a way as to seal said treatment chamber (19) and maintain within the latter a pressure below that of the main chamber (9). The invention more particularly relates to reactors for depositing tungsten on silicon wafers.