Abstract: An actuator for an aerosol spray device is disclosed. The actuator comprises a product passage for receiving product propelled by the aerosol spray device. The actuator further comprises a first channel, comprising a first channel inlet end connected to the product passage and a first channel outlet end for expelling the product. The first channel inlet end comprises an opening providing a fluid connection between the product passage and the first channel. The opening may have a cross sectional area of 0.5 to 3.0 mm2.

Abstract: A discharge assembly for discharging a metered volume of a liquid held in a pressurised or pressurisable container with a housing having a liquid inlet at a first end thereof, a valve stem having a body locating within said housing and having a head portion projecting from the second end of said housing, said valve stem being axially moveable relative to the housing between a first limit position closed to liquid discharge, and a second limit position for discharge of the metered volume, a chamber provided within the body of the valve stem and having a liquid inlet towards a first end of the chamber and a first fluid transfer passageway providing communication between the chamber and the exterior of the valve stem, and a liquid discharge element moveable from a liquid primed position to a liquid discharged position to effect discharge of the metered volume of liquid.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a housing member inner wall partly surrounding an inner chamber region, an inner fluid port in fluid communication with an open region; a fluid communication passageway disposed outside the inner chamber region and in fluid communication with the open region; a wall fluid port fluidly connecting a fluid communication region and the inner chamber region; and a closure element selectively limiting fluid flow through the inner fluid port; the housing member connected to a valve assembly including an elongate valve stem with a respective stem axis and a stem housing, the stem housing having a stem housing fluid communication region in fluid communication with the fluid communication passageway and connectable to an inner stem channel, the stem housing having a gas communication region fluidly connectable to the inner stem channel so that a fluid and a gas are mixable in the inner stem channel.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer latex composition is described for the preparation of an elastomeric film comprising: (I) particles of a latex polymer obtained by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the particles bearing functional groups (a); and (II) a cross-linking component selected from monomeric compounds and oligomeric or polymeric compounds that are not prepared be free-radical addition polymerization, the cross-linking component comprising functional groups (b) and (c) that are different from each other, wherein functional group (b) forms upon reaction with functional group (a) a thermally reversible linkage selected from one or more of (i) a linkage having the structural formula wherein X, n, R1 and R2 are as defined; and (ii) a beta-hydroxy ester linkage; and functional groups (c) on different molecules of component (II) are capable of reacting with each other to provide elastomeric films having self-healing properties that can be repair

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a housing member inner wall partly surrounding an inner chamber region, an inner fluid port in fluid communication with an open region; a fluid communication passageway disposed outside the inner chamber region and in fluid communication with the open region; a wall fluid port fluidly connecting a fluid communication region and the inner chamber region; and a closure element selectively limiting fluid flow through the inner fluid port; the housing member connected to a valve assembly including an elongate valve stem with a respective stem axis and a stem housing, the stem housing having a stem housing fluid communication region in fluid communication with the fluid communication passageway and connectable to an inner stem channel, the stem housing having a gas communication region fluidly connectable to the inner stem channel so that a fluid and a gas are mixable in the inner stem channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-supported elastomeric film made from a composition comprising polymer latex particles bearing ethylenically unsaturated groups pending from the polymeric backbone of the latex particles wherein the ethylenic unsaturation is separated from the polymeric backbone by at least 3 chemical bonds, to an article comprising the self-supported elastomeric film and to a method for making a self-supported elastomeric film from a composition comprising said polymer latex particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion comprising core-shell polymer latex particles wherein the shell of the core-shell polymer latex particles bears ethylenically unsaturated groups pending from the polymeric backbone of the shell of the latex particles wherein the ethylenic unsaturation is separated from the polymeric backbone by at least 3 chemical bonds and wherein the shell of the core-shell particles is cross-linked and the core of the core-shell particles is not crosslinked, to a method for making the aqueous dispersion, to an elastomeric film made from the aqueous dispersion, to an article comprising the elastomeric film and to a method for making a self-supported elastomeric film from the aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer latex for dip-molding applications obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene and at least one ethylenically unsaturated nitrile compound in an aqueous medium in presence of seed latex particles having a glass transition temperature (mid point temperature Tmg) measured by DSC according to ASTM D3418-03 of ?50° C. to 50° C. wherein the seed latex particles do not contain structural units derived from ethylenically unsaturated nitrile compounds, to a method of preparing said polymer latex, to articles made by using said polymer latex and to a method for preparing dip-molded articles from said polymer latex.

Abstract: A system and method for sending signals at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. A window system in a hypersonic aircraft is provided. The window system comprises a transmissive window in an aeroshell of the hypersonic aircraft, a thermal seal, a sensor, and a sensor housing assembly enclosing the sensor. The transmissive window comprises a facesheet and insulating material adjacent to the facesheet. The thermal seal surrounds a perimeter of the facesheet and seals the facesheet to the aeroshell. The window system is radio-frequency transparent at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. The window system is configured to operate at an insertion loss of less than one decibel at the hypersonic speeds.

Abstract: A system and method for sending signals at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. A window system in a hypersonic aircraft is provided. The window system comprises a transmissive window in an aeroshell of the hypersonic aircraft, a thermal seal, a sensor, and a sensor housing assembly enclosing the sensor. The transmissive window comprises a facesheet and insulating material adjacent to the facesheet. The thermal seal surrounds a perimeter of the facesheet and seals the facesheet to the aeroshell. The window system is radio-frequency transparent at temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. The window system is configured to operate at an insertion loss of less than one decibel at the hypersonic speeds.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with cardiovascular disorders, particularly acute coronary events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, and genetic polymorphisms that are associated with responsiveness of an individual to treatment of cardiovascular disorders with statin. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer latex composition is described for the preparation of an elastomeric film comprising: (I) particles of a latex polymer obtained by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the particles bearing functional groups (a); and (II) a cross-linking component selected from monomeric compounds and oligomeric or polymeric compounds that are not prepared be free-radical addition polymerization, the cross-linking component comprising functional groups (b) and (c) that are different from each other, wherein functional group (b) forms upon reaction with functional group (a) a thermally reversible linkage selected from one or more of (i) a linkage having the structural formula ?wherein X, n, R1 and R2 are as defined; and (ii) a beta-hydroxy ester linkage; and functional groups (c) on different molecules of component (II) are capable of reacting with each other to provide elastomeric films having self-healing properties that can be repaired a

Abstract: The present invention relates to self-supported elastomeric film made from a composition comprising polymer latex particles bearing ethylenically unsaturated groups pending from the polymeric backbone of the latex particles wherein the ethylenic unsaturation is separated from the polymeric backbone by at least 3 chemical bonds, to an article comprising the self-supported elastomeric film and to a method for making a self-supported elastomeric film from a composition comprising said polymer latex particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion comprising core-shell polymer latex particles wherein the shell of the core-shell polymer latex particles bears ethylenically unsaturated groups pending from the polymeric backbone of the shell of the latex particles wherein the ethylenic unsaturation is separated from the polymeric backbone by at least 3 chemical bonds and wherein the shell of the core-shell particles is cross-linked and the core of the core-shell particles is not crosslinked, to a method for making the aqueous dispersion, to an elastomeric film made from the aqueous dispersion, to an article comprising the elastomeric film and to a method for making a self-supported elastomeric film from the aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with cardiovascular disorders, particularly acute coronary events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, and genetic polymorphisms that are associated with responsiveness of an individual to treatment of cardiovascular disorders with statin. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with cardiovascular disorders, particularly acute coronary events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, and genetic polymorphisms that are associated with responsiveness of an individual to treatment of cardiovascular disorders with statin. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection.

Abstract: A method of making a branched polymer comprising (C?C)—(C?C)—CO groups is provided. The method comprises: (i) Providing, in admixture, at least one monofunctional monomer comprising one polymerisable carbon-carbon double bond per monomer, at least one multifunctional monomer comprising at least two polymerisable carbon-carbon double bonds per monomer, at least one chain transfer agent comprising a carbonyl group; (ii) Forming a polymer from the mixture; and (iii) Hydrolysing the polymer. A branched polymer is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of a sulphur or phosphorous-containing polymer as a processing aid in a polyvinyl chloride polymer composition.

Abstract: A plasma torch having an open end from which a plasma plume is emitted in use is disclosed. The plasma torch includes a central cathode rod, a grounded conductive tube having an open end and being arranged around the cathode and spaced therefrom to form a first cylindrical cavity open at one end; and a high voltage electrode having a dielectric barrier material at a radially inward-facing surface thereof and being arranged around the grounded conductive tube and spaced apart therefrom to form a second annular cylindrical cavity open at one end. A constant direct current (DC) electrical power plus a high voltage pulsed electrical power is provided to the cathode producing an arc discharge in the first cavity between the cathode and grounded tube to generate a central thermal plasma emitted at an open end of the first cylindrical cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer latex for dip-molding applications obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene and at least one ethylenically unsaturated nitrile compound in an aqueous medium in presence of seed latex particles having a glass transition temperature (mid point temperature Tmg) measured by DSC according to ASTM D3418-03 of ?50° C. to 50° C. wherein the seed latex particles do not contain structural units derived from ethylenically unsaturated nitrile compounds, to a method of preparing said polymer latex, to articles made by using said polymer latex and to a method for preparing dip-molded articles from said polymer latex.