Abstract: The invention relates generally to optical data storage media, and more specifically, to holographic storage media. In one embodiment, an optical storage medium composition includes a polymer matrix. Disposed within the polymer matrix is a reactant capable of undergoing a modification that alters the refractive index of the composition upon receiving an energy transfer from an excited sensitizer. A non-linear sensitizer is also disposed within the polymer matrix, and the sensitizer includes a metal-substituted subphthalocyanine (M-sub-PC) reverse saturable absorber configured to become excited upon exposure to light beyond an intensity threshold at approximately 405 nm and configured to transfer energy to the reactant.

Abstract: A catalyst composition includes a catalytic metal secured to a porous substrate. The substrate has pores that are templated. The catalyst composition is prepared by a process that includes the steps of mixing a catalytic metal salt, a templating agent, and water to form a mixture, adding a substrate precursor to the mixture to form a slurry, and calcining the slurry to form a substrate having a porous template that is capable of supporting the catalyst composition.

Abstract: Water treatment methods for reducing silica concentration in water containing at least 100 ppm dissolved or suspended silica include contacting the water with particles comprising mesoporous alumina having surface area ranging from about 250 m2/g to about 600 m2/g and pore volume ranging from about 0.1 cm3/g to about 1.0 cm3/g; and separating the treated water from the particles.

Abstract: A method for recovering and reusing a ring-halogenation catalyst comprises: (A) contacting an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a catalyst composition, where the catalyst composition comprises at least one salt comprising a Group 4-13 metal, a lanthanide metal, or an actinide metal; and at least one organic counterion derived from an organic acid having a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a first product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal halide; (B) separating the metal halide from the first product mixture; and (C) contacting at least a portion of the metal halide and an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine, and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a second product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one net positively charged group and at least one net negatively charged group, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core and a shell. The shell comprises a plurality of silane moieties; at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net positively charged group and at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net negatively charged group.

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one net positively charged group and at least one net negatively charged group, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core and a shell. The shell comprises a plurality of silane moieties; at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net positively charged group and at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net negatively charged group.

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one net positively charged group and at least one net negatively charged group, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core and a shell. The shell comprises a plurality of silane moieties; at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net positively charged group and at least one silane moiety of the plurality is functionalized with a net negatively charged group.

Abstract: A polysiloxane copolymer composition comprises: a polysiloxane unit comprising 4 to 50 siloxane units, and a polyester-polycarbonate unit consisting of 50 to 100 mole percent of arylate ester units, less than 50 mole percent aromatic carbonate units, less than 30 mole percent resorcinol carbonate units, and less than 35 mole percent bisphenol carbonate units, wherein the siloxane units are present in the polysiloxane unit in an amount of 0.2 to 10 wt % of the total weight of the polysiloxane copolymer composition, and wherein the polysiloxane copolymer composition has a 2 minute integrated heat release rate of less than or equal to 65 kilowatt-minutes per square meter (kW-min/m2) and a peak heat release rate of less than 65 kilowatts per square meter (kW/m2) as measured using the method of FAR F25.4, in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulation FAR 25.853 (d). A window article for an aircraft, comprising the polysiloxane copolymer composition, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one zwitterionic moiety, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core, having a core surface essentially free of silica, and a shell attached to the core surface. The shell comprises at least one silane-functionalized zwitterionic moiety.

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one zwitterionic moiety, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core, having a core surface essentially free of silica, and a shell attached to the core surface. The shell comprises at least one silane-functionalized zwitterionic moiety.

Abstract: Compositions of nanoparticles functionalized with at least one zwitterionic moiety, methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles, and methods of their use as diagnostic agents are provided. The nanoparticles have characteristics that result in minimal retention of the particles in the body compared to other nanoparticles. The nanoparticle comprises a core, having a core surface essentially free of silica, and a shell attached to the core surface. The shell comprises at least one silane-functionalized zwitterionic moiety.

Abstract: A method of preparing a halophthalic acid is disclosed which comprises the steps of contacting in a liquid phase reaction mixture at least one halogen-substituted ortho-xylene with oxygen and acetic acid at a temperature in a range between about 120° C. and about 220° C. in the presence of a catalyst system yielding a product mixture comprising less than 10 percent halogen-substituted ortho-xylene starting material, a halophthalic acid product, and less than about 10,000 ppm halobenzoic acid and less than about 1000 ppm halophthalide by-products based on a total amount of halophthalic acid present in the product mixture. In addition methods for the preparation of halophthalic anhydride, and recovery of high purity acetic acid from an aqueous acetic acid stream comprising HCl, which is generated during the preparation of the halophthalic acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst composition prepared by combining (A) at least one salt and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound. The salt includes a metal cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, niobium, palladium, and platinum and an organic counterion to the metal cation, derived from at least one acidic organic compound selected from the group consisting of those with an approximate pKa value relative to water of at least about 3. The catalyst compositions provided by the invention are useful for the selective chlorination of aromatic compounds such as toluene and o-xylene.

Abstract: A method of preparing a halophthalic acid is disclosed which comprises the steps of contacting in a liquid phase reaction mixture at least one halogen-substituted ortho-xylene with oxygen and acetic acid at a temperature in a range between about 120° C. and about 220° C. in the presence of a catalyst system yielding a product mixture comprising less than 10 percent halogen-substituted ortho-xylene starting material, a halophthalic acid product, and less than about 10,000 ppm halobenzoic acid and less than about 1000 ppm halophthalide by-products based on a total amount of halophthalic acid present in the product mixture. In addition methods for the preparation of halophthalic anhydride, and recovery of high purity acetic acid from an aqueous acetic acid stream comprising HCl, which is generated during the preparation of the halophthalic acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to core/shell nanoparticles, wherein such core/shell nanoparticles comprise a nanoparticle core and a nanoshell disposed about the nanoparticle core such that, in the aggregate, they form a core/shell nanoparticle that is operable for use as an imaging agent in X-ray/computed tomography (CT). Typically, such core/shell nanoparticle-based X-ray CT imaging agents further comprise a targeting species for targeting the imaging agent to diseased sites. Included herein are methods for forming such agents, comprising forming an ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles, wherein the mean diameter of the ensemble of core/shell nanoparticles is selected so as to render the nanoparticles in the ensemble substantially clearable by a mammalian kidney.

Abstract: A pigment contains one or more substantially spherical-shaped beads. Each substantially spherical-shaped bead includes one or more high aspect ratio particles encapsulated within an encapsulating material. Resinous compositions containing this pigment and a plastic, for example a polycarbonate, have a flowline-free colored, sparkling and/or metallescent appearance.

Abstract: A pigment contains one or more substantially spherical-shaped beads. Each substantially spherical-shaped bead includes one or more high aspect ratio particles encapsulated within an encapsulating material. Resinous compositions containing this pigment and a plastic, for example a polycarbonate, have a flowline-free colored, sparkling and/or metallescent appearance.

Abstract: A method of preparing a halophthalic acid is disclosed which comprises the steps of contacting in a liquid phase reaction mixture at least one halogen-substituted ortho-xylene with oxygen and acetic acid at a temperature in a range between about 120° C. and about 220° C. in the presence of a catalyst system yielding a product mixture comprising less than 10 percent halogen-substituted ortho-xylene starting material, a halophthalic acid product, and less than about 10,000 ppm halobenzoic acid and less than about 1000 ppm halophthalide by-products based on a total amount of halophthalic acid present in the product mixture. In addition methods for the preparation of halophthalic anhydride, and recovery of high purity acetic acid from an aqueous acetic acid stream comprising HCl, which is generated during the preparation of the halophthalic acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention comprise a pigment comprising one or more substantially spherical-shaped beads, wherein each substantially spherical-shaped bead comprises one or more high aspect ratio particles encapsulated within an encapsulating material. Embodiments also comprise a resinous composition comprising said pigment. Yet further embodiments comprise a method of preparing said pigment via suspension polymerization.

Abstract: A method for ring-halogenating an aromatic compound comprises contacting the aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a catalyst composition, where the catalyst composition comprises at least one salt comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Group 13 metal; and a counterion derived from an acid having a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and at least one organic sulfur compound.