Abstract: A superabsorbent starch graft copolymer product having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: A method of and a product formed by entrapping a bioactive, growth-promoting additive in a starch matrix to form a starch-based, superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications involves (1) graft polymerizing a monomer and a starch to form a starch graft copolymer including a starch matrix; (2) isolating the starch graft copolymer; (3) forming particles of starch graft copolymer; and (4) adding a bioactive, growth-promoting additive such that at least some of the bioactive, growth-promoting additive is entrapped by the starch matrix. Following placement of the starch-based SAP including a bioactive, growth-promoting additive in proximity to a plant, root, seed, or seedling, growth of the plant, root, seed, or seedling is promoted because availability of beneficial nutrients is increased.

Abstract: Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) products for use in agricultural applications, and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Certain of the SAPs include a monomer or a mixture of monomers, other than acrylonitrile, that is graft polymerized onto a starch in the presence of an initiator to form a starch graft copolymer that is cross-linked and the SAP product is isolated.

Abstract: A flexible liquid crystal display is provided wherein an addressable liquid crystal layer is disposed on a single flexible substrate so that the display itself will exhibit flexibility. The substrate is preferably a flexible non-transparent material and more preferably a drapable material such as fabric.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display film that may be transferred by lamination or otherwise onto a substrate. The display film is formed of a stack of layers that can include different types, arrangements, and functionality within the stack depending upon factors including the characteristics of the substrate (e.g., upper or lower, transparent or opaque, substrates) and addressing of the display (e.g., active or passive matrix, electrical or optical addressing). The layers of the stacked display film include one or more electrode layers and one or more liquid crystal layers and, in addition, may include various combinations of an adhesive layer, preparation layer, casting layer, light absorbing layer, insulation layers, and protective layers. The liquid crystal layer can include cholesteric or other liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal layer can be a dispersion of liquid crystal in a polymer matrix formed by a variety of techniques.

Abstract: A polymer composition includes a first component being a hydroxy-functional polymer, a second component being a natural polymer and a third component being a thermoplastic polyester. The first component, second component and third component are compounded to form a polymer composition.

Abstract: A superabsorbent starch graft copolymer product having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: Methods of making and using a superabsorbent starch graft copolymer involve producing starch graft copolymers having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) products for use in agricultural applications, and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Certain of the SAPs include a monomer or a mixture of monomers, other than acrylonitrile, that is graft polymerized onto a starch in the presence of an initiator to form a starch graft copolymer that is cross-linked and the SAP product is isolated.

Abstract: A method of and a product formed by entrapping a bioactive, growth-promoting additive in a starch matrix to form a starch-based, superabsorbent polymer product for use in agricultural applications involves (1) graft polymerizing a monomer and a starch to form a starch graft copolymer including a starch matrix; (2) isolating the starch graft copolymer; (3) forming particles of starch graft copolymer; and (4) adding a bioactive, growth-promoting additive such that at least some of the bioactive, growth-promoting additive is entrapped by the starch matrix. Following placement of the starch-based SAP including a bioactive, growth-promoting additive in proximity to a plant, root, seed, or seedling, growth of the plant, root, seed, or seedling is promoted because availability of beneficial nutrients is increased.

Abstract: Methods of making and using starch graft copolymers produce particle sizes useful in granule applicators for applying to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers on field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased crop yields and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: Methods of making and using a superabsorbent starch graft copolymer involve producing starch graft copolymers having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: Methods of making and using a superabsorbent starch graft copolymer involve producing starch graft copolymers having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: Methods of making and using starch graft copolymers produce particle sizes useful in granule applicators for applying to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers on field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased crop yields and reduced water requirements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cholesteric liquid crystal display that includes a homogeneous alignment surface effective to provide increased brightness, low focal conic reflectance and/or reflected light treat is to a significant degree circularly polarized. The homogeneous alignment surface substantially homogeneously aligns the liquid crystal director adjacent thereto. The homogeneous alignment surface may be disposed on one or both sides of a cell of the display. In the case of a cell in which the homogeneous alignment surface is disposed on only one side, the substrate with the inhomogeneous alignment surface may be upstream or downstream of the substrate with the homogeneous alignment surface relative to a direction of incident light. Also included especially in the case of a cell that has the homogeneous alignment surface on both sides is the use of a polarizer to provide very good brightness and low focal conic reflectance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an integrated, reflective bistable, cholesteric liquid crystal display and solar cell assembly providing electrical energy to power display electronics. The liquid crystal display includes the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material sandwiched between first and second transparent substrates. An inner surface of the first substrate and an inner surface of the second substrate bound the layer of liquid crystal material and the first substrate is closest to a viewer of the display. A first set of conductive electrodes is disposed on the inner surface of the first substrate and a second set of conductive electrodes is disposed on the inner surface of the second substrate. Display driver circuitry is electrically coupled to the first and the second sets of conductive electrodes for generating desired voltage differentials between electrodes of the first set of conductive electrodes and electrodes of the second set of conductive electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cholesteric liquid crystal display that includes a homogeneous alignment surface effective to provide increased brightness, low focal conic reflectance and/or reflected light that is to a significant degree circularly polarized. The homogeneous alignment surface substantially homogeneously aligns the liquid crystal director adjacent thereto. The homogeneous alignment surface may be disposed on one or both sides of a cell of the display. In the case of a cell in which the homogeneous alignment surface is disposed on only one side, the substrate with the inhomogeneous alignment surface may be upstream or downstream of the substrate with the homogeneous alignment surface relative to a direction of incident light. Also included especially in the case of a cell that has the homogeneous alignment surface on both sides is the use of a polarizer to provide very good brightness and low focal conic reflectance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cholesteric liquid crystal display that includes a homogeneous alignment surface effective to provide increased brightness, low focal conic reflectance and/or reflected light that is to a significant degree circularly polarized. The homogeneous alignment surface substantially homogeneously aligns the liquid crystal director adjacent thereto. The homogeneous alignment surface may be disposed on one or both sides of a cell of the display. In the case of a cell in which the homogeneous alignment surface is disposed on only one side, the substrate with the inhomogeneous alignment surface may be upstream or downstream of the substrate with the homogeneous alignment surface relative to a direction of incident light. Also included especially in the case of a cell that has the homogeneous alignment surface on both sides is the use of a polarizer to provide very good brightness and low focal conic reflectance.

Abstract: A mask such as a laryngeal mask or face mask, has a soft annular cuff on a more rigid mount of funnel shape. The cuff and mount are moulded together by rotational moulding or the mount is preformed and the cuff is moulded onto the mount in a rotational mould.

Abstract: A new liquid crystalline light modulating cell and material are characterized by liquid crystalline light modulating material of liquid crystal and polymer, the liquid crystal being a chiral nematic liquid crystal having positive dielectric anisotropy and including chiral material in an amount effective to form focal conic and twisted planar textures, the polymer being distributed in phase separated domains in the liquid crystal cell in an amount that permits the liquid crystal to change textures upon the application of a field and ruggedizes the structure. In still another embodiment, the material exhibits stability at zero field in a colored, light reflecting state, a light scattering state and multiple stable reflecting state therebetween, as well as being optically clear in the presence of a field. In yet another embodiment, the application of mechanical force to the cell changes the material from an optically clear state to a light reflecting state.