Abstract: A polymer includes at a terminus a cyclic amine radical bonded to the polymer through a ring nitrogen atom. The polymer can be provided by using a lithiated version of the cyclic amine to initiate polymerization of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The polymer can be used in the production in a variety of vulcanizates.

Abstract: A macromolecule includes a functional group including imine functionality bonded to a polymer chain. Where desired, the functional group also can contain additional (e.g., amine and/or silane) functionality. The material can be provided by reacting a polymer including carbonyl functionality with a compound including a primary amino group. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black and silica.

Abstract: A group of compounds defined by the general formula (I) can be used to anionically initiate polymerization of unsaturated monomers. In the formula, M is an alkali metal atom, R1 is an aryl group having at least one OR2 substituent group where each R2 is a group that is nonreactive toward M, and R is a hydrocarbyl group. The subject initiators can be used in semi-batch and continuous polymerization processes, even those which are performed at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes the reaction product of a reactive polymer and a compound that includes an aryl group having at least one directly bonded OGp substituent, where Gp is a protecting group, and a substituent (Q) which is free of active hydrogen atoms and which is, or connects to the aryl group through, a moiety that includes a carbon-to-nitrogen multiple bond. The polymer can be provided from a solution that includes one or more types of ethylenically unsaturated monomers which include at least one type of polyene, particularly one or more conjugated dienes in certain embodiments. An active terminus of the resulting reactive polymer can react with the Q substituent of the compound so as to provide a polymer having as a terminal functionality the radical of a compound that includes an aryl group having at least one directly bonded OGp substituent.

Abstract: Radical polymerization techniques can be used to polymerize monomers that include a class of hydroxyaryl compounds so as to provide polymers that exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, reduced hysteresis. Compositions such as vulcanizates in which such polymers can be utilized and products such as tire components that incorporate and/or are manufactured from such compositions also are provided.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing diphenylethylene-type functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.

Abstract: A polymer includes directly bonded aromatic pendent groups and at least one moiety defined by one of the following formulas >N—N?CR1R2 or —N?N—CR1R2— where R1 and R2 (a) are independently H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, or (b) together form a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, or arylene group. The moiety can be attached to the polymer through one or both of the two open bonds and, where it is attached through only one bond, the other bond attaches to a hydrogen atom, i.e., the moiety is at a terminus of the polymer. Such polymers can be used to provide compositions that also include particulate fillers.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising at least one polymer having a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol %; a filler selected from the group consisting of carbon black, silica, and mixtures thereof; and a polymeric additive comprising a functional end group reactive with said filler, wherein said polymeric additive has a degree of unsaturation of no more than about 50 mol % and a number average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 25,000. The composition may optionally contain one or more polymers having a degree of unsaturation of more than 50 mol %. The composition may be particularly useful as a component for a tire.

Abstract: A method of making a coding mode decision for a current macroblock of a current video frame including determining an INTERSAD value, selecting at least one video characteristic associated with the current video frame, comparing the INTERSAD value with a corresponding range of each selected video characteristic, selecting interframe coding if the INTERSAD value is within the corresponding range of each selected video characteristic, performing intraframe prediction to provide an intraframe prediction macroblock and determining an INTRASAD value if the INTERSAD value is an outlier of any selected video characteristic, selecting intraframe coding if the INTERSAD value is greater than the INTRASAD value and otherwise selecting interframe coding. The video characteristics may be based on any combination of an average of interframe differential sums, a sum of absolute differences between each pixel value of the current macroblock and a mean pixel value of the current macroblock, and a quantization parameter.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected oxime compound.

Abstract: Elastomeric compounds having increased cold flow resistance may be obtained by utilizing from 10-100 phr of a functionalized rubbery polymer containing specified types of functionalizing units, at least 0.01 phr of a multivalent metal organic salt and 0-90 phr of at least one additional rubbery polymer.

Abstract: Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compositions incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities, silica or other particulate filler(s) that contain or include oxides of silicon and a compound that includes multiple hydroxyl groups. The compound can act to disrupt the interactivity of the functionalities and the particulate filler particles during processing of the composition, thereby facilitating processing of the composition.

Abstract: Forming image information of image units (e.g. pixels) of a higher resolution by convoluting information of image units of a lower resolution with coefficients of a multiphase filter. The information of one set of higher resolution image units is formed by convoluting in a first direction the information of the lower resolution image units with a first set of four coefficients. The information of a second set of higher resolution image units is form by convoluting in the first direction the information of the lower resolution image units with a second set of four coefficients. Convolution may also be performed in a second direction with a set of four coefficients. In one example, the image information formed includes intensity information for each image unit.

Abstract: A macromolecule includes a polymer directly tethered or bonded to a polyatomic functionality. The polyatomic functionality can be located at a terminus of the polymer and can be generated concurrent with or soon after formation of the polymer. The macro-molecule can be prepared from a functionalized polymer by hydrolyzing and condensing (e.g., by a sol-gel process) functionalities in which one or more alkoxy groups are bound to a silica atom in the presence of an excess of a compound that includes a Si, Ti, Zr, Sn, Al, or Fe atom. Such macromolecules can be used in the manufacture of vulcanizates and tire components, either alone or blended with other polymers and/or other particulate fillers.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relate to a multifunctional lithiated amine-containing compound comprising at least two molecules of lithiated amine in a molecule of the compound. In one embodiment, the compound has a formula where x is an integer of 1 or more, Q is (a) an element selected from the group consisting of O, S, N, P and Si or (b) an alkylene group having from 1 to 20 methylene groups, and R1 and R2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyls, cycloalkyls and aralkyls containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the compound comprises cyclic lithio amines and has a formula: where x is 1 or more, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and represent alkylene groups containing from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A macromolecule including a polymer and a polyhedral radical chemically bonded to a terminus of the polymer provides numerous processing and performance advantages. Further functionalization of this macromolecule also is described as being advantageous in certain circumstances. Methods of providing, functionalizing, and utilizing the macromolecule also are provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected oxime compound.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a base, an antenna radiator, an outer layer, and at least one conductive contact. The antenna radiator is formed on the activated base by plating. The antenna radiator is sandwiched between the base and the outer layer. One end of each conductive contact is electrically connected to the antenna radiator, and the other end of the each conductive contact is exposed.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes A portable electronic device includes a base, an antenna radiator, an outer layer, and at least one conductive contact. The antenna radiator formed on the base, the antenna radiator is made by injection molding from a mixture of materials selected from a group consisting of thermoplastic, organic filling substances, and conductive small particle sized material. The antenna radiator is sandwiched between the base and the outer layer. One end of each conductive contact is electrically connected to the antenna radiator, and the other end of the each conductive contact is exposed.

Abstract: A device housing comprises a main body and a three-dimensional antenna. The main body comprises a first molded body and a second molded body formed on the first molding body. The first molded body is made of plastic, the second molded body is made of plastic mixed with laser activatable additives. The second molded body has a predefined activating region formed by laser activation. The three-dimensional antenna is an electroplated coating and is formed on the predefined activating region of the second molding body.