Abstract: A food product is provided comprising at least 50 grams of a pH responsive hydrogel comprising a cross-linked globular protein having an unfolding transition pH in the range pH 2 to 6. Also provided are a process for manufacturing the food product and use of a pH responsive hydrogel to provide an enhanced feeling of satiety to a person consuming the hydrogel and/or to aid adherence to a weight loss or weight control plan.

Abstract: An aspect of this invention is a portable caffeine detector, which is optionally called The De-Caf Stick. It is a test strip that is inexpensive, is safe and easy to use, may be carried in a pocket, briefcase, computer case, handbag or the hand and can be used to determine the presence or absence of caffeine in both hot and cold beverages before they are consumed. The caffeine detector is disposable and, preferentially, is made of biodegradable polymeric materials. The results of the tests can be detected calorimetrically, without the use of instrumentation or reagents. Another aspect of the invention is a carrying case for holding a plurality of the test strips. A further aspect of the invention is a method of detecting caffeine in a beverage using the portable test strips.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preferentially extracting theanine from tea plant material which involves a short cold water extraction.

Abstract: According to the invention a novel vegetable protein fractionation procedure is disclosed which includes a straightforward process to obtain 7S-rich (?-conglycinin-rich) and 11S-rich (glycinin-rich) isolated protein fractions with unique functional and nutritional properties desired by the food industry. The process is much simplified compared to the art and avoids multiple steps in the usual fractionation of soy protein and uses very small amounts of salts avoiding the necessity of excessive washing and desalting steps. The process yields high amounts of protein fractions with high isoflavone contents and improved functional properties.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast.

Abstract: A method of processing wheat flour that without detriment to secondary processability, improves the flavor and palate feelings thereof, processed wheat flour obtained by the processing method; and fool utilizing the processed wheat flour. The method is characterized in that 10 to 55 pts.wt. of ethyl alcohol is homogeneously dispersed in 100 pts.wt. of wheat flour under such conditions that the total water content is ?20 wt. %, followed by evaporation of ethyl alcohol therefrom at ?50° C.

Abstract: A machine and process useful for processing a delicate workpiece, e.g., an implantable medical device, includes a carrier having a mandrel and wheels. The work piece is positioned on the mandrel, which is free to roll by gravity on rails which cooperate with the wheels to self-align the travel of the carrier. The carrier can move the workpieces through a series of processing steps by gravity feed and without human intervention. A laterally movable carriage receives the rolling carriers and moves the carrier for processing, and returns the carrier to the rails to again roll by gravity to another processing substation for additional processing. An elevator, which can including processing units itself, is positioned along the rails to receive carriers and raise them so they can continue to roll for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a coating on a medical device having a topcoat and a basecoat and an improved compatibility between a topcoat and a basecoat on the medical device.

Abstract: A stent holder for mounting and electrically charging a stent during coating of the stent using dry particles, the particles comprising inert polymers, pharmaceutical or biological agents, is provided. An assembly for supporting and electrically charging a stent during the coating of the stent using dry particles, the particles comprising inert polymers, pharmaceutical or biological agents, is provided. A chamber for creating an electrical field around a stent and for supporting, electrically charging, and exposing the stent to dry particles, the particles comprising inert polymers, pharmaceutical or biological agents, is provided. A method for creating an electrical field around a stent and for supporting, electrically charging, and exposing the stent to dry particles comprising inert polymers, pharmaceutical or biological agents is provided.

Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus and technique produces precise and uniform coatings on various substrates such as stents or other medical devices. The apparatus and technique increases adhesiveness of the surface of the stent or other medical device. In addition, the coating, drying, sterilization processes take place concurrently. The apparatus generate and deliver targeted, gentle, and highly controllable dispensation of continuous liquid spray. The ultrasound coating apparatus and techniques provide an instant on-off coating process with no atmospheric therapeutic agent contamination, no “webbing,” no “stringing” or other surface coating anomalies. Furthermore, the technology reduces wastage of expensive pharmaceuticals or other expensive coating materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating assembly and methods that employ the coating assembly to control the thickness of therapeutic or other coatings delivered to a medical device during a coating process. In one embodiment the coating assembly may include a coating plate having a coating transfer surface and a shoulder having a first height, a mandrel moveable over the coating transfer surface, and a coating dispenser positioned in fluid communication with the coating transfer surface. The invention also includes a method of coating a medical device. This method may include placing a medical device on a mandrel, dispensing coating onto a coating transfer surface of a coating plate, moving the mandrel and the medical device over the coating transfer surface of the coating plate so that coating resident on the coating transfer surface transfers to an exposed surface of the medical device, and removing the medical device from the mandrel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas sensor includes using a metal ligand and carbon nanotubes (“CNTs”). The method includes forming electrodes on a substrate, coating a paste, in which the metal ligand including a metal having adsorption selectivity with respect to at least one specific gas and carbon nanotubes (“CNTs”) are mixed, on the substrate on which the electrodes are formed, and reducing the metal ligand in the paste.

Abstract: A seed crystal for the fabrication of a superconductor is grown from a rare-earth oxide having the basic formula XwZtBaxCuyOz, X comprising at least one rare-earth element and Z being a dopant which raises the peritectic decomposition temperature (Tp) of the oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the dopant is Mg. Use of this rare-earth oxide material for seed crystals increases the temperature at which cold-seeding can be performed and thus enables the growth of a wider range of bulk superconductor materials by this process.

Abstract: A composition for the formation of an electric field programmable film, the composition comprising a matrix precursor composition or a dielectric matrix material, wherein the dielectric matrix material comprises an organic polymer and/or a inorganic oxide; and an electron donor and an electron acceptor of a type and in an amount effective to provide electric field programming. The films are of utility in data storage devices.

Abstract: A hydrophilic cross-linked polymer obtainable by copolymerisation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers that give a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer on polymerisation; a monomer including a strongly ionic group; and water is useful as the membrane in an assembly that can be used in an electrolyter or fuel cell. More generally, a membrane electrode assembly comprises electrodes and an ion-exchange membrane which comprises a hydrophilic polymer including a strongly ionic group. A method for producing a membrane electrode assembly comprising electrodes and an ion-exchange membrane, comprises introducing between the electrodes a material or materials from which the membrane can be formed, and forming the membrane in situ.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit board including a substrate having a hole. Inside the hole, a metal wiring is formed. The wiring is made of a solder alloy having a melting point of 100 to 600° C., and the metal wiring includes a polycrystalline region of the solder alloy. The metal wiring of the present invention is superior in conductivity.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type device including a thin substrate made of ceramic and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive operating portion disposed on the substrate and constituted by successively laminating a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film containing a large number of crystal particles constituted of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive composition, and an upper electrode film. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive composition contains one or more alkali metal elements selected from the group consisting of lithium, potassium, and sodium, and one or more metal elements selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, antimony, and silver. Circle equivalent diameters of 90% or more of the large number of crystal particles are in a range of 0.3 to 50 ?m.

Abstract: A coating including a silica-based material having pendent functional groups.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film antenna including: preparing a carrier film formed of an insulation polymer material; forming an antenna radiator on at least one side of the carrier film by one of sputtering and deposition; inserting the carrier film with the antenna radiator formed thereon into a mold having a shape of a mobile communication terminal case; and forming a mobile communication terminal case integrally formed with the carrier film by injecting a molding material into the mold.

Abstract: The lowness of the initial efficiency which is a drawback of lithium secondary batteries wherein a SiO negative electrode is used is largely made better without hindering a large initial charge capacity peculiar to the lithium secondary batteries. A fall in the cycle characteristic when the thickness of the SiO layer is made large is prevented. To realize these matters, a thin film of SiO is formed, as a negative electrode active material layer, on the surface of a current collector by vacuum evaporation or sputtering. The film is preferably formed by an ion plating process. The thickness of the SiO thin film is set to 5 ?m or more. The surface roughness of the current collector is set to follows: the maximum height roughness Rz=5.0 or more. After the formation of the thin film, the film is thermally treated in a nonoxidative atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dielectric piece which includes metal compound dots is provided. A stacked layer formed over the substrate includes a metal compound layer and an energy barrier layer. A process such as an oxidization annealing process is then performed so that the metal compound layer is transformed into a great number of crystalline metal compound dots distributed in the energy barrier layer.

Abstract: When a pipeline 1 is to be repaired, a pressure medium is caused to act upon a pressure container to thereby turn a lining material 3 inside out for insertion into the pipeline 1 in an everted state. While the lining material 3 is pressed against an inner peripheral surface of the pipeline 1, vapor mist 20a from a vapor tube 16 and normal-temperature water from a coolant tube 30 are sprayed in order to mix the vapor mist and misted normal-temperature water. The vapor mist is substantially uniformly cooled through such mixing, and the cooled vapor mist is blown against an inner surface of the lining material 3. This enables a thermosetting resin impregnated in the lining material 3 to be heated and cured at an optimal temperature. The same effect can also be obtained by omitting the coolant tube 30 and spraying only the vapor mist or hot water mist.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a coated optical element. The process Includes: a) providing an optical element substrate; b) contacting the optical element with a pretreatment composition of an aqueous solution of hydrolyzed aminosilane; and c) applying a film-forming composition to the optical element of (b) to form a coating on the optical element, thereby yielding a coated optical element. The pretreatment composition may further include a substantially water-miscible solvent that is capable of swelling the substrate surface without causing haze or degradation of the substrate. The coated optical element demonstrates improved adhesion between the film-forming composition and the substrate compared to a substantially identical optical element that has not been contacted with the pretreatment composition of step b) prior to application of the film-forming composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for pattern formation and an apparatus for pattern formation, the method comprising: applying, between partition lines for pattern formation formed on a surface of a base member, a resin composition for pattern formation having small compatibility or substantially no compatibility with a resin forming the partition lines for pattern formation, in a state in which the surface of the base member with the partition lines for pattern formation formed whereon is placed face down; maintaining the state in which the resin composition for pattern formation is held on the surface of the base member that is placed face down in order to form the resin composition for pattern formation applied between the partition lines for pattern formation into a downward convex shape; and curing the resin composition for pattern formation that is formed into the downward convex shape in order to form a pattern.

Abstract: A biosensor is formed by immobilizing metal particles immobilized on a surface of a carrier and immobilizing probe molecules which are modified with fluorescent molecules on the metal particles. A biomolecule is detected at high sensitivity by use of this biosensor and utilizing fluorescence-quenching and fluorescence-enhancement effects attributable to the metal particle. In this way, it is possible to omit amplification of the biomolecule in a specimen and fluorescence-labeling on the biomolecule when detecting the biomolecule with the biosensor. It is also possible to improve quantitative reliability and repeatability of the biosensor.

Abstract: An obstruct of this invention is to downsize a chamber, consequently a film forming system, to improve a film thickness distribution and to improve throughput of film forming by increasing the amount of the vaporized liquid precursor. The film forming system 1 is to form a film by vaporizing a liquid precursor and then depositing the vaporized liquid precursor on a substrate W, and comprises a chamber 2 inside of which the substrate W is held and multiple injection valves 3 that are arranged at different positions in the chamber 2 and that directly inject the identical liquid precursor in the chamber 2, vaporize the identical liquid precursor by flash boiling and then supply the vaporized liquid precursor.

Abstract: A hot wire chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber, a substrate support member located in the vacuum chamber, a filament assembly support member located in the vacuum chamber, a precursor gas inlet located in the vacuum chamber and a device for providing a clean portion of at least one filament inside the vacuum chamber without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: A roll-to-roll rapid thermal processing (RTP) tool with multiple chambers for forming a solar cell absorber by reacting a precursor layer on a continuous flexible workpiece. The RTP tool includes an elongated housing having a heating chamber with a predetermined temperature profile, a supply chamber and a receiving chamber. The heating chamber includes a small process gap in which the precursor layer is reacted with a Group VIA material to form an absorber layer. The continuous flexible workpiece is unrolled and advanced from the supply chamber into the heating chamber, and the processed continuous flexible workpiece is taken up and rolled in the receiving chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a coat on the outer peripheral surface of a piston ring base. According to said method, a plurality of layers is applied layer by layer to the peripheral surface by applying, using a PVD method, at least one metal adhesive layer based on Cr to the peripheral surface without adding nitrogen to the process gas. Nitrogen is added to the process gas while increasing the partial pressure of the nitrogen, thereby forming a CrN gradient layer on the adhesive layer, and finally at least one cover layer having a constant composition based on CrN, Cr2N or a mixture of the two phases is applied to said gradient layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of printing patterns, an ornamental design or a picture on a printing object using a heat transfer or sublimation transfer technology are provided. In the non-contact type direct dye-sublimation printing method, and agent treatment layer is formed in a printing object, and solid sublimation dye is carried in the agent treatment layer by spraying liquid sublimation dye on the agent treatment layer to allow a transfer image to be infiltrated into the agent treatment layer and hardening the liquid sublimation dye infiltrated into the agent treatment layer. The transfer image is printed on the printing object by sublimating the dye carried on the agent treatment layer and infiltrating the sublimated dye into enlarged pores of a texture of the printing object by heating the printing object.

Abstract: The technical aspect of the invention is the printmaking process. The original designs by me are rendered in a style conducive to making a stencil or stencils depending on the number of colors to be used in the print. Each design is carefully plotted to create a first and second image when the design is partially folded over itself approximately 1½ inches.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer material comprised of at least one non-cyclic ceramic-forming polymer. The porosity and elemental composition of the resulting ceramic can be varied by inclusion of polymers with particular ratios of carbon, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen and by manipulation of the conditions under which the polymer material is converted to a ceramic. The resulting ceramic may be useful in fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), semiconductor fabrication, fiber coatings, friction materials, and fire resistant coatings.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic structure is formed by building up a plurality of layers by sequentially coating a substrate with a series of suspensions comprising particles in a fluid medium. A composition of the sequential layers are varied to produce a structure with the desired properties. The thickness of the layers can be controlled by Theological properties of the suspension and/or by the utilization of a gelling or coagulating agent. An advantage of this method is that complete drying between the subsequent coatings is not required.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thermosetting aqueous paint, comprising an oligomer (A-1), having a specific acid value, hydroxyl value and number average molecular weight, and obtained by reacting a compound having at least one hydroxyl group and at least one carboxyl group in a molecule thereof, a monoepoxide compound having a long-chain hydrocarbon group, and as necessary, a polyvalent carboxylic acid and/or polyvalent carboxylic acid anhydride, and/or a polyester resin (A-2) obtained by further reacting a polyvalent carboxylic acid and/or a polyvalent carboxylic acid anhydride and/or a polyisocyanate compound with the oligomer, and a crosslinking agent (B); and also discloses a method for forming a paint film using this paint.

Abstract: A method for making a macromolecular laminate is disclosed. Firstly, a high solid-content polyurethane resin is prepared. The high solid-content polyurethane resin has a solid content higher than 80% by weight and a viscosity from 20000 to 60000 cps/30° C. The high solid-content polyurethane resin is liquid at the room temperature. The high solid-content polyurethane resin is mixed with additives to form a first type of polyurethane resin compound with a solid content higher than 50% by weight and a viscosity from 20000 to 60000 cps/30° C. The first type of polyurethane resin compound is liquid at room temperature and has a pot life of at least three hours at room temperature. The first type of polyurethane resin compound is coated on a releasing paper to make a main layer. Then, the releasing paper is removed from the main layer to make a laminate.

Abstract: The invention is a radiation curable coating composition containing epoxyacrylate formed by ring opening reaction between (meth)acrylic acid and a self-dispersing epoxy resin in an aqueous system.

Abstract: A coating apparatus comprising a forward bar, a liquid feed passage and a metering device for a coating liquid. The forward bar rotates about its axis in the same direction as the traveling direction of a continuously traveling band-shaped web while touching the web. When coating the web with the coating liquid, the liquid feed passage feeds the coating liquid to an area between the upstream side of the forward bar and the web with respect to the traveling direction of the web. The metering device is arranged on the downstream side of the forward bar for metering the coating liquid to a predetermined coating thickness as applied to the web by the forward bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ink-jet recording method for printing with a glycol ink which contains 60 parts by weight or more of glycol ether based on 100 parts by weight of the ink, comprising printing by ejecting the glycol ink on an ink-jet recording material, wherein the ink-jet recording material comprises a support, at least one porous ink-receptive layer which contains inorganic fine particles having an average secondary particle size of 500 nm or less and a resin binder provided on the support, and a front surface layer containing an acrylic resin emulsion provided on the ink-receptive layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a coated metal sheet coil comprising the coating of the metal sheet with a curable composition comprising an (meth)acrylated oligomer which is the reaction product of a carboxyl functionalized polybutadiene comprising x equivalents of —COOH groups with (i) y equivalents of one or more (meth)acrylated monoepoxides or (ii) a mixture of z equivalents of one or more polyepoxides and at least (z?x) equivalents of an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid; with z>x and y?x.

Abstract: A composition containing (A) an alkali-soluble binder and (B) a phthalocyanine dye of formula (1), wherein Ri, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently of the other Ci-Ci2alkyl which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy or mercapto groups, —X—[—O—Y]n-ZH, wherein X and Y are each independently of the other C2-C6alkylene, Z denotes oxygen or sulphur and n is a number from 1 to 10, C5-C24aryl which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy or mercapto groups, or C6-C30aralkyl which may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxy or mercapto groups, is useful for the production of colour filters for liquid crystal displays, flat-panel displays, colour image pickup tubes, colour-copying machines etc.

Abstract: A process for forming low dielectric constant dielectric films for the production of microelectronic devices. A dielectric layer is formed on a substrate by chemical vapor depositing a monomeric or oligomeric dielectric precursor in a chemical vapor deposit apparatus, or a reaction product formed from the precursor in the apparatus, onto a substrate, to form a layer on a surface of a substrate. After optionally heating the layer at a sufficient time and temperature to dry the layer, the layer is then exposed to electron beam radiation, for a sufficient time, temperature, electron beam energy and electron beam dose to modify the layer. The electron beam exposing step is conducted by overall exposing the dielectric layer with a wide, large beam of electron beam radiation from a large-area electron beam source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for initiation and control of a sustained metal plasma and nano plasma (macroparticulate) deposition methods for preparing modified metal coatings are provided. The plasma deposition process can be tightly controlled by virtue of a device that incorporates a plasma arc initiator component and an internal power supply that is capable of controlling dwell time on the target and the size range of particles ejected in the plasma arc.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for depositing a thin film using plasma which can prevent impurities from being formed by inhibiting plasma from being diffused into a nozzle pipe and sustained in the nozzle pipe and improve thickness uniformity of the deposited thin film and a method of depositing the same. The apparatus for depositing a thin film includes a chamber having a substrate holder and an inner space defined by an inner wall; and a nozzle pipe comprising a first end fixed to the inner wall of the chamber; a second end extending into the inner space of the chamber; a flow path penetrating the nozzle pipe from the first end to the second end; and at least one slit which is disposed at the second end and opens the flow path into the inner space of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a multiple layer coating on the surface of an organic polymeric substrate by means of atmospheric pressure plasma deposition, the steps of the process comprising depositing a layer (first layer) of a plasma polymerized, optically clear, highly adherent, organosilicon compound onto the surface of the organic polymeric substrate by atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of a gaseous mixture comprising an organosilicon reagent compound and optionally an oxidant in a first step and thereafter in a second step depositing a substantially uniform layer (second layer) of a silicon oxide compound onto the exposed surface of said first layer by atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of a gaseous mixture comprising an oxidant and an organosilicon reagent compound, wherein the molar ratio of oxidant to organosilicon reagent compound in the gaseous mixture is greater in the second step than in the first step.

Abstract: The thermoplastic resin composition of the present invention comprises (A) a cycloolefin-based polymer and (B) a vinyl-based polymer having a polar group, has a glass transition temperature of not lower than 100° C. and has a difference in glass transition temperature between the polymers (A) and (B) of less than 50° C. The optical film of the present invention comprises the thermoplastic resin composition of the invention. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve development of retardation at a low stress in the film stretching while retaining excellent heat resistance and optical properties and maintaining wavelength dispersion properties.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a region-wise metallization on a carrier substrate, wherein the carrier substrate is at least region-wise provided with a soluble colored first layer which on its side remote from the carrier substrate is provided over its full area with a metal layer, as well as a transfer film with a region-wise metalization and the use thereof.

Abstract: A molding for a vehicle eliminates the need for equipment and reduces assembly time. An end cap has an end cap main unit inserted into the inner space from an opening in a molding main unit end surface, a catch portion (engaging portion) to engage and disengage from a molding main unit curved portion (engaged portion). The base end portion is rotatably installed in the end cap main unit and the rotating end portion side is inserted into the inner space from the opening in the molding main unit end surface. An end cap movable portion on which a second protrusion is formed contacts a first protrusion in the molding main unit to prevent movement in the direction removing the end cap from the opening in the molding main unit by making contact with the first protrusion when the catch portion has engaged the curved portion.

Abstract: A panel member having an outer encasement where a ballistic material is positioned in a chamber region of the encasement. A closed cell rigid structural foam in one form is positioned in the chamber region and positioned adjacent to the ballistic material. With a significant ballistic threat, the ballistic material allows a projectile to pass therethrough and the closed cell rigid structural foam is configured to de-accelerate the projectile to mitigate the ballistic threat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a material for use in making beverage infusion packages including a plurality of fibers woven with at least one heat-bondable synthetic fiber. Preferably, the fibers are cellulosic fibers such as bamboo and the heat-bondable synthetic fibers are biodegradable fibers, such as polylactides or polylactic acid. The present invention is also directed to beverage infusion packages made from the material and methods of making the infusion package.

Abstract: Compositions and packaging films are provided having a multilayer oxygen barrier comprising an EVOH copolymer layer in contact with at least one polyamide layer. The EVOH copolymer compositions preferably comprise about 44 mol %, or less, of ethylene. Multilayer packaging films can optionally include an exterior layer comprising heat resistant materials such as polyester or polyamide. The multilayer oxygen barriers described herein can provide high shrink films with desirably high oxygen barrier properties. The oxygen barriers can be used in making heat-shrinkable films and food packages having desirable high levels of free shrink.