Abstract: The present invention provides a composition containing the following components (A)-(C): (A) an alkali metal compound, (B) a polymer having an acidic dissociative group, and (C) a compound having an acidic dissociative group and an amino group, and having ? of more than 0.0 and less than 1.0 as calculated by the formula (I): ?={amount (mol) of alkali metal in component (A)?amount (mol) of acidic dissociative group in component (B)}/amount (mol) of acidic dissociative group in component (C).

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a composite panel with a smooth outer surface, ready for painting with or without addition of primer, may be created by constructing a panel layup assembly upon a mold, the panel layup assembly including a composite panel having a core and a resin formulation, and a release film between the mold and the composite panel, where a smooth release surface of the release film is in contact with the composite panel upon construction; initiating curing of the composite panel at a first temperature within a lowermost ten percent of a curing temperature range of the resin formulation; continuing curing of the composite panel at a second temperature above the lowermost ten percent of the curing temperature range; and completing curing of the composite panel at a third temperature below the second temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for removing spores from skin, the method including dispensing an effective amount of a composition into or onto an article, wherein the composition includes water and from about 0.04 wt % to about 4 wt % polymeric cationic antimicrobial, nonionic antimicrobial or combinations thereof; contacting a skin surface with the composition; mechanically acting on the skin surface for at least one (1) second while the skin surface is in the presence of the composition; and removing at least a portion of the composition from the surface of the skin, wherein removing the composition also removes spores from the skin surface.

Abstract: Polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams are prepared using a polyether polyol made from an alkylene oxide mixture that contains a specified proportion of ethylene oxide. The selection of proper polyol equivalent weight and ethylene oxide content leads to the production of foams having a useful combination of properties.

Abstract: A method for promoting growth of bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal by applying to the bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage a composition comprising platelet-derived growth factor at a concentration in the range of about 0.1 mg/mL to about 1.0 mg/mL in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier and a pharmaceutically-acceptable solid carrier.

Abstract: Inflatable heart valve implants and methods utilizing those valves designed to reduce or eliminate the regurgitant jet associated with an incompetent atrioventricular valve. The heart valve implants, which are deployed via a transcatheter venous approach, comprise an inflatable balloon portion movably connected to an anchored guide shaft and movable from a distal position in the ventricle to a more proximal position between leaflets of a native atrioventricular valve. The range of movement of the inflatable valve body can be adjusted in situ after or before the guide shaft has been anchored to native heart tissue during surgery.

Abstract: Improved battery separators, base films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of making and/or using such separators, films or membranes, batteries, cells, devices, systems, vehicles, and/or methods of enhancing battery or cell charge rates, charge capacity, and/or discharge rates, and/or methods of improving batteries, systems including such batteries, vehicles including such batteries and/or systems, and/or the like; biaxially oriented porous membranes, composites including biaxially oriented porous membranes, biaxially oriented microporous membranes, biaxially oriented macroporous membranes, battery separators with improved charge capacities and the related methods and methods of manufacture, methods of use, and the like; flat sheet membranes, liquid retention media; dry process separators; biaxially stretched separators; dry process biaxially stretched separators having a thickness range between about 5 ?m and 50 ?m, preferably between about 10 ?m and 25 ?m, having imp

Abstract: A thermal insulation device includes a first plate, a second plate formed to nest adjacent the first plate with a gap between the first and second plates, a porous material disposed between the plates, and a sealing layer disposed between the first and second plates such that the porous material is sealed from ambient at a pressure less than ambient. Multiple such sets of plates may be used to form an enclosure for a device that thermally insulates the device from ambient.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped object includes preparing a formation sheet that includes a base and a thermally expansive layer that is laminated on a first main surface of the base, the thermally expansive layer containing a binder and a thermal expansion material; laminating, onto a second main surface on a side opposite to the first main surface of the base or onto the thermally expansive layer, a thermal conversion layer in predetermined pattern, the thermal conversion layer converting first electromagnetic waves into heat; and causing the thermally expansive layer to expand in a pattern that corresponds to the predetermined pattern by irradiating the formation sheet on which the thermal conversion layer is laminated with the first electromagnetic waves and second electromagnetic waves that cause the binder to become cross-linked.

Abstract: An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein operation of the sealing element is controlled by an electric control signal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a flow path structure of a cartridge for nucleic acid extraction comprising: a plurality of elongated grooves formed on the surface of the cartridge body; and a shaft hole formed in the center of the body, wherein the plurality of grooves have a starting point formed around the shaft hole and an ending point extending from the starting point toward the outer region of the body.

Abstract: An engine cover covers an engine; and an intake pipe through which the air is introduced into the engine. An intake silencer is provided adjacent to the intake pipe and suppresses air pressure fluctuations of air in the intake pipe to reduce intake sound. A portion of the intake silencer is covered with the engine cover, and a remaining portion is exposed with respect to the engine cover. An advantage is that secondary noise generated by the intake silencer and a temperature increase of air suctioned into the engine are simultaneously suppressed.

Abstract: A method for promoting growth of bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal by applying to the bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage a composition comprising platelet-derived growth factor at a concentration in the range of about 0.1 mg/mL to about 1.0 mg/mL in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier and a pharmaceutically-acceptable solid carrier.

Abstract: An orthopaedic prosthetic component is provided. The orthopaedic prosthetic component comprises a porous three-dimensional structure shaped to be implanted in a patient's body. The porous three-dimensional structure comprises a plurality of unit cells. At least one unit cell comprises a first geometric structure having a first geometry and comprising a plurality of first struts, and a second geometric structure having a second geometry and comprising a plurality of second struts connected to a number of the plurality of first struts to form the second geometric structure.

Abstract: A method for promoting growth of bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage in a mammal by applying to the bone, periodontium, ligament, or cartilage a composition comprising platelet-derived growth factor at a concentration in the range of about 0.1 mg/mL to about 1.0 mg/mL in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier and a pharmaceutically-acceptable solid carrier.

Abstract: An improved ceramic heat shield for a gas turbine is provided. The ceramic heat shield has a porous ceramic body and according to the embodiments an infiltration coating that is provided in a surface layer of the porous ceramic body and contains an infiltration coating material designed to gas-tightly seal pores of the ceramic body.

Abstract: A system and process for removing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material from a subsea facility, disposing rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material to a subsea facility, and recovering said rigid unconsolidated buoyancy material for reuse.

Abstract: Provided is a structure having excellent flexibility represented by elastic restoring from compression or tensile elongation at break, and excellent lightness. A structure according to the present invention includes reinforced fibers, first plastic, and second plastic that exhibits rubber elasticity at room temperature, the reinforced fibers being discontinuous fibers, and the first plastic and/or the second plastic coating a crossing point between the reinforced fibers in contact with each other.

Abstract: A battery separator for a lead/acid battery is resistant to oxidation arising from the use of water or acid containing contaminants, for example chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), and the like. The separator is a microporous membrane including a rubber. The rubber is no more than about 12% by weight of the separator. The rubber may be rubber latex, tire crumb, and combinations thereof. The rubber may be impregnated into the microporous membrane. The microporous membrane may be a microporous sheet of polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, phenol-formaldehyde resins, cross-linked rubber, or nonwoven fibers. A method for preventing the oxidation and/or extending battery life of the separator is also included.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic element body formed by alternately laminating dielectric layers and internal electrode layers. The dielectric layers include a main component containing barium titanate and a sub-component containing boron oxide and/or lithium oxide. The internal electrode layers include a main component of copper and/or silver. A coverage ratio of the internal electrode layers to the dielectric layers is 98% or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to flame-proofed polyurethane hard foam material or polyurethane/polyisocyanurate hard foam material (designated below individually or jointly also as “PUR/PIR hard foam material”) comprising phosphinates (also hypophosphite), and to a method for producing PUR/PIR hard foam materials through the implementation of a reaction mixture containing A1 an isocyanate-reactive component, A2 propellant, A3 catalyst, A4 optionally additive, A5 flame-proofing agent, B an isocyanate component, characterised in that the flame-proofing agent A5 contains a phosphine according to the formula (I)M[(R)2PO2]n, where R=in each case stands for H, C1- to C4-(hydroxy-)alkyl group or benzyl group, M=an element of the main groups 1 to 3, wherein hydrogen is excepted, and n=the number of the main group of M, and the proportion of the phosphine according to the formula (I) is 0.1 to 15 wt %, based on the total mass of components A1 to A5.

Abstract: A polysulfone membrane is modified so that monomers are grafted onto the surface of the membrane. The polysulfone membranes can be grafted by contacting the membrane with a grafting solution and exposing the membrane to electromagnetic radiation, typically within the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. The monomers that are grafted are typically anionic or cationic. The grafted membranes can be used for filtering impurities, such as positively and negatively charged particles, from a liquid. Anionic membranes provide improved filtration of negatively charged impurities, while cationic membranes provide improved filtration of positively charged impurities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sandwich panel and a method of manufacturing the same. The sandwich panel according to the present invention has high density and improved physical properties such as flexural strength, flexural modulus, bending strength and lightening weighting ratio and is suitable for use in various consumer products or industrial materials.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a three-dimensional object that includes an external skin, a 3D mesh enclosed in the skin and having a portion that penetrates at least a part of a thickness of the skin, and an unmelted portion enclosed in the skin. The object is formed from superposed layers each including an outer edge and an inner mesh, with the superposed outer edges forming the skin, and with the superposed inner meshes forming the 3D mesh. Each superposed layer is formed by scanning a powder layer using an energy beam to form micro-connections between grains of the powder without melting the metal powder. First and second melting and solidifying steps are performed using the energy beam to form the outer edge in one of the first and second steps and the inner mesh in the other of the first and second steps.

Abstract: A self-healing hydraulic seal is provided. The self-healing hydraulic seal is prepared from a water-swellable elastomeric composition comprising a base polymer and a plant-based polysaccharide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phosphate adsorbing agent for blood processing comprising a porous formed article comprising an organic polymer resin and an inorganic ion adsorbent and having a most frequent pore size of 0.08 to 0.70 ?m measured with a mercury porosimeter, the phosphate adsorbing agent for blood processing having a biocompatible polymer in the surface of the porous formed article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floor underlayment comprising a first layer, a second layer, and an inner layer between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the inner layer has one layer of foam beads, and the floor underlayment has a thickness from 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a floor underlayment, a flooring system and a use of a floor underlayment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and/or means for collecting and analyzing an individual cell in a tissue, and at the same time, quantitatively monitoring the expression levels of various genes while keeping two-dimensional information in the tissue. Specifically, the present invention provides a method comprising preparing a cDNA library from mRNA while keeping two-dimensional cellular distribution information and obtaining the gene expression levels at any site or all sites at a level of single cell. More specifically, the present invention provides a method comprising preparing a cDNA library in a sheet-form from mRNA while keeping two-dimensional cellular distribution information and repeatedly using the cDNA library in the detection of the gene expression, thereby allowing measurement of the expression distribution for a number of genes at a high accuracy.

Abstract: A wooden decorative board includes: an uneven board made of natural wood and including a plurality of uneven portions provided on a surface due to xylem vessels; and a hard coat layer or a protective layer having uneven portions different in size provided on a surface of the uneven board, wherein concave portions and a plurality of concave portions smaller than the concave portions are provided on a surface of the hard coat layer or the protective layer.

Abstract: Aqueous cementitious slurries including predominantly Type I Portland cement containing an aluminate additive. The aluminate additive is an aluminate salt other than calcium aluminate or calcium sulfoaluminate, preferably sodium aluminate. Cementitious reactive powders of the slurry include the Type I Portland cement and 0.1-10 wt. % of the aluminate additive as an accelerator. The slurries may have a set time of about 10 minutes or less. Due to the short set time, the cementitious reactive powders may facilitate cement board fabrication by continuous manufacturing processes. Methods for making cement boards may include disposing the aqueous cementitious slurry including the cementitious reactive powders in a continuous layer, preferably upon a porous support, and setting the aqueous cementitious slurry with a set time of about 10 minutes or less.

Abstract: A polyester with ultra-high flowability and good stability over time is provided. The polyester can be polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or another aliphatic polyester, whose intrinsic viscosity (IV) is less than 0.6 dL/g and a carboxylic end group (CEG) content is 15 meq/kg or less, and characterized by having a melt volume rate (MVR) of greater than 400 cm3/10 min at 250° C. A resin composition of this polyester is provided, which can be meltblown into microfibers of a uniform diameter and a concentrated diameter distribution, forming a fabric with a uniform small pore size.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to homogeneous or heterogeneous polymer foam structures having a graphic printed thereon. As discussed herein, foam structures, such as for example High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) foam structures may include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and one or more graphics may be printed directly on the first and/or second surfaces of the foam. The graphic may comprise ink positioned on the first and/or second surface, wherein the ink may penetrate into the foam structure below the surface on which the ink is applied. As such, the ink may reside on the foam structure and/or within the foam structure at various depths below the first and/or second surface.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for producing objects with cryogenic 3D printing with controllable micro and macrostructure with potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and the food industry. The technology can produce complex structures with controlled morphology when the printed 3D object is immersed in a liquid coolant, whose upper surface is maintained at the same level as the highest deposited layer of the object. This ensures that the computer-controlled process of freezing is controlled precisely and already printed frozen layers remain at a constant temperature. The technology controls the temperature, flow rate and volume of the printed fluid emitted by the dispenser that has X-Y positional translation and conditions at the interface between the dispenser and coolant surface. The technology can also control the temperature of the pool of liquid coolant and the vertical position of the printing surface and pool of coolant liquid.

Abstract: A cleaning, sanitizing or disinfecting scrubbing device includes a body, a non-thermal plasma generator and damp wipe. Generated plasma activates fluid in the wipe. The device may include spacer posts between the body and wipe and a conductive mesh between the body and wipe or embedded in the wipe. Another embodiment includes a reservoir for holding a water-based fluid, a fluid delivery element connected to the reservoir by a tube through which the fluid can flow and a non-thermal plasma geneator. The non-thermal plasma generator activates the fluid. In one embodiment the scrubbing device is a mitt. In another embodiment the scrubbing device is a glove.

Abstract: A light source device, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The backlight module includes a prism structure, wherein the prism structure includes a substrate, prismatic tooth portions and a transparent sealing portion which are arranged in a stacked manner; and the transparent sealing portion seals the prismatic tooth portions, and the space between the prismatic tooth portions and the transparent sealing portion is a vacuum space.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a modified polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder capable of providing a stretched body having high strength, a small pore size, and excellent homogeneity. The modified polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder of the present invention has non-melt-processability, has a standard specific gravity of 2.155 or lower, includes 0.015 mol % or more of a polymer unit derived from perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) in all the monomer units, is obtained by emulsion polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene and at least the perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) in the presence of a fluorosurfactant having a LogPOW value of 3.4 or lower, and has an extrusion pressure of 20.0 MPa or lower.

Abstract: A cover for a battery housing of a high-voltage vehicle battery. The cover includes a composite material which for its part comprises a polymer matrix and an at least fire retardant material embedded in said polymer matrix. In addition, the cover includes an electrically conductive layer which forms an electromagnetic shield.

Abstract: Generally spherical resin particles formed of a thermoplastic resin, having a sphericity of 0.90 to 1.00, a light scattering index of 0.5 to 1.0 and a linseed oil absorption of 30 to 150 mL/100 g.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an additive manufacturing method. In the method, regions of successively-deposited layers of granular construction material are bound together so as to form a three-dimensional structure of bound material extending through and between the layers. The method comprises depositing a first granular construction material as a layer into a build region. The method comprises selectively binding regions of the first granular construction material together to form bound regions within the layer. The method comprises removing unbound granular construction material from the layer so as to provide at least one void in the layer. The method comprises depositing a second granular construction material into the build region so as to fill the at least one void. The method comprises selectively binding regions of the second granular construction material together to form bound regions within the layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sandwich panel and a method of manufacturing the same. The sandwich panel according to the present invention has high density and improved physical properties such as flexural strength, flexural modulus, bending strength and lightening weighting ratio and is suitable for use in various consumer products or industrial materials.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous sheet includes mixing a matrix material dispersion including a matrix material dispersed in a first dispersion medium with a microorganism dispersion including microorganisms in a second dispersion medium, to form a mixture. The first and the second dispersion media are removed from the mixture to form a matrix sheet, and the microorganisms are decomposed from the matrix sheet to form the porous sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a zirconium nitride powder comprising zirconium, nitrogen, and oxygen as main components, wherein the zirconium concentration is 73 to 82% by mass, the nitrogen concentration is 7 to 12% by mass, and the oxygen concentration is 15% by mass or less; in the transmission spectra of a dispersion having a powder concentration of 50 ppm, a light transmittance X at 370 nm is at least 12% and a light transmittance Y at 550 nm is 12% or less; and the ratio (X/Y) of the light transmittance X at 370 nm to the light transmittance Y at 550 nm is at least 1.4.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a polishing pad using an additive manufacturing system includes dispensing a first plurality of first layers from a first plurality of successive layers by, for each respective first layer of the first plurality of first layers, ejecting droplets of polishing layer precursor into gaps between projections from a support to form the respective first layer, and curing the respective first layer before depositing a subsequent first layer, and dispensing a second plurality of layers from the first plurality of successive layers over the first plurality of layers by, for each respective second layer of the second plurality of layers, ejecting droplets of the polishing layer precursor to form the respective second layer, each respective second layer spanning the projections and the gaps, and curing the respective second layer before depositing a subsequent second layer, and removing the polishing layer from the support.

Abstract: A breathable waterproof sheet, which interposes a support layer having a plurality of holes formed therein, thus preventing a waterproof air-permeable layer from colliding with a pressure sensor by a water pressure. The breathable waterproof sheet includes a waterproof air-permeable layer formed of a film having elasticity, an adhesive layer having one surface adhered to one surface of the waterproof air-permeable layer, and a support layer having a plurality of air-permeable holes formed therein and having one surface adhered to the other surface of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel types of PMMA foams and also to the production thereof. The recipes used in the production process include particularly crosslinkers and chain transfer agents as recipe constituents, mostly in low concentrations, in addition to suitable blowing agents. It was found that, surprisingly, the invention provides a simple-to-produce stable PMMA foam having very good properties.

Abstract: A method bilayer composite thin-film beam structure is described. The structure incorporates a bulk phase change material as small inclusions in one layer of a bimorph. The structure, also referred to as a “phase change composite bimorph” or “PCBM”, curls abruptly, and reversibly, at a phase transition temperature. Large curling and effective expansion coefficients are demonstrated. The PCBMs may be employed in various self-assembly mechanisms and actuators.

Abstract: Improved battery separators, base films or membranes and/or a method of making or using such separators, base films or membranes are provided. The preferred inventive separators, base films or membranes are made by a dry-stretch process and have improved strength, high porosity, high charge capacity and high porosity to provide excellent charge rate and/or charge capacity performance in a rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A method for printing ink on a substrate comprising the steps of coating a glass substrate with an adhesion promoter, depositing one or more layers of ink on the coated substrate, and laminating the imaged substrate. The substrate can be a glass substrate, and the adhesion promoter can include a silane material, powder coating, organophosphate primer suspended in isopropanol.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of and system for generating an antimicrobial wipe to clean and disinfect a surface contaminated with bacteria, viruses, spores, fungi, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the method includes applying non-thermal plasma to a moistened wipe to activate a liquid in the wipe. In some embodiments, the method includes applying non-thermal plasma to a liquid and then applying the activated liquid to a wipe. In one embodiment of a system for generating an antimicrobial wipe the system includes a housing having an opening; a supply of wipes disposed within the housing; a non-thermal plasma generator disposed within the housing; a power supply electrically coupled to the non-thermal plasma generator; and a feed system disposed within the housing, wherein the feed system moves one or more wipes from the supply of wipes past the plasma generator and out of the opening. As the feed system moves the wipes past the plasma generator, the plasma generator applies non-thermal plasma to the wipes.

Abstract: A bearing unit includes: an impregnated bearing that rotatably supports a shaft of a rotor; a storage part which is formed in a manner that an end surface of a housing incorporating the rotor in an axial direction becomes convex toward an outer side and which stores the impregnated bearing in a non-rotatable manner; and an oil return washer which is placed to face an end surface of the impregnated bearing stored in the storage part and which integrally rotates with the shaft. The storage part has a bottom tubular shape, and includes an inner surface and a bottom surface, and the oil return washer is placed in a manner that the facing surface overlaps with the inner surface of the storage part when viewed from a radial direction, and includes a circulation part that receives oil leaked from the impregnated bearing and returns the oil to the impregnated bearing.