Provided are a coating composition for low refractive layer including fluorine-containing compound of the following Chemical Formula 1, an anti-reflection film using the same, and a polarizer and an image display device including the same, wherein the fluorine-containing compound of the following Chemical Formula 1 has a low refractive index of 1.28 to 1.40, thereby making it possible to easily adjust a refractive index of the anti-reflection film and be usefully used as a coating material of the anti-reflection film having an excellent mechanical property such as durability, or the like.

The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment.

The present invention relates to a process for recovery of homogeneous metal hydride catalyst from a reactor stream as catalyst suitable for recycle to a reactor comprising the steps of: removing a stream from a reactor, said stream comprising the homogeneous metal hydride catalyst; contacting the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the metal to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the metal bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid stripping medium comprising hydrogen and solvent; and recovering the active metal hydride catalyst.

Methods to make R13P═N—TiCl3 and (1-R2-Indenyl)Ti(N═PR13)Cl2, where R1 is independently selected from C1-30 hydrocarbyl radical which is unsubstituted or further substituted by one or more halogen atom, a C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl radical, a C6-10 aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a silyl radical, and a germanyl radical; P is phosphorus; N is nitrogen (and bonds to the metal M); R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or an unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, wherein substituents for the alkyl, aryl or benzyl group are selected from alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylaryl, arylalkyl and halide substituents. The method to make R13P═N—TiCl3 combines a titanium species TiCl3(OR) where R is an alkyl or aromatic group, with a trimethylsilyl phosphinimide compound R13P═N—SiMe3 in the presence of solvent, to give the titanium complex R13P═N—TiCl3. The method to make (1-R2-Indenyl)Ti(N═PR13)Cl2 consists of deprotonating 1-R2-indene with an appropriate base, followed by reaction with R13P═N—TiCl3.

The present invention relates to photochromic materials that include one or more indeno-fused naphthopyrans that have particular groups at the 7, 11, and 13 positions thereof, and at the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring thereof. With some embodiments, hydrogen or an alkoxy group is bonded to the 7 position, an optionally substituted phenyl is bonded to the 11 position, two alkyl groups are bonded to the 13 position, and two optionally substituted phenyl groups are bonded to the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring of the indeno-fused naphthopyran compound. The 13 position of the indeno-fused naphthopyrans is free of ether groups in which an ether oxygen is bonded to the 13 position, and hydroxyl. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles and compositions that include such indeno-fused naphthopyrans.

The present invention relates to a novel compound of Formula 1, a method for manufacturing the same, and an organic electronic device using the same, and the novel compound according to the present invention may act as a hole injection, hole transport, electron injection and transport, or light emitting material in an organic light emitting device and an organic electronic device, and the device according to the present invention shows excellent properties in terms of efficiency, a driving voltage, and stability.

Method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol. The invention related to a method for preparing diamino-dianhydro-dideoxyhexitols, particularly preferably 2,5-diamino-1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-dideoxy-D-hexitol.

An epoxide agent for an epoxy resin system, the epoxide agent comprising at least one non-acid functional rosin moiety and at least one epoxide moiety. Another embodiment is a curing agent for an epoxy resin system comprising at least one non-acid functional rosin moiety and at least one moiety that is reactive with an epoxy.

Provided are a novel 1,2-bis(dialkylphosphino)-4,5-(methylenedioxy)benzene derivative that forms a metal complex having particularly high asymmetry induction capacity and catalytic activity on β-dehydroamino acids, a method for manufacturing the same, a metal complex having this 1,2-bis(dialkylphosphino)-4,5-(methylenedioxy)benzene derivative as a ligand, and an asymmetric hydrogenation method using this metal complex. A 1,2-bis(dialkylphosphino)-4,5-(methylenedioxy)benzene derivative represented by general formula (1). (In the formula, R1 and R2 represent an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 have different numbers of carbon atoms.)

A method of manufacturing a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (III) below, characterized by causing a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (I) below and a compound or a salt thereof expressed with a formula (II) below to react in the presence of carbonate and copper salt or in the presence of hydroxide salt, carbonate, and copper salt.

A compound with a diphenylmethane moiety having an inhibitory activity against sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) being present in the intestine and kidney is disclosed. A pharmaceutical composition including the compound as an active ingredient, which is useful for preventing or treating metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes is disclosed. A method for preparing the compound, and a method for preventing or treating metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes, by using the compound is provided.

Lactic acid equivalents are recovered from a starting lactide stream by catalytically racemizing a portion of the lactide in the stream at a temperature of 180° C. or below. This increases the proportion of two species of lactide (i.e., at least two of S,S-, R,R- or meso-lactide) at the expense of the third species. The racemized mixture so obtained can be separated to recover some or all of one or more of the lactide species from the remaining lactide species, by a process such as melt crystallization or distillation. Impurities in the starting lactide stream usually are retained mostly in the remaining meso-lactide, so a highly purified S,S- and/or R,R-lactide stream can be produced in this manner. Such a purified S,S- and R,R-lactide stream is suitable for polymerization to form a polylactide.

A liquid crystal composition including a dioxolane compound represented by the general formula (G1) as a chiral agent is provided. In the general formula (G1), R1 and R2 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having a phenyl group as a substituent; R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring; R3 and R4 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a cycloalkyl group; and R5 to R40 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.

The present invention relates to the preparation of cyclopropane derivatives, in particular 2-amino-9-[[(1S,2R)-1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropyl]methyl]-4,8-dihydro-1H-purin-6-one, especially via the [(1S,7R)-4-phenyl-3,5-dioxabicyclo[5.1.0]octan-1-yl]methanol intermediate.

The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) including any stereochemically isomeric form thereof, wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and the claims; a N-oxide thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof; provided that the compound is other than or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The claimed compounds are useful for the treatment of a disease, the treatment of which is affected, mediated or facilitated by activating the GHS1A-r receptor. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions thereof and processes for the preparation thereof.

Disclosed in the present invention is a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor of benzamides and use thereof. The inhibitor has good efficacy in treating diseases caused by abnormal gene expression, such as tumors, endocrine disorders, immune system diseases, genetic diseases and nerve system diseases. The histone deacetylase inhibitor of benzamides is a compound of the following general chemical structural formula (I) or a salt thereof.

Provided is a method of producing an organic transistor, including collectively forming a gate insulating film and an organic semiconductor film by applying, onto a gate electrode, a solution including a polymer and at least one of compounds represented by General Formulas 1 to 4 and 5 to 7, a compound having a structure represented by General Formula 4, a compound having a structure represented by General Formula 5 or 6, and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the organic semiconductor film. (where R is a linear or branched alkyl group) (where R is an alkyl group) (where R is an alkyl group) (where A1 and A2 are represented by Formula 8) (where R is an alkyl group or another substituent).

The invention provides a method for synthesizing 7-Acetyleno quinone methide compounds that is safe and inexpensive. The method avoids the need for extremely cold reaction temperatures and unlike the prior art does not require any highly explosive materials. The method comprises the steps of: a) performing a condensation reaction between 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and a secondary amine thereby forming a secondary amine quinone methide intermediate;b) removing water from the secondary amine quinone methide intermediate by azeotropic distillation;c) adding the dehydrated secondary amine quinone methide intermediate to an organic medium containing a metal acetylide to form a Mannich base intermediate; andd) adding a release agent to the Mannich base intermediate to yield a 7-Acetyleno quinone methide.

The present invention relates to novel 4-pregenen-11β-17-21-triol-3,20-dione derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals, as modulators of glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid receptors. The invention relates specifically to the use of these compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions to treat disorders associated with glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid receptor modulation.

Provided are methods for the treatment of a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosating spondylitis and/or polymyalgia rheumatic, by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks. Also provided are methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks.

The invention relates to nitrooxyderivative of corticosteroids of general formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or stereoisomers thereof R—(Z)a—Rx (I) wherein R is the corticosteroid residue of formula (II): wherein: R1 is OH, R2—CH3, or R1 and R2 are taken together to form a group of formula (III) R3 is Cl or F;R4 is H or F; wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be linked to the correspondent carbon atoms of the steroidal structure in position α or β; with the proviso that: when R1 and R2 are the group of formula (III) then R3 is F and R4 is H or F; The compounds are useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases, inflammatory diseases, dermatological diseases and ocular diseases.

The disclosure provides compounds and methods of using Apogossypolone derivatives for treating diseases and disorders. In particular, the disclosure provides compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or solvate thereof, and provides methods for the preparation of compounds of Formula I; and methods for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammation by administering a compound of Formula I.

The present invention provides for a practical, universal and efficient method to ligate two large macromolecules (e.g., proteins) using the alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to produce a conjugated macromolecule, such as a multivalent scFv. The present invention also provides for conjugate macromolecules comprising a plurality of macromolecule components cross-linked through at least one linking group comprising at least one 1,2,3-triazole moiety, wherein at least 50 percent of the macromolecule components in the conjugate macromolecule has only one site available for cross-linking.

The present invention discloses novel process for the preparation of (2R)-2-acetamido-N- benzyl-3-methoxypropanamide of Formula I involving novel intermediates of Formula-XIX and Formula-XX.

A hydrophobic cationic steroidal anti-microbial (ceragenin) compound forms an amphiphilic compound having a hydrophobic sterol face and a hydrophilic cationic face. The hydrophobic CSA also includes a hydrophobic substituent that gives the ceragenin compound a CLogP value of at least 6.5.

This invention discloses 3-desoxy-2-methylene-19-nor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically (20S)-3-desoxy-2-methylene-1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3 and (20R)-3-desoxy-2-methylene-1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3 as well as pharmaceutical uses therefor. These compounds exhibit relatively high binding activity and pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to monocytes thus evidencing use as anti-cancer agents especially for the treatment or prevention of osteosarcoma, leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer or prostate cancer. These compounds also exhibit relatively high calcemic activity evidencing use in the treatment of bone diseases.

To provide a novel vitamin D3 derivative useful as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis. Provided is a vitamin D3 derivative represented by the following formula (1) or a medicinally acceptable solvate thereof: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxyalkyl group with each alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an arylcarbonyloxyalkyl group with the aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms and the alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or, together with the other R2 and the carbon atom to which they are bound to, may form a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or, together with the other R3 and the carbon atom to which they are bound to, may form a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; X represents an oxygen atom or a methylene group; and n represents an integer of 1 or 2.

Aqueous glyphosate formulations comprising a surfactant derived from metathesized natural oil feedstocks are disclosed. The formulations comprise a glyphosate salt, water, and a surfactant derived from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives. The surfactant is selected from C10 or C12 amine oxides, C10 or C12 quats, C10, C12, or C16 amidoamines, C10 or C12 amidoamine oxides, C10 imidazoline quats, C10 or C12 amidoamine quats, C10, C12, or C16 betaines, C16 amidoamine betaines, C18 diamidoamines, C18 diamidoamine oxides, C18 diamidoamine diquats, C18 diamidoamine oxide quats, C18 diamidoamine oxide betaines, Cis diamidoamine monobetaines, C18 diamidoamine monobetaine quats, C18 ester amidoamine quats, and amidoamines and their oxidized or quaternized derivatives made from self- or cross-metathesized palm or soybean oil. The surfactants noted above impart substantial stability to highly concentrated glyphosate formulations at, above, and below room temperature and perform as well or better than commercial alternatives.

The present invention is directed towards microcapsules, uses and methods of microencapsulation with improved properties regarding agglomeration, bleeding and control of the reaction. The invention is especially suitable for chemical compounds with at least one carboxamide group, preferably for microencapsulation of those compounds wherein the carbonyl group is attached to a nitrogen atom or nitrogenated heterocycle and wherein the microencapsulation reaction may be too vigorous. The microcapsules are characterized by a mixed glycoluril-polyurea polymer wall, wherein the polyurea groups come from a urea-formaldehyde resin and not from isocyanate monomers or prepolymers. The process of making such microcapsules a dispersant in the oil phase of the type of block copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone/vinylalkene and/or vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate and the microencapsulation reaction may be carried out without the presence of any polyamine/polyol acting as a catalyst.

The present invention relates to an pesticidal composition comprising an effective amount of a sulphur; an effective amount of at least one insecticide selected from the group consisting of cartap fipronil, pirimicarb, buprofezine, thiachloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, diafenthiuron, novaluron, flubendiamide, spirotetramat, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid or salts thereof, and at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

A compound of the formula (1) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are useful as a pesticides.

Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, N-oxides, and salts thereof, wherein Z is O or S;A1, A2, A3 and A4 are independently N or CR1, provided that only one of A1, A2, A3 and A4 is N; andR1, R2, R3 and Q are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 and methods for controlling a parasitic nematode comprising contacting the parasitic nematode or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention.

Penoxsulam, 2-(2,2-difluoroethoxy)-N-(5,8-dimethoxy[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-yl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide, is useful in controlling broadleaf weeds and sedges in turfgrass and in vine and orchard floors.

The present invention relates to a pyridazinone compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, R2 represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkoxy group, and the like, G represents hydrogen, and the like, Z represents halogen, a cyano group, a nitro group, a C1-6 alkyl group, and the like, and n represents an integer of 1-5 useful as an active ingredient in a herbicide and a noxious arthropod controlling agent.

Disclosed herein are mesocapsules that include agriculturally active ingredients. These mesocapsules are comprised of a polyurea shell and include hydrophilic groups on their surfaces and have a volume-average diameter of about 500 nm or less and some of them have a volume-average diameter on the order of about 300 nm or less. These mesocapsules are suited for delivering active ingredients that are not very soluble in water. Methods for making these mesocapsules include interfacial polycondensation reactions carried out in the presence of surfactants and other methods in which all or most of the surfactant is replaced by adding amino acids to the aqueous phase of the interfacial reaction mixture before forming the final emulsion.

Herbicidal injury caused by 6-trisubstituted phenyl)-4-amino-2-pyridinecarboxylates in wheat and barley is reduced with the use of low rates of cloquintocet.

Benzoyl derivatives of the formula I where the variables have the following meanings: R1, R2 are hydrogen, nitro, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl or C1-C6-haloalkylsulfonyl;R3 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl;R4, R5 are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, dialkylamino, phenyl or carbonyl, it being possible for the 6 last-mentioned radicals to be substituted;X is O, S, NR9, CO or CR10R11;Y is O, S, NR12, CO or CR13R14;R15 is pyrazole which is unsubstituted or substituted, linked in the 4-position and has attached to it in the 5-position a hydroxyl or sulfonyloxy radical; and the agriculturally useful salts thereof; processes and intermediates for the preparation of the 3-heterocyclyl-substituted benzoyl derivatives; compositions comprising them; and the use of these derivatives or compositions comprising them for controlling undesirable plants.

The present invention relates to a model based positioning system that includes a positioning device having at least one transmitter configured to be in a tracking environment, e.g. inserted into a body, a receiver having a plurality of receiver elements arranged outside the tracking environment, a control unit configured to measure amplitude and/or phase information of a signal transmitted from the at least one transmitter and received at each receiving element, and a memory unit M for storing a model for each receiving element. The control unit is also configured to estimate the position P of the positioning device by comparing the model for each receiving element with the measured received signal for each receiving element.

The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a volume of clearance surrounding a wellbore. A logging tool is provided. The logging tool may be disposed on a wireline, a drill string, or a wired drill pipe. A formation property is obtained using the logging tool. The formation property may include a voltage, a bulk resistivity, a horizontal resistivity, a vertical resistivity, a porosity, a permeability, a fluid saturation, an NMR relaxation time, a borehole size, a borehole shape, a borehole fluid composition, an MWD parameter, or an LWD parameter. The maximum depth of investigation into the subsurface formation is determined using a model response and a noise level, and the volume of clearance is determined using the determined maximum depth of investigation. The maximum depth of investigation and volume of clearance may be determined even though no boundary layers are detected.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for monitored application of mechanical force to samples using acoustic energy and mechanical parameter value extraction using mechanical response models can be used for determining mechanical property parameters of a sample. An exemplary method includes applying acoustic energy to a sample to apply a mechanical force to the sample, measuring a response by the sample during the application of the acoustic energy, measuring a recovery response of the sample following cessation of the application of the acoustic energy, and determining a value for at least one additional mechanical property parameter of the sample based on the response measured during application of the acoustic energy and the recovery response measured following cessation of the application of acoustic energy.

The abnormality determination apparatus, which is for determining presence of an abnormality in an angle detection device configured to output an output signal having a value equivalent to a rotational angle of a rotating body, includes a smoothing device configured to receive the output signal of the angle detection device to smooth a dependent variable of a function whose independent variable is the rotational angle equivalent value, and a parameter calculation device for calculating an abnormality determination parameter based on the dependent variable smoothed by the smoothing device. The function is such that an integrated value of the rotational angle equivalent value over a predetermined time section is always positive or negative, and is configured to vary the dependent variable continuously in accordance with continuous variation of the independent variable in at least a part of the predetermined time section.

An electrostatic coating plant coats components with a coating agent that is electrically charged by high voltage device. A first operating variable of a high voltage device may be determined and compared to a limit value. A safety measure may be initiated if the comparison between the first operating variable and the limit value indicates a disturbance in the electrostatic coating plant. The limit value may be flexibly adjusted depending on the operation mode.

A method for calculating efficiency of a power supply system includes: displaying a parameter selection interface on the display unit for selecting power supply parameters and transmission line parameters. Obtaining power supply parameters and transmission line parameters selected by the user via the parameter selection interface when determining the user has finished the selection. Determining a efficiency of a selected power supply of the power supply parameters according to the relationship table, and calculating a sum efficiency according to the obtained power supply parameters and the transmission line parameters and the efficiency of the selected power supply. And calculating a total efficiency of the power supply system according to each sum efficiency when determining that all of the power supplies of the power supply system have been selected.

A battery degradation determination device includes a fitting module configured to fit AC impedance measurement data into an equivalent circuit model including at least one circuit block in which a resistance and a constant phase element are connected in parallel, and to obtain circuit constants in the equivalent circuit model, a P-value saving module configured to save P values being index of the constant phase element obtained by fitting AC impedance measurement data of a reference battery to the equivalent circuit model, and a degradation determination module configured to perform degradation determination for a battery as a determination target based on circuit constants obtained by fitting AC impedance measurement data of the battery as a determination target to the equivalent circuit model with the use of the P values as fixed values, with reference to correlations between degrees of battery degradation and the circuit constants in the equivalent circuit model.

A sensor information acquisition section acquires angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) around three axes acquired by three angular velocity sensors, and acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ) in three axial directions acquired by three acceleration sensors. A posture information calculation section calculates a posture angle and position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space based on the angular velocity information (GX, GY, GZ) and the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ). The posture information calculation section calculates a fixed coordinate system velocity vector based on an inertial coordinate system acceleration vector (A) obtained from the acceleration information (AX, AY, AZ), and calculates position coordinates in a virtual three-dimensional space corresponding to the fixed coordinate system velocity vector.

Provided is an operating method of a sensor node. The operating method of a sensor node includes receiving a sensing request, adjusting a sensing condition on the basis of the received sensing request, and sensing according to the adjusted sensing condition.

A method for determining the coordinates of a point on the surface of an object is provided. A source system, such as an OBIRCH system, is used to analyze and detect faults in an integrated circuit on a semiconductor die. The die includes three reference points and the detected fault(s) are defined with reference to the reference points. When the die is transferred to a FIB or other system for fault analysis, a processor determines the coordinates of the fault(s) for the FIB system using the three reference points.

Described herein is a system and method for detecting underutilized capacity within a storage system environment. The technique comprises collecting performance data of various storage objects within a storage system environment for various performance measures at designated time intervals. The collected performance data may be formatted and stored to a database. One or more parameters may be received specifying at least one performance measure, at least one threshold value, and/or at least one time period. The performance data for target storage objects may be analyzed according to the received parameters to determine any underutilized storage objects. A report may be generated according to the parameters listing the storage objects and address locations of any underutilized storage objects. The report may comprise various information corresponding to the underutilized storage object, such as the business units, tiers, data centers, and levels of service they are associated with.

An asset health monitoring system (AHMS) can assign a confidence indicator to some or all the services of a computing service provider. In response to drops in the confidence indicators, the AHMS can automatically initiate testing of services and/or computing assets associated with the services in order to raise confidence that a particular service and its computing assets will perform correctly. Further, the AHMS can automatically initiate remediation procedures for the particular service and/or specific computing assets that fail the confidence testing. By automatically triggering testing and/or remediation procedures, the AHMS can increase reliability of the computing service provider by preemptively identifying problems.

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations.