Non-ionic water-soluble cellulose ethers modified with 3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl groups bound via an ether link are provided having a molar degree of substitution MSAHP in the range from 0.001 to 0.50. Exemplary cellulose ethers are alkyl celluloses, including methyl, hydroxyalkyl (e.g. hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl) or alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose (e.g. methylhydroxyethyl). Reaction products with alkyne compounds are also provided, resulting in a terminal alkyne group. The reaction of azide with the alkyne proceeds as a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, advantageously with Cu(I) or ruthenium catalysts. A multiplicity of cellulose ethers can be obtained from the conversion reaction. Variations in the macroscopic properties can be achieved by controlled modification, ranging from increased or reduced viscosity. The reaction, taking place within a few seconds, requires only minimal catalyst. Gel formation is reversible by adjustment of the pH such that a monophasic system (high-viscous fluid) arises again from a biphasic system (gel+low-viscous water phase).

A method for encrypting data on a disk drive using self encrypting drive is provided. The method includes encryption of data chunks of a computing device. The method further includes associating the encrypted data chunks with encryption key indexes of the computing device. Moreover, the method further includes receiving the encryption key indexes for given logical block addresses of the data chunks. The method further includes determining the encryption keys to be used to encrypt the data chunks based on the encryption key indexes of the data chunks to the disk drive.

A method begins with a processing module obtaining data to store and determining whether substantially similar data to the data is stored. When the substantially similar data is not stored, the method continues with the processing module generating a first encryption key based on the data, encoding the first encryption key into encoded data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function, and storing the encoded data slices in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory. The method continues with the processing module encrypting the data using an encryption key of the substantially similar data in accordance with an encryption function to produce encrypted data, compressing the encrypted data in accordance with a compression function to produce compressed data, storing the compressed data when the substantially similar data is stored.

A device incorporating a data communication function 15 having a power supply circuit 38 of a dispersed power supply system is provided with a terminal 51-2 for receiving power supply from another device 14 which initiates data communication and a drive circuit 53-2 for performing the data communication with the another device 14, wherein when the terminal 51-2 is supplied with power, the power supplied to the terminal 51-2 is supplied to the drive circuit 53-2 in an off state of the power supply circuit 38. It thereby reduces self-power-loss and ensures reliability of performance.

A method and apparatus for power-efficiency management in a virtualized cluster system. The virtualized cluster system includes a front-end physical host and at least one back-end physical host, and each of the at least one back-end physical host comprises at least one virtual machine and a virtual machine manager. Flow characteristics of the virtualized cluster system are detected at a regular time cycle, then a power-efficiency management policy is generated for each of the at least one back-end physical host based on the detected flow characteristics, and finally the power-efficiency management policies are performed. The method can detect the real-time flow characteristics of the virtualized cluster system and make the power-efficiency management policies thereupon to control the power consumption of the system and perform admission control on the whole flow, thereby realizing optimal power saving while meeting the quality of service requirements.

An SOC implements a security enclave processor (SEP). The SEP may include a processor and one or more security peripherals. The SEP may be isolated from the rest of the SOC (e.g. one or more central processing units (CPUs) in the SOC, or application processors (APs) in the SOC). Access to the SEP may be strictly controlled by hardware. For example, a mechanism in which the CPUs/APs can only access a mailbox location in the SEP is described. The CPU/AP may write a message to the mailbox, which the SEP may read and respond to. The SEP may include one or more of the following in some embodiments: secure key management using wrapping keys, SEP control of boot and/or power management, and separate trust zones in memory.

Methods, devices, and systems that may be used to secure networked devices are provided. One method includes receiving, at a security device, encrypted configuration data from a management server connected to a data network, from packets addressed to a networked device. The method further includes managing, by the security device, packets between the networked device and other devices accessible through a network based upon the configuration data. The method further includes sending, by the security device, a plurality of encrypted heartbeat messages to the management server utilizing an address associated with the networked device as the originating address for packets in which the encrypted heartbeat messages are transmitted.

A method uses a firmware interface setup program for a selected compute node (“node”) to cause a firmware interface to enable a trusted platform module (TPM) on the selected node to receive a physical presence (PP) signal. The selected node is selected from a plurality of nodes within a multi-node chassis, wherein each node includes a firmware interface and a TPM. A device within the multi-node chassis is manually actuated to transmit a PP signal to each of the plurality of nodes, such that each node receives the PP signal. The PP signal is asserted to the TPM of the selected node in response to both enabling the TPM of the selected node to be able to receive the PP signal and receiving the PP signal. Still further, the method allows modification of a security setting of the selected node in response to the TPM receiving the PP signal.

There is provided a power management apparatus including: a managed appliance registering unit carrying out authentication on an electronic appliance connected to a power network and registering an electronic appliance for which the authentication has succeeded as a managed appliance, a control unit controlling operation of the managed appliance and supplying of power to the managed appliance, a managed appliance information acquiring unit acquiring, from the managed appliance, as managed appliance information, at least any of appliance information including identification information that is unique to the electronic appliance, information indicating an operation state of the electronic appliance, information indicating an usage state of the electronic appliance and power information of the electronic appliance, and an appliance state judging unit judging a state of the managed appliance based on the managed appliance information acquired by the managed appliance information acquiring unit.

A system is disclosed comprising multiple sets of client computers each client computer having installed thereon an application program The application program comprising client computer specific log-in information, a database system coupled to the set of client computers via a network. The database system having a log-in component for logging-in the client computers, and being partitioned into multiple relational databases each one of which is assigned to one set of the sets of client computers. Each database further storing encrypted data items, each data item being encrypted with one of the user or user-group specific cryptographic keys, the key identifier of the cryptographic key with which one of the data items is encrypted being stored in the database as an attribute of the one of the encrypted data items. The log-in component comprising assignment information indicative of the assignment of the databases to the set of client computers.

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point-of-Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

Systems and methods for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data are provided. A method includes receiving MRI data comprising a plurality of k-space points and deriving a plurality of image data sets based on the MRI data, each of the plurality of MRI image sets obtained by zeroing a different one of the plurality of k-space points. The method further includes computing image space metric values for each of the plurality of image data sets and adjusting a portion of the MRI data associated with ones of the image space metric values that fail to meet a threshold value to yield adjusted MRI data.

The present application provides Ag/AgCl based reference electrodes having an extended lifetime that are suitable for use in long term amperometric sensors. Electrochemical sensors equipped with reference electrodes described herein demonstrate considerable stability and extended lifetime in a variety of conditions.

A device for electroimpedance tomography with an electrode belt (2), which has electrodes (E1 . . . E16), wherein at least two groups (5, 6) of electrodes located next to each other are formed and the electrodes of one group are contacted with at least one, multiwire feed cable (7, 8). For a reduced noise level during data acquisition, provisions are made for at least one electrode (E9) of two mutually adjacently located electrodes (E8, E9) of two different groups (5, 6) to have an additional electrode feed line (15), which is led over the feed cable (7) of the adjacent group (5).

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an acoustic control unit and an image data acquisition unit. The acoustic control unit applies a gradient magnetic field for controlling a sound in synchronization with a signal representing a respiratory body motion. The image data acquisition unit acquires imaging data by subsequently imaging to control the sound and generate image data based on the imaging data.

A peak-relevant value device acquires a peak-relevant value (for example, the peak value of an R wave (R peak value)) every cycle from an electrocardiogram acquired. The frequencies of the peak-relevant value acquired as time-series data and the magnitudes for the respective frequencies are analyzed. A peak-relevant value LF calculating device calculates an LF component (peak-relevant value LF component) from the frequency component of the peak-relevant value. An interval acquiring device acquires the interval between characteristic points of the electrocardiographic complex from the electrocardiogram acquired and the frequencies of the feature point interval acquired as time-series data to acquire the magnitudes of the respective frequency component are analyzed. An interval HF calculating device calculates the HF component from the frequency components of the feature point interval acquired and pain is judged on the basis of the variations of the peak-relevant value LF components and the interval HF components.

A device and method for accurately characterizing tissue impedance employs multiple electrodes at a plurality of separation distances to cancel the effects of front end loading leakage currents and electrode polarization to improve the accuracy of sensitive impedance measurements used to identify cancerous tissues. These measurements may be automated over a range of frequencies.

A device is described for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues with one or a plurality of electrodes and a processor controlling the stimulation and measurement in order to detect the presence of abnormal tissue masses in the breast and determine probability of tumors containing malignant cancer cells being present in a breast. The device has the capability of providing the location of the abnormality, at least to the quadrant. Either single or multiple source electrodes can be used. Either palpable lumps can be evaluated or screening or breasts, whether with palpable masses or not, can be accomplished. The method for measuring electrical characteristics includes placing electrodes and applying a voltage waveform in conjunction with a current detector. A mathematical analysis method is then applied to the collected data, which computes spectrum of frequencies and correlates magnitudes and phases with given algebraic conditions to determine mass presence and type.

A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue in the human breast. A plurality of measuring electrodes are used to measure the tissue and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue. Surface electropotential and impedance are also measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a multifunctional compound, including the reaction of a compound of formula (II) with atmospheric or molecular oxygen, in the presence of at least one aldehyde of formula (III), and optionally in the presence of at least one catalyst or at least one radical initiator; wherein: R10, R20, R30, R40, R50, L2, R60, R7, R8, and R9 are as described in the claims. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as monomers for the preparation of polyurethane. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as monomers of polymers or of biopolymers.

The invention provides a process for the synthesis of a polycarbonate, the process comprising the step of reacting carbon dioxide with at least one epoxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I) and a chain transfer agent. The invention also provides a polymerization system for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and at least one epoxide comprising a catalyst of formula (I) and a chain transfer agent, polycarbonates produced by the inventive process, a block copolymer comprising a polycarbonate produced by the inventive process, and a method of producing the block copolymer. The invention also relates to novel catalysts of formula (III).

A method of making amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes is disclosed by reacting (A) a dialkoxydialkylsilane, (B) an amino functional alkoxy silane, and (C) a mercapto functional alkoxy silane, via a condensation reaction. The amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes products are useful in textile and fabric treatments.

The present invention relates to organometallic compounds useful in the treatment of metastasis. The organometallic compounds comprise a ligand that is covalently bound to a bioactive compound, which is an inhibitor of a resistance pathway or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the organometallic compounds are half-sandwich (“piano-stool”) compounds. The compounds of the present invention offer a high variability with respect to the bioactive compound and to the nature of the ligand bound to a central transition metal.

A new functionalized polyhedral octavinylsilsesquioxanes having the general formula 1, in which R1 denotes: (1) any aryl group other than a non-substituted phenyl or a phenyl substituted in position four with a halogen or the groups-trimethylsilylethynyl, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxaborolane-2-yl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 3',5'-bis(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl or benzo[d][1,3]-dioxol-5-yl; (2) any heteroaryl group; or (3) groups including coupled aromatic rings. Additionally, a method to obtain new and known functionalized polyhedral octavinylsilsesquioxanes having the general formula 1, by the silylating coupling of octavinylsilsesquioxane with olefins in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst.

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 present invention relates to a stable mixture comprising surface-modified particles which are obtained by reacting metal oxide or semimetal oxide particles with at least one compound selected from among silicon-comprising compounds bearing at least one metaloxy radical and optionally further alkoxy and/or hydroxy radical(s) and at least one solvent, at least one surface-active substance or a mixture thereof, a process for producing the mixture, the use of these particles in systems in which they are brought into contact with at least one solvent, where the mass ratio of solvent to modified particle is greater than 500, and also the use of these particles in agglomeration-deagglomeration cycles.

A problem of the present invention is to prevent a base layer beneath the layer to be irradiated with light from deterioration in property and a functional thin film from deterioration in property as the fine patterning of a functional film is performed with light irradiation. Means for solving the problem is a compound obtained by dimerizing with light irradiation a compound (A) containing a group that has photosensitivity and can be photodimerized and a group having lyophilicity and a compound (B) containing a group that has photosensitivity and can be photodimerized and a group having liquid-repellency.

The invention relates to a method for producing mono-aminofunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acids and esters and salts thereof by means of acrylnitriles, characterized in that a) a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) to yield an alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof in the presence of a catalyst A, b) the thus obtained alkylphosphonic acid, salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with an acrylnitrile of formula (V) to yield a mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) in the presence of a catalyst B, and c) the thus obtained mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) is reacted to yield a mono-aminofunctionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (III) in the presence of a catalyst C or a reduction agent, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 are the same or different and stand independently of each other, among other things, for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl and X stands for H, C1-C18 alkyl, C6-C18 aryl, C6-C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 alkylaryl, Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K and/or a protonized nitrogen base, and Y stands for a mineral acid, a carboxylic acid, a Lewis acid or an organic acid, n=an integer or fractional number of 0 to 4 and the catalysts A and C are formed by transition metals, transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand, and catalyst B is formed by compounds forming peroxides, peroxo compounds, azo compounds, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali hydrides, alkaline earth hydrides and/or alkali alcoholates and alkaline earth alcoholates.

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.

Bromoacetoxycalcidiol (B3CD), which is structurally related to calcidiol, exhibits cytotoxic and apoptotic activity toward cancer cells, including highly aggressive neuroblastoma cells. A series of small molecules designed around the structure of B3CD is expected to have growth inhibitory and apoptogenic activities toward a wide range of malignancies. B3CD shows no apparent toxicity in vivo, indicating potential value as a chemotherapeutic agent which will be particularly useful in treating highly aggressive tumors.

Steroid compounds having increased resistance against metabolism and increased water solubility are disclosed, together with methods for their production. These substances are suitable for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of steroid related or steroid induced CNS disorders and for use in methods of prevention, alleviation or treatment of such disorders.

A way to formulate prasterone to both increase its oral bioavailability, and decrease the variability of its oral bioavailability. In contrast to the approach taught by the prior art, the instant approach is amenable to scale-up to commercial scale. Further, the resulting product is amenable to analysis using standard, known quantitative analytical techniques; thus, unlike the prior art approach, the instant approach may be used to manufacture a product in conformity with applicable regulatory standards.

The present invention relates to processes for the crystallisation and for the preparation and isolation of a novel crystalline form of fusidic acid, to the use of said processes in the manufacture of pharmaceutical formulation or medicament, and to the use of said crystalline fusidic acid form for the treatment of bacterial infections.

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.

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.

It is reported herein that certain muscle diseases and conditions, including forms of muscular dystrophy, are characterized by impaired insulin-dependent signaling in the muscle tissue, in essence, a form of insulin resistance. The present disclosure relates to therapeutic agents, compositions and methods for treating a muscle disease or condition characterized by impaired insulin-dependent signaling by targeting components of the defective insulin signaling pathway. The disease or condition may be treated by administering a therapeutic agent that activates the insulin signaling pathway, in particular, therapeutic agents that act post-insulin receptor to modulate intracellular effector molecules. An exemplary modulator is metformin. Metformin may be administered alone or may be coadministered with another therapeutic agent for treating the muscle disease or condition, such as a corticosteroid.

Novel active compound combinations comprising a carboxamide of the general formula (I) (group 1) in which A, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the description,and the active compound groups (2) to (23) listed in the description have very good fungicidal properties.

The present weed reducing material reduces the necessary weed control work by making joint filling sand a hostile substrate for plant and fungus growth by using an environmentally acceptable slow release mineral additive. The additive, having similar grain size distribution, mechanical and rheological properties, forms an integral part of the joint filling sand. The specific gravity of the additive is lower than quartz sand imparting a tendency for the additive to migrate towards the top part of the joint. The additive leads to pore waters rich in sodium and at high pH, both qualities being maintained over long periods. The mixture of additive and sand is handled and applied using conventional laying techniques and equipment, observing usual precautions for mortar or cement mixes with sand. In the environment, reaction with CO2 in the air or in the soil porosity inactivates the causticity, yielding harmless carbonate salts.

Described herein are methods and compositions for enhancing pathogen immunity in plants and improving plant growth.

Compositions and methods, including novel homogeneous microparticulate suspensions, are described for treating natural surfaces that contain bacterial biofilm, including unexpected synergy or enhancing effects between bismuth-thiol (BT) compounds and certain antibiotics, to provide formulations including antiseptic formulations. Previously unpredicted antibacterial properties and anti-biofilm properties of disclosed BT compounds and BT compound-plus-antibiotic combinations are also described, including preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-positive bacterial infections, and distinct preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-negative bacterial infections.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for supplementing the soil/diet of plants in order to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, as well as the recovery of plants which undergo transplantation. The present invention provides ribose and other pentose sugars and their derivatives, alone or in combination with other carbohydrates, electrolytes, minerals, enzymes, micronutrients, macronutrients, or other ingredients to enhance plant growth, yield, hardening, and aid in the recovery during and following transplantation.

The present invention provides a method for post-emergence selective crabgrass control by applying a composition comprising a first herbicide and a second herbicide in which the first herbicide is 2,4-dinitro-N3,N3-dipropyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzenediamine and the second herbicide is N-[2,4-dichloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide to a locus where one to two leaf growth stage crabgrass is present.

A method for providing a biological logic gate comprising the following steps: subjecting a bistable autoregulatory gene network (GRN) to a noisy background; identifying adjustable parameters of the GRN; using logical stochastic resonance to determine values of the GRN parameters which result in the GRN performing different logic gate functions; and setting the parameter values of the GRN such that the GRN performs a first logic gate function.

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 system for testing a plurality of transistors on a wafer having a storage device or personal computer connected via a bus to a plurality of drivers. Each of the voltage drivers having a microcontroller adapted to receive test parameters and provide test data from a plurality of voltage drivers. By utilizing a bus structure, the personal computer can look on one bus for flags indicating test data is available from a driver and receive the data. In addition a bus may be used to provide test parameters to the drivers. In this manner, multiple drivers may be run at the same time incorporating multiple tests. When data is available it is transferred to the personal computer, for providing test parameters to a plurality of drivers, and connected via a second bus for receiving test results from the plurality of drivers.

A method of performance monitoring in a data processing environment is provided. The data processing environment includes multiple systems, each of which has resources. Each resource relates to a resource type, wherein at least one performance parameter is defined for each resource type. The method includes determining a value of the at least one performance parameter for at least one resource, aggregating performance parameter values and related resources of a resource type, creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level which includes all resources relating to the resource type and associating all performance parameter values to this aggregation level, and repeating the creating for at least a part of the resources a next predefined aggregation level until a predefined target aggregation level of the data processing environment has been reached.

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.

An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test.

Process for manufacturing a polymer by polycondensation of a hydroxy acid, said polymer comprising at least 80% by weight of units that correspond to the hydroxy acid, according to which at least one polyfunctional reactant capable of giving rise to the formation of a three-dimensional polymer network is mixed with the hydroxy acid, and according to which the mixture is subjected to temperature and pressure conditions and for a duration which are all suitable for giving rise to the formation of the network. Poly(hydroxy acid) (PHA) obtainable by such a process.

An encapsulant composition is provided, including at least one resin monomer, a filler and a photoinitiator, wherein the at least one resin monomer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic resin monomer, epoxy resin monomer, silicone resin monomer and compositions thereof, and the filler is of about 0.1˜15 weight % of the encapsulant composition. A method for forming encapsulant materials is also provided.