A peer to peer dynamic network acceleration method and apparatus provide enhanced communications directly between two or more enhanced devices, such as enhanced clients. The enhanced clients may comprise a front-end, a back-end, or both. In general, the front-end and back-end of the enhanced clients work in concert to translate data into an enhanced protocol for communication between the enhanced clients. The enhanced protocol may provide acceleration, security, error correction, and other benefits. Data from various applications may be seamlessly translated between a first protocol and the enhanced protocol, such that the applications need not be modified to use the enhanced protocol. The enhanced clients may automatically detect one another to establish an enhanced communications channel automatically.

The present invention provides a rubber composition obtained by compounding a rubber component (A) containing a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound, a filler containing an inorganic filler (B), a silane coupling agent (C), and at least one accelerator (D) selected from the group consisting of zinc dithiophosphates represented by the general formula (1), being good in the processability in an unvulcanized state, and having a low-heat-generation property and a low abrasion property:

##STR00001##

wherein, R.sup.20's are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and at least one of R.sup.20's is a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group having from 7 to 18 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted branched-chain alkyl group having from 7 to 18 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group having from 7 to 18 carbon atoms.

Disclosed herein is a liquid pre-blend of starch and oil. The pre-blend comprises starch and oil and can be used (is suitable for use in) a rubber composition. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a starch-filled rubber composition and a starch-filled rubber composition wherein a filler dispersion of at least 90% is achieved.

The present invention provides a process for producing a conjugated diene polymer, the process including a production step of producing a conjugated diene polymer solution containing a conjugated diene polymer and a solvent, and a devolatilization step of heating the conjugated diene polymer solution while conveying the conjugated diene polymer solution with an apparatus having rotary twin screws, thereby devolatilizing the solvent, in which a motor current value of the screw in the devolatilization step and a motor current value of the screw under no load satisfy a predetermined relational expression.

Provided is a resin composition, a prepreg for a printed circuit and a metal-coated laminate. The resin composition includes: a silicone aryne resin, a polyphenylene ether resin with unsaturated bonds, and a butadiene polymer. The resin composition is used such that the prepared metal-coated laminate can have at least one of the following characteristics: a low dielectric loss factor, high heat resistance, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

The electrophotographic electroconductive member includes a support having an electroconductive outer surface, and an electroconductive layer on the surface of the support. The electroconductive layer has a matrix containing a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and domains dispersed in the matrix, and the domains each contain a crosslinked product of a second rubber and electroconductive particles. The matrix has a volume resistivity R1 of more than 1.0×10.sup.12 Ω.Math.cm, and the domains each have a volume resistivity R2 lower than the volume resistivity R1 of the matrix. The electroconductive layer further has a pore, and an inner wall of the pore is constituted by a part of the matrix and a part of the domains. The domains constituting the inner wall protrude into the pore at sites on the inner wall.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a racing tire rubber composition comprising: 30-60 wt % of rubber, 10-30 wt % of carbon black, 1-20 wt % of carbon nanotubes, and 10-50 wt % of oil; and a method for manufacturing same.

[Problem to be Solved] Provided is a method for producing a non-petrochemical-derived conjugated diene polymer using an alcohol derived from a non-petrochemical raw material.

[Means to Solve the Problem] In the present invention, the method is characterized in that a non-petrochemical-derived conjugated diene polymer is produced using an alcohol derived from a non-petrochemical raw material having an iron content of 0.0001 mg/L to 2 mg/L.

The present disclosure provides, among other things, surface coverings with a protective coat applied thereto a rubber material. As provided herein, in some embodiments, a surface covering has or includes an exposed surface that is no-wax. The present disclosure further provides methods of making, and methods of using. Such surface coverings have surprising and beneficial attributes. They are particularly advantageous as resistant to soiling and abrasion. These surface covering are also resistant to crumbling under load. Such surface coverings would be useful as flooring products with desirable properties. In particular, such abrasion and soil resistant surfaces could be useful as a rubber flooring product.

The invention relates to a new Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain as well as a process for bacterially devulcanizing sulphur-vulcanized rubber particles and devulcanized rubber particles obtainable by said process.