Apparatuses and techniques for subterranean placement or positioning of one or more items are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus is configured to form a hole in the ground and subsequently provide a pathway for positioning one or more items in the hole. In one form, the items that may subterraneously placed or positioned using the apparatus may include agricultural products such as seeds or delivery vehicles that include one or more fertilizers or pesticides or combinations of these materials.

Apparatuses and techniques for subterranean placement or positioning of one or more items are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus is configured to form a hole in the ground and subsequently provide a pathway for positioning one or more items in the hole. In one form, the items that may subterraneously placed or positioned using the apparatus may include agricultural products such as seeds or delivery vehicles that include one or more fertilizers or pesticides or combinations of these materials.

In one aspect, the invention relates to chemical modulators of insect olfactory receptors. In particular, compounds and compositions are provided that can inhibit sensory (e.g., host targeting) functions in airborne insects such as mosquitos. Methods of employing such agents, and articles incorporating the same, are also provided. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

In one aspect, the invention relates to chemical modulators of insect olfactory receptors. In particular, compounds and compositions are provided that can inhibit sensory (e.g., host targeting) functions in airborne insects such as mosquitos. Methods of employing such agents, and articles incorporating the same, are also provided. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

There is provided an antiviral vinyl-chloride-based resin composition including: 100 parts by weight of a poly(vinyl chloride)-based resin obtained by mixing 10-90 parts by weight of a vinyl-chloride-based resin for paste with 90-10 parts by weight of a suspension vinyl-chloride-based resin; and 0.5-10.0 parts by weight of a sulfonic-acid-based surfactant.

There is provided an antiviral vinyl-chloride-based resin composition including: 100 parts by weight of a poly(vinyl chloride)-based resin obtained by mixing 10-90 parts by weight of a vinyl-chloride-based resin for paste with 90-10 parts by weight of a suspension vinyl-chloride-based resin; and 0.5-10.0 parts by weight of a sulfonic-acid-based surfactant.

A copolymer comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and vinylidene fluoride units, and methods of making the same. A method of preventing biofouling on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such copolymer to the article of manufacture. A process of preparing a surface having a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m.sup.2, comprising applying such a copolymer to a support. A method of preventing accumulation of ice on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such a copolymer to an article of manufacture. A method of preparing a polymer, comprising a step of adding trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid to said polymer.

A copolymer comprising trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene units and vinylidene fluoride units, and methods of making the same. A method of preventing biofouling on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such copolymer to the article of manufacture. A process of preparing a surface having a surface energy of between about 20 and about 30 mJ/m.sup.2, comprising applying such a copolymer to a support. A method of preventing accumulation of ice on an article of manufacture, comprising applying such a copolymer to an article of manufacture. A method of preparing a polymer, comprising a step of adding trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer as a polymer processing additive/aid to said polymer.

The present invention provides a process for preparing an 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7) in which X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 3-hexenyl compound (5): in which M.sup.2 represents Li or MgZ.sup.2, wherein Z.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a 3-hexenyl group, to a coupling reaction with a 1-halo-5-halopentane compound (6) in which X.sup.3 and X.sup.4 may be same with or different from each other and represent a halogen atom, to produce the 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7). The present invention also provides a process for preparing a 9-dodecenal compound (4): the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 8-undecenyl compound (1) in which M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, wherein Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or an 8-undecenyl group, and an orthoformic ester compound (2) in which R may be same with or different from each other and represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction to produce a 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) in which R are as defined above; and hydrolyzing the 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) thus obtained to produce the 9-dodecenal compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing an 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7) in which X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 3-hexenyl compound (5): in which M.sup.2 represents Li or MgZ.sup.2, wherein Z.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a 3-hexenyl group, to a coupling reaction with a 1-halo-5-halopentane compound (6) in which X.sup.3 and X.sup.4 may be same with or different from each other and represent a halogen atom, to produce the 11-halo-3-undecene compound (7). The present invention also provides a process for preparing a 9-dodecenal compound (4): the process comprising a step of subjecting a nucleophilic reagent, 8-undecenyl compound (1) in which M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, wherein Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or an 8-undecenyl group, and an orthoformic ester compound (2) in which R may be same with or different from each other and represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, to a nucleophilic substitution reaction to produce a 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) in which R are as defined above; and hydrolyzing the 1,1-dialkoxy-9-dodecene compound (3) thus obtained to produce the 9-dodecenal compound (4).

##STR00001##