Abstract: In the manufacture of lead acid battery electrodes, the oxidation of lead, particularly recycled lead containing silver, is enhanced by addition of magnesium to the lead. During the production of the lead acid battery, at least about 0.001 weight percent of magnesium is formed into an alloy with lead. The resulting alloy is then subjected to oxidizing conditions. The alloy may further contain silver.

Abstract: A lead acid battery grid made from a lead based alloy containing calcium, tin, and silver having the following composition: calcium above 0.06 and below 0.082%, tin above 1.0% and below 1.2%, silver between 0.005 and 0.020%, and optionally containing up to 0.025% aluminum. To enhance corrosion resistance and reduce grid growth, the grid optimally may contain 0.005 to 0.05% copper as an alloying element complementary to and as a replacement for part of the silver, provided the silver content does not fall below 0.005% and no more than a trace of aluminum is present.

Abstract: An anode for use in zinc electrowinning is described. The anode is made of a lead-silver alloy which has been cast as a billet rolled and subjected to heat treatment either during or after rolling. The temperature of treatment is high enough to cause recrystallization of the alloy and to prevent precipitation of any alloying elements. The anode has a surface grain structure which facilitates rapid oxidation of the anode to condition the anode. The anode preferably contains at least 0.03 to 0.45% silver and Lip to 0.08% calcium.

Abstract: A process for recovery of substantially all the sulfur in a spent lead-acid battery as Na2SO4 is disclosed. The process comprises (a) breaking the batteries to remove the acid, (b) separating the plastic from the lead bearing materials, (c) smelting the lead bearing materials in a reverberatory furnace in an oxidizing atmosphere to volatilize most of the sulfur in the feed as SO2, (d) scrubbing the SO2 from the off gas stream using a soluble alkaline material such as NaOH, Na2CO3, or KOH to produce a soluble sulfite solution, (e) oxidizing the sulfite solution to sulfate, preferably by turbulent mixing of the solution with air, (f) adjusting the pH by adding the sulfuric acid separated from the batteries, (g) removing the contained heavy metals, (h) crystallizing the sulfate as Na2SO4 or K2SO4, (i) separating a bleed stream from the crystallizer and removing the contained chlorides as a mixed sulfate-chloride product by evaporation of the bleed stream in another crystallizer.

Abstract: In an electrowinning anode in which a lead anode sheet is tightly fitted to a copper busbar, the anode sheet is additionally joined to the busbar by pinning to prevent damage to the joint. A lead coating is electrodeposited onto the busbar, pin and the soldered joint to provide a complete metallurgical seal and good resistance to acid corrosion.

Abstract: A radiotherapy appliance having a plurality of controllable radiation beams which converge on a focus volume wherein an object being irradiated can be movably positioned relative to the focus volume for varying time periods and with varying radiation exposure rates, optimally under control of a computer. The computer controls the focus volume radiation beam size, intensity, and exposure time for subareas of the treatment target in response to a radiation dose distribution determined for the treatment target. A determination of the radiation beam size, intensity, and dwell time of the focus volume in the target area, is made by initially dividing up the specified treatment area into volume elements or voxels and having biological characteristics of the treatment area assigned to each voxel. The energy deposition incident to each voxel to provide this biological characteristic is then calculated.

Abstract: A radiotherapy appliance having a plurality of controllable radiation beams which converge on a focus volume wherein an object being irradiated can be movably positioned relative to the focus volume for varying time periods and with varying radiation exposure rates, optimally under control of a computer. The computer controls the focus volume radiation beam size, intensity, and exposure time for subareas of the treatment target in response to a radiation dose distribution determined for the treatment target. A determination of the radiation beam size, intensity, and dwell time of the focus volume in the target area, is made by initially dividing up the specified treatment area into volume elements or voxels and having biological characteristics of the treatment area assigned to each voxel. The energy deposition incident to each voxel to provide this biological characteristic is then calculated.

Abstract: A radiotherapy appliance having a plurality of controllable radiation beams which converge on a focus volume wherein an object being irradiated can be movably positioned relative to the focus volume for varying time periods and with varying radiation exposure rates, optimally under control of a computer. The computer controls the focus volume radiation beam size, intensity, and exposure time for subareas of the treatment target in response to a radiation dose distribution determined for the treatment target. A determination of the radiation beam size, intensity, and dwell time of the focus volume in the target area, is made by initially dividing up the specified treatment area into volume elements or voxels and having biological characteristics of the treatment area assigned to each voxel. The energy deposition incident to each voxel to provide this biological characteristic is then calculated.

Abstract: A process for the direct recovery of metallic lead from battery paste in an electrolysis unit is disclosed. The electrolysis unit consists of an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by an ion selective membrane. The cathode consists of a high surface area electrically conductive substrate. Solid particles of battery paste are introduced into the cathode compartment which contains a liquid electrolyte and a complexing agent. Metallic lead is electrochemically deposited on the cathode, and sulfuric acid is produced in the anode compartment.

Abstract: A cryosurgical probe, insertable into a bodily cavity for performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of the cavity, comprises a channel for introducing a heat-conducting liquid into the cavity, and a cooling element for cooling the heat-conducting liquid.

Abstract: 1,3-Substituted-8-(oxo-substituted cycloalkyl)xanthines and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds are disclosed. Preferred compounds include the cis and trans isomers of 1,3-dipropyl-8-(3-hydroxycyclopentyl)xanthine and the cis and trans isomers of 1,3-dipropyl-8-(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)xanthine. The compounds are potent and selective bronchodilators and/or cardiotonic agents.

Abstract: An electrowinning anode is formed by tightly joining a sheet of lead anode material to a copper busbar using solder to fill the joint. The busbar is optimally coated with a tin alloy by dipping the busbar into the alloy prior to being joined with the sheet. A lead coating is electrodeposited onto the busbar and the soldered joint to provide a complete metallurgical seal and good resistance to acid corrosion.

Abstract: A group of four stereoisomers and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are disclosed. The stereoisomers have formula I. ##STR1## In Formula I the asymmetric centers a and b may be the same or different and have either the absolute R or S configuration. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the stereoisomers and use of the stereoisomers as antihypertensive agents, as peripheral and cerebral vasodilators and as coronary therapeutic agents.The preferred compound is (R,R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate.

Abstract: Dihydrofuranone compounds having anticholinergic activity are described. The compounds have the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl,R.sub.2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl,R.sub.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, andPh is phenyl.Also described are the lower alkyl quaternary and acid addition salts of the compounds. Pharmaceutical compositions effective as anticholinergics and methods utilizing such compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: A moisture stable solid valproic acid formulation is provided. The formulation comprises:55 to 65 weight percent valproic acid,10 to 25 weight percent fillers,10 to 20 weight percent disintegrants,3 to 6 weight percent binders, and0.5 to 1.2 weight percent lubricantsA preferred formulation is:60 weight percent of valproic acid,20 weight percent of magnesium oxide,15 weight percent corn or potato starch,3 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone,1 weight percent sodium carboxymethylcellulose,0.8 weight percent magnesium stearate.The formulations are manufactured by mxing an alcohol solution of valproic acid with the fillers, drying and then milling the mixture, adding the disintegrants and wet granulating with at least a portion of the binder. The wet granulate is dried, sized and to it is added the lubricant and any remaining binder.The lubricated granulate can be compressed into tablets without a protective coating.

Abstract: Furanone compounds and compositions having anticholinergic activity are described. The compounds have the formula: ##STR1## wherein: the dashed line indicates either the 4,5-unsaturated or the 4,5-dihydrofuranone ring;R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and are hydrogen, thienyl, furanyl, or cycloalkyl (C.sub.3 -C.sub.6), benzyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl or substituted benzyl wherein the phenyl or benzyl group may be substituted with halogen, trifluoromethyl, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or hydroxy;R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 may be the same or different and are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl substituted with a halogen, alkoxy, amino or carboxylic acid group, an alkyl or alkylene bridge between R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 or R.sub.3 and the ring N, trifluoromethyl, nitro, a cycloalkyl group containing 3 to 6 carbons, halogen, benzyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl or substituted benzyl, for which the substituents are the same as those set forth for R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 substituted benzyl or phenyl.R.sub.

Abstract: 1-Phenyl-7-substituted-hept-5-yn-2-ones substituted with a C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 alkyl, C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl group at the 1-position and an amino, a dialkylamino, a piperidyl, a pyrrolidyl or a hexahydroazepinyl group at the 7-position are disclosed which may have one or two substituents in addition to the phenyl group at the 1-position and also may have a p-fluoro substituent on the phenyl group. The preferred compounds are, 1-cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-7-dimethylaminohept-5-yn-2-one, 1-cyclobutyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-7-dimethylaminohept-5-yn-2-one and 1-cyclo-1-phenyl-1-hydroxy-7-ethylaminohept-5-yn-2-one.The compounds are highly specific M.sub.1 -AChR antagonists with relatively prolonged duration of activity.

Abstract: 1,3-Alkyl substituted-8-phenylxanthines in which the straight chain alkyl substituents are different and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds are disclosed. Preferred compounds have 1-n-propyl-3-methyl and 1-methyl-3-n-propyl substituents. The compounds are potent bronchodilators.

Abstract: A method for treating angina, epilepsy and hypertension by achieving vasodilation, anti-angina or anti-convulsant effect in a patient is described. The method involves transdermally administering to a patient in need of vasodilation or anti-convulsant effect the compound known as (+)(2S,3S)-acetoxy-8-chloro-5-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-2,3-dihydro-2-(4-meth oxyphenyl)-1,5-benzothiazepin-4-(5H)-one in an amount sufficient to achieve desired systemic vasodilation, anti-angina or anti-convulsant levels of the compound.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 l to C.sub.12 alkyl, said alkyl being straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated, monosubstituted or unsubstituted, said substituents being selected from piperidine, pyrrolidine, morpholine, thiomorpholine or cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 carbons, a cycloalkyl of 3 to 9 carbons, a lower alkylcycloalkyl of 4 to 9 carbons, or a polycycloalkyl of 2 to 3 rings containing 7 to 12 carbons;R.sub.