Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining treatment options from at least two electrical readings. The electrical readings are conductivity measurements of a particular region on the human body. The system utilizes a correlation algorithm to determine the diagnosis which can easily be correlated with appropriate treatments. The correlation algorithm may include the analysis of multiple electrical readings in determining the diagnosis. The system may also utilize a database of clinical data to further assist in determining the diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient that corresponds to a meridian. The present method contemplates locating a dermal area of a patient proximate a meridian. One embodiment of the present invention comprises locating a dermal area by iteratively measuring and comparing the conductivity of a patient's skin until a significant level of conductance is indicated. A probe may then be placed in contact with the dermal area, and actuated to obtain an electrical signal therefrom. The probe tip may be specially designed to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the dermal area to directly sense a meridian, and configured to avoid erroneous measurements resulting from misalignment of the probe or probe tip.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient that corresponds to a meridian. The present method contemplates locating a dermal area of a patient proximate a meridian. One embodiment of the present invention comprises locating a dermal area by iteratively measuring and comparing the conductivity of a patient's skin until a significant level of conductance is indicated. A probe may then be placed in contact with the dermal area, and actuated to obtain an electrical signal therefrom. The probe tip may be specially designed to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the dermal area to directly sense a meridian, and configured to avoid erroneous measurements resulting from misalignment of the probe or probe tip.

Abstract: A silica-based particulate material that may contain less than 5 wt. % of a multivalent cation and a method of preparing such a silica-based particulate material. The silica-based particulate material may be characterized as having a median particle size of at least 20 ?m, a BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g, and a pH of at least 9.5; or as having a median particle size of up to 20 ?m and a pH of at least 10. The silica-based particulate material may be used to make hydrophobic silica-based particulates, which may be characterized as having a pH of at least 10.5.

Abstract: A process to produce N-vinylformamide includes the steps of: reacting hydroxyethyl formamide with a reactant comprising at least one cyclic anhydride group to form an ester, and dissociating the ester via heat in a thin film evaporation to synthesize N-vinylformamide and a compound comprising at least one diacid group, the N-vinylformamide separating from the diacid during the thin film evaporation. The reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group can, for example, be succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, (2-docecen-1-yl)succinic anhydride, exo-3,6-epoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride or a polymer including at least one cyclic anhydride group.

Abstract: A process to produce N-vinylformamide includes the steps of: reacting hydroxyethyl formamide with a reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group to form an ester, and dissociating (or cracking) the ester to synthesize N-vinylformamide and a compound including at least one diacid group. The ester can be dissociated using heat. The reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group can, for example, be succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, a polymer including at least one cyclic anhydride group, or a solid support to which at least one cyclic anhydride group is covalently tethered. Preferably, the cyclic anhydride is regenerated from the diacid formed in the synthesis of the ester by heating the diacid to dehydrate the diacid. The temperature required to dehydrate diacid groups is preferably higher than the temperature use to dissociate the ester.

Abstract: A process to produce N-vinylformamide includes the steps of: reacting hydroxyethyl formamide with a reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group to form an ester, and dissociating (or cracking) the ester to synthesize N-vinylformamide and a compound including at least one diacid group. The ester can be dissociated using heat. The reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group can, for example, be succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, a polymer including at least one cyclic anhydride group, or a solid support to which at least one cyclic anhydride group is covalently tethered. Preferably, the cyclic anhydride is regenerated from the diacid formed in the synthesis of the ester by heating the diacid to dehydrate the diacid. The temperature required to dehydrate diacid groups is preferably higher than the temperature use to dissociate the ester.

Abstract: A silica-based particulate material that may contain less than 5 wt. % of a multivalent cation and a method of preparing such a silica-based particulate material. The silica-based particulate material may be characterized as having a median particle size of at least 20 &mgr;m, a BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g, and a pH of at least 9.5; or as having a median particle size of up to 20 &mgr;m and a pH of at least 10. The silica-based particulate material may be used to make hydrophobic silica-based particulates, which may be characterized as having a pH of at least 10.5.

Abstract: Describes a free flowing particulate composition comprising, in combination, particulate amorphous precipitated silica, e.g., in the form of granules, hydrocarbon process oil, e.g., an aromatic process oil, and organic carboxylic acid having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms, e.g., stearic acid. The hydrocarbon process oil and organic carboxylic acid are sorbed on the silica and are present in amounts sufficient to measurably improve the dispersibility of the particulate amorphous precipitated silica into an elastomer as measured by percent white area. Optionally, an organosilane coupling agent may also be present in said composition. The free flowing particulate composition of the present invention is useful in reinforcing elastomers, e.g., rubbers used in vehicle tires and the soles of athletic foot wear.

Abstract: Amorphous precipitated silica is characterized by a standard white area of less than 0.8 percent. The low standard white area is a characteristic of the silica which is indicative of high (i.e., very effective) dispersion when the silica is incorporated into organic rubber compositions which are cured.Cured organic rubber compositions comprising amorphous precipitated silica exhibit low white areas which indicate high dispersion of the silica in the compositions.

Abstract: A statistically large population of particles of amorphous precipitated silica comprising pigmentary phase particles and glassy phase particles and having a glassy phase fraction in the range of from 0.3 to 30 area percent is useful as an abrasive for dentifrice compositions, especially toothpaste.

Abstract: Amorphous precipitated silica is characterized by a standard white area of less than 0.8 percent. The low standard white area is a characteristic of the silica which is indicative of high (i.e., very effective) dispersion when the silica is incorporated into organic rubber compositions which are cured.Cured organic rubber compositions comprising amorphous precipitated silica exhibit low white areas which indicate high dispersion of the silica in the compositions.

Abstract: Particles comprising particulate amorphous precipitated silica in association with from 5 to 10 percent by weight sodium sulfate and less than 10 percent by weight water, wherein the percentages are based on the weight of the silica, the sodium sulfate, and the water, which particles have a BET surface area of from 100 to 300 m.sup.2 /g, a total intruded volume from 1.8 to 3.6 cm.sup.3 /g, and a DBP oil absorption of from 180 to 320 cm.sup.3 /100 g, may be employed in microporous battery separators to introduce all or a portion of the desired sodium sulfate to the battery electrolyte. Moreover the enhanced amount of sodium sulfate enhances silica characteristics and battery separator production.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising an alumina-aluminum phosphate-silica support bearing a halogen, a Group VI metal and a Group VIII metal in which the support has an average pore radius of from about 10 .ANG. to about 300 .ANG., a surface area ranging from about 50 m.sup.2 /g to about 400 m.sup.2 /g and a pore volume of about 0.1 to about 1.5 cc/g. The catalyst composition is used for hydroprocessing oils and possesses significant hydrodenitrification activity.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile is produced by passing a gaseous mixture comprising propylene, molecular oxygen and ammonia upwardly through a fluidized bed comprising particles of a highly-active acrylonitrile catalyst in physical admixture with particles of a composite consisting essentially of antimony oxide and silica. The use of the antimony oxide-silica composite moderates the effect of the highly-active acrylonitrile catalyst reducing its activity sufficiently to enable the use of longer residence times, but without reducing the acrylonitrile selectivity of the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for cracking high metals content feedstocks which comprises contacting said charge stock under catalytic cracking conditions with a novel catalyst composition comprising a solid cracking catalyst and a diluent containing antimony and/or tin.

Abstract: Spent boron trifluoride catalyst is removed from organic liquids by contacting the liquid with polyvinyl alcohol. For example, boron trifluoride catalyst is removed from 1-olefin oligomer product by passing the liquid oligomer through a bed of granular polyvinyl alcohol. The boron trifluoride is recovered from the polyvinyl alcohol and is recycled for use as a catalyst.

Abstract: There is provided a solid, particulate, catalytic complex suitable for the stereospecific polymerization of olefins prepared by reducing TiCl.sub.4, contacting the resultant reduced solid with a complexing agent to obtain a treated solid and contacting the treated solid with TiCl.sub.4 in the presence of silica which has been treated with an alkylaluminum halide. When such a catalyst complex is combined with a suitable activator to polymerize olefins, a high degree of stereospecificity is attained, the activity of the catalyst complex is reduced for polymerization control and the efficiency of the titanium employed is enhanced.

Abstract: Boron trifluoride is removed from coordination compounds contaminating organic liquids by contacting the contaminated liquid with silica. For example, boron trifluoride is removed from a boron trifluoride-n-butanol coordination compound contaminating a 1-olefin oligomer product by passing the contaminated liquid oligomer through a bed of silica.

Abstract: A process for producing aliphatic amines which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde with an aminating agent selected from the group consisting of ammonia, a primary amine and a secondary amine in the liquid phase in the presence of an unsupported catalyst consisting essentially of (1) copper oxide or copper hydroxide (2) nickel oxide or nickel hydroxide, and, optionally, (3) an oxide or an hydroxide of a Group II A metal.