Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of amphoteric compounds containing a quaternary nitrogen group, a covalently bound counterion, and an ester or amide group. These amphoteric compounds can be advantageously prepared via a chemoenzymatic green process, and exhibit good surfactant properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of amphoteric compounds containing a quaternary nitrogen group, a covalently bound counterion, and an ester or amide group. These amphoteric compounds can be advantageously prepared via a chemoenzymatic green process, and exhibit good surfactant properties.

Abstract: A surgical access port and assembly are disclosed for providing access for a medical instrument into an intracorporeal cavity of a patient undergoing surgery. The access port comprises a cannula and a first passage which extends along the cannula and along which a medical instrument is arranged to pass, the passage comprising a first entrance portion disposed at a proximal region the of the cannula and a first exit portion disposed at a distal region of the cannula. The cannula further comprises a second passage which extends along the cannula and along which an electrode is arranged to pass, the second passage comprising a second entrance portion disposed at a proximal region of the cannula and a second exit portion disposed at a distal region of the cannula.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of amphoteric ester sulfonates, including 3-(N, N-dimethyl-cocoylpropylammonio-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate. These amphoteric ester sulfonates can be advantageously prepared in high yield and purity by a two-step chemoenzymatic process, and have excellent surfactant properties.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a companion application that allows users to discover secondary content that supplements primary content that the user is enjoying and to run the secondary content within the application. Examples of primary content include, games, television shows, movies, and music. In one embodiment, a companion application runs on both the primary device, which is the device generating the primary content, and on the companion device. The companion application helps the user discover available secondary content. In addition to discovering secondary content that may be relevant to the user, the companion application includes an application-run environment in which secondary content applications may run.

Abstract: The invention provides branched trialkylamine oxides with improved properties. The trialkylamine oxides of the invention produced from branched trialkylamines, in one embodiment, can be made using certain branched C10-12 enals and aldehydes. The invention also provides an trialkylamine oxide having the formula: wherein R5, R6 and R7 are independently at least one of C3H7, C2H5, CH3, or H, or mixtures thereof; and wherein R5 and R6 are not H at the same time. In one embodiment, the trialkylamine oxides of the invention can be useful in making various products, for example, as surfactants.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a modified triethanolamine/fatty acid ester composition ratio by treatment of a conventional tnethanolamine fatty acid ester composition with a hydrolytic enzyme. Also provided are novel mixtures of tnethanolamine and mono-, di-, and tri-esters of fatty acids which are useful in the preparation of cationic surfactants useful in fabric softening applications. In one aspect, the method increases the triester fraction without significantly affecting the amount of mono-ester and unesterified species, which in turn adds to the flexibility in the formulation of the corresponding fabric softening compositions.

Abstract: A process for preparing Propamocarb is presented. The preparation of Propamocarb (propyl 3-(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate) from 3-dimethylaminopropylamine and dipropyl carbonate is performed using an enzyme catalyst. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is a lipase enzyme, immobilized on a solid support. Advantages of the process include the avoidance of the use of chloroformate or vinyl carbonate.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed which comprises a surgical device actuatable for performing a surgical procedure, the device having an electrically conductive portion, and an ion-generating electrode integrally arranged with respect to the surgical device, the ion-generating electrode having an ion emission zone. The ion emission zone of the ion-generating electrode and the electrically conductive portion of the surgical device are moveable relative to each-other between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: The surfactants which can be produced from the trialkylamine intermediates include the quaternary ammonium compounds of formula:

Abstract: A process for preparing Propamocarb is presented. The preparation of Propamocarb (propyl 3-(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate) from 3-dimethylaminopropylamine and dipropyl carbonate is performed using an enzyme catalyst. In certain embodiments, the catalyst is a lipase enzyme, immobilized on a solid support. Advantages of the process include the avoidance of the use of chloroformate or vinyl carbonate.

Abstract: The invention provides branched hydrophobes for the production of surfactants with improved properties over linear hydrophobes. The invention also provides branched C10-12 enals and aldehydes. The invention additionally provides branched C10-12 enals and aldehydes that are oxidized to branched fatty acids or hydrogenated to branched fatty alcohols and further derivatized to surfactants, through ethoxylation or esterification and other or subsequent reactions. The enals and aldehydes are useful in making branched trialkylamine intermediates useful in making certain surfactants, including amphoteric, cationic and nonionic surfactants. The surfactants which can be produced from the trialkylamine intermediates include the quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention. The quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention are also useful in making the branched enals and/or aldehydes useful in the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides branched trialkylamine oxides with improved properties. The trialkylamine oxides of the invention produced from branched trialkylamines, in one embodiment, can be made using certain branched C10-12 enals and aldehydes. The invention also provides an trialkylamine oxide having the formula: wherein R5, R6 and R7 are independently at least one of C3H7, C2H5, CH3, or H, or mixtures thereof; and wherein R5 and R6 are not H at the same time. In one embodiment, the trialkylamine oxides of the invention can be useful in making various products, for example, as surfactants.

Abstract: The invention provides branched hydrophobes for the production of surfactants with improved properties over linear hydrophobes. The invention also provides branched C10-12 enals and aldehydes that are oxidized to branched fatty acids or hydrogenated to branched fatty alcohols and further derivatized to surfactants, through ethoxylation or esterification and other or subsequent reactions. The invention further provides surfactants made from the branched trialkylamine intermediates, including amphoteric, cationic and nonionic surfactants.

Abstract: A surgical spray instrument is disclosed comprising a main body connectable to a transfer tube; a propellant actuator for selectively releasing propellant from the main body and along the transfer tube and out through a distal end thereof. An ion emitter is arranged along the tube, the ion emitter having an ion emission zone. This enables the directed and concentrated delivery of therapeutic, pharmacological and diagnostic agents to tissues inside or outside of the body. There is further disclosed a surgical assembly for enabling uniform deposition of a particulate material to a surface of an intracorporeal cavity of a patient. The surgical assembly comprises an ion emitter; a dispenser having an outlet locatable within the cavity and for dispensing the particulate material therefrom, and a processor for determining a location of the ion emission zone of the ion emitter in dependence upon the position of the outlet of the distributor within the cavity to provide for the uniform deposition.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a companion application that allows users to discover secondary content that supplements primary content that the user is enjoying and to run the secondary content within the application. Examples of primary content include, games, television shows, movies, and music. In one embodiment, a companion application runs on both the primary device, which is the device generating the primary content, and on the companion device. The companion application helps the user discover available secondary content. In addition to discovering secondary content that may be relevant to the user, the companion application includes an application-run environment in which secondary content applications may run.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a companion application that allows users to discover secondary content that supplements primary content that the user is enjoying and to run the secondary content within the application. Examples of primary content include, games, television shows, movies, and music. In one embodiment, a companion application runs on both the primary device, which is the device generating the primary content, and on the companion device. The companion application helps the user discover available secondary content. In addition to discovering secondary content that may be relevant to the user, the companion application includes an application-run environment in which secondary content applications may run.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of amphoteric ester sulfonates, including 3-(N, N-dimethyl-cocoylpropylammonio-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate. These amphoteric ester sulfonates can be advantageously prepared in high yield and purity by a two-step chemoenzymatic process, and have excellent surfactant properties.

Abstract: A method is performed in a virtual-reality system that includes a head-mounted display (HMD), a camera, and a hand-held controller having a plurality of illumination sources to provide light that is detectable by the camera. The method includes displaying, on the HMD, an image of a hand and using the camera to detect movement of the hand-held controller by tracking positions of respective illumination sources of the plurality of illumination sources. The method further includes displaying, on the HMD, motion of the image of the hand corresponding to the detected movement.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions utilizing a first zwitterionic ammonio-alkanamide and/or zwitterionic ammonio-alkanoate surfactant according to Formula 1 and an ingredient selected from the group consisting a surfactant other than the first zwitterionic surfactant, emulsifiers, conditioning agents, emollients, moisturizers, humectants, thickeners, lubricants, chelating agents, fillers, binding agents, anti-oxidants, preservatives, active ingredients, fragrances, dyes, buffering agents, exfoliates, pH adjusters, inorganic salts, solvents, viscosity controlling agents and opacifying agents, wherein the composition is substantially free of alkylamidoamine and aminoalkylamine.