Abstract: Process for producing vermicular cast iron comprising: (i) forming a near eutectic melt having a sulfur content preferably less than about 0.025% by weight; (ii) admixing at least one rare earth-containing additive with said melt to form stable rare earth oxysulfides thereby reducing and maintaining the Henrian sulfur activity in the melt at between about 0.004 and 0.035; and (iii) thereafter, allowing said melt to solidify.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger has elements through which a medium flows. The elements are two thin metal plates, in at least one of which passages and opposed manifolds connecting the passages are formed by deep drawing. The plates are coated with a sealing adhesive and bonded together. The manifolds extend across the entire length of the elements and are closed at their ends by end closures inserted in the manifolds and sealed to the plates. Distributing conduits running transversely to the plates of the heat exchange elements, are connected to channels provided in the end closures so that the medium can flow from a distributing conduit through an end closure into a deeper shaped manifold and then into the passages and leave the elements in a corresponding manner. Pipes having a cross-shaped cross-section can be inserted in the end closures to serve as distributing conduits and also as tie-rods to hold the elements of the heat exchanger together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging container of plastics consisting of two halves, which are foldably joined. Each half comprises a cavity for receiving goods. The opening of each cavity is surrounded by a flange onto which a closing sheet is sealed. For keeping the two halves together in a folded position before and after taking out some of the goods, locking means are provided at the flanges, consisting of a tongue on one half and a slit or a cut-out on the other half. These locking means are so flexible, because of their dimensions and arrangement, that no deformation of the flanges and the sealing zone is caused by opening and closing them.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved procedures for preparing pinacolone from compounds of general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein, either adjacent two of A, B, C and D form a single bond between them and the remaining two are hydrogen atoms, or both A and D are hydrogen atoms and one of B and C is a hydrogen atom and the other represents OH, Cl, Br, HSO.sub.4, H.sub.2 PO.sub.4 or ClO.sub.4, anda new procedure which enables preparing pinacolone from a compound of general formula (II) ##STR2## wherein, both W and Y are each hydrogen atoms and X and Z are the same or different and each represents OH, Cl, Br, HSO.sub.4, H.sub.2 PO.sub.4, ClO.sub.4 or RCOO wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or one of W and Y is a hydrogen atom and the other forms a single bond together with X, and Z represents OH, Cl, Br, HSO.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4, ClO.sub.4 or RCOO where R is defined as above.

Abstract: A membrane made of a composition containing essentially two kinds of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers with different ethylene unit contents and the membrane has such a microstructure that there are at least one active layer and a porous layer thereunder, the porous layer comprises mono- or multi-layer of a plurality of cylindrical voids and a plurality of spherical voids therein and the membrane is of a porosity of 70 to 95%.

Abstract: A leather-like sheet material bearing a remarkable resemblance to high-quality leathers of natural origin, especially in respect of flatness, bending crimp, grain and feeling, is produced by providing a substrate consisting of a fibrous base material and a porous coating layer with a thin layer of a polymer, subjecting the surface to a specific heat treatment, providing the resulting material with another thin layer of a polymer, and, if desired, embossing the material.

Abstract: Hydroformylation of olefins is effected in an organic solvent in the presence of a rhodium complex and a trisubstituted phosphine to give the corresponding aldehydes. Addition of a diphosphinoalkane of the general formula ##STR1## wherein, in the formula, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are each aryl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each aryl or saturated hydrocarbon residues containing one or more carbon atoms, and Z is an alkylene radical whose principal chain contains 2 to 5 carbon atoms and optionally may have one or more lower alkyl substituents, to the hydroformylation reaction system in an amount of 0.20 to 2.5 equivalents per gram atom of the rhodium contained in the rhodium complex markedly prolongs the life of the rhodium catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing liquid hydrocarbons useful e.g. as lubricants or base oils for cosmetics is disclosed. The method comprises copolymerizing in the presence of an aluminum halide catalyst (i) at least one alpha-olefin having a terminal vinyl group and containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms, (ii) isobutylene and/or diisobutylene, and optionally (iii) 1-butene, coexisting in a specified ratio, and optionally hydrogenating the resulting polymer.

Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument which may be used with interchangeable spray and closed end cryotips includes a body member with a central bore extending partially therethrough. Refrigerant is supplied to a first point in the bore through a valved refrigerant supply line while an effluent opening connects an effluent line to a second point in the bore. The bore receives the inner ends of cryotips. All cryotips used with the instrument include refrigerant delivery tubes having inner ends which are positioned adjacent the first point in the bore and O-rings which are seated between the first point and the second point in the bore to prevent escape of refrigerant. Closed end cryotips to be used with the instrument further include an effluent channel extending from an expansion chamber to the second point in the bore. A second O-ring is provided with closed end cryotips.

Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument having a tip which is cooled by the Joule-Thomson expansion of a pressurized gas. The gas is conveyed to the tip by an inlet tube and exhausts through an exhaust tube connected to the rear of a fitting. The tip is connected to the forward portion of the fitting. The rear and forward portions of the fitting are rotatably connected by a bearing coupling which enables the tip to be rotated independent of the inlet and exhaust tubes.

Abstract: A suede-like sheet material closely resembling natural leathers in feel and nap is produced by temporarily fixing a fibrous mat consisting of "oceano-insular" composite fibers, impregnating said fibrous mat with elastomer (A), smoothing the surface, impregnating the resulting mat with another elastomer (B) which is harder and less swellable than said elastomer (A), removing the sea or matrix component of the composite fiber, and napping the surface of the resulting sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced pressure hose comprises a spiral winder which includes a mandrel of a truncated conical shape tapering one end towards the other end thereof at a predetermined angle of convergence and having its outer peripheral surface formed with a plurality of guide grooves lengthwise thereof. Longitudinal reinforcing strands are guided along the guide grooves on the mandrel while at least two circumferential reinforcing strands are spirally wound on the longitudinal reinforcing strands in the opposed direction with each other to form a tubular reinforcing layer. This reinforcing layer is, while being drawn in a direction away from the mandrel, positioned substantially intermediately of the wall of the subsequently formed tubular product.

Abstract: A process is provided for the isolation of two protein fractions herein termed the "blocking protein fractions" or "Blocker I" and "Blocker II," from mammalian blood. The process comprises a series of centrifugal separations of blood fractions under conditions which maintain the integrity of the desired material as it existed in vivo. These blocking protein fractions are new materials and they constitute another aspect of the invention. Isolated Blocker I and Blocker II, which are natural proteins or derivatives thereof, are useful to prevent tissue implant rejection, and as standards for the determination of the tumor remission activity of other materials isolated from blood.

Abstract: A de-aeration and vacuum packaging apparatus includes porous closeable disks and a tight closing, anti-pollution filler device. The apparatus is suitable for use with a machine adapted for filling packages with a freely flowing material which includes bag supporting means comprising a clamping part formed intergral with a horizontal support which is equipped at each end with slides serving as a guide for sliding supports, each slide including side sections fitted with grips linked together by hinges or by a flexible belt. Portions of the apparatus subjacent to the vertical hinges, along with a flexible spout are distortable in the lower part thereof through hinged plates connected to the vertical hinges. Reciprocating means connected to opposite sides of the hinged portions provide lateral pressure to conform the hinged portions to the distortable part of the spout in order to prevent escape of pollutive materials during the filling process.

Abstract: A method of producing a leather-like sheet having a deluxe feeling is provided comprising preparing and fully curing a leather-like sheet comprising a porous substrate consisting of a porous layer of elastomer and/or a porous layer of fibrous material and a nonporous coating layer of elastomer coated in a thickness of 0.5 to 50 .mu. on the surface of said porous substrate, crumpling said fully cured sheet in the absence of tension in a liquid medium and, then, drying the crumpled sheet at a temperature not exceeding 100.degree. C. in the absence of tension.

Abstract: A centrifugal potting apparatus has one or more rotators for holding housings filled with hollow semi-permeable filaments. Potting agent containers with radially-directed outlets are mounted on the rotators. Tubing connects the container outlets to potting case inlets at the ends of the filament-filled housings. Centrifugal forces during rotation force the potting agent through the tubing and into the ends of the housings.

Abstract: Leaks from a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a housing having one or more hollow fiber bundles positioned therein with at least one end of each bundle being sealed by a cementing layer includes the step of applying a pressurized gas to the external surfaces of the hollow fibers. The gas which is used must have a refractive index different from the refractive index of the ambient atmosphere. The atmospheric volume adjacent the sealed end of the module is optically monitored for refraction patterns caused by gas leaking through the sealed end into the volume. The optical system includes a light source and components for directing light from the source along an optical path including the monitored volume. Light which is passed through the monitored volume is directed to an optical display where the refraction patterns of the leaking gas will be visible. The method and apparatus permit leaks to be located without the use of liquids.

Abstract: Semi-permeable membranes of regenerated cellulose are subjected to wet-heat sterilization at a temperature of 105.degree. to 140.degree. C. During the treatment, the membranes are maintained in contact with an aqueous medium such as water or physiological saline. For the dialysis of body fluids, hollow fiber, semi-permeable membranes so sterilized exhibit a sonic modulus of at least 6.5.times.10.sup.10 dynes/cm.sup.2. Hollow fibers made of cuprammonium regenerated cellulose are particularly preferred for the above purpose.

Abstract: A hemoperfusion adsorbent is provided comprising an adsorbent material containing at least one coating thereon of a hydrophilic polymer prepared by the polymerization of at least one monomeric acrylate or methacrylate with a copolymerizable monomer containing an epoxy moiety therein.In addition, a method is provided for removing air bubbles from such adsorbents comprising boiling said adsorbents in water or physiological saline, cooling said adsorbents, packing said adsorbents into a container and sterilizing the packed container by autoclaving.

Abstract: A vaccine comprising an antigen selectively adsorbed onto erythrocytes possessing their natural surface characteristics. When the antigen is the K88a,b/adhesion factor of E. coli and the erythrocytes are chicken erythrocytes, the vaccine is especially suitable for reducing the incidence of neonatal diarrhoea in pigs if it is administered parenterally to a sow about three weeks prior to parturition.