Abstract: A method is described for constructing double-stranded DNA using messenger RNA templates. DNA strands complementary to the templates are formed using a non-specific 3' hydroxy terminus primer. After separation, the DNA single strands are disabled from self priming by blocking the free 3' hydroxy. Primer segments are then provided complementary to a portion of the amino terminus-coding end of the desired single strands. These primer segments are then extended with a suitable polymerase to complete the complementary strands.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately transferring liquids for filling or diluting microliter quantities of regents, analytes or cells for bioassays and the like include a vessel having a plurality of troughs for supplying an array of pipettes to effect the transfer. The vessel is automatically indexable on a horizontal table to bring a selected trough into register with vertical movement of the pipette tips. The table is then indexed to bring the tips into alignment with a plurality of microtiter tray wells. In a preferred form the troughs are of different widths to supply differing quantities of liquid to the pipettes for transfer.

Abstract: A catalyst which exhibits superior activity maintenance in dehydrocyclization reactions are defined as a type L zeolite having exchangeable cations of which at least 75% are selected from Group IA and calcium and barium cations and containing well dispersed particles of at least one Group VII noble metal the preparation of which involves contacting the zeolite substantially free of moisture with a solution of the noble metal.

Abstract: A method is described for the manufacture of commercially useful alpha-halo and alpha-dihalo ketones and aldehydes from alkynes by enzymatic reaction. The alkyne is acted upon in a reaction mixture comprising a halogenating enzyme, an oxidizing agent, and a halide ion source.

Abstract: An endothermic or exothermic chemical reaction may be conducted whereby a flowable bed of magnetizable particles such as catalytic particles is subjected to an applied magnetic field, a reaction fluid is circulated through the bed under conditions so as to effect an exothermic or endothermic reaction, the bed of particles is circulated at a rate such that the temperature profile of the bed and reaction fluid throughout their entire contact in a reactor is at or about the temperature profile which results in maximization, at each point along the reactor, of at least one of: conversion, selectivity or product yield, and the desired reaction product is recovered.In a preferred embodiment the solids are transported countercurrently to the reaction fluid in the synthesis of ammonia. In another preferred embodiment the solids are transported cocurrently with the reaction fluid in the synthesis of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Method of oxidizing reduced cysteine-containing microbially produced synthetic proteins, such as synthetic IFN-.beta. or synthetic IL-2, in a controlled manner so that the synthetic proteins have the same disulfide bridging as their native counterparts. The oxidation employs o-iodosobenzoate as oxidizing agent and is carried out in an aqueous medium at a pH at least about one-half pH unit less than the pK.sub.a of the cysteines to be oxidized, a synthetic protein concentration of less than about 5 mg/ml, and an oxidizing agent:protein mol ratio that is at least stoichiometric, provided that the oxidizing agent is in excess in the terminal portion of the reaction.

Abstract: Esters or carboxylic acids are prepared from olefins containing at least two carbon atoms by reacting the olefin with carbon monoxide in the presence of:(i) a first complex of a selected Lewis acid with the ester or carboxylic acid, whichever is the reaction product recovered;(ii) a second complex of the Lewis acid with an alcohol, if an ester is being prepared, or with water, if a carboxylic acid is being prepared; and(iii) a metal carbonyl compound containing a Group IB transition metal in the first oxidation state; andby recovering the reaction product(s).The preferred olefin is propylene, the preferred ester to be prepared is methylisobutyrate, the preferred metal is copper and the preferred Lewis acid is boron trifluoride.

Abstract: A method is described for the manufacture of aldehydes from primary alcohols by enzymatic reaction. The aldehydes are produced by contacting a primary alcohol with a reaction mixture consisting of chloroperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A class of cation-reordered, bismuth-containing compounds having a perovskite-type structure of the formulaBa.sub.2 La.sub.y Bi.sub.2-y O.sub.6wherein y is greater than 0 but less than 1, is provided. Preferably, y is from 0.25 to 0.75, and most preferably y is 0.5.The compositions herein are found to be particularly advantageous in the selective production of aromatic compounds from acyclic olefins, particularly in the production of benzene from propylene.

Abstract: A process for bacterially producing heterologous polypeptides, particularly those such as human IFN-.beta. that inhibit bacterial growth, in which bacteria that have been transformed to express the heterologous polypeptide under the control of a trp promoter-operator are cultivated in a known volume of medium containing an excess of a preferred carbon source such as glucose and a predetermined amount of tryptophan that corresponds approximately to the amount of tryptophan contained in the bacteria in the volume of medium at a predetermined elevated cellular density, whereby expression of the heterologous polypeptide is substantially repressed until the bacteria grow to approximately the predetermined elevated cellular density and is thereafter automatically derepressed to permit expression of the heterologous polypeptide.

Abstract: The selective removal of H.sub.2 S gas from a normally gaseous mixture containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 is accomplished by contacting the gaseous mixture with an absorbent solution comprising a nitrogen heterocyclic tertiary aminoalkanol or aminoetheralkanol whereby H.sub.2 S is selectively absorbed from the mixture.

Abstract: A class of oxygen-deficient, barium-containing compounds having a perovskite-type structure may be prepared which are of the formula:Ba.sub.2 M.sub.a M'.sub.2-a O.sub.5+yif M is a trivalent cation, orBa.sub.3 M.sub.a M'.sub.3-a O[7.5-(a/2)+y]if M is a divalent cation, wherein M is Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, the lanthanides of atomic number 58 or greater, Ni, Fe, Cu,Al, Ga, In, Zn, Cd, Hg, Bi, Tl or a mixture thereof, M' is Sb or Bi, a is equal to or greater than O but less than or equal to 1, and if M is trivalent, y is equal to or greater than 0 but less than 1, and if M is divalent, y is equal to or greater than O but less than (3+a)/2.Preferably, the compounds herein are of the formula:Ba.sub.2 M.sub.a M'.sub.2-a O.sub.5+ywhere M is La or Sc, a is equal to or greater than O but less than or equal to 1 and y is equal to or greater than O but less than 1.This class of compounds are readily reoxidized and therefore are useful in oxidative dehydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: A novel class of severely sterically hindered secondary aminoether alcohols of the general formula: ##STR1## are prepared wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxylalkyl radicals R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and hydroxyalkyl radicals, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4 or R.sub.5 bonded to the carbon atom directly bonded to the nitrogen atom is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical when R.sub.3 is hydrogen, x and y are each positive integers ranging from 2-4 and z is a positive integer ranging from 1-4. The compounds are useful in the selective removal of H.sub.2 S from mixtures containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering and purifying .beta.-HIFN from transformed bacterial comprising concentrating the bacteria; disrupting the cell wall and solubilizing the .beta.-HIFN into an aqueous medium with an appropriate solubilizing agent; extracting the .beta.-HIFN from the aqueous medium with 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol or mixtures thereof; precipitating and isolating the .beta.-HIFN from the alcohol phase; purifying the .beta.-HIFN by chromatography and diafiltering the .beta.-HIFN against distilled water or aqueous solutions of ethanol or glycerol at a pH of about 12; and therapeutic formulations and compositions of .beta.-HIFN within SDS levels therein reduced to less than 10 p.p.m.

Abstract: A process for recovering IFN-.beta. from transformed bacteria comprising: disrupting the cell membranes of the bacteria; solubilizing the IFN-.beta. from the disruptate into an aqueous medium with a solubilizing agent such as sodium dodecyl sulfate; extracting the IFN-.beta. from the aqueous medium with 2-butanol, 2-methyl-butanol, or mixtures thereof under conditions that maintain phase separation between the aqueous meduim and the extractant; and isolating the IFN-.beta. from the extractant such as by precipitating the IFN-.beta. from an aqeous buffer mixture of the extractant by lowering the pH thereof.

Abstract: The precipitation of sediment in the unconverted residuum derived from a virgin residuum conversion process is reduced significantly by blending with the uncoverted residuum an effective amount of a virgin residuum having an asphaltene content of at least about 8% by weight of the virgin residuum at a temperature sufficient to render both residua during blending at a viscosity of no greater than 100 centistokes.A blend of 1-20% virgin residuum containing at least 8% asphaltene with 80-99% unconverted residuum from a virgin residuum conversion operation, which will contain little, if any sediment, can be used as heavy fuel for power plants.

Abstract: A mixture of two or more fluid molecular species is resolved into its compartment parts by a selective separation process whereby the mixture is contacted with a solid particulate monomeric cyclodextrin. On contact, at least one of the molecular species is selectively sorbed onto the cyclodextrin, and thereafter the species is desorbed from the cyclodextrin. In a preferred aspect, the species to be separated are organic compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alkaline promoter system comprising specific mixtures of nonsterically hindered amino compounds and sterically hindered amino acids and their use in acid gas scrubbing processes. The preferred promoter system comprises a mixture of (i) diethanol amine or 1,6-hexanediamine and (ii) N-secondary butyl glycine or pipecolinic acid.

Abstract: The selective removal of H.sub.2 S gas from a normally gaseous mixture containing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 is accomplished by contacting the gaseous mixture with an absorbent solution comprising a diaminoether wherein at least one amino group is a tertiary amine whereby H.sub.2 S is selectively absorbed from the mixture.

Abstract: Acidic gases containing carbon dioxide are removed from a normally gaseous mixture by absorbing CO.sub.2 from the gaseous mixture with an aqueous solution comprising a basic alkali metal salt or hydroxide and an activator or promoter system for the salt or hydroxide which contains (i) at least one non-sterically hindered diamine defined as having both a primary and a tertiary amino moiety wherein the primary amino moiety is attached to a primary carbon atom, and (ii) an amino acid, and desorbing at least partially the absorbed CO.sub.2 from the aqueous solution.