Abstract: A unitary trash bag includes a closed bag end and an open bag end located opposite the closed bag end. A plurality of flaps ae located at the open bag end. The flaps are arranged around a perimeter of the open bag end, each flap of the plurality of flaps including a flap opening in the flap to grasp and/or close the bag. A method of forming a trash bag includes forming a tubular film of material and sealing an edge of the tubular film, thereby defining a closed bag end. The film is cut at an open bag end opposite to the closed bag end to define a plurality of flaps in the film at the open bag end. A plurality of flap openings are cut in the film at the flaps and between the open bag end and the closed bag end.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method capable of producing rosuvastatin calcium and intermediates therefor efficiently, inexpensively and with high purity. The present invention provides a method of efficiently producing rosuvastatin calcium and intermediates therefor having a high purity at an industrial scale, without using an extremely low temperature reaction or a special asymmetric catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating donation of a digital asset from a user to an entity. A mechanism is provided by which the user may designate the digital asset to be donated. The mechanism is configured to receive at least a representation of the digital asset. A type of the digital asset is identified with reference to the received representation of the digital asset. Further processing of the received representation of the digital asset is effected with reference to the type. At least the representation of the digital asset is stored in a repository associated with the entity. A notification is provided to the user that ownership of the digital asset has been transferred to the entity.

Abstract: A method for producing (2S,5S)/(2R,5R)-5-hydroxypiperidine-2-carboxylic acid represented by the formula (10) below: the method comprising the step of removing the protecting group from the hydroxyl group in a compound represented by the formula (7) below: (wherein P represents a protecting group, R3 represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and A represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkyloxy group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aralkyloxy group containing 7 to 20 carbon atoms) to synthesize a compound represented by the formula (8) below: (wherein R3 represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and A represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkyloxy group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aralkyloxy group containing 7 to 20 carbon atoms).

Abstract: This invention provides optimized fermentation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic sugars. Biomass-derived hemicellulosic and cellulosic sugars are independently conditioned and separately fermented, utilizing reuse and recycle of microorganisms, metabolic intermediates, and nutrients. Conditioned sugars can be fermented in separate vessels, where excess cells from glucose fermentation are conveyed to hemicellulose sugar fermentation along with raffinate from solvent recovery, to enhance productivity and product yield.

Abstract: A bee venom composition and method for preparing such a composition. The bee venom can be placed in a base that allows it to be applied directly to the skin. Skin penetration enhancers promote percutaneous absorption to increase the speed at which the effects of the bee venom are experienced. A skin penetration enhancer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method to track time and attendance of an individual at a workplace is provided. The system includes a location tracking system that detects a presence of a portable electronic device carried by the individual, a time clock system that records a registration time of the individual at the workplace, and a main controller. If the main controller receives an electronic communication indicative that the portable electronic device is at the workplace, and if the main controller does not detect recording of the individual registration time at the time clock system, and if the main controller detects a current time at or later than a start time of a scheduled work shift time period of the individual at the workplace, then main controller automatically causes an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal acknowledging need to record the registration time.

Abstract: A composition comprising nanocellulose is disclosed, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. The nanocellulose may be in the form of cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, or both. The nanocellulose is characterized by a crystallinity of at least 80%, an onset of thermal decomposition of 300° F. or higher, and a low light transmittance over the range 400-700 nm. Other variations provide a composition comprising lignin-coated hydrophobic nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. Some variations provide a composition comprising nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains about 0.1 wt % equivalent sulfur content, or less, as SO4 groups chemically or physically bound to the nanocellulose. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose contains essentially no hydrogen atoms (apart from hydrogen structurally contained in nanocellulose itself) bound to the nanocellulose.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described which enable flexible and secure processing of digital bearer instruments. An architecture is provided that enables provision of an extensible applications framework that flexibly supports a variety of features and functionality supporting title-based rights processing operations. A wide range of methods of defining and assuring rights processing operating environments extend the capabilities of rights processing operating environments in a variety of ways.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for enabling actionable content by embedding title materials corresponding to digital bearer instruments in digital media.

Abstract: A connecting-conductor is disclosed. The connecting-conductor may have a first conductor-element and a second conductor-element. Each conductor-element has a first end that is mechanically-connected and electrically-conductively connected to a resistor-element. The resistor-element has an electrical-insulating substrate, and a resistive material annularly disposed on at least part of the electrical-insulating substrate. The first end of each conductor-element is electrically-conductively connected to the resistive material. The first conductor does not touch the second conductor, and an electrical pathway is created via the resistive material from one of the conductor-elements to the other of the conductor-elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of industrially and safely producing lacosamide high in diastereomeric excess at a high yield and a low cost. Adopting a particular isomerization-crystallization condition makes it possible to a method of industrially and safely producing lacosamide high in diastereomeric excess at a high yield and a low cost. Additionally, an intermediate efficacious for producing lacosamide is provided.

Abstract: Methods of synthesizing prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs and their synthetic intermediates are described. The methods can comprise metal-catalyzed metathesis reactions. Also provided are synthetic intermediates that can be used in the synthesis of the prostaglandins and prostaglandin analogs.

Abstract: Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipecolic acid 4-hydroxylase protein exemplified by the following (A), (B), and (C), having activity to react with L-pipecolic acid in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and iron(II) ions to produce trans-4-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, and a method for producing 4-hydroxy amino acid, which method comprises reacting the pipecolic acid 4-hydroxylase protein, cells containing the protein, a treated product of the cells, and/or a culture liquid obtained by culturing the cells, with ?-amino acid to produce 4-hydroxy amino acid: (A) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, or 18; (B) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, or 18 except that one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added, and having pipecolic acid 4-hydroxylase activity; and (C) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is not less than 80% identical to the amino acid sequence rep

Abstract: A method for producing cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, the method comprising allowing a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase to act on L-pipecolic acid to generate cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, wherein the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase comprises the polypeptide (A), (B) or (C) below: (A) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11; (B) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11 except that one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity; or (C) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with an identity of not less than 60% to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity.

Abstract: A novel method of producing high-purity hydroxy-L-pipecolic acids in an efficient and inexpensive manner while suppressing the production of hydroxy-L-proline is provided. The method includes allowing an L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, a microorganism or cell having the ability to produce the enzyme, a processed product of the microorganism or cell, and/or a culture liquid comprising the enzyme and obtained by culturing the microorganism or cell, to act on L-pipecolic acid as a substrate in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion, wherein the L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase has the properties: (1) the enzyme can act on L-pipecolic acid in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion to add a hydroxy group to the carbon atom at positions 3, 4, and/or 5 of L-pipecolic acid; and (2) the enzyme has a catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-proline that is equal to or less than 7 times the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-pipecolic acid.