Abstract: A device and method are used for changing the compression ratio of a reciprocating compressor. The device includes compression chambers pneumatically connected between an inlet and an outlet port. Communication valves change the number of compression steps and are arranged to switch from a first to a second open/closed state combination, or vice-versa. A lower number and a higher number, and vice-versa, respectively, of the compression chambers include chambers serially connected to one another, so that a gas is subjected to a number of compression steps that increases when switching from the first to the second combination and decreases when switching in the opposite direction. A control unit receives pressure signals upstream and downstream of the reciprocating compressor, respectively, to compute the corresponding pressure ratios, to generate opening/closing control signals responsive to the pressure ratios, and to transfer the control signals to actuators of the commutation valves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing Respiratory Distress Syndrome of newborn.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and tools for analysing biomarkers useful for diagnosing an individual, in particular a newborn, with a respiratory disease, especially a newborn suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The method and tools of the invention can in one embodiment be used for very rapidly detecting the ratio between lecithin and sphingomyelin in very small body fluid samples, e.g. gastric aspirate of a newborn. The invention is thus useful for obtaining a rapid treatment of RDS by administration of surfactant.

Abstract: An assembly for realising a lamp incorporated into a masonry wall, comprises a lamp housing that delimits a lamp seat suitable to house a lamp body, and a mould suitable to be removably fixed to the lamp housing and to the inner side of a formwork in which the pouring is carried out, so as to realise, after pouring cement in the formwork, a light-emission cavity open on the outer surface of the masonry wall. The mould is suitable to rigidly support the lamp housing before and during the pouring of the cement and is provided with mould fastening means suitable to removably fix the mould to the inner side of the formwork.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing Respiratory Distress Syndrome of newborn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing diseases and disorders by measuring the amounts of one or more compounds in lamellar bodies isolated from a sample derived from a subject suspected of suffering from a disorder. Also disclosed are methods for monitoring efficacy of a treatment, methods for monitoring disease progression in a subject, as well as computer-implemented methods for diagnosis and systems for performing said methods.

Abstract: An expansion device having a passageway formed orderly by a tubular inlet portion, a tubular throat portion and a tubular outlet portion, with a closing element arranged in the throat portion, the closing element adapted to cause a Joule-Thomson expansion and cooling of an at least partially gaseous fluid that is supplied at a predetermined pressure (P1), where in the inlet portion a direction means is provided for directing the fluid according to a flow direction that is generally at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inlet portion, in order to reduce the friction of the at least partially gaseous fluid when flowing through the throat portion at the closing element, in order to approximate the transformation to a reversible isentropic transformation more closely than what is possible with the known lamination valves.

Abstract: A column for consecutive extractive distillations, in particular of crude hydrocarbon mixes comprising aromatic, naphthene and paraffin hydrocarbons. The invention also relates to methods for separating and recovering the components of a crude hydrocarbon mix comprising aromatic, naphthene and paraffin hydrocarbons by consecutive extractive distillations provided by means of the column for consecutive extractive distillations, to which the invention also relates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (7?) for separating 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene by fractional distillation of a mixture (31) that contains C9 or C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons, and possibly hydrocarbons with less nine nine carbon atoms. In an aspect of the invention, a first distillation step and a second distillation step are carried out in respective distillation chambers (75, 75?) defined by a cylindrical vertical container 501 and by an inner partition wall (85) of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating method for removing acidity and/or moisture from a hydrocarbon gas, by absorption into a sweetening liquid and into a dehydration liquid, that are adapted to extract acid compounds or water from the gas, respectively. The apparatus includes at least such a container and a gas convey selective convey means, for actuating the treatment modes, in particular responsive to a flowrate of the gas. The apparatus according to the invention allows to maintain the sweetening and/or dehydration efficiency, in particular in the case of a progressive reduction of the flowrate of natural gas that can be obtained from a well or gasfield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for refining glyceride oil by size exclusion chromatography to obtain a triglyceride enriched fraction. The process comprises passing a glyceride oil through a size exclusion column packed with porous particles having a mass weighted mean particle size of 20 to 1,000 ?m and an average pore size of 10 to 150 A without using any solvent and collecting an eluate fraction enriched in triglyceride. The process may further comprise passing a solvent through the size exclusion column after the eluate fraction enriched in triglyceride is collected to obtain a partial glyceride enriched fraction. The process can suitably be used to produce triglyceride enriched fraction having a triglyceride content that is close to 100%.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (100) for reducing the pressure of a natural gas (2) at a wellhead of a natural gas field. The method provides prearranging an energy recovery expansion device (20), which comprises a stator and a rotor mechanically connected with a power generator (29), and a gas passageway between the rotor and the stator, and conveying the natural gas into the passageway of the energy recovery expansion device (24) to cause a rotation of the rotor and the expansion of the gas, the pressure being reduced from the extraction pressure (P1) to the use pressure (P2), which makes it possible to obtain an electric power (W) during the expansion, adapted to satisfy the energy requirements of the gas extraction unit, in particular of an offshore platform, without installing local electric generators.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing acid compounds (sweetening) and moisture (dehydration) from a hydrocarbon gas, in particular from a natural gas or from a refinery gas fraction or a gas of synthesis, by subsequent absorption operations using a sweetening liquid and a dehydration liquid. The method comprises a step of prearranging a sweetening chamber (51) and a dehydration chamber (52) within a vertical elongated container (50), each chamber defined by an inner partition wall (68) of said vertical elongated container (50), is wherein a gas transfer passageway (14) is provided between an upper outlet port of the sweetening chamber (51) and an inlet port of the dehydration chamber (52); the method also comprises steps of feeding the absorption liquid from the above into the two chambers and of feeding the gas from below into the sweetening chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating method for removing acidity and/or moisture from a hydrocarbon gas, by absorption into a sweetening liquid and into a dehydration liquid, that are adapted to extract acid compounds or water from the gas, respectively. The apparatus includes at least such a container and a gas convey selective convey means, for actuating the treatment modes, in particular responsive to a flowrate of the gas. The apparatus according to the invention allows to maintain the sweetening and/or dehydration efficiency, in particular in the case of a progressive reduction of the flowrate of natural gas that can be obtained from a well or gasfield.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and tools for analysing biomarkers useful for diagnosing an individual, in particular a newborn, with a respiratory disease, especially a newborn suffering from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The method and tools of the invention can in one embodiment be used for very rapidly detecting the ratio between lecithin and sphingomyelin in very small body fluid samples, e.g. gastric aspirate of a newborn. The invention is thus useful for obtaining a rapid treatment of RDS by administration of surfactant.