Abstract: Resistors have successfully replaced corona point discharge devices in the control of high voltage gradients, such as those experienced in electrostatic accelerators. An improved resistor for such applications which has a single elongate resistive element, one end of which is mounted on a metal clamp which is adapted to be clamped to the edge of a metal disc of the type used in a supporting column or tube of an electrostatic accelerator. The other (free) end of the resistor is unsupported, but carries a tubular capacitive electrode, which provides, with a cylindrical metal housing which is mounted on the clamp coaxially with the resistive element, a spark gap. The free end of the resistor also supports a light-weight connector, into which or on to which a plug can be inserted or affixed to make an external electrical connection to the resistive element.

Abstract: A process for producing a diamond compact comprised of diamond crystals bonded mainly by silicon carbide. The diamond crystals are intimately mixed with silicon in the proportions 97 to 65 percent by weight of diamond to 3 to 35 percent by weight of silicon. The thus-mixed diamond crystals and silicon are placed immediately adjacent to one or more bodies of silicon within a container and subjected to high pressure and temperature so as to cause melting of the premixed silicon and of the external silicon which infiltrates into the interstitial spaces between the diamond crystals to cause most of the silicon between the diamond crystals to react with diamond to produce silicon carbide. The elevated temperature is in the range 1,100.degree. to 18,000.degree. C., and the elevated pressure is in the range 10 to 40 kilobars. The resulting compact contains between 50 and 85 volume percent of diamond with a density of at least 3.35 g/cm.sup.3 and a compressive strength of at least 10 kilobars.

Abstract: Diamond compact composed of 60-95 volume % diamond crystals plastically deformed into a closely packed, rigid structure with contacts between the diamond crystals over extended mating surfaces arising from the plastic deformation. The diamond crystals are bonded together by an interstitial bonding material composed of a refractory carbide, such as silicon carbide, or a bonding material composed of a metal such as rhenium and a refractory carbide formed by reaction of a metallic bonding agent, such as tungsten, with carbon.

Abstract: A process for preparing gamma inulin comprising the steps of (a) recrystallizing crude inulin from water at a temperature below 37.degree. C. to obtain a suspension, (b) heating the suspension at a temperature of from about 25.degree. to 45.degree. C. for about 1-3 days, (c) further heating the suspension at a temperature of about 40.degree. to 55.degree. C. for about 0.5 to 1.5 hours, and (d) isolating insoluble gamma inulin from the suspension. A composition comprising particles of inulin or an inulin derivative in the gamma polymorphic form is characterized in that the particles have a low rate of solution in aqueous media above 30.degree. C., particularly above 37.degree. C. The composition is effective as the active component of an immunotherapeutic preparation for activation of the alternative pathway of complement, or for antitumor treatment.

Abstract: A diamond compact comprised of 60-95 volume percent of diamond crystals which have been plastically deformed so that they form a rigid framework structure in which contacts between the diamond crystals occur over surfaces arising from plastic deformation of the diamond crystals during formation of the compact under pressure and temperature conditions within the graphite stability field. The diamond framework structure is bonded together by interstitial refractory carbide phases or metallic phases comprised of metals not forming carbides in the presence of carbon. The phases have a melting point greater than 1600.degree. C. The compact comprises less than about 2 percent volume of graphite and possesses a compressive strength greater than 10 kbars.

Abstract: A method of treating autoimmune diseases by suppressing the immune response of an animal is characterized by administering to the animal a compound of the general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.0 and R.sup.1 are radicals selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy and acyloxy: R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are radicals separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl; or together, represent a radical of the general formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are radicals separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, sulfate, and halogen: or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together, represent a radical of the general formula (3): ##STR3## wherein R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 both represent hydrogen; or together, represent a valence bond: R.sup.12, R.sup.13, R.sup.14, R.sup.

Abstract: Waste material such as toxic compounds, radioactive waste materials and spent nuclear fuel rods are encapsulated in a container system which is subjected to a hot pressure process to cause a protective powder material located around the waste material to form a dense matrix and function as a highly corrosion resistant and protective shroud. Embodiments include hot isostatic pressing and hot uniaxial pressing, the use of metal powder such as copper powder for the protective powder material or alternatively ceramic powder and, depending upon the embodiment chosen, the use of a single container or dual container system in which a first container is located within an outer container. Either or both of such containers may be cylindrical with a bellows-like side wall to facilitate compression thereof in an axial direction.

Abstract: A large volume magnetoplasma is created by (a) establishing a plasma in an electrically isolated, tubular cavity formed by a cylinder (10) containing a source of ions and electrons at low pressure, into which rf energy is coupled by an antenna (32) alongside the cavity; and (b) allowing the plasma to extend into an adjoining auxiliary region (20) which is connected to the cavity (10). Preferably the operating conditions in the cavity (10) are such that the production of atomic species in the plasma is enhanced. The enhancement occurs when the operating conditions satisfy the relationships ##EQU1## where W is the power in watts applied to the antenna (32), D is the diameter of the plasma cavity (10) in cm, p is the pressure in the cavity (10) (and in the auxiliary region (20)) expressed in millitorr, f is the frequency of the rf power in MHz, L is the length of the antenna (32) in cm and B is the magnetic field in the cavity (10), established by a coil (13) which surrounds the cavity, expressed in gauss.

Abstract: A vibratory processing arrangement including an apparatus comprising three main stages. Namely, a high level waste vibrating impregnator, a vibrating calciner and a vibratory powder mixer.The waste impregnator comprises a downwardly inclined trough having flexible mountings and a vibrator at its upstream end, a hood structure and a series of liquid sprays connected to a high level waste supply tube.The vibratory calciner comprises a downwardly inclined tube connected to a downstream discharge tube. The discharge tube has an inlet pipe for entry of reducing gas. The reducing gas passes upwardly through the tubes to a gas discharge take-off tube near the upstream end of the downwardly inclined tube. A vibrator is tuned to provide the desired flow rate through the downwardly inclined tube.Calcined discharged powder falls downwardly into the vibratory mixer, which has a vibratory actuator and flexible mountings.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I are disclosed as useful intermediates in the preparation of prostanoids: ##STR1## wherein A represents O or H, OR.sup.z ;R.sup.z represents hydrogen or a protecting group;R.sup.x represents hydrogen or a protecting group; andR.sup.y represents halogen, a substituted thio group, di-substituted amino group, or a group of the formula R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 represents a straight- or branched-chain alkyl alkenyl or alkynyl group which may optionally be substituted by one or more carboxyl, carboxylic acid ester, or free or protected hydroxyl, thiol, aldehyde or keto groups;with the provisos that R.sup.x is not hydrogen when A is O and R.sup.y is R.sup.2 ; and that when A is H, OR.sup.z R.sup.y and R.sup.2 and R.sup.x and R.sup.z are not both hydrogen.Processes for the preparation of these compounds and of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: Particulate material is poured into a container which is decay and heat resistant, the container is sealed and subjected to axial compression at elevated temperature to cause densification of the material, there being an arrangement for preventing substantial radially outward deformation of the container during compression. An important application is to immobilization of nuclear reactor waste in a synthetic rock structure formed during the high temperature compression step, and advantageously the containers are secured within an outer metal cannister for subsequent safe handling and disposal. An important embodiment includes a bellows container which advantageously is upwardly pressed into an inverted metal cannister restrained by an upper abutment, the bellows container becoming an interference fit within the metal cannister during the final portion of compression, but the bellows container wall itself being substantially sufficient to prevent gross outward deformation of the bellows container.

Abstract: Two-dimensional arrays of polarized energy-generating or energy-storing elements (20A, 20B, . . . , 20D; 21A, . . . , 21D; 22A, . . . , 22D; 23A, . . . , 23D; 24A, . . . , 24D; 25A, . . . , 25D), such as solar cells, batteries, thermoelectric generators or capacitors are formed as a matrix of rows and columns of elements, with the elements of each column being connected in series and the junctions between the series-connected elements in each column within the matrix being connected, in sequence, first to the corresponding junction in one of the adjacent columns and then to the corresponding junction in the other one of the adjacent columns. By connecting the junctions (32, 33) of alternate pairs of elements in the left hand column of the matrix to the respective junctions (32A, 33A) in the right hand column of a matrix having an even number of columns, the mathematical equivalent of a tubular matrix of elements is formed.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is produced by oxidation of a coordination complex of a metal ion capable of existing in at least two oxidation states and a ligand, the coordination complex being sufficiently stable for the metal ion to be oxidized and reduced without decomposition of the complex and the metal ion being in its lower oxidation state. In a cyclic process, the step of reduction of the complex with the metal ion in its higher oxidation state precedes the oxidation step, and the reduction and oxidation steps are repeated sequentially. Novel coordination complexes which may be used in the process have the formula: ##STR1## in which n represents an integer; M represents a cobalt ion or other metal ion having at least two oxidation states; x and y, which may be the same or different, each represent .tbd.N, .tbd.P or .tbd.

Abstract: A formulation which allows administration of aspirin and like drugs and avoids gastrointestinal damage to a significant extent is described. A preferred formulation particularly useful for protecting the gastric mucosal lining of arthritic sufferers on a prolonged aspirin medication program comprises aspirin, glucose and sodium acetate or sodium citrate. A like composition containing dibromoaspirin in lieu of aspirin is helpful in reducing gastrointestinal damage to persons suffering from sickle cell disease and who regularly take dibromoaspirin.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I are disclosed as useful intermediates in the preparation of prostanoids: ##STR1## wherein A represents O or H, OR.sub.z ;R.sup.z represents hydrogen or a protecting group;R.sup.x represents hydrogen or a protecting group; andR.sup.y represents halogen, a substituted thio group, di-substituted amino group, or a group of the formula R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 represents a straight-or branched-chain alkyl alkenyl or alkynyl group which may optionally be substituted by one or more carboxyl, carboxylic acid ester, or free or protected hydroxyl, thiol, aldehyde or keto groups;with the provisos that R.sup.x is not hydrogen when A is O and R.sup.y is R.sup.2 ; and that when A is H, OR.sup.z R.sup.y is R.sup.2 and R.sup.x and R.sup.z are not both hydrogen.Processes for the preparation of these compounds and of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for immobilizing high level waste (HLW) sludge containing aluminium and/or iron compounds which comprises the steps of:(1) mixing the sludge with a mixture of oxides, the oxides in said mixture and the relative proportions thereof being selected so as to form a mixture when heated at temperatures between 800.degree. and 1400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for immobilizing high level radioactive waste (HLW) calcine comprises the steps of:(1) mixing the HLW calcine with a mixture of oxides, the oxides in the mixture and the relative proportions thereof being selected so as to form a mixture which, when heated and then cooled, crystallizes to produce a mineral assemblage containing well-formed crystals capable of providing lattice sites in which elements of the HLW are securely bound, the crystals belonging to or possessing crystal structures closely related to crystals belonging to mineral classes which are resistant to leaching and alteration in appropriate geological environments and including crystals belonging to the titanate classes of minerals; and(2) heating and then cooling the mixture so as to cause crystallization of the mixture to a mineral assemblage having the elements of the HLW incorporated as solid solutions within the crystals thereof.