Abstract: Active utilization of a robotic simulator in control of one or more real world robots. A simulated environment of the robotic simulator can be configured to reflect a real world environment in which a real robot is currently disposed, or will be disposed. The robotic simulator can then be used to determine a sequence of robotic actions for use by the real world robot(s) in performing at least part of a robotic task. The sequence of robotic actions can be applied, to a simulated robot of the robotic simulator, to generate a sequence of anticipated simulated state data instances. The real robot can be controlled to implement the sequence of robotic actions. The implementation of one or more of the robotic actions can be contingent on a real state data instance having at least a threshold degree of similarity to a corresponding one of the anticipated simulated state data instances.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: Active utilization of a robotic simulator in control of one or more real world robots. A simulated environment of the robotic simulator can be configured to reflect a real world environment in which a real robot is currently disposed, or will be disposed. The robotic simulator can then be used to determine a sequence of robotic actions for use by the real world robot(s) in performing at least part of a robotic task. The sequence of robotic actions can be applied, to a simulated robot of the robotic simulator, to generate a sequence of anticipated simulated state data instances. The real robot can be controlled to implement the sequence of robotic actions. The implementation of one or more of the robotic actions can be contingent on a real state data instance having at least a threshold degree of similarity to a corresponding one of the anticipated simulated state data instances.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a liquid medium. The process comprising the following steps: (a) incubating a suspension containing (i) particulate scrap metal, household waste and/or industrial waste containing a heavy metal in elemental form and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium, or a combination of two or more bacteria, capable of binding the heavy metal; (b) separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of step (a); and (c) isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in step (b).

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a suspension containing a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal, comprising the following steps: incubating a suspension containing (i) a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium capable of binding the heavy metal; separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of the previous step; and isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in the previous step.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test too! into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: An unsymmetric bisphosphite of the formula (1) a process for preparation thereof, a reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures containing complexes of the unsymmetric bisphosphite and the metal, and a use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, where the hydroformylation-active composition contains, as well as the complex of metal and unsymmetric bisphosphite, unbound bisphosphite and at least one further component.

Abstract: Process for preparing 2,2?-dihydroxy-3,3?-di-tert-butyl-5,5?-dimethoxy-1,1?-biphenol.

Abstract: The invention relates to mixtures of constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a), to a method for the production thereof, to the reaction thereof with metals to form mixtures containing complex compounds of the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a) and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions. Said hydroformylactically active compositions comprises, in addition to the complex compounds of metal and the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a), non-bound bisphosphites of the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a) and at least one additional component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture of unsymmetric bisphosphites, to a process for preparation thereof, to the reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures comprising complexes of the bisphosphites and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, and also to the hydroformylation reaction itself.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a plurality of products and the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in a method for producing aldehydes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture of bisphosphites, to a process for preparation thereof, and to the reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures comprising complexes of the constitutionally isomeric bisphosphites and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, and also to the hydroformylation reaction itself.

Abstract: An unsymmetric bisphosphite of the formula (1) a process for preparation thereof, a reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures containing complexes of the unsymmetric bisphosphite and the metal, and a use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, where the hydroformylation-active composition contains, as well as the complex of metal and unsymmetric bisphosphite, unbound bisphosphite and at least one further component.

Abstract: The invention relates to mixtures of constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a), to a method for the production thereof, to the reaction thereof with metals to form mixtures containing complex compounds of the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a) and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions. Said hydroformylactically active compositions comprises, in addition to the complex compounds of metal and the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a), non-bound bisphosphites of the constitutional isomer bisphosphites of formulae (1a) and (2a) and at least one additional component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture of bisphosphites, to a process for preparation thereof, and to the reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures comprising complexes of the constitutionally isomeric bisphosphites and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, and also to the hydroformylation reaction itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture of unsymmetric bisphosphites, to a process for preparation thereof, to the reaction thereof with metals to give mixtures comprising complexes of the bisphosphites and the metal, and to the use thereof as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions, and also to the hydroformylation reaction itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing 6,6?-[(3,3?-di-tert-butyl-5,5?-dimethoxy-1,1?-biphenyl-2,2?diyl)bis(oxy)]bis(dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepine), abbreviated to biphephos (see formula 1), with low chlorine content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising: a) an inert porous support material, b) an ionic liquid, c) a metal selected from group 9 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, d) a phosphorus-containing organic ligand, e) at least one organic amine. The present invention further provides a process for hydroformylating olefin-containing hydrocarbon mixtures to aldehydes with addition of the inventive composition as a catalytically active composition, wherein: a) the water content of the olefin-containing hydrocarbon mixture is adjusted to not more than 20 ppm, b) the content of polyunsaturated compounds in the olefin-containing hydrocarbon mixture is adjusted to not more than 3000 ppm, c) a molar ratio of organic amines according to claims 10-13 to phosphorus-containing organic ligands according to claims 8-9 of at least 4:1 is established, d) a molar ratio of phosphorus-containing organic ligands according to claims 8-9 to rhodium of at least 10:1 is established.