Abstract: A method for producing bioacrolein using renewable glycerol as a feedstock as well as a method for producing bioacrylic acid using bioacrolein as a feedstock are provided in the present invention. Also provided in the present invention are recombinant microbial cells useful in producing 3-hydroxypropionaldhyde from glycerol, method of converting the 3-hydroxypropionaldhyde into bioacrolein and a process for recovering acrolein using a fractional distillation process.

Abstract: This invention relates to polymerization of muconic acid and its derivatives. Muconic acid useful for the invention can be in any of its isomeric forms including cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA), cis, trans-muconic acid (ctMA), and trans, trans-muconic acid (ttMA). Muconic acid used in the invention can be derived either from renewable carbon resources through biological fermentation or from non-renewable petrochemical resources through biological fermentation or chemical conversion.

Abstract: This invention relates to polymerization of muconic acid and its derivatives. Muconic acid useful for the present invention can be in any of its isomeric forms including cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA), cis, trans-muconic acid (ctMA), and trans, trans-muconic acid (ttMA). Muconic acid used in the present invention can be derived either from renewable carbon resources through biological fermentation or from non-renewable petrochemical resources through biological fermentation or chemical conversion.

Abstract: Described herein are solid acid catalysts and the methods for catalytically preparing ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof. In one aspect, a zeolite catalyst may be used. The catalyst may, in certain embodiments, be modified to improve the selectivity and/or conversion of a reaction. For instance, a catalyst may be modified by ion exchange to achieve a desirable acidity profile in order to achieve high level of conversion of reactants and selectivity for desirable products of the catalytic reaction. In another aspect, a variety of feed stocks (e.g., starting compositions) may be used including an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid, an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, a ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, cyclic esters thereof (e.g., lactide), and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a visual tool for determining the spatial orientation of an aircraft relative to a level plane, including a closed container constructed of a material that permits the passage of light therethrough. An indicator body is fixed within the container and viewable through the container. An indicator fluid is provided including a liquid that fills the container a selected amount. The indicator fluid presents a fluid surface that is viewable through the container and free to move within the container. When the visual tool is affixed to an aircraft the indicator body and the fluid surface are parallel to the level plane when the aircraft is level. The indicator body is moved out of the level plane and the fluid surface remains parallel to the level plane when the aircraft deviates from the level plane to generate a visual signal representative of the orientation of the aircraft.

Abstract: Described herein are solid acid catalysts and the methods for catalytically preparing ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof. In one aspect, a zeolite catalyst may be used. The catalyst may, in certain embodiments, be modified to improve the selectivity and/or conversion of a reaction. For instance, a catalyst may be modified by ion exchange to achieve a desirable acidity profile in order to achieve high level of conversion of reactants and selectivity for desirable products of the catalytic reaction. In another aspect, a variety of feed stocks (e.g., starting compositions) may be used including an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid, an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, a ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, cyclic esters thereof (e.g., lactide), and combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing succinic acid and succinate ester from a succinic acid salt in fermentation broth. In the first stage of this invention, renewable carbon resources are utilized to produce succinic acid through biological fermentation. The succinic acid salt in the fermentation process is subjected to double displacement reaction with a strong acid leading to release of succinic acid. Succinic acid is recovered by fractional crystallization integrated with simulated moving bed chromatography to produce succinic acid and succinate ester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a voice tallying system to determine the relative participation of individual participants in a meeting. The voice tallying system according to the present invention comprises at least one voice recording device, a communication path from the voice recording device to a computing device having a voice analysis module. The voice tallying system and the method of the present invention include the capability to receive audio signals from each of the participants in a meeting and determine the identity of the speaker for each of the audio stream using voice profile information of the participants previously obtained and stored in the voice analysis module. The voice tallying system and the method further include the capability to tally the relative participation of a participant in a meeting in real time and as a result it is possible to display contemporaneously a voice tally for a participant with reference to that of other participants in the meeting.

Abstract: An L-type zeolite, a modified L-type zeolite, or any combination thereof may be useful in catalytically preparing ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof through reaction pathways that include dehydroxylation reactions and optionally esterification reactions. In some reaction pathways, dehydroxylation reactions and esterification reactions may be performed sequentially or concurrently.

Abstract: This invention relates to catalytic dehydration of lactic acid derived from biological fermentation and its esters into acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters respectively. Disclosed in this invention are chemical catalysts suitable for industrial scale production of acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters. This invention also provides an industrial scale integrated process technology for producing acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters from biological fermentation using renewable resources and biological catalysts.

Abstract: Apparatus wherein a primary automotive odometer includes a drive gear with a secondary odometer including a secondary gear with the secondary gear fixedly mounted to a solenoid ram wherein the solenoid ram is coupled to a solenoid. The solenoid is selectively actuated upon coupling of a seat belt arrangement to actuate the solenoid and effect engagement of the secondary gear relative to the gear of the primary odometer for indication of seat belt usage in relationship to automative usage in terms of miles traveled.