Abstract: Provided a method for correctly assessing an inflammatory condition of a patient who is receiving a therapy with an IL-6 inhibitor. The method for assessing an inflammatory condition of a patient who is receiving an IL-6 inhibitor, including determining a PTX3 level of a sample derived from a patient who is receiving an IL-6 inhibitor.

Abstract: A portable terminal device in which a preset input mode can be forcibly return to by a simple operation and the user convenience and operability can be improved and its input mode control method. When the operation of a specific key is detected or the operating time of the specific key is monitored and it is detected that the specific key is continuously operated for a predetermined time or more, a control unit 16 forcibly returns the mode to the preset input mode and displays input characters or symbols in a preset language or language effective in the area to which the terminal device belongs.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process for producing alkadienols comprising the steps of: reacting a conjugated alkadiene with water in a reaction solvent in the presence of a palladium catalyst; distilling the obtained reaction mixture so as to separate the reaction solvent from the reaction mixture while directly supplying heated water, steam or a mixture thereof as a heating medium to a distillation column, under the condition that the temperature of a bottom liquid in the distillation column is not higher than 120.degree. C.; and phase-separating bottoms discharged from the bottom of the distillation column.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process for producing alkadienols comprising the steps of: reacting a conjugated alkadiene with water in a reaction solvent in the presence of a palladium catalyst; distilling the obtained reaction mixture so as to separate the reaction solvent from the reaction mixture while directly supplying heated water, steam or a mixture thereof as a heating medium to a distillation column, under the condition that the temperature of a bottom liquid in the distillation column is not higher than 120.degree. C.; and phase-separating bottoms discharged from the bottom of the distillation column.

Abstract: A C.sub.9 alcohol mixture for plasticizer obtained by the hydroformylation and hydrogenation of a C.sub.8 olefin mixture as the starting material obtained by the dimerization of a butene fraction, said alcohol mixture comprising from 8 to 50% by weight of a first group component having a retention time not longer than the retention time of isobutyl n-caprylate, from 8 to 40% by weight of a second group component having a retention time longer than that of isobutyl n-caprylate and not longer than that of methyl n-caprate and from 20 to 80% by weight of a third group component having a retention time longer than that of methyl n-caprate, as divided into such three components by gas chromatography using a capillary column packed with a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of 15,000 to 20,000 as an isomer separating agent.

Abstract: A C.sub.9 alcohol mixture used to make a plasticizer obtained by the hydroformylation and hydrogenation of a C.sub.8 olefin mixture as the starting material obtained by the dimerization of a butene fraction, said alcohol mixture comprising from 8 to 50% by weight of a first group component having a retention time not longer than the retention time of isobutyl n-caprylate, from 8 to 40% by weight of a second group component having a retention time longer than that of isobutyl n-caprylate and not longer than that of methyl n-caprate and from 20 to 80% by weight of a third group component having a retention time longer than that of methyl n-caprate, as divided into such three components by gas chromatography using a capillary column packed with a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of 15,000 to 20,000 as an isomer separating agent.

Abstract: A process for hydroformylation of an olefin, which comprises reacting an olefin with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium catalyst having a trivalent organic phosphorus compound as a ligand, wherein the hydroformylation reaction is conducted by two stage reactor systems i.e., a first stage reactor system comprising a reactor or reactors having a mixing characteristic of the liquid phase being substantially of complete mixing type, and a second stage reactor system being a reaction system of a catalyst solution circulating type and comprising a reactor or reactors having a mixing characteristic of piston flow type wherein when the mixing characteristic of the liquid phase is represented by a diffusion model, a non-dimensional number U (hereafter referred to as a "flow mixing parameter") defined by the formula (I):U.tbd.uL/2E (I)wherein u is an average flow velocity (cm/sec), L is the length (cm) of the reaction layer, and E is an average diffusion coefficient (cm.sup.

Abstract: A process for producing a lactone by reacting in a hydrogenation reaction zone a dicarboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid anhydride and/or a dicarboxylic acid ester with hydrogen in a liquid phase using a solvent in the presence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium and an organic phosphine, which process comprises the following steps (1) to (6):(1) a first step of recovering the liquid phase from the hydrogenation reaction zone,(2) a second step of distilling the liquid phase in a first distillation column to obtain a first distillate and a first residue,(3) a third step of recycling the first residue to the hydrogenation reaction zone,(4) a fourth step of distilling a part of the first residue in a second distillation column to obtain a second distillate and a second residue,(5) a fifth step of recycling the second distillate to the hydrogenation reaction zone or the first distillation column, and(6) a sixth step of recovering a lactone from the first distillate.

Abstract: A C.sub.10 alcohol mixture for plasticizer, which comprises 2-propylheptanol (hereinafter referred to as "PRH"), an alcohol having a structure of condensation product of n-valeraldehyde and 2-methylbutyraldehyde (hereinafter referred to as "Component A"), an alcohol having a structure of condensation product of n-valeraldehyde and 3-methylbutyraldehyde (hereinafter referred to as "Component B"), an alcohol having a structure of condensation product of n-valeraldehyde and pivalaldehyde (hereinafter referred to as "Component C"), and other C.sub.10 alcohols (hereinafter referred to as "Component D"), characterized in that the respective components are present in the following molar ratios:Component A/PRH=0.04-1Component B/PHR=0.002-0.3Component C/PRH=0.001-0.3Component D/PRH.ltoreq.0.3.

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of an olefin, which comprises hydroformylating an olefinic compound by reacting it with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a hydroformylation reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst solution containing rhodium and an oxide of an organic trivalent phosphorus compound to form an aldehyde having a carbon number larger by one than that of the olefinic compound; adding an organic trivalent phosphorus compound to the reaction mixture, followed by distillation to separate a distillate containing the aldehyde from a high-boiling residue containing rhodium; oxidizing the high-boiling residue at the same time as or subsequent to the distillation to convert the organic trivalent phosphorus compound to its oxide; and recycling the oxidized residue to the hydroformylation reaction zone as a recycling catalyst solution, wherein the hydroformylation reaction is conducted under a condition such that the proportion of an alcohol content supplied as contained in the recycling catalyst soluti

Abstract: A method for the recovery of rhodium-triarylphosphine complexes used in the hydroformylation of olefins is described, which comprises contacting an extracted catalyst liquid containing therein a rhodium-triarylphosphine complex with hydrogen in the presence of an alcohol containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms and water to precipitate a hydrogen-coordinated rhodium-triarylphosphine complex, and recovering the precipitated hydrogen atom-coordinated rhodium-triarylphosphine complex from the liquid.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of a Group VIII noble metal solid complex is described, which comprises bringing an organic compound-containing solution containing therein a Group VIII noble metal complex having a tertiary organophosphorous compound as a ligand into contact with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a free tertiary organophosphorous compound, an organic polar solvent, water, and a basic substance to preciptate a solid complex of the Group VIII noble metal, and a separating the precipitated Group VIII noble metal solid complex from the solution.

Abstract: A process for hydroformylation of olefins is described which comprises a step of reacting olefins with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal-triarylphosphine complex catalyst, an excess amount of triarylphosphine, a reaction solvent, and organic high boiling point by-products, taking out the produced aldehyde by separating from the resulted hydroformylation reaction product, and thereafter circulating the residual liquid containing the catalyst and the organic high boiling point by-products to the reaction system as a circulating catalyst liquid, wherein the improvement comprises withdrawing at least a part of said circulating catalyst liquid as an extracted catalyst liquid, distilling off at least a part of the organic high boiling point by-products by steam distillation of said extracted catalyst liquid, and recirculating the bottoms of the steam distillation tower to the hydroformylation reaction step.

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of an olefin, comprising reacting the olefin with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a catalyst liquid containing a Group VIII noble metal-triarylphosphine complex catalyst, excess triarylphosphine and a reaction solvent to form an aldehyde, characterized by withdrawing a part of the catalyst liquid as a spent catalyst liquid, subjecting the spent catalyst liquid to crystallization, recovering crystallized triarylphosphine from the spent catalyst liquid, and recirculating the recovered triarylphosphine into the reaction zone.