Abstract: A process for the production of formaldehyde from methanol comprising the steps of: feeding to a reactor a feed stream comprising the methanol and an oxygen-containing gas; reacting the methanol in the gas phase with the oxygen-containing gas in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising oxides of iron and molybdenum; and recovering a formaldehyde reactor outlet stream from the reactor, the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream comprising formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. The catalyst comprises copper in an amount of at least 0.025 wt %, or at least 0.05 wt %, of the catalyst and in that the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to formaldehyde in the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream is at least 5% less than the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to formaldehyde in the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream in the same process using a catalyst containing essentially no copper.

Abstract: An optical probe assembly including a lens assembly extending along a central axis for optically coupling to an optical fiber. The lens assembly can have a forward facing exit window. The exit window can have an exit lens with a convex exit surface. The exit lens can extend from a periphery of the exit window and terminate partway across the exit window. The convex exit surface of the exit lens can be tilted inwardly relative to the central axis. The exit lens can bend light received from the optical fiber forwardly out of the exit window at an outward angle relative to the central axis.

Abstract: A multi-level port vessel includes a vessel body defining an interior volume. The vessel body has a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, a bottom, and a top. The top is open and adapted to be covered by a removable lid. A vertically oriented mixing wheel is disposed within the interior volume. The vertically oriented mixing wheel has a substantially horizontal rotation axis when the vessel body is disposed on a substantially horizontal surface. A plurality of ports is disposed in one of the rear wall, the front wall, or the side walls. At least one port in the plurality of ports is located at an elevation that is at least partially encompassed by a projection of the perimeter of the vertically oriented mixing wheel.

Abstract: A process for the production of formaldehyde from methanol comprising the steps of: feeding to a reactor a feed stream comprising the methanol and an oxygen-containing gas; reacting the methanol in the gas phase with the oxygen-containing gas in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising oxides of iron and molybdenum; and recovering a formaldehyde reactor outlet stream from the reactor, the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream comprising formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. The catalyst comprises copper in an amount of at least 0.025 wt %, or at least 0.05 wt %, of the catalyst and in that the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to formaldehyde in the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream is at least 5% less than the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to formaldehyde in the formaldehyde reactor outlet stream in the same process using a catalyst containing essentially no copper.

Abstract: A method of executing a project has the steps of collecting contract documents between a plurality of stakeholders involved in executing the project, the contract documents defining more than one relationship between subsets of the plurality of stakeholders, analyzing the contract documents to extract contract data, visualizing the plurality of project steps and the links relative to the plurality of stakeholders, identifying a plurality of problem-opportunity pairs (“POPs”), assigning a consequence value and an implementation value to each of the POPs, creating a plot of the POPs based on the consequence values and the implementation values, identifying a subset of the POPs to be implemented, modifying the contract data associated with a subset of the POPs to satisfy the predetermined criteria, and completing the project according to the modified contract data.

Abstract: A device for the fragmentation of a calculus includes a probe, and a drive unit for deflecting the probe along the longitudinal extension thereof. The drive unit includes a first drive element for periodically deflecting the probe and a second drive element for the pulsed deflection of the probe. The drive unit is configured such that periodic deflection and pulsed deflection can be superimposed.

Abstract: A pressure wave device for the treatment of a human or animal body having a pneumatic drive for generating a pressure wave for coupling into the human or animal body, having at least one compressor for generating source gas and having a handpiece into which the source gas can be introduced and by means of which a pressure wave is generated, and having a pressure regulating device for adjusting a pressure wave generating pressure for generating the pressure wave, where the at least one compressor for generating source gas is adjustable in steps to at least two power levels, and the pressure regulating device regulates the pressure wave generating pressure (PD_i) by adjusting the source gas pressure (Ps_i) at each power level, such that each power level is thereby preferably determined by a range of pressure wave generating pressure values and frequencies of the activation of the pressure waves, and the selection of a power level is preferably carried out using a table in which the respective ranges of pressure

Abstract: A device for the fragmentation of a calculus includes a probe, and a drive unit for deflecting the probe along the longitudinal extension thereof. The drive unit includes a first drive element for periodically deflecting the probe and a second drive element for the pulsed deflection of the probe. The drive unit is configured such that periodic deflection and pulsed deflection can be superimposed.

Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution. The vessel may be a closed system with no option or instructions for removing a cap or other access port, whereby after manufacturing the vessel is shipped to a customer and the interior remains closed to the exterior environment and fluids are transferred through tubes.

Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

Abstract: The bioreactor may include a single-use, rigid-sided bioreactor vessel containing a fluid to be mixed and a vertical mixing wheel. A perfusion dip tube with a screen filter incorporated on the end is secured to the vessel from the top lid and partially submerged in the fluid, preferably into close proximity with an outer circumference of the vertical mixing wheel. The screen filter of appropriate mesh size allows spent cell culture medium to be withdrawn from the bioreactor vessel while retaining cell aggregates or microcarriers on which cells are attached and growing in the vessel. Alternating flow of fluid out from and into the dip tube enables removal of spent medium and unclogging of the dip tube filter.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for segregating particles on the basis of their ability to flow through a stepped passageway. At least some of the particles are accommodated in a passage bounded by a first step, but at least some of the particles are unable to pass through a narrower passage bounded by a second step, resulting in segregation of the particles. The apparatus and methods described herein can be used to segregate particles of a wide variety of types. By way of example, they can be used to segregate fetal-like cells from a maternal blood sample such as maternal arterial blood.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and software for sharing content in social networks. A request from a user of the social network to share content is received, the request comprising the content and at least one sharing parameter. A command is sent to the social network on behalf of the user to cause the content to be published to a profile related to the user on the social network, the command comprising an URL associated with the content. Requests to retrieve the content may then be received from the social network, the requests comprising the URL associated with the content. When requests to retrieve the content are received, it is determined whether the content is authorized for viewing based on the at least one sharing parameter. If the content is authorized for viewing, the content is returned in response to the request.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ester product from a mixture of at least two different ester compounds includes the steps of mixing together at least two different starting ester compounds to form a first ester mixture; and contacting the first ester mixture with a catalyst including from 30-60% of calcium oxide and at least one second metal oxide at a temperature of at least 180° C., for a duration of at least one hour, with mixing, to form a second ester mixture having a melting point which is lower than the melting point of the first ester mixture.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for segregating particles on the basis of their ability to flow through a stepped passageway. At least some of the particles are accommodated in a passage bounded by a first step, but at least some of the particles arc unable to pass through a narrower passage bounded by a second step, resulting in segregation of the particles. The apparatus and methods described herein can be used to segregate particles of a wide variety of types. By way of example, they can be used to segregate fetal-like cells from a maternal blood sample such as maternal arterial blood.

Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

Abstract: An adjustable harvest valve assembly for a bioreactor system which offers all of the benefits of a harvest port, while allowing cell-free liquid to be collected at various liquid heights and multiple times throughout the run.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and software for sharing content in social networks. A request from a user of the social network to share content is received, the request comprising the content and at least one sharing parameter. A command is sent to the social network on behalf of the user to cause the content to be published to a profile related to the user on the social network, the command comprising an URL associated with the content. Requests to retrieve the content may then be received from the social network, the requests comprising the URL associated with the content. When requests to retrieve the content are received, it is determined whether the content is authorized for viewing based on the at least one sharing parameter. If the content is authorized for viewing, the content is returned in response to the request.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ester product from a mixture of at least two different ester compounds includes the steps of mixing together at least two different starting ester compounds to form a first ester mixture; and contacting the first ester mixture with a catalyst including from 30-60% of calcium oxide and at least one second metal oxide at a temperature of at least 180° C., for a duration of at least one hour, with mixing, to form a second ester mixture having a melting point which is lower than the melting point of the first ester mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and software for sharing content in social networks. A request from a user of the social network to share content is received, the request comprising the content and at least one sharing parameter. A command is sent to the social network on behalf of the user to cause the content to be published to a profile related to the user on the social network, the command comprising an URL associated with the content. Requests to retrieve the content may then be received from the social network, the requests comprising the URL associated with the content. When requests to retrieve the content are received, it is determined whether the content is authorized for viewing based on the at least one sharing parameter. If the content is authorized for viewing, the content is returned in response to the request.