Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems that identify missing interactions in incompletely known datasets represented as complex networks. One example embodiment is a method of identifying missing connections in a complex network. The example method includes accessing an electronic representation of the network. The network includes nodes and links, the nodes represent entities, and the links represent interactions between the entities. The method further includes, for each pair of nodes in the network not directly connected by a link, (i) determining a number of paths connecting the pair of nodes, where each path is a length of at least three connections spanning between the pair of nodes in the network, and (ii) calculating a prediction score for the pair of nodes based on the number of paths connecting the pair of nodes.

Abstract: In a receiver facility in an ultra-wideband communication system, a dual-mode circuit adapted to operate in a selected one of three operating modes without changes in circuit topology: a calibration mode adapted to render the circuit substantially independent of circuit component mismatches; a frequency comparator mode adapted to indicate whether the frequency of a first periodic signal is larger or smaller than the frequency of a second periodic signal; and an early-late detector mode adapted to indicate whether the 1st rising edge of the first periodic signal arrived sooner or later than the 1st rising edge of the second periodic signal applied.

Abstract: Cyclic esters of hydroxy organic acids can be produced and recovered via azeotropic distillation. In certain embodiments cyclic esters, such as glycolide and lactide, can be produced from a fermentation broth or other feed stream that contains a hydroxy organic acid, an ammonium salt of a hydroxy organic acid, an amide of a hydroxy organic acid, or an ester of a hydroxy organic acid using azeotropic distillation. The hydroxy organic acid of the feed stream or the hydroxy organic acid derived from the feed stream by decomposition is reacted to produce the cyclic ester. In other embodiments a crude composition of a cyclic ester of an organic ester can be purified using azeotropic distillation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of at least one of an organic acid or an organic acid amide, such as a heat stable lactic acid or lactamide, from a feed stream which contains the organic acid and/or organic acid amide. The feed stream is mixed with at least one azeotroping agent. The azeotroping agent is a hydrocarbon capable of forming at least one heteroazeotrope with the organic acid or the organic acid amide in the feed stream. The mixture of the feed stream and the azeotroping agent is heated to produce a vapor stream. The heteroazeotrope is a component of that vapor stream. The vapor stream can be heated further to separate components or it can be condensed into a liquid stream. The liquid stream is capable of being separated into a first phase and a second phase. The first phase contains the highest concentration of the organic acid and/or the organic acid amide and the azeotroping agent is part of the second phase.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying an aqueous feed stream comprising a product organic acid, such as lactic acid, and a strong contaminant, such as pyruvic acid or oxalic acid. The molar concentration of the product organic acid in the feed stream typically is at least 20 times greater than the molar concentration of the strong contaminant. The aqueous feed stream is contacted with a first immiscible basic extractant that has at least a 3-fold greater affinity for the strong contaminant than for the product organic acid. The majority of the strong contaminant and some product organic acid become complexed with the first immiscible basic extractant. The complexed first immiscible basic extractant is separated from the aqueous stream, thereby producing a first effluent stream that comprises product organic acid and that has a greater ratio of molar product organic acid to molar strong contaminant than the aqueous feed stream did.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of an organic acid, such as a heat stable lactic acid, from a feed stream which contains at least one of an organic acid amide, an organic acid ammonium salt, or an alkylamine-organic acid complex. The feed stream is mixed with at least one azeotroping agent. The azeotroping agent is a hydrocarbon capable of forming at least one azeotrope with the organic acid that is produced by the thermal decomposition of the amide, ammonium salt, or complex in the feed stream. Preferably the azeotrope is a heteroazeotrope. The mixture of the feed stream and the azeotroping agent is heated to produce a vapor stream. The azeotrope is a component of the vapor stream. The vapor stream can be condensed to a liquid stream, and the organic acid is recovered in the liquid stream that is produced. When the azeotrope is a heteroazeotrope, the vapor stream can be condensed into a liquid stream, which can be separated into a first phase and a second phase.

Abstract: The device serves for the improvement of the optical qualities of an optical microscopes. The microscopes includes an illuminating unit, a condenser lens, a primary microscope objective with an optical axis, and an ocular or a camera. The device is insertable between the primary microscope objective and the ocular or camera, and includes a rotatable image visualizing plate and a secondary objective. The secondary objective is positioned on the optical axis when the apparatus is inserted in the microscope and has the same orientation as the primary microscope objective. The device also includes a tertiary microscope objective that is arranged between the image visualizing plate and the secondary objective. The tertiary microscope objective is arranged on the same optical axis as the secondary objective and is inversely orientated with respect to the secondary objective.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying an aqueous feed stream comprising a product organic acid, such as lactic acid, and a strong contaminant, such as pyruvic acid or oxalic acid. The molar concentration of the product organic acid in the feed stream typically is at least 20 times greater than the molar concentration of the strong contaminant. The aqueous feed stream is contacted with a first immiscible basic extractant that has at least a 3-fold greater affinity for the strong contaminant than for the product organic acid. The majority of the strong contaminant and some product organic acid become complexed with the first immiscible basic extractant. The complexed first immiscible basic extractant is separated from the aqueous stream, thereby producing a first effluent stream that comprises product organic acid and that has a greater ratio of molar product organic acid to molar strong contaminant than the aqueous feed stream did.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying an aqueous feed stream comprising a product organic acid, such as lactic acid, and a strong contaminant, such as pyruvic acid or oxalic acid. The molar concentration of the product organic acid in the feed stream typically is at least 20 times greater than the molar concentration of the strong contaminant. The aqueous feed stream is contacted with a first immiscible basic extractant that has at least a 3-fold greater affinity for the strong contaminant than for the product organic acid. The majority of the strong contaminant and some product organic acid become complexed with the first immiscible basic extractant. The complexed first immiscible basic extractant is separated from the aqueous stream, thereby producing a first effluent stream that comprises product organic acid and that has a greater ratio of molar product organic acid to molar strong contaminant than the aqueous feed stream did.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying an aqueous feed stream comprising a product organic acid, such as lactic acid, and a strong contaminant, such as pyruvic acid or oxalic acid. The molar concentration of the product organic acid in the feed stream typically is at least 20 times greater than the molar concentration of the strong contaminant. The aqueous feed stream is contacted with a first immiscible basic extractant that has at least a 3-fold greater affinity for the strong contaminant than for the product organic acid. The majority of the strong contaminant and some product organic acid become complexed with the first immiscible basic extractant. The complexed first immiscible basic extractant is separated from the aqueous stream, thereby producing a first effluent stream that comprises product organic acid and that has a greater ratio of molar product organic acid to molar strong contaminant than the aqueous feed stream did.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for the improvement of the optical qualities of optical microscopes. The microscopes comprise an illuminating unit (1), a condenser lens (3), a primary microscope objective (5) with an optical axis (X), and an ocular or a camera. The apparatus is insertable between the primary microscope objective (5) and the ocular or camera, and comprises a rotatable image visualizing plate (6) and a secondary objective (7). The secondary objective (7) is positioned on said optical axis (X) when the apparatus is inserted in the microscope and it has the same orientation as the primary microscope objective. The apparatus comprises also a tertiary microscope objective (16) that is arranged between the image visualizing plate (6) and the secondary objective (7). The tertiary microscope objective (16) is arranged on the same optical axis (X) as the secondary objective (7) and is inversely orientated with respect to the secondary objective (7).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of at least one of an organic acid or an organic acid amide, such as a heat stable lactic acid or lactamide, from a feed stream comprising the organic acid and/or organic acid amide. The feed stream that comprises the organic acid and/or organic acid amide is mixed with at least one azeotroping agent. The azeotroping agent is a hydrocarbon capable of forming at least one heteroazeotrope with the organic acid or the organic acid amide. The mixture comprising the feed stream and the azeotroping agent is heated to produce a vapor stream that comprises the heteroazeotrope. The vapor stream can be heated further to separate components or it can be condensed into a liquid stream. The liquid stream is capable of being separated into a first phase and a second phase. The first phase contains the highest concentration of the organic acid and/or the organic acid amide and the second phase comprises the azeotroping agent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of an organic acid, such as a heat stable lactic acid, from a feed stream comprising at least one of an organic acid amide, an organic acid ammonium salt, or an alkylamine-organic acid complex. The feed stream that comprises the organic acid amide, organic acid ammonium salt, or alkylamine-organic acid complex is mixed with at least one azeotroping agent. The azeotroping agent is a hydrocarbon capable of forming at least one azeotrope with the organic acid that is produced by the thermal decomposition of the amide, ammonium salt, or complex in the feed stream. Preferably the azeotrope is a heteroazeotrope. The mixture comprising the feed stream and the azeotroping agent is heated to produce a vapor stream that comprises the azeotrope. The vapor stream can be condensed to a liquid stream, and the organic acid is recovered in the liquid stream that is produced.

Abstract: Cyclic esters of hydroxy organic acids can be produced and recovered via azeotropic distillation. In certain embodiments cyclic esters, such as glycolide and lactide, can be produced from a fermentation broth or other feed stream that comprises a hydroxy organic acid, an ammonium salt of a hydroxy organic acid, an amide of a hydroxy organic acid, or an ester of a hydroxy organic acid using azeotropic distillation. The hydroxy organic acid of the feed stream or the hydroxy organic acid derived from the feed stream by decomposition is reacted to produce the cyclic ester. In other embodiments a crude composition of a cyclic ester of an organic ester can be purified using azeotropic distillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oral multiple emulsion pre concentrate comprising a surface active agent, ethanol a lipophilic and/or an amphiphilic solvent. The composition comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of cyclosporin, from about 5 to about 30% by weigh of tocopheryl polyethylene glycol carboxylic acid ester, from about 5 to about 20% by weight of ethanol, from about 20 to about 55% by weight of a lipophylic solvent and/or from about 10 to about 55% by weight of an amphiphilic solvent, and if desired from about 10 to about 20% by weight of co-tenside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a tablet or dragee composition containing a moisture-, heat- and light-sensitive compounds having monoclinic crystalline structure as active ingredients, which comprises homogenizing the active ingredient with 0.2 to 1.5 parts by weight of an anhydrous alkaline earth metal salt and 0.5 to 2.5 parts by weight of microcrystalline cellulose calculated for the active ingredient and optionally with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carrier(s) and/or additive(s) and compressing the homogeneous mixture obtained to tablets in a manner known per se and, if desired, coating the tablet thus obtained in a manner known per se.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions as well as the preparation thereof which are useful for improving the status of patients suffering from external otitis or otitis (otitis media), or particularly from a chronic otitis (otitis media chronica). The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention contain a sulfhydryl-containing compound, an antibacterial chemotherapeutic agent, an aspecific antiinflammatory agent and optionally a kerotolytic agent. The compositions preferably contain N-acetyl-L-cysteine as sulfhydryl-containing compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel thiazolidine-4(S)-carboxylic acid derivatives of the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 stands for an optionally substituted furyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, benzofuryl, benzopyrrolyl, benzothienyl, phenyl, pyridyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl or indanyl group or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl or C.sub.2-4 alkenyl group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl, carboxyl or halogen fenoxy group,stands for hydrogen, an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal atom or an optionally substituted C.sub.1-4 alkyl group or aryl group;R.sup.3 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C.sub.1-4 alkyl or acyl group or aryl groupas well as their salts.Further on, the invention relates to pharmaceutical preparations containing these compounds and to a process for preparing these compounds and preparations.The compounds of the invention are useful for treating or preventing liver damages of either natural or experimental origin.

Abstract: Subject of the invention is drying equipment suitable for reducing the moisture content of fragmentary materials, mainly clay. The drying equipment contains drying space developed as a ring of circular, or polygonal base, surrounded with latticed surfaces. The drying space includes a channel developed as a ring of circular, or polygonal base, surrounded with latticed surface, carrying drying medium. The device, feeding the material to be dried is connectible to and turnable around the central shaft. Conveyance of the material takes place with the aid of a rotary worm or scraper device fixed to the central shaft.

Abstract: Electrostatic spraying apparatus comprises a rotary spraying head and a multiple electrode arrangement which includes two high voltage electrodes one of which has an uninsulated portion, and a grounded electrode. A paint flow space is defined between the uninsulated portion and the grounded electrode as well as the remainder of the one high voltage electrode and the grounded electrode. The second high voltage electrode is spaced outwardly from the grounded electrode and has an insulating layer both on its outer side and on its side facing the grounded electrode.