Abstract: A process to recover nickel, cobalt and copper by co-processing copper-containing sulphide concentrate feed containing one or more of arsenic, antimony, and bismuth, and laterite ore feed containing nickel and cobalt by pressure oxidative leaching. The sulphide concentrate and oxygen are controlled to produce sulphuric acid to leach nickel, cobalt, copper and acid soluble impurities into a liquid phase of an acidic leach slurry, to precipitate iron compounds and a majority of the arsenic, antimony and bismuth as solids, and to produce heat to heat the incoming feeds to a temperature above 230° C. Reacted slurry is withdrawn, solids are separated, and the PLS solution contains the nickel, cobalt, copper and acid soluble impurities. A first solution purification stage on the PLS neutralizes free acid, precipitates one or more of iron, aluminum, chromium and silicon, and, separates as solids, the precipitated impurities and other solids from a first purified solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a burner system having a number of premixed burners (2), which each have one or more feed openings and outflow openings for a combustible gas/air mixture. The burner system is provided with means (11) for transferring a flame from one burner to another. By making use of such flame transfer means the burner system can be ignited at one of the burners, wherein the flame then overflows sufficiently-rapidly to the other burners in order to ignite them before a dangerously large quantity of the combustible gas/air mixture has flown out. These flame transfer means can define a flame path between the burners which can for instance be formed by an overflow pipe (12) mutually connecting the burners. The burner system can further be provided with a member (13) directed toward the flame path for the purpose of injecting the combustible gas/air mixture (M) therein. This injection member can be connected via a branch conduit (14) to a mixing chamber (5) in which the gas/air mixture is formed.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a dehydrated biopolymer powder, said method comprising the successive steps of: a) providing a filter cake comprising biopolymer material and 30 to 60 wt. % of water; b) contacting said filter cake with a pressurized gas to extract water from the filter cake, said pressurized gas having a pressure and a temperature below the critical point of the gas; c) separating water-containing pressurized gas from the dehydrated filter cake; and d) collecting a dehydrated biopolymer powder wherein the pressurized gas has a pressure of at least 0.6 MPa (6 bar) and up to 6 MPa (60 bar), and a temperature of 10 to 40° C.

Abstract: A bias unit having a support body in use to be integrated with a drilling assembly and rotatable therewith for drilling a borehole penetrating a geological formation. A pad is pivotally connected to the support body proximate to the leading edge of the pad. A spring-driven push rod is positioned and preloaded to engage the pad, proximate to the trailing edge of the pad, and to urge the pad outward from the support body to contact the borehole wall during drilling.

Abstract: A method for determining an autofluorescence value of skin tissue of a subject, comprising the steps of: irradiating material of said skin tissue with electromagnetic excitation radiation of at least one wavelength and/or in at least one range of wavelengths; measuring an amount of electromagnetic, fluorescent radiation emitted by said material in response to said irradiation; and generating, based upon said measured amount of fluorescent radiation, a measured autofluorescence value for the concerning subject.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a dehydrated biopolymer powder, said method comprising the successive steps of: a) providing a filter cake comprising biopolymer material and 30 to 60 wt. % of water; b) contacting said filter cake with a pressurised gas to extract water from the filter cake, said pressurised gas having a pressure and a temperature below the critical point of the gas; c) separating water-containing pressurised gas from the dehydrated filter cake; and d) collecting a dehydrated biopolymer powder wherein the pressurised gas has a pressure of at least 0.6 MPa (6 bar) and up to 6 MPa (60 bar), and a temperature of 10 to 40° C.

Abstract: A hyperextension brace with a frame construction has adjustable upper and lower supports as well as adjustable side members. The frame comprises a sub-clavicula support and a pelvic and pubic support connected by side members. The height of the side members and the width of the sub-clavicula support and the pubic support are adjustable by using non-rotational telescopic and lockable connections. The sub-clavicula support may be connected by a turnbuckle screw arrangement to the side members. The frame may be made of composite material, suitably a polymer reinforced by glass fiber and/or carbon fiber. All adjustments may be made without requiring any tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of a polypeptide and an oligosaccharide, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to at least one oligosaccharide-spacer residue, the oligosaccharide being a synthetic sulfated oligosaccharide comprising 4-18 monosaccharide units and per se having affinity to antithrombin III and the spacer being a bond or an essentially pharmacologically inactive flexible linking residue, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The conjugates of the invention have improved pharmacokinetic properties when compared to the original polypeptides (i.e. the corresponding non-conjugated polypeptides per se).

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a heating appliance, comprising a channel for conveying a heated gas in a longitudinal direction of said channel and a multitude of fins for conveying a liquid, said fins being provided with an inlet and an outlet, which open in a common plane, wherein the fins are provided on a wall of the channel, extending into said channel, wherein the inlets and outlets of the fins open in the plane of the wall and wherein the heat exchanger further comprises connecting elements for connecting at least one outlet to at least one inlet of separate fins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of a polypeptide and an oligosaccharide, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to at least one oligosaccharide-spacer residue, the oligosaccharide being a synthetic sulfated oligosaccharide comprising 4-18 monosaccharide units and per se having affinity to antithrombin III and the spacer being a bond or an essentially pharmacologically inactive flexible linking residue, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The conjugates of the invention have improved pharmacokinetic properties when compared to the original polypeptides (i.e. the corresponding non-conjugated polypeptides per se).

Abstract: For determining autofluorescence of a clinically normal skin issue (7) of a patient, the tissue (7) is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation. An amount of fluorescent radiation emitted by the tissue (7) in response to the irradiation is measured and, in response thereto, a signal is generated which represents a determined autofluorescence in agreement with the measured amount of electromagnetic radiation. Because the tissue (7) is skin tissue (7) in vivo and irradiation is performed noninvasively, a method which is very simple to apply for determining autofluorescence is obtained. An apparatus especially adapted for use in this method is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a burner system having a number of premixed burners (2), which each have one or more feed openings and outflow openings for a combustible gas/air mixture. The burner system is provided with means (11) for transferring a flame from one burner to another. By making use of such flame transfer means the burner system can be ignited at one of the burners, wherein the flame then overflows sufficiently -rapidly to the other burners in order to ignite them before a dangerously large quantity of the combustible gas/air mixture has flown out. These flame transfer means can define a flame path between the burners which can for ijistance be formed by an overflow pipe (12) mutually connecting the burners. The burner system can further be provided with a member (13) directed toward the flame path for the purpose of injecting the combustible gas/air mixture (M) therein. This injection member can be connected via a branch conduit (14) to a mixing chamber (5) in which the gas/air mixture is formed.

Abstract: A hyperextension brace with a frame construction has adjustable upper and lower supports as well as adjustable side members. The frame comprises a sub-clavicula support and a pelvic and pubic support connected by side members. The height of the side members and the width of the sub-clavicula support and the pubic support are adjustable by using non-rotational telescopic and lockable connections. The sub-clavicula support may be connected by a turnbuckle screw arrangement to the side members. The frame may be made of composite material, suitably a polymer reinforced by glass fibre and/or carbon fibre. All adjustments may be made without requiring any tools.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices, in particular condoms/drains, that find use in anastomosis. Thus the present invention relates to these medical devices per se, to a medical kit comprising these medical devices, to the use of these medical devices, to a method for medical treatment involving application of these medical devices to an organism who is in need thereof as well as to the use of certain biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymers in the preparation of a medical device for the treatment of a disease or a condition which requires anastomosis. The medical devices of the present invention are typically condom shaped and are used for the protection of anastomosis. The devices comprise a tubular shaped part which is made of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer. The devices may be applied by stapling.

Abstract: A method is provided for conducting measurements of a borehole while drilling the borehole in a geological formation. First, a rotatable drilling assembly is provided that has, at a forward end, a drill bit and a borehole measurement tool connected rearward of the drill bit. The measurement tool includes at least one caliper arm extendible outward from the measurement tool. The method involves drilling the borehole by operating the rotatable drilling assembly. While drilling, the wall of the borehole is contacted with at least one extendable caliper arm of the borehole measurement tool and the extension of the caliper arm contacting the borehole wall is measured, thereby determining a distance between the measurement tool and the borehole wall. During rotation of the drilling assembly, contact is maintained between the caliper arm and the borehole wall and the measuring step is repeated at multiple positions of the drilling assembly.

Abstract: A method is provided for conducting measurements of a borehole while drilling the borehole in a geological formation. First, a rotatable drilling assembly is provided that has, at a forward end, a drill bit and a borehole measurement tool connected rearward of the drill bit. The measurement tool includes at least one caliper arm extendible outward from the measurement tool. The method involves drilling the borehole by operating the rotatable drilling assembly. While drilling, the wall of the borehole is contacted with at least one extendable caliper arm of the borehole measurement tool and the extension of the caliper arm contacting the borehole wall is measured, thereby determining a distance between the measurement tool and the borehole wall. During rotation of the drilling assembly, contact is maintained between the caliper arm and the borehole wall and the measuring step is repeated at multiple positions of the drilling assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of a polypeptide and an oligosaccharide, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to at least one oligosaccharide-spacer residue, the oligosaccharide being a synthetic sulfated oligosaccharide comprising 4-18 monosaccharide units and per se having affinity to antithrombin III and the spacer being a bond or an essentially pharmacologically inactive flexible linking residue, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The conjugates of the invention have improved pharmacokinetic properties when compared to the original polypeptides (i.e. the corresponding non-conjugated polypeptides per se).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprises a resistivity measurement device having a multiplicity of antennae spaced between each other in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus. A neutron measurement device of the apparatus comprises at least a neutron source and at least a neutron detector, each of the neutron detectors being at a distance from the neutron source in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus. The multiplicity of antennae are interleaved with the neutron measurement device in order to reduce a total length of the apparatus and in order to allow a determined area of the earth formation to be measured simultaneously using the neutron measurement device and the resistivity measurement device.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices, in particular condoms/drains, that find use in anastomosis. Thus the present invention relates to these medical devices per se, to a medical kit comprising these medical devices, to the use of these medical devices, to a method for medical treatment involving application of these medical devices to an organism who is in need thereof as well as to the use of certain biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymers in the preparation of a medical device for the treatment of a disease or a condition which requires anastomosis. The medical devices of the present invention are typically condom shaped and are used for the protection of anastomosis. The devices comprise a tubular shaped part which is made of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer. The devices may be applied by stapling.