Abstract: The nanoimmunoassay chip comprises at least flow and control layers, divided into several rows, each row containing a plurality of single assay units, each assay unit contains two spotting chambers (1) and an assay chamber in the middle, wherein neck valves (2) separate the spotting chambers from the assay chamber during surface derivatization, said assay units being isolated from one another during incubation by isolation valves (3), wherein relief valves (4) help release built-up pressure into a microfluidic channel (5) after incubation and wherein round valves in the assay chamber define and protect the circular immunoassay regions (6).

Abstract: Processes for recovering sugars and nicotine from a tobacco biomass include feeding a biomass of tobacco plants and subcritical water to a reactor, hydrolyzing the biomass of tobacco plants with the subcritical water at a temperature between about 150° C. and 305° C. and recovering a liquid product and a solid product from the reactor, wherein the liquid product contains water-soluble sugars and nicotine.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preserving any natural land through an independent trust organization. The organization must buy natural land in a plurality of countries all around the world land through a company. The trust organization shall then divides the land in smaller tiles and sells to clients the right to use the land without transferring the actual property title. The clients then become the beneficiaries of the trust organization. The organization keeps control over the ownership of the parcel of land in order to avoid inappropriate or undesired uses of the land, such as cutting the trees, harvesting the land or any type of human exploitation. The method shall be realized by a web-based system allowing the clients to buy titles from the owned land through a web-browser. The client, or user of the system, may envision the parcel of land through online maps and may buy merchandize related to the owned tiles of land.

Abstract: A catalyst support comprising a material functionalized with at least one acid group and at least one halogen atom; and a supported catalyst comprising (i) a catalyst and (ii) the catalyst support comprising the functionalized material, as well as their uses in production of hydrogen peroxide. A process for producing hydrogen peroxide, comprising reacting hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of the supported catalyst comprising the functionalized material, optionally with the addition of an inert gas, in a reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing carboxylic acids comprising the step of contacting an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising at least one group including an ? C-atom that is oxidizable to a carboxylic group in liquid phase with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst with perovskite structure ABO3 with A being selected from at least one element of groups 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, lanthanides or actinides, and B being selected from at least one element of the groups 4 to 15 of the periodic table or an oxygen-defective derivative of that catalyst having the formula ABO3?? with 0<?<1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and PHAs obtained by the said process and the use of the said PHAs. The PHAs of the present invention, called PHACOS, have a novel monomeric composition, as they contain monomers with thioester groups in the side chain that confer new physicochemical properties and allow subsequent chemical modification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing carboxylic acids comprising the step of contacting an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising at least one group including an ? C-atom that is oxidizable to a carboxylic group in liquid phase with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst with perovskite structure ABO3 with A being selected from at least one element of groups 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, lanthanides or actinides, and B being selected from at least one element of the groups 4 to 15 of the periodic table or an oxygen-defective derivative of that catalyst having the formula ABO3?? with 0<?<1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection and/or quantification of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a Gram-positive bacteria that is an important human pathogen, in an isolated biological sample, through magneto-amperometric biosensors, comprising detecting fragments of lytA gene of said microorganism, amplified through PCR, preferably asymmetric PCR or direct asymmetric PCR, by means of the hybridization thereof to a specific probe fully complementary to a region of said amplified fragment. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to the use of primers SEQ ID NO: 3 and 4 together with probes SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2 to perform said detection. The biosensor developed to detect S. pneumoniae can be applied to different types of clinical samples from patients infected with this bacterium or other related bacteria. Preferably the clinical sample is an isolated biological fluid such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva or urine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating composition at least comprising: a base oil; and a detergent; wherein the detergent comprises at least 30 mol %, based on the total amount of detergent, of a sulphonate detergent having a B1SI (Base Number) of from 0.1 to 80 mg KOH/ g; wherein the detergent comprises from 30 to 70 mol %, based on the total amount of detergent, of a phenate detergent; wherein the lubricating composition comprises at least 4 wt. % of detergent, based on the total weight of the composition; and wherein the lubricating composition has a TBN (total base number) (according to ASTM D 2896) of at least 10 mg KOH/g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating composition comprising:—a base Oil;—a detergent; and—an amine compound having the following general formula (I): R 1 NHR 2 (I) wherein R1 represents a hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 50 carbon atoms and R2 is selected from the group consisting of H and a hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 50 carbon atoms; wherein the amine compound is present at a level of greater than 0.3 wt % by weight of the lubricating composition.

Abstract: A lubricating composition comprising a base oil and one or more additives, wherein the composition has: a sulphated ash content (according to ASTM D 874) of at least 0.1 wt. % and at most 0.60 wt. %, preferably at most 0.55 wt. %, more preferably at most 0.50 wt. %; and a total base number (TBN) value (according to ASTM D 2896) of at least 8.0 mg KOH/g and at most 15.0 mg KOH/g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for the electrochemical treatment of biomass, including at least two flat surface electrodes positioned equidistantly over the entire surface and separated by less than 1 mm, the space between said electrodes being occupied by a electrolytic solution. Preferably, at least one of the electrodes is an anode and at least one of the electrodes is a cathode. The anode is preferably made from a material selected from among vanadium, selenium, gold, silver, nickel, graphite, graphite galvanised with platinum and graphite galvanised with palladium. The invention also relates to the use of said reactor in electrooxidation reactions involving biomass, particularly polysaccharides, in the production of organic compounds, water electrolysis, hydrogen production or the production of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piece made of composite material with areas of different thickness manufactured from a stack of composite material fabrics comprising at least two adjacent areas (11, 15) of different thickness and a transition area (13) between both configured with a single slope (17), in which the stack is structured by: a first and a fourth section formed by at least two continuous fabrics (21, 21?; 29, 29?) extending along the three mentioned areas (11, 13, 15); a second section formed by one or more symmetrical and balanced fabric packets (23) ending in the transition area (13) placed among one or more continuous fabrics (25); a third section formed by a symmetrical and balanced fabric packet (27) extending along the three mentioned areas (11, 13, 15) placed among one or more continuous fabrics (25).

Abstract: The invention relates to a coated hard metal body with increased wear resistance by means of a CVD coating and to a method for the production thereof. In order to improve the wear behavior of hard metal bodies, preferably cutting tools, in particular to reduce a crater wear, it is provided according to the invention that the sintered compact contains more than 5% by weight mixed carbides of the elements Ti and/or Nb and/or Ta, has on the surface a conditioning area with a carbon content and a nitrogen content that increases towards the outside, and has a fine-grained or microcrystalline bearing layer of nitride and/or carbide and/or carbonitride, which layer is applied according to the CVD method at a temperature exceeding 900° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydrogen peroxide by reacting hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a solvent and of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one noble or semi-noble metal supported on an inorganic material functionalized with acid groups. The invention also refers to the catalyst used in this process.

Abstract: A harvester capable of alternate configurations for bulk and tote loading. In a tote loading configuration, harvested produce is moved along a main conveyor, elevated to a raised conveyor area, packed into totes, and the packed totes are then moved onto a lower conveyor for further transport. In a bulk loading configuration, the harvested produce is transported along the main conveyor, to a raised conveyor area, and are then lifted using an elevator for placement into a bulk bin.

Abstract: In this invention, a process to obtain hydrogen peroxide solutions by means of the direct reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a solvent and of catalysts constituted from noble or semi-noble metals, or combinations of several of these metals, supported on a halogen-free acid resin, is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel catalyst having excellent activity, selectivity and stability for reducing nitric oxide to gas nitrogen, with hydrogen being used as a reducing agent, in the low temperature range 100–200° C. and in the presence of an excess of oxygen (e.g. 5% vol), H2O (5% vol) and/or SO2 (20 ppm) in the supply. The inventive catalyst consists of platinum crystals which are in contact with the phases of a mixed MgO and CeO2 medium or in the form of platinum supported on the mixed MgO—CeO2 medium which has already been sulphated in a selective manner. The Pt/MgO—CeO2 catalyst can be used to obtain NO conversion levels which are greater than 40% and nitrogen selectivity values of greater than 80% under NOx oxidation conditions in the 100–400° C. temperature range and for a surface contact time of 0.045 s. In particular, full NO conversion is obtained as well as N2 selectivity levels of 83% at 150° C. with a reaction mixture of 0.25% NO/1% H2/5% O2/5% H2O/He.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing hydroperoxides from their corresponding hydrocarbons which comprises oxidizing said hydrocarbons, particularly ethylbenzene, with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide compound and a compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal compound or mixture thereof.

Abstract: A produce washing method, which permits the washing of produce from both above and below in the field. The produce washing takes produce along a conveyor belt, from a loading section, to a washing section on which is located a washing unit, upward along an ascending section, and from there the produce travels along a dumping section and into a receptacle. The washing unit features spray nozzles located above and below the washing section, so as to direct spray from above and below the produce so as to more effectively wash it.