Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the conversion of reactant into a reaction product, in the presence of a solid acid catalyst comprising sulfonic acid groups covalently bonded to a polymeric chain, wherein the improvement comprises increasing the rate of conversion, on an equivalent sulfonic acid basis, by providing, as said polymeric chain a compound represented by the general formula:M(O.sub.3 ZO.sub.x R).sub.nwherein M is a tetravalent metal ion; Z is a pentavalent atom, selected from the group consisting of elements of Group V of the Periodic Table of the Elements having an atomic weight greater than 30; x varies from 0 to 1; R is select d from the group consisting or organo radicals and mixtures of hydrogen radicals and organo radicals; and n varies from 1 to 2; provided that n is 1 when R is terminated with a tri- or tetraoxy pentavalent atom.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the conversion of reactant into a reaction product, in the presence of a solid acid catalyst comprising sulfonic acid groups covalently bonded to a polymeric chain, wherein the improvement comprises increasing the rate of conversion, on an equivalent sulfonic acid basis, by providing, as said polymeric chain a compound represented by the general formula:M(O.sub.3 ZO.sub.x R).sub.nwherein M is a tetravalent metal ion; Z is a pentavalent atom, selected from the group consisting of elements of Group V of the Periodic Table of the Elements having an atomic weight greater than 30; x varies from 0 to 1; R is selected from the group consisting of organo radicals and mixtures of hydrogen radicals and organo radicals; and n varies from 1 to 2; provided that n is 1 when R is terminated with a tri-or tetraoxy pentavalent atom.

Abstract: Several cables extend between a buoyant body to be moored and the sinker on the sea bed. Intermediate spacing members hold the cables apart from one another to maintain the configuration. At zero rotation when the tether formation itself is in equilibrium half the number of cables exert a clockwise torque and half exert an equal and opposite anticlockwise torque. Any small rotation of the moored body causes the tension to increase in the cables opposing such rotation and to decrease in the other cables, so the body is restored to the equilibrium position. The tether thus exhibits high torsional stability. Cables can be configured to enable the tether to tilt relative to the buoyant body or sinker whilst still retaining high torsional stability.

Abstract: A circuit for clamping the base of an output pull-down transistor includes a clamp transistor connecting the base of the pull-down transistor to a ground node and a drive circuit for rapidly turning on the clamp transistor in response to a high-to-low transition on an input node. The drive circuit includes a string of Schottky diodes connecting the base of the clamp transistor to the collector of a transistor whose base is responsive to the voltage on the input node.