Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing catalyst, such as chromium catalysts, are provided. The valence of at least a portion of the catalyst sent to an activator is changed from Cr(III) to Cr(VI). The catalyst is prepared or activated continuously using a fluidization bed catalyst activator.

Abstract: Glycopeptide antibiotics, such as oritavancin, demonstrate significant activity against a wide range of bacteria. Methods for the treatment, prophylaxis and prevention of bacterial infection and disease in animals, including humans, using a single dose of oritavancin over the course of therapy, are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of inhibition, delay of formation, treatment, prophylaxis and/or prevention of infections caused by bacteria that exhibit tolerance to antimicrobial agents, including slow growing, stationary-phase and biofilm forming bacteria, through the use of glycopeptide antibiotics, such as oritavancin.

Abstract: Glycopeptide antibiotics, such as oritavancin, demonstrate significant activity against both a vegetative form of C. difficile and C. difficile spores. Methods for the treatment, prophylaxis and prevention of C. difficile infection and disease in animals, including humans, are described.

Abstract: A multi-stage fluidized bed synthesizer and process for synthesizing trichlorosilane wherein silicon particles can be fed into one of multiple intercommunicating fluidizing zones in a fluidized bed reactor supplied with fluidizing gas comprising hydrogen chloride. The fluidizing zones can be disposed laterally adjacent one to another, for example side-by-side, or in a horizontal line. Useful embodiments include: feeding the fluidizing gas at different rates and/or compositions to the different fluidizing zones; filtration apparatus to filter the gaseous product and return silicon particles to the reactor and cooling systems for cooling the fluidized bed and the gas volumes above the fluidized beds, if present.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing catalyst, such as chromium catalysts, are provided. The valence of at least a portion of the catalyst sent to an activator is changed from Cr(III) to Cr(VI). The catalyst is prepared or activated continuously using a fluidization bed catalyst activator.

Abstract: A broadband omni-directional bicone antenna. The antenna can comprise conductive surfaces of conical voids provided within a solid dielectric structure. The outside surface of the solid structure can support a radio frequency (RF) lens geometry operable for beam forming. The beam forming can modify the elevation pattern of the electromagnetic radiation from the bicone antenna. The solid dielectric structure may be machined or molded from a single piece of material. The conical voids provided within the solid structure can be metallized to provide conductive bicone radiators. The outer surface beam shaping lenses can be zoned or continuous and can provide elevation patterns with increased gain, cosecant squared falloff, or various other patterns. The beam shaping lens may be formed from any low-loss dielectric. Alternatively, the lens may be formed from a less dense material such as dielectric foam that can support radial conductive beam forming vanes.

Abstract: Ferrous powder particles are coated with vaporized phosphorus in a fluid-bed reactor to obtain homogeneous coatings of phosphorus. The coated powders are useful feed for pressed structural parts, exhibiting improved green density, compressibility and sintered density thus improving magnetic and tensile properties.

Abstract: A valve body 10 supports a rotary valve member 20 having a transfer port 22. Sealing between a port 17 of the valve and the member 20 is achieved by a sleeve 30 movable towards and away from the member 20. In a valve closed position seal means in a flat end of the sleeve engage a flat base of a recess in the member 20. The member 20 may be provided with a rotary scraper 41 and heaters located in channels 40 and in this construction the valve is suitable for transferring sodium-cooled nuclear fuel between various localities.

Abstract: An avionics housing has electrical equipment within it connected to an electrical connector by means of a flexi-rigid assembly having multiple conductive tracks extending side-by-side on an insulating layer. Radio frequency interference between the connector and the equipment is reduced by forming the flexi-rigid assembly into one or more loops about a ferrite block which absorbs radio frequency on the conductive tracks. The housing may have several blocks of different materials which absorb radiation of different frequency ranges. Additionally, the assembly may be wound about a plastics block to form an air-cored coil for absorbing higher frequencies. Where only higher frequencies are to be absorbed, the air-cored coil may take the place of the ferrite block. The flexi-rigid assembly also includes a capacitor assembly in the form of two conductive layers extending across opposite side of the conductor tracks and insulated therefrom.

Abstract: An adjustable support for an optical or other instrument (e.g. a binocular microscope for use by a surgeon in neurosurgery) which readily permits adjustment in the position of the instrument in a predetermined spatial envelope and/or adjustment of the orientation of the instrument at any given position within that envelope, and which is compact, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to adjust, and incorporates a high degree of safety, comprises a rod-like carrier, supporting the instrument at one end and an adjustable counterweight at the other, mounted, by a ball joint arrangement on a linkage system rotatably supported on a column. The ball joint arrangement and the other joint arrangements in the linkage system are provided with clamping devices, normally urged to clamping position by springs but released by the application of air pressure under control of a switch device.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the use of sorbitol to stabilize aqueous solutions of yeast lactases. The sorbitol is conveniently used in high concentration so as to act not only as a stabilizing agent but also as an antimicrobial agent. If desired, an antimicrobial agent other than sorbitol can be incorporated. Both aqueous solutions of yeast lactases containing sorbitol and processes for stabilizing aqueous solutions of yeast lactases by incorporation of sorbitol are claimed.