Abstract: Process for hydrocyanating a substrate selected from 2-, 3-, or 4-pentenenitrile and/or 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile or mixtures thereof by contacting the substrate with HCN in the presence of a zero-valent nickel catalyst and a promoter that is obtained as a byproduct of titanium ore chlorination.

Abstract: A process to prepare substantially pure glycolonitrile in an aqueous medium is provided by reacting hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. The formaldehyde feed stream is heated prior to reacting with hydrogen cyanide, resulting in an aqueous glycolonitrile solution with fewer impurities, especially less unreacted formaldehyde, than is obtained by other methods. The process enables production of an aqueous glycolonitrile solution that requires less post-reaction purification (if any at all) prior to enzymatically converting the glycolonitrile into glycolic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst precursor composition, wherein the catalyst precursor composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphite ligand selected from a member of the group represented by Structures I and II, in which all like reference characters have the same meaning, except as further explicitly limited: wherein R1 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to C5 hydrocarbyl, and R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1 to C4 hydrocarbyl; and (b) maintaining a residence time in the reaction zone sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintain

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrocyanation process for the production of adiponitrile and other dinitriles having six carbon atoms, the process comprising: a) forming a reaction mixture in the presence of at least one Lewis acid, said reaction mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated nitrites having five carbon atoms, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor composition, by continuously feeding ethylenically unsaturated nitrites, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor composition; b) controlling X and Z, wherein X is the overall feed molar ratio of 2-pentenenitriles to all unsaturated nitriles and Z is the overall feed molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to all unsaturated nitrites, by selecting a value for X in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.5, and a value for Z in the range from about 0.5/1 to about 0.

Abstract: The invention provides a continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile, comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a 1,3-butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst precursor composition, wherein the catalyst precursor composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one multidentate phosphorus-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of a phosphite, a phosphonite, a phosphinite, a phosphine, and a mixed phosphorus-containing ligand or a combination of such members; and (b) maintaining a residence time sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintained below about 15 weight percent of the total mass of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrocyanation process for the production of adiponitrile and other dinitriles having six carbon atoms, the process comprising: a) forming a reaction mixture in the presence of at least one Lewis acid, said reaction mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated nitriles having five carbon atoms, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor composition, by continuously feeding ethylenically unsaturated nitriles, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor composition; b) controlling X and Z, wherein X is the overall feed molar ratio of 2-pentenenitriles to all unsaturated nitriles and Z is the overall feed molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to all unsaturated nitriles, by selecting a value for X in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.5, and a value for Z in the range from about 0.5/1 to about 0.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for tracking a moving object using magnetic resonance imaging. The technique includes acquiring a scout image scan having a number of image frames and extracting non-linear motion parameters from the number of image frames of the scout image scan. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. The system and method are particularly useful in tracking coronary artery movement during the cardiac cycle to acquire the non-linear components of coronary artery movement during a diastolic portion of the R-R interval.

Abstract: A method and system for fat suppression with T1-weighted imaging includes a pulse sequence generally constructed to have a non-spectrally selective IR pulse that is played out immediately before a spectrally selective IR tip-up pulse. Thereafter, a fat suppression RF pulse is played out followed by the acquisition of fat-suppressed MR data. The pulse sequence maintains T1 contrast by not perturbing the non-fat signals from the IR preparation. The pulse sequence also ensures that the blood pool signal is homogeneously suppressed from the non-spectrally selective IR RF pulse. The pulse sequence also allows for increased fat suppression and provides flexibility for adjustment of the degree of fat suppression without affecting the view acquisition order for an image acquisition segment.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.

Abstract: A process to prepare substantially pure glycolonitrile in an aqueous medium is provided by reacting hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. The formaldehyde feed stream is heated prior to reacting with hydrogen cyanide, resulting in an aqueous glycolonitrile solution with fewer impurities, especially less unreacted formaldehyde, than is obtained by other methods. The process enables production of an aqueous glycolonitrile solution that requires less post-reaction purification (if any at all) prior to enzymatically converting the glycolonitrile into glycolic acid.

Abstract: A system and a method for obtaining a digital image of a heart of a person are provided. The system scans an internal anatomy of a chest region of the person to obtain scanning data. The system further generates a digital image of four chambers of the heart based on the scanning data.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for guiding an end effector to a target position within a person are provided. The method includes generating a plurality of digital images of an interior anatomy of the person when the person has a predetermined respiratory state. The method further includes indicating a skin entry position on at least one of the digital images. The method further includes indicating the target position on at least one of the digital images. The method further includes determining a trajectory path based on the skin entry position and the target position. Finally, the method includes moving the end effector along the trajectory path toward the target position when the person has substantially the predetermined respiratory state.

Abstract: A method of generating a magnetic resonance image is provided, comprising subjecting a subject to a magnetic field. The subject comprised of a first tissue a second tissue and a third tissue. The method generates a first pulse sequence at a first TI time and generates a first image after the first pulse sequence. The first image has a first image first tissue magnitude, a first image second tissue magnitude, and a first image third tissue magnitude. The method then generates a second pulse sequence at a second TI time and generates a second image after the second pulse sequence. The second image has a second image first tissue magnitude, a second image second tissue magnitude, and a second image third tissue magnitude. Finally, the method generates a resultant image by combining the first image and the second image. The first image first tissue magnitude and the second image first tissue magnitude combine to form a positive resultant first tissue magnitude.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for high sensitivity whole body scanning using MR imaging. The invention includes acquiring MR data as the patient moves through the iso-center of the magnet while providing interactive control for the operator to change scan parameters and table motion and direction. The technique allows efficient whole body scanning for fast screening of abnormalities while allowing operator control during the screening process to interrupt table motion and redirect the speed and direction of the table while also allowing control over the acquisition plane, number of sections imaged, inter-section spacing, and the scan location.

Abstract: Process for hydrocyanating a substrate selected from 2-, 3-, or 4- pentenenitrile and/or 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile or mixtures thereof by contacting the substrate with HCN in the presence of a zero-valent nickel catalyst and a promoter that is obtained as a byproduct of titanium ore chlorination.

Abstract: A non-selective saturation pulse together with a series of notched RF saturation pulses are used to acquire MR perfusion data. The non-selective saturation recovery RF pulse is non-selective and is designed to be effective at blood pool suppression for a first slice as well as a next slice in a series of slice locations. The first slice location may be placed at an angle or plane that is not necessarily coaxial with the other slice locations to be imaged. The present invention supports the acquisition of MR data with efficient spatial coverage and a calibration slice of data that provides a linear measure of signal intensity versus contrast concentration in a blood pool.

Abstract: Improved liquid phase process useful in the hydrocyanation of diolefinic compounds to produce nonconjugated acyclic nitriles and to the liquid phase process of isomerization of the nitriles to, among other things, 3- and/or 4-monoalkene linear nitriles. The improvement involves conducting the process in the presence of zero-valent nickel and a multidentate phosphite ligand.

Abstract: Improved liquid phase process useful in the hydrocyanation of diolefinic compounds to produce nonconjugated acyclic nitriles and to the liquid phase process of isomerization of the nitrites to, among other things, 3- and/or 4-monoalkene linear nitriles. The improvement involves conducting the process in the presence of zero-valent nickel and a multidentate phosphite ligand. Novel multidentate phosphite ligands and catalyst precursor compositions made therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved liquid phase process useful in the hydrocyanation of diolefinic compounds to produce nonconjugated acyclic nitrites and to the liquid phase process of isomerization of the nitriles to, among other things, 3- and/or 4-monoalkene linear nitrites. The improvement involves conducting the process in the presence of zero-valent nickel and a multidentate phosphite ligand.

Abstract: Improved liquid phase process useful in the hydrocyanation of diolefinic compounds to produce nonconjugated acyclic nitrites and to the liquid phase process of isomerization of the nitrites to, among other things, 3- and/or 4-monoalkene linear nitrites. The improvement involves conducting the process in the presence of zero-valent nickel and a multidentate phosphite ligand. Novel multidentate phosphite ligands and catalyst precursor compositions made therefrom are also disclosed.