Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated process for the preparation in continuous of epoxides which comprises: (a) preparing an alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solution of hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of over 3% by weight, using a gaseous stream containing hydrogen, oxygen and an inert gas, in the presence of a bimetallic catalyst based on palladium and platinum as active components; (b) putting the alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solution of hydrogen peroxide obtained in step (a) in contact with an olefin and a buffering agent, in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst suspended in the reaction solvent, in order to obtain a reaction mixture containing the epoxide corresponding to the olefin, water and the alcoholic solvent; (c) treating the alcoholic stream leaving step (b), after separation of the epoxide, in order to eliminate the nitrogenated compounds present; (d) feeding the alcoholic solvent obtained in (c) to step (a).

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the synthesis of novel cationic amphiphiles capable of facilitating transport of biologically active molecules into cells wherein the said amphiphiles contain N-hydroxyalkyl group and have at least one hydroxyalkyl group containing 1-3 carbon atoms directly linked to the positively charged nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A process for preparing silanes of the formula 1: RaSiHbCl4-a-b  (1) where R is methyl or ethyl, a is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and b is 0 or 1, from hydrogen chloride gas and reactants selected from among a) silicon metal, b) disilanes and oligosilanes whose radicals are selected from among H, R and Cl,  and mixtures thereof, wherein the hydrogen chloride gas is prepared from H2 and Cl2 in a concerted process.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of phenyl Grignard reagents in co-solvents of toluene and ether and, the preparation of phenylchlorosilane intermediates using co-solvents of toluene and ether essentially in a one step process. The phenylchlorosilanes in the processes of this invention are important intermediates for the preparation of various silicone materials.

Abstract: Process for isolating one or more organic substances from a gas mixture in which these organic substances are present, in which the gas mixture is subjected to a quenching in a column, characterized in that quenching is carried out in the upper part of the column and the quenching liquid is subjected to stripping in the lower part of the column.

Abstract: The process disclosed herein satisfies the need in the art for an industrially viable oxidative carbonylation catalytic system, and is capable of producing carbamates at a significantly higher rate than those processes reported in journal and patent literature. This reaction process takes place via a reaction mechanism that does not involve drastic conditions. Specifically, the catalytic system of the present invention employs Group VIII metal catalysts and/or copper-based catalysts with halide promoters to produce carbamates through heterogeneous oxidative carbonylation at atmospheric pressure and relatively non-drastic temperatures in a gas-solid carbonylation process.

Abstract: The invention includes selected novel optically active &agr;-amino ketones which either are themselves useful or are intermediates for the preparation of known ketomethylene pseudopeptides useful as antibiotics, antibiotic enhancers, or enzyme inhibitors. Further, the present invention provides a method for dehydrogenation/asymmetrical hydrogenation to obtain essentially pure antipodes of ketomethylene pseudopeptides having two chiral centers.

Abstract: Complexes of a selected class of chiral ligands with molybdenum, tungsten or chromium, preferably molybdenum, are effective as catalysts in highly enantioselective and regioselective alkylation of allylic substrates.

Abstract: Economical and efficient processes for producing an &agr;, &bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid heterocycle-inserted ester and an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid polyheteroalkylene ester as well as a catalyst suited for use in economically and efficiently producing an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester are provided. The invention provides (1) a process for producing an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester which comprises reacting an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester with a heterocyclic compound, (2) a process for producing an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester which comprises reacting an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid with a heterocyclic compound in the presence of a polymerization inhibitor and a metal oxide catalyst, and (3) a catalyst for the production of an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester comprising a metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides: an unsaturated carboxylate which has both an unsaturated group and a hydroxyl group, and is applicable to a wide range of crosslinking processes, and has moderate polymerizability, and has a novel specific structure; and a production process which enables to obtain this unsaturated carboxylate without causing the rearrangement of the carbon-carbon unsaturated bond of the raw unsaturated oxirane, and gives a high production ratio of unsaturated oxirane-1-mol adduct. A reaction of a specific unsaturated carboxylic acid with a specific unsaturated oxirane is carried out using at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of chromium compounds, manganese compounds, iron compounds, nickel compounds, zinc compounds, silver compounds, tin compounds, neodymium compounds, and lead compounds, thereby obtaining an unsaturated carboxylate of general formula (1).

Abstract: Acrylic or methacrylic acid esters may be efficiently prepared by the transesterification of a C1 to C4 alcohol ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and a different alcohol in the presence of a mixture of a) an alkali metal cyanate or alkali metal thiocyanate, and b) an alkaline earth metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide or an alkali metal halide.

Abstract: A process for acyl substitution of an anhydride with an active-hydrogen-containing compound includes reacting the anhydride with the active-hydrogen-containing compound in the presence of a vanadyl salt catalyst to obtain a high yield of acyl substitution reaction product with high chemoselectivity.

Abstract: A process is proposed for preparing C5 acetate for Vitamin A synthesis by hydroformylation of 3,4-diacetoxybut-1-ene (3,4-DABE), according to which a 3,4-DABE is used which is obtained by acetoxylation of 1,3-butadiene with acetic acid and air in the presence of a catalyst and removing by distillation the 3,4-DABE formed in this case as by-product.

Abstract: The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydrogenation product of aromatic carboxylic acid which comprises continuously producing the hydrogenation product of aromatic carboxylic acid by hydrogenating an aromatic carboxylic acid having a melting point of 250° C. or higher in a solvent in the presence of a solid catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation is conducted in a condition such that substantially the entire amount of the aromatic carboxylic acid of a raw material is dissolved in the solvent by recycling a portion of a reaction liquid taken out of a reactor into the reactor. An aromatic carboxylic acid having a high melting point and hardly soluble in solvents can be hydrogenated at a suitable reaction temperature in accordance with a continuous process without using a great amount of a solvent and the reaction product of the object compound can be produced very efficiently.

Abstract: Raney copper, which is doped (promoted) with an effective quantity of a doping (promoting) agent selected from the group boric acid, onium fluorides, salts of fluorine complex anions, and heteropoly acids, represents an outstanding oxidation catalyst for amine-group-containing primary amines to carboxylic acids.

Abstract: In a process for heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase oxidation, a reaction gas starting mixture comprising propane, molecular oxygen and, if desired, inert gas is passed at from 300 to 500° C. over a fixed-bed catalyst.

Abstract: In a process for the purification of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid by crystallization and distillation, the following steps are carried out: (a) crystallization of a mixture containing the acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with formation of product crystals having a higher concentration of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and of a mother liquor, (b) distillation of at least part of the mother liquor from step (a) with formation of a distillation residue, which is at least partly removed, and of a top product, (c) crystallization of at least part of the top product from step (b) with formation of a crystallization residue, which is removed, and of crystals and (d) recycling of the crystals from step (c) to the crystallization (a).

Abstract: A process for the co-production of acetic anhydride and acetic acid which process comprises introducing a carbonylatable feedstock comprising methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether and optionally also comprising methanol and/or water, to a carbonylation reactor in which there is maintained a liquid reaction composition comprising acetic anhydride, acetic acid, rhodium carbonylation catalyst, alkyl iodide co-catalyst and an iodide salt promoter consisting essentially of an alkali metal iodide and/or alkaline earth metal iodide, contacting said carbonylatable feedstock with carbon monoxide in said liquid reaction composition to produce acetic anhydride and acetic acid, and introducing to the carbonylation reactor methyl formate and/or formic acid in the range from 0.1 to 20% by weight of the total feed of liquid components to the reactor.

Abstract: A process for preparing a thioamide of the formula (I) wherein R is an aryl or a heteroaryl radical includes the step of mixing a nitrile of the formula (II) R—CN  (II) wherein R is an aryl or a heteroaryl radical with an aqueous solution comprising a sulfide and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the preparation of 3-aryloxy-3-arylpropylamines and intermediates thereof using an nucleophilic aromatic displacement in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone or N-methylpyrrolidinone.

Abstract: Disclosed are multibinding compounds which are &bgr;2 adrenergic receptor agonists and are useful in the treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis. They are also useful in the treatment of nervous system injury and premature labor.

Abstract: A compound of the general formula I wherein R1 represents a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, mercapto, trifluoromethyl, amino, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C2-C3)olefinic group, (C1-C3)alkoxy, (C1-C3)alkylthio, (C1-C6)alkylamino, (C1-C3)alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, —CONH2, phenyl, and nitro; R2 represents one or more, same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, mercapto, trifluoromethyl, amino, (C1-C3)alkyl, (C2-C3)olefinic group, (C1-C3)alkoxy, (C1-C3)alkylthio, (C1-C6)alkylamino, (C1-C3)alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, —CONH2, phenyl, and nitro; R3 represents one or more, same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, mercapto, trifluoromethyl, cyano, carboxy, carbamoyl, (C1-C10)alkyl, (C2-C10)olefinic group, (C3-C8)monocyclic hydrocarbon group, (C1-C10)alkoxy, (C1-C10)alkylthio, (C1-C10)alkoxycarbonyl, and phenyl; R4 represents hydrogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, (C2-C6)olefinic

Abstract: The present invention is directed to labeled compounds, [2-13C]dithiane wherein the 13C atom is directly bonded to one or two deuterium atoms. The present invention is also directed to processes of preparing [2-13C]dithiane wherein the 13C atom is directly bonded to one or two deuterium atoms. The present invention is also directed to labeled compounds, e.g., [2H1−2, 13C]methanol (arylthio)-, acetates wherein the 13C atom is directly bonded to exactly one or two deuterium atoms.

Abstract: The invention deals with the derivatives of benzilidine having basic formula as follows (I): wherein X can be cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, or acetone, while Y and Z can be either electron withdrawing, electron donating or steric group. Y may or may not be the same with Z. Methyl, ethyl, methoxy group or halogen were prefered in the experiment. The benzilidine cyclohexanone, benzilidine cyclopentanone, and benzilidine acetone derivates were found to be novel compounds showing anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities that enable them to be used for drug.

Abstract: Phenolic polyether polyols are prepared by a two stage oxyalkylation process, a first stage performed at a high oxyalkylation temperature and a second stage at a lower oxyalkylation temperature. Despite the use of high temperature during oxyalkylation, polydispersity is substantially unaffected, while process time is drastically reduced.

Abstract: A process for condensing at least one carbonyl compound carrying at least one electron-withdrawing group with an aromatic derivative carrying at least one hydroxyl functional group, wherein the electron-withdrawing group present on the carbonyl compound is selected from fluoroalkyl derivatives, esters, including orthoesters, and nitriles and said condensation is carried out in a basic medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3-cyano-2,4,5-trifluorobenzoyl fluoride and to intermediates for its preparation and to the process for the preparation of 3-cyano-2,4,5-trifluoro-benzoyl fluoride, which starts from 5-fluoro-1,3-xylene (VIII); which is bichlorinated in the ring in the presence of a catalyst under ionic conditions to give 2,4-dichloro-5-fluoro-1,3-dimethylbenzene (VII). The latter is chlorinated in the side chains under free-radical conditions to give 2,4-dichloro-5-fluoro-3-dichloromethyl-1-trichloromethylbenzene (VI).

Abstract: The present invention relates to gas separation membranes including a metal-based layer having sub-micron scale thicknesses. The metal-based layer can be a palladium alloy supported by ceramic layers such as a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer. By using MEMS, a series of perforations (holes) can be patterned to allow chemical components to access both sides of the metal-based layer. Heaters and temperature sensing devices can also be patterned on the membrane. The present invention also relates to a portable power generation system at a chemical microreactor comprising the gas separation membrane. The invention is also directed to a method for fabricating a gas separation membrane. Due to the ability to make chemical microreactors of very small sizes, a series of reactors can be used in combination on a silicon surface to produce an integrated gas membrane device.

Abstract: A photochemical process for removing or minimizing the concentration of PCDD or PCDF compounds within an industrial gas stream. The process includes the gas phase of PCDD or PCDF compounds. Light within a particular spectral range is irradiated into the gas stream and is absorbed by the PCDD and PCDF compounds in the presence of a free radical hydrogen donor and this results in producing a lower chlorinated PCDD or PCDF compound form. In addition, the gas stream may be treated by removing particular matter therefrom and thereafter subjected to the above-described irradiation. Further, as another optional step, the gas stream may be irradiated with the specific purpose of targeting PCDD and PCDF precursor compounds. In this case, the irradiation is absorbed by the precursor compounds causing them to be chemically modified to different chemical compounds that do not participate in chemical reactions that result in the formation of PCDD and PCDF compounds.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an immunostimulating agent that may be applied to various surgical devices to promote rapid healing and the ready acceptance and integration of the surgical devices with the body tissues at the surgical site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reducing the build up or accretion of adhesive, alone or in combination with other materials, on the surfaces of equipment used to ultrasonically treat a workpiece (e.g., ultrasonically bonding various components or pieces to one another.) Thus the invention encompasses composites, absorbent products, and methods of making said composites and products where an adhesive composition having certain identified properties is used to reduce the build up or accretion of the adhesive on ultrasonic bonding equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, a composite includes an adhesive having a capillary-viscosity value of about 7 Pas.sec or greater and a Shore-OO-Hardness value of about 65 or greater, whereby the relative accretion value is less than about 1, and more particularly less than about 0.5.

Abstract: Increasing methylation of DNA in an unborn offspring of a pregnant mammal results in changing the epigenetically determined phenotype of the unborn offspring, inhibiting parasitic DNA sequences in the unborn offspring, and/or reducing susceptibility to tumor formation in the unborn offspring. Increased methylation is achieved by administering to the pregnant mammal a pharmaceutical composition which includes at least three of the following: Choline, Betaine, Folic acid, Vitamin B12, L-Methionine, and Zinc. The effective amount for each of these ingredients is: about 5-15 g/kg diet/day of Choline, about 5-15 g/kg diet/day of Betaine, about 5-15 mg/kg diet/day of Folic acid, about 0.5-1.5 mg/kg diet/day of Vitamin B12, about 0 to 7.5 g/kg diet/day of L-Methionine, and about 0 to 150 mg/kg diet/day of Zinc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mouse with deficiency of gene of neutrophil chemotactic factor LECT2 having a function of lacking by deleting a whole or a part LECT2 gene or inserting other gene such as a selective marker gene to any portion of the LECT2 gene or replacing it with another gene(s).

Abstract: A method is provided for transforming solanaceous plants to express DNA sequences interest from the plant cell plastid. The improved method allows the transformation of solanaceous plant tissue which is not obtained from tobacco with DNA constructs. Such DNA constructs comprise, in the 5′ to 3′ direction of transcription, a promoter region functional in a plant plastid and a DNA sequence of interest. The method can be utilized in the transformation of solanaceous plants, such as potato and petunia. The invention further provides constructs and methods for the expression of green fluorescent protein from the plant cell plastid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing seeds of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-related gene product. The AGL8-related gene product can have, for example, substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog such as Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). The present invention further provides a non-naturally occurring seed plant that is characterized by producing fruit of increased size due to ectopic expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding an AGL8-family gene product. The AGL8-family gene product can have substantially the amino acid sequence of an AGL8 ortholog, for example, the amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis AGL8 (SEQ ID NO:2). Related methods and kits also are provided.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences encoding two RAD51 recombinases active in maize plants are provided. cDNA sequences including the ZmRAD51 coding sequences and unique 3′-untranslated regions which are useful as RFLP probes, are also provided. The production of plasmids containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding a ZmRAD51 fusion protein, as well as the use of the plasmids to introduce the ZmRAD51 coding sequence into a host cell, such as maize cell, are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a conga stand comprising a holding ring for a conga to be inserted and holding pieces joined on the holding ring and resting laterally on the conga as well as legs equally connected to the holding ring, it is provided that each leg, at its lower end, has a cranked section which is parallel to the ground it stands on and is provided with a non-slip cover, in particular of rubber or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for striking a percussion instrument with one or more percussion beaters utilizing a swing motion of the user's foot, and more particularly, to an apparatus for striking the head of a bass drum or other percussion instrument multiple times with one or more percussion beaters upon a single swing cycle by the user utilizing a single foot.

Abstract: Performance data processing apparatus includes a memory for storing settings input by a user and a processor for performing various control in accordance with the settings stored in the memory. Performance data are displayed in one or more display forms desired by the user. Marker or repeat mark is displayed in response to an instruction for displaying the marker or repeat mark. The performance data are reproduced in accordance with the input mark indicating that a performance should be repeated within a predetermined range. Further, a chord name is converted in accordance with a designated type of transposing instrument, and the converted chord name is displayed or stored in memory. Because the various control is performed in accordance with the memory-stored user settings, the user is allowed to change convenience-of-use or operability of the performance data processing apparatus in creating/editing of the performance data, by just changing the settings.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus assists a performance based on music performance data of a model music piece composed of a plurality of notes allocated to a plurality of channels. Each note is determined by a target pitch and timing. An indicator section visually indicates the target timings of the notes. An input section is operable by a user for sequentially inputting actual timings selectively allocated to one or more of the channels during the performance. A detecting section operates when the input section inputs an actual timing to one channel, for detecting a note having a target timing which matches the inputted actual timing and which is allocated to any one of the channels. An output section responds to the detecting section for outputting the music performance data to the respective channels for sounding all of the notes having the target timings coincident with the inputting of the actual timing.

Abstract: A music generation system includes a segment manager and a plurality of segment objects. Each segment object has one or more track objects. Each track object containing a time sequence of musical performance data. Some of the track objects are dependent track objects and some of the track objects are controlling track objects. The dependent track objects contain dependent musical performance data that is interpreted based on controlling musical performance data contained in one or more of the controlling track objects. Each of the controlling track objects contains a predefined type of controlling musical performance data, wherein a plurality of different control type identifiers correspond respectively to different predefined types of controlling musical performance data. When a dependent track object needs controlling musical performance data, the track object calls the segment manager with an argument comprising a control type identifier.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary encoder having the physical characteristics of a vinyl phonograph disc on a properly prepared turntable. A disc jockey (DJ) may intuitively use this encoder in a virtually identical manner to a conventional record to create scratch effects in a digital signal being supplied from a digitized audio signal source such as a CD, mini-disc, digital audio tape (DAT), data file or any other source of a digital signal. Speed and direction information from the encoder are used as inputs to a digital signal processor so that scratch effects typically produced by the manipulation of a vinyl record on a turntable may be simulated in the digital signal.

Abstract: A method for generating accompaniment to a musical presentation, the method comprising steps of providing a note-based code representing musical information corresponding to the musical presentation, generating a code sequence corresponding to new melody lines by using said note-based code as an input for a composing method, and providing accompaniment on the basis of the code sequence corresponding to new melody lines. Providing the note-based code representing the musical information comprises steps of receiving the musical information in the form of an audio signal, and applying an audio-to-notes conversion to the audio signal for generating the note-based code representing the musical information, the audio-to-notes conversion comprising the steps of estimating fundamental frequencies of the audio signal for obtaining a sequence of fundamental frequencies, and detecting note events on the basis of the sequence of fundamental frequencies for obtaining the note-based code.

Abstract: Many non-musicians enjoy listening to music, and would like to be able to play along with it, but do not have the talent or the time to learn to play a musical instrument. The system described herein allows non-musicians to follow along with a display that is based on the principles of musical notation, but is designed to be intuitive and require no training to use. The player is guided through the steps of playing a rhythm along with a musical performance, and the system provides the illusion that the player is actually playing a melodic part on an instrument. In addition, the system indicates how closely the player is following the guide, and it also scores the player's performance. The score is used to drive interactive feedback to the player. The system can be configured to work in local area networks or wide area networks with low latency or high latency in the network.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprises a photovoltaic device having a flexible substrate. The photovoltaic device has a strain at least partly in the planar direction of the flexible substrate, and the strain is not greater than a critical value at which the photovoltaic device cracks. The solar cell module may further comprise a strain holding means for holding the strain. A deformable region where the photovoltaic device can be deformed when a region embracing the photovoltaic device is worked is defined so that a great variety of solar cell modules having a high reliability, also taking account of manufacture, can be designed with good efficiency.

Abstract: A nonimaging light concentrator system including a primary collector of light, an optical mixer disposed near the focal zone for collecting light from the primary collector, the optical mixer having a transparent entrance aperture, an internally reflective housing for substantially total internal reflection of light, a transparent exit aperture and an array of photovoltaic cells disposed near the transparent exit aperture.

Abstract: A thin film, photovoltaic, solar energy conversion device comprising: a thin-film, photovoltaic layer; a transparent electrical conducting layer in contact with said photovoltaic layer; a back electrical conducting layer in contact with said photovoltaic layer; fabricated on a suitable substrate; said photovoltaic layer being of a material selected from the class consisting of: monoclinic zinc diphosphide (also referred to as beta zinc diphosphide and indicated by &bgr;-ZnP2); copper diphosphide (CuP2); magnesium tetraphosphide (MgP4); gamma-iron tetraphosphide (&ggr;-FeP4) and mixed crystals formed from these four materials. A thin film fabrication process is presented that produces high efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic layers of the above-indicated class.

Abstract: A high-efficiency bypass function added solar cell includes a first conductivity type substrate, a second conductivity type region formed at the light receiving side of the substrate, an electrode formed at the second conductivity type region, and a region of higher concentration than the substrate, arranged in contact with both the substrate and the second conductivity type region and not in contact with the electrode. The substrate includes a reflectionless surface construction and a planer portion at the light receiving side. The reflectionless surface construction has a plurality of grid configurations, and includes a first grid portion and a second grid portion having a grid configuration differing in size from that of the first grid portion. The region of higher concentration than the substrate is formed at the first grid portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaically self-charging storage system having a layer structure in which a first material (1), which forms a first redox system, a second material (2), which forms a second redox system, and a photosensitive material (3) are arranged in or between a first (4) and a second electrically conductive layer (5). At least one of the electrically conductive layers (4, 5) is transparent for visible light. The first and the second material (1, 2) are each in electrical contact with one of the electrically conductive layers (4, 5) and arranged in the layer structure in such a manner that, due to the effect of light, the photosensitive material (3) induces a redox reaction Aox+Bred→Ared+Box, which can be reversed if light ceases. The thickness of the layer over which the first (1) and/or second material (2) extends is configured in such a manner that a charge storage sufficient for operating an electrical consumer is made possible.