Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrogenation of C4-dicarboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, preferably maleic anhydride, in the gas phase comprises a) 20-94% by weight of copper oxide (CuO), preferably 40-92% by weight of CuO, in particular 60-90% by weight of CuO, and b) 0.005-5% by weight, preferably 0.01-3% by weight, in particular 0.05-2% by weight, palladium and/or a palladium compound (calculated as metallic palladium) and c) 2-79.995% by weight, preferably 5-59.99% by weight, in particular 8-39.95% by weight, of an oxidic support selected from the group consisting of the oxides of Al, Si, Zn, La, Ce, the elements of groups IIIA to VIIIA and of groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of compounds of general formulas comprising the step of reacting in the presence of wherein: R=substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, heterocycles containing one or more O, N, S, P or B; R1 and R2 independently represent H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, heterocycles containing one or more O, N, S, P or B; R??H, OH, OR or OSiX3, wherein X independently represent alkyl or aryl.

Abstract: This invention covers a process for making biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fat with a simple hetrogeneous catalyst providing high yield and reaction rates under moderate conditions. The process is designed so as to enhance the yield by pretreatment step of esterification if required. The process provides gravity separation and any pretreatment/distillation/stripping, if needed before sending Biodiesel and glycerine to storage. The process provides heterogeneous catalysts so as to reduce the waste from the system and also it reduces the utilities and chemical cost. The process is optimized, simple in operation, economical, providing best yields compared to any processes in the market.

Abstract: A method for the efficient immobilization of silylated molecules such as silylated oligonucleotides or proteins onto unmodified surfaces such as a glass surface is provided. Also provided are compounds, devices, and kits for modifying surfaces such as glass surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an aromatic carbonate, comprising the steps of: continuously feeding an aliphatic carbonate represented by following general formula (1) as a starting material, an aromatic monohydroxy compound represented by following general formula (2) as a reactant, and a metal-containing catalyst into a stage above the bottom of a first multi-stage distillation column so as to bring about reaction; continuously withdrawing from the reaction system in a gaseous form a low boiling point component containing an alcohol by-produced in the reaction; and continuously withdrawing from a lower portion of the column in a liquid form an aromatic carbonate represented by following general formula (3) obtained from the starting material and the reactant ?Ar1OH??(2) wherein R1 in general formulae (1) and (2) represents an aliphatic group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and Ar1 represents an aromatic group having 5 to 30 carbon atoms wherein R2 and Ar2 in general formu

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): in which X represents N or CH; R1 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a CF3 group; n is an integer from 1 to 5; A represents a partially saturated carbonaceous bi- or tricycle; it also relates to their salts, solvates, N-oxides, the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, a method for their preparation and synthesis intermediates in this method.

Abstract: Energy is recovered during the production of aromatic carboxylic acids by liquid phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons by performing a high efficiency separation on the reactor overhead vapor to form a high pressure gaseous overhead stream comprising water and organic impurities; recovering heat energy from the high pressure gaseous overhead stream by exchanging heat with a suitable heat sink material such that a condensate comprising from about 20 wt % to about 60 wt % of the water present in the high pressure gaseous overhead stream is formed and a high pressure offgas is formed; and recovering energy in the form of work from the high pressure offgas. Preferably such work is recovered using isentropic means for energy recovery, for example an expander. Apparatus for such process is also provided.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula where the variables have the values described in the specification are antagonists of RAR?, retinoid receptors.

Abstract: Process for chemical recycling of post consumption poly(ethylene terephthalate) and equipment to perform the chemical recycling of post consumption poly(ethylene terephthalate) comprising a chemical process performing the depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)—PET—with the purpose of promoting the post consumption chemical recycling of this polymer. It also describes the equipment required for its performance. Such process is based on hydrolysis reaction, which causes the rupture in of the ester bonds formed between the polymer precursors (terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol) at the time of polymerization. The purpose is to recover, from the PET wastes and post consumption PET, terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A method for preparing a product of a chemical reaction includes conducting the chemical reaction in a solvent medium of one or more liquid nonionic surfactant(s). The liquid nonionic surfactants preferably are CmEn type poly(alkylene oxide) alcohols and are preferably separated from the product without the use of a volatile organic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of gabapentin and, more in particular, to a method of synthesis of 1,1-cyclohexane acetic acid monoamide, an intermediate used in the preparation of gabapentin, comprising the basic hydrolysis reaction of ?,?-diaminocarbonyl-?,?-pentamethylene glutarimide.

Abstract: A process for separating acrylic acid and benzoic acid present in the product gas mixture of a partial oxidation to acrylic acid, in which the acrylic acid and the benzoic acid are first converted to a liquid phase, constituents having a lower boiling point than benzoic acid and acrylic acid are removed therefrom by thermal separating processes, and the acrylic acid is removed by crystallization from the remaining liquid phase.

Abstract: A process for producing a carboxylic acid comprises allowing an alcohol having a carbon number of “n” to continuously react with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system, and a limited amount of water, continuously withdrawing the reaction mixture from the reaction system 1, introducing the withdrawn reaction mixture into a distillation step (distillation columns 3a and 3b), and separating a higher-boiling component and a lower-boiling component containing a carboxylic acid having a carbon number of “n+1”, respectively.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a fluorinated compound having a fluorosulfonyl group by coupling reaction. A method for producing a compound represented by the formula [(FSO2-)a(Z-)3-aC—]nR(—COY)b-n, which comprises subjecting a compound represented by the formula (FSO2-)a(Z-)3-aC(—COX) and a compound represented by the formula R(—COY)b to photocoupling reaction when X and Y are a fluorine atom or to electrolytic coupling reaction when X and Y are each independently a hydroxyl group or a group represented by the formula —OM, provided that X and Y are a fluorine atom, a hydroxyl group or a group represented by the formula —OM, Z is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or a monovalent organic group, R is a b-valent organic group, M is an alkali metal atom, “a” is an integer of from 1 to 3, and “b” and “n” are each independently an integer of from 1 to 4, provided that b?n.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing formic acid by thermally decomposing ammonium formates of tertiary amines A, wherein the tertiary amine A on which the ammonium formate is based has a boiling point at atmospheric pressure in the range from 105 to 175° C.

Abstract: A novel process for the preparation of tolterodine, i.e. (R)—N,N-diisopropyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-3-phenylpropanamine, in the racemic form, as well as intermediates useful for its preparation.

Abstract: A catalytic process for producing ketones and particularly methyl-benzyl-ketone is provided. A catalyst comprising thorium oxide and a second metal oxide, preferably MnO, is formed on a substrate, preferably pumice. Phenylacetic acid and acetic acid are reacted in the presence of the catalyst to form methyl-benzyl-ketone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol, said process comprising reacting the corresponding alkylene carbonate with water and/or an alcohol in the presence of a metalate immobilised on a solid support, having one or more electropositive sites.

Abstract: A method of isolating 1,3-propanediol from a solution containing 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol, and glucose is provided. The method includes: obtaining a concentrate by concentrating the solution via reduced pressure evaporation; dissolving the concentrate in a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, and a mixture thereof and leaving the solution alone to fractionate the compounds in a solvent layer and a water layer; and loading the solvent layer in a silica-filled column under a low pressure liquid chromatography condition and eluting the solvent layer with a mixed solvent of methanol and at least one solvent which is miscible with methanol and has a polarity lower than methanol.

Abstract: Various 13C and 14C carbon labeled compounds Rf—bCF(U)y(T)z??Formula 1A or Rf—bCF2bCF(U)y(T)z??Formula 1B wherein Rf is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl radical Z(CmF2m)—, m is 1, 3 to 20, or a mixture thereof; Z is F when m is 1, and Z is F, Cl, or H when m is 3 to 20 or a mixture thereof; b is 13 or 14; y is 1, and z is 0 or 1; and when y and z are each 1, U is F, and T is selected from the group consisting of monovalent radicals —X wherein X is I or Br, —CH2—CH2—X, —CH?CH2, —CH2—CH2—OH, —CH2—COOH, —CH2OH, —bCH2OH, —COOH, —bCOOH, —O—CF(CF3)—C(O)F, —O—CF(CF3)—X, —SO2Y wherein Y is H, F or Cl, and —SO3H; and when y is 1, and z is 0, U is selected from the group consisting of divalent radicals ?CH—COOH, ?CH—CH2—OH, and =0, are disclosed, and a process for their preparation which selectively introduces 13C and 14C carbon labels into a fluoroalkyl chain.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for forming monomers from a dimer, wherein the dimer is dicyclopentadiene, di(methylcyclopentadiene), di(ethyleyclopentadiene), or a mixture of any two or more of these. The process comprises i) heating a liquid mixture comprising at least one dimer and at least one liquefying agent in a vaporization zone to at least the vaporization temperature of said mixture to form a vaporized mixture, wherein the vaporization zone consists essentially of a substantially straight conduit in which said liquid mixture occupies less than the entire cross sectional area of said conduit; and ii) introducing at least a portion of the vaporized mixture from i) into a cracking zone such that monomers are formed. This process is conducted at about atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A process for preparing butadiene from n-butane, comprising the steps of A) providing a feed gas stream a comprising n-butane; B) feeding the feed gas stream a comprising n-butane into at least one first dehydrogenation zone and nonoxidatively, catalytically dehydrogenating n-butane to obtain a gas stream b comprising n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene and hydrogen, with or without carbon dioxide and with or without steam; C) feeding the gas stream b and an oxygenous gas into at least one second dehydrogenation zone and oxidatively dehydrogenating 1-butene and 2-butene to obtain a gas stream c comprising n-butane, butadiene, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and steam, D) compressing in at least one first compression stage and cooling the gas stream c to obtain at least one condensate stream d1 comprising water and a gas stream d2 comprising n-butane, butadiene, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and steam, E) separating the gas stream d2 by extractive distillation into a product stream e1 consisting substantially of but

Abstract: The present invention is an improved cyclic, endothermic hydrocarbon conversion process and a catalyst bed system for accomplishing the same. Specifically, the improved process comprises reacting a hydrocarbon with a multi-component catalyst bed in such a manner that the temperature within the catalyst bed remains within controlled temperature ranges throughout all stages of the process. The multi-component catalyst bed comprises a reaction-specific catalyst physically mixed with a heat-generating material.

Abstract: Electrode containers and associated methods are provided. In one embodiment, an electrode container includes sides and a top, and the top includes an opening adapted to receive a rod of an electrode. A plurality of flexible members are interconnected about the perimeter of the opening, wherein at least some of the plurality of flexible members overlap with one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of techniques for treating a waste material of an asbestos-containing material, from emergency treatment, dismantling, or transportation of an already constructed asbestos-containing material to a heating and melting treatment of the dismantled asbestos-containing waste material. The preset invention provides a method of preventing the exposure of the fibrous dust of the asbestos involving melting an asbestos-containing waste material, into which lithium silicate is impregnated in a melting furnace for treating an asbestos-containing material into harmless. The lithium silicate impregnated into the asbestos-containing waste material forms a gel within the range of temperatures of 500 to 1,100° C., and the formed gel adheres onto the surfaces of asbestos fibers, thereby preventing the exposure of the fibrous dust of the asbestos. Moreover, the melting temperature of asbestos can be reduced to about 1,360° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the treatment of waste, the process comprising a gasification step comprising treating the waste in a gasification unit in the presence of oxygen and steam to produce an offgas and a char, and a plasma treatment step comprising subjecting the offgas and the char to a plasma treatment in a plasma treatment unit in the presence of oxygen and steam. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: Mercury is removed from contaminated waste by firstly applying a sulfur reagent to the waste. Mercury in the waste is then permitted to migrate to the reagent and is stabilized in a mercury sulfide compound. The stable compound may then be removed from the waste which itself remains in situ following mercury removal therefrom.

Abstract: A system for treating lung tissue includes a tube having a distal end, an anchoring device secured to the tube, the anchoring device configured to anchor at least a portion of the tube against an esophagus, a trachea, or a bronchus; and an ablation device carried within a lumen of the tube.

Abstract: A radioactive member for use in brachytherapy comprising a hollow elongate bioabsorbable suture member with radioactive seeds and spacer members without different coloration and diameter from the radioactive seeds alternately disposed therein, and methods for the manufacture and the use thereof. The radioactive members may be used in the treatment of, for example, prostate cancer.

Abstract: A magnetic field therapy apparatus for treating biological subjects including a first bobbin and first coil, a second bobbin and second coil, wherein said second bobbin is concentrically confined by the first bobbin, where the second bobbin has a hollow interior region adapted for receipt therein of a portion of a biological subject treated by a magnetic flux generated by the coils.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field generator has a power source and a microcontroller in electrical communication with the power source. A coil is also provided that is in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The coil generates a pulsed magnetic wave of an alternating current when a sensor determines that the magnetic field generator is located in proximity to a living being. The magnetic field generator is structured to be coupled to a device and the device is structured to be worn by the living being in proximity to the living being. A method of generating a pulsed magnetic wave to a device is also provided. A magnetic field generator system is also provided that has a magnetic field generator which is structured to be in communication with a charger/tester.

Abstract: The invention relates to an incubator for babies. It is of special value for the treatment of premature infants as an intensive care unit at any time during life from creation to implantation. A cradle is sided with ports to enable fluidic ventilation. Advantageously the incubator includes an optical path for imaging the patient via a clear bottom and open top. The incubator is provided with easy access and various accessories required for an intensive care unit.

Abstract: An oocyte aspirator assembly for use in in vitro fertilization procedures includes a vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the assembly. The assembly also includes valve mechanisms to selectively vary the intensity of the vacuum created in the assembly between at least two levels, one of which is at a first low level at which oocytes can be safely aspirated from ovarian follicles, and a second of which is at a higher level than the first low level. The assembly also includes a control which can be manually or automatically actuated to change the vacuum level in the assembly. The control can take the form of one or more foot pedals or an occlude button mounted on a casing for the assembly. The assembly also may include a third vacuum level which equals the full output of the vacuum motor.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed directed at harvesting of vessels, such as arteries and veins, especially as required in vessel grafting procedures. The device and method discloses a cannula-like device that provides, identification, capture, manipulation, hemostasis and cleavage of branch vessels from the harvested vessel without need for further devices. In certain preferred embodiments of the disclosed method and device, the disclosed harvesting device achieves branch vessel cleavage and hemostasis without the use of heat producing means such as cautery. In addition, certain embodiments utilize a clip/coil magazine technology so as to enable severance and hemostasis of multiple branch vessels without need for removal of the device from the surgical site.

Abstract: A cardiac support device that can be efficiently implanted on a patient's heart. The cardiac support device includes a jacket for constraining cardiac expansion and one or more lubricious elements releasably secured with respect to an inside surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A method for making an inferior ventricular patch includes the steps of providing a piece of sheet material having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area, the sheet material made of at least one of pericardium, dacron, fascia, and a mammalium tissue; providing a ring with a vacant center, the ring made of at least one of plastic material, fascia, pericardium, and an autogenous tissue; and attaching the ring directly to the sheet material whereby the ring includes a triangular shape and defines a triangular central area of the sheet material inwardly of the ring and the circumferential area of the sheet material outwardly of the ring, and the ring extends continuously between the triangular central area of the sheet material and the circumferential area of the sheet material.

Abstract: A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

Abstract: A method for in vivo sensing of a body lumen such as a lumen in the upper GI tract is provided. The method may include, for example, inserting a sensing device into a subject's body lumen, positioning the subject in a horizontal or other suitable position, and receiving data transmitted from the sensing device.

Abstract: An image conversion section performs geometric conversion on a medical image resulting from the pickup of a tubular part in vivo, and a developed-view output section outputs the converted image obtained by the image conversion section to a display device as an image of a developed view.

Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising a touch-panel monitor, a location detector, a touch-panel image generator, and a location-changer, is provided. The endoscope processor displays an image of a target area with enlargement on a monitor. The target area is a part of a captured entire image. The location detector detects an input location. The input location is a location where the user's input operation is done on the touch-panel monitor. The touch-panel image generator orders a target-area location window to be displayed on the touch-panel monitor. The target-area location window indicates the location of the target area in the entire image. The location-changer changes the location of the target area based on the input location detected by the location detector when the target-area location window is displayed.

Abstract: A braided device for use with an endoscope having a selectively lockable braided flexible tube. The braided device may have cables disposed along side the braided flexible tube and capable, upon their retraction, of bending the braided device at a region along its length and holding it at a desired orientation. The braided device has a handle for controlling the steering and the locking of the flexible braided tube. A braided hollow member may be attached to an endoscope for providing space for the endoscope while it operates in an internal cavity or for holding tissue samples.

Abstract: A method of delivering a tool to a peritoneal cavity including the following steps: inserting a guidewire percutaneously through an abdominal wall into a stomach; pulling the abdominal wall away from the stomach; and guiding a distal end of an endoscope with the guidewire through a wall of the stomach into the peritoneal cavity. Another aspect of the invention provides an abdominal wall grasping device having an abdominal wall attachment portion adapted to attach to an abdominal wall and a grasping element adapted to be grasped by a user to pull the abdominal wall away from a stomach.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a path correlation module that can compute the path taken by an endoscope scope or other medical instrument during endoscopic medical procedure and various related attributes and parameters, and can compute and display a correlation between two paths.

Abstract: A scope navigation apparatus, method and a program embodied computer readable medium for navigating a scope end that is to be inserted into an object. The scope end includes at least one sensor that senses a spatial location of the scope end. An image pickup device records one or more images of a calibration device, which includes a sensor that senses a location of the calibration device. A processor calibrates the images recorded by the image pickup device and corrects for intrinsic and extrinsic parameters using a calibration matrix.

Abstract: Devices and methods useful for transluminally accessing a body cavity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transluminal access device adapted to be inserted through a body lumen is provided and can include an inner shaft having an opening at its distal end and adapted to be positioned adjacent to an inner wall of a body lumen. The inner shaft can include one or more sealing mechanisms, such as one or more seals with suction ports formed thereon for isolating a portion of a body lumen. The isolated portion may be sterilized and serve as an access point or otomy site for penetrating the wall of the body lumen to access a body cavity.

Abstract: An optical catheter system comprising an intraluminal catheter that provides optical signals to a patient and carries optical signals from the patient, an outer housing, and an inner carriage that moves longitudinally relative to the outer housing and rotates relative to the outer housing during operation when the catheter system is being driven by a pullback and rotation system. The optical catheter system has an interlock system that prevents rotation and longitudinal movement of the inner carriage in the outer housing until attached to the pullback and rotation system. The pullback and rotation system comprises a frame and a catheter system interface, attached to the frame, to which the catheter system is coupled. A carriage drive system is further provided that moves longitudinally and rotates relative to the frame to provide rotation and longitudinal drive to the catheter system.

Abstract: An endoscopic treatment instrument includes: a long tube body to be inserted into a body cavity, including a flexible member; a first bending portion provided to a distal end part of the tube body, for bending the tube body with respect to an axial direction; a second bending portion provided in a linked manner to a proximal end side of the first bending portion, for bending the tube body in the axial direction; and a bending operation portion for independently bending the first and second bending portions.

Abstract: A method for producing an endoscope that comprises an endoscope head and an optic tube, comprises the steps of providing the endoscope head, providing the optic tube, and pushing a proximal end area of the optic tube into a distal end area of the endoscope head. The distal end area of the endoscope head is press-fitted with the proximal end area of the optic tube.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semi-flexible electronic laryngoscope comprising in one body a photographing part which can observe the larynx inside the oral cavity with a self-lamination, a flexure part which bends the photographing part upwardly and downwardly by a rotation member that is connected to the photographing part and located at the handle, a stiff part which leads the flexure part to the oral cavity and the larynx and maintains stably, and a handle which accepts and supports the end point of the stiff part, which can observe the larynx and the hy-popharynx when bent downwardly and the nasopharynx when bent upwardly since it can be bent upwardly and downwardly, and can diagnose the oral cavity and the oropharynx since it can observe the forward area when inserted into an oral cavity.