Hypertension is a potentially unsafe health ailment, which can be indicated directly from the Blood pressure (BP). Hypertension always leads to other health complications. Continuous monitoring of BP is very important; however, cuff-based BP measurements are discrete and uncomfortable to the user. To address this need, a cuff-less, continuous and a non-invasive BP measurement system is proposed using Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal and demographic features using machine learning (ML) algorithms. PPG signals were acquired from 219 subjects, which undergo pre-processing and feature extraction steps. Time, frequency and time-frequency domain features were extracted from the PPG and their derivative signals. Feature selection techniques were used to reduce the computational complexity and to decrease the chance of over-fitting the ML algorithms. The features were then used to train and evaluate ML algorithms. The best regression models were selected for Systolic BP (SBP) and Diastolic BP (DBP) estimation individually. Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) along with ReliefF feature selection algorithm outperforms other algorithms in estimating SBP and DBP with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 6.74 and 3.59 respectively. This ML model can be implemented in hardware systems to continuously monitor BP and avoid any critical health conditions due to sudden changes.

Similarity measure, also called information measure, is a concept used to distinguish different objects. It has been studied from different contexts by employing mathematical, psychological, and fuzzy approaches. Image steganography is the art of hiding secret data into an image in such a way that it cannot be detected by an intruder. In image steganography, hiding secret data in the plain or non-edge regions of the image is significant due to the high similarity and redundancy of the pixels in their neighborhood. However, the similarity measure of the neighboring pixels, i.e., their proximity in color space, is perceptual rather than mathematical. This paper proposes an interval type 2 fuzzy logic system (IT2 FLS) to determine the similarity between the neighboring pixels by involving an instinctive human perception through a rule-based approach. The pixels of the image having high similarity values, calculated using the proposed IT2 FLS similarity measure, are selected for embedding via the least significant bit (LSB) method. We term the proposed procedure of steganography as IT2 FLS LSB method. Moreover, we have developed two more methods, namely, type 1 fuzzy logic system based least significant bits (T1FLS LSB) and Euclidean distance based similarity measures for least significant bit (SM LSB) steganographic methods. Experimental simulations were conducted for a collection of images and quality index metrics, such as PSNR, UQI, and SSIM are used. All the three steganographic methods are applied on datasets and the quality metrics are calculated. The obtained stego images and results are shown and thoroughly compared to determine the efficacy of the IT2 FLS LSB method. Finally, we have done a comparative analysis of the proposed approach with the existing well-known steganographic methods to show the effectiveness of our proposed steganographic method.

We establish versions of Conley's (i) fundamental theorem and (ii) decomposition theorem for a broad class of hybrid dynamical systems. The hybrid version of (i) asserts that a globally-defined "hybrid complete Lyapunov function" exists for every hybrid system in this class. Motivated by mechanics and control settings where physical or engineered events cause abrupt changes in a system's governing dynamics, our results apply to a large class of Lagrangian hybrid systems (with impacts) studied extensively in the robotics literature. Viewed formally, these results generalize those of Conley and Franks for continuous-time and discrete-time dynamical systems, respectively, on metric spaces. However, we furnish specific examples illustrating how our statement of sufficient conditions represents merely an early step in the longer project of establishing what formal assumptions can and cannot endow hybrid systems models with the topologically well characterized partitions of limit behavior that make Conley's theory so valuable in those classical settings.

Several nonlinear model reduction techniques are compared for the three cases of the non-parallel version of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation, the transient regime of flow past a cylinder at $Re=100$ and fully developed flow past a cylinder at the same Reynolds number. The linear terms of the governing equations are reduced by Galerkin projection onto a POD basis of the flow state, while the reduced nonlinear convection terms are obtained either by a Galerkin projection onto the same state basis, by a Galerkin projection onto a POD basis representing the nonlinearities or by applying the Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method (DEIM) to a POD basis of the nonlinearities. The quality of the reduced order models is assessed as to their stability, accuracy and robustness, and appropriate quantitative measures are introduced and compared. In particular, the properties of the reduced linear terms are compared to those of the full-scale terms, and the structure of the nonlinear quadratic terms is analyzed as to the conservation of kinetic energy. It is shown that all three reduction techniques provide excellent and similar results for the cases of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation and the limit-cycle cylinder flow. For the case of the transient regime of flow past a cylinder, only the pure Galerkin techniques are successful, while the DEIM technique produces reduced-order models that diverge in finite time.

Neural networks have opened up many new opportunities to utilize remotely sensed images in meteorology. Common applications include image classification, e.g., to determine whether an image contains a tropical cyclone, and image translation, e.g., to emulate radar imagery for satellites that only have passive channels. However, there are yet many open questions regarding the use of neural networks in meteorology, such as best practices for evaluation, tuning and interpretation. This article highlights several strategies and practical considerations for neural network development that have not yet received much attention in the meteorological community, such as the concept of effective receptive fields, underutilized meteorological performance measures, and methods for NN interpretation, such as synthetic experiments and layer-wise relevance propagation. We also consider the process of neural network interpretation as a whole, recognizing it as an iterative scientist-driven discovery process, and breaking it down into individual steps that researchers can take. Finally, while most work on neural network interpretation in meteorology has so far focused on networks for image classification tasks, we expand the focus to also include networks for image translation.

As someone who had a phenomenal career in professional soccer and that had a career-ending head injury, Briana Scurry knows she can help other female — and male — athletes.

A new study suggests that vulnerability to CTE is not limited to professional athletes.

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[IMAGE-1] Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story begins as its central marriage is coming to an end. Our two protagonists are fiercely independent, articulate, opinionated creative types: Charlie (Adam Driver) is the director of an avant-garde theater troupe in New York City; Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) is an actress and one of his primary collaborators.…

Virtually every musician starts out trying to copy their heroes.…

If you go to check how many people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spokane, the Spokane County Regional Health District website will give you an answer. Right now, it lists eight people as currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and that number has been trending downward.…

It’s March. The regular season is now in the rearview mirror.…

The present invention relates to a compound of formula A, wherein R is alkyl. Compound A may be used as an intermediate in the preparation of O-desmethyl venlafaxine or a salt thereof, and the present invention provides such a preparation, as well as a process for preparing the compound of formula A.

A process for reductive amination of aliphatic cyanoaldehydes to aliphatic diamines comprising (1) providing a mixture of 1,3-cyanocyclohexane carboxaldehyde and/or 1,4-cyanocyclohexane carboxaldehyde; (2) contacting said mixture with a metal carbonate based solid bed or a weak base anion exchange resin bed at a temperature from 15 to 40 ° C. for a period of at least 1 minute; (3) thereby treating said mixture, wherein said treated mixture has a pH in the range of 6 to 9; (4) feeding said treated mixture, hydrogen, and ammonia into a continuous reductive amination reactor system; (6) contacting said treated mixture, hydrogen, and ammonia with each other in the presence of one or more heterogeneous metal based catalyst systems at a temperature from 80 ° C. to 160 ° C. and a pressure from 700 to 3500 psig; (7) thereby producing one or more cycloaliphatic diamines is provided.

Disclosed is a process for preparing an aryloxyalkylene amine compound via an aminoethylation reaction comprising: a) reacting an aromatic hydroxyl compound in the presence of a basic catalyst with a 2-oxazolidinone compound of the formula II to form an intermediate reaction product; wherein R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain alkyl having from one to six carbon atoms, phenyl, alkaryl, or arylalkyl; and b) reacting the intermediate product of step a) with a polyalkylene polyamine.

A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCI) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.

The present invention provides compounds of the formula: which are useful as inhibitors of PHD and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

The present application is directed to solid forms of compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit bacterial gyrase and/or Topo IV and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and salts. These compounds and salts are useful in treating bacterial infections.

This invention relates to novel 5-[(hydroxymethyl)aryl]-substituted pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-amines of formula (I), to processes for the preparation of such compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and to the use of such compounds or compositions for treating angiogenesis-related disorders, in particular angiogenesis-related ocular disorders.

The invention relates to radiation curable coating systems on the basis of aqueous polyurethane dispersions, to a method for the production thereof, to the use of the coating systems as paints and/or adhesives, and to objects and substrates provided with said paints and/or adhesives.

An aqueous dispersion includes particles at least partially encapsulated in a microgel where the microgel is prepared from a hyperbranched acrylic polymer. In addition, a method for making an aqueous dispersion includes: (1) mixing in an aqueous medium: (a) particles, (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (c) a water-dispersible hyperbranched acrylic polymer having ethylenic unsaturation; and (2) polymerizing the at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and water-dispersible hyperbranched acrylic polymer having ethylenic unsaturation to at least partially encapsulate the particles in a microgel.

Beta-lactamase inhibiting compounds of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition or carboxylate salt thereof; where n is zero, 1 or 2; X3 is H or Br, R1 is H, the residue of certain carboxy-protecting groups or the residue of an ester group readily hydrolyzable in vivo; one of R12 and R13 is H and the other is vinyl, certain aryl, alkylthio, alkylsulfonyl or certain heterocyclyl, aminomethyl, thiocarboxyamido or amidino groups; one of R2 and R3 is H and the other is as disclosed for the other of R12 and R13, or is Cl or CH2 OH, and R18 is H or certain acyl groups; intermediates useful in their production, methods for their preparation and use, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

1,4-Dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate derivatives are produced having vasodilating and hypotensive action.

A glycerol derivative which is effective to reduce blood pressure and has the formula: ##STR1## wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 10-22 carbon atoms, R2 is a lower acyl group or benzoyl, each of R3 and R4 independently is hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms; each of R5, R6 and R7 independently is hydrogen, a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and each of m and n independently is 0 or a positive integer under the condition of m+n=2-8.

Carbohydrate substituted dibenzo[d,g][1,3,2]dioxaphosphocin compounds of formula I ##STR1## where A is a carbohydrate residue are effective stabilizers for polymers processed at elevated temperatures and subject to thermal or oxidative degradation.

Carbohydrate substituted dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepin compounds of formula I ##STR1## where A is a carbohydrate residue are effective stabilizers for polymers processed at elevated temperatures and subject to thermal or oxidative degradation.

A method of producing a bis(2-carboxyethyl)-alkyl phosphine oxide represented by the following general formula (1) is disclosed. ##STR1## The method comprises the following Steps 1-4: step 1 wherein phosphine is reacted with acrylonitrile to produce bis(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine and then, in step 2, reacted with an alkene to produce a bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine, and in step 3, reacted with an oxidizing agent to produce a bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide, and in step 4, said bis(2-cyanoethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide is reacted with water or a lower alcohol to give a bis(2-carboxyethyl)alkyl phosphine oxide or a derivative thereof.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a methylene-bridged biscyclopentadienyl compound having the formula I ##STR1##where L are, independently of one another, identical or different and are each a cyclopentadienyl group, by reacting one or two cyclopentadienyl compounds LH with formaldehyde in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form or formaldehyde-generating reagents in the presence of at least one base and at least one phase transfer catalyst.

The preparation of phosphorescent metalloporphyrin labelling reagents and their use for preparation of phosphorescent conjugates with biomolecules. The labelling reagents obtainable are water soluble monofunctional derivatives of Pt- and Pd-coproporphyrins, where the term “monofunctional” refers to the number of reactive groups in the porphyrin moiety.

The invention relates to a process for preparing triethyl phosphate by reacting phosphorus oxychloride with a greater than stoichiometric quantity of ethanol under reduced pressure at temperatures of from 0 to 50° C. in a reaction vessel, wherein a) the volatile components resulting from the reaction are predominantly condensed by means of a reflux condenser and the remaining volatile components are passed into a scrubber filled with water,b) after the end of the reaction, the reaction mixture is separated distillatively in an outgassing column into a top product and a bottom product which predominantly comprises triethyl phosphate,c) the top product of the outgassing column is combined with the contents of the scrubber andd) the contents of the scrubber are separated distillatively in an azeotropic distillation to obtain water and ethanol as top product and the ethanol, preferably after dewatering, is preferably returned to the reaction.

Compounds of the formula (I) or (I'), where R1 is a hydrogen atom or C1-C4-alkyl and R'1 is C1-C4-alkyl; X1 and X2 are each, independently of one another, a secondary phosphine group; R2 is hydrogen, R01R02R03Si—, C1-C18.acyl substituted by halogen, hydroxy, C1-C8-alkoxy or R04R05N—, -or R06—X01—C(O)—; R01, R02 and R03 are each, independently of one another, C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; R04 and R05 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl, or R04 and R05 together are trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene or 3-oxapcntylene; R06 is C1-C18-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl- or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; X01 is —O— or —NH—; T is C6-C20-arylene; v is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; and * denotes a mixture of racemic or enantiomerically pure diastereomers or pure racemic or enantiomerically diastereomers, are excellent chiral ligands for metal complexes as enantioselective catalysts for the hydrogenation of prochiral organic compounds.

A process to separate a multi-component hydrocarbon stream which includes ethylene and other components with at least some of the components being present in a number of phases, is provided. The process includes in a first flash stage, flashing the multi-component hydrocarbon stream, from an elevated pressure and temperature to a pressure in the range of 10-18 bar(a), producing a first ethylene-containing vapor stream at a pressure in the range of 10-18 bar(a) and a multi-phase stream which includes some ethylene. In a second flash stage, the multi-phase stream is flashed to a pressure of less than 6 bar(a), producing a second vapor stream at a pressure of less than 6 bar(a) and a bottoms stream. The first ethylene-containing vapor stream is removed from the first flash stage, the second vapor stream is removed from the second flash stage and the bottoms stream is removed from the second flash stage.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for oligomerization of ethylene, comprising a chromium compound; a ligand of the general structure R1R2P—N(R3)—P(R4)—N(R5)—H, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from halogen, amino, trimethylsilyl, C1-C10-alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl; a modifier containing organic or inorganic halide; and an activator or co-catalyst; and a process for oligomerization utilizing that catalyst.

Disclosed is a method for producing p-xylene and/or p-tolualdehyde with high yield through a short process using biomass resource-derived substances as raw materials. The method for producing p-xylene and/or p-tolualdehyde of the present invention comprises: a cyclization step of producing 4-methyl-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde from isoprene and acrolein; and an aromatization step of producing p-xylene and/or p-tolualdehyde from 4-methyl-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde by gas-phase flow reaction using a catalyst(s).

A dehydrogenation process for the dehydrogenation of at least one dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon, the process comprising contacting a feed comprising the at least one dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon under dehydrogenation conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a support and at least one dehydrogenation component wherein said conditions include a temperature of from 400° C. to 750° C. and a pressure of at least 50 psig (345 kPag).

A process for reforming hydrocarbons is presented. The process involves applying process controls over the reaction temperatures to preferentially convert a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to generate an intermediate stream, which will further react with reduced endothermicity. The intermediate stream is then processed at a higher temperature, where a second reforming reactor is operated under substantially isothermal conditions.

A process for the production of aromatics through the reforming of a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process utilizes the differences in properties of components within the hydrocarbon stream to increase the energy efficiency. The differences in the reactions of different hydrocarbon components in the conversion to aromatics allows for different treatments of the different components to reduce the energy used in reforming process.

A catalyst comprising an aluminosilicate zeolite having an MOR framework type, an acidic MFI molecular sieve component having a Si/Al2 molar ratio of less than 80, a metal component comprising one or more elements selected from groups VIB, VIIB, VIII, and IVA, an inorganic oxide binder, and a fluoride component.

Disclosed is a method for removing weakly basic nitrogen compounds from a hydrocarbon feed stream by contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with a basic catalyst to convert a portion of the weakly basic nitrogen compounds to basic nitrogen compounds. The method also includes contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with an acidic adsorbent to adsorb the basic nitrogen compounds from the stream. The hydrocarbon feed stream comprises an aromatic compound and a weakly basic nitrogen compound.

In various aspects, the invention provides for processing a hydrocarbon feed having hydrocarbon and emulsified aqueous components demulsifying into hydrocarbon and aqueous phases over an initial demulsification time, with an active agent to form a treated feed. The active agent has an active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component and in the aqueous component, the aqueous component has an aqueous component solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component is greater than the aqueous component solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the aqueous component is greater than the active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the aqueous component is greater than the active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component. A treated demulsified hydrocarbon phase separates from the active agent and the aqueous component in a modified demulsification time that is shorter than the initial demulsification time.

A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and partially processing each feedstream in separate reactors. The processing includes passing the light stream to a combination hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor. The process reduces the energy by reducing the endothermic properties of intermediate reformed process streams.

Disclosed is a method for removing weakly basic nitrogen compounds from a hydrocarbon feed stream by contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with acidic clay to produce a hydrocarbon effluent stream having a lower weakly basic nitrogen compound content relative to the hydrocarbon feed stream. The hydrocarbon feed stream comprises an aromatic compound and a weakly basic nitrogen compound.

A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and partially processing each feedstream in separate reactors. The processing includes passing the light stream to a combination hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor. The process reduces the energy by reducing the endothermic properties of intermediate reformed process streams.

A process is presented for quenching a process stream in a paraffin dehydrogenation process. The process comprises cooling a propane dehydrogenation stream during the hot residence time after the process stream leaves the catalytic bed reactor section. The process includes cooling and compressing the product stream, taking a portion of the product stream and passing the portion of the product stream to the mix with the process stream as it leaves the catalytic bed reactor section.

A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a fluid stream comprising olefins with a fixed bed comprising an activated basic metal oxide isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its isomer. The isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may have a reduced cycle to cycle deactivation as compared to conventional catalysts, thus maintaining higher activity over the complete catalyst life cycle.

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of branched saturated hydrocarbons, said method comprising the steps where a feed comprising olefins having at least 10 carbons is simultaneously hydrogenated and isomerized in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature of 100-400° C., under hydrogen partial pressure of 0.01-10 MPa, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the metals of Group VIIIb of the Periodic Table of Elements, a molecular sieve selected from ten member ring molecular sieves, twelve member ring molecular sieves and mesoporous molecular sieves embedded with zeolite, and a carrier, to yield branched saturated hydrocarbons.

A particle-polymer hybrid material can include: a substance having the structure of Formula 1 Z(Y-FP)m, wherein Z is a particle smaller than 1 mm; m is an integer; Y is a linker including a silicon atom linked to the particle; FP is a functionalized polymer having: a first structure derived from a first norbornene compound linked to the Y; and one or more repeating units linked to the first structure, each unit being derived from a second norbornene compound and having a functional group.

Hydroswellable, absorbable and non-absorbable, aliphatic, segmented polyurethanes and polyurethane-urea capable of swelling in the biological environment with associated increase in volume of at least 3 percent have more than one type of segments, including those derived from polyethylene glycol and the molecular chains are structurally tailored to allow the use of corresponding formulations and medical devices as carriers for bioactive agents, rheological modifiers of cyanoacrylate-based tissue adhesives, as protective devices for repairing defective or diseased components of articulating joints and their cartilage, and scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

The invention provides a method for preventing discoloration of pyrithione-containing materials, in particular plastic materials or other material such as paints, coatings, adhesives or textiles which are exposed to an outdoor environment. The method is likewise suited for preventing discoloration of other pyrithione-containing materials such as personal care compositions like shampoos. A discoloration inhibitor that includes dehydroacetic acid or a salt thereof is added to the pyrithione-containing material. The discoloration is prevented without the addition of a cyclic organic phosphoric acid ester or an organic phosphite. Use of the discoloration inhibitor does not interfere with the antimicrobial effect of the pyrithione.

A facile synthesis of amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers consisting of poly(amic acid) and polyimide was developed via “A2+B3” approach from difunctional anhydride and trifunctional hydrophilic poly(oxyalkylene)triamine. Various amphiphilic hyperbranched poly(amic acid)s (HBPAAs) with terminal amine functionalities and amic acid structures were prepared through ring-opening polyaddition at room temperature, followed by thermal imidization process for the formation of hyperbranched polyimides (HBPIs), accordingly. The resulting HBPIs were analyzed by GPC, indicating the molecule weights of 5000˜7000 g/mol with a distribution of polydispersity between 2.0 and 3.8. The amine titration for HBPIs indicated the peripheral total-amine contents to be 8.32˜18.32 mequiv/g dependent on compositions.