Author: claimsbot

1. A process for making maleic acid, its isomer fumaric acid, or maleic anhydride, from levulinic acid, comprising the steps of:
vaporizing levulinic acid in the presence of an insert gas and an oxidizing gas at a first predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure such that the levulinic acid partial pressure is below the vapor pressure of levulinic acid at the predetermined temperature to produce a feed stream;
heating the feed stream to a second predetermined temperature without initiating polymerization to produce a thermally equilibrated gas stream; and
oxidatively cleaving the gas stream to a third predetermined temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than or equal to 150 degrees Celsius.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third predetermined temperature is above 523 degrees Kelvin.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of oxidatively cleaving the gas stream comprising the step of passing the gas stream over a reducible oxide catalyst in a single packed bed reactor,
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the catalyst is VOxAl2O3.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the levulinic acid partial pressure is 0.0158 bar.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the oxygen is provided at a mole fraction between 0 and 1.
10. An apparatus for producing maleic acid from levulinic acid, comprising:
a vaporization stage having a first input for receiving levulinic acid and a second input for receiving an oxidizing gas, wherein the vaporization stage is configured to heat the levulinic acid and the oxidizing gas to a first predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure such that the levulinic acid partial pressure is below the vapor pressure of levulinic acid at the predetermined temperature to produce an output of vaporized levulinic acid;
a heating stage coupled to the vaporization stage for receiving the vaporized levulinic acid output of the vaporization stage, wherein the preheating stage is configured to preheat the vaporized levulinic acid to a second predetermined temperature without initiating polymerization of levulinic acid and output a preheated gas stream; and
an oxidative cleavage stage coupled to preheating stage for receiving the preheated gas stream and further heating the gas stream to a third predetermined temperature in the presence of a catalyst.

The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined temperature is less than 150 degrees Celsius.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second predetermined temperature is between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third predetermined temperature is above 523 degrees Kelvin.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the catalyst of the oxidative cleavage stage comprises a reducible oxide catalyst in a single packed bed reactor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the catalyst is VOxAl2O3.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the levulinic acid partial pressure is 0.0158 bar.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the oxygen is provided at a partial pressure of 033 bar.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A copper ion toothpaste for treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising
a toothpaste base material; and
a copper ion-containing solution mixed with said toothpaste base material, said copper ion-containing solution being composed of a biocompatible solution and copper ions contained in said biocompatible solution, said copper ions providing therapeutic effects as a result of the copper ions contacting anatomical tissue and saliva of the oral cavity when said copper ion toothpaste is used for brushing the teeth.
2. The copper ion toothpaste recited in claim 1 wherein said copper ion-containing solution contains an amount of copper ions equal or substantially equal to 46 milligrams in a quantity of biocompatible solution equal or substantially equal to 7.44 ounces.
3. The copper ion toothpaste recited in claim 2 wherein said copper ion-containing solution constitutes in the range of 5 to 30 percent by weight of the copper ion toothpaste.
4. A copper ion mouthwash for treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising
a mouthwash base solution; and
a copper ion-containing solution mixed with said mouthwash base solution, said copper ion-containing solution being composed of a biocompatible solution and copper ions contained in said biocompatible solution, said copper ions providing therapeutic effects as a result of the copper ions contacting anatomical tissue and saliva of the oral cavity when the oral cavity is rinsed with said copper ion mouthwash.
5. The copper ion mouthwash recited in claim 4 wherein said copper ion-containing solution contains an amount of copper ions equal or substantially equal to 46 milligrams in a quantity of biocompatible solution equal or substantially equal to 7.44 ounces.
6. The copper ion mouthwash recited in claim 5 wherein said copper ion-containing solution is in the range of 5 to 30 percent by weight of said copper ion mouthwash.
7. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
spraying a copper ion-containing solution inside the mouth such that copper ions in the copper ion-containing solution contact anatomical tissue and saliva inside the mouth; and
repeating said step of spraying at least every four hours for a number of consecutive days.
8. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle into the throat.
9. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle onto a canker sore, mouth sore or mouth ulcer within the oral cavity.
10. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said step of spraying includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution from a spray pump nozzle onto an area of the gums that is sore, inflamed or infected.
11. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein the conditions treated include bacterial, viral andor fungal conditions.
12. The method of treating recited in claim 7 wherein said conditions treated include one or more of colds, sore throat, bronchitis, cough, mouth sores, canker sores, mouth ulcers, allergies, tonsillitis, sore gums, periodontal disease, hoarseness, laryngitis, halitosis, streptococcus, staphylococcus, trichomonas, fungal disease, thrush, herpes (I and II), HIV, HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
13. A method of treating conditions affecting the respiratory area of the body, comprising the steps of
delivering into each nostril a copper ion-containing solution; and
repeating said step of delivering every four hours for a number of consecutive days to treat conditions including one or more of colds, congestion, nasal discharge, runny nose, allergies, asthma, wheezing, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, sinus pressure and sneezing.
14. The method of treating recited in claim 13 wherein said step of delivering includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution into each nostril.
15. The method of treating recited in claim 13 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution by drops into each nostril.
16. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
brushing the teeth with a copper ion toothpaste composed of a toothpaste base material and a copper ion-containing solution mixed with the toothpaste base material; and
repeating said step of brushing at least two times per day every day on a regular basis to treat conditions including one or more of halitosis, sore gums, periodontal disease and tooth decay.
17. The method of treating recited in claim 16 wherein said step of brushing includes brushing the teeth with the copper ion toothpaste in the morning and brushing the teeth with the copper ion toothpaste in the evening before going to sleep.
18. A method of treating conditions affecting the oral cavity, comprising the steps of
rinsing the mouth with a copper ion mouthwash composed of a mouthwash base solution and a copper ion-containing solution mixed with the mouthwash base solution; and
repeating said step of rinsing at least two times per day every day on a regular basis to treat conditions including one or more of halitosis, sore gums, periodontal disease and tooth decay.
19. The method of treating recited in claim 18 wherein said step of rinsing includes rinsing the mouth with the copper ion mouthwash in the morning and rinsing the mouth with the copper ion mouthwash in the evening before going to sleep.
20. A method of treating conditions affecting the otic area, comprising the steps of
delivering a copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal of an affected ear; and
repeating said step of introducing every four hours to treat conditions including one or more of earache, ear infection, stuffy ear and pressure in the ear.
21. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal of both ears.
22. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes spraying the copper ion-containing solution into the ear canal.
23. The method of treating recited in claim 20 wherein said step of delivering includes delivering the copper ion-containing solution by drops into the ear canal.

1. Flexible multicore electrical cable comprising:
a central supporting member,
several cores that include insulated fine-strand conductors and surround the supporting member, and
an outer sheath,
wherein the central supporting member includes a torsionally rigid steel cable, which is provided with an outer layer of insulation,
wherein the steel cable includes a core strand, a first course of several strands stranded on the core strand, and a second course of several strands stranded on the first course,
wherein the direction of lay and the length of lay of the strands of the second course is different from the direction of lay and the length of lay of the strands of the first course and the direction and length of lay for both the first and second courses are consistent throughout the entire length of the cable.
2. Multicore cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein additional strands are arranged in the stranding gaps of the first course, that the diameters of the additional strands are smaller than the diameters of the strands of the first course, and that the strands of the first course and the additional strands are tangent to a common surrounding sheath.
3. Multicore cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein protective conductors are arranged between the cores.
4. Multicore cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insulation of the cores includes ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR).
5. Multicore cable in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer sheath includes two layers that are made of a rubber, and that an and-torsion mesh that is made of synthetic fibers with high tensile strength is embedded between the two layers.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 85% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19, or SEQ ID NO:61;
b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of at least 300 nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61;
c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20 and SEQ ID NO:62;
d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20, or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62;
e) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19, or SEQ ID NO:61 or a complement thereof, under stringent conditions; and
f) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, and SEQ ID NO:61.
2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which is selected from the group consisting of:
a) a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61, and
b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62.
3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 further comprising vector nucleic acid sequences or nucleic acid sequences encoding a heterologous polypeptide.
4. A host cell which contains the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
5. A non-human mammalian host cell containing the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
6. An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
a) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 85% identical to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61, or a complement thereof;
b) a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61 or a complement thereof under stringent conditions;
c) a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62; and
d) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20 and SEQ ID NO:62.
7. The polypeptide of claim 6 further comprising heterologous amino acid sequences.
8. An antibody which selectively binds to a polypeptide of claim 6.
9. A method for producing a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
a) polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, and SEQ ID NO:62;
b) a polypeptide comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO20, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20, or SEQ ID NO:62;
c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 85% identical to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19, or SEQ ID NO:61, or a complement thereof;
d) a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:61, or a complement thereof under stringent conditions;

comprising culturing the host cell of claim 5 under conditions in which the nucleic acid molecule is expressed.
10. A method for identifying a compound which binds to a polypeptide of claim 6 comprising the steps of:
a) contacting a polypeptide, or a cell expressing a polypeptide of claim 6 with a test compound; and
b) determining whether the polypeptide binds to the test compound;

wherein binding of the test compound to the polypeptide is detected by a method selected from the group consisting of:
a) detection of binding by direct detecting of test compoundpolypeptide binding;
b) detection of binding using a competition binding assay; or
c) detection of binding using an assay for diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity.
11. A method for modulating the activity of a polypeptide of claim 6 comprising contacting a polypeptide or a cell expressing a polypeptide of claim 6 with a compound which binds to the polypeptide in a sufficient concentration to modulate the activity of the polypeptide.
12. A method for identifying a compound which modulates the activity of a polypeptide of claim 6, comprising:
a) contacting a polypeptide of claim 6 with a test compound; and
b) determining the effect of the test compound on the diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity of the polypeptide to thereby identify a compound which modulates the activity of the polypeptide.
13. A method for identifying a compound capable of modulating an adipocyte activity comprising:
a) contacting an adipocyte with a test compound; and
b) assaying the ability of the test compound to modulate the expression of a DGAT2 family member nucleic acid or the activity of a DGAT2 family member polypeptide; and
c) identifying a compound capable of modulating an adipocyte activity when a test compound modulates the expression of a DGAT2 family member nucleic acid or the activity of a DGAT2 family member polypeptide.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said adipocyte activity comprises any one of DGAT2 family member nucleic acid expression, diacylglyceroltransferase activity, hyperplastic growth, hypertrophic growth, or lipogenesis.
15. A method for modulating an adipocyte activity comprising contacting an adipocyte with a DGAT2 family member modulator, thereby modulating said adipocyte activity.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the DGAT2 family member modulator is selected from the group consisting of:
a) a DGAT2 family member polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20, or SEQ ID NO:62, or a fragment thereof;
b) a DGAT2 family member nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:17, 19, 21, or a fragment thereof;
c) an anti-DGAT2 family member antibody; and
d) an organic small molecule.
17. A method of determining acyltransferase activity of a polypeptide comprising:
a) combining a sample comprising an acyltransferase polypeptide with a first fatty acyl coA substrate and a second acylglyceride substrate under conditions suitable for enzyme activity and
b) determining the amount of acylglycerol product formation, thereby determining acyltransferase activity,
wherein one substrate is biotinylated and the other substrate is radiolabeled, and wherein the resulting acylglycerol product is detected using biotin capture and radiometric detection.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method detects diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity or monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activity.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the polypeptide comprises a DGAT2 family member polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
a) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 85% identical to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61, or a complement thereof;
b) a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:19 or SEQ ID NO:61 or a complement thereof under stringent conditions;
e) a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:20 or SEQ ID NO:62; and
f) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20 and SEQ ID NO:62.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein product formation is detected by a scintillation proximity assay.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first substrate is a biotin labeled fatty acyl coA and the second substrate is a radiolabeled diacylglycerol.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first substrate is a radiolabeled fatty acyl coA and the second substrate is a biotin labeled diacylglycerol.
23. A method of identifying a compound which modulates the activity of an acyltransferase, comprising:
a) combining a sample comprising an acyltransferase polypeptide with a first fatty acyl coA substrate and a second acylglyceride substrate under conditions suitable for enzyme activity;
b) contacting the sample comprising the acyltransferase and substrates with a test compound;
c) comparing the acyltransferase activity in the presence of compound with acyltransferase activity in the absence of compound; and
c) determining the effect of the test compound on the acyltransferase activity,
wherein acyltransferase activity is determined by the method of claim 17, and wherein a change in the amount of acyltransferase activity in the presence of test compound thereby identifies a compound which modulates activity of the acyltransferase.
24. A method for identifying a compound capable of treating a disorder characterized by aberrant DGAT2 family member nucleic acid expression or DGAT2 family member polypeptide activity comprising assaying the ability of the compound to modulate DGAT2 family member nucleic acid expression or DGAT2 family member polypeptide activity, thereby identifying a compound capable of treating a disorder characterized by aberrant DGAT2 family member nucleic acid expression or DGAT2 family member polypeptide activity.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the disorder is a disorder associated with obesity, aberrant lipogenesis or triglyceride synthesis.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the ability of the compound to modulate the activity of the DGAT2 family member polypeptide is determined by detecting the diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity.
27. A method for treating a subject having an obesity disorder characterized by aberrant DGAT2 family member polypeptide activity or aberrant DGAT2 family member nucleic acid expression comprising administering to the subject a DGAT2 family member modulator, thereby treating said subject having an obesity disorder.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the DGAT2 family member modulator is selected from the group consisting of:
a) an organic small molecule;
h) an anti-DGAT2 family member antibody;
c) a DGAT2 family member polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24 and SEQ ID NO:62, or a fragment thereof; and
d) a DGAT2 family member polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 90 percent identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:62
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the disorder is a disorder associated with obesity, aberrant lipogenesis or triglyceride synthesis.