Disclosed are a method for creating a surgical training model, a surgical training model apparatus, a bone model, an article that emulates tissue of an animal musculoskeletal system, an article that emulates animal fat tissue, and an article that emulates animal skin tissue. One version of the method comprises placing a spinal vertebrae model in a cavity model that emulates an animal body cavity; forming a first layer on top of the vertebrae model, wherein the first layer emulates an animal muscle tissue; placing a second layer over the first layer, wherein the second layer emulates an animal fat tissue; and placing a third layer over the second layer, wherein the third layer emulates an animal skin tissue. The spinal vertebrae model can be 3D printed from a thermoplastic polymer and infiltrated with a foam into an interior space of the 3D printed spinal vertebrae model.

Catalysts, catalytic materials having catalysts present on supports and catalytic methods are provided. The catalysts, catalytic material and methods are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane.

A process for the production of an ester product from a mixture of at least two different ester compounds includes the steps of mixing together at least two different starting ester compounds to form a first ester mixture; and contacting the first ester mixture with a catalyst including from 30-60% of calcium oxide and at least one second metal oxide at a temperature of at least 180° C., for a duration of at least one hour, with mixing, to form a second ester mixture having a melting point which is lower than the melting point of the first ester mixture.

A process for the production of an ester product from a mixture of at least two different ester compounds includes the steps of mixing together at least two different starting ester compounds to form a first ester mixture; and contacting the first ester mixture with a catalyst including from 30-60% of calcium oxide and at least one second metal oxide at a temperature of at least 180° C., for a duration of at least one hour, with mixing, to form a second ester mixture having a melting point which is lower than the melting point of the first ester mixture.

Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

A catalyst composition comprising MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and one or more further alkaline earth metal oxides, provides for outstanding catalytic production of propylene when employed together with a metathesis catalyst.

Provided are an LNT layered catalyst for a lean burn gasoline engine having an enhanced NOx storage rate and capable of developing a higher NOx purification rate, and an exhaust gas purification apparatus using the same, the LNT layered catalyst including a substrate, a first catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt, Pd, and BaO, and a second catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt and Rh, in which a content of Pt in the first catalyst layer is 0.45 to 0.85 mass %; among Pt included in the first catalyst layer, a content proportion in a first depth region is 88 to 90 mass %, and a content proportion in a second depth region is 10 to 12 mass %; a content of Ba in the first catalyst layer is 4 to 11 mass %; and the second catalyst layer is substantially free from Ba.

Provided are an LNT layered catalyst for a lean burn gasoline engine having an enhanced NOx storage rate and capable of developing a higher NOx purification rate, and an exhaust gas purification apparatus using the same, the LNT layered catalyst including a substrate, a first catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt, Pd, and BaO, and a second catalyst layer including ceria-alumina particles carrying Pt and Rh, in which a content of Pt in the first catalyst layer is 0.45 to 0.85 mass %; among Pt included in the first catalyst layer, a content proportion in a first depth region is 88 to 90 mass %, and a content proportion in a second depth region is 10 to 12 mass %; a content of Ba in the first catalyst layer is 4 to 11 mass %; and the second catalyst layer is substantially free from Ba.

Fluidizable catalysts for the gas phase oxygen-free oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes, such as propane, to corresponding olefins, such as propylene. The catalysts comprise 5-20% by weight per total catalyst weight of one or more vanadium oxides (VO.sub.x), such as V.sub.2O.sub.5. The dehydrogenation catalysts are disposed on an alumina support that is modified with calcium oxide to influence characteristics of lattice oxygen at the catalyst surface. Various methods of preparing and characterizing the catalyst as well as methods for the gas phase oxygen free oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes, such as propane, to corresponding olefins, such as propylene, with improved alkane conversion and olefin product selectivity are also disclosed.