Abstract: Microorganisms which may be in the form of homogenated anaerobic sludge are immobilized in a polymeric gel matrix containing chitosan and lignosulphonate. A mixture of chitosan solution and a microorganism is added dropwise to a solution of lignosulphonate to crosslink chitosan droplets and form beads of chitosan/lignosulphonate matrix membrane encapsulating the microorganism. Alternatively, the mixture is added to a water-insoluble organic phase to form chitosan beads in an emulsion, and to the emulsion is added a lignosulphonate solution to crosslink the beads and form a chitosan/lignosulphonate matrix membrane encapsulating the microorganism. In another embodiment, anaerobic bacteria in the form of granules are encapsulated in the chitosan/lignosulphonate matrix membrane and the membrane contains another bacterial specie(s).

Abstract: Water-soluble compositions comprising a lipophilic compound and a solubilizing agent of the general formula:{X--OOC--[(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COO].sub.m }.sub.p --Y (I)wherein:X is a residue of a hydrophobic moiety,Y is a residue of a hydrophilic moiety,p is 1 or 2,m is 0 or 1, andn is an integer greater than or equal to 0are disclosed. The lipophilic compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble ubiquinones, ubiquinols, vitamins, provitamins, polyene macrolide antibiotics, and mixtures thereof. The hydrophobic moiety is preferably a sterol or a tocopherol and the hydrophilic moiety is preferably a polyalkylene glycol. In preferred embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol or sitosterol, the tocopherol is a-(+)-tocopherol, the polyalkylene glycol is a polyethylene glycol or its methyl monoether having an average molecular weight between 600 and 1000, p is equal to 1 or 2, m is equal to 0 or 1 and n is an integer between 2 and 18.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a new class of abscisic acid (ABA) analogs of formula I ##STR1## wherein one of R.sub.1 is alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cycloalkenyl, other farther substituted carbon chain including deuterium containing residues, and carbon containing substituents with heteroatoms and halogens and the other is methyl, and wherein the five member carbon side chain includes a methyl group at C3, with C5 attached to the ring as shown, including a trans double bond at the C4-C5 position, or a triple bond at this position, and either a cis or a trans double bond at the C2-C3 position, and R.sub.2 is CH.sub.2 OH, CHO, COOH, COO alkyl, or derivatives thereof, and wherein the cyclohexanone ring double bond may also be reduced and to a novel process for synthesizing such ABA analogs.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a substantially biologically pure isolate of a low temperature basidiomycelte (LTB) fungus, (.tbd.Coprinus psychromorbidus), to a delivery composition comprising the fungus and an agriculturally acceptable carrier capable of supporting growth of the fungus, and to a method for suppressing the growth of Calmagrostis canadensis and other related weed grasses which are hosts to LTB snow mould.

Abstract: Novel ether lipids were obtained from methanogenic (Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanococcus voltae, Methanosarcina mazei, and Methanobrevibacter smithii), and extremely halophilic (Halobacterium cutirubrum) representatives of the archaeobacteria. Several of the ether lipids produced by Methanospirillum and Methanosarcina genera were purified and characterized structurally for the first time. Unilamellar liposomes were prepared from emulsions of the total polar-ether lipid extracts of such bacteria by pressure extrusion through membranes of various pore sizes. Liposome populations were shown by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy to range in size depending on the pore size of the filter, on the source of the lipids, and on the composition of the suspending buffer medium. In all cases the size ranges indicated highly homogeneous preparations.

Abstract: The invention disclosure relates to a biologically pure isolate of Fusarium avenaceum ATCC 200684 to a herbicidal composition containing the isolate as active ingredient, and to a method of combating weeds, particularly the Rubus species, comprising applying an effective amount of the composition, thereto.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a process for the extraction of sweet compounds from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, by column extraction, followed by purification by filtration. The extraction is at temperatures in the range of 0 to 25.degree. C. Preferably, a pre-treatment step of microfiltration is used to clarify the extract. Purification is by ultrafiltration followed by nanofiltration. The filtration conditions are controlled to optimize the recovery of the sweet compounds.

Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method for producing ultramicrocellular polymer foams at low pressures. A polymer is saturated with a blowing agent at low temperatures and pressures within a short time period, due to retrograde vitrification. The blowing agent may be in the form of a gas or a volatile liquid. Polymer-blowing agent combinations are selected to provide a processing temperature/pressure in the area below the positive slope portion of the retrograde vitrification profile of the glass transition temperature of the polymer versus pressure. The polymer thus saturated has an exceptionally high blowing agent content, and is then foamed to produce materials with small cells and high cell density.

Abstract: A method of testing for infestation of tissue of rape or other Cruciferea with a virulent strain of Leptosphaeria maculans. The method involves isolating DNA of L. maculans from the tissue; subjecting the isolated DNA to amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using sets of primers derived from LMR1 ?SEQ ID NO:11! (Genbank accession number M77515), a repetitive element of L. maculans specific to virulent strains of the fungus, to form a product containing amplified L. maculans DNA; preferably separating the amplified L. maculans DNA from the product; and detecting the presence of the amplified separated L. maculans DNA. The invention also relates to a method of deriving DNA of L. maculans from plant tissue for amplification by PCR, to the oligonucleotides forming the primers used in the PCR and to a diagnostic test kit which makes use of the method of testing.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an improved solvent extraction/soil remediation process for the concurrent removal of hydrocarbon contaminants, and fixation of heavy metals.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a composition and method for enhancing the contrast of the lipid component of fingerprints and the like. The composition includes a metal chelate of the structural formula I ##STR1## wherein R is a UV-absorbing aromatic group, X is an electron attracting group, G is a synergic group containing a suitable polar functional group, and M is a metal ion, a suitable water-soluble organic solvent and water, at pH of 3 to 10.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to novel functionalized benzocyclobutenones of structural formula I ##STR1## wherein R is NH.sub.2, reactive NH.sub.2 derivatives including acids, acid chlorides, amides and diazonium salts, OH, CN, NO.sub.2, H, I, F Br, Cl, mercapto and deuterium. Also disclosed are polymer compositions comprising thermal reaction products of the benzocyclobutenones of formula I and either a polyol or a polyamine.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to the biological production of substantially isomerically pure (R)-baclofen and structurally related compounds, from the racemic mixture of (R)- and (S)-isomers thereof, and to the isolation of a Streptomyces microorganism from Nature which is capable of preferentially metabolizing one of the isomers while showing minimal metabolic activity on the other isomer. A fermentation or bioconversion process using this microorganism or the cell-free enzymes derived therefrom for the biological resolution of a racemic mixture of (R)- and (S)-baclofen and structurally related compounds is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a new method of forming spinel-related .lambda.-Li.sub.2-x Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4, wherein 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2, solely by electrochemical means with air-stable orthorhombic LiMnO.sub.2 as the starting material. This spinel-related material is hydroscopic, metastable and is typically made by chemical means, followed by electrochemical conversion of spinel-type LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4. Also disclosed are new secondary lithium ion electrochemical cells employing as initial active cathode material a compound of formula LiMnO.sub.2, having a specific orthorhombic crystal structure.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a synthetic seed and a method for the manufacture thereof. The seed comprises a plant propagule which is capable of producing an entire plant, encapsulated in a material including an inert filler, a binder and water. The synthetic seed has a prescribed selected water-activity to maintain viability until exposed to germination permissive conditions, and is of sufficient mechanical strength/hardness for use with mechanical seeding devices.

Abstract: Molded articles of an aromatic polymer are described having at least a portion of the surface layer of the polymer modified by a heterogeneous reaction of the solid polymer and a reactive solution. The polymer to be treated may contain different repeating units in the said surface layer. The treatment to produce the molded article may comprise casting, injection molding, extending or otherwise shaping the polymer to mold the polymer into a desired shape. The heterogeneous treatment to produce the heterogeneously modified molded article may comprise treating a surface layer of a flat cast sheet in the form of a flat membrane, spirally wound membrane, hollow fiber, or tubular material.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an interferometer for the far-infrared which provides a high operating efficiency over the spectral range of 50 to 1000 cm.sup.-1. The beamsplitter component comprises a composite of a thin, substantially uniformly thick synthetic resin film having low far-infrared absorption, selected from polyethyleneterephthalate and polypropylene, and a thin substantially uniformly thick coating of germanium. An improved interferometer including a beamsplitter formed of the composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transamination reaction of glycosyl-1-amine with a nucleophilic reagent containing an --NH.sub.2 or --NHNH.sub.2 group is used to prepared a broad spectrum of glycoconjugates by substitution of the 1-amino group. The substitution reaction does not adversely affect the ring structure of the sugar as does the prior art reductive amination reaction. Suitable nucleophilic reagents are nucleophiles having a chromophore group, a fluorophore group, a chemiluminescent group, a lipid, an amino acid or peptide moiety, biotin, a drug and a linker/spacer group and an affinity label. The ratio of glycosyl-1-amine to nucleophilic reagent is in the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:2 by weight.

Abstract: A process is described for electrochemically "collecting" certain organic compounds from aqueous solutions in an immobilized and concentrated manner conducive to subsequent destruction. The method is applicable for organic compounds amenable to electrochemical coupling, e.g. by condensation. The method involves the electrochemical reaction of the organic compounds to form substantially water insoluble coupling products in the form of deposits or films on the working electrode surface. This method has the advantage of greatly concentrating and immobilizing the organic compounds on the surface of the working electrode. The immobilization of the organics allows the material to be transferred to a different environment or allows the environment to be changed to facilitate destruction of the organics.

Abstract: Genetic markers of this invention provide a biochemically assayable reporter activity and a conditionally selectable growth advantage. They comprise a first gene which encodes a product whose activity can be assdyed biochemically e.g., .beta.-glucuronidase, to a second gene which confers a conditional growth advantage such as antibiotic resistance in a transformed cell (e.g., neomycin phosphotransferase-II). The marker genes and their translational products are stable in cells. The genetic markers provide for the positive genetic selection and the biochemical and histochemical screening of transformed cells. They can be used as probes for identification and isolation of novel genetic regulatory elements, such as promoters, and the genes they regulate.