Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving vermiculite's intake of ammonium, in which method heating of the crude vermiculite is conducted to a temperature where vermiculite's third dehydration step takes place, the temperature being lower than the temperature where vermiculite's fourth dehydration/dehydroxylation step takes place. The invention relates also to use of the obtained vermiculite and to an absorption material, comprising vermiculite material and additives, where at least 50% of the vermiculite material comprises vermiculite, which has undergone the third dehydration step but not the fourth dehydration/dehydroxylation step. The invention relates also to use of thermally treated and ammonium doped vermiculite as fertilizer/soil conditioner.

Abstract: A frame of an intrauterine system which includes an elongate member having at its first end a transverse member including a first wing and a second wing, first ends of the wings being attached to the elongate member. The first and second wings are symmetrically bent towards a second end of the elongate member so that an angle a formed between the elongate member and the first or second wing is 10°-60°. The second ends of the wings are symmetrically bent towards the elongate member by an angle ? that is 40°-140°.

Abstract: A method for preparing controllably biodegradable silica fibres which includes spinning the fibres from a silica sol of controlled viscosity, controllably biodegradable silica fibres prepared according to the method, methods for controlling the biodegradability of the fibres, the use of controllably biodegradable fibres as sustained and/or controlled release delivery devices for biologically active agents, and pharmaceutical preparations containing such devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery system comprising a core and a membrane encasing said core, wherein said core and membrane consist essentially of an elastomer composition and said core comprises at least one therapeutically active agent. The delivery system is characterized in that the membrane comprises at least one regulating agent. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the release of at least one therapeutically active agent from a delivery system.

Abstract: A bioaffinity assay for quantitative determination in a sample of free PAPP-A, defined as the pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) that is not complexed to the proform of major basic protein (proMBP), where free PAPP-A is determined either i) as a calculated difference between measured total PAPP-A and measured PAPP-A complexed to proMBP, or ii) by a direct bioaffinity assay measuring only free PAPP-A. Also disclosed is a method for diagnosing an acute coronary syndrome in a person by using as marker either free PAPP-A as such or a ratio free PAPP-A/total PAPP-A, free PAPP-A/PAPP-A complexed to proMBP, or PAPP-A complexed to proMBP/total PAPP-A.

Abstract: A method to correct measurement error in a resonance energy-transfer assay, including exciting anti-Stokes photoluminescent donors with at least one wavelength of light which is greater than an emission wavelength of acceptor molecules; measuring emission at the acceptor's emission wavelength and which differs from the donor's emission wavelength in at least two different time windows; a first time window within the time window defined by the excitation light pulse and a second non-overlapping time window which follows the first time window; and correcting the emission signal, which includes signals originating from non-radiative and radiative energy transfer, within the first time window by estimating the ratio of the signals from non-radiative and radiative energy transfer or the signal originating from radiative energy transfer using at least one emission signal measured in the second time window.

Abstract: A method for the prevention or treatment of an eye disease, which includes topically applying to a patient in need of the treatment an aqueous ophthalmic composition which includes N-acetylcarnosine, a N-acetylcarnosine derivative or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of N-acetylcarnosine, in combination with an amount of a cellulose compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt which is effective to increase intraocular absorption of N-acetylcarnosine or L-carnosine or a derivative of L-carnosine, such as anserine or balenine, in the aqueous humor. A hydrophilic hydrogel contact lens and an ocular polymer insert for topical application of an ophthalmic composition to the eyes of a patient is also disclosed, with the lens or insert containing N-acetylcarnosine, a N-acetylcarnosine derivative or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of N-acetylcarnosine.

Abstract: A homogenous bioassay including a first group including an acceptor which is a short lifetime fluorescent compound capable of energy transfer, and a second group including a quencher which is capable of energy transfer from an acceptor. The increase or decrease of the acceptor's fluorescence resulting from lengthening or shortening of the distance between the acceptor and quencher is measured. The bioassay also includes a third group including a donor for energy transfer to the acceptor, which donor is an up-conversion fluorescent compound, a long-lifetime fluorescent compound or an electrogenerated luminescent compound. The first group includes a tag, the third group includes a binder having a high affinity for binding to the tag. Fluorescence of the acceptor is brought about by exciting the donor resulting in energy being transferred from the donor to the acceptor.

Abstract: A method for mixing and dispensing compounds, at least one reactant in a carrier fluid in laminar flow, and a cell for implementing the method. The cell includes a reaction chamber having a reaction surface where the reactant can be fixed, directly or indirectly, at least three fluid inlets/outlets, a fixed volume reservoir in communication with the reaction chamber and outside the reaction chamber via injection orifice (27), a fluid loop including a feeding port, an extraction port and a variable volume reservoir adapted to communicate independently with the reaction chamber via each of its inlets/outlets; device for circulating fluids in the reaction chamber and the fluid loop. The method and cell can be used to prepare homogeneous surface films, or to carry out “target-probe” identification reactions.

Abstract: A method for preparing polyorganosiloxanes (POS) by a ring-opening polymerization and/or linear, non-linear or cyclic POS redistribution in the presence of a nucleophilic carbene. The initial efficiency of the POS conversion is substantially increased at low temperature, resulting in less residual content of initial POS.

Abstract: A separation free bioanalytical assay method for measuring an analyte from a biological fluid or suspension containing microparticles as a bioaffinity binding solid phase, a biospecific secondary reagent labelled with a two-photon fluorescent dipyrrometheneboron difluoride dye of specified structure, focusing the laser into the reaction suspension, and measuring two-photon excited fluorescence from single microparticles when they randomly float or are guided by the radiation pressure of the excitation laser through the focal volume of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method for rapid thermal control of a reaction volume from a preceding temperature to a target temperature includes first bringing at least the reaction vessel's second wall, which has high thermal conductivity, into direct contact with a first thermal block at a temperature higher than the target temperature if the target temperature is higher than the preceding temperature, or at a temperature lower than the target temperature if the target temperature is lower than the preceding temperature, until the reaction volume temperature is at least close to the target temperature; and then bringing the second wall into direct contact with a second thermal block at the target temperature. Also disclosed is a system (20) for detecting and/or quantitating a biological and/or chemical analyte in a sample and a software product for the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating materials or material mixtures in a treatment apparatus operating on the principle of the double-action impact mill, which includes a discharge conveyor (34), such as a discharge screw. A material layer (40) is maintained between the discharge opening and the discharge conveyor, using the material exiting the outermost ring (16?) of the treatment apparatus through the discharge opening (30), which layer prevents free discharge of the material to be treated from the treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Set of tickets in the form of a continuous strip (35, 85) of multilayer detachable tickets featuring, between two adjacent tickets (30 and 31, 80 and 81), cross precuts (32, 82) alternating with ticket linking bridges (33, 83), the transversal precuts being used to guide the separation of adjacent tickets when a pulling force is applied on one of the tickets. The cross precuts (32, 82) feature at their end longitudinal precuts (34, 84) that are perpendicular or oblique to cross precuts so that the linking bridges (33, 83) between two adjacent tickets play the role of hinges when the adjacent tickets are folded or are not in the same plane, thus preventing the outer layer from being subjected to more stresses than the inner layer.

Abstract: A biodegradable carrier is produced for preservation and/or controlled delivery of biologically active agents where said biodegradable carrier is a silica xerogel which is made from water and silane by using acid or base as a catalyst, and biologically active agents in said biodegradable carrier are infecting and/or transfecting viruses. Silica xerogel material can be pharmaceutically acceptable and it can be used as a medicine.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device support (2) featuring an antenna (12) screen-printed on a support (20) and a chip (10) connected to the connection terminals (17 and 19) of the antenna. According to a main characteristic of the invention, a thermoplastic layer (22) and a top layer of synthetic paper (24) are laminated on the antenna support (20) so that the antenna and the chip are trapped in the thermoplastic and the three layers (20, 22, and 24) cannot be separated and so that the device is resistant to water and humid environments.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device support (2) featuring an antenna (12) screen-printed on a support (20) and a chip (10) connected to the connection terminals (17 and 19) of the antenna. According to a main characteristic of the invention, a thermoplastic layer (22) and a top layer of synthetic paper (24) are laminated on the antenna support (20) so that the antenna and the chip are trapped in the thermoplastic and the three layers (20, 22, and 24) cannot be separated and so that the device is resistant to water and humid environments.

Abstract: The invention concerns a radio frequency identification device (RFID) featuring an antenna (12) screen-printed on a fibrous support and a chip (10) connected to the connection terminals (17 and 19) of the antenna. According to the main characteristic of the invention, a thermoplastic layer (22) and a layer of paper (24) are laminated on the antenna support (20) so that the antenna and the chip are trapped in the thermoplastic and so that the device is resistant to water and humid environments.

Abstract: A radiofrequency identification device (RFID) featuring an antenna (10) connected to a chip designed to be affixed to an object to be identified by a remote reader transmitting to the identification device electromagnetic signals received by the antenna and containing the data allowing the identification as well as the supply voltage (VDC) of the device, the antenna transmitting in return to said reader signals provided by the chip by retromodulation by means of a switch (22) in the chip whose open or closed position defines the digital identification data transmitted by the device. The chip features a variable impedance (30) connected in series with the switch to the terminals of the antenna and a means for detecting (32) the supply voltage to adjust the impedance value so that this supply voltage is always greater than a predetermined value (Vthreshold) below which the device can no longer transmit digital identification data.

Abstract: A plunger intended for an inserter for an intrauterine device with a T-body, which plunger has a first end and a second end. The plunger's length in its longitudinal direction is substantially larger than the diameter of the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The plunger's cross-section is substantially circular. An opening (17) has been arranged in the plunger's longitudinal direction so that the opening's longitudinal axis is substantially the same as the plunger's longitudinal axis. The opening at the first end of the plunger is arranged to expand in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis to form a tip portion, so that the tip portion has at least one surface (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), which along at least a portion of the tip portion's length turns at least 35° in relation to a first plane in parallel with the longitudinal axis and at least 35° in relation to a plane at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis.