Abstract: A method for recuperating from saponification products of alkaline polyterephthalate with soda where both terephthalate ions are in acid form and the sodium ions are in the form of soda is disclosed. In this method the sodium terephthalate solution resulting from dissolving the saponification products are subjected to a step of electrochemical pre-acidification to bring the pH to 4 to 7. Thereafter an electrochemical acidification step by electrolysis is undertaken to precipitate the terephthalic acid in the anode section and recuperate the soda in the cathode section which can be recycled.

Abstract: The medical device is coated with a thin coherent bond coat of acrylics, epoxies, acetals, ethylene copolymers, vinyl polymers containing hydroxyl, amine, carboxyl, amide or other reactive groups, and copolymers thereof. Outer layers may be applied and remain adherent to the substrate in water for an extended period. The bond coat may comprise cross linkers such as urea resins, melamines, isocyanates, and phenolics. Preferred polymers include vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate, styrene acrylic polymer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, carboxyl function acrylic polymer, hydroxyl function acrylic polymer, and acrylic dispersion polymer. The coatings may be applied to inert metal or plastic surfaces of medical devices such as needles, guide wires, catheters, surgical instruments, equipment for endoscopy, wires, stents, angioplasty balloons, wound drains, arteriovenous shunts, gastroenteric tubes, urethral inserts, laparoscopic equipment, pellets, and implants. Methods of coating and coating liquids are provided.

Abstract: A videotape cassette includes a housing made of plastic, a pair of video tape-holding spools, and a dust cover rotatably attached to said housing at a front portion thereof, where the dust cover is rotatable into an open position when placed in a videotape cassette recorder. The cassette housing is durable and weighs approximately 3.5 ounces or less, and the resultant videotape cassette is compatible with industry standard videocassette recorders. A method of direct mailing a videotape cassette as described above includes the steps of loading on a spool of the videotape cassette a selected content of video, shrink-wrapping the videotape cassette, affixing a mailing label and postage to the shrink-wrapped videotape cassette, and placing the labeled, shrink-wrapped videocassette in the mail for shipment.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I: wherein R1 and R2 have any of the values defined in the specification, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are PKC activators and are useful for treating diseases, such as, for example, cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula I, processes for preparing compounds of formula I, and intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula I.

Abstract: A high speed rotary cutter assembly for transversely cutting a moving web, comprising a cutting roll and an anvil roll rotating at web speed which are selectively movable toward and away from one another to set the rotary cutter assembly in operative and idle modes, respectively. The invention also extends to a web handling device for forming a continuous multi-form web into a stack, comprising a folder assembly laying successive forms of the web in a superposed relationship on a table to form a stack. A temporary stack support assembly is extended along an arcuate descending path between the folder assembly and the table when the stack is completed for temporarily holding the incoming folded product until the completed stack on the table has been ejected.

Abstract: A computer architecture operates a computer using self-manipulating trees. A source is input and is matched to a self-manipulating tree using open-ended inviting to match identities to portions of the source. After activating the root node of the self-manipulating tree, the self-manipulating tree self-manipulates according to the instructions for self-manipulating contained in the identities pointed to by the nodes of the self-manipulating tree. The invention may be used as a natural language search engine for electronic data bases, a natural language programming language, a parser-free computer operating system, a computer problem solving system, and as an enhancement feature for general purpose computers and general purpose computer applications, such as a translator and a help engine.

Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte of interest present in a mixture at an ultralow concentration includes selecting a radioactive derivatizing agent comprising a multiphoton-emitting radioisotope moiety and a moiety reactive with the analyte of interest, the radioisotope moeity being bound to the derivatizing agent by a bond that is stable under the conditions employed in the other steps of the method, derivatizing the analyte of interest with the derivatizing agent, separating the analyte of interest from other components of the mixture by chromatography, and detecting the analyte of interest using multiphoton detection. The derivatizing step may be performed before or after fractionation. A radiophore for multiphoton emission enhanced chromatography has a first moeity bound to a multiphoton-emitting radioisotope, and a second moiety that is reactive with a functional group of an analyte of interest.

Abstract: A device for the integrated micromanipulation, amplification, and analysis of polyelectrolytes such as DNA comprises a microchip which contains electrodes for dielectrophoresis powered by an AC signal generator, and a trapping electrode attached to a direct current source that can be heated to specific temperatures. Nucleic acids can be heated and cooled to allow for denaturation, the annealing of complementary primers and enzymatic reactions, as in a thermocycling reaction. After such a reaction has been completed on the trapping electrode, the dielectrophoretic field can be switched to a direct current to release the product and direct it through a matrix for fractionation and/or analysis. The device includes data analysis equipment for the control of these operations, and imaging equipment for the analysis of the products. The invention permits the efficient handling of minute samples in large numbers, since reactions occur while sample material is positioned on an electrode in a microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A holder for retaining shirred gut sausage casing comprising an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, flattened tube having a longitudinal uninterrupted slit. The flattened tube comprises a pair of opposed parallel walls terminating in longitudinal edges at the slit. The flattened tube is formed from a relatively firm, flexible sheet material having a low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A method is presented for catalyzing the conversion of substrate into product in an organic reaction solvent with an enzyme-surfactant ion pair. The enzyme-surfactant ion pair comprises the enzyme catalyzing the reaction and a surfactant capable of forming an ion pair with the enzyme. Water present in the organic solvent at a concentration of about 0.03% to about 2.5% is sufficient to enhance the rate of catalysis and stabilize the enzyme without substantially increasing the rate of hydrolysis when compared to the anhydrous enzyme.

Abstract: The invention is a batch process for biotreatment of contaminated soil according to which the material is placed with microbes and water in a vessel such as a roll-off box with aerators. A slurry recirculating system is used every few days at a point of microbial domination to pump material from the water column into the solid phase at high pressure through a wand inductor, whose outlet is directed around the vessel to shear and agitate essentially the entire volume of material. The configuration of the vessel, agitation with the wand inductor and control of other conditions allows cost-effective microbial degradation of hydrocarbons to regulatory standards in soils having large amounts of clay, rocks, and debris.

Abstract: A nutritional supplement is prepared from Macrocystis algae meal, microcapsules of yeast, and powdered calcite from sea shells. The supplement improves the health and growth of dairy and beef cattle, horses, and chickens, and improves milk and egg production. Minerals and vitamins may be added to the supplement where desired to counteract metabolic deficiencies in the animal.

Abstract: For isotopes decaying by capture of an inner shell electron by the nucleus, coincident emission of X-ray and gamma photons may occur. The X-ray results from the drop of an outer shell electron to fill the S shell. The gamma results from the transition of the excited daughter nucleus to a lower energy state. The invention disclosed is a Coincident Gamma and X-ray Detector (CGXD) which achieves extraordinary background rejection by a synergistic combination of coincident counting and other background suppression measures. Whereas the background registered by single gamma counters is of the order of 20-40 counts per minute, a CGXD optimized for the electron capture radioisotope I.sup.125 has a background of about one count per day.

Abstract: Anti-thrombogenic, and/or anti-microbial and/or pharmaceutical compositions containing heparin and/or antibiotics and/or other pharmaceutical agents which may be reacted with quaternary ammonium components or other ionic surfactants and bound with water-insoluble polymers are disclosed. Such compositions may also contain additional quaternary ammonium compounds or other ionic surfactants not reacted with heparin and may also contain quaternary ammonium compound(s) or other ionic surfactants reacted with antibiotics or other ionic or nonionic pharmaceutical agents.