Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes a substrate, and an inorganic film on the substrate and having a relatively smooth surface for cell growth thereon. Moreover, the relatively smooth surface has a relatively low predetermined surface roughness so that cells grown thereon adhere by chemical adhesion rather than by mechanical interlocking. In other words, the predetermined surface roughness defines surface indentations smaller than a size of corresponding cells to be grown thereon. Accordingly, the interaction between various inorganic materials and cells may be studied based upon chemical adhesion rather than mechanical interlocking. The predetermined surface roughness is preferably less about 10 .mu.m root-mean-square, and more preferably less than about 1 .mu.m root-mean-square. The relatively smooth growth surface is preferably obtained by thermal vacuum evaporation and deposition, followed by annealing of the as-deposited film.

Abstract: A complete food for dogs and cats contains dairy substances in a significant amount and meat or meat byproducts as well as meat substitutes. The milk solids derive from hydrolyzed fermented milk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting peroxycarboxylic acids to carboxylic acids, the process comprising treating a peroxycarboxylic acid of the general formula I:R--CO--OOH (I)wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group, an aryl group or an aryl-alkyl group each of which may optionally be substituted with one or more hydroxy, halogen, alkoxy, amino, alkylamino, sulfo, sulfoxy, sulfono, amido, carboxy, percarboxy or nitro groups, with an enzyme catalyst to form the corresponding carboxylic acid of the general formula II:R--CO--OH (II)wherein R has the meaning indicated above.

Abstract: A multilayer film having a first layer including a blend of a crystalline nylon and a material which disrupts the crystallinity of the crystalline nylon; a second layer also including this blend; and a third intervening layer, between the first and second layers, including a material having a modulus lower than the modulus of the crystalline nylon, and having a crystallinity of less than 60%. The nylon blend layers, which can be two or more in the film, add toughness and stiffness, but also elastic recovery to the final film. The intervening layer or layers of a material with relatively low modulus and crystallinity aid in orientation of the film during manufacture, permitting the use of more of the crystalline nylon than would be practical if only a single nylon layer was used.

Abstract: A low-fat natural cheese is manufactured from skim milk or skim milk cheese. In one embodiment of the invention, a gel-forming fat mimetic is added to skim milk to provide a cheese substrate. The gel-forming fat mimetic may be gelled in situ or may be pregelled. The cheese substrate is then subjected to a cheese make procedure to provide a cheese curd. The cheese curd is then cured to provide a low-fat skim milk cheese. The skim milk cheese is comminuted and heated to a temperature of from about 140.degree. F. to about 180.degree. F. for a period of time sufficient to provide a homogeneous cheese mass. The cheese mass is then packaged to provide a low-fat natural cheese.

Abstract: Fungi which grow white/colorless and reduce pitch are used to protect structural wood before or after cutting from logs against color staining by staining fungi.

Abstract: A container for storing a food product and a sauce therefor having a lower section for containing the food product and an upper section for containing the sauce. The container may be manipulated to release the sauce from the upper section and the food product from the container.

Abstract: A composition of a mixture of a lactic acid producing bacteria culture and a lactate utilizing bacteria culture admixed with a dry formulation or an animal feedlot diet for improving the utilization of feedstuffs by a ruminant. The composition may be used on a continual basis to increase meat or milk production, or used during the transition from a roughage diet to a feedlot diet to prevent or minimize acidosis. The preferred embodiment utilizes Lactobacillus acidaphilus as its lactic acid producing bacteria culture and Propionibacterium P-5 as its lactate utilizing bacteria culture. The composition is in a dry powder form for storage at ambient temperatures for long durations.

Abstract: The invention is a composite food subsystem that provides a sweet or savory-flavored thermostable filling having an ultra-low water activity. The thermostable filling is, also, thixotropic or "shear thinning". The filling includes an edible hydrophilic liquid phase. A stabilizing network of ultrahigh surface area cellulose particulates are dispersed and reactivated in the hydrophilic liquid phase. A solid phase admixture can be added as a fine powder. The thermostable filling is desirable for use in methods for making co-extruded or co-laminated products of multi-textures.

Abstract: A process for adding fat to an extruded pet food composition using an under oil cutting process wherein the extrudate is simultaneously cut, infused with oil and dried to form food pellets.

Abstract: A process for providing fried battered and breaded food products with enhanced crispiness and golden brown color, wherein fat, caloric content and loss of volatile flavor components are controlled and shelf life of the frying medium is increased, in which a substrate having a moisture content over about 35% is battered and breaded, coated with a protein dispersion and heated to form a protein film.

Abstract: A flow-through receptacle is disclosed, one end of which is designed to hold multiple plugs of gel material, containing solutes such as macromolecules, excised from electrophoretic separations, and the other end of which is capable of insertion into a recipient matrix that lies between the plates of a slab gel enclosure in an electrophoresis apparatus. The receptacle is used to place the gel plugs, containing the macromolecules or solutes, into electrophoretic contact with a recipient matrix and allows for electrophoretic transfer of the solutes from the plugs into a single concentrated zone in the recipient matrix. The concentrated macromolecules or solutes can then be further processed in the recipient gel or excised and used for procedures requiring greater amounts and concentrations of the solute than are available in the original plugs.

Abstract: Essentially sugar-free bakery goods, such as cakes, donuts, muffins and the like, that are formed from a batter mixture that includes (in the pre-baked form) about 15% to about 25% by weight (solids basis) of starch hydrolysate comprising polyhydroxy oligomers, predominantly having a degree of polymerization (DP) of 1-3, e.g., HYSTAR.RTM. 5875 from Lonza Inc. of Fair Lawn, N.J.; about 10% to about 25% water; about 10% to about 20% oil or fat; and about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a high potency, sugar-free sweetening agent, such as aspartame. Other typical ingredients used in forming a dough for baking also are included, such as a protein source, e.g.

Abstract: The process of preserving a quantity of diced vegetables which combines a given quantity of the vegetables with a preselected amount of water (including ice) and acid such as citric acid. The amount of acid is equal to approximately five percent of the amount of water by weight. The vegetables, water and acid are thoroughly mixed together producing a slurry. This slurry is located within a mixing chamber with a vacuum being drawn on that mixing chamber to between twenty five and twenty nine inches of mercury. The mixing chamber is moved to achieve an intermixing between the ingredients for a preestablished period of time generally in the range of ten minutes to forty five minutes. The ingredients are then removed from the mixing chamber with the liquid removed from the vegetables then placed within containers for shipment and refrigerated.

Abstract: The invention herein pertains to a process for improvement of stored fresh market fruits such as peaches, plums and nectarines by retarding mealiness, dryness and internal breakdown. Peaches in particular are routinely stored at 0.degree. C. to prevent softening. Unfortunately, "chilling injury" occurs in peaches, plums and nectarines stored by this conventional technique which can result in insurance claims, litigation and general consumer dissatisfaction. The invention comprises five steps for the transshipment thereof that results in enhanced fruit quality. This process is particularly suitable for imported fruits from overseas where transshipment by boat is required. The process can also be used to improve the quality of domestic fruits held for late-season "market window" sales.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparation of a substrate containing a plurality of sequences. Photoremovable groups are attached to a surface of a substrate. Selected regions of the substrate are exposed to light so as to activate the selected areas. A monomer, also containing a photoremovable group, is provided to the substrate to bind at the selected areas. The process is repeated using a variety of monomers such as amino acids until sequences of a desired length are obtained. Detection methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method for diagnosing a disease comprising detecting a disease-specific biochemical marker macromolecule within a sample of extracted cerebral spinal fluid or serum is disclosed. In particular, a radioactively labeled photoaffinity probe is used to diagnose a disease. For instance, Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed by detecting a disease-specific protein having a molecular weight of about 42,000 daltons, i.e., glutamine synthetase. Also included is a method for detecting other disease states, such as cancer, by detecting the presence or absence of specific nucleotide binding proteins.

Abstract: Reagents and methods for the detection of a marker which is associated with severe forms of hepatitis delta virus infection are described. A vaccine comprising immunogenically active HDAg' polypeptides is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection in body fluids of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), also known as a non-A non-B hepatitis (NANBH) virus and to the diagnosis of NANBH by the use of a composition of synthetic peptides. Each of these peptides has an amino acid sequence corresponding to immunodominant regions of a fusion protein and a non-structural polypeptide of HCV, SOD/HCV C100 and a postulated HCV structural (core) protein. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the use of a group of synthetic peptides in a prescribed sequence or their analogues for the detection of antibodies to HCV in body fluids. The detection method includes an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and other forms of immunoassay procedures.

Abstract: A method for detecting elevated levels of the middle isoform of .alpha.-2 haptoglobin, .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin in bodily fluids of subjects with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia as compared with the .alpha.-2FS haptoglobin level in normal subjects. Fibrinogen fragments corresponding to proteins 127 and 128 are also found in elevated levels in such subjects. Elevated levels of specific haptoglobin proteins serve as a diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia.