Abstract: Controlled release compositions of matter are disclosed comprising complexes for treating a population of ore or more aquatic organisms in a column of water. The complexes comprise a least one system wherein the system comprises at least one bioactive agent as a component selected for treating a population of aquatic organisms, at least one carrier component, and at least one coating component for regulating the controlled release rate and release profile of the bioactive agent in water or at least one bioactive agent and one joint-function component that can serve as both a carrier and coating to regulate the controlled release rate and release profile of the bioactive agent in water, with or without optional binder components and/or additional formulation materials. The components are selected to sink or float so that the complexes will permeate and/or remain in any planar or volumetric segment of a water column for a period of time that is sufficient to effectively treat a population of aquatic organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biocompatible collagenous material which is non-toxic and biodegradable in less than one month, preferably in less than one week. This material comprises collagen and at least one hydrophilic macromolecular additive which is chemically non-reactive towards the collagen, with the collagen having at least partially lost its helical structure and being crosslinked. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining such a material. The collagenous material according to the invention is used, in particular, for preventing post-operative adhesions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel methods for enhancing the mechanical performance of tissue adhesives and sealants which comprises employing a primer molecule in association with a tissue adhesive or sealant, wherein the primer molecule serves to enhance the strength of the interface between the tissue and the adhesive matrix. The primer molecules described herein function to interact with a protein present in the tissue, thereby altering its characteristics to make it more amenable to bonding with the adhesive matrix. Primer molecules may be applied to the tissue independently from the tissue adhesive or sealant or may be mixed with the tissue adhesive or sealant prior to application to the tissue.

Abstract: An adhesive suitable for bonding wood is both heat curable and radio frequency (RF) curable. This adhesive is composed of an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and hydrolyzed soy protein having a pH of at least about 9 and advantageously from about 9 to 11.5. The weight ratio of prepolymer to soy protein hydrolyzate ranges from about 70:30 to 90:10.

Abstract: Provided is a toy that includes at least one insert suspended in a transparent play material matrix, especially a play gel. Also disclosed is a play material composition that includes water, polyvinyl alcohol, a surfactant, and a salt. The present invention further provides a play kit that includes a portion of a play material according to the invention and a container for the play material, especially including one or more inserts or sets of inserts.

Abstract: There is provided an adhesion type denture adhesive having superior cleanability, which can be easily removed from a denture base and an oral mucosa for cleansing after the use, while possessing a superior force for stabilizing a denture. The denture adhesive containing a water-soluble polymer as a main ingredient, and containing 0.5 to 60% by weight of an alginate and 0.1 to 20% by weight of calcium sulfate contained therein.

Abstract: Prolamine-plant polar lipid compositions are provided, said compositions including a mixture of a prolamine, a plant polar lipid, at least one polyalcohol in a hydro-alcoholic solution, and an active agent, wherein the composition forms a substantially homogeneous dispersion with skin adhesive properties; wherein the dispersion forms a film and wherein the film contains a gradient of concentrations of the active agent.

Abstract: A composition is provided which comprises catalase modified with a copolymer (A) and a second copolymer, i.e., copolymer (B). The copolymer (A) comprises an alkenyl ether, maleic anhydride, and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acid, vinyl compound and olefin, and copolymer (B) consists of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a monomer selected from the group consisting of a monomer having a carboxyl group and a monomer having an acid anhydride group, or a salt of the copolymer (B).

Abstract: An improved vegetable protein adhesive binder which can be used in paper coating compositions at much lower levels than conventional vegetable protein adhesive binders while imparting to the paper coating composition rheological and other properties equivalent to conventional paper coating compositions containing higher levels of vegetable protein adhesive binders is prepared by forming an alkaline dispersion of a vegetable protein material and a polyacrylate, mixing the polyacrylate and the vegetable protein material at a temperature and for a time sufficient to achieve entanglement of the polyacrylate with the vegetable protein material, and co-precipitating the vegetable protein material and polyacrylate at the isoelectric point of the vegetable protein.

Abstract: A biodegradable composition, is obtained by heating a melting together at least one lignin and/or a lignin containing material with a protein. This composition may contain one or more additives. Also disclosed are articles produced with this composition.

Abstract: A compound of the formula where R1 is the radical of the formula II or III is suitable for the production of a pharmaceutical for the treatment of inflammations, carcinomatous diseases, or autoimmune diseases. A compound of the formula IV is suitable for the production of specific antibodies against a compound of the formula I for the discovery of specific-binding proteins from cell extracts, serum, blood, or synovial fluids, for the purification of proteins, for the modification of microtiter plates, or for the preparation of chromatography material, in particular of affinity chromatography material, and for use in diagnostics.

Abstract: The present invention offers biomaterials exhibiting excellent sustained-release property and degradation property such as that polypeptides or the like having a biological activity can be continuously released for a prescribed life span in vivo. The said biomaterials consist of a copolymer prepared by the reaction of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid and p-dioxanone with polyethylene glycol as main components.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of manufacturing implantable biocompatible cell encapsulation devices, wherein the cell encapsulation devices have a jacket made of a permeable, biocompatible material that is loaded with a core made of a reticulate foam scaffold having interconnected pores, with cells that are dispersed in the interconnected pores.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to flax shives reinforced thermosetting resin compositions and a method for reinforcing thermosetting resins. The present invention provides a use for flax shives, which is the portion left over after processing plant materials to separate plant fibers (bast fibers) from the shives.

Abstract: A biocompatible cell device having an internal foam scaffold to provide a growth surface for encapsulated cells which produce a biologically active molecule.

Abstract: A method of producing a particulate natural rubber, which comprises adding an inorganic salt to a serum obtained by centrifugal separation of a natural rubber latex in the amount enough to cause separation of a particulate natural rubber component in the serum, thereby to isolate the particulate natural rubber component as a cream component.

Abstract: Compositions of the invention include particular hydroxy-functional polyesters and a natural polymer. Among articles that can be made from such compositions are those with sufficiently strong tensile strengths as to form disposable utensils. However, the compositions are more environmentally friendly than commodity plastics such as polyethylene or polystyrene. Starches are particularly preferred as the natural polymers for inclusion in the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thickened personal care compositions which utilize a thickening amount of an acrylate-based polymeric rheology modifier prepared by polymerization of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of acrylic acid and/or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of methacrylic acid, a monomer chosen from a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one of a nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylate, a mono or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkylamino (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl (meth)acrylamide, and, optionally, an associative monomer.

Abstract: A process for reducing the amount of lipids within natural rubber latices comprising the steps of obtaining a natural rubber latex from a guayule bush, the latex having a dry natural rubber content of from about 10 to about 40 percent by weight, adding from about 0.1 to about 25 parts by weight of a surfactant per one hundred parts by weight of dry natural rubber, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group including nonionic, ionic, and amphoteric surfactants, adding from about 1,000 units to about 500,000 units of a lipid reducing enzyme preparation per gram of dry natural rubber, wherein the lipid reducing enzyme preparation is selected from the group including lipases from plant, animal, synthetic and microbial sources, adding a pH buffer to maintain the pH in a range of from about 5 to about 12, mixing the natural rubber latex with the lipid reducing enzyme preparation for a period of between one-half hour to about 24 hours at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention is a ready-to-use, water-redispersible powder composition useful for preparing photographic recording materials or inkjet recording materials, which comprises a mixture containing polymers made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers and gelatin, wherein the polymers are prepared by emulsion polymerization in the presence of at least one emulsifier selected from emulsifiers with ionic and nonionic groups and if exclusively ionic emulsifiers are used, the copolymerization is carried out in the presence of comonomers which contain one or more groups selected from --COOH, --OH, SO.sub.3.sup.-, NCH.sub.2 OH and --C.dbd.O.

Abstract: A chew toy includes a vegetable-based flavor and scent additive which is not surface migrating in thermoplastic materials. The chew toy is made by a process in which powdered vegetable-based flavor and scent additive is first mixed with thermoplastic pellets in a rotating drum, and then the mixture is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic material and injection molded. A coloring additive may be added to the mixture of thermoplastic pellets and vegetable-based additive prior to melting the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: Methods of forming solid pharmaceutical compositions comprise solubilizing water-soluble polymers and amino acid-based components having molecular weights ranging from about 100 daltons to about 200,000 daltons or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in solvents; and separating the solvents from the water-soluble polymers and the amino acid-based components or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof to form solid pharmaceutical compositions comprising the water-soluble polymers and the amino acid-based components or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition, process for preparation and use of a novel emulsion composition in the personal care industry. The composition when applied to hair provides outstanding lubrication, and delivers amino acids or proteins to the hair fiber. This aides in the manageability of the hair and remediates damage from treatment processes like permanent waving, dying and relaxing of the hair as well as environmental effects upon the hair.

Abstract: A hemocompatible surface-modifying additive is provided for modifying polyurethane or polyurethane urea substrates. The additive has a polyurethane or polyurethane urea hard block or an alternative block which is miscible with the poly(urethane) or poly(urethane-urea) base polymer, a polysiloxane hydrophobic soft block, an optional hydrophilic spacer and a peptide selected from the group consisting of Arg-Gly-Asp, X-Arg-Gly-Asp, Arg-Gly-Asp-X and X-Arg-Gly-Asp-X', wherein X and X' are amino acids.

Abstract: Materials containing fine natural organic material particles are disclosed. As the fine particles, superfine silk fibroin particles are produced by a process comprising a first step of comminuting silk fibroin into coarse particles with dry mechanical comminuting means, a second step of comminuting the coarse silk fibroin particles into fine particles with dry mechanical comminuting means, and a third step of comminuting the fine silk fibroin particles into superfine particles with an average particle diameter of 10 .mu.m or below with dry mechanical comminuting means, the silk fibroin particles being beta-treated during or after at least one of the first to third comminuting steps. Specific examples of the material are films, sheets, paints, fiber treating materials, etc.

Abstract: The invention concerns the waste liquor from the chemical-thermal pulping of fibre boards and particle boards containing bonding agents. The waste liquor is produced through a procedure in which fibre boards and wood particle boards are first chopped into shreds and, in a subsequent step, pulped according to a chemical-thermal procedure which dissolves the wood structure. The liquid remaining after the separation of the cellulose is retained as waste liquor and used as extender for wood adhesives.

Abstract: An air-entraining agent for use in cementitious mixtures having fly ash. The air-entraining agent being particularly well suited for use with high carbon or high LOI fly ash.

Abstract: Neuropeptides, particularly vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) and fragments, mutations and derivatives thereof that have corresponding activities to which have been directly or indirectly linked at least one NO or NO.sub.2 group, and their uses, including the relaxation of smooth muscle in several tissues, including vascular smooth muscle (e.g., aorta) and nonvascular smooth muscle (e.g. trachea, sphincter of Oddi, gastrointestinal smooth muscle and corpus cavernosum smooth muscle), and particularly also for the diagnosis and treatment of human male impotence.

Abstract: A water-soluble, biodegradable, repulpable, waterbearing colloidal hydrogel material manufactured from a mixture of natural organic materials, water and additives which is capable of being heated and applied with hot melt glue application equipment for use in paper bag sealing, corrugated and paperboard carton closure, and fishing lures.

Abstract: This invention presents a rubber composition wherein a determined amount of protein is mixed with unvulcanized rubber. Rubber products made of this rubber composition have sufficient strength for practical use and are harmless to human bodies. The rubber composition of the invention not requiring vulcanizing process is advantageous in eliminating the need of large-scale vulcanizing equipment. Combined use of a curing agent and protein will increase modulus higher than using the curing agent alone.

Abstract: To form a binder from naturally occurring products without extraction or purification steps, the binder utilizes proteins from the germ or endosperm of cereal grasses or from the seed of buckwheat, oil seed plants, Amaranthus or leguminous plants or from leaves. The protein has a thermoplastic microstructure with linear polymers of moleculer weight of at least 2,000 linked with peptide linkages of at least 50 in number. The naturally occurring product is ground or milled without further processing and thus includes carbohydrates, particularly as cellulose, and possibly fats, yeast or materials yielding ash upon burning, with the carbohydrates being at least 5 percent of the proteins by weight. The binder may include some initiators or catalysts to polymerize fats or other initiators or catalysts to polymerize proteins.

Abstract: A biodegradable interpolymer and composition is prepared by the reactive blending of a synthetic polymer having functional groups with a naturally occurring biodegradable polymer such as a carbohydrate or protein compound. During reactive blending, the synthetic polymer can undergo a chemical reaction with the biodegradable natural polymer which results in covalent and physical bonding between the two polymers, thereby forming an interpolymer. By this process, a biodegradable interpolymer composition is produced that is suitable for molding various articles.

Abstract: A gel-forming composition is used in a process for molding a ceramic composition. The gel-forming composition, such as agar, is improved with a gel-enhancing agent, e.g. polyethyleneimine. As a result, the gel-forming composition improves the ceramic molding process and/or the ceramic product formed therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule for use in heavy duty liquid compositions which capsule comprises:(1) a component subject to degradative attack; and(2) a composite polymer which in turn comprises a hydrophilic portion and hydrophobic polymer core particle.

Abstract: The hydrogel of the invention contains polyvinyl alcohol (a hydrogel support), and a high water-absorbent resin and/or a hydrophilic high molecular compound, which are capable of containing a large amount of water. The rate of evaporation of water from this hydrogel is slow. The hydrogel retains water for a long time and releases an active ingredient gradually. The hydrogel containing a pharmacologically active substance is useful as a pharmaceutical preparation.

Abstract: The invention relates to footwear additives made using recycled materials. In particular, the invention relates to an additive used in the formation of an article of footwear where the additive comprises finely divided recycled footwear materials. The recycled footwear materials may be scraps generated during the manufacture of the article of footwear, or defective or used articles of footwear. The additive materials can be selected from the group consisting of leather, cotton, thermoplastics, synthetic and natural rubber, millable/partially crosslinked polyurethane, and synthetic fibers. The thermoplastics include polyamides, polyesters and polyurethanes.

Abstract: A paper coating composition is provided comprising pigment, binder and a cyclic phosphate salt as an insolubilizer for the binder.

Abstract: A biodegradable plastic composition for use in production of shaped articles includes polyglycolide and a high molecular weight substance selected from poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid), a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid, polycaprolactone, polyglutamic acid, polyolefin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyalkylene oxide, cellulose acetate and mixtures thereof, the amount of the polyglycolide being 5-60 % based on the total weight of the polyglycolide and the high molecular weight substance.

Abstract: A degradable polymer composition is disclosed which comprises a blend of a normally stable chemically saturated polymer, such as polyethylene, a less stable chemically unsaturated polymer or copolymer, such as a styrene/butadiene block copolymer, or natural rubber, an antioxidant active over a limited period and a latent pro-oxidant, such as an organic salt of a transition metal, e.g. cobalt naphthenate. The presence together of the anti-oxidant and the pro-oxidant give rise to a period of induction before a sharp loss of physical strength occurs, whereby the period of induction can be exploited as the effective working life of the polymer composition.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-dispersible grafts of proteins with monoethylenically unsaturated monomers are used as sizing agents for staple fiber and filament yarns.

Abstract: Melanin modified with a polyethylene glycol derivative becomes soluble in water and an organic solvent, and can be applied widely to cosmetics, medicines and dyes.

Abstract: To form a composition board from naturally occurring products without extraction or purification steps, the naturally occurring material is held together with a binder that is added or is already within the naturally occurring material. In one embodiment, the binder utilizes proteins from the germ or endosperm of cereal grasses or from the seed of buckwheat, oil seed plants, Amaranthus or leguminous plants or from leaves. The protein has a thermoplastic microstructure with linear polymers of molecular weight of at least 2,000 linked with peptide linkages of at least 50 in number. The naturally occurring product is ground or milled without further processing and thus includes carbohydrates, particularly as cellulose, and possibly fats, yeast or materials yielding ash upon burning, with the carbohydrates being at least 5 percent of the proteins by weight. The binder may include some initiators or catalysts to polymerize fats or other initiators or catalysts to polymerize proteins.

Abstract: A biologically degradable film is prepared consisting of a synthetic polymer and a biologically degradable polymer. The biologically degradable polymer is divided into small particles by means of enzymes produced by microbes in the form of spores, which enzymes split and release small molecules from the surface of the biopolymer particles. After achieving desired particle size, an emulsion is formed with vegetable oil and particles coated with enzyme protein become coated with vegetable oil, which at the same time interrupts the degradation of the biopolymer particles by the enzyme. The coated particles with the oil is separated from the suspension to remove small molecules after which the particles are redried and then pulverized. The final film is prepared in a film extruder in which the biopolymer is mixed with the synthetic polymer and possibly with other additives that are generally used in forming polymer films.

Abstract: A chemical method of producing organic switching and memory units for electronic computer elements which comprises the self-assembly of said elements from polyamino acids exclusive of flavin and pterin pigments and mono-amino-dicarboxylic acids, and membranous planar, spherical and tubular structures produced thereby.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a first low-temperature insulating material which comprises polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer, a water-containing or absorbing gel or an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer and an emulsifier and a second low-temperature insulating material which comprises polyvinyl chloride gelled by mixing with a plasticizer and a surface-covered, water-containing hydrogel. The insulating materials are inexpensive and show excellent heat-insulating properties and excellent flexibility at low temperatures.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermally reversible superabsorbent polymer adapted for use in melt processes, the polymer having a thermally reversible bond which is adapted to evanesce at an elevated temperature and revert to a thermally reversible bond upon cooling to ambient temperature so that the polymer is adapted, upon being heated to that elevated temperature, to dissociate into melt processable polymer fragments and, upon being cooled from that elevated temperature to ambient temperature, to re-associate. Also disclosed are superabsorbent polymer fibers and sheets formed from the thermally reversible superabsorbent polymer. The polymer fibers may be meltblown fibers which may be formed into a coherent nonwoven web. The meltblown fibers may include microfibers. The meltblown web may also include at least one type of secondary fiber, particulates or a mixture of fibers and particulates.

Abstract: A process for preparing a co-poly(amide/peptide) by reacting polymeric or oligomeric polypeptides and polymeric or oligomeric polyamides in the presence of an effective amount of one or more aryl phosphoryl azide compounds.

Abstract: Ion selective parts are described which comprise a polymeric material, an ion selective component and optionally furthermore a plasticizer and which ion sensitive parts are suited for the determination of the concentration or activity of ions in liquid media. The polymeric material of said ion sensitive parts is a copolymer in which 5-25 mol-% of the monomeric units of said copolymer are substituted with one or more hydrophilic substituents which are selected from the group comprising hydroxy groups, carboxylic acid groups, sulphonic acid groups and phosphonic acid groups. The inventive ion selective parts have, compared with corresponding ion selective parts in which the polymeric material is free of the stated hydrophilic groups or has a lower content of said hydrophilic groups, a better stability of the standard potential E.sub.o and a lower asymmetry potential or no asymmetry potential at all.

Abstract: A paper additive of high whiteness and low biological toxicity comprising a whitening amount of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl R' is independently H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, R" is H or NR'.sub.n, and n is 2 or 3, wherein if n=3 the compound further comprises X.sup.-, wherein X.sup.- is an anion.A paper of high whiteness and low biological toxicity is coated or filled with the above additive, and a food product is packaged with the paper of this invention.

Abstract: An adhesive or coating formulation useful in biomedical application and particularly well suited for use in aqueous environments is provided comprising:(1) a bioadhesive polyphenolic protein component having from about 5 to about 99 weight percent of a proteinaceous substance comprising from about 10 to about 400 of the following repeating decapeptide unit: ##STR1## in which each X is hydrogen or hydroxyl and each R is hydrogen or methyl; (2) from about 1.0 to about 40 weight percent of a cross-linking agent which promotes cross-linking of the decapeptide;(3) one or more additives which promote the desired properties of the formulation, said additives comprising at least one surfactant and being present in an amount of from 0% to about 90% by weight, and(4) a filler compatible with the intended use of the formulation, said filler being present in an amount of from 0% to about 50% by weight.