Abstract: The invention presents methods for preventing and treating sensorineural hearing loss and is directed to the restoration or protection of hair cells in individuals experiencing a non-presbycusis type sensorineural hearing loss or who are at risk for an acute hearing loss due to exposure to noise, toxins, or other stressors. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of agents which augment inner ear antioxidant defenses (e.g. acetyl-L-carnitine, steroids, compounds that are transported into inner ear hair cells and then synthesized by said cells into glutahione) to prevent and/or reverse hearing loss induced by noise, toxins, or other stressors.

Abstract: A new technique of optical bandgap thermometry allows one to accurately measure the temperature of semiconductor samples by using the temperature dependent reflective properties of the samples. The disclosed technique uses specular reflection at an oblique angle of incidence. Light from a light source such as quartz halogen lamp is chopped and focused by a lens. The light then is focused onto the sample at an oblique angle of incidence. The light is specularly reflected by the sample and is focused by a lens into a spectrometer. The spectrometer is used to determine the spectrum of the light reflected from the sample. The reflectance varies with temperature and the temperature of the sample is calculated as a function of the reflectance spectrum.

Abstract: Filamentous substrates are coated with diamond by a chemical vapor deposition process. The substrate may then be etched away to form a diamond filament, such as a diamond tube or a diamond fiber. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is copper-coated graphite. The copper initially passivates the graphite, permitting diamond nucleation thereon. As deposition continues, the copper-coated graphite is etched away by the active hydrogen used in the deposition process. As a result a substrate-less diamond fiber is formed. Diamond-coated and diamond filaments are useful as reinforcement materials for composites, is filtration media in chemical and purification processes, in biomedical applications as probes and medicinal dispensers, and in such esoteric areas as chaff media for jamming RF frequencies.

Abstract: Organometallic linear polymers containing metallocene, inorganic units (such as silicon and boron), and acetylenic units which display superb processability, and which are readily converted to a thermoset through the acetylenic groups, yielding high temperature thermosetting polymers and ceramics that exhibit outstanding long-term thermal (high char yield) and magnetic properties and synthesis of these.

Abstract: Metal foams are impregnated with a phthalonitrile prepolymer. The metal f/polymer composite formed upon curing has excellent acoustic damping, structural properties, oxidative stability, and flame resistance. Foams of various metals, such as aluminum, titanium, nickel, copper, iron, zinc, lead, silver, gold, platinum, tantalum, and alloys based on these metals may be used.

Abstract: A selenide glass with improved mechanical and optical properties such as ended transmission in the infrared region of radiation having wavelengths beyond 15 microns; Tg in the region of 363.degree.-394.degree. C.; and thermal stability of 85.degree.-145.degree. C. based on the difference between T.sub.g and T.sub.x, comprising, on mol basis, 20-70% germanium selenide, 0.5-25% gallium selenide, indium selenide or mixtures thereof; and 5-50% of at least one alkaline earth in selenide form is described. A process for improving mechanical and optical properties of a selenide glass based on germanium selenide comprises the steps of mixing glass components, including a modifier in elemental or selenide form; melting the glass components to form a molten mixture; cooling the molten glass mixture to a solid state; annealing the solid glass; and cooling the annealed glass to about room temperature is also described.

Abstract: Thermally stable thermosets are formed from novel linear polymer containing acetylenic units and a random distribution of organotransition metal complexes, siloxane, boron, and/or carborane-siloxane units formed by crosslinking of the linear copolymers through the acetylene units in the polymer backbone. The thermosets can be used as structural components in high temperature and oxidizing environments or as pyrolytic precursors to metal containing ceramics, ceramic films and fibers having enhanced strength and toughness with superior mechanical, optical, electrical and/or magnetic properties.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of a mixed oxide precursor are reduced to form particles of a anostructured metastable alloy having a majority metal and a minority metal. Additional heating enriches the surfaces of the particles with respect to the minority metal, thus forming a coating on the particle core. This coating has a higher atomic ratio of minority to majority metal than found in the precursor. The nanostructured metastable alloys may then be oxidized to form nanoparticles having a coating of the oxide of the minority metal and a core of the majority metal or an oxide of the majority metal. The majority metal may be, for example, copper. The minority metal may be, for example, cobalt.

Abstract: A gene coding for the expression of metallothionein is incorporated into an xpression vehicle for expressing the metallothionein gene into the periplasmic space of a bacterium including the expression vehicle. It may also be possible to incorporate multiple copies of the metallothionein gene within a single bacterium. One typical expression vehicle is a p-MalP plasmid constructed to include the metallothionein gene. Using this expression vehicle, one can induce bacteria, such as transformed E. coli, to express metallothionein into the periplasmic space as a fusion product with, for example, the maltose-binding protein. Killed cell that have expressed metallothionein into the periplasmic space may then be attached to a solid support. The resulting device may be used to remove heavy metals from aqueous media.

Abstract: An optically transparent and optically stimulable glass composite includes glass matrix that has both luminescent centers and trapping centers. The trapping centers store trapped charges and, in response to optical stimulation, release the charges resulting in recombination and light emission. In one embodiment, the invention is a glass matrix doped with an alkaline earth sulfide, Sm ions, and an additional dopant such as Eu ions and Ce ions. Alternatively, the dopants may be ZnS and Cu, Pb, or Mn ions. In another embodiment, Cu may be the sole dopant. Several different preparation methods, including diffusion techniques, are described for producing the doped glasses.

Abstract: The radiation hardness of a silicon-on-insulator structure is improved by planting dopant ions, such as Si, into the buried oxide layer. The dopant ions are implanted in the buried oxide layer, near, but not at, the active Si layer/buried oxide layer interface. This implantation creates electron traps/recombination centers in the buried oxide layer.

Abstract: Hydrogen and/or carbon impurities are removed from chalcogenide or chalcoide glasses by the addition of a halide, such as TeCl.sub.4, to the batch composition. During melting of the batch composition, the metal halide reacts with the hydrogen and/or carbon impurities to form a hydrogen halide and/or carbon tetrahalide gas and a metal which becomes incorporated into the chalcogen-based glass. Useful halides include halides of sulfur, selenium, tellurium, polonium, or halides of a metal (such as aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, or a mixture thereof) that forms a stable oxide. Mixed metal halides may also be used. The glass melt is then distilled, outgassed, homogenized, fined, and annealed. An apparatus specially designed for making a fiber preform by the above process is also described. An annealed preform made by this method may be drawn into a low-loss fiber in the 2 .mu.m to 12 .mu.m range.

Abstract: Hg,Tl-based superconductors are produced by HIPping. A new superconducting phase, having a double (Hg,Tl)-layer and the nominal composition:(Hg.sub.1-x Tl.sub.x).sub.2 (Ba.sub.1-a Sr.sub.a).sub.2 (Ca.sub.1-b Y.sub.b).sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.zwhere 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.95, 0.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.1, and z is sufficient to provide said phase with a resistive and magnetic superconducting transition of 100K or above, can be produced. Either precursor oxides, or partially or fully reacted mixed oxides, can be used in the HIPping mixture.

Abstract: Microspheres, of controllable shape and size, encapsulating active ingredients, are made by the internally controlled gelation of an emulsion including a water-soluble polysaccharide, a salt of a di- or trivalent metal cation, a polymerization inhibitor, water, a water-immiscible solvent (as a non-aqueous phase), and the active ingredient. The components of the aqueous phase, containing the water-soluble polysaccharide, polymerization inhibitor, di- or trivalent metal salt, active substance, and water, are blended together. This aqueous phase is then gradually mixed with the oil phase and agitated to form an emulsion. After sufficient time for solidification, the emulsion is broken and the resulting microspheres are collected. The active ingredient may be various substances, including live microorganisms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine in air (or other gas medium) or in an aqueous solution. The detection is accomplished by introducing a stream of air, or other gas medium, or aqueous solution suspected of containing hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine or mixtures thereof into a pH controlled reagent solution containing an aromatic dicarboxaldehyde to react with the hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine or mixtures thereof, respectively, and by exposing the reacted reagent solution to an excitation wavelength range and monitoring an emission from the exposed reagent solution at an emission wavelength range to detect the presence of a hydrazine derivative, monomethylhydrazine derivative, 1,1-dimethylhydrazine derivative, or mixtures thereof (i.e.

Abstract: A metallization is coated with a network polymer. The network polymer may be either a cross-linked polyfluorinated polyallylether-polyhydromethylsiloxane copolymer or a network polymer formed from cross-linked fluoromethylene cyanate ester monomers. These polymer networks are resistant to the diffusion of a metallization, such as copper, therethrough.