Abstract: A process for exponentially amplifying a selected nucleic acid sequence present in a sample, comprising the steps of forming a mixture of the sample and a single primer designed to hybridize with the selected nucleic acid sequence; causing the single primer to hybridize to a single strand of the nucleic acid sequence of interest; forming a duplex product of the nucleic acid by a polymerase reaction; separating the duplex product into single strands; and repeating the preceding steps until the rate of production of the amplification product is exponential and the nucleic acid sequence of interest has been amplified.

Abstract: A roller skate of the in-line wheel type where all wheels are mounted for rotation in the normal skating directions has at least one wheel mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the skating directions. An internal brake is provided to progressively retard the rotation about the axis perpendicular to the skating directions to provide a braking mechanism so the skater can stop by executing what is known as a hockey stop.

Abstract: The disclosure relates, inter alia, to a composition and, a method of making the composition. The composition comprises an electrically conductive polymer having a porous structure and a compound formed in situ and coating at least a portion of the surfaces of said polymer. The method of making the composition comprises forming an electrically conductive polymer having a porous structure, contacting the surfaces of the polymer with a solution comprising chemical species capable of being electrochemically formed into a coating material on the surfaces of said structure and electrochemically forming the coating material on the surfaces of the structure.

Abstract: A chemical moiety is disclosed which comprises a chemical, biochemical, or biological substance attached to one or more electrochemiluminescent organometallic compounds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the substance is attached to one or more ruthenium-containing or osmium-containing luminescent organometallic compounds. Methods are disclosed for detecting very small amounts of the chemical moiety using chemiluminescent, electrochemiluminescent, and photoluminescent means. Compounds are disclosed which are useful for labelling substances of interest with ruthenium-containing and osmium-containing labels or other electrochemiluminescent labels. These labelled substances are useful in methods provided for detecting and quantifying analytes of interest in binding assays and competitive binding assays. The labelled substances are of particular use in homogeneous binding assays.

Abstract: Catalytic antibody components, methods for producing catalytic antibody components, methods for using catalytic antibody components, in particular, single chain and smaller components are disclosed. Catalytic antibody components able to promote the cleavage or formation of an amide, peptide, ester or glycosidic bond, and which are prepared from monoclonal catalytic antibodies, catalytic autoantibodies or by site-directed mutagenesis are disclosed. Methods of using catalytic antibody components alone or in combination with other antibody components or other biological moieties are disclosed.

Abstract: A composition useful in obtaining a blotchy bleach effect on garments or fabrics comprising a thickening medium comprising a cellulosic ether, a bleaching agent, and an organic acid.

Abstract: A chemical moiety is disclosed which comprises a chemical biochemical, or biological substance attached to one or more electrochemiluminescent organometallic compounds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the substance is attached to one or more ruthenium-containing or osmiumcontaining luminescent organometallic compounds. Methods are disclosed for detecting very small amounts of the chemical moiety using chemiluminescent, electrochemiluminescent, and photoluminescent means. Compounds are disclosed which are useful for labelling substances of interest with ruthenium-containing and osmium-containing labels or other electrochemiluminescent labels. These labelled substances are useful in methods provided for detecting and quantifying analytes of interest in binding assays and competitive binding assays. The labelled substances are of particular use in homogeneous binding assays.

Abstract: In order to achieve a degree of separation of muscular tissue from bones, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, connective tissue, fatty tissue and the like which is as high as possible for a careful treatment, a process and an apparatus for processing meat is proposed in which the meat is cut up by dividing this into planar pieces of a certain thickness in a cutting device, after which a mechanical tenderizing of the planar pieces of meat of a certain thickness takes place in a tenderizing device in a second step, and a single- or multi-stage separating process takes place in a separating device in a further step, the mechanical tenderizing of the planar pieces of meat in the second step being precisely matched with the separating process in the further step.

Abstract: This invention provides a recipe for making a detoxification medicine named DTS (Deities) for curing drug addiction. This DTS (Deities) medicine comprises no narcotic but mainly is made up by several kinds of effective ingredients of biological substances refined from various natural herbs and bioproducts. Drug addicts can be weaned and cured safely from addiction induced by Heroin, Cocaine, Morphine, Amphetamines, Hemp or Opium, and other substances within 7-30 days, by means of DTS (Deities) which can get rid of drug poisons present in an addict's blood and marrow. Further, DTS (Deities) can also be used to clear away tobacco tar and nicotine deposits so that it serves to wean from cigarette smoking as well.

Abstract: Specific, selective inhibitors of catalytic antibodies both synthetic and naturally occurring, their use and compositions thereof are disclosed. In particular, an inhibitor preventing the hydrolysis of the peptide bond between amino acid residues 16 and 17 in the neurotransmitter vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) by an anti-VIP catalytic autoantibody is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel class of reagents for assaying nucleic acid sequences comprise successive layers of polynucleotides of a specific structure, including a double-stranded waist and single-stranded, free arms at the molecule ends, formed by hybridization of the arms to adjacent molecule arms. The reagent is used to assay for specific nucleic acid sequences. The outer layer of polynucleotides are specific for the sequence to be assayed through their non-annealed, free, single-stranded arms. The reagents are useful in the assay of a wide variety of nucleic acid sequences including those associated with pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria and virus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting electrochemiluminescence (ECL) measurements which control the initial conditions relating to the surface state of a triggering working electrode by reproducibly creating and maintaining a favorable surface condition so as to enhance the precision and detection limit of the measurements. Assays are performed with ECL detection in a flow-through cell environment and the precision and detection limit are enhanced by alternating initialization and measurement steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing volatile contaminants from contaminated soil is provided wherein the contaminated soil is excavated and stockpiled upon a vapor-tight support structure. The contaminated soil is covered and sealed with an impervious vapor-tight liner such that a vapor-tight enclosure is created. A vacuum is created in the vapor-tight enclosure which induces air flow through the contaminated soil to volatilize contaminants from the contaminated soil. Vapors created as a result of the induced air flow are exhausted from the system and treated or managed as required by federal, state, or municipal regulatory requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting measurements of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) phenomena includes a cell unit having an electrode configuration for inducing the emission of ECL light by the application of a selected voltage waveform to a sample fluid including an ECL moiety. The sample fluid is transported to and from the cell unit by a flow-through pump/tubing system. A photomultiplier tube detects the intensity of light emitted by the sample fluid during the ECL measurement process. A computer control unit both analyzes the detected data and provides digital control signals to the cell unit to generate effective voltage waveforms. The digital control signals are supplied to a novel pulse width modulated digital to analog converter which outputs a ramp voltage waveform having the desired slope.

Abstract: A cutting and punching apparatus for sheet material, designed to be movably mounted on an automatic cutting machine, having a cutting tool and a punching tool, wherein said apparatus comprises means for vibrating said cutting tool, means for vertically displacing said cutting tool, means for rotating said cutting tool, means for sharpening said cutting tool, means for vertically displacing said punching tool, means for rotating said machine tool, and a supporting base on which are grouped in a compact manner all said means, which means being operable both simultaneously and independently of each other.

Abstract: A method for increasing the rate of chemical reactions involving the conversion of at least one reactant to at least one product involves contacting the reactant with an appropriate monoclonal antibody under conditions permitting the formation of a complex between the antibody and the reactant. The complexed reactant is converted to the product which is then released from the complex. The monoclonal antibody may employ a cofactor and may be directed to a known substrate of an enzyme. Methods for preparing such monoclonal antibodies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for producing an antibody catalyst for a chemical reaction. Chemical reactions in which the antibody catalyst can be used are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen from glucose by innoculating a glucose solution with hydrogen producing bacteria to form hydrogen and carbon dioxide, separating the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide and conducting the hydrogen to storage. The glucose may be obtained from a cellulosic biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis or otherwise. The process may be continuously run in a fermentation tank with the continuous feed of cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A solid fuel furnace includes a vibratory bowl for its fuel bed. Structure in the furnace defines a fuel chamber over the central part of the bowl and a combustion chamber over the outward part of the bowl. Fuel is distributed outward by a central cone on the bowl. Primary air is fed beneath the rim of the cone into the fuel in the combustion chamber. The vibratory motion keeps the fuel particles evenly distributed and prevents blowholes from developing, leading to improved combustion. The vibratory motion also marches ash particles up a spiral groove in the circumferential wall of the bowl to facilitate ash removal from the fuel bed.

Abstract: A device for performing suction curettage procedures includes a housing having at least one port formed therein through which the interior of the housing communicates with a source of suction. A selectively positionable suction tube support member is mounted in the housing and has a plurality of tube support bores of different diameters formed therein adapted to be selectively aligned between the port and a diametrically opposed opening in the housing. Each of the bores is adapted to receive at least one differently sized suction tube therein through the housing opening so that different tubes may be selectively connected to the housing and the source of suction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention at least a portion of each of the housing bores are tapered so that at least two differently sized suction tubes can be mounted in each bore.