Abstract: An electrical cooking or heating unit comprising a plate of a glassy material including a selected portion thereof upon whose upper surface vessels are to be placed for cooking purposes. The lower surface of the selected portion of the plate is provided with at least one sinuous strip of a gold/platinum alloy which integrally forms the electrical resistance heating element for the heating or cooking unit. A porous and partially sintered overglaze or coating covers the heating element and the portion of the lower surface of the plate on which the heating element is provided, such glaze preventing or inhibiting cracking, peeling or agglomeration of the heating element to provide a resultant increase in electrical resistivity. The life of the heating or cooking unit is thereby substantially increased.

Abstract: Arylamine surface derivatives useful for the immobilization of biologically active proteins such as enzymes can be prepared by adsorbing p-phenylenediamine onto the surfaces of water-insoluble inorganic carriers having a relatively low surface isoelectric point.

Abstract: A coupler disposed between two optical signal transmission lines for extracting from the first transmission line a fraction of the energy transmitted thereby and for injecting an input optical signal into the other transmission line. The first transmission line is coupled to the input of a first mixer rod, the output end of which is connected to the input end of a second mixer rod by a first optical waveguide bundle. A second optical waveguide bundle, which is also connected to the output of the first mixer rod extracts a portion of the energy at the output end of the first mixer rod and couples it to output means. An input optical signal is coupled by a third optical waveguide bundle to the input end of the second mixer rod, the output end of which is coupled to the second transmission line.

Abstract: A buffered optical waveguide fiber suitable for use in forming an optical waveguide cable is described. An optical waveguide fiber is first coated with a glass protective coating applied to the exterior longitudinal surface of the fiber with a release agent coating applied over the glass protective coating. Thereafter, a protective layer of a thermoplastic synthetic resinous material surrounding the fiber is disposed over the coating of release agent.

Abstract: A gradient photochromic ophthalmic lens blank is produced by heat treating an ophthalmic lens blank composed of potentially photochromic glass at a temperature sufficient to develop photochromic properties therein, while maintaining in proximity to a portion of the lens blank a metal heat sink with a specified heat absorbing capacity. The metal heat sink acts to provide a temperature gradient across the ophthalmic lens blank during heating, which gradient is effective to provide a gradient in photochromic properties thereacross.

Abstract: Biologically active proteins such as enzymes and antibodies can be chemically bonded to a variety of high surface area, inorganic supports by reacting the support surface with polymeric isocyanates and then reacting the coated surface with a dispersion of the proteins.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. FieldThe present invention is concerned generally with the immobilization of biologically active proteins and specifically with the chemical attachment of such proteins to high surface area inorganic supports.2. Prior ArtA variety of techniques have been devised to immobilize various biologically active proteins such as enzymes and antibodies onto and within high surface area inorganic supports. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,945 (enzymes adsorbed to porous glass); U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,719 (enzymes crosslinked within the pores of porous glass); U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,538 (enzymes coupled via intermediate silanes to various inorganics); U.S. Pat. No.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the production of glass-ceramic articles from thermally crystallizable glass compositions containing, by weight, about 40-85% SiO.sub.2 and 2.5-17% N as basic constituents and utilizing such modifiers as the alkali metals, the elements of Groups IIA and IIB of the Periodic Table, boron, and aluminum to obtain practical glass-forming compositions. In general, at N contents greater than about 3.5%, the predominant crystal phase developed in situ will customarily comprise "nitrogen mullite", silicon oxynitride (Si.sub.2 ON.sub.2), and/or .beta.'-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 solid solution. The crystal phase which has been denominated in the literature as "nitrogen-mullite" has a lath-like morphology and, hence, is useful in reinforcing the crystalline body. Where the predominant crystal phase comprises a silicate, it is believed that nitrogen is present in some manner within the silicate crystal structure. The parent thermally crystallizable glasses appear to be self-nucleating, i.e.

Abstract: Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and thyroxine (T.sub.4) can be efficiently removed fron serum containing TBG and T.sub.4 by contacting the serum with finely-divided alumina particles to adsorb a major portion of the T.sub.4 and then reacting the serum at an acidic pH with an anion exchange resin to extract substantially all TBG and the remaining T.sub.4.

Abstract: An anticoagulant coating composition suitable for coating the interior surfaces of a blood microsample collection tube, such as a capillary tube, is disclosed. The coating composition consists essentially of ethylene diamine tetracetate held in a matrix of polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Both the ethylene diamine tetracetate and the polyvinyl pyrrolidone are dissolved in a water-alcohol mixture to form a coating composition solution.

Abstract: A heat pipe for converting solar energy into thermal energy comprising an envelope provided with an evaporator region and a condensor region, a quantity of vaporizable working fluid within the envelope, a wick within the envelope having capillary means for transporting the working fluid, and, preferably, evacuated transparent container means surrounding the evaporator region for insulating the evaporator region. The evaporator region of the heat pipe is made from a material which is substantially transparent to radiation in a selected range of the solar spectrum, and a wick therewithin which substantially absorbs radiation in at least a portion of the range of the solar spectrum transmitted through the evaporator region. Solar energy is thereby converted into thermal energy or heat directly within the wick, and the heat generated within the wick causes portions of the working fluid therein to evaporate.

Abstract: A laser beam is used to spiral, or otherwise remove a portion of the resistance material from, a resistance film on a glass substrate. The glass has a radiation absorber incorporated in its composition to minimize transmission of the laser beam through the glass.

Abstract: A hermetic enclosure for an electrical component, particularly for a tantalum capacitor, and a method of forming it is disclosed. A silver container is provided having an open end at which an outwardly protruding flange is formed. A quantity of sealing glass is sealed to a lead and formed into a bead about the lead intermediate the ends thereof. A metallic collar having an outwardly protruding flange is disposed about the bead. This assembly and a metallic band, having a temperature coefficient of expansion greater than the glass bead, is heated and the metallic band is disposed about the collar so as to place the collar and glass bead in compression upon cooling thereby effecting a compression seal between the collar and the glass bead. A hermetic seal is then effected between the outwardly protruding flange of the container and the outwardly protruding flange of the collar.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film capacitor having a tantalum oxide dielectric is described. A dielectric substrate having an electrically conductive film electrode formed thereon is provided and a layer of manganese dioxide is applied over the conductive film. The composite so formed is disposed within an oxygen-inert gas containing vacuum environment. A film of tantalum oxide is applied over the manganese dioxide layer by r-f sputtering of a tantalum oxide target within the vacuum environment while the dielectric substrate, conductive film, and manganese dioxide layer are being cooled. The composite may then be removed from the oxygen-inert gas containing vacuum environment and a second electrically conductive film electrode applied over the so-formed tantalum oxide film.

Abstract: A differentially cooled plunger cooperative with a mold for press forming glass articles and the method of cooling pressed glass articles formed in said mold by use of the pressing plunger. The plunger is designed so that cooling fluid may be supplied from a single source thereof to different zones or regions of the plunger for differential cooling of the zones or regions and of a glass article press formed by the plunger.

Abstract: A relatively thin, smooth surfaced mold of low thermal expansion material which exhibits non-sticking qualities is disclosed for contouring glass articles, such as by sagging a preform to the contour of the mold. In addition, a method of forming such molds with a desired surface contour is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the production of glasses in the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 or Na.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 composition systems containing NiO and TiO.sub.2. Such glasses exhibit a brown coloration when first melted but the color is converted to a green hue after exposure to a particularly-defined heat treatment. The green coloration results from the growth of a small amount of very fine-grained crystallites of nickel spinel (NiO.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3). The crystallized articles can be chemically strengthened utilizing a low temperature ion exchange reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus useful therein for steam hydrating alkali silicate glass materials and subsequently extruding the hydrated material. There need be no moving parts in the hydration apparatus since the process can utilize the pressure of steam to both hydrate the glass and extrude it from the hydration chamber. The process permits the formation of solid extrusions or foam extrusions.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the production of high purity fused silica bodies by means of a three-step process. In the first step, various specifically-defined ratios of aqueous alkali metal silicates with colloidal silica or quaternary ammonium silicate are gelled with certain organic reagents. In the second step, the gelled silicate mass is leached in weakly acid solutions to yield bodies of very high porosity, i.e., greater than 50%, with mean pore diameters ranging between about 400A-4000A, but wherein the pore diameters are extraordinarily uniform within a particular body. Lastly, the microporous body is fired briefly at temperatures above about 1350.degree. C. to consolidate the body to a solid transparent fused silica article having alkali metal contents less than 100 parts per million (PPM). The size of the pores, combined with the exceptional uniformity of pore sizes within an individual unit, is vital to achieve crack-free, homogeneous products.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of highly-crystalline, opaque glass-ceramic articles, wherein the primary crystal phase is a beta-spodumene solid solution, which exhibit coefficients of thermal expansion (25.degree.-700.degree. C.) less than about 15 .times. 10.sup.-7 /.degree. C. and, preferably, less than 10 .times. 10.sup.-7 /.degree. C., and wherein transmittances to infra-red radiations as great as 60% have been measured at a wavelength of 3.5 microns in samples having thicknesses of about 4.25 mm. Such articles have compositions circumscribed within a narrow field of the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 system nucleated with TiO.sub.2 which contain ZnO as the principal modifier ion and are essentially free from the alkaline earth metal oxides, alkali metal oxides other than Li.sub.2 O, and ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: Glasses are disclosed that have a high refractive index on the order of 1.7 or greater, a low density on the order of 3 gm./cm..sup.3, good chemical durability and a dispersive index on the order of 40 or more. These glasses belong to a CaO--La.sub.2 O.sub.3 --TiO.sub.2 --B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 family and are particularly useful in strong correction ophthalmic lenses and space optics.