Abstract: A polymerizable composition comprises a polymeric precursor selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, (2) at least one epoxy monomer, and (3) polyurethane precursors, and a curing agent comprising an organometallic compound and an onium salt.

Abstract: Certain 2,5-disubstituted N-(2-piperidylmethyl)benzamides, wherein one substituent is 2,2,2-trifluoroethyoxy, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts thereof, are active as antiarrhythmic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylatre copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 0.degree. C. or less. The method comprises making a monomer premix comprising an acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, the alcohol having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, a polar monomer copolymerizable with the acrylic acid ester, a chain transfer agent, a free-radical initiator, and a modifier moiety selected from the group consisting of 2-polystyrylethyl methacrylate macromolecular monomers, reactive zinc salts and hydrophobic silicas. The premix is then combined with a water phase containing a sufficient amount of suspending agent to form a suspension. The suspension is concurrently agitated and polymerization of the polymer premix is permitted until polymer beads are formed. The polymer beads are then collected.

Abstract: A hot melt applicator has a feeding mechanism for advancing a block of solid material toward a melting chamber, and the feeding mechanism includes a retraction device for shifting the block a slight distance in a rearward direction to a retracted position subsequent to the dispensing operation. The feeding mechanism has a release device for enabling the block to float freely after moving to the retracted position in order to provide additional room for molten material in the melting chamber upon thermal expansion of the material.

Abstract: A parameter of blood is sensed with a system which includes a catheter and a sensor and a volume oscillator element. The catheter has a lumen extending therethrough, a proximal end, a distal end and an opening, adapted to be placed in the blood vessel of a patient. The sensor senses a blood parameter and is adapted to be located outside the patient's body in fluid communication with the lumen. The volume oscillator element is in fluid communication with the lumen and is capable of acting to periodically cause blood to enter and exit the lumen. The system is structured so that a flush or anti-clotting solution flows into the patient when the volume oscillator element is inactive. With the volume oscillator activated, blood is moved back and forth in the lumen to expose the sensors to blood so that the blood parameter of interest can be sensed.

Abstract: A light-sensitive emulsion layer comprising a dispersing medium and silver halide grains, wherein at least 10% of the total projected area of the silver halide grains is formed by silver bromo-iodide grains bounded by at least one substantially concave-shaped major crystal face, having a diameter of at least 0.6 .mu.m and the half of their thickness, in the deepest point of said concavity, of less than 80% of the half of their border thickness. Photographic elements comprising a support base and at least one such emulsion layer are shown.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foamlike pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a flexible carrier supporting one or more pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, at least one layer of the pressure-sensitive adhesive having pigment-coated microbubbles dispersed therein having an average diameter from 5 to 200 micrometers, wherein the coat comprises pigment particle aggregates having an average pigment aggregate size being from about 0.5 microns to about 5 microns.The invention further relates to pigment-coated microbubbles, and to a method for making coated microbubbles involving rolling the pigment and the microbubbles in a cylindrical container with two or more mixing rods having lengths at least about equal to the interior diameter of the container, and a combined surface area at least about 5% of the interior surface area of the container.

Abstract: An adjustable orthodontic debonding instrument has jaws that may be opened to place jaw tips over mesial and distal sides of the bracket, and then closed to enhance the grip of the jaws on the bracket sides. An actuator is moveable along the length of a handle of the instrument, and cooperates with a lever arm fixed to the moveable jaw to facilitate precise movement of the latter and enhance the grip of the jaws on the bracket when the jaws are closed. A slight, quick pivotal movement of the instrument handle by the user presents a torsional force to the bracket base which is particularly advantageous when debonding ceramic orthodontic brackets.

Abstract: An energy polymerizable composition comprises at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, one of polyurethane precursors, and at least one epoxy monomer, and a curing agent comprising an organometallic compound, and an onium salt.

Abstract: A method for producing a magneto-optic layer includes depositing amorphous magnetizable film layer on a substrate using a triode sputtering process. The magneto-optic layer includes an alloy of terbium, cobalt, iron, chromium and an oxygen content approximately between 2-6 atom percent midway through the thickness of the layer.

Abstract: An optical recording medium and a method for preparing the medium in which information can be recorded and read by means of a focused modulated laser beam. The optical recording medium comprises a substrate containing on at least one surface, a layer of organic material having an anisotropic and/or inhomogeneous physical microstructure which gives the layer a non-uniform density gradient along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer before exposure to a laser beam, whereby upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation the level of anisotropy and/or inhomogeneity is reduced.

Abstract: A preformed, elastomeric orthodontic ligature includes a molded protrusion or bumper portion integrally connected to an occlusal region of a ring portion of the ligature. When the ligature is connected to a bracket, the bumper portion extends over occlusal surfaces of the bracket including an occlusal tie wing in order to prevent direct contact of the bracket with an opposing tooth. In preferred embodiments, the bumper portion is connected to the ring portion by a thin web which is configured to enable the ring portion to firmly seat under the tie wing and also enables the bumper portion to conform to the occlusal surfaces of the bracket such that the ring portion does not normally stretch and disengage the tie wings during mastication.

Abstract: Presensitized sheets for color proofing comprising a removable carrier sheet bearing a photosensitive medium sensitive to radiation within the wavelength band 325 to 700 nm and comprising photohardenable, photoadherent, photoinsolubilisable or photosolubilisable material, the sheet including a removable antihalation layer which is removed either when stripping the carrier sheet or during subsequent processing. The antihalation dyes may be positioned within a transparent carrier sheet, in a layer on the carrier sheet opposite to the photosensitive medium or in a layer positioned between the carrier sheet and light-sensitive medium.

Abstract: Elastomeric embedded-lens retroreflective sheeting comprises a monolayer of non-stretchable microspheres; a sheet in which the microspheres are embedded which comprises a spacing layer of transparent elestomeric material underlying the back surface of the microspheres and a cover layer of transparent elastomeric material covering the front surface of the microspheres; and a specularly reflective layer disposed on the back surface of the spacing layer.

Abstract: Polypropylene articles are provided. The polypropylene articles comprise non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene having olefinic unsaturation-containing monomers graft-polymerized thereon by ionizing radiation in a dosage sufficient to degrade crystalline polypropylene. The irradiated polypropylene articles retain useful tensile properties after storage periods of as long as at least about four months.

Abstract: Ceramic orthodontic brackets are bonded to teeth with dental adhesive. Each bracket has a silica-containing layer on the tooth facing base of the bracket. A silanation layer is also applied to the base. The silanation layer is deposited from a solution containing a first silane coupling agent reactive with organic resin in the adhesive and a second silane coupling agent having a non-reactive orgainc group. Collectively the silanes occupy all of the silanation sites on the silica-containing substrate. By controlling the ratio of reactive and non-reactive silane coupling agents, the bond strength between the substrate and the adhesive can be controlled. A set of ceramic orthodontic brackets can have uniform force of removal by varying the porportions of silane coupling agents on the brackets.

Abstract: A heater assembly for a hot melt applicator includes a heating block having a melting chamber and two compartments receiving a pair of elongated heating elements along opposite sides of the chamber. The heating elements have respective longitudinal axes that lie in a common plane which extends toward an outlet of the melting chamber at an angle relative to a central axis of the melting chamber. In preferred forms, the longitudinal axes of the heating elements converge toward each other as the outlet of the melting chamber is approached.

Abstract: A dimensionally stable alginate hydrogel foam wound dressing that absorbs wound exudate without any appreciable swelling. The wound dressing is formed-in-place in the wound cavity or on the wound surface from a reactive composition that foams as it gels. The water-insoluble alginate hydrogel foam based wound dressing is made by mixing together the ingredients of a two component system; applying the resulting composite liquid mixture to a wound site; and allowing the composite mixture to react. One component contains an aqueous suspension of certain di-or trivalent metal salts and an effervescent compound. The second component contains an aqueous solution of a biocompatible, water-soluble acid. At least one compound, and preferably both, contain a water soluble alginate.

Abstract: A polymeric tetra-aryl polymethine dye of the general formula ##STR1## in which: A comprises a conjugated chain of carbon atoms having an equal number of double and single bonds,each R independently represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atomsR.sup.1 represents --NR.sub.2 or ##STR2## and X.sup.- represents an anion.The dyes are suitable for use as recording media in optical recording elements in which information may be recorded and read directly afterwards by means of laser light.

Abstract: Storage-stable, thermally-curable, one-part epoxy resin compositions comprising a curable epoxide resin; a curative amount of an aliphatic or non-aromatic cyclic polyol having about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, at least two hydroxy groups of said polyol being primary or secondary, and said polyol being free of strong acid groups, and free of electron-withdrawing substituents and large groups which cause steric hindrance in the .alpha.-position in relation to the carbon atoms attached to the methylol groups of the polyol; and a catalytic amount of an imidazole compound.