Abstract: Thermally developable photothermographic materials comprise a backside layer that includes a backside stabilizer to reduce fog formation in high humidity conditions, thereby providing improved shelf stability. Useful backside stabilizers include an amine organic base whose conjugate acid has a pKa greater than 5. These backside stabilizers can be provided particularly in non-photosensitive compositions that include an antihalation composition.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials contain an X-radiation-sensitive phosphor that emits in the range of from about 100 to about 410 nm. The X-radiation-sensitive phosphor is a rare earth phosphate, a yttrium phosphate, a strontium phosphate or a strontium fluoroborate. These photothermographic materials can be provides out of organic solvent or aqueous solvent coating formulations.

Abstract: Assemblages that comprise a donor element and a receptor are disclosed. The donor element comprises a binder and particles of a cyanoacrylate polymer. The assemblages can be thermally imaged to form lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. Between the outermost protective layer and the underlying thermally developable imaging layers is an interlayer containing a film-forming ionic latex polymer other than a carboxy-containing latex polymer. This ionic polymer can be negatively-charged or positively-charged. The ionic latex polymer is present as latex particles that have been prepared in the presence of a stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: Substrates for lithographic printing plate precursors and lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The substrates comprise an aluminum or aluminum alloy support and the a layer of interlayer material on the support. The interlayer material is a co-polymer that comprise (1) acid groups and/or phosphonic acid groups, and (2) silyl groups substituted with three alkoxy and/or phenoxy groups. The lithographic printing plate precursors additionally comprise an imageable layer over the interlayer.

Abstract: Electrophotographic charge generating elements comprise a solid electrolyte layer having improved image discrimination. The solid electrolyte layer includes a complex of a silsesquioxane and a charge carrier, and further includes nondiffusible acid scavengers in an amount of at least 0.2 weight %. The acid scavengers are nondiffusible tertiary arylamines having a pKa of at least 4.

Abstract: A thermoelectric Peltier heat transfer device is used to treat a fluid, such as a photographic processing solution to reduce or prevent biogrowth. The device include both hot and cold sides that are in direct fluid flow communication so that the same fluid is treated on both sides of the device. The treated fluid is subjected to flash pasteurization on the hot side of the device, and immediately and rapidly cooled on the cold side without loss of volume. Thus, the same fluid is treated on both sides of the heat transfer device in a closed system before being returned to desired chemical, photographic or other processes.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of a target retroviral DNA (such as HIV-I DNA) can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of that target DNA and one or more additional target DNA's. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while all of the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes, all of which have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and within 15.degree. C. of each other.

Abstract: A biologically active reagent is prepared by reacting a biologically active substance covalently to a polymeric particle having pendant aldehyde groups. Such groups are provided by a polymerizable monomer represented by the structure: ##STR1## wherein Ar is arylene, R and R.sup.1 are independently hydrogen, halo or lower alkyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently alkylene of 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the chain, R.sup.4 is arylene, m is 0 or 1, and n is an integer of 1 to 4. These reagents can be used in a variety of specific binding and affinity purification methods, and in both solution assays and dry analytical elements.

Abstract: A method has been developed for determining microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases which is highly sensitive and shows very low background and cross-reactivity among various closely related antigens. Antigen is extracted at relatively high pH, and either before or immediately after extraction, the antigen-containing specimen is mixed with a blocking composition having at least about 0.2 weight percent of a non-immunoreactive blocking protein. The pH of the resulting mixture is kept high when contacted with the antibodies specific to the antigen of interest. The compositions and components needed for the assay can be supplied in a diagnostic test kit.

Abstract: Amplification, replication or detection of a predetermined target nucleic acid can be carried out using a unique primer composition. This composition comprises and aqueous mixture of a first oligonucleotide primer which is substantially complementary to a first nucleic acid sequence of the target, but which is suspected of having one or more mismatches with the target at or near its 3' end. Also included in the composition is one or more additional primers which are complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of the target. This sequence is either: (i) inclusive of only a portion of the first nucleic acid sequence, (ii) immediately adjacent to the first nucleic acid sequence, or (iii) removed from the first sequence by one or more bases, but which additional primer is capable of forming a primer extension product complementary to the first sequence. These composition components can be supplied as part of a diagnostic test kit which can include other regents if desired.

Abstract: An element has been prepared which is useful for the detection of nucleic acids in various formats. The element has a sealable support on which is disposed a nucleic acid reagent composition. The composition is a mixture of a nucleic acid reagent composed of polymeric particles to which an oligonucleotide is covalently attached. The particles are prepared from a first polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least about 70.degree. C. and have an average diameter of from about 0.1 to about 3 micrometers. The reagent is adhered to the support using a water insoluble adhesive comprising a second polymer which has a glass transition temperature which is at least about 30.degree. C. less than the glass transition temperature of the first polymer. The adhesive is present in the composition at from about 1 to about 20 weight percent. This element provides high sensitivity and low background in hybridization and other nucleic acid assays.

Abstract: A buffered aqueous composition is useful simultaneously as a wash solution and a dye-providing composition in specific binding assays involving enzyme-labeled specific binding reagents. The wash composition includes a dye-providing composition, a buffer and an organic solvent having a certain molecular weight and water-solubility. Another useful composition includes a particulate substrate having avidin attached thereto, and a peroxidase reducing agent. Either composition can be provided in a diagnostic test kit, and can be used to detect a specific binding ligand in assays.

Abstract: A protective and decorative polymeric sheet material for bonding to substrates by thermoforming comprises a flexible carrier film, a paint layer on one surface of the carrier film containing a colorant or light reflective flakes or both; and a transparent topcoat overlying the paint layer. At least a portion of the transparent topcoat is a rubbery cushioning layer formed of a non-crosslinked, or lightly crosslinked polymeric composition of low Tg.The sheet material has an unextended state and is heat softenable to a plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state at least 50% greater in area than the unextended state. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the unextended and extended states. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the transparent topcoat is at least 0.1 millimeter. The thick topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched.

Abstract: Useful materials for diagnostic tests, affinity chromatography, enzymatic reactions and immunoassays are prepared by covalently attaching reactive compounds containing reactive amino or sulfhydryl groups to polymeric particles having pendant carboxyl groups on the outer surfaces. Such reactive compounds include biologically reactive species, including enzymes, polypeptides and proteins. This attachment is carried out using specific carbamoylonium compounds, namely certain 1-(1-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)pyridinium salts. These compounds react with the carboxyl groups on the particles to form intermediate reactive groups which then react with the amino or sulfhydryl groups to form a covalent linkage between particle and reactive compound. A kit comprises polymeric particles having carboxyl groups on the outer surfaces, and a 1-(1-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)pyridinium salt.

Abstract: Herpes simplex viral antigen can be readily determined by contacting a specimen containing Herpes simplex virus of herpes simplex viral-infected cells with polymeric particles which have a surface area of from about 0.1 to about 600 m.sup.2 /g. Within a few minutes of this contact, antigen which is bound to the particles is contacted with antibodies thereto so as to form an immunological complex on the particles. Bound complex is separated from uncomplexed materials, and the presence of the complex is then appropriately determined. A kit for determining herpes comprises the particles described above, a disposable test device having a microporous membrane and antibodies to herpes simplex viral antigen.

Abstract: Certain ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers having a reactive carboxy group are useful for preparing homo- and copolymers for a variety of uses, including diagnostic assays. The polymers can be supplied as latex particles in aqueous compositions. The monomers are represented by the structure: ##STR1## wherein: R is hydrogen, halo or alkyl or 1 to 3 carbon atoms,M is hydrogen, an alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion, andL is a linking group having from 8 to 50 atoms in its linking chain, and comprises two or more divalent hydrocarbon groups connected or terminated with one or more nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms, or with one or more groups containing such atoms in the linking chain, provided L has at least one arylene which is not directly connected to the terminal ##STR2## and further provided that none of the hydrocarbon groups has non-aromatic unsaturation.

Abstract: Biologically active reagents are prepared from particles of copolymers having highly reactive carboxy or equivalent groups. The reagents are prepared by covalently attaching biologically active substances, for example antibodies, to the particles, directly or indirectly through highly reactive carboxy groups on the particle surface. These reagents are used to advantage in analytical elements, methods for the detection of specific binding ligands (such as immunological species) and immunoassays, and in purification methods as affinity chromatography reagents.

Abstract: An aqueous wash solution is useful for the detection of herpes simplex virus in a biological specimen. This solution has a pH of from about 9 to about 11.5, and consists essentially of an alcoholamine or a salt thereof and a nonionic surfactant. The solution is used to wash uncomplexed materials from a complex of herpes simplex antigen and antibodies thereto. The wash solution can be supplied as part of a diagnostic test kit.

Abstract: An extraction method for lysing chlamydial, gonococcal or herpes organisms and extracting detectable antigen therefrom involves the use of a protease. In particular, the antigen can be effectively extracted from a biological specimen which contains whole blood or mucous using a protease. The extracted antigen can be effectively detected in an immunoassay involving antibodies directed to the antigen. The protease is novel to the process and is obtained from Bacillus subtilisin.