Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming shaped food products from an emulsion or batter. A stuffing tube includes a wall defining a central passage for emulsion, and a treating fluid passage positioned within the wall and radially outside of the central passage. The stuffing tube is slideably mounted coaxially within a mold tube. Emulsion and treating fluid are deposited into the mold tube during retraction of the stuffing tube from the mold tube, where the depositions occur substantially without relative motion between the emulsion and the treating fluid, or between the emulsion/treating fluid and the inside of the mold tube. A production machine incorporating an array of stuffing tubes can be indexed with a plurality of arrays of mold tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for forming an emulsion or batter into shaped food products without the use of a casing. The apparatus includes a hollow stuffing tube connected to a source of suitable proteinaceous emulsion, and a molding tube mounted about the stuffing tube, the molding tube having an open end and a closed end. A supply of emulsion is conveyed under pressure into the stuffing tube to form a continuous length of shaped emulsion. Then, the shaped emulsion is directed into the molding tube, where the pressure of the emulsion bears against the closed end of the molding tube and causes the molding tube to move relative the stuffing tube. A treating fluid is directed to the interior surface of the molding tube, such that the interior surface is continuously wetted and evenly coated by the treating fluid, thereby forming a proteinaceous skin about the shaped emulsion.

Abstract: A refrigerant composition comprises a mixture of three HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) refrigerants, namely, HFC 32, HFC 125 and HFC 134a. A lower alkyl alcohol such as ethanol is included in the mixture to improve miscibility in commonly-used lubricants such as mineral oil by altering the viscosity of the entrained oil within the operating air-conditioning system. Optionally, a fifth component made be added, namely a hydrocarbon based refrigerant such as iso-butane or propane, to further improve characteristics of refrigerant. The resulting refrigerant is similar in characteristics to R22, and is compatible with existing air-conditioning and refrigeration devices originally for use with R22 refrigerant without system modifications.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, (2) a DNA comprising a CDNA segment coding for a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, SEQ ID NO:2 (3) a transformant carrying a DNA comprising a cDNA segment SEQ ID NO:1 coding for a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, and (4) a method for preparing a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein which comprises cultivating the transformant described in (3), accumulating a protein SEQ ID NO:2 in a culture broth, and collecting the same, whereby the structure and properties of the receptor protein are made clear and the mass production thereof by recombinant technology is pioneered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and method for forming a proteinaceous emulsion or batter into shaped food products such as sausages without the use of a casing. A supply of suitable proteinaceous emulsion is provided and such emulsion is conveyed under pressure into an elongated hollow stuffing tube to form a continuous length of shaped emulsion. Thereafter the shaped emulsion is directed into a molding tube which is slideably mounted about the stuffing tube. As the emulsion enters the molding tube, the pressure of the emulsion causes the molding tube to move away from the stuffing tube. A treating fluid, such as a diluted food grade acid, is directed to the interior surface of the molding tube at about the point where the emulsion first enters the molding tube. The treating fluid is directed to the interior of the molding tube in such a manner that the interior of the molding tube is continuously wetted by the treating fluid as the molding tube moves relative to the stuffing tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyester/polyurethane/vinyl dioxolane based coating compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped polyesters and polyurethane oligomers.

Abstract: The present invention features test systems and methods for detecting a hepatic disorder in a mammal and especially a primate. Preferred use of the invention involves staging the hepatic disorder in a human patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, (2) a DNA comprising a cDNA segment coding for a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, (SEQ ID NO:2) (3) a transformant carrying a DNA comprising a cDNA segment (SEQ ID NO:1) coding for a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein, and (4) a method for preparing a human luteinizing hormone-human chorionic gonadotropin receptor protein which comprises cultivating the transformant described in (3), accumulating a protein (SEQ ID NO:2) in a culture broth, and collecting the same, whereby the structure and properties of the receptor protein are made clear and the mass production thereof by recombinant technology is pioneered.

Abstract: Disclosed are loosely woven fabrics formed of multi-filament synthetic warp yarn, wherein the filaments of the multi-filament synthetic warp yarns are tacked at predetermined intervals. These loosely woven fabrics have a variety of uses including but not limited to as substrates for adhesive tapes, fabrics impregnated with wax and other finishes, wall coverings, and laminated fabrics.

Abstract: Novel activated peptides and conjugates thereof, useful in diagnostic assays and therapeutics, and processes for the preparation thereof are disclosed.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to assays for the detection of mycophenolic acid. The method comprises including in an assay medium suspected of containing mycophenolic acid a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. Another aspect of the present invention is an improvement in a method for the determination of mycophenolic acid in a sample suspected of containing such analyte. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing in combination in an assay medium the sample and a binding partner for the analyte and (b) detecting the binding of the binding partner to the analyte. The improvement comprises including in the assay medium a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. The present invention also provides assay reagents as well as packaged kits useful for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyester/vinyl dioxolane based coating compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped polyester oligomers.

Abstract: This invention relates to quinidine derivatives and immunogenic conjugates and reporter conjugates prepared therefrom. The immunogenic conjugates and reporter conjugates are useful for eliciting antibodies and for performing immunoassays for quinidine. A particle agglutination immunoassay for quinidine is also provided.

Abstract: In a method for selectively etching a second silicon layer of a multilayer structure which includes a first silicon layer and the second silicon layer formed on the first silicon layer and doped with impurities according to the present invention, the second silicon layer is selectively etched by using an etching gas including freon-14 gas and a gas selected from a group composed of hydrogen chloride gas and chloride gas.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to the formation of thick films having a biaxial molecular orientation. Such films are prepared in accordance with the present invention from rod-like extended chain aromatic-heterocyclic ordered polymers. Such films have high tensile strength, modulus, and environmental resistance characteristics. A preferred ordered polymer for use in the present invention is poly (para-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole), (PBT), a compound having the structure: ##STR1## The present invention is also directed to methods and apparatus suitable for producing biaxially oriented films, coatings, and like materials from ordered polymers, preferably PBT.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for substantially reducing adsorption of at least one positively charged molecule to a negatively charged surface upon contact therebetween, the method comprising combining the positively charged molecule with at least one blocking agent in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce the adsorption of the positively charged molecule to the negatively charged surface.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to capacitors including one or more layers of dielectric material wherein at least one of the layers including a multiaxially oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) film. The present invention also provides lyotropic LCPs films having less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants and a method of preparing such films and capacitors including such films. In preferred embodiments, the invention further provides a capacitor wherein the liquid crystalline polymer film has less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants.

Abstract: Three genes involved in the catabolism of chitin in Vibrio furnissii: endI encodes periplasmic chitodextrinase, exoI encodes periplasmic .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and exoII encodes aryl .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase are provided. The complete nucleotide sequence for each of the three genes and the complete amino acid for the corresponding enzymes are demonstrated along with host cells capable of expressing the recombinant enzymes. The present invention also describes four specific strains of V. furnissii having deletions in genes involved in the catabolic pathway of chitin and a process for the production of chitin oligosaccharides.