Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from carbonaceous materials such as tar sands utilizing a separation reagent formed in situ by reacting polar resin components of tar sands with an inorganic base such as sodium silicate in sonicated aqueous solution in absence of an organic solvent to form a surfactant. Under the influence of sonication a microemulsion of polar-external micelles forms. The polar groups can associate with anions, especially polyanions such as silicate and act in a membrane mimetic manner to form vesicles. Cavities can form in the surfactant resin molecule that complex with guest cations such as titanium or other metals from the tar sand.When tar sands are added to the sonicated separation reagent, the surfactant penetrates the bitumen. Metal ions complex with the polar groups and aid in removing the bitument from the sand particles. The polarorganic asphaltene materials are carried into the aqueous phase by the anion and stabilized within the micelle structure.

Abstract: A roller bottle for cell growth contains a wall formed of a plurality of corrugations, preferably symmetrical and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, and having at least one drain channel formed by at least one and preferably two opposed flat axial, uncorrugated panels and optionally containing axial reinforcement ribs provided along the outer edge of the corrugations. The corrugations are discontinuous along the inside surface of the panels to form drainage channels. The surface area of the bottle is 110 to 500% larger than an uncorrugated bottle having the same exterior dimensions.

Abstract: Quick miosis with 24 hour control of intraocular pressure of patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction surgery is achieved by applying to the eyes of the patient during surgery acetylcholine as a first miotic agent and carbachol as a second miotic agent. Acetylcholine provides quick miosis while carbachol enhances the miotic effect while providing post-surgery control of intraocular pressure. The two miotic agents can be dissolved in a common saline carrier. The two agents can be combined in a unit dosage package by disposing acetylcholine in powder form in a first compartment and a solution of carbachol in a second compartment. The combined miotic agent of the invention is especially useful when substances which raise IOP such as viscoelastic agents are used during ocular surgery and/or with sensitive patients who enter the surgery with elevated pressure such as those suffering from glaucoma.

Abstract: A mixed polymer material is formed of a polyelectrolyte ternary copolymer having a hydrophobic backbone and containing 10 to 90 percent unsubstituted portions and the remainder being substituted with hydrophilic groups such as a styrene ternary copolymer of the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl, preferably ethyl, and R.sup.5 is hydroxyalkyl, preferably hydroxethyl. The ternary copolymer self-segregates into discrete hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains and is believed to act as a template to segregate the polyelectrolyte into the domains. The mixed polymer has large ion-exchange capacity, very high effective diffusion constants of incorporated counter-ions and prolonged retention of multiply-charged counter-ions. The mixed polymer forms a stable and effective coating for electrodes for electrocatalytic applications.

Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly of roof battens which enables them to be stored in an assembled state and layed rapidly at the desired spacing on a receiving surface such as the rafters of a roof; a continuous flexible sheet is held in place by stapling strips onto the battens where they intersect with them, in such a way that, after the assembly of battens has been layed on the rafters, the continuous flexible sheet forms a deep central trough between two adjacent rafters to allow water to run off.

Abstract: A molded plastic sheath that fits over a knife blade, relieved on one side with slots so as to nearly detach a portion of the sheath to form a locking lever with a pin at one end that engages a hole in the knife blade. Pressing the opposite end of the lever rocks the lever on the blade and withdraws the pin from the hole permitting separation of the knife and sheath.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and a composition for accelerating the setting of Portland cement, shortening the migration phase of calcium ions into the liquid phase and complexing the lime of the Portland cement, whereby the said composition is essentially formed from the following constituents: a calcium aluminates- and trihydrated alumina-based material.

Abstract: Monodisperse, polymeric microspheres are formed by injecting uniformly shaped droplets of radiation polymerizable monomers, preferably a biocompatible monomer, having covalent binding sites such as hydroxyethylmethacrylate, into a zone, impressing a like charge on the droplet so that they mutually repel each other, spheroidizing the droplets within the zone and collecting the droplets in a pool of cryogenic liquid. As the droplets enter the liquid, they freeze into solid, glassy microspheres, which vaporizes a portion of the cryogenic liquid to form a layer. The like-charged microspheres, suspended within the layer, move to the edge of the vessel holding the pool, are discharged, fall and are collected. The collected microspheres are irradiated while frozen in the cryogenic liquid to form latent free radicals. The frozen microspheres are then slowly thawed to activate the free radicals which polymerize the monomer to form evenly-sized, evenly-shaped, monodisperse polymeric microspheres.

Abstract: A system for remediating water contaminated with combustible hydrocarbons, particularly groundwater contaminated with gasoline, operates by separation of hydrocarbons from the water by spray aeration of a heated water stream under vacuum. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture produced by spray aeration is combusted in an internal combustion engine which generates heat to heat the inlet water and power to drive the vacuum pump and the water lift pump. The exhaust from the engine can be catalytically reacted before exhaust to the atmosphere. The components of the system can be mounted on a portable support and moved to a site and operated continuously to remediate contaminated soil and water.

Abstract: The composite product consists of a central body is formed of a substance or a material having poor mechanical properties and is in the form of a beam or wedge having a large thickness with respect to width, said central body being is covered, at least over its length by a film or a sheath made of a heat shrinkable plastic shrunk by any suitable heating means after being placed in position around said central body said sheath surrounding the central body is produced by winding thin strips of at least one shrinkable film strip with the adjacent edges of the overlapping strips. The wrapped film can be heat shrunk and the adjacent edge thermally welded by the same heat treatment. The composite and the product can be utilized to produce casing elements for concrete or wedging blocks.

Abstract: A roof system is provided for buildings having an unventilated roofing support such as concrete forming a planar receiving surface. An intermediate plate formed of an environmental-tight sheet of plastic material is placed on the planar receiving surface. The sheet contains a uniform pattern of protuberances such as frusto-conical studs having planar tops. A rigid roof covering formed of corrosion-resistant metal plates such as zinc is laid on top of the planar surfaces of the studs. The plates have interfitting, bent edges forming troughs. The studs space the rigid roof covering from the intermediate sheet forming a ventilation space for collecting leaks or condensation.

Abstract: A hand operated stamp with two slidable housings, one inside the other, adapted to compress springs when slid together and also to rotate a stamp die from an ink pad contacting position inside the inner housing to an imprint positioin at the bottom of the inner housing. The compression springs are attached to and removable with a cap on the outer housing to save space and allow easy replacement of the ink pad.

Abstract: Closed, unilamellar vesicles are spontaneously formed by adding a cholesteryl compound substituted with a hydroxyl terminated polyethylene oxide containing 1 to 4 ethylene oxide groups to a polar liquid. Multilamellar vesicles are formed by sonicating a cholesteryl compound containing polyethylene oxide or polyamine side-chains. The vesicles can be utilized to dispense polar, non-polar or ampholphilic compounds.

Abstract: A roller bottle for cell growth contains a wall formed of a plurality of corrugations, preferably symmetrical and perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, and having at least one drain channel formed by at least one and preferably two opposed flat axial, uncorrugated panels and optionally containing axial reinforcement ribs provided along the outer edge of the corrugations. The corrugations are discontinuous along the inside surface of the panels to form drainage channels. The surface area of the bottle is 110 to 500% larger than an uncorrugated bottle having the same exterior dimensions.

Abstract: A stemware holder for engaging the rim of a plate comprising a slotted bowl for receiving a stemware. A flange is attached to the top of the bowl. Two bent clip elements attached to the edge of the flange and a lower clip element is attached to the bottom of the bowl. An L-shaped gusset connects the top clip elements to the bottom element stiffening the clips and moving the flex point from the juncture with the flange to the bends in the clip. This strengthens the clips and permits wider flexing to receive thicker plates without cracking or breaking.

Abstract: A reversible, flexible, lacrimal duct occluder is formed of a shaft having a low profile cap at one end and a rounded tip at the other end. At least one, preferably 1-3, conical ranges are forward on the shaft between the ends. The rounded tip enters the punctum followed by leading edge of the range(s) until the occluder bends and enters the horizontal canalicular canal. A series of occluders having 1-3 ranges and varying lengths can be provided to accommodate the different canalicular geometries of different individuals. The occluder is readily inserted without the need to use any special introducer tool and is easily removed from the canaliculus of the patient.

Abstract: An information recording device containing a body in the form of a thin plate having at least one and preferably three wheel wells rotatably receiving an alpha wheel, numeric wheel and a color coded wheel. The first two wheels are mounted in wheel wells formed in the top surface of the body and have portions extending past one of the side edges of the body positioned under windows in the top cover exposing a single letter or number. The third wheel is mounted in a wheel well formed in the bottom surface of the body--overlapping and underlying the first two wheel wells--and also has a portion extending past the other edge of the body. The third wheel contains color segments viewed by window apertures formed in the body and the bottom cover plate covering the other surface of the third wheel. Each wheel well has a rear hollow recess and a flexure cavity thus formed. A flexure strip bridges the cavity behind the line of circumference of the well.

Abstract: A zinc anode plate is completely wrapped in a cloth anode separator containing liquid electrolyte. A hydro-gel material packed in an inert mesh separator is sandwiched between the wrapped anode and an air cathode which is in the form of a carbon membrane. The gel material is sufficiently permeable to oxygen to allow oxygen flow therethrough during charging and discharging cycles of the battery, and provides chemical reactive communication between the air cathode and the electrolyte in the anode separator without allowing electrolyte to pass therethrough. The permeability of the gel material is selected such that during charging of the battery, oxygen generated by the anode exerts sufficient pressure at the interface of the anode separator and gel material to cause electrolyte to be recirculated through the edges of the cloth anode separator to the opposite layer thereof, thereby preventing depletion of electrolyte to the anode.