Abstract: A lactide polymer composition combining compositional and purity limitations and catalyst optimization or addition of stabilizing agents resulting in a melt-stable polymer is disclosed. The melt-stable lactide polymer comprises a plurality of polylactide polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than 2 percent and water in concentration of less than 1000 parts-per-million. A stabilizing agent in an amount sufficient to reduce depolymerization of the lactide polymer during melt-processing or alternatively, control of catalyst level at a molar ratio of monomer to catalyst greater than 3000:1 is also included in the melt-stable composition. A process for manufacture of a melt-stable lactide polymer composition includes polymerizing a lactide mixture and adding stabilizing agents sufficient to reduce depolymerization of the polylactide during melt-processing, followed by devolatilizing the polylactide to remove monomer and water.

Abstract: A herb medicine extract-containing non-bleeding striped dentifrice composition, consisting essentially of a striped dentifrice component and a base dentifrice component, each component comprising the following ingredients at the substantially same amount: a. an abrasive that has a BET surface area of 10 m.sup.2 /g or less and an average particle diameter of 1 to 30 .mu.m upon measurement by Coulter Counter method, and shows oil absorption (linseed oil, ml/100 g) of 50 or less; b. a binder selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, carrageenan, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and the mixtures thereof; c. an alkyl sulfonate of anionic surfactants; and d. a humectant, and said striped dentifrice component containing herb medicine extracts at an amount of 0.001 to 10% by weight, on the basis of dry solid substance. It is non-bleeding by virtue of the substantially same formulation in the two components and the herb medicine extracts allow the dentifrice composition to suppress the formation of plaque.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antibodies, antibody fragments and antibody conjugates and single-chain immunotoxins reactive with human carcinoma cells. More particularly, the antibodies, conjugates and single-chain immunotoxins of the invention include: a murine monoclonal antibody, BR96; a human/murine chimeric antibody, ChiBR96; a F(ab').sub.2 fragment of BR96; ChiBR96-PE, ChiBR96-LysPE40, ChiBR96 F(ab').sub.2 -LysPE40 and ChiBR96 Fab'-LysPE40 conjugates and recombinant BR96 sFv-PE40 immunotoxin. These molecules are reactive with a cell membrane antigen on the surface of human carcinomas. The BR96 antibody and its functional equivalents, displays a high degree of selectivity for carcinoma cells and possess the ability to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a parallel processor containing a number of processor elements of the same type which are integrated on one and the same semiconductor chip. The processor is of the type that allows image and signal processing of the information stored in the processor element. The device contains a unit block (3) for each processor element and is characterized in that each unit block comprises at least two incrementing units (1a, 1b) which are designed to add a signal supplied to the unit block and a signal which originates from an incrementing unit corresponding to the respective unit in the closest preceding unit block in every direction of the processor element matrix. Every unit block (3) further contains at least one logical unit (2) which is designed to perform Boolean logic operations on the signals received from the incrementing units of the unit block.

Abstract: Compositions consisting of at least one TGFb receptor II homo 1b (TRH1b) subdomain or at least one TGFb receptor II homology 1 (TRH1) domain and a carrier, auxiliary or excipient. The TRH1b subdomain has a sequence with the following amino acid pattern:Cys--X.sub.j --Lys/Arg--X.sub.k --Ser/Thr--X.sub.l --Cys--X.sub.m --Asp--X.sub.n --Asp/Glu, wherein X.sub.j, X.sub.k, X.sub.l, X.sub.m, X.sub.n, represent any amino acid and j is 4 to 5, k is 2 to 6, 1 is 4 to 9, m is 0 to 2, and n is 5 to 6. The TRH1 domain has a sequence with the following amino acid pattern:Cys--X.sub.h --Asn/Gln--X.sub.i --Cys--X.sub.i --Lys/Arg--X.sub.k --Ser/Thr--X.sub.l --Cys--X.sub.m --Asp--X.sub.n --Asp/Glu, wherein X.sub.h, X.sub.i, X.sub.j, X.sub.k, X.sub.l, X.sub.m, X.sub.n, represent any amino acid and h is 8 to 14, i is 12 to 16, j is 4 to 5, k is 2 to 6, l is 4 to 9, m is 0 to 2, and n is 5 to 6.

Abstract: For shortening the time for introducing an inactive gas, such as nitrogen gas, into a load lock chamber of a processing apparatus for substrates, a buffer tank 19 having a capacity larger than that of the load lock chamber 3 is provided in the path of a pipe for introducing the nitrogen gas into the load lock chamber 3 of the processing apparatus. During processing within the processing chamber 2, such as an ashing process and so on, the nitrogen gas is introduced into the load lock chamber 3 from the buffer tank 19 by operating a valve mechanism 21 to increase the pressure within the load lock chamber 3 up to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A valve for dispensing fluid to and from a container. The valve includes a housing defining a flow passage extending longitudinally therethrough. A poppet member is telescopically mounted in the flow passage of the housing and is telescopically movable between an open position and a closed position. The poppet member has a proximal end portion that includes a second retaining structure that cooperates with a first retaining structure of the housing to provide a snap fit connection for retaining the poppet member in the housing. The snap fit connection allows the poppet member to be mounted in the housing by inserting the poppet member through a front end of the housing member.

Abstract: A two-armed transfer robot includes first and second arm mechanisms each having a handling member for carrying a workpiece.First to third shafts associated with the arm mechanisms are coaxially supported by a stationary base frame for rotation about a first axis. The first arm mechanism has a pantograph assembly including a first arm, an outer link, a pair of intermediate links and an inner link. The first arm carries the outer link for rotation about a second axis. The outer link carries each intermediate link for rotation about a third axis. The third axes are spaced outward from the second axis. The second axis is located between the third axes as viewed circumferentially about the first axis. The first arm mechanism also has rotation-transmitting members and connecting members. The second arm mechanism is substantially identical to the first arm mechanism. The first and the second handling members are vertically spaced from each other to avoid interference with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dry solid medium for storage of genetic material, including RNA and DNA, in a form suitable for subsequent analysis. The invention also provides a dry solid medium including components which function in subsequent analysis of the genetic material using, for example, PCR, reverse transcriptase initiated PCR, LCR, RFLP, or genetic hybridization. The components for subsequent analysis include, for example, nucleotide sequences such as a primer and a target sequence stabilizer.The invention further provides methods for using the dry solid medium of the invention. The invention and methods thereof are particularly suited for analysis in automated systems.

Abstract: A CMOS differential transmitter and matched receiver apparatus and method for transmitting data. The system uses a CMOS bias network to create low voltage swings and optimize the voltage offsets to compensate for variations caused by the manufacturing process, and thereby increase data transmission rates to approximately 1 gigabit per second.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a permanent, composite skin replacement consisting of an epidermal component and a porous, resorbable, biosynthetic laminated dermal membrane component for use in wound repair. The dermal membrane is formed in the apparatus, which permits regulation of variables affecting membrane structure. The dermal membrane may be modified to incorporate biologically active molecules to enhance wound repair and to reduce infection when the skin replacement is applied to a wound.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment ankle brace includes a foot plate and opposing uprights extending upward from opposite sides of the foot plate. Cleats protrude downward from the bottom of the foot plate. The ends of the junctions between the uprights and the foot plate curve outside the planes defined by the respective uprights and the foot plate. The foot plate and uprights are symmetrical about a plane of symmetry which extends perpendicularly between the opposite sides of the foot plate. A lateral side panel is rotatably connected to one upright, and a medial side panel is rotatably connected to the other upright at a relatively greater distance away from the foot plate. Flat, oval-shaped bearing surfaces are disposed on abutting sides of respective uprights and side panels. Pads are secured within the side panels and ventilation channels and holes are formed in the pads.

Abstract: A sensor for the detection and measurement of an analyte in a biofluid. The sensor includes two enzymes. One type of sensor measures the concentration of hydrogen peroxide using a thermostable peroxidase enzyme that is immobilized in a redox hydrogel to form a sensing layer on a working electrode. This sensor also includes a hydrogen peroxide-generating second enzyme which is insulated from the redox hydrogel and electrode. This second enzyme generates hydrogen peroxide in response to the presence of an analyte or analyte-generated compound. The second enzyme may be insulated from the electrode by placement of an electrically insulating layer between the sensing layer and the second enzyme layer.

Abstract: A hand-actuated retention catheter 5 is disclosed. The retention catheter includes a tube 12, an overcoat layer 14 encircling the tube 12 and a cavity 16 interposed between the tube 12 and the overcoat layer 14. The cavity 16 encircles the tube and includes a bulbous balloon portion 24 and an enlarged fluid reservoir portion 22 interconnected and separated by a catheter sleeve portion 26 which has a narrowed outside diameter. The expandable balloon portion 24 can be expanded by compressing the fluid reservoir portion 22. Methods of making the hand-actuated retention catheter and methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel polyimide having a repeating structure unit expressed by the following general formula (1), a method for manufacturing the same, a gas separation membrane using the novel polyimide and the method for manufacturing the same. The gas separation membrane using this polyimide is excellent in gas permeable performance and separation selectivity for gas, for example, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.General Formula (1) ##STR1## where R denotes a quadrivalent organic group.

Abstract: A combination notch/bandpass filter uses first and second adjacently-located cavities in the conductive housing to respectively provide a tunable, first-stage notch filter and a second-stage bandpass filter. An opening in a wall provides a passage for energy from the first cavity to the second cavity. In the first cavity, a resonator is located adjacent the opening, along with a notch-filter tuning member having one end arranged opposite the resonator and spaced therefrom by a distance to permit the wide end of a coupler to be suspended therebetween. An elongated portion of the coupler carries filtered energy from the first cavity to the second cavity.

Abstract: A system and method for emulating a target system's hardware using highly parallel software emulation. Target system hardware under the control of program instructions is emulated using parallel software activity routines. Each of the program instructions is sequentially provided to a series of the activity routines, where each activity routine is a stage of a software emulation pipeline. Each activity routine emulates a particular function designated by the particular program instruction of the target system. The information is forwarded from each of the stages of the series of activity routines to their successive stages in the series. Each stage forwards its associated information to its respective successive stage when the stage has completed its designated activity, and has recognized that its respective successive stage has completed its respective function and is ready to accept more information.

Abstract: A low temperature rendering process for converting animal trimmings to a meat product which can be classified as finely textured meat. The low temperature rendering process includes the steps of heating desinewed animal trimmings in a heat exchanger having a first-in and first-out arrangement to provide heating of the desinewed animal trimmings to a temperature in the range of about 90.degree. F. to about 110.degree. F. to form a heated slurry; separating a solids stream and a liquids stream from the heated slurry, the solids stream containing an increased amount of protein and moisture, and the liquids stream containing an increased amount of tallow, water soluble protein, and moisture; separating a heavy phase and a light phase from the liquids stream, the heavy phase containing an increased amount of moisture and water soluble protein, and the light phase containing an increased amount of tallow; and combining the solids stream and the heavy phase to form a meat product.