Abstract: In a process for reducing the sulfur and ash contents of coal, coal is sequentially contacted with fused alkali metal caustic, wash water, and acid. Contacting the coal with the caustic produces water-soluble compounds. Sufficient wash water is used to reduce the temperature of the caustic treated coal and dissolve the bulk of the water-soluble compounds before the water-soluble compounds convert to water-insoluble compounds that precipitate on the caustic-treated coal. Caustic removed from the coal by the water is recovered as anhydrous caustic for again contacting coal.

Abstract: In a process for reducing the sulfur and ash contents of coal, coal is sequentially contacted with fused alkali metal caustic, water, carbonic acid, and a strong acid. Caustic removed from the coal by the water and the carbonic acid is recovered as anhydrous caustic for again contacting coal.

Abstract: An improved method for selectively targeting a substance either to the parenchymal cells or the non-parenchymal cells of the liver makes use of the property that there are two pathways for uptake of liposomes by the liver: a saturable pathway involving phagocytosis and mediated by the Kupffer cells, and a non-saturable pathway involving pinocytosis and mediated by the parenchymal cells. The substance to be targeted is administered in carrier liposomes having a diameter of less than about 200 nm and a half-life in the circulation of at least about 5 hours as measured at an injection dose of about 30-50 micrograms of lipid per gram of body weight. The substance can be targeted to the parenchymal cells by administering it in carrier liposomes at a liposomal lipid dose expressed in micrograms of lipid per gram of body weight at least equal to a critical liposomal lipid dose, typically about 7 micrograms per gram of body weight to about 10 micrograms per gram of body weight.

Abstract: A solid phase binding member for the detection of an analyte in a test sample is described. The binding member comprises: (1) a solid support having micropores; (2) a polymer reversibly water-soluble before its application to the solid support; and (3) a ligand covalently attached to the polymer, the ligand interacting specifically with the analyte. The solid support can have micropores throughout or on its surface, and can be rayon, paper, fabric, plastic, agarose or polyacrylamide beads, glass, microcrystalline cellulose, or acid-treated plastic. The polymer can be carrageenan or sodium alginate. The ligand can be an antibody, a univalent antigen-binding fragment of an antibody, an antigen, a hapten, an enzyme, a hormone, or a single-stranded nucleic acid. Methods of use of the binding member are also described involving incorporation into a test device. The test device can be a dip stick, a hollow vessel, a slide, or a porous bead.

Abstract: A contrast enhancing, substantially transparent touch panel device comprises a static element, a dynamic element and a microweave screen of a fine mesh of fine dark-colored filaments embedded within a clear adhesive layer and incorporated as an integral part of the dynamic element of the panel. Preferably there is no air gap between the front of the device and the conductive surface of the dynamic element. The device can comprise at least one layer of transparent colored coating for light attentuation, color-selective light filtering, and tint correction.

Abstract: A cold stable liquid reagent system suitable for use in a Jaffe method for the determination of creatinine comprises:(a) a homogeneous liquid picric acid component comprising picric acid in an amount of no more than about 35 mM, such that the picric acid component remains visibly homogeneous at a temperature between about 2 to about 8.degree. C.