Abstract: A method, a solution and a chamber for the preparation and storage of pancreatic islets. The method includes contacting a pancreas with a warm collagenase solution, digesting the pancreas in the warm collagenase solution to form warm digest, adding cold preservative solution to the warm digest, agitating the warm digest/cold preservative solution at a temperature between about 0.degree. and 15.degree. C., to thereby further digest the partially digested pancreas included in the warm digest, to form cold digest and collecting liquid from the cold digest to form isolated islets. The cold preservative solution and a pancreatic islet preservative solution of the present invention include D-mannitol, K-lactobionate and a buffer.

Abstract: An improved forming tool for forming at least one lead of a semiconductor package includes a member having at least one surface. The at least one surface of the member has a first shape for forming the at least one lead of the semiconductor package to a shape corresponding to the first shape. The at least one surface includes a diamond-like carbon coating thereon. The semiconductor package lead forming method in accordance with the present invention includes providing a semiconductor package having at least one lead in a first shape. A diamond-like carbon coated surface is applied to the at least one lead in the first shape to form the at least one lead into a second shape.

Abstract: A vapor delivery system for vaporization and delivery of a solid precursor includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a carrier gas. A rotatable substrate surface is contained in the housing having a solid precursor material applied thereon. A focused thermal beam is positioned for impingement on the solid precursor material. A drive mechanism moves one of the rotatable surface and the focused thermal beam relative to the other such that with rotation of the rotatable substrate surface the focused thermal beam continuously impinges on a different contact area of the solid precursor material for vaporization thereof. The housing further has an outlet for transport of the vaporized precursor material therefrom. The rotatable surface may be a cylindrical surface or a circular platen surface. A CVD system having a vapor delivery system is also provided along with a device for use in the delivery system.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production and use of immortalized cell lines from primary chicken embryonic fibroblasts. The cells are useful as substrates for virus propagation, recombinant protein expression and recombinant virus production.

Abstract: An inclination indicating apparatus having a housing with a base defining a first plane. A plurality of support legs support the base of the housing above the surface in an operational configuration. At least one of the support legs is rotatable so that a bottom portion of the at least one support leg traverses a second plane parallel to the first plane from the operational configuration to a storage configuration. A circular float level mounted on the housing having a bubble indicator provides an indication the slope of the first plane relative to the surface.

Abstract: A snowmobile construction comprising a body frame and having slide rails suspended from the body frame through a front and rear suspension arm, and an endless track which runs under tension upon a drive and a plurality of driven wheels rotatably borne on the slide rails. The rear suspension has front and rear suspension arms which connect the body frame and the slide rails in parallelogram linkage fashion. Compression coil springs and shock absorbers are operatively mounted between the slide rails and the front and rear suspension arms. An inclined slide block and slot coupling interconnects the rear suspension arm and each slide rail to automatically react both front and rear suspension arms upon initial encounter of the slide rails with a snow bump at either end of the slide rail. This coupling also urges the snowmobile into an upwardly pitched condition upon acceleration with the forward ends of the slide rails digging into the ground surface for enhanced traction.

Abstract: A polymer useful as a solid support for a variety of applications is provided. The polymer is prepared from a composition comprising at least one type of olefinic monomer and a multifunctional oxyethylene-containing meth(acrylate) crosslinker of the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: (a) R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group;(b) R.sup.4 is hydrogen or an organic group or substituent that can interact in the polymerization and/or crosslinking process or is nonreactive under the conditions of the polymerization and/or crosslinking process; and(c) each of l, m, and n is no greater than about 100.

Abstract: The invention relates to melt-miscible polyolefin blends, and a process for preparing the melt-miscible blends, of two or more polyolefins. Matching of the segment length of a modifying polyolefin with the segment length of a primary polyolefin, such as polypropylene or an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, provides polyolefin blends heretofore unknown to be melt-miscible. A broad range of polyolefin blend compositions, and of polyolefin blends containing other polymers made compatible with the polyolefin blend compositions, are defined, all of the blend compositions having at least one melt-miscible polyolefin phase.

Abstract: A process for catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon is provided. The process includes: providing a feed gas mixture comprising an oxygen-containing gas and a hydrocarbon gas comprising one or more normal (C.sub.2 -C.sub.4)alkanes; providing a catalyst structure having a transparency of at least about 40%; and passing the feed gas mixture through the catalyst structure at a rate such that the superficial contact time of the feed gas mixture with the catalyst structure is no greater than about 1000 microseconds to produce an exit gas mixture comprising partial oxidation products.

Abstract: A method of removing a resist layer formed on a substrate wherein the resist layer includes an ion-implanted upper region. The method includes hydrogenating the ion implanted upper region of the resist layer resulting in the hydrogenated ion-implanted upper region. The resist layer, including the hydrogenated ion-implanted upper region is then removed. A hydrogenation of the ion-implanted upper region may be performed by immersing the resist layer, including the ion-implanted upper region, into pressurized boiling water, and/or treating the ion-implanted upper region with pressurized water vapor.

Abstract: A lightweight, freestanding modular changing room system which can be assembled using few or no tools. The modular freestanding changing room system may consist of as few as four unique components--interchangeable wall panels, door panel assemblies, and two types of panel support columns. Additional components may be added to create more elaborate changing room configurations.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced protein-based biocomposite particulate material containing a legume-based thermosetting resin and cellulosic material, and rigid biocomposite pressure-formed materials produced therefrom, are provided. The particulate material and resultant pressure-formed materials contain the legume-based resin and fibrous cellulosic material in amounts such that the ratio of cellulose solids to resin solids is about 0.8:1.0 to about 1.5:1.0. Particularly preferred pressure-formed materials also include a secondary thermosetting binder, such as an isocyanate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of removing or etching silicon oxide from a semiconductor wafer by contacting the silicon oxide with diorganocarbonates, including comprising hydrocarbyl groups that are either aliphatic, aromatic, or a combination thereof. The diorganocarbonate can include (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)hydrocarbyl groups. Specific examples of useful diorganocarbonates include dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, dipropylcarbonate, diisopropylcarbonate, and dibutylcarbonate.

Abstract: A shoulder stabilizer system having a chest portion extending around the chest of the athlete, at least one shoulder portion, and an arm portion proximate the shoulder portion for substantially coveting the axilla and the upper arm of the injured shoulder. The garment has an inside surface constructed of a rubberized material for gripping the skin of the athlete and an outside surface constructed of a loop material for engaging with the hook portion of the hook and loop fastener. One or more elastic straps are strategically attached to the garment for limiting or assisting the movement of the shoulder joint. A bifurcated elastic strap may be used for generating complementary forces relative to a single anchor point.

Abstract: A portable support stand having a platform for supporting the power tool or workpiece and brackets for releasably attaching the power tool to the platform. Right and left support arms are attached to the support stand for supporting the ends of the workpiece. An attachment mechanism connects the platform to a sawhorse .Iadd.or other support structure .Iaddend.so that the support arms are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the saw horse .Iadd.or support structure.Iaddend.. The method of the present invention is directed to attaching a portable support stand to a sawhorse .Iadd.or other support structure .Iaddend.for supporting a power tool and a workpiece. The portable support stand is engaged with the top member of the sawhorse .Iadd.or support structure .Iaddend.so that the support arms are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top member. A power tool is then attached to the platform using the brackets provided.