Abstract: The present invention is generally related to an oral disinfectant for companion animals. A preferred disinfectant is a concentrated composition containing a fatty acid monoester, one or more fatty acids, an acid or chelating agent, a polyalcohol, a surfactant and water. When used the concentrate is diluted with water and then applied to the teeth and oral cavity tissues of the animal.

Abstract: The present invention exploits the herein first reported, empirical observation that even though staphylococci produce the enzyme, beta-glucosidase, this genus of bacteria is not able to produce a metabolite that will enzymatically react with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, a substrate commonly used to detect the presence of beta-glucosidase produced by other bacteria. In view of this unexpected observation, one embodiment of the present invention includes a selective medium containing inhibitors to enhance staphylococci growth as well as a first glucopyranoside substrate, such as 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and a second phosphatase substrate, such as 6-chloro-3-indolylphosphate or 5-bromo-6-chloro-3-indolylphosphate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a culture device for growing microorganisms having a self supporting substrate coated with a cold-water soluble dry powder which is a mixture of gelling agents and nutrients and a transparent cover sheet having a layer of a water-soluble pressure sensitive adhesive containing indicator dyes on a surface adjacent to the substrate wherein the improvement includes either adding a sufficient amount of a water-insoluble organic acid to the adhesive or including a sufficient amount of acrylic acid as a comonomer in the adhesive in order to inhibit or prevent a premature color change of the indicator dyes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for counting the number of microorganism colonies present on a disposable microorganism culturing device having a substantially planar substrate. The preferred apparatus of the present invention includes an LED bar illuminating the surface of the substrate and a linear array of SELFOC lenses which focus the light reflected off of the substrate onto a linear CCD sensor array. The CCD sensor array is connected to a microprocessor which analyzes the raster-scanned data using the preferred algorithm. The preferred algorithm uses the sigma-shaped neighborhood for image processing. The preferred algorithm passes the sigma region across the image in a raster-scanned order to detect object starts and merges which yield a colony count for a scanned microorganism culturing device.

Abstract: Fluorochemical emulsions comprised of a fluorochemical droplet discontinuous phase and aqueous continuous phase with at least one specific binding species immobilized on the fluorochemical droplets are shown. The emulsions may include a primer material to couple to specific binding species to the fluorochemical droplets. The emulsions may be used in diagnostic procedures or biochemical reactors where binding of the immobilized specific binding species to its binding partner is desired. The droplets may also incorporate a species which is detectable by spectrophotometric, fluorometric or colormetric means or a precursor to a detectable species.

Abstract: A shampoo composition and related process for disinfecting, cleansing, conditioning, and moisturizing the skin and coat of an animal. The composition involves the use of a fatty acid monoester of a polyhydroxy alcohol, such as monolaurin, as an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A shampoo composition and related process for disinfecting, cleansing, conditioning, and moisturizing hair. The composition involves the use of a fatty acid monoester of a polyhydroxy alcohol, such as monolaurin, as an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: Graft copolymers comprising a poly-alpha-olefin base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and compatible mixtures thereof, having grafted thereto an olefinic monomer. The grafted monomer is present in an amount effective to increase the amount of protein that will bind to the graft copolymer as compared with the base polymer.Also disclosed are polymer/protein compositions comprising a graft copolymer having a protein immobilized on the surface thereof, processes for the preparation of the above-described graft copolymers and compositions, methods of immobilizing proteins, and methods of immunoassay based on such immobilization.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to products and processes used to determine the presence of bacteria in a sample and particularly relates to a culture medium which may be used in products and processes to allow early detection and count of coliform bacteria. The bacterial culture medium which facilitates the early detection and count of coliform bacteria is a mixture of tryptose, lactose, sodium chloride, bile salts, guar gum and an excess amount of phenol red sufficient to provide a high concentration of phenol red in close proximity to the growing bacteria in order to allow detection and count of the growing bacteria in less than 12 hours.

Abstract: A device useful for the treatment of infections of the middle ear in a prophylactic manner. A preferred device involves the use of a biodegradable support incorporating a therapeutically active agent, such as a drug. The device can be surgically inserted into the middle ear and there expand in order to substantially contact the walls of the middle ear. As it biodegrades, the expanded device provides prolonged, responsive release of active agent to the middle ear.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dressing a wound using an open-celled foam pad prepared from a foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The pad can concurrently function as an orthotic pad. The pad exhibits the ability to wick wound exudate from the site of the wound, and also exhibits desirable conformability and comfort in use.

Abstract: Meta-hydroxyphenylacetylenes are produced from phenyl-substituted ketal or acetal precursors. Using biotransformation processes, these precursors serve as substrates that are converted to cis-dihydrodiol intermediates. The cis-dihydrodiols can be converted chemically to the corresponding meta-substituted compounds, e.g., meta-substituted phenols, and then to m-hydroxyphenylacetylene, which is an intermediate needed to produce acetylene-terminated resins. The biotransformation step employs arene-2,3-dioxygenase in intra- or extra- cellular form.

Abstract: Graft copolymers and processes for the preparation thereof are provided. The copolymers comprise a base polymer having grafted thereto a monomeric 2-alkenyl azlactone. The surface properties of the graft copolymers can be modified by binding thereto nucleophilic reagents comprising further functional groups with desired properties. Further, the amount of azlactone available at the surface of a graft copolymer for binding to such nucleophilic reagents can be controlled by selecting a surface against which the graft copolymer is formed. The graft copolymers exhibit desirable thermoplastic, melt flow, and adhesion properties and are particularly useful for immobilizing proteins. Methods of immunoassay based on the immobilization of proteins are also disclosed. Another utility of the graft copolymers involves the compatibilizing of immiscible polymer blends.

Abstract: A shampoo composition and related process for disinfecting, cleansing, conditioning, and moisturizing the skin and coat of an animal. The composition involves the use of a fatty acid monoester of a polyhydroxy alcohol, such as monolaurin, as an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dressing a wound using an open-celled foam pad prepared from a foam sheet impregnated with a water curable, isocyanate functional, polyurethane prepolymer resin. The pad can concurrently function as an orthotic pad. The pad exhibits the ability to wick wound exudate from the site of the wound, and also exhibits desirable conformability and comfort in use.

Abstract: A composite article is prepared as a polymeric support having a coating of noble metal deposited on at least one surface thereof, the coating exhibiting suitable peel force for high performance applications such as the preparation of an electrode, such as a biocompatible, flexible, thin-film microelectrode where in the composite article can be prepared by pretreating at least one surface of the support by sputter etching, followed by sputter-depositing a noble metal on the pretreated surface in order to form the coating of noble metal.

Abstract: A composition, and method of preparing such a composition, useful for the enhancement of the transdermal delivery of a medicament. The composition includes a medicament suspended in an aqueous solution of lower alcohol, to which solution is added an amount of higher alcohol sufficient to substantially saturate the composition.

Abstract: This invention presents novel 2-azetidinone compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are hydrogen (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkenyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkynyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.10) cycloalkyl, phenyl optionally substituted with from one to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, amino, nitro, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, benzyl optionally subsituted with from one to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, amino, nitro, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkoxy, --CH.sub.2 --O--CO--CH.sub.2 --NHR.sub.4, --CH.sub.2 --O--CO.sub.2 --R.sub.5, --CH.sub.2 F, or --CHF.sub.2 ; wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen, --CHO or --CO--O--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 ; wherein R.sub.5 is --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkyl, --(CH.sub.2) .sub.2 NH--CO--O--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 N(CH.sub.3)--CO--O--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3, --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OC(O)NH.sub.2, --(CH .sub.2).sub.

Abstract: This invention presents novel 2-azetidinone compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.10 and R.sub.15 are the same or different and are (a) hydrogen, (b) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl, (c) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkenyl, (d) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkynyl, (e) --CH.sub.2 OCOCH.sub.2 NHR.sub.4, (f) --CH.sub.2 OCO.sub.2 R.sub.30, (g) --CH.sub.2 F, or (h) --CHF.sub.2 ; wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen or --COH; wherein R.sub.30 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkyl; wherein R.sub.20 is an acyl group derived from a carboxylic acid; wherein A is oxygen or sulfur; and wherein R.sub.70 is (a) hydrogen, (b) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8) alkyl, (c) phenyl, (d) --OH, or (e) --SH; where each member of b or c may optionally be substituted by 1 to 2 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, and amino.These compounds are useful as antibacterial agents to eradicate or control susceptible microbes. Intermediates and processes for making these compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention presents novel 2-azetidinone compounds which are useful as antibacterial agents to eradicate or control susceptible microbes of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.401 and R.sub.402 are the same or different and are (a) hydrogen, (b) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl (c) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkenyl, (d) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.8) alkynyl, (e) (C.sub.3 -C.sub.10) cycloalkyl, (f) phenyl optionally substituted with from one to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, amino, nitro, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkyl, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkoxy, (g) benzyl optionally substituted with from one to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, amino, nitro, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkyl, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkoxy, (h) --CH.sub.2 --O--CO--CH.sub.2 --NHR.sub.420, (i) --CH.sub.2 --O--CO.sub.2 --R.sub.430, (j) --CH.sub.2 F, or (k) --CHF.sub.2 ; wherein R.sub.420 is (a) hydrogen, (b) --COH, or (c) --CO--O--C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 ; wherein R.sub.430 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8) alkyl, --(CH.