Abstract: Embodiments of a gravity-flow filter cartridge are described for removing water-borne parasites, and other contaminants such as chlorine, lead, and organics from water. The filtration cartridge includes a liquid porous plastic filter, which has pore diameters large enough to let water pass at acceptable flow rates under only the force of gravity, while the matrix creates a tortuous path which traps parasites and other microorganisms that are typically in the approximately 3-9 micron size range. The filter may include interstitial carbon and other additives to improve performance. The filter may be shaped to provide a large surface and an optimized wall thickness for providing beneficial filter capacity and water flow rate.

Abstract: Blood is tested for clot lysis conditions such as natural lytic capabilities, the effect of previously administered thrombolytic and anti-thrombolytic agents, and dose responses thereto, by forming a clot in a sample of blood, lysing the clot, and measuring the elapsed time period from initial clot formation to clot lysis, all while continuously evaluating the blood sample. Thrombolytic agents include streptokinase, urokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Plasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitors, clot activating agents (e.g. kaolin), and agents to deactivate anticoagulants (e.g. heparinase) may also be used as reagents during testing.

Abstract: A piercing instrument (12) for obtaining a non-activated drop of blood (B) by capillary puncture is formed by depositing a coating agent (20) on the exterior surface of the piercing instrument (12). The coating agent comprises compounds that inhibit the activation of blood.

Abstract: The valved filter assembly of the present invention utilizes a bi-directional pressure differential valve in fluid communication with a filter body housed within a container, such as a bottle. This unique structure allows the user to dispense filtered fluid from a bottle only when the bottle is inverted and squeezed. Squeezing the bottle causes the pressure to increase on the inside of the bottle thereby causing water to traverse the filter body thus contacting and opening the bi-directional pressure differential valve thereby allowing liquid to exit; however, when no pressure is applied to the bottle the bi-directional pressure differential valve remains in the closed position sealing the bottle.

Abstract: An antitumor compound of formula (5): Also provided by the present invention is a method of preparing a compound of formula (5) whereby diesterification of the alcohol groups located at the 2′and 7 positions of paclitaxel is followed by the hydrolysis of the 2′hexanoate group resulting in 7-hexanoyltaxol.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient process by which trace impurities are removed from matrix hydride, inert gases and non-reactive gases, thus decreasing the concentration of the trace gases by a factor of 100-to-10,000, and more specifically to part-per-billion (ppb) or part-per-trillion (ppt) levels. Hydride gases such as ammonia, phosphine and arsine, and inert gases such as nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, and argon are purified by removing trace contaminants such as silane (SiH4), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and germane (GeH4), along with traces of moisture. The gas purifier materials of this invention include thermally activated aluminas from organic sources, thermally activated modified organic alumina materials, and thermally activated modified aluminas from an inorganic source. The thermally activated alumina materials of this invention are activated by heating the alumina material at a temperature between about 200-1000° C.

Abstract: In general, the present invention relates to a two-phase method for forming an autologous bioadhesive sealant composition or fibrin glue wherein all of the blood components for the bioadhesive sealant are derived from a patient to whom the bioadhesive sealant will be applied. First, a platelet rich plasma and a platelet poor plasma are formed by centrifuging a quantity of anticoagulated whole blood that was previously drawn from the patient. The platelet rich plasma and platelet poor plasma are then divided into two portions. To the first portion, which is used in phase-one, a compound that reverses the effect of the anticoagulant is added, and a clot is allowed to form. The clot is then triturated and the resulting serum, containing autologous thrombin, is collected. The serum obtained from phase-one is then mixed with the second portion of the platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma, used in phase-two, to form the bioadhesive sealant of the present invention.

Abstract: Trace impurities such as organic compounds and carbon monoxide are reduced to sub-ppb levels in gases such as nitrogen, helium and argon, by gas purifying systems that contain an ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon material. Ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon materials can be made from commercially available carbon materials in the form of pellets, extrudates and beads and is capable of removing impurities from a gas stream down to parts-per-billion (ppb) and sub-ppb levels without concurrently emitting other impurities such as moisture or carbon dioxide to the purified gas stream. The carbon material is superactivated by heating the carbon to temperatures from 300° to about 800° degrees C. in an ultra-dry, inert gas stream. The ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon material is handled and stored in an environment that minimizes contamination from moisture and other oxygenated species in order to maintain its ppb and sub-ppb impurity removal and low emission properties.

Abstract: Compositions for maintaining normal sexual function and treating sexual dysfunction in males and females comprising at least 15% by weight icariside I or at least 3.5% by weight anhydroicaritin, derived from extracts of plants belonging the Epimedium genus, and methods for preparing the same, are provided. The methods comprise subjecting an Epimedium extract to mild acid hydrolysis. Methods for maintaining normal sexual function and treating sexual dysfunction in both males and females are also provided, comprising oral administration of an effective amount of a novel composition of this invention comprising at least 15% by weight icariside I or at least 3.5% by weight anhydroicaritin.

Abstract: Embodiments of a portable water filter are described and shown, each embodiment being adapted to fit and seal into a bottle neck without modification of, or attachment to, the bottle or its cap or other closure. The filter has a flange system that rests on the lip of the bottle neck and that has slanted or curved surfaces to seal with the neck and the bottle cap when the cap is screwed onto the bottle. The filter further includes a connector for attachment to a straw for an alternative use of the filter in a cup or mug. The filter water inlets are preferably in the lower region of the filter housing, to facilitate suctioning of the liquid from the bottom of the cup or mug even when the liquid level is low.

Abstract: A micro/ultrafiltering element (10) and method for making a filter element are provided. The filtering element comprises a multi-level support (26) having a filtering membrane layer (12) formed thereon comprising sintered particles (14) of uniform diameter. The filtering membrane preferably has an average pore size of from about 0.005-10 micrometers.

Abstract: Storage-stable, citrus-flavored compositions comprising citral or a citral derivative as the flavoring agent and a plant extract as the stabilizing agent. The plant extract inhibits the formation of p-methylacetophenone, thereby preventing the development of off-flavors and off odors, and increasing the shelf life of the composition.

Abstract: Methods for producing novel artemisinin analogs and artemisinin dimers having antimalarial, antiproliferative and antitumor activities are described herein. These novel artemisinin analogs and artemisinin dimers have the following structure or diastereomers thereof, having antimalarial, and antiproliferative and antitumor activities wherein, the monomers of the present invention are formed when n is 1 and R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl. The dimers of the present invention are formed when n is 2 and R is a linker including, but not limited to, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for irreversibly binding nucleic acid to solid phase and corresponding processes for the utilization thereof. Nucleic acid is bound to solid phase matrixes exhibiting sufficient hydrophilicity and electropositivity to irreversibly bind the nucleic acids from a sample. These processes include nucleic acid (double or single stranded DNA and RNA) capture from high volume:low concentration specimens, buffer changes, washes, and volume reductions, and enable the interface of solid phase bound nucleic acid with enzyme, hybridization or amplification strategies. The invention, solid phase irreversibly bound nucleic acid, may be used, for example, in repeated analyses to confirm results or test additional genes in both research and commercial applications. Further, a method is described for virus extraction, purification, and solid phase amplification from large volume plasma specimens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chemical composition useful in the chemical management of plant disease. The pesticides of the present invention incorporate benzophenanthridine alkaloids into formulations that are (1) residual and active for a period of time, (2) are adhesive to plant surfaces, (3) have good spreading properties, (4) are stable against photodeactivation, (5) have low phytoxicity, and (6) are capable of penetrating plant tissues.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for the quantitative measurement of specific gene expression levels in biological samples. In one embodiment, methods for the quantitative monitoring of gene expression without either co-amplification of an added template or use of an endogenous constitutive transcript are provided. The former involves a duplex amplification reaction in which a single set of primers is used to amplify both genomic DNA and expressed mRNA from the same gene sequence. These primers are targeted for sequences flanking the splice junction and intron sequences for the mRNA and DNA respectively. By their use, any suitable nucleic acid amplification technology yields mRNA and DNA amplimers which are distinguishable by length and sequence heterogeneity.

Abstract: A live non-virulent vaccine composition and method for preparing the same comprising a virulent microorganismal strain which contains at least two mutations, wherein the first mutation results in an auxotrophic mutant which requires for proliferation, a nutrient which is normally available in the host tissues in an amount required by the auxotrophic mutant for proliferation and the second mutation results in the inability of the auxotrophic mutant to specifically transport the required nutrient from host-tissues into the auxotrophic mutant thereby producing an attenuated strain.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for evaluating platelet functionality of a blood sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of test cells. Each of the cells includes a platelet function restoration agent, an anticoagulant agent, and a clotting reagent. At least one of the cells also includes a platelet activating agent. The clotting time is determined for each of the aliquot portions, and the relative clotting times of the aliquot portions in the cells are determinative of the platelet functionality of the sample. The method includes the steps of combining a platelet function restoration agent, an anticoagulant agent, a platelet activating agent, and the sample of blood to be tested to form a test mixture. The platelets of the sample are activated by adding a clotting reagent to the test mixture at the start of the activated clotting time test, and the activated clotting time test is terminated upon detecting a predetermined change in a property of the test mixture.

Abstract: A method of determining a dose response for a platelet inhibitor. The method includes the steps of placing a predetermined amount of heparin in each cell of a multicell test cartridge, placing an optimized amount of a clotting activator in each cell, and placing a measured amount of platelet inhibitor in each cell, the amount of inhibitor in each cell differing from the amount in each other cell. An aliquot of a blood sample is added to each cell, and the blood sample aliquot, clotting reagent and platelet inhibitor are mixed. Each cell sample is allowed to clot, and the clotting time for each cell is measured. The relative clotting times are used to calculate and determine the platelet inhibition effect of the platelet inhibitor.