Abstract: A method of injecting oxygen into a melt located within a metallurgical furnace having a heated furnace atmosphere in which oxygen and fuel is injected into 1 or more nozzles having passageways of converging-diverging configuration under choked flow conditions to produce supersonic jet or jets discharged from the passageways. Fuel is injected into internal circumferential locations of the passageways so as to impart a structure to the jets being discharged that have an outer circumferential region containing a mixture of fuel and oxygen and a central region containing essentially oxygen. Such a structured jet upon discharge interacts with the furnace atmosphere to create an outer shear-mixing zone in which the outer circumferential layer mixes with the heated furnace atmosphere and auto-ignites to produce a flame envelope surrounding a supersonic jet of oxygen. The jet of oxygen and flame envelope can be directed against a melt contained within the metallurgical furnace for injection of oxygen into the melt.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a three-stage process for recovering and purifying a helium gas, and a system for using the three-stage process. The steps comprises a) introducing a gas from a cold spray forming chamber to a particulate removing apparatus to form a particulate-free helium gas, and recycling a first portion of the particulate-free helium gas back to the chamber; b) passing a second portion of the particulate-free helium gas to a first compressor prior to passing a helium gas purification membrane to form a purified helium gas and an exhaust gas, and passing the purified helium gas to mix with the first portion of particulate-free helium gas to the chamber; and c) passing a third portion of the particulate-free helium gas to a liquid separator apparatus to remove water and a receiver to dampen any pulsation to form a liquid-free helium gas, and recycling the liquid-free helium gas to said cold spray forming chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient removal of low density lipoprotein cholesterol complex (LDL-C) from whole blood. More specifically, it relates to the use of an immobilized affinity agent on a microporous plasmapheresis membrane. The immobilized affinity agent is polyacrylic acid bound directly and/or through an interaction with silica and/or calcium chloride to a microporous hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions comprising fragments and synthetic analogs of human thrombospondin are provided together with methods for their use as thrombospondin-like agents.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions comprising fragments and methods for using synthetic analogs of thrombospondin for promoting or inhbiting thrombospondin-like activity are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient removal of low density lipoprotein cholesterol complex (LDL-C) from whole blood. More specifically, it relates to the use of an immobilized affinity agent on a microporous plasmapheresis membrane. The immobilized affinity agent is polyacrylic acid bound directly and/or through an interaction with silica and/or calcium chloride to a microporous hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: An improved cryopreservation of embryos has been developed. After freezing in a cryoprotective solution of ethylene glycol, glycerol or a combination thereof, the embryos can be thawed and transferred directly to the recipient animal without serial rehydration. The transfer can be made directly from the cryoprotective container to the recipient animal.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and dressings useful in wound healing are provided. The pharmaceutical compositions comprise thrombospondin as the active ingredient.

Abstract: Microporous hollow fiber polysulfone membranes can be prepared continuously by using a particular combination of casting solution and precipitation solution formulations, and casting conditions. The concentration of components in the precipitation solution are adjusted continuously to maintain original concentrations. The membranes are characterized by high quality, consistent performance and uniform porosity throughout the membrane.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of use are provided for debriding and wound healing applications. The compositions contain certain proteases produced by microorganisms of the genus Vibrio.

Abstract: A photocurable composition suitable for flexible photosensitive articles is prepared by reacting an acid-containing copolymer and a nitrogen-containing compound having polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups. The resulting composition can be used "as is" or can be formulated with ethylenically unsaturated monomers and photoinitiators to prepare the flexible photosensitive articles, e.g. flexographic printing plates. The plates prepared from the photocurable composition are aqueous developable and sufficiently flexible and soft to be used for printing on flexible packaging surfaces.

Abstract: This nutrient medium is very effective for the serum-free or serum-protein-free culture of various animal cells, in both high and low density culture. Serum proteins have been replaced with non-protein-based cell growth enhancers and a non-serum derived protein supplement. The non-protein growth enhancer is a modified or derivatized polyurethane prepolymer of polymer and preferably is a sulfhydryl derivative of polyurethane. The protein supplement may be insulin, an insulin analog or an insulin-like growth factor.

Abstract: Poly(vinyl chloride) plastisol compositions modified with epoxy and acid anhydrides can be painted wet-on-wet with acid catalyzed, high solids enamel paints, followed by curing at 120.degree. C. or lower, to give strongly adherent products on electrodeposition coatings and dry, tack-free painted surface. The compositions are also stabilized by the addition of an imide, which provides storage stability at 40.degree. C. for more than three days.

Abstract: A polyol is reacted with a polyisocyanate prepolymer to make a polyurethane. The polyol is the reaction product of trimethylol propane with ethylene oxide (1:3 molar). The polyisocyanate prepolymer is the reaction product of poly(ethylene adipate) with MDI. The novel polyurethane is stable in both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and is especially useful in bonding together laminates of nylon-supported permeable membranes. The laminates are used in modules for separation of hydrocarbon-containing gases.

Abstract: Neutral protease genes from Vibrio proteolyticus or Bacillus can be cloned and expressed in gram-negative microorganisms, such as E. coli or Serratia. The functional neutral protease enzyme is expressed.

Abstract: A water absorbent, relatively dimensionally stable foam is formed from a prepolymer prepared from a polyoxyethylene containing diol, a crosslinking agent and a polyisocyanate. The preferred polyisocyanate is methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate). The foam also demonstrates the ability to hold substantial amounts of water, even under pressure, and can be used in various personal and medical care products such as diapers and surgical sponges.

Abstract: L-Serine derivatives produced by the enzyme catalyzed aldol condensation of glycine and an aldehyde in aqueous solution are recovered in high yield by extracting the aqueous product solution containing said serine derivatives with an organic phase comprising (i) an aldehyde, or (ii) mixtures of an aldehyde and a water immiscible organic solvent, followed by re-extracting the organic phase with an aqueous phase having a pH of less than about 7.0. The L-erythro isomers of L-serine derivatives such as L-phenylserine may be preferentially prepared by the use of this extraction/re-extraction procedure in combination with bioreactor reaction conditions which include a pH of from about 7.5 to 10, an aldehyde concentration of from about 1 to about 90 grams/liter, a glycine concentration of from about 10 to about 300 grams/liter, and a molar ratio of glycine to aldehyde of from about 4:1 to about 100:1.

Abstract: High performance cellulose acetate butyrate gas separation membranes are prepared from a casting solution containing from about 10 to 30 percent polymer, 35 to 70 percent solvent, and 15 to 30 percent pore-forming agents. A film casting solution is cast onto a substantially flat support surface and a dense layer is formed on the exposed film surface. The film is gelled, washed, and dried to produce a particularly useful gas separation membrane. The cellulose acetate polymers used in this preparation have molecular weights of at least about 20,000, and have about 10 to about 45% butyryl groups, about 2 to about 35% acetyl groups, and about 0.8 to about 2 percent hydroxyl groups, by weight. The membranes may be used for separating a feed gas into a permeate fraction and a residual fraction, and are particularly useful for separating gases in the purge gas stream of ammonia plants to recover a permeate which is relatively rich in hydrogen.

Abstract: Packaging materials containing inherently antistatic foams and a method of using the foams are disclosed. The foam used is a polyether polyurethane foam prepared from an isocyanate containing prepolymer which is the reaction product of a oxyethylene containing polyol and a polyisocyanate. The foams show surface resistivity of less than 1.times.10.sup.12 ohms/square and static decay times of about two seconds or less. A preferred foam shows static decay times of 0.1 seconds or less. The packaging includes articles used around static sensitive devices or used to store or transport static sensitive devices.

Abstract: Microporous polysulfone membranes can be prepared by using a particular combination of casting solution and precipitation solution formulations, and casting conditions. The casting solution comprises polysulfone and a protein non-adsorptive prepolymer and the precipitation solution comprises a polymerization catalyst. Both hollow fiber and flat membranes can be prepared in this manner. The membranes are substantially protein non-adsorptive and have valuable physical characteristics including increased strength and high flux.