Abstract: A biomaterial with a thromboresistant surface and a method for forming same are provided. The thromboresistant surface is comprised of a distinct coating layer of a chitosan-based membrane and a biologically active material. The biologically active material is capable of converting the chitosan membrane coating from a highly thrombogenic to an essentially non-thrombogenic one. The biologically active material can be a polymeric substance, such as polyvinyl alcohol, forming a polymeric blend with the chitosan, or, can be a biological substance, such as serum albumin, embedded in or attached to the chitosan membrane which has been activated with a treatment of glutardialdehyde. The thromboresistant biomaterial is suitable for use in vascular grafts having an inside diameter of less than 6 millimeters.

Abstract: A silver staining method is provided for staining an organic molecule capable of binding silver. An improved image is developed and visualized. A kit useful in practicing the method is described. A permanent record of the image of the profile of the stained molecules is obtained.

Abstract: A cytokine composition is prepared for use in immunotherapy of various diseases. The composition is prepared by culturing leucocytes previously infected with a virus in a culture medium containing a transal composition isolated from plasma and a complex of proteinase inhibitors composition isolated from plasma, separating leucocytes from the medium, removing impurities from the medium, and recovering a cytokine composition containing the transal composition and the complex of protease inhibitors composition. The transal composition contains transferrin, albumin and a 40 kDa protein and the complex of protease inhibitors composition contains .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin, a 160 kDa protein, an 80-60 kDa protein and a 20 kDa protein.

Abstract: An apparatus for the infusion of a liquid contained in an infusion bag. The apparatus includes a plate for receiving an infusion bag, and a box having a closable lid. Interaction between the lid, the plate and an elastic spring mechanism located inside the box results in the expulsion of fluid from the infusion bag. The elastic spring mechanism includes four arms that articulate in pairs to form two cross structures that are biased together with springs. Respective ends of the two cross structures are connected by rollers, while opposing ends of the two cross structures are connected to inside portions of the box.

Abstract: The activation device has a cord pull (8) on which at a certain distance two catches (9) are firmly attached. Via a gear system (10) the cord pull (8) is connected to a shaft (23) which passes through sliding elements (24) and which is connected to gears arranged in the sliding elements with curtain strips (34). The curtain strips (34) can be pivoted about 180.degree. with the shaft (23). If the curtain strips (34) are against a stop, the latter can be moved in one of the longitudinal directions of the curtain rail, in which case one of the stops (9) is engaged with the front running sliding element (24a). By activation of the cord pull (8) thus the curtain strips (34) can be pivoted about their longitudinal axes or moved in the longitudinal direction of the curtain rail horizontally.

Abstract: A silicon-enriched aluminide coating for a superalloy article has a composite microstructure including a plurality of bands of silicon rich phases (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3) and a plurality of bands of aluminum rich phases (A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3), these bands being spaced apart through the thickness of the coating. The composite microstructure is created by depositing a slurry containing both silicon and aluminum in elemental or pre-alloyed form on the article and heating the coated article above the melting temperature of aluminum to cure the coating, the depositing and curing steps being repeated at least once before diffusion heat treating the resulting layers. Thereupon, all the above process steps are repeated at least once.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membranous-vibration sound absorbing material which can achieve not only good sound absorbing characteristics, workability and strength but also transparency. The membranous-vibration sound absorbing material can also achieve dust-proof and dust-free properties when necessary and can be suitably used for application in clean rooms and the like.

Abstract: A method and composition for treating multidrug resistance in a mammal, in which the composition includes NDGA or an analog of NDGA in accordance with the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently H, lower alkyl or lower acyl;R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are independently H or lower alkyl;R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are independently H, hydroxy, lower alkoxy or lower acyloxy; andR.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 are independently H or lower alkyl, in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.The method is particularly suitable for administering an antineoplastic agent, and the composition includes the combination of NDGA, or an analog with such an antineoplastic agent.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting a battery to a battery charger of a replacement station for electric road vehicles equipped with exchangeable batteries receivable upon a roller conveyor associated with the replacement station, or to a battery charger of the owner of the vehicle, includes corresponding terminal strips associated with the battery and with the battery charger having plugs and sockets for electrical connection, and optionally for connection with an air supply and a water refilling device. The plugs and sockets are suitably connected to the battery with cables and hoses. The correspondingly adjusted terminal strip arranged at the charging position in the replacement station is provided with corresponding sockets and plugs, and has additional guide pins for engaging corresponding guide openings in the battery terminal strip. These various structures are automatically connected when the battery is advanced along the roller conveyor.

Abstract: A powder of diamond or high-pressure phase boron nitride core particles charged into a coating space as it is dispersed, and a precursor of a coat forming substance allowed to contact and/or impinge against the particles in the powder of core particles so that their surfaces are covered with the coat forming substance, thereby preparing coated diamond or high-pressure phase boron nitride particles which are subsequently sintered. The thusly produced diamond of high-pressure phase boron nitride sinter is composed of coated core particles of high performance that are superhard, uniform, dense and sintered firmly, and which have a controlled microstructure.

Abstract: A complete sorting system is provided herein including a sequence of interlacing cable conveyors for conveying objects to be sorted, such as apples or other agricultural produce, from bulk storage at the input to the system, through the system, and along to drops at the output of the system. The cable conveyors are configured and arranged to handle even delicate agricultural produce without damage and at high speed. The produce or objects which are conveyed typically do not roll along the conveyors. Preferably, objects of substantially any shape can be conveyed along the system.

Abstract: In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices.

Abstract: Known thermal spray apparatus are modified to achieve rough thermal spray coatings. Thermal spray apparatus operate to develop a plasma stream for introduction to a nozzle, for eventual application to the surface of a substrate. Upon entering the nozzle, the plasma stream is passed through a plasma cooling zone defined by a plasma cooling passageway, to a plasma accelerating zone defined by a narrowed passageway that expands into a plasma/particle confining zone for the discharge of material from the apparatus. The narrowed passageway of the apparatus is cooled, and the powder material to be applied by the apparatus is introduced into the plasma stream along the cooled, narrowed passageway.

Abstract: A printed circuit board inspection system acquires images for purposes of inspection from viewing fields defined along the surface of the printed circuit board to be inspected which can be varied in size to accommodate the density and tolerance of components associated with the printed circuit board under inspection. To this end, the cameras of the inspection head associated with the printed circuit board inspection system are provided with zoom lenses, which are capable of controlled operation responsive to the existing microprocessor systems of the printed circuit board inspection system. This allows the magnification of images acquired by the cameras to be varied, as desired, in turn varying the size of the viewing fields defined for inspection purposes. The inspection head is then operated at a rate commensurate with the size of the viewing fields which have been selected.

Abstract: An Li/LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 secondary cell employing a SWING system (i.e., of the "rocking chair cell" type) includes a positive electrode formed as a metal gauze-reinforced, rolled electrode, and a negative electrode formed by impregnating a nickel foam with a paste of Li-intercalating graphite. Such electrodes are from 3 to 4 times thicker than the thin-film electrodes fabricated with prior, knife-coating techniques and employed in wound cells, and are therefore particularly suitable for constructing prismatic cells. By prerolling the as yet empty nickel foam to specific thicknesses, the capacity per unit area of the negative electrode can be tailored to that of the positive, rolled electrode. By rerolling the impregnated nickel foam, optimal energy density and electrode capacity is achieved, at a porosity of from 50 to 60%.

Abstract: A carbon-black-containing gas-consuming layer on the surface of a negative electrode is produced from a mixture of an aqueous carbon black dispersion and an aqueous PTFE dispersion, both of which contain a surfactant of the same type (either cationic, anionic or nonionic) for the purpose of stabilization. The stabilized particles in the final gas-consuming dispersion are formed by coating PTFE particles with smaller carbon particles, preferably with an interlayer or envelope of a surfactant film. Pores and cracks operate to increase the effective catalytic surface area for oxygen gas. Additions of polyacrylic acid esters are suitable for adjusting the viscosity of the dispersion. The dispersion is applied to the electrode by immersion or spraying.

Abstract: An intraoral apparatus for the treatment of labiolingual dysfunctions which includes a removable support plate equipped with dental anchoring hooks and an anterior vestibular arc. The apparatus includes an active device, and attachment members and stimulating elements which are attached to the support plate for stimulating exact positions within the oral cavity that are associated with various orofacial functions.

Abstract: In a plate block for lead batteries having plates of one polarity with plate lugs which are thicker than the plate lugs of the plates of the other polarity, an equalization of the volumes and of the areas of the two lug types is achieved by providing the thicker lugs with a wedge-like taper toward their end, so that the end thickness of the tapered lugs is less than that of the thinner lugs, which are left in their original shape (i.e., an essentially rectangular cross-section). As a result, the heat applied to the two lug types is balanced during casting on of the pole bridges in similar casting molds and at the same lead temperature. The wedge-like geometry is imparted to the thicker lugs by machining them with a face milling tool.

Abstract: A method for post-treating a precursor nonwoven web including consolidating the web laterally and thereby reducing the maximum pore size measure of the web. The resultant nonwoven web is also disclosed as is utilization of the product web as a filter.