Abstract: A new copolymer synthesized from a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) such as hyaluronan/hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulfates, derma tan sulfates, keratan sulfates, heparan sulfate, and heparin, and an anhydride functionalized hydrophobic polymer, i.e., any polyolefin which has been ‘functionalized’ (grafted onto the backbone or incorporated into the backbone) with anhydride functional groups, such as maleic anhydride-graft-polyethylene, (or, maleated polyethylene), maleic anhydride-graft-polystyrene, maleic anhydride-graft-polypropylene, etc. The functionalized polyolefin may be a polyolefin backbone to which the anhydride functional groups have been grafted, or otherwise incorporated with the backbone. Also, a unique synthesis technique combines a modified GAG with a graft polyolefin, resulting in a unique copolymer with its constituents by-and-large covalently bound to each other.

Abstract: Agglomerate tile structures and ceiling tile structures: The agglomerate tile structures can be of a single layer having an intermixed granular base medium comprised of one or more subcomponent materials (e.g., powdered, crushed, chips, and/or other broken pieces of varying sized particles, of quartz, granite, limestone, marble, glass, ceramic, semiprecious stones, etc.), plus a binder material and a PCM component; or the agglomerate tile structures can be of multiple layers, such as having an outer wear-layer substantially absent of PCM component—this outer wear-layer being bonded or otherwise incorporated with a second layer comprised of a binder material and a PCM component, substantially absent of the granular base medium.

Abstract: A distal tip, and associated method of producing, of a biosensor ion sensing transducer for use in detecting an analyte comprising an halogenated organic compound in an environment such as soil or an aqueous environment. Features include: a biocomponent comprising at least one enzyme for carrying out a dehalogenation of the compound; the biocomponent is immobilized to a surface of the tip; a treatment of the biocomponent for maintaining a period of enzymatic efficacy; and the biocomponent stabilized by means preferably selected from the group consisting of crosslinking a surface of the immobilized biocomponent, crosslinking a polymer layer to the biocomponent, adding a gel-hardening agent to the biocomponent, adding a stabilizing agent to the biocomponent, and modifying a component of the immobilizing means. Immobilization can be carried out by: (a) entrapment within a hydrogel; (b) entrapment within a polymeric network; (c) (micro)encapsulation; (d) covalent-bonding; and (e) adsorption.

Abstract: The present invention provides weakly coordinating anion salts comprising a reactive cation and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention provides compounds of the formula MxQy and uses thereof, where M, Q, x, and y are those defined herein.