Abstract: This invention relates to fluoropolymer fibers and films which can be modified by cationic agents, such as cationic dyes. The fiber or film comprises a blend of a first and a second copolymer, or it comprises a terpolymer, the blend or terpolymer having (1) an acid or ionic functionality provided by a pendant group represented by the formula —(O—CF2CFR)aO—CF2CFR′SO3−Z+, wherein R and R′ are independently selected from F, Cl or a perfluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a=0, 1 or 2, and Z+ is H+, an alkali metal cation, or a cation derived from a compound selected from the group consisting of a cationic dye, a cationic whitener, a cationic flame retardant, a cationic antistatic agent, and mixtures thereof, and (2) a larger amount of a fluoroalkylvinylether, a fluoroalkene, or ethylene functionality. Such fibers and films are useful in various consumer goods where the product is desirably colored, whitened, antistatic, or flame retardant.

Abstract: Polyethylenes made from ethylene and a series of &agr;-olefins using a catalyst that copolymerizes ethylene and &agr;-olefins usually have excellent melt processing characteristics, especially in uses where high zero shear viscosity and low high shear viscosity are desirable. These polyethylenes are preferably made by forming the &agr;-olefins in situ from ethylene during the polymerization process. The polyethylenes are especially useful in blow molding, extrusion or extruded blown film processes.

Abstract: Mixtures of different polyolefins may be made by direct, preferably simultaneous, polymerization of one or more polymerizable olefins using two or more transition metal containing active polymerization catalyst systems, one of which contains nickel complexed to selected ligands. The polyolefin products may have polymers that vary in molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, crystallinity, or other factors, and are useful as molding resins and for films.

Abstract: Polyolefins, preferably polyethylene, having a density of about 0.86 to about 0.93 g/mL, and having methyl branches and at least branches of two other different lengths of six carbon atoms or less, form heat seals at exceptionally low temperatures, thereby allowing good seals to be formed rapidly. This is advantageous when heat sealing these polyolefins, for example in the form of single or multilayer films.

Abstract: A variable device for regulating the outlet pressure of a fluid from a valve body, includes a pressure-sensing chamber having a wall formed by a resilient self-restoring diaphragm which is responsive to pressure in the chamber. A valve element connected to the diaphragm controls flow into the chamber. Increased pressure in the chamber decreases the flow into the chamber and decreasing pressure increases flow whereby fluid flow out from the chamber is maintained at a desired pressure. The outlet pressure is adjusted by deflecting the diaphragm in a direction to open the valve while permitting a section of the diaphragm connected to the valve member to remain responsive to the pressure in the chamber. An adjustment cover is provided to adjustably deflect the diaphragm and includes a catch mechanism to allow adjustment of the fluid outlet pressures and also retain the device at a desired value. An indicator arrangement may be provided to visually indicate the fluid outlet pressure.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having starch R1 phosphorylation activity, or the complement of the nucleotide sequence. Plant transformation and regeneration methods using the polynucleotides. Vectors and recombinant DNA constructs containing the polynucleotides. Cells, plants, and seeds containing the recombinant DNA constructs. Methods for isolating polypeptides having starch R1 phosphorylation activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalytic pipe for an endothermic catalytic reaction of a process medium, with an outer cladding tube which is tightly closed at its end sides by a first base and a second base. A rising pipe arrangement is arranged in the interior of the cladding tube and is connected, in the vicinity of the first base, with an outlet which is guided outward for the product resulting from the catalysis of the process medium. According to the invention, the rising pipe arrangement is formed by a plurality of line strands which end in a collector which is connected to the outlet for the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting a variety of assays for the determination of analytes in liquid samples, and relates to the methods for such assays. In particular, the invention relates to a single-use cartridge designed to be adaptable to a variety of real-time assay protocols, preferably assays for the determination of analytes in biological samples using immunosensors or other ligand/ligand receptor-based biosensor embodiments. The cartridge provides novel features for processing a metered portion of a sample, for precise and flexible control of the movement of a sample or second fluid within the cartridge, for the amending of solutions with additional compounds during an assay, and for the construction of immunosensors capable of adaptation to diverse analyte measurements.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an SOI wafer, including the steps of: forming, in a wafer of semiconductor material, cavities delimiting structures of semiconductor material; thinning out the structures through a thermal process; and completely oxidizing the structures.

Abstract: A contact relationship management system and method. The system and method generate a target list of target contacts from a contact database having a plurality of contacts. The system and method use a unique identifier to query a history database for each contact. The system and method then determine a set of history attributes for each contact based on the query, and generate the target list from the contact database based on at least one history attribute.

Abstract: A method is for low-dielectric-constant film deposition on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The deposition may be by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques and may include a wide class of precursor monomeric compounds, namely organosilanes.

Abstract: The microvalve comprises a mini-piston moving due to the thrust of gases given off by firing of a pyrotechnic charge and comprising an aperture designed to enable communication to be established between ends of microchannels of a microfluidic component. When the ends between which communication is to be established open out onto a face of a first planar substrate, the mini-piston is formed in a second planar substrate, adjoined to the first, and comprises a part that is mobile in translation or in rotation in the plane of the second substrate. If a transverse slot is arranged between the ends of the microchannels between which communication is to be established, the mini-piston comprises a rod designed to slide in the slot and the aperture is formed by a transverse orifice formed in the rod of the mini-piston.

Abstract: The invention features a method of inactivating a contaminant, such as a virus, of a biological composition. The method includes the steps of: (a) contacting the biological composition with an inactivating agent including an aziridino moiety or a haloderivative salt thereof, where a portion of the agent reacts with and inactivates the contaminant, and a portion of the agent remains unreacted; (b) contacting the product of step (a) with a composition which includes one quenching moiety under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow the inactivating agent to bond covalently to the quenching moiety; and (c) separating the quenching moiety and the quenched inactivating agent from the biological composition.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for selectively modifying nucleic acid molecules in biological compositions, including contacting the composition with an inactivating agent having the formula: where each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 is, independently, H or a monovalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, provided that R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 cannot all be H; R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon moiety containing between 2 and 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; X is a pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion; and n is an integer between 2 and 10, inclusive are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the inactivation and removal of contaminants of a biological composition are disclosed. The methods include the steps of: (a) contacting the biological composition with an inactivating agent including an aziridino moiety, such as ethyleneimine, an oligomer of ethyleneimine, or a haloderivative salt of either ethyleneimine or an oligomer of ethyleneimine, where a portion of the agent reacts with and inactivates the contaminant, and a portion of the agent remains unreacted; (b) contacting the product of step (a) with a lipophilic quenching agent including at least one quenching moiety attached to a lipophilic moiety, under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow the unreacted agent to bond covalently to the quenching moiety; and (c) separating the lipophilic quenching agent and the quenched inactivating agent from the biological composition.

Abstract: Genes have been identified in the Bacillus genome that are responsive to various metabolic conditions and growth cycle changes. The new responsiveness of these genes allows for their use in regulated gene expression in Bacillus sp. and for the monitoring of bioreactor health.

Abstract: A process for generating a computer image of a three-dimensional object provided with a special-effect coating, involves coating a test panel with the coating, taking a plurality of angle-dependent colorimetric measurements of the coating; storing the calorimetric data in a datafile with assignment of the corresponding angles; facetting the visible surfaces of a three-dimensional object by computer into a sufficient number of flat polygonal areas each being sufficiently small for the sufficiently accurate description of the surface topography; assigning the colorimetric data to each individual polygonal area by computer as a function of the position of an observer and at least one illumination source; and assembling the polygonal areas into a computer image of a three-dimensional object with a visually perceptible special-effect coating thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to combined preparation containing as active substance the following individual components, in the form of a kit-of-parts: monocyte derived cells, particularly cytotoxic macrophages, chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs, for the simultaneous, separate or sequential use, for the treatment of cancer or infectious diseases.

Abstract: A method of modifying the growth of plant roots is provided in which the roots are grown in proximity to a membrane from which water is released during the growth of the roots, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane. The method may also be used to collect materials exuded from plant roots by growing the plant roots in a growing medium that is surrounded by a membrane such that moisture is released into the growing medium from the membrane whilst materials exuded from the plant roots are retained within the growing medium by the membrane, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a SCLBR protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the SCLBR protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the SCLBR protein in a transformed host cell.