Abstract: A method for producing composite materials by introducing additional phases into a porous body wherein a liquid precursor is infiltrated into the porous body, the liquid is decomposed to produce a desired phase, the body is fired for further densification, and the decomposed liquid is allowed to remain as an additional phase or reacts with the porous body to form an additional phase is disclosed. This allows for a novel method of introducing the additional phase, and by controlling the parameters such as infiltration time, firing schedule, porous body density, etc., the size, amount, extent and distribution of the added phases may be controlled.

Abstract: A hapten is described which may be used to elicit antibodies that catalyze the deamidation of asparginyl-glycyl dipeptides to form two products, the isoaspartyl-glycyl dipeptide and the aspartyl-glycyl dipeptide. A general synthetic scheme is also presented which shows how to modify the hapten to provide specificity for a particular protein in the antibodies that are elicited by the (modified) hapten. Antibodies which catalyze the the deamidation reaction are also described.

Abstract: An intravascular membrane lung is adapted for percutaneous venous insertion into a living body and comprises an elongated multi lumen catheter and elongated gas exchange members in the form of a large number of microporous fibers tethered at one end to the catheter and extending away from the catheter in all directions. The microporous fibers are in communication with the lumina of the catheter which includes one conduit for delivery of 100% oxygen to the fibers and another conduit for flushing away carbon dioxide from the fibers. The catheter extends between a proximal end and a distal end being a leading end for insertion into the body. The distal end includes a selectively inflatable balloon having an enlarged size larger than a nominal transverse dimension of said catheter and smaller than the inner nominal dimensions of any of the body cavities into which it extends.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating obesity in warm-blooded animals, including humans, as well as a method of increasing the muscle mass to fat ratio in farm animals. The methods entail administering to an animal in need thereof, an effective amount of certain 8-phenylxanthines substituted in the 3- or 4-position of the phenyl group by an alkenylene, alkenyleneoxy, alkynylene or alkynyleneoxy bearing a terminal acetic grouping.

Abstract: A system is provided for heating non-metallic material or a discrete layer of the non-metallic material. Microwave energy is introduced into an enclosure defining a first cavity and capable of substantially containing the microwave energy. A semiconductive sheet is positioned at the bottom of the first cavity. Thermal insulation overlies the semiconductive sheet. A second cavity is defined by the undersurface of the semiconductive sheet and flexible microwave shielding in the form of a skirt which is attached to, and depends from, the enclosure. The flexible shielding is composed of a material which also substantially contains the microwave energy. The semiconductive sheet is effective to convert some of the microwave energy into thermal energy and to transmit the thermal energy into the second cavity while transmitting the remainder of the microwave energy directly to the discrete layer, thereby rapidly heating the discrete layer.

Abstract: Polyolefin graft copolymers are disclosed which comprise a polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer backbone polymer having a plurality of free radically polymerized polymeric segments chemically bonded as side chains. It has been found that the use of a borane-containing polyolefin comprising a copolymer of at least one alpha-olefin having from about 2 to 22 carbon atoms copolymerized with another monomer containing organoborane functional groups can be used as a backbone polymer to prepare the graft copolymers of the present invention. Under oxidation conditions, the borane group becomes the reaction site for the free radical polymerization and copolymerization. Numerous free radical polymerizable monomers, such as methyl methacrylate, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, acrylonitrile and the like, can be polymerized to yield high molecular weight graft copolymers. By this synthetic route, high graft efficiency is observed with only a very low concentration of homopolymer being produced.

Abstract: The metal-ceramic actuator includes an electroactive substrate having at least a pair of opposed planar surfaces and a determined thickness, with the ceramic substrate being poled in its thickness dimension. Conductive electrodes sandwich the ceramic substrate and are bonded to its planar surfaces. Metal caps, each having a concave cavity bounded by a rim, are bonded to both planar surfaces of the ceramic substrate. A potential is applied to the conductive electrodes to cause an expansion of the ceramic substrate in its thickness dimension and a concomitant contraction in its planar dimensions. The contraction creates a flexure of the metal caps, which flexures are used to actuate another instrumentality.

Abstract: A phased antenna array is described that includes a conductive ground plane and a plurality of log-periodic antennas, each antenna having a plurality of radiating elements, each radiating element having a resonant frequency. Each log-periodic antenna extends from a common feed region at an acute angle with respect to the conductive ground plane, the angle assuring that all said radiating elements having a common resonant frequency exhibit an identical electrical distance from each other and from the ground plane.

Abstract: An ion-beam based system enables quantitative analysis and visualization of a sample with atomic and molecular specificity. The system comprises a liquid metal ion source that directs a tightly focused beam of ions at the sample, the beam having an ion density that is insufficient to materially change the surface properties of the sample. A controller connected to the liquid metal ion source gates on the ion beam for a period of time that is sufficient to enable the ion source to achieve a tight focus of the beam at the sample and for further scanning the ion beam across the sample. A laser beam is positioned over the sample and has a wavelength that resonantly ionizes components of the sample that are liberated by action of the scanned ion beam. A detector measures the liberated ionized components and is connected to a display system that provides an image of the distribution of the species on surface of the sample.

Abstract: Polymeric hydrocarbons having reactive borane groups at chain ends or in the polymer chain are described. These types of polymers can be used as intermediate materials for preparing a broad range of polymers which have functional groups located at both ends of the polymer chain (telechelic polymers). The process of preparing the borane-containing polymers involves metathesis degradation of the polymer at the double bond locations in the backbone and simultaneous functionalization of the broken chain ends by borane monomers. Depending on the nature of the borane monomer, the location of boron atoms can be controlled to be at either the chain ends (telechelic) or in the polymer backbone. The concentration of boron in the resulting polymer is related to the reaction time and the mole ratio between borane monomer and the double bonds in the starting hydrocarbon polymer. In turn, the borane groups are interconvertible to various functional groups, such as OH, NH.sub.2, and halides, under mild reaction conditions.

Abstract: A testing apparatus is described that enables both single and double-ended tubular members to be tested under pressure and at elevated temperatures. For double-ended tubular members, the apparatus comprises first and second pressure seals at either end of the tubular member under test, both seals including annular compliant members that bear upon the internal surface of the tubular member. A heater is positioned within the tubular member and one of the pressure seals has an orifice through which the heater is connected to a power source. Pressurization occurs through an orifice in the other pressure seal and cooling apparatus surrounds the first and second ends of the tubular member to cool the pressure seals, thereby enabling the annular compliant members to retain their compliancy when the tubular member is heated to test temperature. For single-ended tubular members, a single pressure seal is used having pathways for both electrical and pressurization connections to the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for measuring creep stiffness of a specimen, for example, asphalt cement, or other viscoelastic material, having a flexural modulus greater than approximately 1,000 psi. The specimen and the lower part of a loading mechanism are submerged in a constant temperature coolant thereby providing buoyant support to the specimen, preventing it from deflecting under its own weight, as well as providing means for controlling the test temperature. The coolant temperature is maintained to within approximately +/-0.1.degree. C. of a desired temperature. The specimen, having known dimensions, is supported within the coolant on two spaced apart support members. A loading head actuated by an air bearing/pneumatic piston mechanism engages the specimen midway between the two support members. The deflection of the specimen is measured with an LVDT and the load imparted to the specimen by a load cell provided under at least one of the specimen support members.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing fluids is described which includes a flexible tubular member disposed between opposed ends. Filling and clamp systems are placed adjacent each of the opposed ends, creating sealed chambers in the tubular member, each chamber including a reagent fluid. The sealed reagent chambers are separated by a mixing chamber, and all of the chambers are disposed within the tubular member. A spring driven plate pressurizes each of the reagent chambers. A control system is coupled to each of the clamp systems for selectively opening a channel between at least one reagent chamber and the mixing chamber, with reagent in a reagent chamber being forced, via the open channel, into the mixing chamber by the spring biased pressurizing plate.

Abstract: A solid-state tunable transducer has been developed by incorporating an elastically nonlinear material, silicone rubber, into an electroacoustic transducer made from piezoelectric ceramics. The resonant frequency and mechanical Q of the transducer are tuned mechanically by applying a uniaxial compressive stress to the composite. The resonant frequency is tuned electrically by placing a piezoelectric actuator into the composite and varying the magnitude of the d.c. bias.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating biologically-labile materials such as proteins, liposomes, bacteria and eucaryotic cells within a synthetic polymeric capsule, and the product thereof, are disclosed. The method is based on the use of a water-soluble polymer with charged side chains that are crosslinked with multivalent ions of the opposite charge to form a gel encapsulating biological material, that is optionally further stabilized by interactions with multivalent polyions of the same charge as those used to form the gel. In the preferred embodiment, hydrolytically stable polyphosphazenes are formed of monomers having carboxylic acid side groups that are crosslinked by divalent or trivalent cations such as Ca.sup.2+ or Al.sup.3+, then stabilized with a polycation such as poly-L-lysine. A variety of different compositions can be formed from the crosslinked polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of microparticulated protein from egg white and gelatin protein phases, the product manufactured therefrom, and to the use of the product manufactured in accordance with the process as a replacement of at least a portion of fat in formulated edible foods manufactured for human use.

Abstract: The 700.degree. C./4 min. rapid thermal anneal described in the prior art for converting amorphous Si to polycrystalline Si can be reduced to a temperature range of from 550.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. This is accomplished by depositing a very thin discontinuous film of a nucleating site forming material over the amorphous Si prior to rapid thermal anneal. Furthermore, by selectively depositing the material in a pattern, only that amorphous Si beneath the deposited pattern is caused to crystallize during annealing, while the remaining areas of amorphous Si remain in the amorphous state.

Abstract: A method for lowering the oxygen potential of an inert processing atmosphere containing a reducing gas such as hydrogen, by introducing a metal catalyst to induce reaction between the reducing gas and oxygen, which may originate from leaks into the system or from other sources. The catalyst, such as a precious metal, increases the rate of reaction between gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen to form water vapor, thereby decreasing the amount of molecular oxygen available to react with oxidizable materials exposed to the inert processing atmosphere.

Abstract: The synthesis of the first examples of a new class of inorganic macromolecules, the polythiophosphazenes, is reported. When heated at 90.degree. C., the cyclothiophosphazene N.sub.3 P.sub.2 SCl.sub.5 undergoes ring-opening polymerization to yield the high polymeric polythiophosphazene [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 SCl.sub.5 ].sub.n. The latter functions as a reactive macromolecular intermediate and undergoes halogen replacement with sodium phenoxide and sodium o-phenylphenoxide to afford the polymers [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 S(OPh).sub.5 ].sub.n and [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 S(OC.sub.6 H.sub.4 Ph--o).sub.3.25 Cl.sub.1.75 ].sub.n, respectively.

Abstract: The synthesis of a new class of macromolecules, the polycarbophosphazenes, is reported. When heated at 120.degree. C., the cyclocarbophosphazene N.sub.3 P.sub.2 CCl.sub.5 undergoes ring-opening polymerization to afford the high polymeric polycarbophosphazene [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 CCl.sub.5 ].sub.n. The latter functions as a reactive macromolecular intermediate and undergoes halogen replacement with sodium phenoxide or aniline to afford the hydrolytically stable derivatives [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 C(OPh).sub.5 ].sub.n and [N.sub.3 P.sub.2 C(NHPh).sub.5 ].sub.n.