Abstract: The vehicle comprises a sample receiving reservoir (15), a plurality of test stations each comprising an FCFD or other capillary fill sensor cell (3), and passage (22) for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and a conduit with which end portions of said cells communicated such that in use sample from the reservoir may be fed to the plurality of cells substantially simultaneously. The vehicle makes it easier to know time zero for each assay. Passage (22) providing fluid connection may comprise at least one pore in a wall of the reservoir, the or each pore being of a size such that surface tension of the liquid normally prevents escape of ligand. Rotation of the vehicle breaks surface tension and liquid is released into the conduit.

Abstract: Admixture of insulin and a hydroxypyridone being: (1) a 3-hydroxypyrid-4-one in which the hydrogen atom attached to the nitrogen atom is replaced by an aliphatic acyl group, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by one or more substituents selected from aliphatic acyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aliphatic amide, aliphatic ester, halogen and hydroxy groups and, optionally, in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by an aliphatic acyl, alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aliphatic amide, aliphatic ester, halogen or hydroxy group, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by an alkoxy, cycloalkoxy, aliphatic ester, halogen or hydroxy group, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides an atmospheric plasma reaction method characterized by introducing a mixed gas of rare gas and reactive gas into a reaction vessel having a dielectric-coated electrode wherein the surface of two or more electrodes located parallel therewith are provided with solid dielectrics, exciting said mixed gas with plasma at atmospheric pressure, then transporting the active species to the downstream of the plasma and treating the surface of a substrate.This invention also provides an atmospheric plasma reaction apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic field measurement system including a pick-up coil is not moved but fixed. Strips of superconducting material are arranged in a plane with narrow slits between the strips. The strips are moved very near the pick-up coil along the plane. From output variations of a SQUID magnetometer during the movement, a magnitude of a static field perpendicular to the plane of the strips is obtained.

Abstract: A method of building a free standing or building wall using prefabricated wall panels (10, 12, 14) wherein the assembly is accomplished at a factory from traditional or conventional building bricks or blocks. Each panel has an integral support means (26) to resist separation of the bricks or blocks when lifted for transport. A joint element (118) is provided between adjacent edges of adjacent panels and serves a labyrinth seal (102) with interleaved seal elements extending lengthwise of the joint. Springs (124) act between opposite sides (120, 122) of the joint so that it is resiliently compressed to accommodate differing spacings between the panels. A thermal insulation compartment (126, 128) is provided between the joint elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a material for light-heat energy accumulation and conversion comprising a composition of a high-molecular compound having norbonadien derivative group as side chain with a catalytic matter converting a quadrycylan derivative group of high-molecular side chain into the norbonadien derivative group.The invention also provides a material for light-heat energy accumulation and conversion, characterized by putting to an esterification reaction high-molecular compounds having an epoxy group as side chain with norbonadien carbonic acid or its derivative.

Abstract: Fowlpox virus (FPV) promoter DNA for use in expressing a foreign gene inserted in a FPV vector by homologous recombination, which comprises the promoter of any of the following FPV genes:(1) The FB4b gene which encodes a protein of about 657 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR1## (2) The BamHI fragment ORF8 gene encoding a protein of about 116 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR2## (3) The BamHI fragment ORF5 gene encoding a protein of about 105 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR3## (4) The BamHI fragment ORF10 gene encoding a protein of about 280 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR4##

Abstract: In a refrigerator having a compressor settled in a room temperature portion and an expander which is connected to the room temperature portion, a piston of the expander is settled in the room temperature portion and pressure variation at a low temperature portion is transferred to the piston through a gas column in a pipe connecting the room temperature portion and the low temperature portion.

Abstract: A glass ionomer cement composition comprises poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) dissolved in its own mass of water; and (in treble the total mass of the solution) a powder, being glass or MgO or a cement. The powder has to be deactivated so that the setting reaction with the acid is not too fast, and this is achieved either by a raised Si:Al ratio or by heat-treating. The glass contains heavy ions such as La, Ba or Sr.

Abstract: Phenyl-3-aminoalkyl-4-methyl-2,6-dioxopiperidines of the Formula I ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;n is 1 or 2;R.sub.2 represents hydrogen or methyl, provided that one R.sub.2 is hydrogen when n is 2;R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl;R.sub.4 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently represent hydrogen or methyl;m is 0 to 3; andeach Y is in a meta or para position and independently represents hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 hydroxyalkyl, halogen, or trifluoromethyl, provided that hydroxy and alkoxy are not in the para position,and not pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof have memory enhancing activity and are particularly useful in the treatment of cognitive deficiencies such as senile dementia.The presently preferred compound is 3-(3'methoxyphenyl)-3-(3'-N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxop iperidine (AGN 2979).

Abstract: Iron complexes comprising a ferric cation in combination with at least two different ligands, at least one of which is provided by a compound being:(1) 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone or a 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or(2) a 3-hydroxypyrid-2-one or 3-hydroxypyrid-4-one in which the hydrogen atom attached to the nitrogen atom is replaced by an aliphatic acyl group, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by one or more substituents selected from aliphatic acyl, alkoxy, alphatic amide, aliphatic ester, halogen and hydroxy groups and, optionally, in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by one of said substituents, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by an alkoxy, aliphatic ester, halogen or hydroxy group; the ch

Abstract: Disclosed is a new urethane polyacrylate having at least one terminal isocyanato acrylic pendent radical. Preferably the molecular chain within the acrylate caps has been extended with a polyhydroxy compound just before final end capping with isocyanato acrylic. The isocyanato acrylic is preferably isocyanato ethyl methacrylate and the urethane is diisocyanate capped polyether and the polyether radical is oxyalkylene. The method for producing the urethane polyacrylate involves end capping a polyol with diisocyanate yielding a reaction product with two reactive equivalents of isocyanate and then capping less than all of the isocyanate with a hydroxyacrylate, after which the remaining isocyanate is reacted with polyol to provide chain extension. The chain extending polyol is then capped with a isocyanato acrylic.

Abstract: A four-way hydraulic control valve automatically reverses flow of hydraulic fluid to a double acting hydraulic cylinder or to a reversible hydraulic motor when a substantial resistance to fluid flow is encountered, such as when the cylinder or a machine being operated by the cylinder or motor reaches a mechanical limit of its motion. The valve has a reciprocating spool in a valve body with two internal control valves, one at each end, and with appropriate internal pressure shunts for directing high pressure fluid into the control valves and drain fluid restrictions to shuttle the spool back and forth in response to an increase in pressure resulting from a substantial resistance to fluid flow.

Abstract: Plasminogen activators of the tissue-type and plasminogen activators of the urokinase-type appear to have a synergistic action in vivo when administered together as thrombolytic agents. Use in pharmaceutical compositions and in methods for the preparation and use thereof are set forth.

Abstract: An improved, rapid method for preparing substantially spherical multilamellar liposomes of a defined and adjustable size within the range of 2 to 100 micrometers, suitable for encapsulation and targeting of drugs.

Abstract: A need often arises for micro-optical components, such as optical fibres and couplers, and micromechanical components with complex cross-sections which are different at opposite ends or, for directional couplers, at points along the length of the couplers. In the present invention, a soluble material 38 is added to at least one primary preform 35 to make a secondary preform 37 of circular cross-section. The secondary preform is then drawn to reduce the cross-section of the primary preform as required but the cross-sectional shape of the secondary preform is preserved. The soluble material is then removed and then part of the resulting product is heated and plastically deformed to give the required different ends 39 and 40 or other different cross-sections. In another aspect of the invention two soluble materials are used with different solubilities.

Abstract: The blood-clotting protein, factor IX, is synthesized in the bod in liver cells, where it undergoes three distinct types of post-translational modification before it is secreted into the bloodstream as a 415 amino acid long protein. It is therefore a difficult protein to produce by recombinant DNA technology in a highly biologically active form. Nevertheless, such a result has been achieved by the present invention in which typically factor IX cDNA in a plasmid is linearized and inserted into an expression vector having a promoter sequence of SV40 early gene, an SV40 polyadenylation sequence, the TK/NEO selectable marker and an ampicillin resistance gene. Mammalian cells such as from a dog kidney or rat liver are transfected by the calcium phosphate precipitation method.

Abstract: A device for vibrating a workpiece to be processed, serves as a workpiece table to be used to processing the workpiece by means of a rotating tool having a grindstone. The device comprises a table for supporting the workpiece and a base to be detachably furnished to the table of a processing machine. The table is supported on the base via a plurality of piezoelectric actuators each of which is connected electrically to an external controller for vibrating the workpiece being processed by actuating selectively a driving voltage from the controller. The piezoelectric actuator is a laminated piezoelectric element, at least one end of which is secured to the base.

Abstract: A fuzzy computer which carries out fuzzy operations using membership functions.This fuzzy computer readily processes implications made up of an antecedent expressed by fuzzy values and a consequent expressed by singleton values.This fuzzy computer includes a fuzzy processor, fuzzy controller and a MAX circuit block composite device used in same, and in addition, it contains grade-controllable membership function circuits, grade-controllable membership function generator circuits and center of gravity determination circuits which function as a useful circuit called a defuzzifier for converting fuzzy quantities to definitive values.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of verocytotoxin receptors of the formula:X--O--Y(R) (I)wherein Y is sphingosine, hydroxylated sphinogosine or saturated sphingosine,wherein X is selected from said group and optionally a polysaccharide linking X to the --O--Y(R) group, andwherein R is H, or a fatty acid and R is linked to the amine moiety of the sphingosine,in combination with an assay component and their use in novel receptor-binding assays for the detection and quantitation of verocytotoxins.