Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable polymer composition comprising a first polymer and a second polymer, which second polymer is not compatible with the first polymer, and an amount of a copolymer comprising at least one block of a polyalkadiene and at least one block of random poly(aromatic vinyl-acrylonitrile), and in which the ratio of the block copolymer to the total polymer composition is between 1:500 and 1:50. Besides, the invention relates to the use of the above block copolymer as compatibilizer and/or as modifier for the mechanical properties of polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block copolymer comprising at least one polyalkadiene block which may or may not be hydrogenated and at least one random (aromatic vinyl compound-co-maleic anhydride) block. Besides, the invention relates to a stable polymer composition comprising a continuous phase formed by a first polymer and a phase dispersed therein of a second polymer, which second polymer is not compatible with the first polymer, and an amount of the block copolymer according to the invention, the ratio of the block copolymer to the second polymer ranging between 1:50 and 1:5. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the block copolymers according to the invention as compatibilizer and/or as modifier for the mechanical properties of polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides genes encoding extremely thermostable variants of neutral proteases, as well as, vectors and cells comprising these genes and proteases produced through these genes, vectors and/or cells. In particular variants of the neutral proteases of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus thermoproteolyticus (thermolysine) and sequences and cells coding therefor are provided.

Abstract: A system for determining a composition of radionuclides in, for instance, a mineral-containing material by detecting gamma and/or X-ray radiation emitted by the nuclides is disclosed. To that end, the system has a detector unit which supplies an electrical signal containing information about the intensity and energy of the emitted radiation and a signal processing system by which these electrical signals are further processed for determine the composition mentioned. The signal processing system further has an A/D converter to which the electrical signals are applied and a first computer unit which further processes signals supplied by the A/D converter for the purpose of determining the composition mentioned.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical preparations which are suitable for treating viral infections, including influenza and immunodeficiency diseases and which can also be used in vitro, to inhibit fusion of virus-infected cells with non-infected cells, which preparations contain modified proteins or polypeptides as active substance or substance contributing to the action or as carrier for other substances, which are also active, which modified proteins or polypeptides have acquired an additional net negative charge by derivatisation of their amino groups and/or other basic functional groups with aconitic acid which prevents protonation of basic amino acids and/or other basic functional groups or replaces basic amino acids and/or other basic functional groups by one or more functional groups having a negative charge, and to modified proteins and polypeptides themselves and their preparation and use.

Abstract: The system relates to a system for determining a composition of radionuclides in, for instance, a mineral-containing material by detecting gamma and/or X-ray radiation emitted by the nuclides. To that end, the system comprises a detector unit (2,6, 10) which supplies an electrical signal containing information about the intensity and energy of the emitted radiation and a signal processing system by which these electrical signals are further processed for determining the composition mentioned. According to the invention, the signal processing system further comprises an A/D converter (14) to which the electrical signals are applied and a first computer unit (26) which further processes signals supplied by the A/D converter for the purpose of determining the composition mentioned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biodegradable chewing gum comprising one or more conventional chewing gum components and as gum base at least one biodegradable polymer selected from the group of polyesters and polycarbonates.

Abstract: In a process and devices or continuously measuring the concentration of an analyte in tissue. The tissue is provided with a hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, hollow fiber is perfused with a solution compatible with the tissue, and that solution is supplied from the hollow fiber through a reactor for the analyte. The reactor has a second hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, and the second hollow fiber is located in a container which contains macromolecular reactants for detecting the analyte and a signal producing system coupled therewith. The perfusion fluid is fed from the reactor to an eliminator for the analyte, whereby at least 95% of the remaining analyte is removed from the perfusion fluid and the perfusion fluid is reintroduced into said first hollow fiber.

Abstract: A copolymer of a lactone and a polycyclic carbonate is prepared by heating a monomer of a lactone with a polycyclic carbonate having two cyclic structures including a carbonate group at elevated temperatures less than 200 degrees Centigrade in the presence of a catalyst. The described copolymers evidence excellent mechanical properties, good resorption velocity and do not disintegrate upon degradation into materials of high crystallinity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microbiological process for the production of polyesters and utilizes bacteria of the Pseudomanas fluorescens rRNA branch according to the phylogenetic classification of De Vos and De Ley. These bacteria are cultured under aerobic fermentation conditions in a nutrient medium comprising an excess of at least one assimilarable acylic aliphatic hydrocarbon compound having 6-18 carbon atoms and a limiting quantity of at least one of other nutrients essential for growth to form poly-3-hydroxyalkanaoates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing polyester biopolymers by culturing Pseudomonas oleovorans bacteria on substrates comprising certain nutrients. The nature of the polyesters can be varied by varying the nature of the carbon source used. In this way polyesters with unsaturated double bonds can be produced, too. From the polyesters, optically active carboxylic acids or esters are produced. The polymers can be used for making articles of manufacture, such as sutures, films, skin and bone grafts.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antimicrobial composition on the basis of a physiologically acceptable varnish dissolved therein an antimicrobial agent, preferably chlorhexidine, in an amount sufficient for elimination of Streptococcus mutans in one treatment. This composition can be applied on the tooth surface and other surfaces, such as the skin or on medical instruments.

Abstract: A wearable-type glucose sensor for continuously or intermittently determining the glucose content comprises a short hollow fiber (2) to be positioned in the subcutaneous tissue. This hollow fiber is connected via tubes (3,4) with component parts (5 . . . 12) located outside the body, such as a measuring unit (11). When a perfusion fluid containing the enzyme glucose oxidase is passed through the hollow fiber, a subcutaneous dialysis will take place in which some glucose dissolves in the perfusion fluid through the wall of the hollow fiber. This glucose is completely oxidized by the oxygen dissolved in the perfusion fluid in the presence of the glucose oxidase. By means of the measuring unit the resultant amount of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 or, preferably, the employed amount of O.sub.2 is determined, both of which are a measure of the subcutaneous glucose concentration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the microbiological production of compounds containing a terminal hydroxyl or epoxy group from an aliphatic substrate or a substrate with an aliphatic side chain, using microorganisms genetically engineered so that they have retained their capacity to perform the terminal oxidation of the substrate, but are no longer able to convert the resulting oxidation product further to any significant extent. Preferred substrates are n-alkanes, n-alkenes, and n-alkadienes containing 6-12 carbon atoms. Preferred micro-organisms are genetically engineered Pseudomonas oleovorans and Pseudomonas putida strains lacking an active plasmidic alkanol-dehydrogenase gene. The invention also relates to micro-organisms thus genetically engineered.

Abstract: A surgical filament produced by spinning a mixture of polylactides and additive.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the microbiological production of compounds containing a terminal hydroxyl or epoxy group from an aliphatic substrate or a substrate with an aliphatic side chain, using microorganisms genetically engineered so that they have retained their capacity to perform the terminal oxidation of the substrate, but are no longer able to convert the resulting oxidation product further to any significant extent. Preferred substrates are n-alkanes, n-alkenes, and n-alkadienes containing 6-12 carbon atoms. Preferred micro-organisms are genetically engineered Pseudomonas oleovorans and Pseudomonas putida strains lacking an active plasmidic alkanol-dehydrogenase gene. The invention also relates to micro-organisms thus genetically engineered.

Abstract: Thermochemically induced luminescence is generated in a fluorescent labeled organic compound containing a covalently bonded fluorescent label which is a polycyclic aromatic radical having at least three linearly fused benzene rings and capable of being excited to a fluorescent electronic excited state by energy transfer from an energy donor molecule or radical having an electronic excited state, by a process comprising generating an energy donor radical or molecule by a thermochemical reaction in the presence of the fluorescent label. The energy donor radical may be generated by a chemical reaction in the presence of the fluorescent labeled organic compound or the fluorescent labeled compound itself may be additionally labeled with a radical capable of being excited to an electronic excited state by a thermochemical reaction, i.e., by a process initiated by adsorption of thermal energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to dipeptidase of lactic acid bacteria in isolated form, characterized by a molecular weight of 55 kD.+-.5 kD; an isoelectric point of 4.4.+-.0.4; a substrate range including the dipeptides leu-leu, leu-met, leu-val, leu-gly, val-leu, phe-leu and ala-ala, but not the dipeptides his-leu, .gamma.-glu-leu, gly-leu, .alpha.-glu-ala and peptides of 3 or more amino acid residues; and a hydrolyzing activity with a temperature optimum at 50.degree. C..+-.10.degree. C., a pH optimum at 8.+-.1, and sensitivity to the metal chelating EDTA and to the reducing agents dithiotreitol and mercaptoethanol.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the activity of the respiratory organs and the heart of a living being, using passive measuring electrodes applied to the surface of the skin. The apparatus comprises a pair of paths having a common input for receiving respiratory EMG signals. The path serving for detection of respiratory activity includes a gating member controlled by gating signals from the path serving for the detection of cardiac activity.