Abstract: The present invention concerns electrode materials capable of redox reactions by electrons and alkali ions exchange with an electrolyte. The applications are in the field of primary (batteries) or secondary electrochemical generators, super capacitors and light modulating system of the super capacitor type.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte including a molten salt. The positive electrode comprises an electroactive compound including phosphorus, oxygen, lithium, and at least one other metal or semi-metal. The combination of such electrode compositions and a molten salt electrolyte provides a battery with very high thermal stability. Other ions, such as alkal metal ions, may be used in place of lithium ions for applications in other battery technologies.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula wherein, provided that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is not hydrogen, R1, R2, and R3 each, independently of the other, is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl, and wherein R1 and R2 can also be alkoxy, aryloxy, arylalkyloxy, alkylaryloxy, polyalkyleneoxy, polyaryleneoxy, polyarylalkyleneoxy, polyalkylaryleneoxy, silyl, siloxane, polysilylene, polysiloxane, or wherein X is a direct bond, oxygen, sulfur, —NR40— wherein R40 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl, or —CR50R60— wherein R50 and R60 each, independently of the other, is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl.

Abstract: A battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a molten salt electrolyte, and an electron collector, associated with the first electrode, the electron collector comprising an electrically conducting film. The battery further includes a protection layer separating the electron collector and the first electrode, the protection layer comprising a carbon-containing material. The electron collector may be an electrically conducting material such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, nickel, other metal (such as alloys), conducting polymer, and the like. In one example, the protection layer is a graphite layer. In other examples, the protection layer may be a fullerene film, carbon nanotube film, or other carbon-containing material.

Abstract: An example battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises a positive active material, and has a positive electrode area and a positive electrode capacity. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material, and has a negative electrode area and a negative electrode capacity. The battery has an electrode area ratio equal to the positive electrode area divided by the negative electrode area, and an electrode capacity ratio equal to the positive electrode capacity divided by the negative electrode capacity. In an example battery, the electrode area ratio is at least approximately one, and/or the electrode capacity ratio is at least approximately one.

Abstract: Nucleozymes containing ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides or nucleic acid analogues are described herein. The nucleozymes have catalytic activity and are significantly more resistant to degradation than their all-RNA ribozyme counterparts. Also described are methods for preparing the nucleozymes along with methods of using nucleozymes, e.g., as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Nucleozymes containing ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides or nucleic acid analogues are described herein. The nucleozymes have catalytic activity and are significantly more resistant to degradation than their all-RNA ribozyme counterparts. Also described are methods for preparing the nucleozymes along with methods of using nucleozymes, e.g., as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Nucleozymes containing ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides or nucleic acid analogues are described herein. The nucleozymes have catalytic activity and are significantly more resistant to degradation than their all-RNA ribozyme counterparts. Also described are methods for preparing the nucleozymes along with methods of using nucleozymes, e.g., as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The metastable atom bombardment source provides a charged particle free beam of metastable species that can be used to bombard and ionize organic and inorganic substances in a gas phase. The metastable atoms are produced by inducing a discharge in a gas (rare gases or small molecules). The discharge is curved between the cathode and anode, with the cathode located in a medium pressure zone and the anode located off-axis in a low pressure zone; A nozzle located between the cathode and the anode provides a collimated beam of metastable atoms of low kinetic energy that is directed at an ion volume containing the substances to be analyzed.

Abstract: A flow of a carrier gas through a column is provided. A sample is provided in the column, and a temperature of a longitudinally short portion of the column is raised to a predetermined controlled high temperature at which volatile substances are released from the sample packing and are carried by the carrier gas. The column is cooled on each side of the short portion to a low temperature at which the volatile substances condense or adsorb on the column packing. By continuously moving the heated short portion from an inlet end to an outlet end of the packing in a direction of carrier gas flow the volatile substances selected by the controlled high temperature are released. Four particularly useful and advantageous applications can be identified for the invention. Firstly, it provides an improved gas chromatograph (GC) injector. Secondly, it provides an improved thermal separator or extractor.

Abstract: Nucleic acid able to cause specific cleavage of a bond between two ribonucleotides in an RNA-containing molecule. The RNA-containing molecule has the structure:5'-XnUHZCUGANGAGYm-3'wherein each X and Y is independently any nucleotide base; n and m are independently between 5 and 40; H is U, A or C; Z is a hairpin loop, having between 6 and 60 bases, and each U, C, G and A is a uracil, cytosine, guanosine, or adenosine-containing ribonucleotide, respectively, and N is any ribonucleotide. The nucleic acid has the structure:3'-X'nM.sub.0 Y'm-5'wherein each X' and Y' are complementary nucleotide bases to each corresponding X and Y, and M.sub.0 is a series of nucleotide bases active to cause the cleavage, and wherein M.sub.0 contains no ribonucleotides.

Abstract: Nucleozymes containing ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides or nucleic acid analogues are described herein. The nucleozymes have catalytic activity and are significantly more resistant to degradation than their all-RNA ribozyme counterparts. Also described are methods for preparing the nucleozymes along with methods of using nucleozymes, e.g., as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A test device for evaluating microbial contamination of a liquid comprises a hollow container unit defining a first compartment for containing a nutrient for growing microorganisms and a second compartment for containing a contamination indicating coloring agent. The first compartment is filled with the liquid to be tested, which liquid mixes with the nutrient to grow the microorganisms during a predetermined period of time. During growth of the microorganisms, a sealing mechanism isolates the first and second compartments from each other. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the sealing mechanism is operated to establish communication between the first and second compartments to thereby mix the coloring agent from the second compartment with the liquid from the first compartment. In the presence of microorganisms, the coloring agent colors the liquid to indicate contamination thereof.

Abstract: A biocompatible and/or biodegradable implant for the substantially constant release, by diffusion, of a therapeutic agent in the outside medium at the site of implant which comprises a body consisting of a core defining a solid mass having walls and being formed of a first biocompatible and/or biodegradable polymeric material and having embedded therein a plurality of solid particles of a therapeutic agent which allows for the diffusion of the therapeutic agent from the core in the outside medium; and a coating of a second biocompatible and/or biodegradable polymeric material which prevents the diffusion of the therapeutic agent in the outside medium and the coating covering all but one of the walls. When diodegradable polymers are used, the degradation half-life of the first and second polymeric materials is longer than the diffusion half-life of the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Derivatives of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methanonaphthalene, and the use of h compounds to control viral infections, particularly influenza virus, in warm-blooded animals are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions containing an antiviral effective amount of the novel compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also disclosed.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions containing a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy f 1 to 4 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halo, or nitro, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together form --OCH.sub.2 O--; or the corresponding acylated derivatives wherein there are one or more acyl groups in the hydantoin moiety and each acyl group contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and the use of said compounds to control virus infections, in particular those caused by entero and foot and mouth disease viruses of the Picorna group.

Abstract: A method of treating foot and mouth virus infections in cattle comprising ministering to an animal susceptible to or infected with said virus an effective amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halo, or nitro, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together form -OCH.sub.2 O-; or the corresponding acylated derivatives wherein there are one or more acyl groups in the hydantoin moiety and each acyl group contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of treating a virus infection caused by an enterovirus of the Pina group which comprises administering to a mammal susceptible to or infected with said virus an effective amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halo, or nitro, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together form -OCH.sub.2 O-; or the corresponding acylated derivatives wherein there are one or more acyl groups in the hydantoin moiety and each acyl group contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions containing a compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy f 1 to 4 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halo, or nitro, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together form --OCH.sub.2 O--; or the corresponding acylated derivatives wherein there are one or more acyl groups in the hydantoin moiety and each acyl group contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and the use of said compounds to control virus infections, in particular those caused by viruses of the Picorna group.