Abstract: A lightweight, high performance, active suspension system utilizing piezoelectric regulated springs, and a method of manufacturing the suspension system, is described. Piezoelectric material is bonded to suspension springs, and excited appropriately to vary the stiffness of the suspension system. A method of controlling the stiffness of a spring includes piezoelectric material bonded to the spring, a sensor system for generating a signal proportional to the loading imposed on the spring, and controller for exciting the piezoelectric material in response to the signal. A control system for controlling the stiffness of a spring including embedding a plurality of piezoelectric particles within an electrically conductive matrix forming the body of the spring is also described.

Abstract: An implantable bioartificial pancreas device having an islet chamber containing glucose responsive and insulin-secreting islets of Langerhans or similar hormone secreting cells, the islet chamber having baffle means inside thereof to assist in even distribution of the islets in the chamber, one or more vascularizing chambers open to surrounding tissue, a semi-permeable membrane between the islet and vascularizing chambers that allows passage of small molecules including insulin, oxygen and glucose and does not allow passage of agents of the immune system such as white cells and antibodies, the vascularizing chambers containing a growth factor soaked fibrous or foam matrix having a porosity of about 40 to 95%, the matrix providing small capillary growth and preventing the blood from clotting in the lower chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of highly potent histamine receptor antagonists, in particular histamine H.sub.3 receptor antagonists. Also disclosed is a novel process for the preparation of intermediates useful in the preparation of histamine receptor antagonists, in particular H.sub.3 -receptor antagonists.

Abstract: A non-tissue culture process using Agrobacterium-mediated vectors to produce transgenic plants from seeds of such plants as the common bean and soybean.

Abstract: A pulsating impeller system is provided for moving a body through a fluid medium. The pulsating impeller includes an enclosure mounted on a vessel or other body. The enclosure is provided with an inlet-outlet aperture to facilitate the flow of the fluid medium into and out of the enclosure. An expansible membrane is positioned in the enclosure. The volume of the expansible membrane is inflated and deflated on a regular cycle by a compressed air or other similar system in the vessel. When the enclosure is placed in a fluid, such as water, and the expansible membrane inside the enclosure is inflated, the volume of the membrane is increased, which results in the water being forced through the outlet hole in the enclosure to propel the vessel. This force will generate a reactive force which will thrust the enclosure and vessel in the opposite direction. The vessel may be provided with a plurality of enclosures, and each enclosure may have one or more expansible membranes.

Abstract: Families of Diels Alder adducts and of metal complexes of Diels Alder adducts, which are useful as particularly active compounds for use in photodynamic therapy, are disclosed. The Diels Alder adducts and a preferred family of metal complexes have the structures of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4, below: ##STR1## where R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be the same or different, and each is methyl or ethyl, R5, R6 and R7 are ethyl, R8 is an alkyl group other than t-butyl having from one to four carbon atoms and M comprises a metal cation, e.g., Sn or Zn, that is complexed with two of the nitrogens of the adduct. The use of the adducts and complexes in photodynamic therapy is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a transformed Gladiolus plant comprising: removing a piece of tissue from a corm; inoculating the tissue with vir.sup.+ Agrobacterium tumefaciens; incubating the inoculated tissue until a tumor forms; culturing at least a portion of the tumor in hormone-free medium until a cormel forms; and growing the cormel to produce the transformed plant. Also, methods of producing a transformed Gladiolus corm or seed comprising growing a transformed Gladiolus plant, prepared as just described, until the corm or seed is formed. Finally, transformed Gladiolus plants, corms and seeds.

Abstract: Zebra mussels are controlled by contacting them with the active portion of a Phytolacca plant.

Abstract: A method of depositing a metal film on a silyl hydride surface of a solid such as silica gel, the solid normally having hydroxyl groups, the metal with a valence of zero being deposited on the surface by reaction of a metal ion in a solution with the hydrogens of the silyl hydrides. The above method is used to easily remove metal ions from a solution and also the method is a basis for determining the number of silyl hydride groups on the surface of the solid.

Abstract: A bilayered immobilized enzyme pellet and a process to manufacture this pellet are provided for use in a process involving the simultaneous isomerization of xylose to xylulose and fermentation of xylulose to ethanol. The bilayered pellet is able to maintain the environment where the isomerization reaction occurs within its optimum pH of 7.0 to 8.0 while the fermentation reaction occurs within its optimum pH range of 4.0 to 5.0. This process allows both xylose and glucose sugars to be effectively used as a feedstock for ethanol production by isomerizing the xylose to xylulose and then making the xylulose immediately available for the fermentation process. Because the xylose has been converted to its ketose isomer, xylulose, yeasts which can ferment glucose and xylulose can be used in this process.

Abstract: Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are controlled by contacting the mussels with effective lethal amounts of an aqueous treating medium comprising molluscicidally effective portions of the berry from Phytolacca dodecandra.

Abstract: A ripple feedback circuit for use with a current-sourced rectifier system with a resonant load balancing filter. The ripple feedback circuit eliminates the oscillation of the rectifiers and improves the line-current waveform by sensing the low frequency AC components of the output current and by combining such AC components with the control voltage at the input to the multiplier of the pulse width modulator of the rectifier system. A sample of the rectified line voltage is multiplied by the control voltage less ripple feedback to form the input to the pulse-width modulator which produces the gating waveform for the converter of the rectifier system.

Abstract: A full bridge DC to DC converter which provides zero voltage switching (ZVS) for one leg of the bridge and zero current switching (ZCS) for the other leg of the bridge is described. ZVS is achieved with parallel capacitors, while ZCS is achieved by using the reverse breakdown characteristics of the various diode and switching devices. This technique provides a significant reduction in the switching losses of the switching devices, which allows for higher power and frequency combinations.

Abstract: Families of chlorins, families of purpurins and metal complexes thereof are disclosed. The purpurins and their metal complexes have the structures of FIGS. 1, 7, 14-18, 29-38, 44-48 and 54-58 of the attached drawings. The chlorins and their metal complexes have the formulas of FIGS. 2, 8, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 39, 40, 42, 43 and 49-53 of the attached drawings. Solutions of the purpurins, of the foregoing and other chlorins and of the metal complexes which are physiologically acceptable for intravenous administration are also disclosed, as are emulsions or suspensions of the solutions. The solvent for the solutions can be a product of the reaction of ethylene oxide with castor oil. A method for detecting and treating tumors in human and animal patients is also disclosed. The method comprises administering one of the purpurins, chlorins or metal complexes to the patient.

Abstract: A method of producing transformed Gramineae comprising making a wound in a seedling in an area of the seedling containing rapidly dividing cells and inoculating the wound with vir.sup.+ Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Also, this same method wherein the vir.sup.+ A. tumefaciens contains a vector comprising genetically-engineered T-DNA. There are further provided a transformed pollen grain of a Gramineae, a pollen grain of a Gramineae produced by a plant grown from a seedling infected with vir.sup.+ A. tumefaciens, a pollen grain of a Gramineae produced by a plant grown from a seedling infected with vir.sup.+ A. tumefaciens containing a vector comprising genetically-engineered T-DNA, a pollen grain of a Gramineae whose cells contain a segment of T-DNA, and Gramineae derived from each of these pollen grains. There are also provided a transformed Gramineae plant, a transformed Gramineae plant derived from a seedling infected with vir.sup.

Abstract: A method of producing transformed corn comprising making a wound in a corn seedling in an area of the corn seedling containing rapidly dividing cells and inoculating the wound with vir.sup.+ Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Also, this same method wherein the vir.sup.+ A. tumefaciens contains a vector comprising genetically-engineered T-DNA. There are further provided a transformed corn pollen grain, a corn pollen grain produced by a plant grown from a seedling infected with vir.sup.+ A. tumefaciens, a corn pollen grain produced by a plant grown from a seedling infected with vir.sup..degree. A. tumefaciens containing a vector comprising genetrically-engineered T-DNA, a corn pollen grain whose cells contain a segment of T-DNA, and corn derived from each of these pollen grains. There are also provided a transformed corn plant, a transformed corn plant derived from a corn seedling infected with vir.sup.+ Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a transformed corn plant derived from a corn seedling infected with vir.sup.+ A.

Abstract: Substituted 1,4,5,6 -tetrahydropyrimidine compositions, substituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine compositions and substituted 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine compositions are disclosed. They are useful for stimulating muscarinic receptors including, for example, treating the symptoms of cognitive disorders, especially impared memory, which are associated with decreased acetylcholine synthesis and cholinergic cell degeneration.

Abstract: A non-tissue culture process using Agrobacterium-mediated vectors to produce transgenic plants from seeds of such plants as the common bean and soybean.

Abstract: A family of benzochlorins, a family of verdins, a family of porphyrin derivatives and metal complexes thereof are disclosed. the benzochlorins have the formula of FIG. 3 of the attached drawings; their metal complexes have the formula of FIG. 1. The verdins have the formula of FIG. 4 of the attached drawings; their metal complexes have the formula of FIG. 2. The porphyrin derivatives have the formula of FIG. 9 of the attached drawings; their metal complexes have the formula of FIG. 10. Solutions of the benzochlorins, verdins, porphyrin derivatives and metal complexes which are physiologically acceptable for intravenous administration are also disclosed, as are emulsions or suspensions of the solutions, and compositions which additionally include cyclodextrin, and wherein the molecules of the benzochlorin, verdin, prophyrin derivative or metal complex are encapsulated within the molecules of the cyclodextrin. The solvent for the solutions can be a product of the reaction of ethylene oxide with castor oil.

Abstract: Mixed metal oxide electroceramics are produced from dissolved metal oxides using aqueous processing. For example, zirconates and titanates are manufactured from titania and zirconia using aqueous processing by forming an ammonium titanium complex, or an ammonium zironium complex, which can then be further reacted to release ammonia and form a metal titane or metal zirconate precursor. The precursor is then pyrolyzed to the corresponding oxide, e.g. barium and/or strontium titanate.