Abstract: There are provided magnetic and non-magnetic agarose and agar polyaldehyde beads with diameters ranging from 40 microns up to 1 cm, and processes for the synthesis of such beads. The polyaldehyde compounds e.g. polyacrolein, polymethacrolein or polyglutaraldehyde, were used as microspheres or as powders. The agarose-polyaldehyde beads are capable of covalently binding in a single step, through their aldehyde groups, compounds containing primary amino groups of thiol groups, such as proteins, antibodies, enzymes and drugs. The beads are useful for various biological applications e.g. affinity chromatography, hemoperfusion, ion exchange resins, cell labeling, diagnostic purposes and cell separation.

Abstract: The present inveniton relates to novel lithium ionophores, to a process for producing such lithium ionophores and to their uses as pharmaceutical compositions, electrodes and as components of batteries.

Abstract: Compositions for the prevention of, and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases which comprise as active ingredient membrane material shed from autoimmune T lymphocytes, or T lymphocytes activated by a pressure application and release process. There is also provided a process for obtaining such active materials and for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for these.

Abstract: An assay and kit for the detection and quantitative determination of interferon. The assay is based on the exposure of certain cells to a solution containing the interferon which is to be determined, infecting the cells with a certain virus, incubating for a predetermined period of time, lysing the infected cultures and determining the virus protein. The measurement of the virus proteins can be effected by ELISA or radioimmunoassay.

Abstract: Novel peptide materials having thymic humoral activity are disclosed having the respective amino acid sequences of:Leu-Glu-Asp-Gly-Pro-Lys-Phe-Leu;His-Pro-Leu-Pro-Asp-Leu-Tyr; andPhe-Val-LeuThese novel peptides can be isolated from natural thymus glands or can be prepared synthetically.

Abstract: The invention relates to derivatives of fluorescein and to their production. The compounds are of value in determining the intracellular pH. Thus there may be obtained fluorescent living cells with a comparatively stable level of fluorescence. The novel fluorescein compounds can be used for other labelling purposes in biology and biochemistry.

Abstract: An optically-generated or computer-generated holographic diffusing screen usable in bringing an image to focus thereon is a hologram which upon reconstruction displays a substantially transparent annulus on a substantially opaque background. The annulus preferably has an outer diameter substantially equal to the exit pupil of the image-forming lens, which image is to be focused. The radial width of the transparent annular portion is very small relative to the outer diameter of the annulus. The holographic diffusion screen may be formed by making a holographic image of the substantially annular pattern or by exposing a holographic plate with two collimated mutually coherent beams of light, one beam being perpendicular to the plate while the other is at an angle with respect to the first beam, rotating the holographic recording plate a predetermined amount, and repeating the exposing and rotating steps until a predetermined number of exposures has been completed.

Abstract: A process for resolution of a mixture of D- and L- amino acids, selected from threonine (THR), asparagine (ASN), p-hydroxyphenylglycine p-toluene sulfonate (pHPGpTS) and glutamic acid hydrochloride (GLU), which crystallize in the form of a conglomerate, whereby the ratio of one desired enantiomorph to the other undesired enantiomorph of said amino acid is increased in the crystalline compound obtained, as compared to the ratio in the starting material, which process comprises forming a supersaturated solution of said mixture, adding another predetermined amino acid as additive, which has a molecular structure which resembles that of one of the enantiomers of said racemic mixture, said additive being a D-amino acid as an inhibitor of the growing D-amino acid when the L-amino acid is desired, or a L-amino acid when the D-amino acid is desired, and crystallizing part of the compound from said supersaturated solution. When GLU.

Abstract: A portable device for photoacoustic spectroscopy of plants and other photosynthetic tissues, cells and organelles is provided. There is further provided a method of measuring photosynthesis of such tissues, cells and organelles.

Abstract: There is provided an assay for the determination of the carcinogenicity of chemical and physical agents, by exposing a selected line of tumor virus transformed cells to the agent to be tested and determining whether such exposure induces endogenous viral DNA replication in such cells, which induction is indicative of the carcinogenicity of the tested agent by in situ hybridization. There is provided a kit for carrying out such assay.

Abstract: An extra-corporeal, self-contained, on-line, beat-to-beat pacemaker function analyzer (PFA) for automatic evaluation and indication of the quality of performance of cardiac pacing systems implanted in place for: routine examination of ambulatory patients; long-term surveillance of hospitalized patients; and examination of ECG traces (including pacing artefacts) of remote pacemaker patients, transferred by telephone or radio to a central follow-up station. The PFA provides a comprehensive examination of asynchronous, demand and demand-hysteresis pacemakers of all makes, including the state of the pacemaker's battery, the intactness of the electronic circuitry and of the electrodes, and the proper location of the electrodes in the heart.

Abstract: There is provided a scaife for the polishing of gemstones wherein the abrasive material is embedded in a matrix of a material maintained in the solid state, which material has a high enthalpy of phase transition from solid to liquid. Suitable materials are frozen water, frozen water/organic liquid mixtures such as water/alkanol mixtures and suitable metals or metal alloys. There is also provided a process for the polishing of gemstones which comprises establishing a layer of abrasive embedded in a suitable solid matrix in or on the surface of a rotatory plate and polishing the gemstones, overheating being prevented by the high enthalpy of solid/liquid transition of the said matrix.

Abstract: A device for the photosynthetic reduction of carbon dioxide and water by sunlight to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol in the presence of semiconducting photoactive materials. Using preferred compositions of photoactive materials, selected from oxides and sulfides of copper, iron, molybdenum, ruthenium, lead, titanium, and from mixtures of any of these, and from barium titanate, calcium titanate, and strontium titanate, this photochemical solar collector also achieves photothermal energy conversion, thus providing the energy required for continuous distillation and recovery of the above organic materials produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a contact lens, which comprises coating a tool made of an inert material, having a curvature corresponding to that of one of the optical surfaces of the lens to be produced, with a layer of solid polymer, and machining the outer surface of said polymer to the desired curvature of the second surface of said lens while supported by said tool, and to a tool for carrying out such process.

Abstract: A catalyst for use in homogeneous catalysis comprises a backbone of at least 5 carbon atoms chain length, which may comprise aromatic moieties and also hetero atoms, a polar moiety at one of the ends of the backbone and a ligand moiety at its other end, such ligand moiety being adapted to form a complex with a metal ion. A process of hydrogenation or of hydroformylation comprises contacting an aqueous phase containing a catalyst as defined above, with an organic phase comprising the reactant, introducing hydrogen or a hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixture with agitation until the reaction is terminated, separating the phases and recovering the desired reaction products from the organic phase.

Abstract: A process for resolution of a mixture of D- and L- amino acids, selected from threonine (THR), asparagine (ASN), p-hydroxyphenylglycine p-toluene sulfonate (pHPGpTS) and glutamic acid hydrochloride (GLU), which crystallize in the form of a conglomerate, whereby the ratio of one desired enantiomorph to the other undesired enantiomorph of said amino acid is increased in the crystalline compound obtained, as compared to the ratio in the starting material, which process comprises forming a supersaturated solution of said mixture, adding another predetermined amino acid as additive, which has a molecular structure which resembles that of one of the enantiomers of said racemic mixture, said additive being a D-amino acid as an inhibitor of the growing D-amino acid when the L-amino acid is desired, or a L-amino acid when the D-amino acid is desired, and crystallizing part of the compound from said supersaturated solution. When GLU.

Abstract: Methods of producing solute-rejecting dynamic membrane filters are described comprising depositing a bed of fumed silica particles on a porous substrate having a pore size of 0.025-3 microns, the silica particles being substantially spherical and uniform and having a nominal particle diameter of 20-80 A.

Abstract: Phosphonoacetals of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having from 1-3 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a cation such as NH.sub.4.sup.+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Sn.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, and R.sup.1 ;n is an integer from 0 to 2;q is an integer from 1 to 3;R.sup.3 is a residue of a polyhydroxy compound having from 2-12 carbon atoms;Y and Y.sup.1 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carbinol groups, methyl halogens, methyl carbamoyls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of optically selective surfaces for use in solar collectors, having a predetermined ratio of absorbance .alpha..sub.s to emmitance .epsilon. of at least 10, which comprises effecting an anodic oxidation of copper, or copper applied to any substrate metal, in an alkaline bath at an elevated temperature between 50.degree. and 85.degree. C., preferably 70.degree. to 85.degree. C., and at a current density of above 1 mA/cm.sup.2 and up to 40 mA/cm.sup.2 until an increase of resistance is experienced. Substrate metals may be copper, copper plated steel, copper plated galvanized iron, copper plated nickel, nickel plated steel to which a layer of copper is applied, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling paints for marine use comprising a conventional paint base containing as active ingredient a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from chlorine and bromine,Y is selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl, andZ is selected from --COOR wherein R is lower alkyl, and --CN, possibly in combination with a conventional antifouling agent, and to the protection of marine structures and marine vessels which comprises applying such an antifouling paint to such structures and vessels.