Abstract: A device connectable to a suction source for drawing off particulate matter from the air about a burning site comprises a flexible hose provided along an end segment with a plurality of spaced apertures, a fastener for detachably connecting the hose at an end opposite the apertured end segment to the suction source, and a coupling element for securing a free tip of the hose, at the free end of the apertured end segment, to the hose along a middle portion thereof to thereby form a loop including at least a portion of the apertured end segment.

Abstract: Absorbent articles such as diapers or sanitary napkins incorporating particulate, absorbent, polymeric compositions comprising interparticle crosslinked aggregates. The interparticle crosslinked aggregates comprise precursor particles of substantially water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming, polymer material; and an interparticle crosslinking agent reacted with the polymer material of the precursor particles to form crosslink bonds between the precursor particles. The polymeric compositions of the present invention may be incorporated into absorbent articles as the sole absorbent material; as an absorbent core comprising a mixture of fiber material and discrete particles of the polymeric composition; or as a laminate (a layered absorbent core) containing such polymeric compositions. The performance of absorbent articles is enhanced by the use of such polymeric compositions due to the high rate of fluid uptake and minimal gel blocking properties of the interparticle crosslinked aggregates.