Abstract: A holding device for seeding cells on a surface of a prosthesis including chamber means for partially defining a first chamber with the first surface, and sealing means for providing a seal between the chamber means and the prosthesis so as to isolate the seeding surface from another portion of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A flow-through cell cultivation apparatus and method is described. The flow-through cell cultivation system comprises a flowcell, a chamber inside the flowcell for holding cells, and a flowcell holder. The flowcell has a lower intake port for flowing liquid nutrient through a cellbed inside the flowcell and an upper outlet port for flowing the liquid nutrient out of the flowcell. The flowcell also includes a chuck for receipt of a thermal probe. The probe is made of electromagnetically non-interactive material. The flowcell is enclosed inside the flowcell holder. The flowcell holder includes a pair of intake ports into a cavity having an open end at the flowcell for turbulently flowing a temperature controlled gas against the flowcell. The cavity has rough walls to promote the turbulent flow. The flowcell holder includes an exhaust port for flowing the gas out of the flowcell holder which also serves as a port for another thermal probe.

Abstract: A kit is provided for measuring chemical and physical stresses on the blood platelets of a human patient by measuring reduction in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and ADP (adenosine diphosphate) concentrations while measuring increases in the ATP degradation products HYPX (hypoxanthine) and the AMP (adenosine monophosphate). The kit is useful for measuring a human patient's risk to internal stress such as reduction in the size of blood vessels, to response to various environmental changes as well as to a variety of treatments including drug treatment, risk of malignant hyperthermia in response to anesthetic administration or in response to vascular or organ transplant.

Abstract: A unitized deodorizer for placement in restricted locations where odor control is desirable. The unitized deodorizer includes a portion of conventional sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) or baking soda which is provided with or without a container. In its non-contained form, a unitized deodorizer is compressed or chemically bonded into a substantially solidified unit of selected shapes including round and block. In its contained form, pulverized sodium bicarbonate is provided within a number of containers composed of a variety of materials including plastic, flexibly woven natural or synthetic cloth, or cardboard.

Abstract: A method of producing dideoxyinosine involving contacting as a substrate 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine with a microorganism which is capable of converting the substrate into 2',3'-dideoxyinosine.

Abstract: An automated method for measuring the non-porous surface area of carbon black is disclosed. The method comprises passing a small sample of a CTAB-carbon black dispersion through a disposable filter to separate the carbon black with adsorbed CTAB from the filtrate containing unadsorbed CTAB. The filtrate next passes through a measuring loop and a high pressure liquid chromatography column to separate the CTAB from the other filtrate components. The CTAB is next sensed by a detector and an integrator calculates the amount of CTAB adsorbed by the carbon black and the non-porous surface area of the carbon black. The integrated apparatus for carrying out this method is also described. Once the carbon black and the CTAB are mixed, there is no further handling of the sample. The system is entirely automated and takes only a few minutes for the CTAB area determination. Measuring temperatures can also be fixed. This results in much more reproducible CTAB numbers for a particular carbon black.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for burning sulfur to sulfur dioxide and generating sulfurous acid comprising a primary sulfur-burning chamber, a sulfur feed tank closely coupled to the primary chamber, a secondary sulfur burning chamber, and an absorption tower, Air is drawn into the primary chamber under turbulent, high velocity negative pressure conditions. Gas passes through the secondary chamber under turbulent negative pressure flow conditions. The apparatus is capable of converting sulfur to sulfur dioxide at a rate in excess of 25 pounds of sulfur per hour per square foot of surface area of the molten pool of sulfur in the primary chamber.

Abstract: According to the invention, a piston fit filter/dispenser vial and method of using same is provided. The vial comprises a conventional filter, for example a piston fit serum filter closing the lower end of the vial and a closure having a pressure source fitting closing off the upper end of the vial. The vial also includes a transfer tube having a first end inside the vial adjacent to the filter and a second end outside vial. Filtrate, for example filtered blood serum, within the vial may be transferred in predetermined aliquots to one or more awaiting sample containers from the vial by applying a predetermined volume of air from a pressure source via the pressure source fitting whereby displaced serum is forced up the transfer tube and out of the vial.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blood oxygenating device having an oxygenating chamber and a heat exchange chamber. The oxygenating chamber consists of a bubbler chamber and a mixing chamber. Oxygen is introduced into the bubbler chamber through a porous diffusion means situated near the inlet of the bubbler chamber. Bubbles pass from the bubbler chamber into a mixing chamber which is provided with a plurality of secondary flow-producing deflectors to promote secondary flow of blood bubbles passing therethrough. The secondary flow results in a highly efficient oxygen-carbon dioxide transfer. The blood bubbles are then passed through a heat exchange chamber and a defoaming means prior to exiting the oxygenating device.

Abstract: This process sterilizes the surfaces within a chamber wherein a first portion of the surfaces is at a temperature below 10.degree. C. and a second portion of the surfaces is at a temperature greater than 20.degree. C. The process includes the steps of introducing vapor phase hydrogen peroxide to the chamber, contacting the first portion with the vapor to effect condensation thereon, contacting the second portion with the vapor, applying a source of vacuum to the chamber and continuing to introduce vapor phase hydrogen peroxide into the chamber until the surfaces are sterile while preserving the temperature ranges of the first and second portions.

Abstract: The energy consumption of conventional reactors for heterogeneous synthesis, e.g., ammonia synthesis and methanol synthesis, wherein the synthesis gas flows substantially axially through catalyst beds, is substantially reduced by inserting in at least one catalyst bed: two concentric cylindrical substantially perforated walls to laterally delimit the bed; a bottom closure between these walls; and optionally a diaphragm on top of the bed. Optionally also, a catalyst granulometry gradient may be employed in the upper part of the bed. An upper minor portion of at least one of the cylindrical walls may be unperforated. The synthesis gas now traverses the bed substantially radially.

Abstract: A post-fermentation degassing technique and apparatus are provided for use in degassing foamed fermentation broths containing cultured microorganisms. Such a broth is charged while pressurized through a nozzle means to form a spray suspension in a gaseous spray chamber located in a gravitationally upper part of a degassing vessel. The spray chamber is vented to the atmosphere. The spray suspension is coalesced to form a bulk liquid phase located in a gravitationally lower portion of the degassing vessel whereby the upper surface of such bulk liquid phase forms the bottom surface of such spray chamber. The nozzle means is so oriented that the spray suspension it produces is downwardly directed towards the surface of the bulk liquid phase and the layer of foam characteristically foamed thereon.

Abstract: A channel protein has a Na.sup.+ /K.sup.+ selectivity of approximately 100 and capable of affecting Na.sup.+ membrane transport. Amiloride derivatives, and amiloride gel materials incorporating such derivatives, are useful in treating membrane transport, cellular volume and cellular pressure disorders and in isolating the channel protein. The channel protein is used in diagnostic assays and screening assays.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for decomposing and analyzing a sample for sulfur. The methods combust a nebulized sample in an oxygen-rich atmosphere and then analyze the combustion gases for sulfur. The apparatus employs a nebulizer operatively connected to a combustion tube and employs appropriate detector(s) to analyze the combustion gases from the combustion tube for sulfur.

Abstract: Titration apparatus includes two cells that receive and contain liquids and are transparent to light. A liquid having an unknown characteristic and mixed with an indicator that is optically responsive to a titrant is disposed in the cells. Light is transmitted through each cell to separate photosensors. The photosensor signals are compared and a titrant is added to one of the cells in known-volume increments until the difference between the signals reaches or exceeds a prescribed threshold. The characteristic of the liquid is calculated from the quality of known concentration titrant added in order to reach or exceed the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A patient's acceptance of transplanted organs and tissues may be enhanced by treating donor specific blood with a suitable dose of ultraviolet radiation for an appropriate period of time, transfusing the irradiated blood into the patient during a suitable pretransplantation time period and then transplanting the organ or tissue into the subject. Acceptance of transplanted organs and tissues can also be enhanced by treating the organs or tissues to be transplanted with a suitable dose of ultraviolet radiation for an appropriate period of time and then transplanting the organ or tissue. Suitably irradiated donor specific blood, organs and tissues are preferred for use in transplantation.

Abstract: The system to reduce the energy consumption of heterogeneous synthesis reactors, particularly of ammonia reactors, f.i. the "Chemico"-type reactor, foresees the insertion of two cylindrical walls at least partially perforated in order to annularly delimit the catalytic beds; the first outer wall (Fe) having a diameter (Di) slightly smaller than diameter (Dc) of the cartridge (C), has a height (Hi) higher than (H'i) of the internal cylindrical wall (Fi) which has a diameter inferior to the above mentioned (Di), but superior to the external diameter (Dt) of the central feed pipe (T) of the quench gas (QG). The top (SO) of the internal cylindrical wall (Fi) is closed by a cover (CO) that has a distance from the bottom (FO) of the basket equal to the mentioned height (H'i) of the internal cylindrical wall. The catalytic bed is therefore annular in diameter (Di-D'i) on all of the said height (H'i), but is substantially cylindrical (of diameter Di) on the height (Hi-H'i).

Abstract: An apparatus for diluting a sample with a diluent, comprising a fixed volume measuring chamber, a fixed volume receiving chamber and fluid receiving relationship to the measuring chamber, a gas vent in the receiving chamber, a stop flow junction between the measuring chamber and the receiving chamber, a sample application site in fluid donating relationship to the measuring chamber, wherein the vertical height difference between the sample application site and the stop flow junction is insufficient to provide a hydrostatic pressure capable of overcoming backpressure at the stop flow junction when sample is applied to the sample application site, and the diluent application site and fluid donating relationship to the measuring chamber. Sample and diluent are added sequentially to the apparatus of the invention without requiring any intervening operations. Various means are provided for restarting flow, which causes diluent to wash the sample into the receiving chamber, where the two can be mixed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Output of an FCC riser feeds a riser cyclone. A downstream end of the riser and the riser cyclone are located within a reactor vessel (disengaging vessel) having sidewalls. Cracked hydrocarbons in the output pass from the riser into a riser cyclone and discharge from the reactor vessel without being added to a reactor vessel atmosphere. A stripper cap divides the reactor vessel atmosphere into upper and lower portions. The stripper cap and a lower portion of the reactor vessel sidewalls define a stripping zone. A riser cyclone dipleg extends through an opening in the stripper cap into the stripping zone. A chimney vent conduit is provided for conducting stripped hydrocarbons out of the stripping zone without being added to the atmosphere of the reactor vessel above the stripper cap.

Abstract: From a product main flow a sub-flow is withdrawn and from said sub-flow an analysis sample to be analyzed and a remainder obtained by sample splitting. To provide a method and an apparatus for time and space representative sampling and sample splitting to a small analysis sample flow suitable for a following on-line sample analysis the invention provides that sampling and sample splitting are carried out in-line continuously in immediate succession and with the sampling a representative sub-sample flow of up to 1/100 of the product main flow is withdrawn with a sampler head which is arranged rotatably drivably at the inlet of a sampling pipe and the sampling opening of which is at least one circle sector which is rotatable with its tip about the center axis of the product flow transport conduit. The sub-sample flow is continuously split immediately thereafter with a sample splitter by up to three powers of ten.