Abstract: Polypeptide antigens are disclosed which are immunoreactive with sera from individuals having a non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D, non-E Hepatitis, herein designated Hepatitis G Virus (HGV). Corresponding genomic-fragment clones containing polynucleotides encoding the open reading frame sequences for the antigenic polypeptides are taught. The antigens are useful in diagnostic methods for detecting the presence of HGV in test subjects. The antigens are also useful in vaccine and antibody preparations. In addition, the entire coding sequences of two HGV isolates are disclosed. Methods are presented for nucleic acid-based detection of HGV in samples and also methods for the isolation of further genomic sequences corresponding to HGV.

Abstract: A system of carbonizing water as part of making a carbonized beverage. There is a housing to contain the pressurized bottle of carbon dioxide, and also to define a chamber to receive a container of water. A pressure regulating valve maintains the carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide container at a predetermined lower pressure and directs the carbon dioxide to a selectively operable pressurizing valve that directs the carbon dioxide through a discharge nozzle into the water in the water container. The water container is closed by a mounting plug that interconnects with a receptacle block that is operably connected to the pressurizing valve, and also operably connected to a venting valve which is selectively operated to vent the remaining pressurized carbon dioxide after the carbonizing has been completed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for washing treatment which comprises a washing solution supply source filled with a washing solution required for chemical washing of a wafer, a spin chuck for rotatably holding a wafer to be treated, a nozzle communicating with the washing solution supply source, for supplying a washing solution from the washing solution supply source onto the wafer held on the spin chuck, temperature controlling device for controlling the temperature of the washing solution to be supplied to the wafer from the nozzle, and a temperature controlled cover closely provided so as to cover the wafer held on the spin chuck, for preventing a substantial temperature variation of the washing solution present on the wafer.

Abstract: A dry etch apparatus for micromachining a substrate having a first and a second layer of dissimilar materials joined together at a heterojunction includes a chuck for holding the substrate. The chuck has a first electrical contact positionable to contact the first layer, and second electrical contact positionable to contact the second layer, with the first and second electrical contacts being electrically isolated from each other. A voltage source is connected to the first electrical contact of the chuck to apply a voltage potential across the heterojunction of the substrate. When a plasma containing chemically reactive ions is directed against the second layer, etching of non-masked regions continues unless it is substantially stopped at the voltage biased substrate heterojunction. The substrate can be cooled or periodically recoated with erodable protective material to limit sidewall damage to the substrate while still allowing downward etching into the substrate.

Abstract: In a plasma reactor including a vacuum chamber for containing at least a reactant gas at a selected pressure and a semiconductor wafer to be processed, a pair of electrodes for capacitively coupling radio frequency power into the chamber and a radio frequency source having a radio frequency power terminal, a circuit for coupling the radio frequency source to the pair of electrodes includes a coil having plural conductive windings and a pair of terminals bounding plural ones of the windings, the pair of terminals coupled to respective ones of the pair of electrodes, one of the windings connected to the power terminal of the radio frequency source, and a grounded conductive tap contacting the coil and slidable along the plural ones of the windings between the pair of terminals for varying a ratio of power apportioned between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a package for food product useful for boil-in-bag or microwave. This package comprises a sealed flexible pouch with a web of oriented material having a slit in the direction of the orientation of the material which is covered by an adhesive membrane. The package is opened and emptied by peeling off the membrane to expose the slit, inverting the package and pulling the edges of the package substantially parallel with the slit to open the slit to facilitate emptying of the contents of the package without spillage and with a reduced risk of burning the fingers of the user.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate having a planar surface and isolating trenches etched from the substrate. The isolating trenches form corners with the surface of the substrate. The corners are shaped as slanted regions, having a 111-crystal plane structure. When a gate oxide layer is grown over the substrate, the trench corners will have a gate oxide layer of a greater thickness than the rest of the trench, thereby reducing parasitic transistors.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel antiviral compounds, refered to as calanolides, related compounds, and their derivatives, which may be isolated from plants, or derived from compounds from plants, of the genus Calophyllum in accordance with the present inventive method. The compounds and their derivatives may be used alone or in combination with other antiviral agents in compositions, such as pharmaceutical compositions, to inhibit the growth or replication of a virus, such as a retrovirus, in particular a human immunodeficiency virus, specifically HIV-1 or HIV-2.

Abstract: Polypeptide antigens are disclosed which are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D, non-E hepatitis. Also disclosed are corresponding genomic-fragment clones containing polynucleotides encoding the open reading frame sequences for the antigenic polypeptides. The antigens are useful in diagnostic methods for detecting the presence of N-(ABCDE) hepatitis agent infection in primates. The antigens are also useful in vaccine and antibody preparations. Methods are presented for the isolation of entire genomes corresponding to the N-(ABCDE) hepatitis agents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a planar surface on a substrate at a desired endpoint. In one embodiment of the invention, material is removed from a substrate with an abrasive medium on a planarizing surface. As material is removed from the substrate, the abrasive medium is selectively inhibited from contacting a first exposed area at the desired endpoint on the substrate while it still contacts a second area on the substrate that is not yet at the endpoint. In this embodiment of the invention, therefore, polishing substantially stops at the first area on the substrate but continues at the second area on the substrate.

Abstract: Thin film deposition process endpoints and in situ-clean process endpoints are monitored using a single light filter and photodetector arrangement. The light filter has a peak transmission proximate a characteristic wavelength of the deposition plasma, such as Si, and one of the plurality of reaction products, such as NO, in the plasma chamber during in-situ cleaning. Emissions passing through the filter are converted to voltage measurements by a photodetector. In deposition endpoint monitoring, emission intensity of the Si emissions reflected off the surface of the substrate oscillate as deposition thickness increases, with each oscillation corresponding to a definite increase in thickness of the film. The endpoint of the deposition is reached when the number of oscillations in signal intensity versus time corresponds to a desired film thickness. Alternatively, a deposition rate for the film is calculated from the oscillation frequency of emissions reflected off the substrate.

Abstract: A purified preparation of primate embryonic stem cells is disclosed. This preparation is characterized by the following cell surface markers: SSEA-1 (-); SSEA-3 (+); SSEA-4 (+); TRA-1-60 (+); TRA-1-81 (+); and alkaline phosphatase (+). In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cells of the preparation have normal karyotypes and continue to proliferate in an undifferentiated state after continuous culture for eleven months. The embryonic stem cell lines also retain the ability, throughout the culture, to form trophoblast and to differentiate into all tissues derived from all three embryonic germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm). A method for isolating a primate embryonic stem cell line is also disclosed.

Abstract: A new strain of the yeast Candida sake (Saito and Ota) van Uden and Buckley and its properties are described. This new strain was deposited with number CECT-10817. Rotting of fruit caused by at least one pathogenic fungi, particularly Botrytis cinera, Penicillium expansum or Rhizopus nigricans, after or before harvesting, can be prevented by treating the fruit with an aqueous dispersion of this new strain of Candida sake.

Abstract: Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS)-associated mutant CuZnSODs, A4V and G93A, have been discovered to catalyze the generation of hydroxyl radical from hydrogen peroxide at higher rates than that of wild type CuZnSOD. The copper chelator diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) has been found to inhibit both radical generation and SOD activity of mutant CuZnSODs A4V and G93A at DDC concentrations significantly lower than those required to inhibit wild type CuZnSOD enzyme. In a neural cell culture model of FALS, DDC reverses the effect of four FALS-associated mutants, but does not alter the survival of cells expressing only wild type CuZnSOD. Thus, radical formation may be modulated and ALS treated in subjects with a mutant CuZnSOD enzyme by the administration of copper chelating agents. Treatment can also be affected by the administration of radical scavenging agents, or the administration of expression inhibitors specific for the mutant genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of delivering an emulsion or suspension containing a supersaturated gas into a gas-depleted environment. The method generally comprises the steps of preparing an emulsion or suspension, exposing the emulsion or suspension to a gas at a pressure greater than 2 bar, and delivering the emulsion or suspension to a gas-depleted environment at ambient pressure.

Abstract: Derivatives of piperidine are useful in prophylaxis and treatment of hepatitis C virus infections.

Abstract: A wet etching device used in manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a power source, a transmission device for transmitting power from the power source, and a roller for reversing top and bottom positions of a wafer placed in a processing bath using power from the power source transmitted by the transmission device. Here, the initial top and bottom positions of the wafer during loading are reversed before unloading. Accordingly, the entire surface of the wafer spends an equal amount of time in the processing bath containing a chemical solution and can thus be etched uniformly.

Abstract: A water miscible composition consisting essentially of a solvating surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated castor oil, an alkoxylated hydrogenated castor oil and an alkoxylated rosin, and a biocidal biologically active material dissolved in said solvating surfactant useful to prepare aqueous microemulsions, micellar solutions or molecular solutions of said biocidal biologically active material upon mixing with water.

Abstract: A vacuum processing chamber having a substrate support removably mounted therein. The chamber includes an opening in a sidewall thereof and the opening is large enough to allow the substrate support to be removed from the chamber through the opening. A modular mounting arrangement extends through the opening and removably supports the substrate support in the interior of the chamber at a position located inwardly of an inner sidewall of the chamber. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting flange and a support arm. The mounting flange is attached to an exterior surface of the chamber and the support arm extends between the substrate support and the mounting flange. The chamber includes a single vacuum port in a central portion of an endwall of the chamber spaced from the substrate support. The vacuum port is connected to a vacuum pump which removes gases from the interior of the chamber and maintains the chamber at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method is provided for salvaging thermoplastic substrates from discarded coated thermoplastic articles which have been surface treated with a protective or decorative organic coating. The discarded coated thermoplastic substrates, such as polycarbonate substrates, can be granulated, treated with an aqueous caustic-surfactant solution which contains an anionic, nonionic or mixture thereof surfactant, and where the treated thermoplastic substrates are thereafter washed until a neutral pH of the wash rinse-off solution is achieved.