Abstract: There is disclosed a method for quantitatively determining protein, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a sample of the protein in an aqueous medium;(b) providing an aqueous medium having a pH in excess of 12 and comprising(i) a cupric salt and a pyridyl-azo dye; or(ii) a preformed cupric-pyridylazo dye complex;(c) combining the aqueous mediums of a) and b) thereby providing a color having an intensity which is inversely proportional to the amount of unreacted dye present in the combined mediums; and(d) determining the quantity of protein present in the sample colorimetrically.The method can be used with a multilayer dry analytical element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluorescence polarization method for monitoring fetal lung maturity, to various components needed for preparing and carrying out such monitoring, and to methods of making these components.

Abstract: An analysis material sheet is disclosed which is comprised of layers of material with strong adhesion for one another. The sheet includes a water-impermeable support having provided directly or indirectly thereon a layer of fabric. The fabric contains a hydrophobic organic polymer fiber and is physically activated on at least one surface thereof, with the physically activated surface being adhered directly or indirectly to the support. A reagent layer can be provided directly or indirectly on the liquid sample-spreading layer of fabric. By utilizing a fabric containing a hydrophobic organic polymer fiber, body fluids to be analyzed can be quickly and uniformly spread and by utilizing the physically activated surface of the fabric, strong adhesion between the layers can be obtained.

Abstract: A method to determine performance of a treating agent (CA) added to a system body of liquid to enhance performance of the liquid body is determined by employing an inert fluorescent tracer (T) in a known T:CA dosage proportion, prepared on the basis of a concentration of CA (e.g. ppm) proposed for optimum performance in the liquid body. The system liquid is sampled and, on the basis of fluorescent emission, the sampled indicator is compared to a standard ppm concentration of T to determine the concentration and efficacy of CA and the physical characteristics and operating parameters of the liquid body.

Abstract: The device comprises, in a housing formed from two parts (102,103), disposed on opposite sides of a diaphragm (104), three orifices, namely an orifice (105) capable of receiving the low and high pressure and ensuring the purge, the second (107) connected to the pneumatic tire, and the third (106) of large diameter for a rapid escape, an escape valve (110) being normally closed while a passage (116) between the first and second orifices is normally closed and a passage (121) of large diameter between the second orifice and the escape valve (110) is normally open. Application in the measurement, the inflation and the deflation of vehicle pneumatic tires.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method of determining gum content and performing quality control in the production of a gasoline to minimize the gum content in the produced gasoline. A representative sample of the gasoline is subjected to UV spectrophotometric analysis and the peak heights representing absorption in the range of 310 to 600 nm are integrated to determine a total absorption quantity which relates to the actual and potential quantity of gum in the gasoline. Use of this quality control technique will result in a refiner having more control over gum content at a hydrocarbon processing unit, such as a catalytic reformer.

Abstract: A sterilization container system for sterilizing surgical instruments, having a lid secured to a base by latches. The latches are automatically disengaged when the latches' release arms are raised to form handles by which the lid can be easily and securely manipulated; while the latches are automatically engaged when the latches' release arms are lowered, sealing the lid to the base. The base is provided with an outer safety wall, which is lower than and which extends around the base's inner wall, in order to help protect the top of the base's inner wall from inadvertent contamination when the lid is removed. Disposable paper filters are sealed over the vents inside the lid and base by cooperating filter paper sealing flanges provided in the filter papers' retainers, lid and base, in order to maintain the sterility of the contents of the sterilization container system after sterilization.

Abstract: A method of determining on a discrete analyzer the nicotine content of tobacco or a smoking-related product by preparing an aqueous extract of a sample of tobacco or smoking-related product, pre-reacting the extract with an acidic buffered solution of pH not more than 6 for at least two minutes, reacting the pre-reacted extract in the discrete analyzer with aniline and cyanogen bromide, measuring the intensity of yellow coloration generated, and comparing said intensity with that produced by a nicotine standard to determine the nicotine content of said sample.

Abstract: A solid particulate olefin polymer containing monomer(s) dissolved therein is vigorously agitated mechanically to raise the temperature of the polymer to at least 90.degree. C. This vigorous agitation is effected in the absence of any purge gas and the unpolymerized olefin monomer desorbed from the polymer by the increase in temperature can readily be recovered and recycled to the polymerization vessel. The technique can form part of the work-up process in which the polymer is removed from the polymerization vessel and separated from unconverted monomer(s) prior to isolation. By this technique, propylene is removed from polypropylene without using a purge stream of nitrogen which makes recovery of the propylene difficult and expensive. The technique additionally heats up the polymer which can be advantageous for subsequent processing. Apparatus for effecting the process includes an agitation vessel which is connected, preferably through an intermediate separation vessel, to an olefin polymerization vessel.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus for effecting chemical analyses for various sample liquids such as blood, urine, and the like, comprising a sample delivery pump for metering a sample liquid into a reaction cuvette, a reagent delivery pump for delivering to the reaction cuvette a given amount of a given reagent selected from a plurality of reagents contained in a reagent cassette, to form a test liquid, a feed mechanism for successively supplying reaction cuvettes along a circular reaction line, a plurality of photometering sections arranged along the reaction line for effecting a plurality of photometric and/or nephelometric and/or fluorometric measurements for each test liquid at different time instances to produce a plurality of photometric results, and circuitry for receiving the photometric results and selecting therefrom given quantitative analytical data of a given test item.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting gas in a sample gas in a carrier gas stream and including a windowless ionization detector having a pulsed power supply which is switchable at a rate which provides a pulse period shorter that the transit time of ions to be detected to the collector electrode of an ionization chamber of the detector. Switching allows any signal due to ion detection to be separated from background noise due to other effects in the chamber.

Abstract: There is described a method of inhibiting glycolysis in blood samples by adding an acid to the blood sample to adjust pH of the blood to a level between 5.0 and 7.0.Collected blood samples undergo glycolysis during storage due to progress of the reaction with glycolytic enzymes with a result that glucose is reduced and lactic acid and pyruvic acid formed by the glycolysis is increased. According to the method of the invention, the glycolysis as mentioned above can be inhibited simply by adjusting pH of the blood sample so that accurate determination of the above-mentioned components are feasible. The preferred acids are citric acid, malonic acid and maleic acid. Addition of citric acid to produce a level between 1.0 and 5.0 mg/ml (blood) is especially preferable. In the method of the invention, further addition of a fluoride compound, preferably NaF, improves the glycolysis-inhibiting action.

Abstract: An insecticide dispenser capable of setting off a charge of insecticide to fumigate a room and then automatically shutting itself off before the completion of the dispensing of the charge of the insecticide, whereby the dispenser can be safely left unattended during the fumigation of a room. The dispenser includes a container for the insecticide and a fusible member that will break during the volatilization of the insecticide thereby to break the electrical circuit and turn off the power supply.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting the presence of predetermined compounds in a sample. The system comprises a sample injection means, a chromatographic column, a conversion means and one or more specific gas detectors. The conversion means transforms the column effluent to combustion products in the gas phase, after which those combustion products are transferred to the specific gas detectors. In one embodiment for detecting nitrogen compounds, the conversion means includes an oxygen-rich flame, a means to control the flame to have a temperature in the range 600.degree.-1700.degree. C., means to inject the column effluent into the flame, and an output port for transferring the flame effluent to a specific nitrogen detector.

Abstract: A reactor suitable for synthesis of ammonia or methanol comprises a catalyst bed 36 equipped with heat exchange tubes 32 supported by means 28-31 or 40, 42 providing catalyst fillable space between the tubes over substantially their whole length. Preferably catalyst particles between the tubes and in an uncooled bed 36 downstream thereof constitute a single body of catalyst. The reactor is especially suitable for synthesis at low pressures such that the heat transfer area provided by the tubes is relatively low.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and efficient method for preventing biofouling on the surface of a solid body continuously in contact with bacteria-containing sea water, such as the heat transfer surface in a heat exchanger using sea water as the cooling medium, caused by the attachment of the proliferated bacteria. The method comprises adding bacteriophages capable of lysing the bacteria responsible for the biofouling of the surface to the sea water brought into contact with the surface so that the sea water can be efficiently and inexpensively sterilized prior to contacting with the surface not to cause biofouling absolutely without the problem of environmental pollution.

Abstract: A method of producing a site for tissue ingrowth on a surgical implant by embedding a space occupier possessing a desired pattern in the surface of the implant at the desired location for ingrowth and then solubilizing the embedded space occupier to leave the pattern on the implant surface. Preferably, the implant is fabricated from a composite comprising a semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin such as polyetheretherketone or polyphenylene sulfide, and the space occupier is an acid-soluble metal plate machined to produce the desired pattern and removed by aqueous acid solution.

Abstract: An improved fluidized bed process for upgrading olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock by contacting the feedstock with acidic siliceous zeolite conversion catalyst particles at elevated temperature under exothermic conditions to produce heavier hydrocarbons including gasoline range hydrocarbons. The improvement comprises maintaining a turbulent fluidized bed of catalyst particles by flowing hydrocarbon-containing vapor upwardly through said bed at less than transport velocity; and introducing liquid olefinic feedstock comprising at least one C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 diene component into the fluidized catalyst bed in a lower portion thereof by rapidly atomizing and vaporizing the liquid feedstock, thus converting feedstock to heavier hydrocarbon without substantial thermal diene degradation thereof prior to contacting conversion catalyst particles in the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A turntable holding a train of reaction containers thereon is continuously turned by one revolution plus an angle for a share of one container and then stopped. This makes one cycle. On the route of transfer of the reaction container, there are provided a light irradiation position and a light collection position.The reaction container into which a sample and a marker reagent have been introduced is transferred such that it does not stop at the irradiation position and the light collection position. The reaction container to which a monochromatic light for excitation has been irradiated at the irradiation position is transferred toward the light collection position. Fluorescence coming from the light collection position is lead to a photodetector, and the concentration of the target substance in the sample is determined from the detected fluorescence after arithmetic processing.

Abstract: This invention introduces a new class of devices for detecting the presence of biological molecules. The construction principle of the device involves the direct introduction of small monomers of macromolecules into the surface layer of a semiconductor, for example by doping at the gate-area of a field effect transistor (or any other similar suitable electronic device, also on carbon basis). There are a few biological monomers which pair specifically enough for a selective measurement, such as nucleotides (or portions thereof, e.g. adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine and uracil). This invention leads to substantial improvement of biosensors, as there should be: Better signal to noise ratio, and options for: reading of nucleotide sequences, better process control, and new synthesis possibilities (e.g. modified Merrifield Synthesis). The invention also offers the potential to construct cybernetic systems and true biochips.