Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a novel apparatus and novel methods for the separation, characterization, and manipulation of matter. In particular, the invention combines the use of frequency-dependent dielectric and conductive properties of particulate matter and solubilized matter with the properties of the suspending and transporting medium to discriminate and separate such matter. The apparatus includes a chamber having at least one electrode element and at least one inlet and one output port into which cells are introduced and removed from the chamber. Matter carried through the chamber in a fluid stream is then displaced within the fluid by a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force caused by the energized electrode. Following displacement within the fluid, matter travels through the chamber at velocities according to the velocity profile of the chamber. After the matter has transitted through the chamber, it exits at the opposite end of the chamber at a characteristic position.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the preparation of a highly reactive hydrophobic silica capable of lipophilic binding of lipids present in aqueous media, in particular body fluids. The hydrocarbon substituted silica utilized in the first step of this process may be prepared from hydrophilic silica, suitably pyrogenic silica. This is then treated with a volatile hydrocarbon substituted silicon compound. The next step of the process comprises treating the substituted hydrophobic silica with an alcohol. In order to enable the thus produced material to selectively adsorb lipids in the presence of protein, to the substantial non absorption of the proteins (other than lipoproteins), a further step is carried out. This comprises treating with aqueous ammonia or amines wherein substituents on the amine nitrogen may be the same or different.

Abstract: A method of making a microceramic electromagnetic light shutter, includes forming a micromolded bottom ceramic portion in the green state with a sacrificial fiber having a first and second end portion and being shaped in the form of a coil, mounted on its surface; forming a micromolded top ceramic portion in the green state having surface features that include a pair of bearing structures, at least one stop structure, and a first and second through-hole; assembling the top and bottom micromolded ceramic portions with the first and second ends of the sacrificial fiber being drawn through the first and second through-holes, respectively, and sintering such assembled structure to form a unitary ceramic body; etching through the first and second through-holes to etch away the sacrificial fiber to thereby provide an embedded coil receiving cavity.

Abstract: A method of cleaning polyurethane foams where the material is transported through a wash station while alternately soaking the polyurethane foam in an organic solvent and squeezing solvent from the polyurethane foam a number of times. Then the polyurethane foam is sent through a rinse or solvent transfer station for reducing the concentration of solvent in the foam. The rinsed polyurethane foam is sent to a drying station wherein the foam is repeatedly squeezed while being exposed to hot air to remove wet air from the foam.

Abstract: An automatic sample injector for a gas chromatograph includes not only a syringe with a barrel and a plunger which is adapted to move inside the barrel but also a plunger-driving motor for pushing and pulling the plunger inward and outward inside the barrel, a position sensor for the plunger and an abnormality detector for detecting an abnormal operating condition of the plunger. The plunger-driving motor has a variable torque, and it is operated at a preliminarily determined reduced torque smaller than the normal torque at which it is operated under normal conditions. The subsequent motion of the plunger, or lack thereof, is monitored by the position sensor to determine whether the plunger is totally or partially stuck inside the barrel.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the proliferation of B cells by using inhibitors of phosphotyrosine phosphatase can be used to regulate the immune response and to treat diseases such as leukemias or lymphomas marked by malignant proliferation of B cells or T cells. Antitumor activity is seen in vivo against tumors and against tumor cell lines. The use of such inhibitors can be combined with radiation, which produces a synergistic effect. Several types of inhibitors can be used, including: (1) compounds comprising a metal coordinate-covalently bound to an organic moiety that can form a five- or six-membered ring, in which the metal is preferably vanadium (IV); (2) compounds in which vanadium (IV) is coordinate-covalently bound to an organic moiety such as a hydroxamate, .alpha.-hydroxypyridinone, .alpha.-hydroxypyrone, .alpha.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piperazine based amphilic cationic lipids useful for gene therapy, transfection, and introducing immunogenic compounds for the purpose of vaccination. The disclosed compounds have lipophilic moieties linked to the ring nitrogens. In addition, at least one of the ring nitrogens is quatranized and linked to a hydrocarbon having at least one heteroatom.

Abstract: A soluble antibody conjugate comprising an antibody linked to a structure which is recognizable by T-cells and has the ability to direct T-cells to lyse the target cell, which is recognized by the antibody. The conjugate is characterized by the structure being a superantigen. One important mode is a method for the lysis of target cells, wherein the target cells are contacted with a target cell lysis effective amount of the conjugate. The method of lysis is part of a potent treatment regime for cancer, autoimmunity, parasitic infestations and fungal, viral and bacterial infections The specification also describes modes such as the synthesis of the conjugate and pharmaceutical compositions and their manufacture.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an array of thin film actuated mirrors, which is capable of minimizing the effect of a heat treatment involved in the manufacture of the thin film actuated mirror, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing an active matrix having an array of connecting terminals; forming a contact member on top of each of the connecting terminals; forming a thin film sacrificial layer on top of the active matrix; forming an array of actuating structures on top of the thin film sacrificial layer, wherein each of the actuating structures has a first thin film electrode, a thin film electrodisplacive member, a second thin film electrode and an elastic member having a contact hole; and removing the thin film sacrificial layer, thereby forming the array of thin film actuated mirrors.

Abstract: A method for continuously measuring particulate nitrate in a gas sample, comprising the steps of passing the gas sample through an inertial impactor with a 50% cut off at 2.5 microns, removing ambient pollutant gases from the gas with diffusion denuders, passing the gas through a first path so as to contact the gas with a coated filter so as to convert particulate nitrate to nitric acid vapor or passing the gas through a second path so as to contact the gas with coated filters to trap particulate nitrate and ammonia, and measuring nitric acid vapor and residual ambient pollutant gases produced from the first path and residual ambient pollutant gases produced from the second path with a chemiluminescent monitor, the difference in the signal produced from the gases from the two paths being a measurement of the particulate nitrate in the gas sample.

Abstract: A transfer machine having a pair of holding members disposed opposite to each other to hold a plurality of objects arranged at their peripheral edges. A drive mechanism selectively moves the holding members toward and away from each other in order to selectively hold and release the objects by the holding members. A transfer mechanism transfers the objects and the holding members to a bath in order to process the objects in the bath. Each of the holding members has a plurality of holding notches for holding the peripheral edges of the objects, and the notches are disposed in upper and lower holders which are arranged parallel to each other. The holding notches of the upper holder have a first taper part positioned adjacent an opening of the notch and a second taper part positioned adjacent a notch bottom, and the first taper part has an opening angle larger than an opening angle of the second taper part.

Abstract: A method of washing objects in a dishwasher having upper and lower spray arms within a wash chamber and a sump filter. Wash liquid entering a sump from the wash chamber to be recirculated by a pump is filtered the filter to prevent soils from entering the sump and being recirculated. When the lower spray arm is operating, wash liquid is directly sprayed onto the filter from a clean-out nozzle on the lower spray arm to clean soils off the filter and prevent the filter from clogging. During a pre-wash cycle and at least one pre-rinse cycle, wash liquid is continuously sprayed from only the lower spray arm to prevent the filter from clogging when heavy soils are removed. During a wash cycle and at least one rinse cycle, wash liquid is alternately sprayed from the lower spray arm and the upper spray arm when the heavy soils have already been removed and it is less likely the filter will become clogged.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the proliferation of B cells by using inhibitors of phosphotyrosine phosphatase can be used to regulate the immune response and to treat diseases such as leukemias or lymphomas marked by malignant proliferation of B cells or T cells. Antitumor activity is seen in vivo against tumors and against tumor cell lines. The use o such inhibitors can be combined with radiation, which produces a synergistic effect. Several types of inhibitors can be used, including: (1) compounds comprising a metal coordinate-covalently bound to an organic moiety that can form a five- or six-membered ring, in which the metal is preferably vanadium (IV); (2) compounds in which vanadium (IV) is coordinate-covalently bound to an organic moiety such as a hydroxamate, .alpha.-hydroxypyridinone, .alpha.-hydroxypyrone, .alpha.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of LSD having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom;R.sub.2 is a bond or ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 is alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl group having 2 or 5 carbon atoms; Z is an immunogenic carrier substance, an enzyme donor polypeptide or a label selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a substance having fluorescent or luminescent properties and a radioactive substance; and n is 1 to p where p equals MW of Z/1000. The derivatives include maleimide conjugates of an immunogenic poly(amino acid), an enzyme donor polypeptide or a labeling substance such as an enzyme, a fluorescent substance or a radioactive substance. Novel activated hapten intermediates useful in the preparation of the conjugates and methods for synthesis of the hapten intermediates and their conjugate derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel inhibitors of collagenase-1 and stromelysin-I metalloproteases. The disclosed inhibitors are mercaptoketone and mercaptoalcohol compounds which are useful in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating or controlling disease states or conditions which involve tissue breakdown, for example, arthropathy, dermatological conditions, bone resorption, inflammatory diseases, and tumor invasion and in the promotion of wound healing.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of an analyte 6 in a liquid sample is described. The method uses a binding agent 2 capable of binding the analyte 6 and first and second developing agents 8, 12, the first developing agent 8 capable of binding to unoccupied binding sites on the binding agent 2 and having a first marker 10, the second developing agent 12 capable of binding to the bound analyte or to the occupied binding sites and having a second marker 14 different from the first. The concentration of the analyte is determined by measuring the signals from the markers on first and second developing agents 8, 12. Thus, the method combines the competitive and non-competitive methods of the prior art and preferably has the advantage of extending the working range and/or sensitivity of the assay. A kit for performing the assay is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical and biological air purifier. The air purifier has a housing having an inlet and an outlet both aligned on a longitudinal axis, a turbulence generator, one or more vacuum ultraviolet (UV) sources achieving a chemical purification and one or more germicidal ultraviolet (UV) sources achieving the biological purification. The turbulence generator is mounted within the housing downstream of the inlet and promotes a dispersion and mixing of air received through the inlet. The vacuum UV source is mounted within the housing downstream of the turbulence generator and breaks oxygen molecules into mono-atomic oxygen which then reacts with chemical contaminants present in the air and degrades them by successive oxidation to odorless and inoffensive byproducts. The turbulence generator reduces the production of ozone by increasing the contact between the mono-atomic oxygen and the chemical contaminants.

Abstract: In order to make a Raman spectral measuring apparatus effective for measurement of a vital sample and attain miniaturization and weight reduction, a near infrared laser diode is employed as a light source, and a spectroscope for receiving Raman scattered light from the sample is formed by a polychrometer comprising a concave diffraction grating and a multichannel photodiode array. The Raman scattered light incident through an inlet slit is separated into its spectral components by the diffraction grating, and its spectra are simultaneously detected by the photodiode array over a prescribed wavelength region.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods using biologically active nonionic reverse block copolymers. The reverse copolymers have an inner core of polyoxypropylene (POP) that is flanked on either end by polyoxyethylene (POE). The reverse block copolymers have the following formula: ##STR1## wherein "b" represents a number such that the molecular weight of the hydrophobe (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.b is between approximately 2,000 and 10,000, and "a" represents a number such that the percentage of hydrophile (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.a is between approximately 5% and 30%. The reverse block copolymers stimulate the immune response, can suppress immune responses such as those in autoimmune diseases, promote the growth of animals, and stimulate hormone production.

Abstract: The ethyl ester of derivatives of benzoyl ecgonine are provided having a linking group at the para position of the benzoyl group. The derivatives are used to bond to immunogenic polypeptides for production of antisera and monoclonal antibodies. The antisera and antibodies find use in assays, for treatment of cocaine overdose and detoxification.