Abstract: Disclosed are compounds that are conjugates of ladder frame polyether compounds and biologically active compounds or research compounds, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the conjugates, and methods of transporting the conjugates across biological membranes.

Abstract: The transaction card and method are used for securing a transaction conducted by mean of a credit card, a debit card, a security card or any other card including information to be read by a magnetic card reader. The card is provided with a counter which increments by 1 or any other number each time the card is activated. This counter value is used with a key string in a cryptographic algorithm to produce a signature. The resulting data stream is then transmitted to a computer. The computer may be one of the servers of a bank, a credit card provider, a security department, etc. Once the data stream is received, the computer finds the record of the card or cardholder using the identification number or any other number, then determines with the signature if the transaction is legitimate or not. The counter value is also verified.

Abstract: The stability of a cholinesterase (particularly a cholinesterase solution impregnated into a porous material and air-dried) can be improved by: (a) buffering the cholinesterase solution with a zwitterionic buffer, e.g. a buffer having a sulfonic acid group and a protonatable amine group, and, preferably, (b) further drying the impregnated, air-dried porous material under a high vacuum (e.g. 0.01 mm Hg or less) at normal ambient temperatures. The most useful porous materials are sheet-like in nature; that is, they have only two major surfaces. An impregnated, sheet-like material of this invention can be used in a cholinesterase inhibitor detector kit. A typical kit of this type provides a simple means for detecting, inter alia, environmental cholinesterase-inhibiting pollutant, e.g. organophosphorous pesticides and nerve agents.