Abstract: There is described herein a system for creating markets for risks associated with an externality. The market may provide for transfer of tradable securities whose value is contingent upon the occurrence of an externality, and that are coupled with an activity permit. Activity permits may be purchased by market participants, and are coupled with a prescribed activity that the holder may undertake. The contingent value and the maturity of the security may be based upon an estimate, at the time of issue, of the likelihood of, cost of, and/or time to an externality. After the issue of a security, the activity permit and the contingent value may be traded independently. Optionally, the activity permit and the contingent value may be restricted to a single holder.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the synthesis of poly(ethylene oxide) ("PEO") star macromolecules including functionalizable groups. In one embodiment, a core molecule including a plurality of dendritic branches or having a comb structure, and including a plurality of accessible reactive groups is reacted with functionalizable poly(ethylene oxide) ("PEO") molecules. The functionalizable poly(ethylene oxide) molecules include a reactive group capable of reacting with the reactive group on the core molecule, and a functionalizable group capable of being chemically modified, which optionally is protected. In the reaction, the PEO molecules are covalently attached to the core molecule, to form a PEO star macromolecule with terminal functionalizable groups. Preferably, the functionalizable PEO is a heterofunctional linear PEO which includes the reactive group at one terminus and the functionalizable group at the other terminus.

Abstract: A thermoplastic biodegradable material is prepared from a continuous hydrophobic polysaccharide phase and a discontinuous phase of dispersed unmodified polysaccharide or bicontinuous phases of both. The material is easily processed into a wide variety of articles of manufacture that have sufficient physical properties for the intended use, yet degrades into nontoxic components in a reasonable timeframe in landfills or elsewhere in the environment.