Abstract: An oxidation-resistant food shortening which includes a blended vegetable fat composition having between 50% and 95% by weight palm fat and between 5% and 50% corn oil. Also, described is a method of increasing the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of a palm fat-containing shortening while minimizing the loss in oxidative stability of the shortening, wherein the palm fat is supplemented with between approximately 5% and 100% by weight corn oil.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the visibility of a flame produced during free-burning of an aqueous alcohol-based fuel composition in air. The fuel composition is substantially free of skin-irritants, corrosive salts and agents which, when burned in air, produce air pollution evidenced by the production of volatile organic compounds. The fuel includes between approximately 10% and 30% by volume of water, and between approximately 70% and 90% by volume of a mixture of alcohols including ethanol and isopropanol, the ethanol constituting between approximately 24% and 83% by volume of the fuel composition. The method includes providing an amount of isopropanol ranging between approximately 7% and 60% by volume of the fuel composition, in which the volume ratio of isopropanol to ethanol in the fuel does not exceed 2:1.

Abstract: A cell culture plate which contains cells incubated in a liquid medium held in sample wells formed and arranged over the surface of the plate, is covered and sealed with a waterproof adhesive sealing membrane which excludes microbial contaminants, but which is functionally permeable to oxygen and carbon dioxide gases. The membrane allows cellular respiration to continue, with the transmission rate of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the membrane being essentially uniform from well to well over the surface of the plate.

Abstract: An essentially homogeneous, water-resistant, water-absorbent rod, containing a cohesive spiral winding of water-resistant, water-absorbent sheet material, in which the rod can absorb at least 50% by weight of water when placed in water at 23.degree. C. for one minute. Methods for fabricating and using this rod are also described.

Abstract: A method of increasing the HDL concentration and the HDL/LDL concentration ratio in human serum by providing a balance between a sufficient and required proportion of cholesterol-free saturated fatty acids in the daily dietary fat of the human and a sufficient and required, but not excessive, proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids comprising linoleic acid in dietary fat, while the remaining proportion of fatty acids and energy from the dietary fat is provided by monounsaturated fatty acids comprising oleic acid. The saturated fatty acids must constitute between 20% and 40% by weight of the daily dietary fat based upon dietary fat accounting for 30% of the total dietary energy consumption, and linoleic acid must constitute between 15% and 40% by weight of dietary fat.

Abstract: A method for specimen identification is described, employing marking or printing of a label for placing on a cryogenic storage vial or other container which must withstand contact with the liquid and/or vapor phases of liquid nitrogen at a temperature of approximately -196.degree. C. The marking or printing also resists the ice and moisture which condenses on the container when it is removed from the liquid nitrogen. The method includes the steps of providing a sized portion of a pressure-sensitive adhesive label having a waterproof thermoplastic facestock material with a markable and print-retaining waterproof upper surface and a waterproof adhesive-coated lower surface. The facestock material is capable of being stretched at room temperature at least 10% in the machine direction and at least 10% in the transverse direction without breaking, whereby the facestock and the adhesive can remain united, and also bonded to the container during and after contact with the liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: An adhesive support assembly for attaching at least one article. The support assembly includes a bed of pressure-sensitive adhesive having an upper surface. The adhesive bed which is also heat-meltable, is held within a tray or other walled container. This container is sufficiently heat-resistant to allow heating the support assembly to at least the ring and ball softening temperature of the adhesive so that when the upper surface of the adhesive bed has become shopworn or loses adhesive strength from repeated use and/or adhesion of dirt, the assembly can be heated to at least this softening temperature to restore this adhesive strength.

Abstract: A method for improving the efficacy of vortex-mixing a liquid sample, in which a mixing implement and the sample are placed inside a microcentrifuge tube or sample vessel. The presence of the upright mixing implement in the tube or vessel does not substantially interfere with centrifugal fractionation of the sample. The method includes the steps of providing a rod or straight wand-shaped mixing implement, in which the length of the mixing implement is greater than the maximum inner diameter of the vessel but less than the maximum inner height of the vessel when sealed so that the mixing implement is constrained to remain substantially upright within the vessel. The surface of the mixing implement is configured and arranged to be free of any substantial depressions and concave blemishes which could trap sedimenting solid material in the sample during centrifugation. The sample and mixing implement are placed in the vessel, and the vessel positioned in a holder and/or adapter element of a vortex-mixing machine.

Abstract: A method for removing soiling and graffiti markings from a barrier coat previously formed on an underlying surface is provided, wherein the method preserves rather than sacrifices the barrier coat. The method includes applying a solvent system which includes at least one substantially non-toxic organic solvent such as 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone to an area of the barrier coat. A method is also provided to improve the resistance of a protective barrier coat to graffiti markings and other soiling over time and thereby facilitate any necessary cleaning of this barrier coat. The improvement in the case of wax coatings is achieved by including in the wax, at least one protective chemical agent selected from the group consisting of wax-soluble/water-insoluble UV light absorbers, wax-soluble/water-insoluble free-radical and peroxy-radical scavengers, and wax-soluble/water-insoluble wax antioxidants.

Abstract: Cholesterol-reduced animal fat and vegetable oil are combined to form oxidation resistant blends. Such blends exhibit oxidative stabilities which exceed that of either component alone. In addition, these blends exhibit serum cholesterol lowering effects in mammals.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube with temporary liquid storage cavities. The centrifuge tube has an upper opening and defines a specimen enclosure therein. The tube includes a lid for sealably covering the upper opening. Temporary liquid holding cavities are formed upon the underside of the lid so as to extend outwardly from the underside and terminate in open distal ends. One or more liquid components or reagents can be inserted directly into the open distal ends of the cavities so as to reside inside the cavities on the lid. The cavities are sufficiently narrow so that the walls of each cavity are disposed in frictional engagement with the liquid to increase the surface tension and adherence of the liquid within the cavity. The lid can be snapped shut over the opening of the tube without discharging the liquid components from the cavities, so that the liquid components hang in open suspension above the bottom of the tube.

Abstract: A method of increasing the HDL concentration and the HDL/LDL concentration ratio in human serum by providing a balance between a sufficient and required proportion of cholesterol-free saturated fatty acids in the daily dietary fat of the human and a sufficient and required, but not excessive, proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids comprising linoleic acid in dietary fat, while the remaining proportion of fatty acids and energy from the dietary fat is provided by monounsaturated fatty acids comprising oleic acid. The saturated fatty acids must constitute between 20% and 40% by weight of the daily dietary fat based upon dietary fat accounting for 30% of the total dietary energy consumption, and linoleic acid must constitute between 15% and 40% by weight of dietary fat.

Abstract: A treatment system to treat microbially contaminated water and provide a resultant product which is odor and taste-free is disclosed. The system comprises separate quantities of hypochlorite and peroxide generating chemicals. The system is used by first admixing the hypochlorite-containing solution with water and after an interval adding the peroxide-generating material. The peroxide rapidly reacts with and destroys the hypochlorite along with its taste and odor. In a most preferred embodiment, the system includes a third pre-measured quantity of a reducing agent, such as sodium thiosulfate, which may be added following the peroxide treatment step to destroy any hypochlorite-generated chloramine compounds.

Abstract: Electrophoresis apparatus with a gel support configured and arranged to hold a gel, a buffer chamber configured and arranged to hold a buffer, with the buffer contacting each end of the gel, and a buffer shaper configured to be positioned near the gel support and in contact with the buffer. The buffer shaper is positioned nearer to one portion of the gel support than to another portion of the gel support to cause the depth of buffer between the gel support and the buffer shaper to vary along the length or width of the gel support and buffer shaper.

Abstract: Blended cholesterol-reduced animal fat and vegetable oil which are combined in a proportion such that the weight ratio of linoleic acid (18:2) content divided by myristic acid (14:2) content is between 2 and 9 inclusive.In addition, cholesterol-reduced animal fact can be blended with cholesterol-reduced fish oil to stabilize the fish oil against air-oxidation at room temperature.

Abstract: Centrifuge tube, specimen well,covering lid and method of their use, the well having an inner wall between an upper opening and a bottom region, including between the upper opening and the bottom region a liquid-holding cavity having a liquid drain channel, the lid having a bottom wall including alternative liquid-holding cavities. The liquid-holding cavities are configured and arranged to allow liquid in these cavities to flow to the bottom region only when a centrifugal force is applied to the centrifuge tube.

Abstract: Microcentrifuge tube having a container having a round opening and a frictionally seated lid hingedly connected by a fixed-hinge to the container, the lid having an upper lid surface and being sized and shaped to cover and seal the opening to maintain the inside of the tube free of any contaminant. The lid has a lid extension extending upwardly from the lid surface and outwardly away from the hinge in such a manner which allows the lid to be unseated and moved from the opening of the container when mechanical pressure by a user's finger is applied to the lid. The lid further has a guard portion extending downward from a portion of the lid and configured and arranged adjacent the container to act as a finger guard to prevent a user's finger contacting the container.

Abstract: Blended cholesterol-reduced animal fat and vegetable oil which are combined in a proportion such that the weight ratio of linoleic acid (18:2) content divided by myristic acid (14:2) content is between 2 and 9 inclusive.In addition, cholesterol-reduced animal fat can be blended with cholesterol-reduced fish oil to stabilize the fish oil against air-oxidation at room temperature.

Abstract: A method for covering and sealing an opening in a container. The method employs a polyolefin-based stretch film which is free of adhesive and has a softening temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. At least one surface of the film having an upper and lower surface is substantially free of constituents which can dissolve in, or react with an organic solvent or a caustic agent. The method includes the steps of:(i) providing a portion of the film which covers the container opening,(ii) stretching the film using a mechanical force in a direction generally parallel to the principal axis of the container opening, and(iii) releasing the force and allowing the film to contract around the container opening to provide a liquid-tight seal over the opening.