Abstract: A undergarment having elasticized fabric to support a body part, where the undergarment is fastened to an outer garment, and where the undergarment defines an aperture in a crotch area of a wearer.

Abstract: A method and system predicts changes of physiological/pathological states in a patient, based on sampling, processing and analyzing a plurality of aggregated noisy biomedical signals. A reference database of raw data streams or features is generated by aggregating one or more raw data streams. The features are derived from the raw data streams and represent physiological/pathological states. Each feature consists of biomedical signals of a plurality of patients, wherein several patients have one or more of the physiological/pathological states. A path, which is an individual dynamics, between physiological/pathological states is obtained according to their order of appearance. Then, a prediction of being in physiological/pathological states, or transitions to physiological/pathological states in the patient, is obtained by comparing the individual dynamics with known dynamics, obtained from prior knowledge.

Abstract: A separation medium comprising a hydrogel preparation having macropores and micropores, wherein the hydrogel preparation is prepared by reacting a first gel component and a second gel component in an aqueous solvent. The first gel component comprises a first monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof having at least one polymerizable double bond, and a first crosslinker having at least two polymerizable double bonds. The second gel component comprises a second monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof having at least one pendant functional group per repeat unit, and a second crosslinker having at least two functional groups, each capable of reacting with the at least one pendant functional group of the second monomer, oligomer, polymer, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A formulation for repelling particulate matter on the surface of a coating comprising polymeric nanoparticles having a mean particle diameter of from 1 to 50 nm. The polymeric nanoparticles may further be functionalized to impart additional characteristics to modify the surface of the dried coating to minimize the chances for particles to become embedded or attached to the coating.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer blend composition containing particles of a first polymer and particles of a second polymer with preferred molecular weight ranges is provided. Coatings prepared from the aqueous polymer blend composition may be employed as coatings which have water whitening resistance and provide resistance to efflorescence to cementitious substrates, such as roof tiles. A method of preparing a coated cementitious substrate with the aqueous polymer blend composition and an article containing the coated cementitious substrate are also provided.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a container (20) having a base (22) and sides (32) adapted to receive a plurality of plastic gel cassettes. An inlet port (12) is positioned in the base of the container and in fluid communication with the chamber and a baffle (11) is positioned over the inlet port, such that, in use, when gel forming fluid passes through the inlet port into the chamber, the baffle substantially reduces fluid turbulence and vertical fluid movement in the vicinity of the inlet port during flow of the fluid into the chamber. Pretreatment of the plastic cassette to remove polymerisation inhibitors prior to filling the same with fluid is by exhaustive vacuum treatment, optionally with nitrogen gas purging. This can be achieved conveniently using a vacuum chamber in which one or more plastic cassettes are placed. Optionally the vacuum chamber may be the container in which the cassettes are filled with fluid. No barrier films or chemical scavengers are required.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparation of a microgel comprising polymerising a monomer composition comprising a monounsaturated monomer and a multiunsaturated crosslinking monomer as a solution in an organic solvent, by free radical solution polymerisation wherein the reactivity ratio of the monounsaturated monomer is significantly different from the multiunsaturated monomer and the concentration of the monomer component and the proportion of crosslinking monomer in said monomer composition is controlled to provide a solution of discrete microgel particles of number average molecular weight of at least 105

Abstract: The invention relates to a microgel composition comprising microgel particles of weight average molecular weight above 50,000 wherein a 60% w/w solution of the microgel in dioxane has a viscosity of less than 10 Pa.s measured by cone and plate viscometry.

Abstract: An emulsion-polymerized addition copolymer formed from a monomer mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomers including from more than 4 to 15 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid functional monomer, and from 0.05 to 5 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one polymerizable surfactant monomer, comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups, wherein said hydrophilic functional group comprises a polymerizable group within it, is useful as a binder in an ink jet ink having improved print quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ex vivo methods for preserving/maintaining blood vessels that are to be used as vascular grafts by inhibiting TNF-?. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising an inhibitor of a TNF-? for use in the methods of the invention, which compositions are free of active TGF-? or does not contain active TGF-? in an amount greater than endogenous blood levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ex vivo methods for preserving/maintaining blood vessels that are to be used as vascular grafts by specifically inhibiting Type III and/or Type IV phosphodiesterases. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising a specific inhibitor of a Type III and/or Type IV phosphodiesterase for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ex vivo methods for preserving/maintaining blood vessels that are to be used as vascular grafts by specifically inhibiting Type I and/or Type II phosphodiesterases. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising a specific inhibitor of a Type I and/or Type II phosphodiesterase for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A polymeric membrane suitable for use in electrophoresis formed from a pre-polymer having a plurality of crosslinkable moieties and the crosslinkable moieties being crosslinked with a polyfunctional crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A polymeric membrane system containing a polymeric membrane and a substrate with interstitial gaps. Polymeric membrane components reside within the interstitial gaps of the substrate and below the surface of the substrate. Also, the layer of polymeric membrane components is thinner than the cross-sectional thickness of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and system predicts changes of physiological/pathological states in a patient, based on sampling, processing and analyzing a plurality of aggregated noisy biomedical signals. A reference database of raw data streams or features is generated by aggregating one or more raw data streams. The features are derived from the raw data streams and represent physiological/pathological states. Each feature consists of biomedical signals of a plurality of patients, wherein several patients have one or more of the physiological/pathological states. A path, which is an individual dynamics, between physiological/pathological states is obtained according to their order of appearance. Then, a prediction of being in physiological/pathological states, or transitions to physiological/pathological states in the patient, is obtained by comparing the individual dynamics with known dynamics, obtained from prior knowledge.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer composition including a plurality of comb copolymer particles is disclosed. The comb copolymer particles contain comb copolymer having a polymer backbone with at least one attached graft segment. The polymer backbone and the at least one graft segment have select compositional ranges and select glass transition temperature ranges. Further, the comb copolymer contains as a polymerized unit at least one select monomer such as, aldehyde reactive group-containing monomer or certain styrenic monomers. The aqueous polymer composition of the present invention is useful for preparing coatings having one or more improved properties such as dirt pickup resistance, gloss, gloss retention, alkyd adhesion, and tint retention. A method for forming a coated substrate from the aqueous polymer composition of this invention is also provided.

Abstract: An emulsion-polymerized addition copolymer formed from a monomer mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomers including from more than 4 to 15 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid functional monomer, and from 0.05 to 5 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one polymerizable surfactant monomer comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups, wherein said hydrophobic functional group comprises a polymerizable group within it, is useful as a binder in an ink jet ink having improved print quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of Cripto-1. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and quantification of Cripto-1 in samples such as milk, plasma, serum, and other biological fluids. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention finds use in the detection and/or quantification of Cripto-1 in human milk, plasma, serum, and other biological fluids.

Abstract: An emulsion-polymerized addition copolymer formed from a monomer mixture comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomers, including from more than 4 to 15 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid functional monomer, and from 0.05 to 5 wt % based on the weight of said mixture of at least one polymerizable surfactant monomer comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups, wherein said hydrophobic functional group comprises a polymerizable group within it, is useful as a binder in an ink jet ink having improved print quality.

Abstract: An aqueous polymer blend composition containing particles of a first polymer and particles of a second polymer with preferred molecular weight ranges is provided. Coatings prepared from the aqueous polymer blend composition may be employed as coatings which have water whitening resistance and provide resistance to efflorescence to cementitious substrates, such as roof tiles. A method of preparing a coated cementitious substrate with the aqueous polymer blend composition and an article containing the coated cementitious substrate are also provided.