Abstract: The present invention relates to substrates and composites having dynamic, reversible micron-level luminal surface deformation including texture or geometric instabilities, e.g., surface wrinkling and folding. The surface deformation and its reversal to the original surface form or to another, different surface form, is effective to reduce or prevent surface fouling and, more particularly, in certain applications, to reduce or prevent unwanted platelet adhesion and thrombus formation. The substrates and composites include a wide variety of designs and, more particularly, biomedical-related designs, such as, synthetic vascular graft or patch designs.

Abstract: A thin packaging film 1 includes a reference area 2 having a closed contour and which is surrounded over its entire periphery by a tear-off area, an incipient tear 3 being precut in this film so as to intercept this contour while leading into the latter while forming a gripping portion 4 capable of being pulled away from the plane of this thin film, the reference area being designed so as to trap one end of this incipient tear within the contour while the other end propagates by tearing in a spiral from the tear-off area over at least 180° around this reference area when the gripping portion begins to undergo pulling. This closed contour is preferably circular. The closed contour area can in particular be an opening, or a portion of film surrounded by a reinforcement material loop.

Abstract: A thin packaging film 1 includes a reference area 2 having a closed contour and which is surrounded over its entire periphery by a tear-off area, an incipient tear 3 being precut in this film so as to intercept this contour while leading into the latter while forming a gripping portion 4 capable of being pulled away from the plane of this thin film, the reference area being designed so as to trap one end of this incipient tear within the contour while the other end propagates by tearing in a spiral from the tear-off area over at least 180° around this reference area when the gripping portion begins to undergo pulling. This closed contour is preferably circular. The closed contour area can in particular be an opening, or a portion of film surrounded by a reinforcement material loop.

Abstract: The present invention discloses intersexual heterozygous Phycomyces strains. These strains show an improved .beta.-carotene productivity and an increased stability when compared with both the wild type and heterokaryotic Phycomyces strains. The present invention also discloses a method for obtaining Phycomyces transformants without using selection markers. Furthermore, a process is provided for manufacturing .beta.-carotene comprising the use of intersexual heterozygous Phycomyces strains in a submerged culture.

Abstract: This invention refers to the obtention of strains of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus accumulated by the .beta.-carotene pigments in amounts which permit the use of these strains in the production on an industrial scale of said pigment. By genetic manipulations, strains simultaneously and constitutively incorporating various stimulating effects have been isolated. The resulting strains produce .beta.-carotene in a proportion of approximately 2.5% of its dry weight, which constitutes almost 1000 times more than that which the natural microorganism would produce under the same conditions. This production level, together with the simplicity in cultivating and manipulating same, makes them interesting in the development of an industrial process for producing .beta.-carotene by fermentation. The .beta.-carotene produced by fermentation, besides its low cost, would have the advantage of not being contaminated with the reagents and catalysts used in the organic synthesis.