Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a polyethylene or similar flexible package having a maze vent to allow the escape of air from the interior of the package filled with powdered or granular material. The maze vent comprises an interior vented seal gap, a maze vent channel, and a channel vent. The maze vent allows air to escape during the filling process while maintaining the powdered or granular material within the bag and preventing ingress of air, moisture and other contaminants. The disclosure is directed to a such a package by itself or as a liner to a multiple paper ply satchel bottom bag, the poly liner being free within the innermost ply except for attachment at the mouth of the bag. Further, the satchel bottom bag of the present disclosure may contain a reinforcing patch on the satchel bottom. Additionally, the reinforcing patch may have an opener for easy opening of the bag.

Abstract: A method of producing an ester linked carbohydrate-peptide conjugate is provided comprising: (a) providing a vinyl ester amino acid group, and (b) reacting the vinyl ester amino acid with a carbohydrate acyl acceptor in the presence of an enzyme, to produce thereby an ester-linked carbohydrate-peptide conjugate. Also provided are ester linked carbohydrate-peptide conjugates obtainable by such methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a kit for lectin-directed prodrug delivery comprising a prodrug and a lectin-directed glycoconjugate, wherein the glycoconjugate is adapted to cleave the prodrug and thereby release the drug. The glycoconjugate generally comprises an enzyme conjugated to a carbohydrate moiety which binds to a lectin. The invention also provides novel gylcoconjugates and novel methods of synthesizing prodrugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for operating a semiconductor factory. The factory comprises equipment (8) for processing semiconductor wafers, and an automated material handling system (12). The invention comprises clamping a wafer carrier (16) while a wafer is processed by a particular tool (10), continuing clamping the wafer carrier (16) after processing, and unclamping the wafer carrier (16) when the automated material handling system (12) is ready for removing the wafer carrier (16) from the tool (10).

Abstract: An air intake apparatus for supplying air to an internal combustion engine (1) comprises a hollow enclosure (50), housing an air filter (9) and an air compressor (10) which when activated compresses air supplied to the engine (1). An engine air supply path through the enclosure (50) passes from an air inlet (52) to the enclosure to an air outlet (54) from the enclosure via the air filter (9). The enclosure (50) housing is subdivided by a dividing plate (74) which holds the air filter (9) upstream of the air compressor (10). The dividing plate (74) also has an air inlet feature (126) to allow air to enter an inlet (98) to the air compressor (10) after the air has passed through the air filter (74).

Abstract: A compact disc (10) for a computer incorporates a security device for preventing non-authorised reading of data carried by the disc. The security device includes an LCD laser blocker (16) which is activated or deactivated by means of a microchip (13) powered by a cell (14) and/or solar panel (15). Authorised reading of the data is possible by a fingerprint scanner (12) linked to the microchip and causing it to deactivate the blocker (16), when the scanner recognises a user's fingerprint which the microchip matches to a programmed authorised fingerprint. Also disclosed is a data carrying compact disc (20) which incorporates security means to allow a first reading of the data of the disc, but to prevent such reading thereafter. An area (21) of the disc, such as a FAT file, can be arranged to be destroyed or blocked, to prevent subsequent reading thereof by the disc reading means.

Abstract: A disc or like article (10, 115, 119) rotatable by drive means, such as a compact disc for use with a computer, includes indication means (12, 110, 120) which, when the disc is rotated at or above a predetermined angular velocity, provide an indication that rotation has occurred, which indication can be important if the disc contains confidential information. The indication device can be a tube formed with two enclosures separated by a breakable membrane (15, 16, 112, 122), a colored liquid/gel (17, 111 121) being in one enclosure and passing into the second enclosure, by breaking the membrane, when the disc is spun, thereby providing a visual indication thereafter of the spinning having occurred The invention also relates to such an indication means, per se, for after-fitting to a disc recorded on by spinning, and to a method of producing a disc with said indication means.