Abstract: The invention provides a dual-specific ligand comprising a first immunoglobulin variable domain having a first binding specificity and a complementary or non-complementary immunoglobulin variable domain having a second binding specificity.

Abstract: A method for reducing bacterial contamination on a food surface. The method comprises applying to the food surface an N—C6-C18 acyl amino acid ester and a methylcellulose. The methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.36 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing: i) an azo (—N?N—) content of from 0.30% to 0.80%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography; and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.18 mol/kg as measured by RBS at pH 9.5.

Abstract: A thin film composite membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by having a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.45 moles/kg at pH 9.5 and a method for making a composite polyamide applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine-reactive monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is characterized by the non-polar solution comprising at least 0.025 wt % of an acid compound including at least one carboxylic acid moiety and at least one amine-reactive moiety selected from acyl halide and anhydride.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay useful in predicting risk of 5-fluorouracil (FU) toxicity in a subject. The subject may be screened for the presence of at least one TYMS polymorphism and/or at least one DPYD polymorphism. Suitable TYMS and DPYD polymorphisms are provided. The presence of one or more of the polymorphisms indicates an increased risk of developing FU toxicity; a negative result may indicate a decreased risk of developing FU toxicity.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes: applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer; and exposing the thin film polyamide layer to nitrous acid; and wherein the method is characterized by treating the thin film polyamide layer with a halogenated benzene compound represented by formula (a) wherein: X is selected from a halogen; Y is selected from hydrogen, carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid; and A, A?, A? and A?? are independently selected from: halogen, hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, ester, amino, keto-amide, and an alkyl group with the proviso that at least one of A, A?, A? and A?? is selected from: hydroxyl, amino, keto-amide, and wherein the substituent in the ortho or para to at least one of A, A?, A? and A?

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide including the steps of: i) applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer; ii) treating the thin film polyamide layer with a polyfunctional arene compound; and iii) exposing the thin film polyamide layer to nitrous acid; wherein the non-polar solutions further comprises at least one of the following: (A) at least 50 vol % of a C5 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon and from 2 to 25 vol % of benzene or benzene substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl groups; and (B) an acid-containing monomer comprising a C2-C20 hydrocarbon moiety substituted with at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof and at least one amine-reactive functional group.

Abstract: The invention relates to anti-TNFR1 polypeptides and antibody single variable domains (dAbs) that are resistant to degradation by a protease, as well as antagonists comprising these. The polypeptides, dAbs and antagonists are useful for as therapeutics and/or prophylactics that are likely to encounter proteases when administered to a patient, for example for pulmonary administration, oral administration, delivery to the lung and delivery to the GI tract of a patient, as well as for treating inflammatory disease, such as arthritis or COPD.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing an azo (—N?N—) content of from 0.75% to 0.95%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography.

Abstract: thin film composite membrane comprising a thin film polyamide layer located between a porous support and a coating layer, wherein the coating layer comprises a cellulose-based polymer including a plurality of quaternary ammonium groups or salts thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including the step of applying a polar solution including a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is characterized by including a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate within the polar coating solution. The thin film polyamide layer is characterized by possessing an equilibrium water swelling factor of greater than 35% as measured by PFT-AFM.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing: i) an azo (—N?N—) content of from 0.30% to 0.80%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography; and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.18 mol/kg as measured by RBS at pH 9.5.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing: i) an azo (—N?N—) content of from 0.40% to 1.00%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography; and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.40 mol/kg as measured by RBS at pH 9.5.

Abstract: A method for treating an aqueous mixture containing an anionic surfactant including the step of passing the mixture through a spiral wound element to produce a permeate stream and concentrate stream wherein the concentrate stream has a relatively higher concentration of the anionic surfactant than the permeate stream, wherein the spiral wound element includes a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, and wherein the membrane is characterized by having: i) a NaCl rejection and an anionic rejection of at least 99% when tested with an aqueous solution containing 2000 ppm NaCl and 2 ppm an anionic surfactant at 25° C., pH 8 and ImPa (150 psi); and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.3 moles/kg of polyamide at pH 9.5 as measured by Rutherford Backscattering (RBS).

Abstract: A method for separating hydrocarbons and naphthenic acid from an aqueous mixture containing the same by passing the mixture through a spiral wound element to produce a permeate stream and concentrate stream wherein the concentrate stream has a relatively higher concentration of hydrocarbons than the permeate stream, wherein the spiral wound element includes a composite poly amide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film poly amide layer, wherein the membrane is characterized by having: i) a NaCl rejection and a benzene tetra carboxylic acid rejection of at least 98% when tested with an aqueous solution containing 2000 ppm NaCl and 100 ppm benzene tetra carboxylic acid at 25° C., pH 8 and ImPa (150 psi); and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.3 moles/kg of polyamide at pH 9.5 as measured by Rutherford Backscattering (RBS).

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing an azo (—N?N—) content of from 0.75% to 0.95%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography.

Abstract: A method for treating a NaCl containing aqueous mixture comprising at least 2 ppm of anionic nano particles comprising the step of passing the mixture through a spiral wound element to produce a permeate stream and concentrate stream wherein the concentrate stream has a relatively higher concentration of nano particles than the permeate stream, wherein the spiral wound element includes a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, and wherein the membrane is characterized by having: i) a NaCl rejection and a nano particle rejection of at least 99% when tested with an aqueous solution containing 2000 ppm NaCl and 2 ppm anionic nano particles at 25 C, pH 8 and 1 mPa (150 psi); and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.3 moles/kg of polyamide at pH 9.5 as measured by Rutherford Backscattering (RBS).

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a polyamide layer, including the steps of: i) applying a polar solution including a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution including a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a polyamide layer; ii) applying a dihydroxyaryl compound to the polyamide layer, wherein the dihydroxyaryl compound is represented by: formula wherein D, D?, D? and D?? are independently selected from: alkyl, alkoxy, hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl and amine, and L is a linking group; and iii) exposing the thin film polyamide layer to nitrous acid.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes: (i) applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer; (ii) treating the thin film polyamide layer with a polyfunctional arene compound; and (iii) exposing the thin film polyamide layer to nitrous acid; wherein the polar and non-polar solutions further comprises at least one of the following: (A) at least one of the solutions further comprises a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound represented by Formula (I): and (B) the non-polar solution further comprises an acid-containing monomer comprising a C2-C20 hydrocarbon moiety substituted with at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof and at least one amine-reactive functional group.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a polyamide layer, including the steps of: i) applying a polar solution including a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution including a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a polyamide layer; ii) applying a dihydroxyaryl compound to the polyamide layer, wherein the dihydroxyaryl compound is represented by: formula wherein D, D?, D? and D?? are independently selected from: alkyl, alkoxy, hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl and amine, and L is a linking group; and iii) exposing the thin film polyamide layer to nitrous acid.