Abstract: The specification describes an improved optical fiber cable wherein the cable cross section is round and contains a plurality of bundled optical fibers. The bundle may comprise randomly spaced fibers or fibers aligned in a ribbon configuration. The bundle is encased in a polymer encasement that couples mechanically to each optical fiber. Preferably, the fibers are spaced from the nearest neighbor to improve coupling. In some embodiments the encasement is relatively hard, and is deliberately made to adhere to the optical fiber bundle. Consequently the encasement medium functions as an effective stress translating medium that deliberately translates stresses on the cable to the optical fibers. The cable construction of the invention is essentially void free, and provides a dry cable with water blocking capability.

Abstract: The specification describes an improved optical fiber cable wherein the cable cross section is round and contains a plurality of bundled optical fibers. The bundle may comprise randomly arranged optical fibers or optical fibers aligned in a ribbon configuration. The bundle is encased in a polymer encasement that couples mechanically to the optical fibers. In some embodiments the encasement is relatively hard, and is deliberately made to adhere to the optical fiber bundle. Consequently the encasement medium functions as an effective stress translating medium that deliberately translates stresses on the cable to the optical fibers. The cable construction of the invention is essentially void free, and provides a dry cable with water blocking capability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods to improve expression of exogenous polypeptides into vertebrate cells in vivo, utilizing delivery of polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. More particularly, the present invention provides the use of salts, in particular sodium and potassium salts of phosphate, in aqueous solution, and auxiliary agents, in particular detergents and surfactants, in pharmaceutical compositions and methods useful for direct polynucleotide-based polypeptide delivery into the cells of vertebrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for reducing RNA concentration in a mixture of biological material, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of biological material having a first concentration of RNA; (b) filtering the mixture through a diatomaceous earth material to produce a filtrate having a second concentration of RNA, wherein the second concentration is less than the first concentration; and (c) collecting the filtrate having a reduced RNA concentration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing plasmid DNA, comprising the steps of: (a) lysing cells containing the plasmid DNA to obtain a lysate; (b) treating the lysate by a means for removing insoluble material to obtain a solute; and (c) applying the solute to differential PEG precipitations and chromatography to purify the plasmid DNA. In other embodiments of the invention, the plasmid DNA is produced with GRAS reagents; the plasmid DNA is produced in the absence of enzymes; the plasmid DNA is produced in the absence of organic extractants; the plasmid DNA is produced in the absence of mutagens; the lysing, treating and applying steps are scalable to result in the large scale manufacture of the plasmid DNA; and the lysing, treating and applying steps result in the generation of pharmaceutical grade material.