Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions comprising DNA segments, and proteins derived from sea anemone species. More particularly, it concerns the novel ShK toxin, ShK toxin analogs, chemically-modified toxin analogs, and nucleic acid segments encoding the ShK toxin from Stichodactyla helianthus. Various methods for making and using these DNA segments, DNA segments encoding synthetically-modified ShK toxins, and native and synthetic ShK peptides are disclosed, such as, for example, the use of DNA segments as diagnostic probes and templates for protein production, and the use of proteins, fusion protein carriers and peptides in various immunological and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of resin particles comprising: heating a mixture comprised of a free radical initiator compound, at least one stable free radical compound, at least one free radical polymerizable monomer compound, and at least one free radical polymerizable crosslinking compound; and cooling the mixture, wherein the resulting product resin particles are crosslinked and are comprised of polymerized monomers and at least one crosslinking compound, and wherein the particles have a narrow particle size distribution, a narrow pore size distribution, and a high monomer to polymer conversion.

Abstract: An in-feed magazine apparatus for loading documents includes a magazine feed ramp having one or more document conveyor belts disposed along a bottom surface, the belts being arranged to engage the bottom boundary of the documents. The conveyor belts are configured to effect forward movement of the stack of documents toward a document shingler mechanism along a linear axis defined by forward movement of the conveyor belts. Also included is a backing plate having a lower portion disposed proximal to the conveyor belt, an upper portion disposed vertically upward from the lower portion, and a generally planar face parallel to the plane defined by the face of the documents. An upper and lower sensor sense contact with the front end of the stack of documents while a controller operatively coupled to the upper and the lower sensors determines when the front end of the stack of documents lies in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the backing plate.

Abstract: A hot melt ink composition comprised of a triblock copolymer vehicle, and a dye or pigment.

Abstract: A system for applying linerless labels to mailing items includes a label feeder for feeding a continuous length web of linerless label material from a supply roll through a loop path to a label applying station juxtaposed to the path traversed by mailing items conveyed on edge in sequential fashion by a belt conveyor. The label material passes through a web guide and advance assembly to a cutter station operative to sever the label material transversely and create labels of desired height. A paddle member is operative to engage and hold each successive label as it is being severed from the label material web generally simultaneously to adhere the adhesive side of the label against a mailing items passing through the label applying station. The various operating functions of the linerless label applying system may be coordinated by conventional control logic.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of branched thermoplastic resins comprising: heating a mixture of an unsaturated resin, a free radical initiator, and a stable free radical agent; adding to the heated mixture at least on polymerizable monomer; and cooling the mixture, wherein the resulting product is a branched thermoplastic resin with arms or branches comprised of polymerized monomer with substantially uniform length and narrow polydispersity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a resin comprising:heating a mixture of at least one free radical polymerizable monomer, a free radical initiator compound, a stable free radical compound, and a reducing agent.

Abstract: A drawer for a fibre management cabinet has a number of splice cassettes mounted on it by means of hinges. Each cassette hold a single splice. Fibres leading into a splice cassette are fed through the hinges of that splice cassette.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a polymer which comprises effecting bulk polymerization of a mixture of at least one monomer, a free radical polymerization initiator, and a stable free radical agent until from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of the monomer has been polymerized; optionally adding additional free radical initiator; optionally adding a colorant; dispersing with a high shear mixer the aforementioned partially polymerized mixture in water containing a stabilizing component selected from the group consisting of non-ionic and ionic water soluble polymeric stabilizers to obtain a suspension of particles with an average diameter of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns; polymerizing the resulting suspension to form said polymer.

Abstract: An in-feed magazine apparatus for loading documents includes a magazine feed ramp having one or more document conveyor belts disposed along a bottom surface, the belts being arranged to engage the bottom boundary of the documents. The conveyer belts are configured to effect forward movement of the stack of documents toward a document shingler mechanism along a linear axis defined by forward movement of the conveyer belts. Also included is a backing plate having a lower portion disposed proximal to the conveyor belt, an upper portion disposed vertically upward from the lower portion, and a generally planar face parallel to the plane defined by the face of the documents. An upper and lower sensor sense contact with the front end of the stack of documents while a controller operatively coupled to the upper and the lower sensors determines when the front end of the stack of documents lies in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the backing plate.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy which comprises the reaction of triacetone amine in the presence of a catalyst and a peroxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of branched thermoplastic resins comprising: heating a mixture of an unsaturated resin, a free radical initiator, and a stable free radical agent; adding to the heated mixture at least on polymerizable monomer; and cooling the mixture, wherein the resulting product is a branched thermoplastic resin with arms or branches comprised of polymerized monomer with substantially uniform length and narrow polydispersity.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process for the preparation of a polymer comprising heating a mixture of a free radical initiator, a stable free radical agent, a metal catalyst, or a metal stable free radical complex catalyst, and at least one polymerizable monomer; cooling said mixture; and optionally isolating said polymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of thermoplastic resin comprising: heating a mixture comprised of a free radical initiator, a stable free radical agent, at least one polymerizable monomer compound and an electron acceptor (EA) compound, to form a thermoplastic resin containing a homopolymeric segment or segments and wherein said process possesses a high monomer to polymer conversion and a narrow polydispersity.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process for the preparation of polymer comprising:a first heating and photoinitiating with ultraviolet light of a mixture comprised of a stable free radical agent, and at least one polymerizable monomer compound;optionally cooling said mixture;a second heating of said mixture at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C.;isolating the polymer product formed; andoptionally washing and drying said polymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of branched thermoplastic resins comprising: heating a mixture of a free radical initiator, at least one first free radical reactive monomer, at least one free radical reactive branching agent compound, and at least one stable free radical agent, to produce a linear or unbranched polymer product with a free radical initator fragment at one end and a covalently bonded stable free radical agent at the other end of the polymerized chain of monomers; and irradiating the unbranched polymer product in the presence of a reactive compound selected from the group consisting of a free radical reactive monomer, a branching agent compound, and mixtures thereof to form a branched polymeric product.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of toner compositions comprising: forming a mixture comprised of at least one free radical reactive monomer, a colorant, a stabilizer compound containing a stable free radical reactive group, and a liquid vehicle; and heating the mixture from about 75.degree. to about 200.degree. C. to effect polymerization of said monomer, wherein there results stabilized core resin particles containing said colorant and wherein said stabilized core particles are stabilized by said stable free radical reactive stabilizer compounds being bonded directly to the core particles.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor (10) having permanent magnet stabilization includes a magnetoresistive layer (12), at least one permanent magnet (14a or 14b), and first and second current contacts (16a and 16b). The magnetoresistive layer (12) has an active sensing region (18) having a first thickness, and at least one under layer region (26a or 26b), with each under layer region (26a or 26b) having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. Each permanent magnet (14a or 14b) is formed upon an under layer region (26a or 26b) of the magnetoresistive layer (12), and the first and second contacts (16a and 16b) are electrically coupled to the active region (18).

Abstract: An improved magnetoresistive head design including a front curved sense contact, a back curved sense contact and a lip extension forming an elliptical sensor region is disclosed. Current flows perpendicularly to the contact edges and intersects the MR element's magnetization vector at 45 degrees. A symmetrical read sensitivity function is the result of constant magnetic flux associated with an elliptical sense region.

Abstract: In a remote-control communication system, a signal generating unit includes a first signal transmitter for transmitting a first signal at a first frequency, such as UHF, a second signal transmitter for transmitting a second signal at a second frequency, such as an infrared frequency, that is diverse from the first frequency; a keyboard for generating an information signal containing a given message, which is modulated onto both the first signal and the second signal; wherein both the first and second modulated signals are transmitted in response to a key of the keyboard being pressed to generate the information signal. A receiver for the system includes a microcontroller for processing the given message to control a given operation of an electronic communication apparatus; a UHF detector and demodulator unit and an infrared detector and demodulator unit, which respectively detect and demodulate the first and second modulated signals to provide the information signal containing the given message.