Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of life sciences and cell and tissue cultures, especially 3D cultures. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of maintaining the presence or activity of a human or mouse estrogen receptor (ER) in a cell of an ex vivo mammary cell or tissue culture or in a cell of other hormone responsive cell or tissue culture. Also, the present invention relates to a method of maintaining a luminal epithelial phenotype and/or cell identity of a mammalian cell in an ex vivo cell or tissue culture. Still, the present invention relates to a 3D matrix or 3D medium comprising the matrix for ex vivo culture, wherein said 3D matrix or 3D medium comprises one or more mammalian cells or tissues embedded in said 3D matrix or 3D medium, and to a system for ex vivo culture, wherein the system comprises mammalian cells or tissues embedded in a 3D matrix or 3D medium comprising said matrix.

Abstract: An optically transparent matrix including a molecule containing a hydroxyazobenzene group or its derivative embedded in the matrix. An optical system including the optically transparent matrix, an isomerizing light source, and one or more light detector(s) for measuring absorbance changes from the optically transparent matrix. A method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen bonding gaseous molecules.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a material, based on fibrillar, elongated, or disk-like colloidal particles, that has a high scattering efficiency, a method that is suitable for preparing such a material, and the use of such a material. The material can be used as, or as a part of, a pigment, paint or protective coating in various industries, but due to its high scattering, and due to the fact that the material appears white even as a thin membrane, it is an interesting option also in the paper and pulp, cosmetic and medical industries.

Abstract: An optically transparent matrix including a molecule containing a hydroxyazobenzene group or its derivative embedded in the matrix. An optical system including the optically transparent matrix, an isomerizing light source, and means for measuring absorbance changes from the optically transparent matrix. A method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen bonding gaseous molecules.

Abstract: Method for fabricating fiber and film products and composites includes: introducing an aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose into a volume of organic extraction agent miscible with water so that the aqueous gel is kept as a separate phase and forms one or several discrete physical entities containing the nanofibrillar cellulose within the phase; changing water with the organic extraction agent in said one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose; and drying the nanofibrillar cellulose by removing the organic extraction agent from the one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose. In the method the aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose is introduced into the volume of organic extraction agent in the form of one or several elongated elements which form a fiber-like or ribbon-like or film-like product after drying.

Abstract: A method for producing a superhydrophobic surface, which includes cellulosic material. The cellulosic material includes nanocellulose particles and the method includes adding the nanocellulose particles to a surface and hydrophobizing the nanocellulose particles with a modifier before, during and/or after the addition of the particles. The invention further relates to a hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: Method for fabricating fiber and film products and composites includes: introducing an aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose into a volume of organic extraction agent miscible with water so that the aqueous gel is kept as a separate phase and forms one or several discrete physical entities containing the nanofibrillar cellulose within the phase; changing water with the organic extraction agent in said one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose; and drying the nanofibrillar cellulose by removing the organic extraction agent from the one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose. In the method the aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose is introduced into the volume of organic extraction agent in the form of one or several elongated elements which form a fiber-like or ribbon-like or film-like product after drying.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of modifying the surface of a cellulosic material, wherein a modifying compound is attached to the cellulosic material through a linker, which linker is a conjugate that has been activated by functionalization prior to adsorption to form an activated conjugate, and wherein the entire method is carried out in aqueous media, as well as an intermediate product suitable for attaching to a modifying compound, the intermediate product comprising said functionalized conjugate linker that has been adsorbed to a cellulosic material.

Abstract: A method for preparing composite structure self-assemblies. Structural segments are formed, which connect to each other through binder material. The structural segments are combined with the binder material to produce structural segments having the binder adhered thereto. The structural segments are combined to a form a composite structure through self-assembly, where the structural segments join to each other through said binder.

Abstract: A two-component curable paint composition comprises a base component containing at least one curable resin, and a hardening component which contains a non-conducting polyaniline, and a liquid-phase or molten-phase curing agent capable of curing said curable resin of the resin component and capable of dissolving non-conducting polyaniline. According to the invention, the curing agent comprises an organic amine compound having at least two primary amine functions linked together by a hydrocarbon chain which is optionally interrupted by at least one heteroatom, said amine compound exhibiting irregularities in the chemical structure of its hydrocarbon chain. The invention also provides a method of preparing paint compositions, a method of forming a paint coating on the surface as well as a coated metal surface. The solutions produced by the invention are stable over extended periods of time, and the anti-corrosive erect of the paint compositions is good even at very low concentrations of the polyaniline.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymer blends and processes for the preparation thereof. The present blends contain a) 5 to 95 parts by weight of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)ether, b) 95 to 5 parts by weight of a second polymer which is immiscible therewith, and c) a component (a compatibilizer) which enhances the compatibility of the polymers. According to the invention the component enhancing the compatibility of the polymers comprises 0.1 to 10%, preferably about 1.5 to 10%, calculated on basis of the total weight of components a and b, of at least one compound C, which has the formulaA.sub.i --B.sub.j IwhereinA stands for a group which contains at least one ring with 3 to 7 members, capable of forming ring-to-ring interactions with the phenyl rings of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)ether,B is a polar group,i is an integer 1 to 20, andj is an integer 0 to 20,whereati+j is greater than or equal to 2,the melting point of compound C is above 50.degree. C. and the boiling point thereof above 200.degree.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are disclosed comprising protonated, electrically conducting polyaniline; cyclic organic compounds capable of forming ring-ring interactions with the six-membered rings of the polyaniline and hydrogen bonding with the NH groups of the polyaniline; and anionic surface active additives. According to the invention, no particular requirements are posed for the counter-ions of polyaniline, which allows for the use of non-functionilized counter-ions. The conducting polyaniline complexes of the invention are processible in the fluid-phase and exhibit significantly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed comprising electrically conducting polyaniline and particular substituted aromatic compounds that simultaneously form hydrogen bonds and ring-ring interactions with, respectively, the NH-groups and the six-membered rings of the conducting polyanilines. The present conducting polyaniline compositions show drastically enhanced processibility and their blends with insulating or semiconducting materials exhibit significantly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive polymer complex which contains a polyaniline or derivative thereof doped with a protonic acid. By the method according to the invention, a conductive polymer is obtained having substantially reduced acidity, sufficiently high conductivity level, and which is suitable, for example, for being melt processed in conventional plastics processing apparatus. The acidity of the conductive polymer can be reduced by having the conductive polymer contain both a metal compound and an additionally neutralizing compound. The obtained conductive polymer material, having a pH value of approximately 3-8, can be mixed with an insulating polymer to produce a conductive plastics mixture. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a conductive polymer that is more processable by incorporating therein a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of water, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive polymer complex which contains a polyaniline or derivative thereof doped with a protonic acid. By the method according to the invention, a conductive polymer is obtained having substantially reduced acidity, sufficiently high conductivity level, and which is suitable, for example, for being melt processed in conventional plastics processing apparatus. The acidity of the conductive polymer can be reduced by having the conductive polymer contain both a metal compound and an additionally neutralizing compound. The obtained conductive polymer material, having a pH value of approximately 3-8, can be mixed with an insulating polymer to produce a conductive plastics mixture. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a conductive polymer that is more processable by incorporating therein a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of water, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that relate to the use of reaction products of metal compounds and protonic acids for plasticizing and neutralizing acidic, protonated compositions comprising substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines and co-polymers and or mixtures thereof; and for reducing the percolation threshold for conductivity in blends with insulating bulk polymers.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are disclosed comprising protonated, electrically conducting polyaniline; cyclic organic compounds capable of forming ring-ring interactions with the six-membered rings of the polyaniline and hydrogen bonding with the NH groups of the polyaniline; and anionic surface active additives. According to the invention, no particular requirements are posed for the counter-ions of polyaniline, which allows for the use of non-functionilized counter-ions. The conducting polyaniline complexes of the invention are processible in the fluid-phase and exhibit significantly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that relate to the use of reaction products of metal compounds and protonic acids for plasticizing and neutralizing acidic, protonated compositions comprising substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines and co-polymers and or mixtures thereof; and for reducing the percolation threshold for conductivity in blends with insulating bulk polymers.