Abstract: A self-steering bogie for an elongate road vehicle having at least a first axle assembly at the front end of the vehicle and at least one trailing axle assembly disposed on the vehicle behind said first axle assembly. The trailing axle assembly is a set of tandem axles with associated wheels disposed below a structural frame of the vehicle, the bogie comprising a rotatable sub-frame borne on the set of tandem axles which supports the vehicle by means of a load bearing turntable. A rotational restraint assembly is mounted on the turntable and which in part interconnects the sub-frame, the structural frame and an upper portion of the turntable, the rotational restraint assembly having a plurality of compression air springs. The elongate road vehicle could be a truck and semitrailer where the trailing axle assembly is on the semitrailer, or a vehicle such as a bus.

Abstract: A self-steering bogie for an elongate road vehicle having at least a first axle assembly at the front end of the vehicle and at least one trailing axle assembly disposed on the vehicle behind said first axle assembly. The trailing axle assembly is a set of tandem axles with associated wheels disposed below a structural frame of the vehicle, the bogie comprising a rotatable sub-frame borne on the set of tandem axles which supports the vehicle by means of a load bearing turntable. A rotational restraint assembly is mounted on the turntable and which in part interconnects the sub-frame, the structural frame and an upper portion of the turntable, the rotational restraint assembly having a plurality of compression air springs. The elongate road vehicle could be a truck and semitrailer where the trailing axle assembly is on the semitrailer, or a vehicle such as a bus.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher comprises a conduit having an air inlet and outlet. A blower unit is used for delivering a stream of air from said inlet to said outlet for extinguishing a fire. The extinguisher includes a cooling device using water to cool the stream of air entering said inlet prior to it being delivered to said fire via said outlet, and a powder delivery system for injecting and mixing a powder into said cooled stream of air prior to it leaving said outlet. The cooling device utilizing a tiny fraction of water to cool air as it passes there through.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher comprises a conduit having an air inlet and outlet. A blower unit is used for delivering a stream of air from said inlet to said outlet for extinguishing a fire. The extinguisher includes a cooling device using water to cool the stream of air entering said inlet prior to it being delivered to said fire via said outlet, and a powder delivery system for injecting and mixing a powder into said cooled stream of air prior to it leaving said outlet. The cooling device utilising a tiny fraction of water to cool air as it passes there through.

Abstract: The embodiment of a torque multiplying mechanism, consisting of a rotating sleeve (9), a pedal extender arm (2), small sprockets (5), a hinge pin (4) attached to each small sprocket and to each pedal extender arm, un-numbered short chains connecting the small sprockets to large sprockets (6), and foot pedals attached to the pedal extender arms. The foot pedals connect the pedal extender arms to the rotating sleeve through the small sprockets, short chains and large sprockets attached to the sleeve. The rotating sleeve then forces the vehicle drive sprocket to turn, with multiplied torque, due to the leverage applied to the short chains by the small sprockets attached to the pedal extender arms.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided rapidly crosslinkable polypeptides which are obtained upon introduction of unsaturated group(s) into the polypeptide via linkage to amino acid residues on the polypeptide directly through one of three types of linkages, namely, an amide linkage, an ester linkage, or a thioester linkage. Each of these linkages are obtainable in a single step by use of a single derivatizing agent, acrylic anhydride. Also provided are methods for preparing such modified polypeptides and various uses therefor. It has unexpectedly been found that proteins with the above-described chemical modifications have the ability to rapidly crosslink to themselves under suitable conditions. This crosslinking occurs in the absence of any external crosslinking agents (indeed, in the absence of any extraneous agents), resulting in the formation of a solid gel material. Solid crosslinked gels are formed in seconds, starting from a freely flowing solution of polypeptide.

Abstract: A method is provided for achieving an enhanced finish on a sputter target surface that results in good film uniformity, low particle counts, and little to no bum-in time. The method involves chemically etching the surface of the sputter target by immersing the surface one or more times in an etching solution, with intermediate rinsing steps. The result is a surface substantially free of mechanical deformation that exhibits a surface similar to a sputtered target with a surface roughness of 10-30 &mgr;in.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new form of biocompatible materials (e.g., lipids, polycations, polysaccharides) which are capable of undergoing free radical polymerization, e.g., by using certain sources of light; methods of modifying certain synthetic and naturally occurring biocompatible materials to make polymerizable microcapsules containing biological material coated with said polymerizable materials, composites of said polymerizable materials, methods of making microcapsules and encapsulating biological materials therein, and apparatus for making microcapsules containing biological cells (particularly islets of Langerhans) coated with polymerizable alginate or with a composite thereof (e.g., alginate and PEG). The present invention also relates to drug delivery systems relating to the foregoing, as well as bioadhesives and wound dressings made utilizing the foregoing technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new form of biocompatible materials (e.g., lipids, polycations, polysaccharides) which are capable of undergoing free radical polymerization, e.g., by using certain sources of light; methods of modifying certain synthetic and naturally occurring biocompatible materials to make polymerizable microcapsules containing biological material coated with said polymerizable materials, composites of said polymerizable materials, methods of making microcapsules and encapsulating biological materials therein, and apparatus for making microcapsules containing biological cells (particularly islets of Langerhans) coated with polymerizable alginate or with a composite thereof (e.g., alginate and PEG). The present invention also relates to drug delivery systems relating to the foregoing, as well as bioadhesives and wound dressings made utilizing the foregoing technology.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods to render cells non-adhesive and/or non-immunogenic with respect to macromolecules typically encountered in culture media or in physiological media.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided derivatives of chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., paclitaxel), which serve as bifunctional agents. Invention derivatives retain the antitumor activity of the parent compound, and, coupled with the electron affinic substituents thereon, produce compounds which show a strong capability for radiosensitizing tumor cells growing in vitro. It is expected that a single drug which combines the properties of a radiosensitizer with chemotherapeutic activity will offer significant advantages not only to patients, but also to radiotherapists seeking improved modes of treatment. The combination of antitumor properties with electron-affinic function produces novel radiosensitizers, a second generation of drugs which are more powerful to fight cancers. Bifunctional agents with the dual properties of tubulin assembly and electron affinity will make the compounds useful not only as radiosensitizers, but also as cytotoxins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new form of biocompatible materials (e.g., lipids, polycations, polysaccharides) which are capable of undergoing free radical polymerization, e.g., by using certain sources of light; methods of modifying certain synthetic and naturally occurring biocompatible materials to make polymerizable microcapsules containing biological material coated with said polymerizable materials, composites of said polymerizable materials, methods of making microcapsules and encapsulating biological materials therein, and apparatus for making microcapsules containing biological cells (particularly islets of Langerhans) coated with polymerizable alginate or with a composite thereof (e.g., alginate and PEG). The present invention also relates to drug delivery systems relating to the foregoing, as well as bioadhesives and wound dressings made utilizing the foregoing technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new form of biocompatible materials (e.g., lipids, polycations, polysaccharides) which are capable of undergoing free radical polymerization, e.g., by using certain sources of light; methods of modifying certain synthetic and naturally occurring biocompatible materials to make polymerizable microcapsules containing biological material coated with said polymerizable materials, composites of said polymerizable materials, methods of making microcapsules and encapsulating biological materials therein, and apparatus for making microcapsules containing biological cells (particularly islets of Langerhans) coated with polymerizable alginate or with a composite thereof (e.g., alginate and PEG). The present invention also relates to drug delivery systems relating to the foregoing, as well as bioadhesives and wound dressings made utilizing the foregoing technology.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions useful for the in vivo delivery of a biologic, wherein the biologic is associated with a polymeric shell formulated from a biocompatible material. The biologic can be associated with the polymeric shell itself, and/or the biologic, optionally suspended/dispersed in a biocompatible dispersing agent, can be encased by the polymeric shell. In another aspect, the biologic associated with polymeric shell is administered to a subject, optionally dispersed in a suitable biocompatible liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions useful for the in vivo delivery of a biologic, wherein the biologic is associated with a polymeric shell formulated from a biocompatible material. The biologic can be associated with the polymeric shell itself, and/or the biologic, optionally suspended/dispersed in a biocompatible dispersing agent, can be encased by the polymeric shell. In another aspect, the biologic associated with polymeric shell is administered to a subject, optionally dispersed in a suitable biocompatible liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions useful for the in vivo delivery of a biologic, wherein the biologic is associated with a polymeric shell formulated from a biocompatible material. The biologic can be associated with the polymeric shell itself, and/or the biologic, optionally suspended/dispersed in a biocompatible dispersing agent, can be encased by the polymeric shell. In another aspect, the biologic associated with polymeric shell is administered to a subject, optionally dispersed in a suitable biocompatible liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided polymeric drug delivery systems in which the drug is bound to a water-soluble polymer to provide a form of soluble drug delivery especially for those cases in which the drug by itself is water-insoluble. In particular, the drug taxol is covalently bound to water-soluble polyethylene glycols such as linear polyethylene glycols, branched polyethylene glycols, star polyethylene glycols, and branched copolymers of polyethylene glycols with other functional monomers to comprise a form of polymeric drug delivery. Also, crosslinked insoluble gels of these materials are prepared to serve as a form of implantable drug delivery.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions useful for the in vivo delivery of a biologic, wherein the biologic is associated with a polymeric shell formulated from a biocompatible material. The biologic can be associated with the polymeric shell itself, and/or the biologic, optionally suspended/dispersed in a biocompatible dispersing agent, can be encased by the polymeric shell. In another aspect, the biologic associated with polymeric shell is administered to a subject, optionally dispersed in a suitable biocompatible liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided compositions useful for the in vivo delivery of a biologic, wherein the biologic is associated with a polymeric shell formulated from a biocompatible material. The biologic can be associated with the polymeric shell itself, and/or the biologic, optionally suspended/dispersed in a biocompatible dispersing agent, can be encased by the polymeric shell. In another aspect, the biologic associated with polymeric shell is administered to a subject, optionally dispersed in a suitable biocompatible liquid.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods to render cells non-adhesive and/or non-immunogenic with respect to macromolecules typically encountered in culture media or in physiological media. The invention method comprises contacting cells with an effective amount of a composition comprising a polycationic species having water-soluble polymer chains grafted thereon.