Abstract: Sensors for determining the presence and concentration of bio-molecules in a biological sample are provided in the form of polymer brushes, which comprise a substrate having a surface that is modified with a water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer segment having functional groups that bind probes. The method of synthesis of such sensors preferably includes use of controlled free radical polymerization techniques, and in particular the use of an iniferter initiator, which allows for controlled architecture polymers to modify the surface of the substrate. In this manner functional groups in the polymer chain are removed from the surface, which allows for solution chemistry to be more realistically reproduced with the benefits of a solid bound probe.

Abstract: Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. The described methods, systems, and devices have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reacting a plurality of different mixtures in parallel in a semi-batch or continuous mode is provided. Each reaction is contained within a reactor vessel, the reactor vessels combined into a reactor block. Reactant(s) to be added during the reaction are kept in a header barrel, which has a plunger to feed reactant(s) from the header barrel through a transfer line into the reactor vessel. The plunger is moved using a drive system. The header barrels are optionally combined in a header block. The header block is sealed to a plate containing the transfer lines, which in turn is sealed to the reactor block. A latch mechanism is provided for easy sealing of the reactor and header blocks to the plate. The entire apparatus may be placed on a rocker or rotating plate for mixture as the reaction is proceeding.

Abstract: Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. The described methods, systems, and devices have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

Abstract: Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. In preferred high-temperature embodiments, the polymer sample is maintained at a temperature of not less than about 75° C. during sample preparation, loading into a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, injection into a mobile phase of a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, and/or elution from chromatographic column. The described methods, systems, and device have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

Abstract: Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. The described methods, systems, and devices have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for screening diverse arrays of materials are provided. In particular, the present invention provides techniques for interrogating organic materials, inorganic materials, or polymers on predefined regions of a substrate, using optical probe molecules to measure properties of these materials. This invention involves the use of environment-sensitive probes, such as dye probes, to enable parallel, rapid and efficient characterization of important material properties, including glass-transition temperatures, polarity, hydrogen bonding and other intermolecular interactions. These methods can be applied to crystalline or amorphous materials, polymeric or small-molecule materials, pure materials or mixtures, and to materials in bulk, particles, thin films, dispersions, emulsions, and solutions.

Abstract: A thermally processable imaging element comprises a support bearing an imaging layer comprising a hydrophobic binder and a boron compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups.

Abstract: Loaded latex dispersions of hydrophobic photographically useful compounds with a wide variety of polymer latices are prepared by preparing an oil phase solution of the hydrophobic compound or compounds, preferably essentially free of water-miscible or volatile solvent, combining the oil solution with one or more aqueous solutions, at least one of which contains a polymer latex, and mixing the combination of oil solution, aqueous solution and latex under high shear or turbulence sufficient to cause loading of the photographically useful compound into the dispersed polymer latex wherein the pH of the mixture does not need to be significantly changed.

Abstract: An improved image display material comprising high chloride silver halide emulsions having greater than 90 mole % silver chloride, where the material comprises a yellow dye-forming layer sensitive to blue light comprising a high chloride silver halide emusion with a peak spectral sensitivity to blue light less than about 475 nm, preferably from about 440-475 nm, and a coupler dispersion comprising a yellow dye-forming coupler and a water-insoluble polymer. Photographic image display materials with both short-blue sensitivity and a polymer dispersion in the yellow dye-forming blue-sensitive layer show a synergistic improvement in color reproduction in accordance with the invention, providing for color photographic prints with less color error than seen for materials comprising only one of the components. The improvement is most notable for yellow and green colored areas of a color print.

Abstract: A polymeric material is provided comprising a blocked photographically useful group (PUG). The incorporated blocked photographically useful group includes a PUG and a blocking group that is capable of releasing the PUG upon processing the photographic element, wherein the blocking group(a) is capable of reacting with a dinucleophile reagent, and(b) comprises two electrophilic groups that are separated from each other by a substituted atom that enables a nucleophilic displacement reaction to occur with release of PUG upon processing the photographic element in the presence of a dinucleophile reagent, wherein the group that is less electrophilic is bonded directly or through at least one releasable timing group to the PUG.Photographic elements and emulsions including the inventive polymers, and processes for developing an image in the elements, are also provided.

Abstract: Reducing agents for oxidized developing agents and light sensitive elements containing the reducing agents wherein the reducing agents comprise a polymer having gallic acid or gallic acid derivative moieties.

Abstract: A polymeric material is provided comprising a blocked photographically useful group (PUG). The incorporated blocked photographically useful group includes a PUG and a blocking group that is capable of releasing the PUG upon processing the photographic element, wherein the blocking group(a) is capable of reacting with a dinucleophile reagent, and(b) comprises two electrophilic groups that are separated from each other by a substituted atom that enables a nucleophilic displacement reaction to occur with release of PUG upon processing the photographic element in the presence of a dinucleophile reagent, wherein the group that is less electrophilic is bonded directly or through at least one releasable timing group to the PUG.Photographic elements and emulsions including the inventive polymers, and processes for developing an image in the elements, are also provided.

Abstract: An improved method for producing multiply-branched polyester comprising condensing a reactant having the general formula Z.sup.1 --Ar--(Z.sup.2).sub.j, wherein j is 2 or 3, Ar is an aryl or heteroaryl group having from 1 to 3, solitary or linked or fused, five or six membered rings, and one of Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 is a carboxyl group and the other is a group having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of fluoro and chloro and g is an integer from 0 to about 7.