Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a film for use with an edge-lit backlight includes a substrate. The film also includes a graphics layer and light-extraction features in contact with the substrate. The graphics layer and the light-extraction features are on opposite surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: A medical tube has one or more permanent passive integrated transponders associated therewith that are capable of being located by a detection apparatus which senses the electromagnetic field strength gradient generated by each passive integrated transponder associated with the medical tube and indicates the value of the gradient to the user. In one embodiment, the passive integrated transponder is associated with the distal end of an endotracheal medical tube in a fixed orientation with an electromagnetic field pointing at a preferred angle of no more than 15 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the medical tube. The passive integrated transponder's static electromagnetic field is sensed by the detection apparatus and indicates the location of the distal end of the medical tube within a body.

Abstract: The shelf life of fresh harvest produce is extended by coating the exterior surface of freshly harvested produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride copolymers containing from about 0.25 to 25% by weight of copolymer solids to water and between 0.001 and 20% plasticizer preferably a polyethylene oxide based additive such as Triton-X to weight of copolymer solids in the emulsion. The coating may also contain biocides as well to control bacteria and fungal growth on the post harvest produce during storage, shipping, distribution, and sale of the product. The coating composition is effective in extending the shelf life of produce.

Abstract: The shelf life of fresh harvest produce is extended by coating the exterior surface of freshly harvested produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride copolymers containing from about 0.25 to 25% by weight of copolymer solids to water and between 0.001 and 20% plasticizer preferably a polyethylene oxide based additive such as Triton-X to weight of copolymer solids in the emulsion. The coating may also contain biocides as well to control bacteria and fungal growth on the post harvest produce during storage, shipping, distribution, and sale of the product. The coating composition is effective in extending the shelf life of produce.

Abstract: A medical device includes a device core and fluorescing molecules attached to the device core. The medical device may be formed in a variety of ways, including providing a medical device and coating at least a portion of the device with a polymer containing the fluorescing molecules, attaching a container containing the fluorescing molecules to a medical device, or molding a medical device from a polymer that includes the fluorescing molecules.

Abstract: A method of locating and identifying, during surgery, target regions within a body intended for excision of suspect tissue and/or removal of diseased organs or foreign objects, resides in implantation within the body proximate the suspect tissue or object prior to surgery of one or more passive integrated transponder tags and, at the time of and/or during surgery, scanning of the body with a radio frequency scanner or reader that activates the tag or tags and provides the surgeon with one or more signals indicative of the approximate location and unique identification of each of the tags, thereby to aid the surgeon in performance of the surgery. Verification of the success of the surgical procedure is obtained following surgery by scanning the site for absence of the tag or tags and/or by scanning the excised tissue for presence of the tag or tags.

Abstract: A medical tube has one or more permanent passive integrated transponders associated therewith that are capable of being located by a detection apparatus which senses the electromagnetic field strength gradient generated by each passive integrated transponder associated with the medical tube and indicates the value of the gradient to the user. In one embodiment, the passive integrated transponder is associated with the distal end of an endotracheal medical tube in a fixed orientation with an electromagnetic field pointing at a preferred angle of no more than 15 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the medical tube. The passive integrated transponder's static electromagnetic field is sensed by the detection apparatus and indicates the location of the distal end of the medical tube within a body.

Abstract: A method of preserving the natural color and appearance of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, especially for inhibiting desiccation and/or discoloration of freshly processed vegetables such as carrots, resides in coating the fruit or vegetable with an aqueous solution of trehalose or of trehalose combined with one or more other sugars.

Abstract: A method of preserving the natural color and appearance of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, especially for inhibiting desiccation and/or discoloration of freshly processed vegetables such as carrots, resides in coating the fruit or vegetable with an aqueous solution of trehalose or of trehalose combined with one or more other sugars.

Abstract: The shelf life of fresh harvest produce is extended by coating the exterior surface of freshly harvested produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride copolymers containing from about 0.25 to 25% by weight of copolymer solids to water and between 0.001 and 20% plasticizer preferably a polyethylene oxide based additive such as Triton-X to weight of copolymer solids in the emulsion. The coating may also contain biocides as well to control bacteria and fungal growth on the post harvest produce during storage, shipping, distribution, and sale of the product. The coating composition is effective in extending the shelf life of produce.

Abstract: Controlled release urea-based feed supplements for ruminant animals and controlled release urea-based plant nutrients are comprised of particles or granules comprised in whole or in principal part of urea or having urea at or on the exterior surfaces thereof, and a moisture resistant interpenetrating polymer network coating on the particles comprised of the reaction products of urea and a polyisocyanate, and the reaction products of polyisocyanate, an alkyd resin having at least one double bond in each repeat unit and an oil having at least one double bond, the double bonds being reactive with one another and with themselves. The coated plant nutrients have a substantially linear rate of release of nutrients to the soil over a controlled period of time, e.g., 30 to 120 days. The coated ruminant feed supplements have a substantially linear rate of NPN release in the rumen over a controlled period of time, e.g., 12 to 24 hours.

Abstract: This invention provides a ruminant feedstock with a content of non-protein nitrogen supplement which yields a safe controlled-release generation of ammonia under rumen incubation conditions. In another embodiment, this invention provides a ruminant feedstock supplement for controlled-release of non-protein nitrogen which comprises urea particles encapsulated with a rumen-degradable polymeric coating.

Abstract: Fresh produce is preserved by coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about 0.5 to about 4 percent by weight of a cellulose derivative, preferably sodium carboxymethylcellulose, from about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent by weight of konjac, and from about 0.03 to about 0.1 percent by weight of surfactant, preferably dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. Optional constituents include antimicrobials, plasticizers and antifoaming agents. The coating composition is effective to control respiratory exchange, i.e., the passage of gases, particularly oxygen, ethylene, carbon dioxide and water vapor, into and out of the produce, thereby to control maturation and ripening of the produce.

Abstract: Fresh produce is preserved by coating the exterior surface of the produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous solution of from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of substantially hydrolyzed cold water insoluble polyvinyl alcohol, about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight of low molecular weight cold water soluble starch, and about 0.03 to about 5 percent by weight of surfactant. Optional constituents include antimicrobials and plasticizers. The coating composition is effective to control respiratory exchange, i.e., the passage of gases, particularly oxygen, ethylene and carbon dioxide, into and out of the produce, thereby to control maturation and ripening of the produce.

Abstract: A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so- called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Abstract: A powder injection molding composition or feedstock is made of 70% or more by weight of a powdered metal or ceramic and 30% or less by weight of a binder system. The binder system contains a sufficient amount of polypropylene or polyethylene to hold the so-called brown preform of the molded metal or ceramic powder together for the sintering step of the injection molding process and a sufficient amount of partially hydrolyzed cold water soluble polyvinyl alcohol, water and plasticizer to facilitate molding of the composition into the so-called green preform of the article to be manufactured. The debinding step of the injection molding process for transforming the green preform into the brown preform consists simply of immersing the green preform in water at ambient temperature to dissolve the polyvinyl alcohol. The binder system is nonhazardous, safe, harmless and fully degradable.

Abstract: Biologic molecules and pathogens in a sample substance are detected by utilizing the multiplicity of mirrors in a digital micromirror device as test sites to which molecular probes are attached and to which the sample substance is applied. A molecule or pathogen bonded on the surface of a micromirror activated with an appropriate molecular probe can be detected by optical projection or software interrogation of the array of micromirrors.

Abstract: Plant nutrients that are released in soil over a controlled period of time are comprised of plant nutrient particles containing urea and on the surface of the particles a water insoluble, biodegradable, interpenetrating polymer network comprised of a biuret, a urethane and tung oil; more specifically, an interpenetrating network comprised of the reaction product of the urea and an isocynate reactive with urea, the reaction product of the isocyanate and an alcohol reactive with isocyanate to form a urethane, and the reaction product of the urethane and tung oil. A method of making the controlled release plant nutrient conveniently and economically is also disclosed.

Abstract: Cold water insoluble, hot water soluble and/or dispersible, disposable films, fabrics and other useful articles of manufacture are formed from a miscible polymeric resin blend comprised of cold water soluble partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, cold water insoluble hot water disintegrable aliphatic polyester, and minor proportions of processing and performance aids. The aliphatic polyester has a melt temperature above the normal body temperature of a human (37 degrees C.; 98.6 degrees F.) and is present in the resin blend at a concentration sufficient to constitute the continuous phase of the blend, with the polyvinyl alcohol constituting a discontinuous phase of the blend. The aliphatic polyester thus renders the resin blend, and the partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol in the blend, cold water insoluble and determines the temperature at which articles formed from the blend will be subject to dissolution in an aqueous bath and subsequent disposal in an environmentally and ecologically sound fashion.