Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: A system and method for providing real-time interpretation, translation, and cross-culture communication expertise for delivery over the global communication and wireless networks, mobile communication devices and kiosks. The system provides an end-to-end global communication and interpretation service for users including registration, listing, profiling, matchmaking, authentication, scheduling, reservation, delivery, billing, feedback, archiving and rating components. Consumers engage the translation/interpretation services of certified language and knowledge experts after communicating their needs in their native language(s) or by selecting translators/interpreters based on profiling and availability. Thereinafter, the real-time event and/or knowledge transfer is delivered over the global communications networks, mobile phones, or kiosks.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating communication based on cross-culture and personality components. The system provides for real-time interaction with cross-culture experts and an automated platform that provides for customization based on several metrics, including culture and personality.

Abstract: A method and system enabling users to access a plurality of professional service providers and knowledge experts to engage their services in real-time over the global computer networks and mobile phones. Prior to scheduling a session, the user has the option to bid on the services of a provider or expert in an online trading environment or to “purchase now” by making an instantaneous payment, or by subscription. The system and method enables sessions and events to be scheduled online and delivered via any combination of voice, video, and text over either a wired or wireless connection to the Internet, instant messaging applications, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, or any specialized communications device that can support interactive delivery of professional services and real-time solutions and guidance. The abovementioned interfaces over which the real-time professional services will be delivered are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Global Communications Networks.

Abstract: Described are methods of production of polysuccinimides having molecular weights up to 200,000 daltons and higher. The polysuccinimides of the invention are essentially unbranched and uncrosslinked. They can be modified by crosslinking, ring-opening, and/or other functionalization, if desired, to form gelling materials of superior performance. The high Mw polysuccinimides are also particularly useful as thickening agents, viscosity modifiers, emollients, humectants and in other applications that are known in the art to be serviced most effectively by molecules of higher molecular weight.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a telecommunication device wake-up (TWU) so vital communication, including but not limited to, priority and emergency calls, can be delivered to a telecommunications device that is turned from its normal “On-mode”, to a “Listening Mode” (LM). Telecommunication device wake-up (TWU) is crucial. Important and emergency calls need to be completed regardless of the status of a Telecommunication User's (TU's) communication and/or telephony device—“off” or “on”. The method comprises a system in which a telecommunication device (TD) can employ a Listening Mode (LM) that will process vital communication and then turn on said telecommunication device (TD) so as to facilitate vital communication.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of aspartate, asparagine, and succinimide.

Abstract: Described are methods of production of polysuccinimides having molecular weights up to 200,000 daltons and higher. The polysuccinimides of the invention are essentially unbranched and uncrosslinked. They can be modified by crosslinking, ring-opening, and/or other functionalization, if desired, to form gelling materials of superior performance. The high Mw polysuccinimides are also particularly useful as thickening agents, viscosity modifiers, emollients, humectants and in other applications that are known in the art to be serviced most effectively by molecules of higher molecular weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers based on aspartic acid or its precursor molecules and methods of their production. The copolymers are water-soluble over a wide range of composition and molecular weight. Their preparation involves conversion of a polysuccinimide to copolymers of defined composition, containing aspartate and succinimide residues and/or residues of asparagine. In particular, the copolymers include water-soluble terpolymers of asp artate, asp aragine, and succinimide.

Abstract: Described are monomer compositions containing aspartic acid and other comonomers, such as monosodium aspartate, and methods for their production. The monomer compositions can be polymerized, particularly by thermal polymerization, to obtain useful and novel imide-containing polyamino acids, i.e., copolymers containing polymerized aspartate units and succinimide units. The invention is also directed to the resulting polymeric materials, their methods of production, and their uses. Uses of the imide-containing polyamino acids include, for example, dispersants in detergents and cleansers, water-treatment chemicals as anti-scalants and corrosion inhibitors, personal-care additives for softening and moisturizing, and many others.

Abstract: Described are monomer compositions containing aspartic acid and other comonomers, such as monosodium aspartate, and methods for their production. The monomer compositions can be polymerized, particularly by thermal polymerization, to obtain useful and novel imide-containing polyamino acids, i.e., copolymers containing polymerized aspartate units and succinimide units. The invention is also directed to the resulting polymeric materials, their methods of production, and their uses. Uses of the imide-containing polyamino acids include, for example, dispersants in detergents and cleansers, water-treatment chemicals as anti-scalants and corrosion inhibitors, personal-care additives for softening and moisturizing, and many others.

Abstract: Heating an intimate mixture of: (a) a polyamide which contains pendant carboxylic acid groups; and (b) a compound which contains an amino group efficiently affords graft polymers with a high graft density. Such graft polymers are particularly useful as additives for cementitious compositions.

Abstract: Thermal polymerization of a salt of aspartic acid affords polyaspartate directly without hydrolyzing polysuccinimide. Copolymerization of a salt of aspartic acid with aspartic acid itself affords a copolymer of succinimide and aspartate which may be readily derivatized to produce a sulfonated, phosphonated or hydrophobized polymer.

Abstract: Polysuccinimide and/or polyaspartate, copolymers of succinimide and aspartate and the polymers cross-linked with a diamine are demonstrated to be enhancement agents for the preparation of cementitious materials. The agents may be added to the dry cementitious mixture or the water which is added to form the cementitious material upon hardening. The enhancement agents improve the workability of the wet cementitious mixture, reduce slump loss during mixing, transport, and placement of the wet cementious mixture; and may provide extra strength upon hardening of the cementitious material.

Abstract: Absorbent gelling materials are prepared by crosslinking polyaspartate units. The crosslinked homopolymers exhibit improved gel volumes, gel strengths and extractable material characteristics. Using diamine crosslinkers in an amount of 2.5-30 percent by weight, the blue-dextran saline gel volumes of at least 15 can be obtained. Similarly, gel strengths of 300 N/m.sup.2 or better, including gel strengths above 3000 N/m.sup.2, can be obtained. The resulting product is susceptible of a variety of uses, is biodegradable, and can be prepared in a particle size suitable for use in a diaper.

Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly(X).sub.n poly(Y).sub.m (I)poly(X').sub.a poly(Y').sub.b (II)wherein each X independently is a polar amino acid, each Y independently is a non-polar amino acid, each X' independently is a polar amino acid, and each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid, and salts of these polyamino acids, are effective as dispersing agents for minerals in aqueous media and for stabilizing aqueous suspensions of minerals.

Abstract: Polyamino acids of the formulae (I) and (II):poly (X).sub.n poly (Y).sub.m (I)whereeach X independently is aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, or phosphothreonine,each Y independently is alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glycine or other nonpolar, amino acid residues,n is 2 to 60,m is 2 to 60, andn+m is .gtoreq.5,and whereinpoly (X).sub.n may contain up to 10% of the Y residues and poly (Y).sub.m may contain up to 10% of the X residues, and salts thereof; andpoly (X').sub.a poly (Y').sub.b (II)whereeach X' independently is aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, or anionic derivatives of these amino acids, or phosphoserine,each Y' independently is a phosphorylated amino acid such as phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine or mixtures of these residues,a is 2 to 150,b is 1 to 3, anda+b is .gtoreq.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, crosslinked polypeptides containing 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoasparagine, or phosphoglutamine, and 15 to 85 mole % of amino acid residues such as lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamine, serine or tyrosine, in which the degree of crosslinking is sufficient to result in a substantially water-insoluble polypeptide with the ability to absorb a 1 wt. % aqueous NaCl solution in an amount of at least 20 times the weight of the polypeptide, are useful as superabsorbents in devices such as diapers, etc. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of the crosslinked polypeptides increases their superabsorbency by two to three fold.

Abstract: Polypeptides of the formulapoly (X).sub.m (Y).sub.n,whereinX is selected from the group consisting of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, mixtures and block polymers thereof,Y is selected from the group consisting of phosphoserine, sulfoserine, phosphohomoserine, phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine, phosphoglutamine, phosphoasparagine, serine, alanine, dehydroalanine and mixtures thereof,m=5-199 andn=1-10have been demonstrated to inhibit mineral deposition, and can be employed in the inhibition of mineral deposition in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Serine-containing polypeptides can be thermally synthesized by combining the necessary amino acid residues in a reaction vessel, eliminating oxygen to preclude charring, and heating said reaction vessel in a heating medium to a temperature of about 155.degree. C.