Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: Method for controlling glass formation on a semiconductor substrate. By using a doped diffusion barrier material, such as a transition metal oxide paste, the subsequent diffusion of glass forming elements into the substrate may be stabilized and controlled.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for prospecting for subterranean oil and gas deposits by detecting the presence of hydrocarbon-consuming microorganisms in soil samples taken from a field of interest for production. A preferred method of this invention comprises suspending and diluting each soil sample in mineral salt solution, combining the sample with a selective growth, substrate such as an alcohol or aldehyde, and an oxidation-reduction dye in a gas-tight tube, incubating the sample and measuring the color change of the dye. Advantages of this system include: results obtained in short times (24 to 72 hours), substantially eliminates false positives, accurate results particularly when a spectrophotometer is used to measure the color changes, and it is automatable with computer controlled systems for processing samples, reading the color changes and calculating and plotting test results.