Abstract: A process to excystate protozoal sporocysts involves treatment of an infected tissue sample with a sodium hypochlorite solution to stimulate excystation of the sporocysts from the tissue. Thereafter, removal of the sodium hypochlorite solution and treatment of the sample with a cell culture media as the excystation fluid eliminates incubation and subsequent washing steps using expensive reagents. The excystation fluid contains substantially no chelating agents, proteins, enzymes or bile acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to the extraction of pharmaceutically active components from plant materials, and more particularly to the preparation of a botanical drug substance (BDS) for incorporation in to a medicament. It also relates to a BDS of given purity, for use in pharmaceutical formulations. In particular it relates to BDS comprising cannabinoids obtained by extraction from cannabis.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel herbal composition for treatment of cuts, burns and wounds, the composition comprising plant material selected from Utleria solicifolia, Jatropha curcas, Clerodendrum infortunatum, and Centella asiatica.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical or medicinal preparation comprising a combination of two herbal compositions to be administered together. The first herbal composition comprises a mixture of the following herbs: Asparagus racemosa, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Momordica charantia, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera, Spirulina, Allium sativum, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia belerica, and Terminalia chebula, or a mixture of the active ingredients that have been extracted from those herbs or chemically synthesized. The second herbal composition comprises a mixture of the following herbs: Moringa oleifera, Boerhavia diffusa, Onosma bracteatum, Bauhinia variegata, Spheranthus indicus, Tecomella undulata, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Ficus racemosa, and Cyperus rotundus, or a mixture of the active ingredients that have been extracted from those herbs or chemically synthesized.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel herbal preparation useful in treatment of allergy. Formulation(s) comprises of plant preparation or active component of plant extract together with conventional additives to form the oral dosage forms, which includes tablets, capsules and liquid dosage forms viz. syrup and suspension as anti-allergic. Formulation(s) comprises of Tinospora cardifolia, Piper longum, Albizia lebbeck and Curcuma amada. The formulation can be used as solid or liquid or encapsulated as a soft/hard gelatin capsule for easy consumption as solid or liquid dosage forms.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea in human beings. The inhalation of an effective amount of vaporized essential oil from Mentha piperita (peppermint oil) has been shown in practice to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea. A simple hand-held apparatus provides the vapors to be inhaled through the nostril to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food additive, in particular for food products such as dressings, mayonnaises, spreads or other food products having a reduced fat content. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the food additive and to its use in the preparation of food products. It has been found that a method according to the present invention allows the preparation of a food additive suitable for use as a whitener and/or a fat/protein substitute, depending on the manner in which the method is carried out.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) and process for the manufacture of lollipops in which lollipops (3) are transferred from a substantially horizontal condition in a hopper (4), to a substantially vertical condition in a stick retainer (7) prior to placement in sugar confectionery. The apparatus comprises a hopper (4) for holding the sticks (3) with their longitudinal axes substantially horizontal, means (5) for ejecting a stick from the hopper in a substantially horizontal direction and feeder means (6) for feeding the ejected stick downwardly into a stick retainer (7) prior to placement in the sugar confectionery, the feeder means comprising a flexible tube (8) operable to conduct the stick from the hopper to the stick retainer whilst simultaneously changing the orientation at the stick to that of a downward direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of frozen convenience meals. More particularly the invention relates to frozen layered pasta products that are conveniently reheated from frozen form for consumption.

Abstract: A container for a food product includes a wrapper which surround a polygonal frame. The wrapper forms a top of the container and has an access opening. A sealing label, adhesively sealed to the top around the opening, is resealable when a tab of the sealing label is pulled back. The sealing label is resealable against the top layer to seal the opening when the sealing label is moved back against the top. Various tamper-evident structures are provided to indicate when the container has been initially opened or tampered with.

Abstract: A pet food composition containing chunks and a clear gellified sauce or base, said composition being obtainable by: i) incorporating at least one semi-refined gelling agent and/or semi-refined gelling biopolymer blend, in a mixture comprising meat and meat by-products, said mixture being used for the manufacture of the chunks; ii) mixing the manufactured chunks with a sauce or base containing no gelling agent; and iii) treating the mixture under conditions to release the pure gelling agent molecules from the chunks into the sauce or base to gelify it and to achieve chunk structure.

Abstract: A process for the direct hydrogenation of hop resin acids in the absence of a liquid, organic solvent by reacting the hop resin acids which hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst at a temperature at which the resin acids are sufficiently fluid to allow easy mixing with the catalyst and suitably facilitate the hydrogenation reaction. Alternatively, the necessary fluidity may be achieved at relatively low temperature by subjecting the reactants to a high pressure of CO2 gas such that the quantity of this gas that dissolves into the resin is sufficient to substantially reduce its viscosity. Particularly useful applications for the process are the conversion is iso-?-acids to tetrahydroiso-?-acids and rho-iso-?-acids into hexahydroiso-?-acids. The resinous products of the hydrogenation process may be readily converted to aqueous, alkaline solutions suitable for use in brewing beer.

Abstract: A food composition in which omega-3 fatty acids are stabilized against oxidation is disclosed. The food composition contains about 4 to about 100 weight percent of the composition in which triglycerides containing omega-3 fatty acids (and other fatty acids) are stabilized against oxidation in the absence of encapsulation. The fatty acid portion of the oil in the completed food composition includes less than about 10 percent by weight linoleic acid, at least 75 percent by weight of monounsaturated plus saturated fatty acids, and at least 3 percent by weight omega-3 fatty acids. The food composition can also contain comminuted peanuts, e.g., peanut butter, in which case the composition is also stabilized against photo-oxidation and the fatty acid portion of the oil portion of the food can contain less than about 15 percent by weight linoleic acid and at least 1 percent by weight omega-3 fatty acids. Methods of protecting a food composition from oxidation and photodegradation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Our invention concerns spreadable and/or spoonable water continuous, gelatin free cream alternatives comprising 10 to 50 wt % of a fat blend and up to 5 wt % of a biopolymer other than gelatin as a thickener, in addition to water as continuous phase, which creams display a Stevens value at 5° C. (S5) of more than 100 gram, while the fat blend comprises vegetable fat(s) and 5 to 75 wt % of dairy fat and which fat blend displays a solid fat index (NMR-Pulse on stabilised fat) at 5° C. (N5) and at 15° C. (N15) such that the ratio between N15 and N5 (i.e. N15/N5) is less than 0.60.

Abstract: A method for coating substrates with calcium phosphate. The aim of the method is to be able to carry out a simple coating for all materials as well as for particles. To this end, the substrate to be coated is placed in a calcium phosphate gel, whereupon this substrate that is coated with the gel is dried. Afterwards, the calcium phosphate particles not adhering to the substrate are removed. The substrate can also be placed inside a colloidal solution of SiO2 containing a calcium phosphate, whereupon the mixture is constantly set in motion, the solvent is removed, and the substrate is provided with a calcium phosphate layer by condensing the colloidal SiO2 on the surface of the substrate. The coated substrates can, particularly when it concerns coated particles, be used as a bone substitute material.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display device includes a display layer comprised of a binder having a multiplicity of individual cavities therein that contain a display medium, and conductive substrates, at least one of the conductive substrates being transparent, wherein the display layer is located in between the conductive substrates, and wherein the display medium comprises one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid and has an electrical conductivity of about 10?11 to about 10?15 S/m. The display device may be made by forming composite particles comprised of a sacrificial binder and the one or more set of particles of the display medium; mixing the composite particles with the binder to form a mixture; forming a layer from the mixture; removing the sacrificial binder from the composite particles in the layer to form cavities in the layer that contain the one or more set of colored particles; and filling the cavities with the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An assembled hematin is formed by depositing hematin on an electrically charged substrate in one or more layers alternating with one or more layers of polyelectrolyte, preferably a cationic polymer. In a method for polymerizing an aromatic monomer, the assembled hematin is contacted with the monomer and a template, preferably an anionic polymer. In a method for polymerizing aniline, the aniline, sulfonated multi walled carbon nano tubes, PEG hematin and a reaction initiator are dispersed in water.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing a core-shell polymer that comprises: (1) preparing a monomer solution which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, optional one crosslinking monomer (b) a conjugate acid of a surfactant with a pKa of less than 14, and (c) a controlled free radical polymerization agent; (2) preparing an aqueous medium which is comprised of (a) water, and (b) a conjugate base of a weak acid wherein the pKb of the base is less than 14; and (3) mixing the monomer solution with the aqueous medium under conditions that result in the in-situ formation of an emulsifier to produce a polymerization medium, and (4) initiating free radical polymerization within the polymerization medium to produce a core polymer, wherein the core contains a free radical control agents, (5) adding a second monomer to the polymerization medium containing the core polymer, and (6) allowing polymerization to proceed in the presence of the free radical control agent to produce the core-shell polymer.

Abstract: One embodiment includes noncatalytically forming a nanowire on a substrate from an organometallic vapor without application of any type of reduction agent. The nanowire is grown during this formation in a direction away from the substrate and is freestanding during growth. The nanowire has a first dimension of 500 nanometers or less and a second dimension extending from the substrate to a free end of the nanowire at least 10 times greater than the first dimension. In one form, the organometallic vapor includes copper and the nanowire essentially consists of elemental copper, a copper alloy, or oxide of copper. Alternatively or additionally, the nanowire is of a monocrystalline structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal film using a metal carbonyl compound as a material is disclosed that includes the steps of: (a) introducing a reactive gas into a space near a surface of a substrate to be processed; and (b) introducing a gaseous phase material including the metal carbonyl compound into the space on the surface of the substrate to be processed, and depositing the metal film on the surface of the substrate to be processed after step (a). Step (a) is executed in such a manner as to prevent substantial deposition of the metal film on the substrate to be processed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus that may be used to process microfeature workpieces, e.g., semiconductor wafers. Some aspects have particular utility in depositing TiN in a batch process. One implementation involves pretreating a surface of a process chamber by contemporaneously introducing first and second pretreatment precursors (e.g., TiCl4 and NH3) to deposit a pretreatment material on a the chamber surface. After the pretreatment, the first microfeature workpiece may be placed in the chamber and TiN may be deposited on the microfeature workpiece by alternately introducing quantities of first and second deposition precursors.

Abstract: A method for fabricating scanning probe microscopy (SPM) probes is disclosed. The probes are fabricated by forming a structural layer on a substrate, wherein the substrate forms a cavity. A sacrificial layer is located between the substrate and the structural layer. Upon forming the structural layer, the sacrificial layer is selectively removed, and the probe is then released from the substrate. The substrate may then later be reused to form additional probes. Additionally, a contact printing method using a scanning probe microscopy probe is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the treatment or pretreatment of containers made of aluminum, aluminum-containing alloys, magnesium-containing alloys, iron-containing materials such as steel, coated iron-containing materials such as galvanized steel, or aluminum alloys, tinplate, brass or bronze, in particular the treatment or pretreatment of bags, tubs, bottles, cans, canisters, casks or tubes, wherein the process steps for the treatment or pretreatment take place at the same time as the application of the lubricant, with the agent used for the pretreatment or treatment, which also contains or is a lubricant, not essentially consisting of titanium or zirconium with fluoride and polymer, the lubricant possibly being formed first in the agent for the pretreatment or treatment or in the formation of the coating produced therefrom.

Abstract: A polymer extender composition for use with fluorochemical repellents, said composition comprising monomers copolymerized in the following percentages by weight: (a) from about 60% to about 94% of a monomer, or mixture of monomers, of the formula I: [CH3—(CH2)p][CH3(CH2)n]CHCH2—OC(O)—C(R)?CH2, and ??(I) (b) from about 5% to about 20% of a monomer, or mixture of monomers, of the formula II: H—(OCH2CH2)m—O—C(O)—C(R)?CH2 ??(II) wherein each R is independently H or CH3; n is 1 to 10; p is 1 to 20 and m is 2 to 10 is disclosed.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing polymer-coated heat-sealable packaging material and sealed packages (e.g., carton, box, or bag packages for dry and liquid foods). The material includes a fiber base of packaging paper or packaging board, an outer polymeric heat sealing layer such as LDPE, and an inner polymeric water vapor barrier layer which is partly or totally formed of an amorphous cycloolefin copolymer. In the method, the cycloolefin copolymer water vapor barrier and the heat sealing layers are brought onto the fiber base by an extrusion step, and in accordance with the manufacturing method, they can be placed on one side of the fiber base or on both sides of the fiber base for achieving a moisture barrier on both sides of the package. Also, polymeric oxygen barrier layers, such as EVOH or polyamide layers, can be incorporated into the packaging material. By using the cycloolefin copolymer as an extruded water vapor barrier layer, curling of the packaging material is prevented.

Abstract: A method for making a wear-resistant electrically conductive body having an electrically conductive diamond-like carbon coating, by ion-accelerating copper ions from a copper ion source onto a negatively charged electrically conductive body, and simultaneously ion-accelerating diamond-like carbon ions from a separate carbon ion source onto the negatively charged electrically conductive body. Also a dual ion-beam process for depositing a wear-resistant diamond-like carbon coating on a negatively charged electrically conductive surface by using an ion-beam to stabilize ionized carbon atoms that have been ion-accelerated onto the negatively charged electrically conductive surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid-crystalline compounds of the formula (I), where R11, X11, L11, Y and W are as defined in claim 1, and to the use thereof in liquid-crystalline media, to liquid-crystalline media comprising at least one compound of the formula (I) and to electro-optical displays containing a liquid-crystalline medium of this type

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a printable polymerisable liquid crystal material as printable system for the preparation of polymers and pigments, to printable polymerisable liquid crystal materials and pigments and polymers prepared thereof, and to the use of the printable materials, pigments and polymers in optical, electrooptical, semiconductor and electronic applications and as birefringent and optically variable markings for decorative, security, authentification or identification applications.

Abstract: A rewritable display containing a substrate having thereon one or more constitution layers, one of the constitution layers being a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition which is dispersed in a binder, and one of the constitution layers containing a compound selected from the group constituted of: (a) alumina particles; (b) a layer structured inorganic compound; (c) a specific azomethine dye compound represented by Formula (D) whose structure is described in the specification; (d) a fluorescent brightening agent; and (e) a ultraviolet absorber.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer receiving sheet comprising a substrate, a barrier layer laminated on said substrate, and an image receiving layer laminated on said barrier layer, wherein said barrier layer and said image receiving layer are laminated on at least one side of said substrate, characterized in that the major components of said barrier layer are a swellable lamellar inorganic component and an adhesive, wherein said swellable lamellar inorganic component has a mean particle diameter of at least 0.1 ?m and not greater than 100 ?m, and an aspect ratio (ratio of mean particle diameter to thickness of the lamellar composite) of at least 100 and not greater than 5000.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable polyester film having a multi-layer structure of at least two layers, among which at least one layer is a layer containing a PET bottle-recycled material, wherein a heat shrinkage percentage in a maximum shrinkage direction of a 10 cm square sample cut out from the film is 40% or higher, under the condition that the square sample is immersed in hot water of 95° C. for 10 seconds and then immersed in water of 25° C. for 10 seconds, to provide a heat-shrinkable polyester film which has excellent characteristics and which can be produced at a high rate, even when a PET bottle-recycled material is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical packaging. More specifically the present invention relates to a stopper made from a thermoplastic elastomer for the use in medical containers.

Abstract: A self-cooling container for water or other beverage utilizing a non-porous moisture vapor permeable membrane is provided. The membrane allows moisture vapor to escape while preventing penetration of contaminants including liquids, particulates, and bacteria. Evaporative cooling keeps the beverage temperature below ambient. Optionally, the membrane can be laminated to a fabric material for reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an active energy ray curable composition for coating optical disc, comprising a urethane (meth)acrylate compound having at least one amide group in the molecule, an ethylenically unsaturated compound other than the urethane (meth)acrylate compound and a photopolymerization initiator; and an optical disc having a cured coating layer obtained by curing the composition.

Abstract: A flocked transfer is produced by applying a release agent to a release sheet and then applying the flocking to the release agent. Unlike the traditional method, a binder and hot melt film is not applied to the back of the flock. The transfer (which is essentially a flocked release sheet) is then applied to a substrate (i.e., an item of clothing, a rubber pad, etc.) by positioning a sheet of thermosetting hot melt film on the substrate; placing the transfer on the hot melt film with the flock in contact with the hot melt film; and applying heat and pressure. The heat melts the thermosetting hot melt film to bind the flock to the substrate and binds the flocking together. This method reduces the costs involved in producing flocked articles, especially for articles produced on a continuous basis.

Abstract: The ceramics honeycomb structure of the present invention is formed of a plurality of cells forming a fluid flow passage partitioned by porous partition walls, and comprising an inflow end part allowing fluid to flow therein, an outflow end part allowing fluid to flow therefrom, and an outer peripheral part including an outer peripheral surface, and is characterized by having a structure where a porosity per unit volume (cm3) gradually increases from the inflow end part side to the outflow end part side at a rate of 0.2%/mm or less, and this ceramics honeycomb structure has an excellent erosion resistance of partition walls positioned at a cell opening end part and a high compressive strength (isostatic strength) at the time of canning, and is suitable particularly as an automobile exhaust gas purification catalyst carrier.

Abstract: A method for a surface treatment of a substrate comprises providing a protective layer having a solubility parameter different from that of an adhesive by 1 or less on an bonding surface of a substrate before bonding the substrate with the adhesive.

Abstract: A strip to be inserted between two elements to cause acoustic attenuation of noise propagating through at least one of the two elements. The strip is made of at least one plastic-based damping material, the strip having an equivalent real stiffness per unit length K?eq equal to at least 25 MPa and an equivalent loss factor tan ?eq equal to at least 0.25.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming uniform nanoparticle based monolayer films with a high particle density on the surface of a substrate comprising (a) forming a surface modifying layer on a substrate using a material comprising a first functional group that chemically binds to the substrate and a second functional group comprising a group capable of forming van der Waals forces, (b) applying to the surface modifying layer a solution comprising nanoparticles, and (c) curing the resultant structure formed at step (b) for a predetermined time to form a nanoparticle based monolayer film. The present invention further provides substrates and devices comprising the nanoparticle based monolayer films.

Abstract: A weldable workpiece having a surface deposition including an absorber dye possessing strong absorption and a high extinction coefficient. The dye is deposited at a uniform density and thereby has the capacity to convert inbound radiant energy over about 0.1 J per square millimeter into thermal energy via vibronic relaxation and exothermic decomposition. In optical applications, the workpiece forms welds of high photopic and optical transmission. The improved transmission results from the solvent residues, additives, dyes and by-products being mutually miscible with the workpiece surface. A method for preprocessing the workpiece describes steps for selecting polymers, dyes and vehicles.

Abstract: Fibers comprising a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and at least one of ethylene and one or more unsaturated comonomers exhibit desirable properties. The homopolymers are characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. The copolymers are characterized as (A) comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and (B) having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of composite cathodes and anodes for lithium batteries, and the cathodes and anodes thereby produced. The active mass in the form of a thin film is incorporated into a material, or the active mass together with a matrix metal or a matrix alloy is deposited on a substrate. The invention also relates to a metallised, textile material made of insulating fibres which have been made conductive and which have been completely galvanically or electrolessly plated. The fibres lying on crossovers are not baked with other fibres, but can move freely. The surface of the material is thereby optimally used. Said material is preferably used as an anode or a cathode for batteries, especially a lithium battery, and fuel cells. During the galvanising or electroless application stage in the production of the material, the fibres in the material move relatively to each other in order to avoid baking.

Abstract: A powder rubber obtained by crushing a waste rubber comprising various kinds of rubbers is subjected to treatment of making unevenness on a surface thereof. A method in which a microorganism growing with a rubber being an only carbon source and powder rubber having an average particle diameter of 1 mm or less are added to a culture medium to cultivate the microorganism can be applied as treatment of making the unevenness. The powder rubber is decomposed by this method, and the surface area is increased, whereby a rubber composition which is excellent in abrasion resistance, fracture characteristics and crack growth resistance can be obtained. A WU-YS05 strain (Patent Microorganism Depository Center: Accession number: FERM P-18660) belonging to Pseudonocardiaceae is effective as the microorganism.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method for efficiently producing a powder-coated support, which does not require a drying process and can use, without limitation, even a resin that hardly forms a latex or an aqueous solution, and to provide a powder-coated support obtained by the production method, which exhibits less swelling of its base paper and has excellent smoothness and glossiness. A method produces a powder-coated support by applying a powdery resin composition containing at least a thermoplastic resin to at least one side of a base paper, and hot-pressing the resulting article. The hot pressing is preferably performed by heating the article at a temperature equal to or higher than the melt-starting temperature of the thermoplastic resin and cooling the same to a temperature of 80° C. or lower using a powder coating machine of cooling-removing system.

Abstract: A fine magnetic powder suitable for magnetic tape capable of high-density magnetic recording is provided that helps to prevent degradation of tape surface property and durability with increasing fineness of the magnetic powder particles, which magnetic powder consists of particles composed chiefly of Fe whose surface layer contains an oxide of at least one of Al, Si and Ra (where Ra represents one or more rare earth elements, defined as including Y), has an average particle diameter of less than 70 nm, the number of basic sites on the particle surface of not greater than 0.85 sites/nm2, and the number of acid sites on the particle surface of not greater than 0.75 sites/nm2.

Abstract: An amino group-containing metal compound such as a coupling agent having an amino group is dispersed in a fluoroelastomer coating composition comprising a fluoroelastomer and a polyol curing agent which are dissolved or dispersed in a liquid medium. The resulting fluoroelastomer coating composition can form an elastomer coating layer directly on a metal surface using no primer, and improve antifreeze resistance and deterioration of the coating film after compression at high temperatures for a long time.

Abstract: This polymeric composition comprises a blend of polymers comprising: (a) a semi-crystalline fluorinated polymer, (b) an acrylic polymer, and is characterized in that it additionally comprises: (c) from 0.01 to 20% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the semi-crystalline fluorinated polymer and of the acrylic polymer, of a nucleating agent in the form of particles having a melting point greater than that of the semi-crystalline fluorinated polymer. These compositions result in formulations in the form of dry powders or of powders in suspension in water or in a latent solvent for the semi-crystalline fluorinated polymer. Applied to a substrate, these formulations give, by baking, glossy and stable coatings comprising spherulites with a size of less than 5 ?m.

Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. A coating of the coated article includes zinc oxide inclusive layer(s) located under infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of a material such as silver. In certain example embodiments, coated articles are designed so as to realize higher visible transmission and/or lower sheet resistance values.

Abstract: A hydrophobic coating including solid silsesquioxane silicone resins to increase durability is provided. The hydrophobic coating is any composition that increases the contact angle to a surface, preferably glass. The durability of the hydrophobic coating is preferably increased to one and a half years, more preferably three years.

Abstract: Fibrous sheets are coated or impregnated with a biodegradable composition to render the sheets more resistant to penetration by liquids. Biodegradable polymer blends suitable for use in coating or impregnating a fibrous sheet can be manufactured from at least one type of polyhydroxybutyrate, optionally in combination with at least one additional biodegradable polymer (e.g., a “hard” biodegradable polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least about 10° C. and/or a “soft” biodegradable polymer having a glass transition temperature less than about 0° C. Sufficient inorganic filler may be included so as to render the treated sheet microwaveable. The biodegradable polymer compositions are especially well-suited for coating or impregnating paper sheets, e.g., 12-15 lb/3000 ft2 tissue paper to yield food wraps. Food wraps will typically be manufactured to have good “dead-fold” properties so as to remain in a wrapped position and not spring back to an “unwrapped” form.