Abstract: A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride or polysulfone and a polymeric reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify the surface active properties of the porous polymeric membrane. The reactivity modifying agent is preferably a linear polymeric anhydride, such as poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride). The surface activity modifications include modification of the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the membrane, or hydrolysis followed by reaction with a polyamine to form a crosslinked polyamide layer. Such modified membranes have use as reverse osmosis membranes.

Abstract: In the state that a train moves from a track circuit 3T toward a track circuit 5T, and a train detection signal TD1 is supplied from the boundary between the track circuits 3T and 5T to the track circuits 3T and 5T, and the train detection signal TD1 is received by the train, if the signal intensity is suddenly reduced greatly immediately after the axle of the train passes the boundary between the track circuits 3T and 5T, it can be decided that the train passes the boundary between the track circuits 3T and 5T. Therefore, if absolute position information of the track circuit 5T is preserved beforehand in the train, the movement distance calculated from pulse output of a speed generator is corrected (replaced) in the absolute position information of the track circuit 5T, and hereafter is updated by the pulse output, thus the position of the own train can be easily detected as a movement distance.

Abstract: Cationic phospholipids and their use in treating pathogen-associated disease are disclosed. The class of phospholipids comprises the phosphotriester derivatives of phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids. Liposomes comprising one or more of the cationic phospholipids are effective in the lipofection of nuclidic acids and are therefore useful in methods of treating disease.

Abstract: The device precludes a collision between a mobile object moving in a predetermined path and a second object in the same path. It comprises a sensor carried by the mobile object which cooperates with a fixed tape disposed along the path. The tape carries a track which has two conductive bands having a predetermined resistivity and the sensor comprises a series circuit having a source of voltage, a threshold circuit, and a wiper element in contact with the bands so as to connect them in series in the circuit.