Abstract: Improved match containers having removable coupon sheets are provided for. The match container comprises a plurality of matches packaged in the container and a coupon sheet. The coupon sheet provides a substrate on which the manufacturer coupon is imprinted. It is removable from the container by a consumer for redemption of the manufacturer coupon. The manufacturer coupon further includes machine readable code associated with the manufacturer coupon to facilitate the automated processing of the manufacturer coupon. Improved methods for distributing manufacturer coupons via the novel match containers also are provided for.

Abstract: A polypeptide which is a tumor necrosis factor polypeptide having an amino acid sequence represented by from the 1st Ser to the 155th Leu as shown by SEQ ID NO:1 in the Sequence Listing, or its mutein, wherein the amino acid sequence of the 1st Ser to the 8th Asp of the SEQ ID NO:1 or the corresponding amino acid sequence of the mutein is replaced by an amino acid sequence containing at least one amino acid sequence of Arg-Gly-Asp and from 3 to 16 amino acids. Also disclosed are a recombinant plasmid containing a DNA encoding such a polypeptide, a recombinant microbial cell transformed by such a recombinant plasmid, a process for producing the polypeptide, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide as an active ingredient, and a DNA for the polypeptide.

Abstract: A bag filling machine for inserting multiple articles in a bag has multiple chutes to distribute the articles to compartments in a hopper. A trap door on the bottom of the hopper holds the bag to be filled open while the articles drop therein. Improvements enhance the speed of operation and reliability of this machine.

Abstract: A rail structure usable in the manufacture of packaged goods in matchbook-like form, especially threadlike goods such as dental floss. The rail structure conforms to attachment tooling and matchbook cover design constraints relating to similar rail structure used in the manufacture of matchbooks. The rail structure can accommodates either horizontal or vertical winding processes, according to the particular rail structure used for securing the threadlike article. The structure used for horizontal winding is an elongated rail structure formed having alternating article support portions separated by alternating notches. The matchbook-like array is formed by two side by side arrangement of the horizontally wound rail structure. The rail structure used for vertical winding is an elongated rail having upper and lower notches for securing the threadlike article. The lower notches have a deep V-shape portion for ease of detachment of the threadlike articles.

Abstract: Method and installation for the separate conditioning of matches (1) in a package subdivided in oblong compartments (4) wherein a match (1) is arranged in each of them, the compartments (4) being closed at one end and open at the opposite end so that the head (11) of a match is located at the closed end and the opposite portion of the match goes beyond the open end of the compartments (4) to allow for the removal of the match from its compartment. The matches (1) are first arranged in a relatively flat prismatic core (2) comprising oblong housings (4) for the matches, those housings being arranged one after the other and separate in their longitudinal direction by partitioning walls (3), the housings (4) being almost completely open along at least one of their longitudinal open sides (5), the sides (5) being then covered by a closure element (6) so that oblong compartments (4) are formed wherein the matches (1) are removably squeezed.