Abstract:
beta -lactones are synthesized from a thiol ester and a ketone by a method which efficiently produces beta -lactones in high yields. The method involves combining the thiol ester, ketone, or aldehyde base and organic solvent at subambient temperatures. The thiol ester and ketone form an adduct, which upon warming, spontaneously cyclizes to yield beta -lactone. beta -lactones formed by this method are then decarboxylated, generally by warming in the presence of an adsorbent in an organic solvent, to stereo-specifically form the corresponding alkenes.
Abstract:
A reactor vessel (50) for growth of high quality thin films, spatially uniform with respect to both thickness and composition. A chamber encloses the substrate (57) on which films are deposited. A porous inlet gas distributor (54) delivers gas toward the substrate. The distance between the porous distributor and the substrate is small compared to a dimension of the wafer and is selected to minimize the temperature of the porous distributor, thus reducing premature thermal degradation of the reactant gases. The distributor can have a varying thickness to impose non-uniform velocity profile. The distributor can be used to condition gas flow in a plasma assisted CVD process. This design eliminates gas recirculation, while maintaining constant temperature profiles. These attributes along with a very small active volume occupied by reactant gases permit very abrupt changes in composition by rapid switching of reactant gases and allow continuous deposition of multi-layer structures.
Abstract:
A new method of forming composites or laminates (30) into complex shapes has been developed. A process using a die (10) with piercing studs (20) allows control of fibers motion during processing, leading to better composite parts.
Abstract:
A magnetic material melt is solidified by cooling the material from two opposing surfaces while deforming the material by applying compressive pressure to the two opposing surfaces. Twin roller quenching (10) is a preferred method of producing the flakes. The flakes exhibit strong texture normal to their surface, that is, there is a high degree of alignment of the magnetically easy axes of the crystals within the polycrystalline flake. The strong crystal orientation appears to result both from directional solidification in a thermal gradient and uniaxial deformation of the solid phase in the twin rollers (12, 14). Magnetization studies on individual flakes show intrinsic coercivities of 14 KOe and a nearly 50 % higher remanance for field normal to the flake surface than in the flake plane. Splat quenching is another suitable technique for carrying out the invention.
Abstract:
An optical communications and spatial tracking receiver system (55) has an optical package coupled to an acquisition and tracking network (29), the optical package including an optical fiber (22) and acting to receive optical signals (12) and to transfer them into the fiber (22), a focusing element (19) focuses a received light beam (12) at a desired focal point, (13) which includes an active fiber coupler (34), the optical fiber (22) having a terminus (20) approximately near the focal point (13), the active fiber coupler to the disposed to radially translate the optical fiber terminus (20) about the focal point (13), the tracking network (29) including actuation circuitry for assuring that the terminus (20) of the optical fiber (22) be maintained at or very near the focal point (13). A mutation device (34) includes a housing (36) to which is affixed a flexure (50), a fiber (22) extending along the flexure (50) and terminating about one end of the flexure (50).
Abstract:
Flexible measurement probes are described for the determination of oxygen partial pressure; temperature and perfusion; and combined measurement of oxygen partial pressure, temperature, and perfusion. The probes are fabricated by patterning a metal coated substrate to form a conductive pattern of ribbon leads (12), insulating the conductive ribbon leads except for contact openings (20), and then attaching sensors to the conductive ribbon leads through noble metal plated open contacts. The plated contacts may be used directly to measure oxygen partial pressure.
Abstract:
A superconducting oxide is exposed to ozone. In one embodiment, the oxide is cooled to the superconducting state before exposure to ozone. The oxide may also be thermally cycled into and out of the superconducting state before exposure to ozone. The ozone may be in either the liquid or gaseous state and may be mixed with molecular oxygen. After exposure to ozone, the critical, or transition, temperature is elevated in comparison with material not so processed.
Abstract:
A method using ultrasound for enhancing and controlling transbuccal permeation of a molecule, including drugs, antigens, vitamins, inorganic and organic compounds, and various combinations of these substances, through the buccal membranes and into the circulatory system. The frequency and intensity of ultrasonic energy which is applied, and the length of time of exposure are determined according to the location and nature of the buccal membrane and the substance to be infused. Levels of the infused molecules in the blood and urine measured over a period of time are initially used to determine under what conditions optimum transfer occurs. In a variation of the method whereby ultrasound is applied directly to the compound and site where the compound is to be infused through the buccal membranes, the compound can be placed within a delivery device. In one variation, the ultrasound can control release both by direct interaction with the compound and membrane but also with the delivery device. In another variation, the delivery device helps to modulate release and infusion rate. The compound can also be administered in combination with a chemical agent which alters permeability of the buccal membrane, thereby aiding infusion of the compound into the circulatory system.
Abstract:
A system for stabilizing fibroblast-derived growth factors, maintaining their bioactivity over a prolonged period of time and controllably releasing them for use is disclosed. The system uses growth factors bound to biocompatible substrates via heparin or heparin derived compounds to maintain the bioactivity of the growth factors. A growth factor bound to a heparin coated substrate can be used independently as a controlled release device, or can be incorporated into a reservoir or matrix type controlled release device to further enhance the controlled release properties. The stabilized growth factors can be implanted into a patient, thereby providing a means for producing an in vivo controlled release of a growth factor to the patient.
Abstract:
A ruthenium catalyzed method to synthesize cyclic sulfate compounds from the corresponding cyclic sulfites, and the cyclic sulfate reaction products obtained by this method. These cyclic sulfates further react with selected nucleophiles to give various substituted products. The method is an efficient means for the synthesis of chiral building blocks from tartaric acid enantiomers in high yields using an overall two-stage, one-pot reaction procedure. The chiral compounds can be transformed by nucleophilic reactions into chiral building blocks useful for the synthesis of natural biologically active products, such as antibiotics and pheromones.