Abstract:
Rare earth doped ferroelectric materials are disclosed as reversible holographic recording medium (25) for use in two-photon recording systems. Such rare earth elements provide long-lived electronic states intermediate the ferroelectric material's valence and conduction bands. In some cases, these rare earth intermediate states have a sufficiently long life that low-power continuous wave ("cw") lasers (1) can be used to record interference patterns on them. Thus, two-photon holographic recording systems are also disclosed which do not require high-power, short pulse length, mode-locked or Q-switched lasers. Rather, the disclosed holographic recording systems employ cw lasers such as diode lasers. The rare earth dopants include praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, and thulium. These dopants provide ions having 4f excited states that give rise to absorptions in the near infra-red and visible spectral regions and typically have lifetimes on the order of 0.1 to 1 milliseconds. The disclosed two-photon holographic recording systems provide for absorption of a first photon which excites electrons of a holographic recording medium to a rare-earth intermediate state. Thereafter, upon absorption of a second photon, the electrons are promoted to the medium's conduction band where they are arranged according to the interference pattern provided by the recording system.
Abstract:
The present invention provides modified oligonucleotide primers designed to incorporate a cleavable moiety so that a (3') portion of the primer (linked to an extension product) can be released from an upstream (5') portion of the primer. Upon selective cleavage of the cleavable site, primer extension products that contain about five or fewer base pairs of the primer sequence are released, to provide more useful sizing and sequence information per fragment than extension products containing the entire primer.
Abstract:
Novel liquid electrolyte plasticizers having enhanced ambient temperature conductivity are provided. These plasticizers have general structures (1), (2) and (3), in which R , R , R , R , R , R , alpha , beta , gamma , l, p and q are as defined herein. Also provided are conductive compositions containing these novel plasticizers, particularly film compositions, and batteries formulated with such compositions.
Abstract:
Novel methods for the preparation of polymers useful as precursors to ceramic materials by catalytic activation of Si-H bonds are disclosed. The methods comprise reacting, in the presence of a catalyst effective to activate Si-H bonds, Si-N bonds, or both, and/or a reactive solvent, a polymer in the form of a polysilane, polysilazane, polysiloxane or polycarbosilane with a reactant having the structural formula R-X-H, wherein X is NR' or O, R is H, organic, silyl, siloxyl, silazanyl or carboxilyl and may contain at least one additional X-H group, and R' is H, amino, silyl or silazanyl, to produce a modified polymer containing at least one Si-X bond. Polymers produced by these methods are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An exothermic process for forming a product which may be in a liquid phase is disclosed wherein a first reactant (3), preferably a liquid reactant, is directly fed into a reaction zone (10) containing mixing elements (12, 58) and which comprises a first compartment (10) of a reactor (2, 40). A second reactant, which is maintained at a higher pressure, is fed into a second compartment (20) of the reactor (2, 40) separated from the first compartment (10) by a porous wall (32, 52). The second reactant (4) passes through this porous wall (32, 52) into the reaction zone to react with the first reactant (3). The process thereby controls rates of the reactions and the exothermic heats generated by the reactions. Pulsatile flow in one or both reaction compartments improves mixing. An evaporator for a portion of the production improves product quality and permits higher reaction temperatures in the reactor.
Abstract:
The present invention describes the generation of site-directed RNA cleaving agents. These agents consist of RNA-binding proteins, or polypeptides derived thereof, which are modified to contain a moiety capable of cleaving RNA backbones. Alternatively, the agents are oligonucleotides having nuclease resistant backbones to which a moiety capable of cleaving RNA backbones has been attached. The present invention also describes a method of cleaving target RNA substrates using the cleaving agents described herein. Further, the invention describes a method for inhibiting RNA virus expression in infected cells.
Abstract:
Peptides substantially corresponding to the 148-162 region of type A influenza M protein and additionally containing at least one amino acid in the 163-166 region are disclosed to have high activity as influenza transcription inhibitors and thus as antiviral agents against influenza virus and other RNA viruses. The modification of these peptides by incorporation into liposomes or by addition of long-chain alkylamino acids is also shown as in the use of all such materials in antiviral drug formulations.
Abstract:
Novel compounds useful as renin inhibitors are provided. The compounds are hydroxyazido derivatives having structural formula (1), wherein the substituents R1 through R7 are as defined herein. Analogs of these compounds which are ketoazido derivatives are also provided. Additionally disclosed are methods for using the novel compounds to treat hypertension, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds. Of particular interest are formulations for oral administration.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved process to produce an essentially carbon-free nitrate of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, lanthanide metal, actinide metal, metal, or mixtures thereof, which process comprises: contacting an anhydrous composition of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, lanthanide metal, actinide metal, or mixtures thereof substituted with an organic or an inorganic carbon-containing substitute with flowing nitrogen dioxide, dinitrogen tetroxide or mixtures thereof at a temperature of between about 40 to 150 °C under anhydrous conditions for a time and at a pressure effective to form the nitrate of the alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, lanthanide metal, actinide metal, or mixtures thereof, essentially free of any carbon containing contaminant. Materials produced by this improved process are useful as electrical superconductors, e.g. YBa2Cu3O7, or as high performance advanced materials, e.g. BaTiO3 or bariumaluminosilicate.