Abstract:
Microcentrifuge tube having a container having a round opening and a frictionally seated lid hingedly connected by a fixed-hinge to the container, the lid having an upper lid surface and being sized and shaped to cover and seal the opening to maintain the inside of the tube free of any contaminant. The lid has a lid extension extending upwardly from the lid surface and outwardly away from the hinge in such a manner which allows the lid to be unseated and moved from the opening of the container when mechanical pressure by a user's finger is applied to the lid. The lid further has a guard portion extending downward from a portion of the lid and configured and arranged adjacent the container to act as a finger guard to prevent a user's finger contacting the container.
Abstract:
A method for covering and sealing an opening in a container. The method employs a polyolefin-based stretch film which is free of adhesive and has a softening temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. At least one surface of the film having an upper and lower surface is substantially free of constituents which can dissolve in, or react with an organic solvent or a caustic agent. The method includes the steps of:(i) providing a portion of the film which covers the container opening,(ii) stretching the film using a mechanical force in a direction generally parallel to the principal axis of the container opening, and(iii) releasing the force and allowing the film to contract around the container opening to provide a liquid-tight seal over the opening.
Abstract:
A method for containment of a laboratory chemical or device during a procedure chosen from weighing, physical transfer, storage, incubation and sterilization. The method includes provision of a repeatedly foldable layered sheet which includes both an aluminum foil layer and a plastic layer, and selection of the plastic layer to be unreactive with caustic chemicals and organic solvents. The layered sheet can be folded and unfolded along a crease at least five times and steam autoclaved without structural failure. The sheet is oriented with its plastic layer toward the laboratory chemical or device and is folded and shaped to form a protector which covers the chemical or device.
Abstract:
A capillary blotting sandwich for transferring soluble macromolecules in a liquid medium from a liquid-permeable matrix to a semi-permeable receiving membrane. The blotting sandwich includes: (i) a liquid-permeable matrix layer comprising soluble macromolecules, said matrix having at least one flat surface, (ii) a semi-permeable membrane sheet layer disposed on said flat surface; (iii) an interlocked hydrophilic absorbent fiber-containing material in the form of a non-woven absorbent felt sheet or pad layer disposed on said semi-permeable membrane, wherein said felt layer facilitates capillary transport of a solution through said membrane, whereby said soluble macromolecules in said matrix layer are caused to migrate to said membrane layer.
Abstract:
A buffered and chelated phenol solution has been stablized by adjusting the pH within a critical range and maintaining the solution under inert gas atmosphere. The solution, which may be combined with chloroform, is useful to denature soluble proteins during the purification of nucleic acids. An opaque phenol-compatible package is described which preserves and safely delivers water-clear phenol.
Abstract:
A graduated pipette having a known total delivery volume, suitable for accurately dispensing both known large and known small volumes of a fluid, wherein the small volume is less than one fourth of the delivery volume of the pipette, the pipette comprising: an upper and a lower elongated tube joined together to form a single continuous unit, the upper tube having a different internal diameter from the lower tube, the upper tube having coarse indicia suitable for accurately dispensing the large volume, wherein the coarse indicia are labelled from zero ml to the volume of the upper tube, the lower tube having fine indicia suitable for accurately dispensing the small volume, wherein the fine indicia are labelled from zero ml to the volume of the lower tube, wherein the upper tube comprises a mouthpiece suitable for allowing fluid to be sucked up into the unit, and the lower tube comprises a constricted region suitable to allow accurate control of fluid flow from the unit, wherein the fluid is accurately dispensed from the unit only through the constricted region.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for isolating a mutant microorganism. The method includes the following steps:(1) separately microencapsulating individual or small numbers of a microorganism population containing the mutant to obtain a first microdroplet;(2) thereafter surrounding the first microdroplet, with or without an outer semi-permeable membrane, with an outer gel-coating to obtain a gel-coated microdroplet, wherein the gel layer contains an indicator material which reacts to the presence of the mutant microorganism;(3) culturing the resultant microcapsules so that the microdroplets containing mutant microorganism are able to induce a detectable difference in the indicator material from microdroplets, containing non-mutant microorganisms; and(4) separating the microdroplets containing mutant microorganisms from those containing non-mutant microorganisms based upon the differences in the indicator material.
Abstract:
A cutting and dispensing device (10) having a cutting blade (60) movable along a straight path, a feed means (20) at the entry side of the path of movement and an anvil surface (74) engageable with a pressure wheel (80) at the exit side of the path which, together with the feed means, grip the sheet material during cutting.
Abstract:
A thermoplastic laboratory beaker that holds liquid in a reservoir portion of the beaker, in which the beaker includes a first upright, generally circular, outer sidewall and a second inner sidewall which are united at their upper limit height to form a lip edge or lip surface. The two sidewalls typically diverge from each other below the lip surface to create an air space between them. The outer sidewall extends downward a first distance D1 below the lip surface, and then usually bends outward to form a substantially planar supporting flange that at least partially supports the weight of said beaker on a laboratory surface. The inner sidewall extends downward a second distance D2 from the lip surface, and then bends inward to form a bottom wall for the reservoir portion that intersects the central vertical axis of said beaker, in which the inner sidewall and the bottom wall form the reservoir portion for holding a liquid.
Abstract:
An edible composition for ingestion by mammals, especially by humans, that includes a fat-based blend containing: (a) at least one triglyceride-based fat, (b) a low level of diglycerides, for example, less than 3% by weight of diglycerides, e.g., diacylglycerol (DAG), and (c) at least 2% and in some instances at least 5% by weight of a mixture of fatty acid Ester Phytosterols (EPs), in which at least 65% by weight of the fatty acid EPs are Monounsaturated (oleate)-Ester Phytosterols (MEPs), and less than 20% by weight of the fatty acid EPs are Polyunsaturated (linoleate+alpha-linolenate)-Ester Phytosterols (PEPs). The increased proportion of MEPs and decreased proportions PEPs and diglycerides substantially increase the oxidative stability index (OSI), shelf life, and health benefits of the above mixture of fatty acid EPs, while providing an advantageous melting temperature and desirable mouth feel for this mixture of fatty acid EPs.