Disclosed are x-ray contrast compositions for oral or retrograde examination of the gastrointestinal tract comprising a polymeric material in combination with a divalent cation capable of forming a coating on the gastrointestinal tract and iodinated polymeric, water-insoluble beads having a particle size of from about 0.01 to about 1000 mu wherein said iodinated polymeric beads comprise a polymer containing repeating units of the formula (I) I wherein A is a repeating organic unit in the backbone chain of the polymer; and X is an organic moiety containing or iodinated eromatic group and a hydrophilic group, said moiety having an iodine content within the range of from about 40 to about 80 weight percent based or the molecular weight of X, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A novel class of compounds, known as peptide nucleic acids, bind complementary ssDNA and RNA strands more strongly than a corresponding DNA. The peptide nucleic acids generally comprise ligands such as naturally occurring DNA bases attached to a peptide backbone through a suitable linker.

Peptide nucleic acids and analogues of peptide nucleic acids are used to form duplex, triplex, and other structures with nucleic acids and to modify nucleic acids. The peptide nucleic acids and analogues thereof also are used to modulate protein activity through, for example, transcription arrest, transcription initiation, and site specific cleavage of nucleic acids.

A composition of materials having ferromagnetic, piezoeletric, and electro-optical properties is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the composition of materials (310 and 350) comprises a first layer of Pb(1-x-y)CdxSiy, a second layer of Se(1-z)Sz, and a third layer of Fe(1-w)Crw, where x, y, z and w are values within the ranges of 0.09

Apparatus for and a method of scanning a workpiece are in the form of a retrofit package which provides a scanning capability for a machine tool which would otherwise have none. The basic elements of the package are a scanning probe, a computer, an interface between the probe and the computer, and a link between the computer and the RS232 (or other serial port) of the machine controller for communicating between the two. According to the method, the computer signals the machine control system to drive to a target position and stop, reads the probe outputs when the machine has stopped, calculates a new target position and signals it to the machine control system. To ensure that the machine has stopped the computer calculates time intervals based on its knowledge of the machine velocity, or motion signals based on a motion sensor or the probe outputs and only latches the probe readings when the time has expired or when the probe/motion sensor indicates that motion has ceased.

Apparatus for and a method of scanning a workpiece are disclosed in the form of a retrofit package which provides a scanning capability for a machine tool which would otherwise have none. The basic elements of the package are a scanning probe (30) Fig 1, a computer (20), an interface (34) between the probe and the computer, and a link between the computer and the RS232 (or other serial port) of the machine controller for communicating between the two. According to the method, the computer signals the machine control system to drive to a target position and stop, reads the probe outputs when the machine has stopped, calculates a new target position and signals it to the machine control system. To ensure that the machine has stopped the computer calculates time intervals based on its knowledge of the machine velocity, or motion signals based on a motion sensor or the probe outputs and only latches the probe readings when the time has expired or when the probe/motion sensor indicates that motion has ceased.

An electronic device is disclosed which is furnished with an artificial super lattice obtained by alternately superposing a substance of good conductivity formed of a compound between one element selected from among the elements belonging to the transition elements of Groups 3A to 6A and the rare earth elements and an element selected from among boron, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, selenium, and tellurium or a compound between oxygen and a transition metal element selected from among the elements of Group 7A and Group 8 and an insulating substance formed of a compound between a simple metal element selected from among the elements belonging to Group 1A, Group 2A, and Groups 1B to 4B and an element selected from among carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and halogen elements in thicknesses fit for obtaining a quantum size effect. The artificial super lattice possesses a barrier layer formed of an insulating substance and an electrode layer formed of a substance of good conductivity and disposed in contact with the barrier layers.

A magnetic multilayer film having magnetoresistance (MR) is prepared by depositing at least two magnetic thin films having different coercive forces while interposing a non-magnetic thin film therebetween. A first magnetic thin film having a lower coercive force has a squareness ratio SQ1 of 0.01-0.5, an anisotropic magnetic field Hk of 1-20 Oe, and a thickness t1, a second magnetic thin film having a higher coercive force has a squareness ratio SQ2 of 0.7-1.0 and a thickness t2

A method of producing on a substrate an in-plane-gate transistor includes producing a channel portion in which a quasi-one-dimensional conductive channel electrically connecting a source region and a drain region is generated and producing gate portions, each portion including a gate electrode layer for controlling generation and forfeiture of the quasi-one-dimensional conductive channel so that an upper surface of the gate layer and the quasi-one-dimensional conductive channel are positioned substantially in the same plane, on both sides of the channel portion on the substrate. Gaps between the channel portion and the gate portions are controlled by side walls produced self-aligningly on the side wall surfaces of the channel portion. Thus, gaps of a high aspect ratio can be produced between the channel portion and the gate portions without being limited by the dry etching technique.