Abstract: A semiconductor laser array device comprising an active waveguide extending from one light-emitting facet to the other light-emitting facet, wherein said active waveguide is composed of a single main portion extending in the oscillation direction from said one light-emitting facet and constituting a loss waveguide, and a plurality of parallel branching portions extending from the end of said main portion to said other light-emitting facet and constituting a real index waveguide.

Abstract: Two proteins that are found is bone and that have in vivo chondrogenic/osteogenic activity in combination with a co-factor are described. Both proteins also were active in combination with EGF in the in vitro TGF-.beta. assay. Each has a molecular weight of approximately 26,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE. Each is reduced to a single polypeptide indicating that the proteins are probably homodimers. One has an N-terminal sequence identical to that of human placenta-derived TGF-.beta. whereas the other has an N-terminal sequence that is different from that of TGF-.beta. derived from human placenta. The two proteins may be purified to homogeneity using RP-HPLC or acetic acid-urea gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser array device comprising a substrate; an index-waveguiding area positioned on said substrate; a Fourier-converting area, which is adjacent to said waveguiding area and in which laser lights emitted with synchronized phases from said waveguiding area undergo the Fourier-conversion, positioned on said substrate; and a reflecting mirror, which is adjacent to said Fourier-converting area and by which said converted laser lights with a 0.degree.-phase shift mode are selectively reflected so as to be incident upon said waveguiding areas.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus and housing are designed so that laser light leaving the housing through a window glass in the housing satisfies the following equation (3): ##EQU1## wherein d is the distance between the window glass and the laser light-emitting facet of the semiconductor laser device, .lambda.o is the oscillation wavelength of laser light, and .DELTA..lambda. is the space between the adjacent longitudinal modes.

Abstract: A single-use Veress-type pneumoneedle that has a flanged handle and a fixed valve subassembly that permit the pneumoneedle to be gripped like a syringe when it is being inserted. The stylet body is either a solid rod or a hollow tube. Insufflating gas is carried into the abdominal cavity through the lumen of the needle when the stylet is a solid rod or through the stylet lumen when the stylet is a hollow tube.

Abstract: A Gattling-gun-like amusement game provides for manual control of the rate of firing and dispensing of dislodged targets as prizes to the player. The gun fires balls at round targets supported on rotating carousels. Dislodged targets roll to the front of an enclosure for dispensing to the player. The balls are separated and fed by an Archimedes' spiral to a feed tube connected to the gun. A sensor is used with controls to limit the number of balls provided to a player. The balls are fed through two successive nip regions formed by pinch rollers. The first is manually controlled by a crank to vary the rate of firing. Balls delivered from the first nip region are fired at high speed by a fast rotating, fixed speed second pinch roller.

Abstract: A method for the formation of a diffraction grating on a substrate using a holographic technique and an etching technique, wherein the periodicity of the pattern of the diffraction grating can be changed at will by a change of the light-path length of one of the two light fluxes from a holographic exposing system.

Abstract: Inflammation, acute and/or chronic, is treated with a CIF (TGF-.beta.). The CIF may be administered locally or symstemically, depending upon the indication, and does not require coadministraion of activator or cofactor for efficacy.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device comprising a multi-layered semiconductor crystal containing an active region for laser oscillation, wherein the extended portions of said active region which are adjacent to both sides of one facet having the width of a selected value of said device constitute light-absorbing regions by which light in a high-order transverse mode is absorbed to a greater extent than that in a fundamental transverse mode, thereby achieving laser oscillation in a stable fundamental transverse mode up to a high output power.

Abstract: A method for the replacement of semiconductor devices in a multi-chip module that is constructed by mounting semiconductor devices on a tape carrier used as an electrical wiring substrate, wherein when at least one of said semiconductor devices develops a flaw, it is cut away at the finger sections that connect said defective semiconductor device to the tape, and then a different and non-defective semiconductor device having finger sections longer than those of said defective semiconductor device that has been removed is connected to said tape in such a manner that the finger sections of said different and non-defective semiconductor device are joined and connected to the corresponding finger sections retained on said tape.

Abstract: A fluid meter, such as a density meter or a Coriolis-type mass flow meter is disclosed in which the fluid tube is mounted to allow for expansion and contraction relative to a base to which opposite ends of the tube are mounted. In the preferred embodiments, a single, rectilinear flow tube measuring section is bounded at each end by a thermally insulating wall having a linear bearing which allows longitudinal axial movement while restraining transverse movement. Disposed distally of the linear bearing relative to the flow tube measuring section is means for accommodating the expansion and contraction of the measuring section. In one embodiment this is in the form of a laterally coiled tube portion. In a serial double-tube flow sensor, three serial rectilinear and parallel sections of the flow tube pass through linear bearings similar to that of the single tube, with arcuate sections joining adjacent rectilinear sections.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions comprising synthetic analogs of Atrial Natriuretic Peptides are provided, together with methods for their production and use as natriuretics, diuretics and/or vasodilators, or as intermediates for or modulators of such useful compounds or of native Atrial Natriuretic Peptides.

Abstract: A distributed feedback semiconductor laser device with a resonator comprising a multi-layered optical waveguide that contains an optical guiding area with a periodic corrugation, the optical guiding area being composed of at least two regions, a first region I and a second region II, wherein both the periodicity of the corrugation and the depth of each concave portion of the corrugation of the first region I of the optical guiding area are the same as those of the second region II of the optical guiding area, and moreover the thickness of the first region I of the optical guiding area is the same as that of the second region II of the optical guiding area, so that the effective refractive index of the first region I in the resonator direction becomes the same as that of the second region II in the resonator direction and the Bragg wavelength is maintained at a fixed level in the the resonator direction; and there is a difference in their refractive index at the interface between the first and second regions o

Abstract: Injectable aqueous suspensions of biomaterials, such as cross-linked collagen, that contain a biocompatible fluid lubricant, such as glycogen or maltose, are disclosed. The inclusion of the lubricant significantly improves the intrusion of the suspension into soft tissue.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser comprising a triple-layered structure composed of an active layer for laser oscillation and a pair of optical guiding layers sandwiching said active layer therebetween, wherein the refractive index of each of said optical guiding layers is smaller than that of said active layer, and the bandgap of each of said optical guiding layers is greater than that of said active layer, and moreover diffraction gratings with different pitches are positioned on the outer side of each of said optical guiding layers.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for detecting, staging and monitoring breast cancer. The methods involve determining the amount of certain antigens, designated W1 and W9, in serum via quantitative immunoassays using anti-W1 or anti-W9 monoclonal antibodies. The amount detected is compared with amounts of the antigen found in normal sera, sera from breast cancer patients of predetermined stage, or other samples of the patient's own serum, depending upon the purpose of the assay.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser apparatus comprising a semiconductor laser device and a semiconductor device, both of which are fixed on a single mounting base with a spacing of several mm or less therebetween in such a manner that one of the side faces of said semiconductor device faces a laser-emitting facet of said semiconductor laser device in a parallel manner, the side face of said semiconductor device being a facet, at least a part of which is coated with a reflecting dielectric film functioning so as to have laser light from said semiconductor laser device return to said semiconductor laser device therefrom.

Abstract: A process for preparing tractable preceramic precursors of Group IIIA metal/Group VA nonmetal compounds, such as BN, in which a first reactant containing a Group VA nonmetal to hydrogen bond, such as ammonia or an amine is reacted with a second reactant containing a Group IIIA metal to hydrogen bond, such as a metal hydride, in the presence of a metal catalyst that catalyzes dehydrocoupling of the bonds to form the precursor. Further reaction of the precursor in the presence of the catalyst forms oligomeric/polymeric forms of the precursor.

Abstract: The invention offers an early detection method for atherosclerosis using genetic analysis to detect a polymorphisms shown to be correlated with this disease which are proximal to the apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and aplipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) gene complex. All individuals with a 300 bp deletion 4 kb upstream of the apoAI gene are destined to experience severe atherosclerotic symptomologies. Individuals with a polymorphism 5.4 kb 5' of the apoAI gene or a PvuII polymorphism in the first intron of the apoCIII gene also seem to be at greater risk. A haplotype with MspI and XmnI/7.2 polymorphisms in this general region seem to be protected. Additional polymorphic sites in the DNA sequence associated with the apoAI/CIII gene complex provide a means for genetically fingerprinting individuals, and for identifying persons at risk with respect to disorders relating to lipid metabolism and transport.