Abstract: A musical instrument case containing one or more amplifiers and a plurality of speakers is described. The consolidated case comprises a substantially rectangular base portion having a recess configured to receive and retain a musical instrument therewithin. Pivotally attached to the base portion are first and second triangular cover members that are coactively adapted to fold over and completely cover or enclose the base portion leaving no exposed gaps.

Abstract: Blended cement compositions for mixture with aggregate and water to prepare cementitious products. Such blended cement compositions contain cement, calcined diatomaceous earth, calcined kaolin, and about 0.5% to about 4% (w/w) of potassium, with or without talc and/or bentonite or their functional equivalents. Admixtures for blending into cement to create such blended cements or their read-mix equivalents contain calcined kaolin, calcined diatomaceous earth, and potassium, with or without talc and/or bentonite or their functional equivalents.

Abstract: Substantially pure compositions of matter selected from the group of cephalostatin 7, cephalostatin 8, and cephalostatin 9 having anti-neoplastic activity are disclosed.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic valve, igniter and combustion preheater for hybrid rocket motors is described. Particularly, the present invention comprises a ported connection means in which is mounted a solid charge of pyrotechnic material which provides a barrier to and obstructs the flow ports of the connection means to maintain the physical separation of the fluid propellant from the solid propellant. In operation, the solid charge is ignited and burns which burning consumes the charge and thereby removes the barrier to fluid propellant flow. The preferred pyrotechnic charge also ignites the solid propellant and thereby initiates combustion. The ported connection means may also include a preheater chamber in which is disposed a hollow or slotted cylinder of solid fuel which when burned, reacts with and heats the fluid oxidizer as it flows to the main combustion chamber to increase the ignitability and combustion efficiency of the solid fuel grain disposed therewithin.

Abstract: A modular closure unit is described which has three walls, two of which are side walls each connected to the opposite vertical edges of the third or back wall. A top member is also integrally attached to the top edges of all three walls. Two discrete attachment means detachably attach the unit to the doorframe of an existing doorway in a wall to thereby close the doorway and prevent the unilateral removal of the unit by persons having access to only one side of the unit. The unit permits operable retention of the previously mounted door when desired.

Abstract: New antineoplastic substances have been isolated, structurally elucidated and synthesized having a general structural formula of: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is OH or OCH.sub.3 ;R.sub.2 is H or OCH.sub.3 ; or R.sub.1 R.sub.2 is --OCH.sub.2 O--;R.sub.3 is H or OH; andR.sub.4 is OH or OCH.sub.3.These substances have been denominated "combretastatin A-1, -A-2, -A-3, -B-1, -B-2, -B-3 and -B-4". preparation containing the substances and methods of treating a host inflicted with a neoplastic growth with the preparation is described.

Abstract: A new art form providing a plurality of optical images and illusions by the novel coaction of at least two diverse line and curve patterns disposed in spaced generally parallel relationship to each other, at least one of said patterns being rotatable at a rate different from that of the other pattern. The differential rates of rotation generate a dynamic composite image which is ultimately cyclically repetitive. The art form is especially useful in creating time pieces and mood altering displays for psychological counseling.

Abstract: A retractable folding hanger device for attachment to a flat surface having a base member, an extension arm pivotally attached at the first end thereof to the base member, and a retention arm pivotally attached to the second end of the extension arm. Each of the frame members is preferably channel-shaped and dimensioned so that the retention arm is foldable into and nestable within the extension arm and the nested extension arm and retention arm are likewise foldable into and nestable within the base member. Suitable hinge pins provide the pivotal attachments to the device and solid-body or spring-biased stops hold the device in its open or deployed position. A magnet or a clasp is provided to secure the device in its closed or retracted position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are Combretastatin A-4 Prodrugs, having the general strure set forth below, which are useful in the treatment of one or more neoplastic diseases by means of chemotherapy.

Abstract: An improved particulate separator is made from a strainer mandrel disposed in a velocity tube. The velocity tube and strainer mandrel are hollow and tubularly shaped and positioned concentrically such that a small radial distance is left open between the interior of the velocity tube and the exterior of the strainer mandrel to create an annular, vertical fluid flow region. The velocity tube and the strainer mandrel are attached to each other at their respective top ends by a solid plug means that prohibits fluid flow into or out of the top end of the annular fluid flow region. The bottom end of the strainer mandrel is plugged while the bottom end of the annular fluid flow region is left open to create the main fluid flow inlet to the particulate separator. The preferred velocity tube is a unitary hollow cylinder with a substantially solid wall while the strainer mandrel is preferably a helical tension spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of natural (-)- dolastatin and the elucidation of the absolute configuration of this important sea hare constituent. A segment synthetic strategy was utilized for obtaining the Dolabella auricularia (Indian Ocean sea hare) depsipeptide dolastatin 15. Reaction of protected (S)-Hiva-(S)-Phe (2c) with isopropenyl chloroformate followed by Meldrum's ester, cyclization (2c.fwdarw.3a) of the product in toluene and finally methylation afforded the key (S)-dolapyrrolidine (Dpy) derivative (3b). Condensation of tripeptide (8) with the three unit Dpy segment (5b) followed by deprotection and coupling (diethyl phosphorocyanidate) led to dolastatin 15 in 11% overall yield. The powerful and selective activity of dolastatin 15 against the U.S. National Cancer Institute's panel of human cell lines is reported.

Abstract: An elastic resistance exercise device is described which comprises an elongated elastic member having a handle attached at each end by friction-lock components. A disassemblable bar member is used coactively with the elastic member or with the handles by sliding the bar in and through hollow cylinders operatively attached to the handles. The handles provide adjustable detachability of the elastic member by the coaction of receptacles defined therein through which the elastic member is slidably fit and frictionally retained. In one handle, a solid plug is frictionally inserted in the elastic member and at the other handle, an adjustable member attached to a pull handle frictionally bears upon the elastic member and secures it in the handle. The device can be assembled into a small compact mass to facilitate transport in a briefcase or the like when traveling.

Abstract: A housing and cap assembly for insulating and making watertight the electrical connection between a neon tube electrode and its associated power cable in an inert gas or neon sign system having a housing member with cylinders for containing a power cable and a neon electrode integrally formed in a parallel, double back configuration within a unified structure and having an cap member through which the cable and electrode are inserted which is also coactive with the housing member to form a weatherproof, watertight seal about the electrical power cable, electrode connection.

Abstract: An alarm system for notifying necessary medical and hospital personnel that a patient or the patient's life support equipment require immediate response without providing the alarm signal to the monitored patient or surrounding patients, to prevent patient trauma which may otherwise result from the sound of the alarm. The system includes an alarm signal generator that provides a coded pulse indication of the patient and equipment type. The coded signal is sent to a master control unit preferably located at a nurses' station. The master control unit then transmits the coded alarm signal simultaneously to the appropriate group of pagers having vibrational annunciators and a visual display that describes the patient location and equipment type. The patients monitor and equipment at bedside and the pagers have no audio alarm signals. The alarm signal can only be terminated manually by an interrupt switch at the bedside.

Abstract: An adjustable pillow that supports the head and neck of a user when laying on his/her side or in face downward position is described. This pillow has a central base portion and one or more lateral protrusions, particularly including upper lateral protrusions, all of which are integrally connected to said central base portion. Means are provided for securing one or more lift pads beneath the pillow to vary the height of the pillow surface relative to the plane upon which the pillow and its user are supported.

Abstract: Pancratistatin has been selected for pre-clinical development but is sparingly soluble in water. A disodium phosphate derivative has been synthesized which is water soluble and is bioequivalent thereof. The critical step in the synthesis of the phenolic phosphate was phosphorylation of 1,2,3,4-tetraacetoxy-pancratistatin with dibenzyloxy(N,N-diisopropylamido)phosphine.

Abstract: This application discloses seven newly synthesized pentapeptide amides and our tetrapeptide amides. The synthesis utilized both naturally occurring and modified amino acids; the modified amino acids are constituents of the well known dolastatin 10 and dolastatin 15 which are structurally distinct peptides with excellent antineoplastic activity. These peptides were constructed by introducing a peptide bond between selected amino acids and modified amino acids and coupling the resulting di- and tri-peptides to obtain peptides having a high anticancer activity against a series of human cancer cell lines.

Abstract: The isolation, elucidation and synthetic replication of novel pentapeptide mides and esters are described. The compounds have the general structure ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected as shown below: ##STR2##R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 =--O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 16a)R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 =--O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 16b)R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3 ; R.sub.2 =--NH--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.

Abstract: The Micronesian marine sponge Phakellia sp. has been found to contain cern key members of the antineoplastic halichondrin/halistatin family. These compounds include halichondrin B, homohalichondrin B, halistatin 1, and halistatin 3.Halistatin 3 is a newly discovered member of this family. It inhibited both the P388 leukemia cell line and selected brain, lung, colon, ovarian, renal, and melanoma type cancer cell lines with ED.sub.50 /GI.sub.50 concentrations on the order of 3.times.10.sup.-5 .mu.g/ml.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a novel and unique class of gly materials and methods of making such materials in which substantially all of the anions are nitride ions, in contrast to the oxide ions of conventional optical glasses, or the fluoride ions of the more recently discovered fluoride optical glasses. The chemical nature of these new glasses dispose the glassy materials to a remarkable combination of desirable properties, including, but not limited to, high hardness, high refractive index and high softening temperature.