Abstract: New multiclass hybrid interferon polypeptides, their corresponding encoding recombinant DNA molecules and transformed hosts which produce the new interferons are described. The amino acid sequences of these hybrids include at least two different subsequences, one of which has substantial homology with a portion of a first class of interferon (e.g., HuIFN-.alpha.) and the other which has substantial homology with a portion of a second class of interferon e.g., HuIFN-.beta.). Data indicates the interferon activity of .alpha.-.beta. hybrids may be substantially restricted to either cell growth regulatory activity or antiviral activity.

Abstract: A substantially pure pyranose-2-oxidase preparation obtained from C. versicolor or L. betulinus. The preparation is substantially free of glucosone-utilizing enzyme contaminants having measurable activity at a pH between about 4.4 and 7.0.

Abstract: A process for producing wax esters having the general structural formula RCO.sub.2 R', where R and R' are radicals selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.a CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.b - and CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.c - where a+b=12-14 for R and 13-15 for R' and where c=14-16 for R and 15-17 for R'. The method includes aerobically incubating a culture of microorganisms of the genus Acinetobacter species HO1-N, in an aqueous mineral salts solution containing ethanol as a primary food source. Incubation is performed at a temperature known to produce a desired percentage of diene, monoene and saturated R and R' moieties in the mixture.

Abstract: An automatic liquid transfer system includes a horizontally translatable table and a pipette that is translatable both vertically and horizontally in a direction transverse to the axis of translation of the table. The table accommodates one or more titer trays having a multiplicity of receptacles to be filled, or holding liquid samples to be diluted, transferred, or aspirated, and a rack housing plural rows of disposable tips. Between each cycle in a liquid transfer process, a fresh tip is picked up by the pipette and used to transfer liquid in a sterile manner from a sample or diluent source to a well in the titer tray, or from one well to a different well anywhere on the one tray or to a receptacle in a different tray, where it is mixed with diluent. Thereafter, the tip is discharged back into the rack to maintain sterile conditions during the process and a new tip is installed.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately transferring liquids for filling or diluting microliter quantities of regents, analytes or cells for bioassays and the like include a vessel having a plurality of troughs for supplying an array of pipettes to effect the transfer. The vessel is automatically indexable on a horizontal table to bring a selected trough into register with vertical movement of the pipette tips. The table is then indexed to bring the tips into alignment with a plurality of microtiter tray wells. In a preferred form the troughs are of different widths to supply differing quantities of liquid to the pipettes for transfer.

Abstract: Muteins of biologically active proteins such as IFN-.beta. and IL-2 in which cysteine residues that are not essential to biological activity have been deleted or replaced with other amino acids to eliminate sites for intermolecular crosslinking or incorrect intramolecular disulfide bridge formation. These muteins are made via bacterial expression of mutant genes that encode the muteins that have been synthesized from the genes for the parent proteins by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis.

Abstract: A process for bacterially producing heterologous polypeptides, particularly those such as human IFN-.beta. that inhibit bacterial growth, in which bacteria that have been transformed to express the heterologous polypeptide under the control of a trp promoter-operator are cultivated in a known volume of medium containing an excess of a preferred carbon source such as glucose and a predetermined amount of tryptophan that corresponds approximately to the amount of tryptophan contained in the bacteria in the volume of medium at a predetermined elevated cellular density, whereby expression of the heterologous polypeptide is substantially repressed until the bacteria grow to approximately the predetermined elevated cellular density and is thereafter automatically derepressed to permit expression of the heterologous polypeptide.

Abstract: An automatic liquid transfer system includes a horizontally translatable table and a vertically translatable set of pipettes. The table accommodates a titer tray having a multiplicity of receptacles to be filled, or holding liquid samples to be diluted, and a rack housing plural rows of disposable tips. During each cycle in a serial dilution process, a fresh set of tips are picked up by the pipettes and used to transfer liquid in a sterile manner from a sample or diluent source to a row of wells in the titer tray, or from one row to a succeeding row of wells where it is mixed with diluent. Thereafter, the tips are discharged back into the rack to maintain sterile conditions during the process. A sensor is provided on the machine to detect whether all of the tips in each set are disengaged and another set successfully picked up.

Abstract: Metal surfaces such as the working surfaces of nickel plated blanks for rigid memory discs are polished in a two-stage process of rough and finish polishing by a combination of mechanical and chemical mechanisms. Each stage involves a plurality of cycles in which the surface is polished using a rotating polishing pad with an aqueous suspension of aluminum oxide containing a lubricant-surfactant and a chlorine-containing oxidizing agent present at the surface-pad interface followed by the addition of an aqueous colloidal aluminum oxide sol to the oxidizing agent-containing suspension at the interface which frees the chlorine in the oxidizing agent to exert a chemical polishing action on the surface.

Abstract: A process for recovering IFN-.beta. from transformed bacteria comprising: disrupting the cell membranes of the bacteria; solubilizing the IFN-.beta. from the disruptate into an aqueous medium with a solubilizing agent such as sodium dodecyl sulfate; extracting the IFN-.beta. from the aqueous medium with 2-butanol, 2-methyl-butanol, or mixtures thereof under conditions that maintain phase separation between the aqueous meduim and the extractant; and isolating the IFN-.beta. from the extractant such as by precipitating the IFN-.beta. from an aqeous buffer mixture of the extractant by lowering the pH thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic medium having improved mechanical and magnetic properties comprising a nonmagnetic substrate coated with a magnetic binder composition composed of (a) a radiation-cured mixture of a high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer, such as a linear polyurethane of MW greater than 50,000, and a radiation-curable polyfunctional acrylate prepolymer and (b) magnetic particles dispersed in the radiation-cured mixture.

Abstract: Proliferative skin diseases such as psoriasis are treated by topically administering cAMP analogs of the following formula to the afflicted skin site at a dose that preferentially and significantly activates type II protein kinase: ##STR1## where: R.sub.6 is:(i) --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and cyclopentyl or are joined together with the nitrogen atom to form a hetrocyclic group having 4 to 5, inclusive, annular carbon atoms with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in the --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 group is 4 or 5, or(ii) --XR where X is a chalcogen atom of atomic number 8 or 16 and R is alkyl of 4 or 5 carbon atoms,R.sub.8 is:(i) --X--(CH.sub.2).sub.n R.sub.3 where X is defined previously, n is an integer in the range of 1 to 3, inclusive, R.sub.

Abstract: Soluble polymeric colorants composed of free amine groups and chromophoric groups covalently bonded to an organic backbone are disclosed. The number of free amine groups is not less than one-half the number of chromophoric groups. The colorants are characterized by being free of sulfonate, phosphonate and carboxylate groups. The preparation and use of these colorants is also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymeric red colors having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from among hydrogen, halos, lower alkyls, lower alkoxies, nitros, and sulfonates, R.sub.3 is selected from hydrogens, alkyls and alkylsulfonates, and R.sub.4 is an alkyl-containing polymer linking a plurality (n) of anthraquinones into a polymeric colorant are disclosed to be used as nonabsorbable colorants for edibles and cosmetics. They may also be used in such substrates as lakes.

Abstract: An intestinal anti-inflammatory preparation comprising a polymeric agent for releasing 5-aminosalicylic acid or its salts is disclosed. The polymeric agent comprises a nonabsorbable pharmacologically acceptable organic polymer backbone containing aromatic rings to which are covalently bonded via azo bonds a plurality of salicylic acid or salicylate salt groups. The azo bonds attach to the salicylates' 5-position carbon. The polymer's azo bonds undergo bacterial cleavage in the mammalian lower bowel to release 5-aminosalicylic acid and/or its salts.

Abstract: This invention concerns polymers of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a multivalent hydrocarbon radical and Het is a 5 to 8 membered heterocyclic system having a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur hetero atom. The polymers are useful for making articles of manufacture and as coating for delivering beneficial agents.

Abstract: Novel, high specific surface area molybdenum oxycarbide catalysts are disclosed. They are prepared by the vapor condensation of molybdenum hexacarbonyl and catalyze the reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form hydrocarbons. Carburization of the molybdenum oxycarbides increases their activity in the carbon monoxide-hydrogen reaction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming an outlet passageway in an osmotic dispensing device. The process comprises compressing a drug formulation into a solid mass, forming a recess in the solid mass, and then spray coating the mass with a wall forming material that surrounds the mass. The outlet passageway in the wall is formed at the recess simultaneously and automatically during the coating procedure. The passageway extends through the wall and communicates with the drug and the exterior of the device for dispensing the drug over a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for delivering a drug substantially free of rapid precipitation from an osmotic device. The osmotic device comprises a semipermeable wall surrounding a compartment, housing (1) a drug that exhibits limited solubility under neutral and acid conditions; and (2) a compound capable of evolving carbon dioxide in the presence of an acid in the environment of use. The method comprises, (a) imbibing fluid through the wall into the compartment at a rate determined by the permeability of the wall and the osmotic pressure gradient across the wall, (b) forming in the compartment a basic solution containing drug and compound, which solution is delivered from the compartment through the passageway, (c) reacting the compound with the acid in the environment at the device-environment interface for evolving carbon dioxide, thereby, (d) providing an effervescent suspension in the environment that delivers the drug in a finely dispersed form to the environment of use over time.