Abstract: A process for preparing a skin culture which comprises the following steps:a) a step in which a skin culture matrix comprising a collagen sponge, a collagen sheet or a collagen gel is prepared in a means having a projection to provide said matrix with a penetrating pore,b) a step in which a skin-derived cell is seeded and cultured on said matrix, andc) a step in which the skin culture is provided with a penetrating pore by the means having the projection before said skin culture covers a skin defect, if necessary, the steps a) and b) are simultaneously carried out; a skin culture matrix and a skin culture obtained thereby.

Abstract: A wafer cleaning system cleans semiconductor wafers using megasonic energy to agitate cleaning fluid applied to the wafer. A source of acoustic energy vibrates an elongated quartz probe which transmits the acoustic energy into the fluid. One form of the probe has a solid cylindrical-shaped cleaning portion within the tank and a flared rear portion with an increasing diameter outside the tank. A heat transfer member acoustically coupled to the larger rear portion of the probe and to a transducer conducts heat away from the transducer. A housing for the heat transfer member and transducer supports those components and provides means for conducting coolant through the housing to control the temperature of the transducer. In one arrangement, fluid is sprayed onto both sides of a wafer while a probe is positioned close to an upper side. In another arrangement, a short probe is positioned with its end face close to the surface of a wafer, and the probe is moved over the wafer as it rotates.

Abstract: A mosaic protein comprising a variety of immunoreactive antigenic epitopes from several genotypes of hepatitis C virus. The mosaic protein provides a sensitive and specific immunological hepatitis detection assay. A restriction enzyme assisted ligation method of making an artificial gene permits controlled construction of mosaic proteins, and allows confirmatory expression of the intermediate gene products.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an antibody against a hepatitis G virus antigen as well as a fragment of this antibody. The invention additionally concerns hybridoma cell lines as well as a conjugate that contains this antibody or the antibody fragment coupled to a biological molecule. Finally the present invention concerns the use of the antibody for the diagnostic detection of hepatitis G virus.

Abstract: A hydrolyzed cereal product containing honey or whole fruit or pieces of fruit is obtained by preparing a mixture of cereal flour and alpha-amylase and also honey or fruit, the fruit being whole or in pieces, passing a stream of the mixture through an assembly so that the mixture is treated successively by jets of steam which are injected to envelope the mixture stream to heat the stream first to hydrolyze starch of the cereal flour and so that after the first steam-treatment, wherein the steam jet may be directed to the mixture stream co- or counter-currently, the subsequent successive steam jet or jets are directed to the hydrolyzed product stream counter-currently. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes two nozzles which have conically-shaped ends positioned to form a channel which communicates which a steam-supply passage of a T-shaped body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a reagent that binds specifically to a predetermined ligand, contains one or more antibody constant region epitopes, and is uniform in specificity and affinity. The reagent can be produced continually, in the manufacture of calibrators (standards) and/or controls for diagnostic kits designed to qualitatively or quantitatively measure antibodies specific for a desired ligand. For example, the present invention encompasses recombinant mouse-human chimeric antibodies which may be used as calibrators (standards) and/or positive controls in assays and kits which measure human antibodies. Any species may be used in creating the chimeric antibodies, and the presence of any corresponding species of antibody may be detected.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical formulation of hyaluronic acid is administered to a patient suffering from undesirable T cellactivity. The hyaluronic acid inhibits T cell activity at doses that are well-tolerated by the recipient. Conditions suitable for treatment include graft vs. host disease, graft rejection and certain autoimmune diseases having a T cell component.

Abstract: Disclosed are screening methods to identify molecules which activate or inhibit the activity of an ATPase protein of the Flaviviridae family, particularly NS4B protein of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). These inhibitors and activators of HCV NS4B protein potentially can be used as antiviral compounds and as therapeutic agents for the treatment of viruses linked to the Flaviviridae family, particularly HCV, flaviviruses such as yellow fever virus, Dengue virus types 1-4, and pestiviruses such as bovine viral diarrhea virus and classic swine fever, among others.

Abstract: A plasmid bearing a cDNA copy of the genome of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), chimeric derivatives of the plasmid and a method of producing an infectious bovine viral diarrhea virus using the plasmid are disclosed. The invention relates to a plasmid DNA molecule that replicates easily in E. coli and contains a sufficient portion of the genome of BVDV, cloned as cDNA, to be a suitable template to produce RNA in vitro which, upon transfection into bovine cells, gives rise to infectious BVDV. The BVDV created by the process of the invention can be engineered for use as a vector in many advantageous applications.

Abstract: A method for forming contacts with vertical sidewalls, high aspect ratios, improved salicide and photoresist etch selectivity at submicron dimensions. In one currently preferred embodiment, an opening is formed in a dual oxide layer by etching the undoped oxide layer at a first rate and then etching the doped oxide layer at a second rate. The etch process is performed in a low density parallel plate reactor. The process parameters of the etch are fixed in ranges which optimize the etch process and allow greater control over the critical dimensions of the opening. For example, the oxide layer is etched at a pressure in the range of approximately 100-300 mTorr and with an etch chemistry having a CHF.sub.3 :CF.sub.4 gas flow ratio in the range of approximately 3:1-1:1, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated non-A, non-B hepatitis virus genomic cDNA covering the entire region of the virus gene nucleotide sequence from the 1st to 9416th nucleotides shown in FIG. 2(1) through FIG. 2(16) hereof, wherein the coding region is from the 333rd to 9362nd nucleotides, and the 5'- and 3'- noncoding sequences contain 332 nucleotides and 54 nucleotides, respectively. Part of the cDNA and an antigen polypeptide as an expression product thereof are useful as a diagnostic reagent for non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen polypeptide is also useful as an active ingredient for a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus vaccine.

Abstract: A method of labelling molecules which includes providing in a common medium a label molecule, a marker ligand able to bind a member of a specific binding pair, such as an antigen, a sbp member, an enzyme able to catalyse binding of the label molecule to other molecules, the enzyme being associated with the marker ligand; causing or allowing binding of the marker ligand to the sbp member; and causing or allowing binding of the label molecule to other molecules in the vicinity of the marker ligand bound to the sbp member. The marker ligand may be an antibody or any specific binding molecule, such as a chemokine or cytokine. A complementary member of the specific binding pair may be included, e.g. an antibody, or a diverse population of such sbp members, e.g. antibodies, may be included within which those which bind the counterpart sbp member, e.g. antigen, may be labelled and subsequently isolated for manipulation and/or use.

Abstract: Attenuated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and vaccine compositions thereof are produced by introducing specific mutations associated with attenuating phenotypes into wild-type or RSV which is incompletely attenuated by cold-passage or introduction of mutations which produce virus having a temperature sensitive (ts) or cold adapted (ca) phenotype. Alternatively, recombinant RSV and vaccine compositions thereof incorporate attenuating and other mutations specifying desired structural and or phenotypic characteristics in an infectious RSV. Recombinant RSV incorporate desired mutations specified by insertion, deletion, substitution or rearrangement of a selected nucleotide sequence, gene, or gene segment in an infectious RSV clone. The immune system of an individual is stimulated to induce protection against natural RSV infection, or multivalently against infection by RSV and another pathogen, such as PIV, by administration of attenuated, biologically derived or recombinant RSV.

Abstract: Polypeptide able to react specifically with an antibody directed against the C33 antigen of hepatitis C virus, and that has a peptide sequence including all or part of the Asp-Gly-Ala-Lys-Phe-Ser-Ser-Arg-Leu-Gly-Ala-Ala-Gly-Ala SEQ ID NO: 1 sequence, or a sequence derived from this peptide sequence recognized by the antibody. This polypeptide has applications for detection of C33 antigen and anti-C33 antibodies.

Abstract: A sustained release drug formulation including: a drug; a biodegradable polymer which is insoluble in water; and an oil vehicle in which both the drug and the polymer are dissolved. The oil vehicle contains 10-100% by volume a pharmaceutically acceptable oil and 0-90% by volume a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier for the drug or the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides having an immunomodulatory activity. The present invention is concerned with the tetrapeptide H-Lys-Asn-Pro-Tyr-OH (SEQ.ID NO:1) and analogues thereof as immunomodulators. The present invention also includes the use of such peptides as vaccine adjuvant.

Abstract: A method for cutting a pork butt to provide pork products having substantially enhanced value involves first removing the blade bone from the pork butt. The principal shoulder muscles of the pork butt are located and identified and one or more seams extending around portions of at least one of the muscles is cut to remove at least one principal shoulder muscle from the remainder of the pork butt. The removed shoulder muscle is denuded by removing substantially all cartilage, fat, connective tissue, membrane, and other non-muscle material from each outer surface to provide essentially a solid pork muscle. The denuded shoulder muscle is cut into one or more generally solid pork products, each pork product being very low in fat content and of relatively high economic value. Each of the pork products is tenderized prior to being offered for sale.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting whether a test composition can inhibit cell fusion mediated by paramyxovirus infection. A method is also provided for identifying an antiviral peptide capable of inhibiting paramyxovirus-induced cell fusion. The methods are based on the discovery that the hemagglutination and fusion-inducing proteins of paramyxoviruses interact to form a complex termed HN:F, that is prerequisite to cell fusion. Antibodies to HN:F provide a novel means of providing improved immunity against paramyxovirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides serological and genetic methods of diagnosing a medically resistant clinical subtype of ulcerative colitis UC. The present invention provides a method of diagnosing a medically resistant clinical subtype of UC by determining the presence or absence of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in a patient with UC, where the presence of ASCA indicates the medically resistant clinical subtype of UC. The present invention also provides a method of diagnosing a medically resistant clinical subtype of UC by determining the presence or absence of a TNFa2b1c2d4e1 haplotype in a patient with UC, where the presence of said TNFa2b1c2d4e1 haplotype indicates the medically resistant clinical subtype of UC.

Abstract: A method of chemical milling which includes the following steps: (i) suspending an extrusion or casting formed from metal in an etching solution wherein initially the extrusion or casting is fully submerged in the etching solution by virtue of its weight and which thereafter is rendered buoyant by metal being removed from the extrusion or casting by the etching solution wherein the casting or extrusion is supported by a non-buoyant support which maintains the casting or extrusion in a fully submerged condition throughout its immersion in the etching solution; and (ii) withdrawing the extrusion or casting from the etching solution when required. The invention also refers to chemical milling apparatus for use in the abovementioned method as well as the non-buoyant support per se.