Abstract: The present invention provides for a gene, designated as musk, that encodes a novel tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in high levels in denervated muscle. The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide which activates MuSK receptor. The invention further provides for a polypeptide which is functionally equivalent to the MuSK activating polypeptide. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure ligands that bind the musk gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on molecules that activate MuSK.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a gene, designated as musk, that encodes a novel tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in high levels in denervated muscle. The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide which activates MuSK receptor. The invention further provides for a polypeptide which is functionally equivalent to the MuSK activating polypeptide. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure ligands that bind the musk gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on molecules that activate MuSK.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a gene, designated as musk, that encodes a novel tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in high levels in denervated muscle. The invention also provides for an isolated polypeptide which activates MuSK receptor. The invention further provides for a polypeptide which is functionally equivalent to the MuSK activating polypeptide. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure ligands that bind the musk gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on molecules that activate MuSK.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel method to direct a particular set of fate choice decisions by multipotential precursor cells from the central nervous system. Specifically we show that introducing the gene coding for the nuclear receptor, Nurr1, into central nervous system (CNS) stem cells causes cells to adopt a dopaminergic cell fate. One use of this technology would be to prepare in vitro neural populations enriched in dopaminergic cells for transplantation in Parkinson's Disease or other neurological disorders. Furthermore, the finding that Nurr1 expression induces a dopaminergic phenotype suggests that introducing this gene into the brains of patients in which dopaminergic cells are degenerating or have been injured may promote the functional recovery of these neurons and thus the clinical recovery of the patient. Finally, the technology described in this application could be incorporated into a program of drug screening or gene discovery.

Abstract: A connector for an edge card includes a card slot having a plurality of contact terminals disposed in a predetermined spacing. The connector also includes two latch/eject members pivotally mounted to the connector at the ends thereof in alignment with the connector card slot. The latch/eject members include an alignment surface positioned opposite the end edges of an edge card during insertion and the alignment surfaces are further positioned on the latch/eject members above an ejection surface such that the contact area between the connector housing terminals and the circuit card lies between the ejection and alignment surfaces. The alignment surface is a surface of potential revolution.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a gene, designated as musk, that encodes a novel tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in high levels in denervated muscle. The invention also provides for an isolated and purified polypeptide which activates MuSK receptor. The invention further provides for a polypeptide which is functionally equivalent to the MuSK activating polypeptide. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure ligands that bind the musk gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on molecules that activate MuSK.

Abstract: A connector for an edge card includes a card slot having a plurality of contact terminals disposed in a predetermined spacing. The connector also includes two latch/eject members pivotally mounted to the connector at the ends thereof in alignment with the connector card slot. The latch/eject members include an alignment surface positioned opposite the end edges of an edge card during insertion and the alignment surfaces are further positioned on the latch/eject members above an ejection surface such that the contact area between the connector housing terminals and the circuit card lies between the ejection and alignment surfaces. The alignment surface is a surface of potential revolution.

Abstract: A locating fixture system is provided for aligning a multi-conductor flat electrical cable with an elongated electrical connector having a plurality of terminals for termination to the conductors of the cable. A fixture base defines a cable platform for supporting the multi-conductor flat electrical cable. A receptacle in the base receives the elongated electrical connector generally transversely of the cable, with the terminals projecting above the cable platform for termination to the conductors of the cable. A locating pin is provided on the base within the receptacle for insertion into a locating hole in the connector intermediate opposite ends of the connector for properly locating the connector transversely of the cable.

Abstract: A cable strain relief system is provided for an electrical connector assembly which terminates a multi-conductor ribbon cable. A pair of interengageable elongated strain relief members clamp the ribbon cable therebetween. A flexible latch arm with a latch hook is provided on at least one of the strain relief members. A latch passage and a latch shoulder is provided on at least the other of the strain relief members for receiving the latch arm and latchingly engaging the latch hook of the one strain relief member. A rigid alignment element is provided on at least one of the strain relief members, and an alignment opening is provided on at least the other of the strain relief members for receiving the rigid alignment element. The latch passage is sized to receive the latch arm and latch hook freely thereinto with the pair of strain relief members offset relative to each other, and with the latch arm in an initial unflexed condition.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a shell having a cavity and a cable-receiving opening adapted to receive an electrical cable. The opening defines an axis, and a pair of screw posts are located in the cavity spaced on opposite sides of the axis such that the cable can be positioned therebetween. A cable clamp member includes a center section adapted to embrace one side of the cable, and a pair of wing sections extending from the center section and having screw-receiving holes alignable with the screw posts. The clamp member includes flanges projecting from the wing sections, with the flanges having slots for embracing ribs on the shell to preposition the cable clamp member over the cable with the screw-receiving holes aligned with the screw posts.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for insulation displacing termination of ribbon cable having insulated conductors in predetermined close centerline spacing. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face, an opposed cable-receiving face and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces for receiving a plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a mating portion toward the mating face and slotted U-shaped insulation displacement portion toward the cable-receiving face. The insulation displacement portions of the terminals are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A dielectric cover forces the conductors into the U-shaped insulation displacement portions and embraces the cable between the cover and the cable-receiving face of the housing. The cover includes a surface for engaging the cable and recesses in the surface for receiving the U-shaped insulation displacement portions of the terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for insulation displacing termination of ribbon cable having conductors in predetermined close centerline spacing. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face, an opposed cable-receiving face and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces for receiving a plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a mating portion toward the mating face and slotted U-shaped insulation displacement portion toward the cable-receiving face. The insulation displacement portions of the terminals are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A dielectric cover forces the conductors into the U-shaped insulation displacement portions and embraces the cable between the cover and the cable-receiving face of the housing. The cover includes a surface for engaging the cable and holes in the surface for receiving the U-shaped insulation displacement portions of the terminals.

Abstract: An edge connector is disclosed for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated insulating housing having a plurality of contacts mounted on the housing along the length thereof for engaging the printed circuit board contact pads when the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing at a first angular position and subsequently pivoted to a second angular position. The contacts exert an opposing force against the printed circuit board when pivoted to the second angular position. A latching device has a latching section for engaging the printed circuit board. The latching device is rotatably mounted on the housing for rotation from a first position to a second position in response to pivoting the printed circuit board from its first angular position to its second angular position.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a housing having a through passage. A male electrical contact is stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a generally planar body portion which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to the contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The pin portion is twisted approximately 90.degree. relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The twisted area of the pin portion is press-fit into the through passage in the housing.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is formed by the mating of upper and lower housing covers and is used with twisted pair cables, each of which includes a pair of signal wires and a drain wire enclosed within an outer insulation. Each pair of terminated signal wires is disposed in a contact module which is positioned in one of a plurality of shielded compartments formed between adjacent separating walls extending from the outer housing covers when the covers are mated with each other. Each of the separating walls has a positioning slot into which a positioning rib on the contact modules may be disposed in order to properly position and retain the contact module in one of the shielded compartments. A ferrule assembly is crimped about the end of the insulation of each of the cables and is coupled to the drain wire of the twisted pair cable.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is formed by the mating of upper and lower housing covers and is used with twisted pair cables, each of which includes a pair of signal wires and a drain wire enclosed within an outer insulation. Each pair of terminated signal wires is disposed in a contact module which is positioned in one of a plurality of shielded compartments formed between adjacent separating walls extending from the outer housing covers when the covers are mated with each other. Each of the separating walls has a positioning slot into which a positioning rib on the contact modules may be disposed in order to properly position and retain the contact module in one of the shielded compartments. A ferrule assembly is crimped about the end of the insulation of each of the cables and is coupled to the drain wire of the twisted pair cable.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is formed by the mating of upper and lower housing covers and is used with twisted pair cables, each of which includes a pair of signal wires and a drain wire enclosed within an outer insulation. Each pair of terminated signal wires is disposed in a contact module which is positioned in one of a plurality of shielded compartments formed between adjacent separating walls extending from the outer housing covers when the covers are mated with each other. Each of the separating walls has a positioning slot into which a positioning rib on the contact modules may be disposed in order to properly position and retain the contact module in one of the shielded compartments. A ferrule assembly is crimped about the end of the insulation of each of the cables and is coupled to the drain wire of the twisted pair cable.

Abstract: A connector is provided for mounting on a circuit board. The connector includes a body member and rows of first and second electrical contact pins coupled to the body member. The first contact pins are configured to extend downwardly below a bottom wall of the body member so that they align with the bottom wall to define an acute included angle therebetween. The second contact pins are configured to extend downwardly below the bottom wall in splayed relation to the first electrical contact pins and are aligned with the bottom wall to define an obtuse included angle therebetween. The first and second contact pins are made of spring material and cooperate to define a spring clip for yieldably drawing the bottom wall of the body member into seating engagement with the circuit board upon insertion of the first and second electrical contact pins into a pair of pin-receiving apertures formed in the circuit board.