Abstract: The present invention relates to devices which can be installed in interchangeable bases and which interrupt and subsequently automatically reconnect medium-voltage circuits. The device disclosed herein detects whether there is a fault in the electric circuit and effects automatic interruption and subsequent reconnection after a time that depends on the characteristics of the detected fault and on the device configuration. The design of the device reduces the contact wear of vacuum switch and lengthens the useful life thereof. The device is further characterized in that it gathers detailed information regarding electrical characteristics of medium-voltage line; it is self-powering and stores electrical power, thereby allowing the device to keep operating even when there is no current in the line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices which can be installed in interchangeable bases and which interrupt and subsequently automatically reconnect medium-voltage circuits. The device disclosed herein detects whether there is a fault in the electric circuit and effects automatic interruption and subsequent reconnection after a time that depends on the characteristics of the detected fault and on the device configuration. The design of the device reduces the contact wear of vacuum switch and lengthens the useful life thereof. The device is further characterized in that it gathers detailed information regarding electrical characteristics of medium-voltage line; it is self-powering and stores electrical power, thereby allowing the device to keep operating even when there is no current in the line.

Abstract: A chewing gum composition contains a gum base; 0% to about 60%, preferably about 10% to about 50%, bulking and sweetening agents; and about 5% to about 80% fat-containing confection, such as chocolate. The gum base comprises about 2% to about 40% elastomer, about 10% to about 50% elastomer plasticizer, about 2% to about 35% gum base softener, and about 1% to about 10% emulsifier. The gum base usually contains less than 10% filler, and less than 45% gum base matrix disrupting materials. In another embodiment, the chewing gum product is made from gum base and flavoring agents, possibly without the addition of any bulk sweetening agents. A chewing gum product can be formed from the composition. The product may be a compressed gum product. In another embodiment, the product can be coated or filled with a fat-containing confection, such as chocolate, in which case the product may be made of a composition without the fat-containing confection in it and with 0% to about 60% bulking and sweetening agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor comprising contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises a cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein. The protein is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, and more specifically to active fragments of decorin or its functional equivalents to bind TGF.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors.