Abstract: The invention includes a substantially pure preparation of a peptide having corticotropin release inhibiting factor (CRIF) activity comprising at least three contiguous amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence positioned between the fourth and fifth thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) sequence on a prepro-TRH protein. The CRIF peptide further comprises the fourth uncleaved TRH portion of prepro-TRH positioned at the amino terminus of CRIF. Compositions, methods of diagnosis and methods of treating CRIF related diseases are also included in the invention.

Abstract: A baffle for use in sewage or water settling tanks and the like which helps in establishing a substantially uniform flow of liquid down the tank across its entire vertical cross sectional area by dissipating as much of the energy of the incoming fluid stream as possible before allowing the fluid to flow down the settling tank. The energy of the stream is dissipated in part by deflectors which are arranged to direct the flow of liquid into and around a dead space prior to discharge into the settling tank.

Abstract: A scum removal system for sewage settling tanks and the like employs a floating skimmer system which is lowered onto the surface of the liquid at one end of the tank and then moved toward the opposite end where floating materials collected by the skimmer are passed into a scum trough. At the trough end of the tank, the skimmer is raised from the surface of the liquid and returned to the first end while being held above the liquid surface. Continuous flow into the scum trough is prevented by a floating beach hinged to the scum trough. The beach is submerged as the skimmer approaches so that flow over the submerged beach carries the collected materials into the scum trough. Flow over the submerged beach is controlled by the depth as well as the length of time that the beach is held beneath the surface.

Abstract: The efficiency of a sewage settling tank is improved by providing the tank with a plurality of submerged, vertically spaced decks which divide the tank into a plurality of horizontal settling layers. This improves the settling rate in that solids travel a relatively short vertical distance before coming to rest on one or another of the decks. A floating siphon system having inlets at each deck level removes the settled sludge from each of the decks.

Abstract: A scum removal system for sewage settling tanks and the like employs a floating skimmer system which is lowered onto the surface of the liquid at one end of the tank and then moved toward the opposite end where floating materials collected by the skimmer are passed into a scum trough. At the trough end of the tank, the skimmer is raised from the surface of the liquid and returned to the first end while being held above the liquid surface. Continuous flow into the scum trough is prevented by a floating beach hinged to the scum trough. The beach is submerged as the skimmer approaches so that flow over the submerged beach carries the collected materials into the scum trough. Flow over the submerged beach is controlled by the depth as well as the length of time that the beach is held beneath the surface.

Abstract: A sewage settling tank is provided with two or more banks of tube settlers to improve the settling rate. The tube settlers are spaced above the bottom of the settling tank and upstanding from about the periphery of each bank is a baffle member which defines a clear water zone directly above each bank. The baffle is provided with an opening which extends below the water level to permit the carriage of a floating siphon system to pass into the clear water zone, the inlet of the siphon extending down to the bottom of the settling tank in order to remove the sludge immediately beneath each bank of tube settlers. The opening in the baffle is provided with an air gate to permit the passage of the floating carriage through the opening while preventing the untreated water from flowing through the opening into the clear water zone.