Abstract: A newly discovered family of AIDS-associated viruses, designated ARV, is described. The viruses were isolated from AIDS patients from San Francisco and (a) are type D retroviruses; (b) have Mg.sup.++ -dependent reverse transcriptase activity; (c) induce human multinucleated cells without immortalizing the cells; (d) are replicable in HUT-78 human T cells; and (e) induce viral protein(s) in HUT-78 that binds to Ig from AIDS patients. The infected HUT-78 cells and immunogenic polypeptides derived from the viruses are useful for diagnosing AIDS.

Abstract: A junction-fragment DNA probe, a DNA probe cluster, and methods of preparing and using the probe and cluster to study gene localization and organization. The probe includes first and second gene segments which are derived from first and second, single-copy genomic-DNA gene regions, respectively, separated from one another, in the genomic DNA strand, by a selected distance of between about 20 and 2,000 kilobases. The two segments in the probe are connected at a jThe invention was supported in part by the National Institute of Health grant #NIH CA-30938 and the Government has certain rights to the invention.

Abstract: 9 alpha, 11 beta and 11 beta-substituted estranes are disclosed which exhibit elevated estrogenic and postcoital contraceptive activities. A process for their manufacture and their use in pharmaceuticals is also disclosed.

Abstract: Incorporation of a ketomethylene or a hydroxyethylene group in place of the amide linking group between the Pro.sup.9 and Gly.sup.10 residues of LHRH and its analogs improves the oral activity of LHRH or its analogs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new procedure for preparing the C.1-2,4-pentadienyl derivatives of 2-deoxyhexopyranoses, as well as a new procedure for allylation of daunosamine. These methods are particularly useful for the preparation of intermediates in the synthesis of adriamycin C-glycosidic analogs which are useful anti-tumor agents. These methods provide the first enabling disclosure of methods to prepare these desired adriamycin and anthrocyclinone C-glycosidic analogs.

Abstract: Novel compositions comprising a high concentration of one or more extended chain homopolymer, copolymer, or block polymer and certain polyphosphoric acids are prepared under conditions to exercise control of molecular weight as characterized by intrinsic visoscity. Such compositions are optically anisotropic (liquid crystlaline), capable of exhibiting excellent cohesive strength, and are especially suited to the production of high molecular weight ordered polymer fibers by dry-jet wet spinning. These liquid crystalline compositions are capable of being drawn through long air gap distances and spun at excptionally high spin draw ratios. Fibers, films and other articles formed from these liquid crystalline compositions exhibit exceptionally high physical and heat resistant properties.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease are due to lack of a disorder-specific neurotrophic hormone. Diagnosis is accomplished by assaying hormones specific for a particular neuronal network or system: the motor neurotrophic hormones from muscle in the motor neural system are used to diagnose and treat ALS, dopamine neurotrophic hormones from striatum in the nigrostriatal neural system are used to diagnose and treat parkinsonism, and cholinergic neurotrophic hormones released from the cortex and hippocampus which are specific for cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis and septal nucleus are used to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. With tissue culture, the presence or absence of specific neurotrophic hormones can be assessed in ALS, parkinsonism, and Alzheimer disease.

Abstract: A plant nutrient composition is described that includes those mineral, ionic, and hormones required by plants to carry out their biological and metabolic processes. The composition includes______________________________________ Component Concentration (moles/L) ______________________________________ Ca.sup.++ 2 .times. 10.sup.-3 to 7 .times. 10.sup.-3 Co.sup.++ 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-7 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-7 MoO.sub.4 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-6 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-6 K.sup.+ 4 .times. 10.sup.-6 to 8 .times. 10.sup.-6 I.sup.- 4 .times. 10.sup.-6 to 8 .times. 10.sup.-6 Fe.sup.+++ 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-3 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-3 Cu.sup.++ 5 .times. 10.sup.-8 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-7 Mg.sup.++ 7 .times. 10.sup.-4 to 2 .times. 10.sup.-3 Mn.sup.++ 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-4 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-4 Zn.sup.++ 2 .times. 10.sup.-5 to 5 .times. 10.sup.-5 BO.sub.4.sup.-- 0.5 .times. 10.sup.-4 to 3 .times. 10.sup.-4 Ni.sup.++ 1 .times. 10.sup.-10 to 4 .times. 10.sup.-10 auxin 1 .times. 10.sup.-6 to 4 .times. 10.sup.-6 thiamin 0.5 .times. 10.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease are due to lack of a disorder-specific neurotrophic hormone. Diagnosis is accomplished by assaying hormones specific for a particular neuronal network or system: the motor neurotrophic hormones from muscle in the motor neural system are used to diagnose and treat ALS, dopamine neurotrophic hormones from striatum in the migrostriatal neural system are used to diagnose and treat parkinsonism, and cholinergic neurotrophic hormones released from the cortex and hippocampus which are specific for cholinergic neorons of the nucleus basalis and septal nucleus are used to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease. With tissue culture, the presence or absence of specific neurotrophic hormones can be assessed in ALS, parkinsonism, and Alzheimer disease.

Abstract: A device for indicating the proper fill level for unmarked syringes is disclosed. This device employs the intersection of a perpendicular defracted sheet of low power visible laser light with the barrel of the syringe being filled as the indication of the proper fill level. A method of filling syringes which employs this device to indicate fill level is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rapid-load system for loading a series of pallets into a sputtering apparatus. The system comprises a magazine having a plurality of vertically spaced pallet supports whose spacing is sufficient to allow insertion of a pallet into the magazine directly without contact between the pallet and magazine. The magazine is removably supported in a load-in chamber of the sputtering apparatus by a chamber track assembly.

Abstract: Transplants, such as pancreatic islets, are made suitable for transplantation into a genetically dissimilar individual by coating the transplant with a surface-conforming bonding bridge layer of a multifunctional material that binds chemically to a surface component of the transplant followed by a semipermeable, biologically compatible layer of a polymer that binds chemically to the bonding bridge layer.

Abstract: Certain autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus may be prevented or attenuated by in vivo treatment with a complement-fixing anti-Leu3 (CD4) antibody that is cytotoxic to Leu3 (CD4) phenotype T cells.

Abstract: A copper chelate conjugate which is stable in human serum. The conjugate includes the copper chelate of a cyclic tetraaza di-, tri-, or tetra-acetic acid, a linker attached at one linker end to a ring carbon of the chelate, and a biomolecule joined at the other end of the linker. The conjugate, or the linker-copper chelate compound used in forming the conjugate, are designed for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications which involve Cu(II) localization via the systemic route.