Abstract: Bioactive ABC taxoids accessible by convergent synthesis have an intact AB ring framework of taxol, including the C.sup.13 side chain, and an aromatic C ring which substitutes for the CD ring system found on native taxol. The aromatic C ring may be substituted or unsubstituted. MPT derivatives of ABC taxoids are also disclosed.

Abstract: The total synthesis of taxol employs a convergent synthetic plan. The synthetic plan may also be employed to produce a large number of taxol analogs. Taxol analogs having skeletal extensions are inaccessible by modification of the natural product but are readily produced by employing the convergent synthetic plan herein.

Abstract: Transformations of taxol, baccatin III and of 10-deacetyl baccatin III provide access to novel taxol analogs and key intermediates thereto.

Abstract: Alkaline sensitive protaxol is water soluble and is hydrolyzed at physiological (alkaline) pH to render the native taxol structure and the native taxol activity. Protaxol compositions include 2'- and/or 7-O-ester derivatives of taxol and/or 2'- and/or 7-O-carbonate derivatives taxol. Protaxol has a formula as follows: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each H or a radical selected from the group consisting of --CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --X--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COZ and --COO--(CH.sub.2).sub.o --Y--Ar, and wherein m, n, and o are each an integer of 1 to 3; X is O, S, NH, SO, or SO.sub.2 ; Y is S, SO or SO.sub.2 ; Ar is phenyl or substituted phenyl wherein the substituent is halo, amino, nitro or N,N-dialkylamino having 1 to 4 carbons in each of the alkyl groups; and Z is OH, OR.sup.3, SR.sup.3 or NR.sup.4 R.sup.5 wherein R.sup.3 is alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbons and R.sup.4 and R.sup.

Abstract: Aureobacterium barkerei strain KDO-37-2 (ATCC 49977) KDO aldolase (EC 4.1.2.23) isolated therefrom are disclosed. The DKDO aldolase is further disclosed to have a broad substrate specificity with respect to its reverse reaction, i.e. the condensation of aldoses with pyruvate to form a wide range of 2-keto-3-deoxy-onic acids, including 2-keto-3-deoxy-nonulosonic acid, 2-keto-3-deoxy-octulosonic acid, 2-keto-3-deoxy-heptulosonic acid, and 2-keto-3-deoxy-hexulosonic acid. In particular, 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (D-KDO), a vital component of lipopolysaccharides found in the bacterial outer membrane may be synthesized from D-arabinose and pyruvate in 67% yield. Additionally, protected forms of the KDO aldolase products, e.g. hexaacetyl 2-keto-3-deoxy-nonulosonic acid and pentaacetyl 2-keto-3-deoxy-octulosonic acid, may be decarboxylated to form the corresponding 2-deoxy-aldoses, e.g. 2-deoxy-octulose and 2-deoxy-heptulose respectively.

Abstract: A blood washing device is employed for recovering shed blood or other sources of blood and preparing packed red cells therefrom. The device employs a gravity sedimentation procedure but achieves a shortened washing period by using an aggregating reagent for aggregating or agglomerating the red cells so as to increase their sedimentation velocity during the gravity sedimentation. The wash period is further shortened by employing a vessel with a flat shallow configuration for shortening the sedimentation path length of the aggregated red cells. A non-turbulant removal of the resultant broad shallow layer of sedimented red cells is achieved by carefully tilting the vessel after the sedimentation step so as to induce the sedimented red cells to slide or shift into a funnel configuration within the vessel. After the red cells have shifted into a funnel configuration, they are allowed to stand in that configuration so as undergo further concentration.

Abstract: A bank draft form may incorporate a hologram as an anti-counterfeit measure. The hologram may extend over a substantial portion of the bank draft form, including the signature entry area and other data entry areas of the form, e.g. the date, payee, and amount areas. The hologram includes an outer layer of a transparent layer of ink compatible material over such areas. The transparent layer of ink compatible material allows the drawer to affix his or her signature within the signature entry area and to enter the various terms of the draft, e.g. the date, amount, payee etc. Writing upon the ink compatible surface of the hologram partially occults the hologram underneath such writing and may cause the embossed surface of the hologram to become etched. The partial effacing of the hologram increases the difficulty of its duplication by a counterfeiter.

Abstract: The immunobead aspirator reduces the amount of carry over liquid which remains within a test tube or other immunoassay vessel after an aspiration procedure. When the immunobead aspirator lifts up the immunobead during the aspiration procedure, the immunobead contacts an array of protuberances within an inverted bowl from which a vacuum is drawn. The array of protuberances define a hollow which exceeds the size of the immunobead. Accordingly, at any given time, the immunobead makes limited contact with only a portion of the protuberances. This reduces the amount of liquid which is trapped within points of contact between the lifted immunobead and the aspiration device and reduces the amount of carry over liquid.

Abstract: A centrifuge having an automatic dispensing rotor is employed for pelleting material and automatically decanting supernatant liquid by means of gravity drainage. The automatic decanting rotor employs a magnetically activated lock mechanism for locking swinging buckets in an elevated position while the rotor is at speed. When the rotor is brought to rest, the swinging buckets do not pivot to their rest position but are sustained in their elevated position by means of the magnetically activated lock. Liquids are automatically decanted from the swinging buckets when the rotor is brought to rest while the swinging buckets are sustained within their elevated position.

Abstract: A method for mixing blood with anticoagulant in conjunction with an autologous blood transfusion system employs a mixing tube for directing the blood to the bottom of a blood bag.

Abstract: A spin welding apparatus is employed for hermetically sealing seamless overpacks. The seamless overpacks are utilized, for example, for isolating corroding 55 gallon drums which contain hazardous materials. The overpacks include a receiver which contains the 55 gallon drum and a cover which is spin welded onto the receiver. The receiver and cover have circular welding surfaces which oppose one another across a horizontal plane. The welding surfaces have a composition of heat fusible plastic. During the spin welding process, the cover is rotationally driven by the spin welding apparatus while simultaneously being forced downward onto the receiver, which is held stationary. Frictional heat melts the opposing welding surfaces. After the rotational motion stops, the opposing welding surfaces cool and solidify to form a seamless weld joint. During the spin welding process, the covers are rendered susceptible to centrifugal imbalance due their large size.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing pellets of magnetic particles magnetically bound to the bottom of a test tube employs a liquid handling probe having an aspiration channel with a forked inlet for positioning the probe onto the periapical region of the test tube for optimizing both the aspiration and expression of liquids. While contacting the periapical region of the test tube, the forked inlet may aspirate liquid adjacent to the pellet without contacting the magnetic particles. Furthermore, the contact between the forked inlet and the periapical region of the test tube, serves to position the outlet of the liquid channel directly over the pellet for dislodging and resuspending the magnetically bound pellet with a forceful stream of wash liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing pellets of magnetic particles magnetically bound to the bottom of a test tube employs a liquid handling probe having an aspiration channel with a forked inlet for positioning th eprobe onto the periapical region of the test for optimizing both the aspiration and expression of liquids. While contacting the periapical region of the test tube, the forked inlet may aspirate liquid adjacent to the pellet without contacting the magnetic particles. Furthermore, the contact between the forked inlet and the periapical region of the test tube, serves to position the outlet of the liquid channel directly over the pellet for dislodging and resuspending the magnetically bound pellet with a forceful stream of wash liquid.

Abstract: The invention is a hand held hydraulic dispenser and a manual method for hydraulically dispensing sample liquids. The hydraulic dispenser acts as a hydraulic press to dispense sample liquids from a magazine which holds the sample liquid. The hydraulic dispenser includes a hydraulic pump and a magazine coupler which are hydraulically connected by a hydraulic hose. A handle portion is incorporated into the magazine coupler to enable the user to support and manipulate the magazine coupler while pipetting liquids. The user first attaches the magazine to the magazine coupler. The user then activates the hydraulic pump in order to generate quantitative positive displacements of hydraulic liquid. These positive displacements of hydraulic liquid are transmitted to the magazine coupler, which, in turn, responds by expanding and collapsing the magazine attached thereto. As a result, sample liquid is aspirated and expressed from the device. The expression of sample fluid from the device is quantitative.

Abstract: An improved method for radio-labelling leucocytes in vitro with Indium In-111 oxide (Indium In-111 oxyquinoline) for use in scintigraphic imaging of inflammatory lesions and abscesses enhances the leucocyte specific labelling efficiency by depleting residual RBCs from the leucocytes prior to labelling. The RBCs are depleted from the leucocytes by means of a rocking step.

Abstract: The invention is a hydraulic dispenser and a method for hydraulically dispensing sample liquids. The hydraulic dispenser acts as a hydraulic press to dispense sample liquids from an insertable magazine. The hydraulic dispenser includes a hydraulic pump hydraulically connected to a magazine coupler. The magazine acts as a store for the sample fluid and is inserted into the hydraulic dispenser and connected to the magazine coupler. If the magazine is disposable, it may be unloaded from the hydraulic dispenser and discarded after usage. The hydraulic pump can generate quantitative positive displacements of hydraulic liquid which are transmitted to the magazine coupler. The magazine coupler responds to the hydraulic displacements from the hydraulic pump by collapsing and expanding the magazine inserted therein and thereby expressing and aspirating sample liquid.

Abstract: A centrifuge having an automatic dispensing rotor is employed for pelleting material and automatically decanting supernatant liquid by means of gravity drainage. The automatic decanting rotor employs a magnetically activated lock mechanism for locking swinging buckets in an elevated position while the rotor is at speed. When the rotor is brought to rest, the swinging buckets do not pivot to their rest position but are sustained in their elevated position by means of the magnetically activated lock. Liquids are automatically decanted from the swinging buckets when the rotor is brought to rest while the swinging buckets are sustained within their elevated position.

Abstract: The periodontal pocket cleaner is a device for cleaning the deeper recesses of a periodontal pocket by the removal of debris material. The device can also be employed for ascertaining and monitoring bleeding and suppuration within such pocket so as to detect the onset of an inflamation or other pathology and for delivering medication to such pockets as a complement for the treatment of infections or inflammation. The device has a wooden composition and an elongated narrow shape with the grain of the wood running parallel to the direction of elongation. The device includes a tapered end which narrows to a functional point to facilitate the insertion of the device into the deeper recesses of the periodontal pocket. This tapered end of the device also serves for scooping material from the pocket, for scraping plaque from the tooth surfaces adjacent to the pocket, and for absorbing blood and other suspended components from the pocket.