Abstract: A vector, in particular a retroviral vector, which includes a heterologous or foreign gene and a gene encoding a negative selective marker. The negative selective marker enables one to kill cells which contain the gene encoding the negative selective marker, when a particular agent is administered to such cells.

Abstract: An inhaler disc cartridge comprises a carrier disc with radially outwardly extending resilient fingers, each with a medicament powder dosage. A sealing disc and an indexing ring are bonded to the disc. A cam sequentially and manually deflects a selected finger causing it to snap against an anvil to release the dosage by momentum energy transfer. In other embodiments, a cassette includes a carrier substrate reel of deposited powder dosages with a dosage sealing tape. The substrate comprises a belt with a plurality of transversely extending triangular fingers, each finger tip with a dosage thereon. Each finger is snapped in sequence against an anvil while a clamp secures the belt as the fingers are deflected. The spring fingers are corrugated in one embodiment cooperating with an anvil having channels and a device for inducing agglomeration breakup air streams through the channels.

Abstract: A spinal implant tool comprises a steel shaft bifurcated into shaft portions at one end at which a pair of extensions extend from the bifurcated shaft portions. The extensions are flat members which extend from an implant impact element at the end of each of the shaft portions. A spinal bone implant is inserted between the extensions. A shaft portion displacement member has a stud threaded to one of the shaft portions and a knob head for capturing the other shaft portion to the member threaded stud. When the knob is rotated the shaft members are moved apart or closer together. A stop member limits the spread apart distance of the shaft portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides bacterial immunogenic agents for administration to humans and non-human animals to stimulate an immune response. Also provided are methods for vaccination of mammalian species, especially human patients, with variants of the E. coli FimH protein, said variants being derived from different strains of E. coli, and to production of antibodies that protect the vaccine recipient against infection by pathogenic bacterial species. In another aspect the invention provides antibodies against such proteins and protein complexes that may be used as diagnostics and/or as protective/treatment agents for pathogenic bacterial species. A plasmid-based method of producing polypeptides, especially fused polypeptides, such as the complex of a bacterial chaperone and a bacterial adhesin, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An antibiotic product, in particular a tetracycline, such as doxycycline, is comprised of at least three dosages forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the Cmax for the antibiotic product being reached in less than about twelve hours. In one embodiment, there is an immediate release dosage form, as well as two or more delayed release dosage forms, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a Cmax at different times.

Abstract: Methods of using high-density microparticles to bind and remove pathogens from biological fluids are disclosed. Pathogens include prions, viruses, bacteria and protozoa.

Abstract: A relatively high perm pliable moisture barrier material pliable sheet material exhibits a breathable perm value, e.g., over 0.4, that repels liquid water applied to a surface thereof and which permits water vapor to permeate therethrough in response to a pressure differential thereacross to preclude substantial condensation collection in the interior of said wall at the opening while providing a water barrier to liquid water applied thereto is applied to corners of the window opening in a wall as a plurality of corner seals with leg portions for application to the face of sheathing and leg portions for overlying the sill, jambs and head of the opening at the corners. Flanges may be included for sealing the sheet material to an interior vapor barrier material. Sill, jamb and head seals are applied over the corner seals and over the sill, head and jambs to completely seal the window opening with the sheet material.

Abstract: Ethylene and hexene-1 are produced from butene-1 by metathesis of butene-1 and isomerization of the hexene-3 produced therein to hexene-1. The initial starting material is a mixed butene stream wherein butene-1 is isomerized to butene-2 with isobutylene being separated therefrom, followed by isomerization of butene-2 to butene-1, with the butene-1 being the feed to the metathesis.

Abstract: An antibiotic product is comprised of at least three dosages forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the Cmax for the antibiotic product being reached in less than about twelve hours. In one embodiment, there is an immediate release dosage form, as well as two or more delayed release dosage forms, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a Cmax at different times.

Abstract: A composition which comprises human mesenchymal stem cells which have the potential to differentiate into cells of more than one connective tissue type and a composition which induces cells from the mesenchymal stem cell population to differentiate into the adipogenic lineage, and a process for inducing such differentiation. The composition for inducing such differentiation comprises a glucocorticoid, a compound which stimulates cAMP production or inhibits cAMP degradation (such as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), and/or a compound which upregulates peroxisome proliferator activated receptor &ggr; (PPAR &ggr;) expression and/or increases its binding affinity to its DNA binding site. The process can further include isolating the adipocytes from remaining hMSCs.

Abstract: A C-shaped or ring shaped implant formed of cortical bone has its C-shaped or inner channel filled with a bone promoting material which is preferably demineralized bone fibers formed as a flexible wet sheet or may be cancellous bone, pressed bone fibers formed from demineralized cortical bone chips soaked in acid, or a flex material formed of demineralized bone growth promoting bone fibers. The discrete bone filler element may be secured by a bonding agent, pins or screws, metal, polymer or bone material. The bone filler material is preferably bonded by filling a section of a long bone medullary cavity with wet bone fibers and then drying the fibers to bond them to the outer bone. A filled bone ring may be sliced to form annular filled sections which are then divided into mirror image C-shaped halves each forming an implant. Flex material of compressed bone fibers may be formed with an opening shaped to receive a cortical bone implant element having a C-shaped channel.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of using a porcine stem cell factor (PSCF), which may also be termed porcine “steel” factor, which is preferably membrane-bound PSCF on transfected murine STO feeder cells, for establishing pluripotent or totipotent porcine cell lines, especially for the culture of porcine primordial germ cells (PGCs).

Abstract: Although the mechanism of induction of apoptosis through antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by NK cells is well understood, little is known about the fate of the reactive NK cells. Nevertheless, it has been shown that NK cells previously activated by IL-2, but not naive NK cells, died by apoptosis after Fc&ggr;RIIIa crosslinking, or after engagement in cytolytic functions. It is demonstrated that apoptosis of naive NK cells is also observed after stimulation with a rat IgG2b anti CD2 mAb (LO-CD2a/BTI-322) or anti HLAI (LO-HLA-1)mAb. The NK apoptosis is rapid (within minutes), Fas-ligand and mRNA synthesis independent and does not require a cell contact. The intracellular mechanism of NK cell apoptosis is calcium, PKC and PLA2 dependent but calcineurin and P13 kinase independent. We suggest that NK cell apoptosis results from the crosslinking on the same cell surface of CD2 or HLA-I molecules and Fc&ggr;RIIIa that exhibits a high affinity for the rat IgG2b isotype.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for adjusting the inclination of a seat squab (12) of a vehicle seat (10), wherein the device (18) has a rocker (20) with an upper and a lower rocker element (22, 24) which are pivotably movably connected together by lateral bearing bushes (36). Fixed to the upper rocker element (22) is a toothed bridge (38) with mutually oppositely disposed bridge tooth arrangements (40) which are concentric with respect to the bearing bushes (36). Provided between the two bridge tooth arrangements (40) of the toothed bridge (38) are two toothed sliders (64) with slider tooth arrangements (66). Provided between the two toothed sliders (64) is a locking member (48) rotatable about a rotary axis (26) extending through the bearing bushes (36). The two toothed sliders (64) are linearly movably guided on the lower rocker element (24) between a locking position and a release and adjusting position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immunogenic polypeptides, and therapeutically active fragments thereof, and vaccines, and vaccine compositions, for the prevention and treatment of streptococcal infection, especially by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention also relates to antibodies against the disclosed polypeptides, as well as methods of disease prevention and/or treatment.

Abstract: A method of reducing an immune response to a transplant in a recipient by treating said recipient with an amount of suppressor T cells effective to reduce or inhibit host rejection of the transplant. The suppressor T cells can be administered before, at the same time as, or after the transplant. Also disclosed is a method of inducing a reduced immune response against a host by foreign tissue, i.e., graft versus host disease, by treatment with suppressor T cells.

Abstract: Apparatus for aiding in the identification of tissue type for an anomalous tissue in an impedance image comprising: a first device for providing an polychromic immitance map of a portion of the body; a second device for determining a plurality of polychromic measures from one or both of a portion of the body; and a display which displays an indication based on the plurality of polychromic measures.

Abstract: A rapid cooling apparatus passing hot exhaust gas in a short time along a flow path formed in a cooling setting with piled up arrangement and having a reduced cross-sectional area of the flow path to reduce the volume thereof so as to cool rapidly to a temperature below a dioxin synthesizing temperature so that dioxins are prevented from generating, characterized in that multistage tube bodies for heat exchange to pass coolant therethrough are arranged in a rapid cooling cylindrical body for passing hot gas such as exhaust gas from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, and the cross-sectional area of the rapid cooling cylindrical body is being reduced gradually in a passing direction of the hot gas.

Abstract: An insertion tool for a C-shaped bone spinal wedge shaped intervertebral implant comprises an outer shank with a hollow core in which is placed a shaft with a threaded stud which passes through a bore in the shank at an implant insertion end of the shank. A flat extension member defines a plane and extends from the shank overlying the stud, the stud for receiving a threaded bore of the spinal implant. The shaft has a knob distal the stud for rotatably attaching the stud to the implant. The extension member abuts the implant at mating flat surfaces which are spaced by a medial recess formed by a portion of the medullary canal of a long bone. A cap slides over the shank at an end opposite the extension member to capture the shaft in the shank core. A guide rod is attached to a collar on the shank normal to the plane of the extension member to assist the surgeon in orienting the implant to the disc space orientation during insertion of the implant.

Abstract: An antibiotic product, in particular levofloxacin, is comprised of at least three dosages forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the Cmax for the antibiotic product being reached in less than about twelve hours. In one embodiment, there is an immediate release dosage form, as well as two or more delayed release dosage forms, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a Cmax at different times.