Abstract: A discharge tube (11) made of a dielectric material extends through a hole (3) of a rectangular waveguide (1) and through a coaxial microwave cavity (4) so as to be coaxial with the central axis of the cavity (4). This discharge tube (11) has a double-tube structure including an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (13). The sectional area of an annular gap formed between the outer tube (12) and the inner tube (13) is held constant over the entire length of the inner tube (13). This allows the generation of a stable thermal plasma when a reaction gas containing an organic halide and water vapor is supplied into the outer tube through the annular gap with a microwave transmitted from the rectangular waveguide (1) into the cavity (4).

Abstract: An ignition device which ignites a discharge lamp comprises high-frequency voltage generator, a feeding harness line, and a lowpass filter. The high-frequency voltage generator includes a switch for generating a high-frequency voltage through high-frequency switching and an output transformer which outputs a high-frequency voltage. The discharge lamp is ignited by the high-frequency output voltage of the output transformer being applied between its paired electrodes. The feeding harness line has its one end connected to the high-frequency voltage generator and its other end connected to the discharge lamp and includes parallel conductors the length of which is 200 mm or more in length. The lowpass filter bypasses a high-frequency oscillating current which flows at no-load time mainly due to stray capacitance associated with the feeding harness line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of synthesizing an allyl pentasaccharide having the structure: as well as related oligosaccharide ceramides and other glycoconjugates useful as vaccines for inducing antibodies to epithelial cancer cells in an adjuvant therapy therefor, and in a method for preventing recurrence of epithelial cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence, called “polyribozyme”, which has an endoribonuclease activity and is capable of inactivating the gene for the capsid protein of a virus, characterized in that it comprises: i) a sequence complementary to at least a part of the gene or its transcript or to its replication intermediates and, includes at distinct sites in this complementary sequence: ii) a plurality of ribozyme catalytic regions; iii) and, optionally, one or more sequences non-complementary to the transcript of the said gene, the said non-complementary sequence(s) being inserted between two consecutive bases of the complementary sequence.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of modifying feeding behavior, including increasing or decreasing food consumption, e.g., in connection with treating obesity, bulimia or anorexia. These methods involve administration of compounds that are selective agonists or antagonists for the Y5 receptor. One such compound has the structure: In addition, this invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, an isolated Y5 receptor protein, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, cells comprising such vectors, antibodies directed to the Y5 receptor, nucleic acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding Y5 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to any unique sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a Y5 receptor, and nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA encoding a normal or a mutant Y5 receptor.

Abstract: Spirolactam compounds useful as inhibitors of protein-protein interactions modulated by SH3 domains are disclosed. Compounds of the invention are also useful as &bgr;-turn mimetics. Also disclosed are libraries of compounds of the invention, pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the invention, and methods for using the compounds of the invention to inhibit growth of a cell or to inhibit protein-protein interactions modulated by SH3 domains.

Abstract: A discharge tube (11) made of a dielectric material extends through a hole (3) of a rectangular waveguide (1) and through a coaxial microwave cavity (4) so as to be coaxial with the central axis of the cavity (4). This discharge tube (11) has a double-tube structure including an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (13). The sectional area of an annular gap formed between the outer tube (12) and the inner tube (13) is held constant over the entire length of the inner tube (13). This allows the generation of a stable thermal plasma when a reaction gas containing an organic halide and water vapor is supplied into the outer tube through the annular gap with a microwave transmitted from the rectangular waveguide (1) into the cavity (4).

Abstract: The present invention provides for a compound having the structure: (AA1)n-Cys-(AA2)m wherein n=0,1,2,3,4 or 5 and m=0,1,2,3,4 or 5, provided the sum of (n+m) is greater than or equal to two and less than or equal to five, if n=1, (AA1)n=Ala-, if n=2, (AA1)n=Gln-Ala-, if n≧3, (AA1)n=(Xaa)p-Gln-Ala-, and Xaa=any amino acid and wherein if n=n3, p=1, if n=4, p=2, if n=5, p=3, if m=1, (AA2)m=-Arg, if m=2, (AA2)m=-Arg-Gly, if m≧3, (AA2)m=-Arg-Gly-(Xaa)q, wherein if m=3, q=1, if m=4, q=2, if m=5, q=3. The present invention provides for a method of inhibiting cell death and a method for alleviating symptoms of a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject.

Abstract: The subject invention provides R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing same. The subject invention also provides methods of treating a subject afflicted with Parkinson's disease, a memory disorder, dementia, depression, hyperactive syndrome, an affective illness, a neurodegenerative disease, a neurotoxic injury, stroke, brain ischemia, a head trauma injury, a spinal trauma injury, neurotrauma, schizophrenia, an attention deficit disorder, multiple sclerosis, or withdrawal symptoms, using R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the subject invention. The subject invention further provides a method of preventing nerve damage in a subject.

Abstract: This invention provides a combinatorial fluorescence energy transfer tag which comprises a plurality of fluorescent molecules, comprising one or more energy transfer donor and one or more energy transfer acceptor, linked through a molecular scaffold wherein the fluorescent molecules are separated along the scaffold to produce a unique fluorescence emission signature. The invention further provides for the use of said tags in multi-component analyses, including multiplex genetic analyses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the molecular characterization of the nuclear antigen recognized by atypical p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) in order to better diagnose patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis (UC), and autoimmune liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Molecular characterization of the target antigen comprises preparing cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of human neutrophils, human HL-60 and murine 32D myeloid cells. Proteins should then be resolved by 1 and 2 dimensional gel electrophoresis and reactive proteins can then be detected by immunoblotting with sera from individuals, making certain to have both normal and disease controls. Atypical p-ANCA should then be affinity purified against the reactive protein and investigated for their immunofluorescence pattern using confocal microscopy.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic sequences encoding polyphenol oxidase enzymes of lettuce, banana, tobacco and pineapple plants, and recombinant vectors comprising same, and methods of identifying related sequences using said nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides methods of modifying PPO expression in plants using the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: A partial knee replacement device comprises a reinforcing spike which spans the tibia and supports a tibial inset. The spike has a pointed tip, shaft and head. The spike when driven across the cross-section of the tibia has its tip engaging the peripheral edge of the tibial hard bone, and its head supported by the opposite peripheral edge of the tibial hard bone.

Abstract: This invention is directed to oxazolidinone compounds which are selective antagonists for human &agr;1A receptors. This invention is also related to uses of these compounds for lowering intraocular pressure, inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, relaxing lower urinary tract tissue, the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, impotency, cardiac arrhythmia and for the treatment of any disease where the antagonism of the &agr;1A receptor may be useful. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the above-defined compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for selecting a molecule for a population which comprises: a) selecting a first molecule with a conformation characterized by a particular set of coordinates that define the position of each atom in the first molecule; b) determining the energy of the first molecule; c) transforming the coordinates of the first molecule to the coordinates of a second structurally distinct molecule to produce a particular conformation of the second molecule characterized by a particular set of coordinates that define the position of each atom in the second molecule; d) determining the energy of the second molecule; thus, selecting either the first molecule or the second molecule for the population based on their relative energies. The selected molecule may be redefined as the first molecule and the procedure repeated iteratively so as to obtain a population of first molecules and a population of second molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for treating a subject suffering from a condition associated with an extracellular zinc sphingomyelinase activity which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a zinc sphingomyelinase inhibitor effective to decrease extracellular zinc sphingomyelinase activity in the subject and thereby treat the subject.

Abstract: A double-stranded cDNA molecule which includes DNA encoding human manganese superoxide dismutase has been created. The sequence of one strand of a double-stranded DNA molecule which encodes human manganese superoxide dismutase has been discovered. Such molecules may be introduced in procaryotic, e.g., bacterial, or eukaryotic, e.g., yeast or mammalian, cells and the resulting cells cultured or grown under suitable conditions so as to produce human manganese superoxide dismutase or analogs thereof which may then be recovered. By this invention, human MnSOD gene fragments from various plasmids may be ligated to yield a complete genomic human MnSOD gene fragment. Human MnSOD or analogs thereof may be used to catalyze the reduction of superoxide radicals, reduce reperfusion injury, prolong the survival time of isolated organs, or treat inflammations.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of inhibiting an autoimmune response in an animal suffering from an autoimmune disease selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, Lyme disease and hyper IgE syndrome which comprises administering to the animal, in an amount effective to treat the autoimmune disease, an antibody that binds specifically to a protein specifically recognized by monoclonal antibody 5c8 produced by the hybridoma having ATCC Accession No. HB 10916.

Abstract: This invention provides dihydropyridines useful for treatment of prostatic hyperplasia, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, and/or reduction of intraocular pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides a use of a metalloproteinase inhibitor for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating human pulmonary emphysema which comprises admixing the metalloproteinase inhibitor in an amount effective to treat human pulmonary emphysema and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a metalloproteinase inhibitor in an amount effective to treat human pulmonary emphysema and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.