Abstract: The present invention is directed to vaccine compositions that can be used to protect cats against feline immunodeficiency virus. More particularly, the present invention relates to polynucleotide molecules that can be used as vaccine components against feline immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a cane including a handle, a hollow shaft, and a stand mechanism for standing the cane in an upright position upon its shaft. The stand mechanism is releasably retractable from within the hollow shaft through a hand grip mechanism manually operable by the user of the cane. Additionally, the present invention provides for an actuating mechanism extending from the handle, through the shaft and to stand mechanism for actuating the stand mechanism.

Abstract: A tissue box (10) for dispensing tissues, said tissue box includes a bottom wall (18) having a second aperture (21) for allowing tissues (22, 22′) to be pulled from inside of the box and a side wall (14) extending between the top wall (16) and the bottom wall (18). The side wall defines a void inside the box for containing tissues. The tissue box also includes a dividing wall (24) within the void. The dividing wall is supported between the top wall and the bottom wall and is for dividing the tissues into a first group (22) that are able to be removed through the first aperture (20) and a second group (22′) that are able to be removed through the second aperture. In use, after the first group of tissues is used, the box may be inverted, so that the second group of tissues may be used.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating cancer by treating the cancer cells with a lipophilic derivative of ascorbic acid. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the Ras pathway by administering a lipophilic derivative of ascorbic acid. A method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells is also provided by treating cancer cells with a lipophilic derivative of ascorbic acid. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of cancer comprising a lipophilic derivative of ascorbic acid in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of labeling a biomolecule with a transition metal or radiometal in a site specific manner to produce a diagnostic or therapeutic pharmaceutical compound by synthesizing a P2N2-bifunctional chelating agent intermediate, complexing the intermediate with a radio metal or a transition metal, and covalently linking the resulting metal-complexed bifunctional chelating agent with a biomolecule in a site specific manner. Also provided is a method of synthesizing the —PR2 containing biomolecules by synthesizing a P2N2-bifunctional chelating agent intermediate, complexing the intermediate with a radiometal or a transition metal, and covalently linking the resulting radio metal-complexed bifunctional chelating agent with a biomolecule in a site specific manner. There is provided a therapeutic or diagnostic agent comprising a —PR2 containing biomolecule.

Abstract: A DNA (SEQ ID No.:2) and amino acid (SEQ ID No.:4) sequences of Glycine &agr;-D-galactosidase are provided as well as the DNA sequence (SEQ ID No:5) and mature length amino acid sequence (SEQ ID No:7) of Phaseolus.

Abstract: A method to assess oxidative stress in vivo includes the steps of measuring an amount of neuroprostanes in a biological sample before the ex vivo development of neuroprostanes in a sample, comparing the measured amount of neuroprostanes with a control and assessing oxidative stress in vivo based on this comparison. There is also provided a marker for oxidated stress by an increase of neuroprostanes in a biological sample compared to a control sample. A diagnostic tool for determining the presence of a neurodegenerative disease provides for determining an increased amount of neuroprostanes in a biological sample compared to that of a control sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transcription regulatory region of a myostatin gene. In particular, the invention relates to a 2.5 kb polynucleotide immediately 5′ to the myostatin coding sequence, its nucleotide sequence and methods of using this regulatory region, and fragments thereof. The present invention relates to the use of the myostatin promoter of the present invention to direct expression of a target gene in a tissue specific manner, i.e. muscle tissue. The present invention relates to the use of the myostatin promoter of the present invention in high throughput screens to identify test compounds which inhibit myostatin promoter activity or myostatin expression.

Abstract: The following invention relates to a process for oxidizing alkyl groups attached directly or via a linker, to a sulfonamide moiety (II) by the use of cytochrome P450 enzymes, to give the corresponding alcohol or carboxylic acid (I). wherein R is an organic radical, X is a linker, Y is —C(CH3)2— or —CH(CH3)— and Z is —CH2OH or —COOH.

Abstract: A method of detecting via a solid-phase assay the amount of biological activity, identity and/or the quantity of a biologically active substance is disclosed. The method utilizes the biological activity of the substance itself to provide the method of detection. The method provides competitive and noncompetitive assays.

Abstract: A compound for use as a diagnostic or therapeutic pharmaceutical and method of using the same where the compound consists essentially of an alpha-melanotropin stimulating hormone analog which has integrally located a radionuclide. The radionuclide is administered to the body in an amount sufficient to allow uptake and retention by the tumor cells.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotide molecules contain a nucleotide sequence that encodes a L. intracellularis HtrA, PonA, HypC, LysS, YcfW, ABC1, or Omp100 protein, a substantial portion of the sequences, or a homologous sequence. Related polypeptides, immunogenic compositions and assays are described.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a transverse connector having a seat rod for seating a rod therein engagement mechanism including a rod engagement seat forming a portion of the rod seat, the engagement mechanism being movable into and out of engagement with the rod seated in the rod seat.

Abstract: There is provided a cap liner including a fluid impermeable layer for venting gas to and from the container and an adhering device for adhering the impermeable layer to a rim of a container and a channel extending therethrough for venting gas therethrough. Also provided by the present invention is a method of sealing an opening of a container by affixing a meltable layer of a sealing member to a container rim and venting the container through a vent patch, meltable layer, a foil layer, and a fluid impermeable layer having pathways thereon.

Abstract: A testing apparatus 10 having an absorbent matrix 12, including a membrane 14 which contains a plurality of counter-ions 16. Chromionophore (or fluorionophore)s 18 and affinophores 22 compete to carry ions into the membrane 14 and neutralize the charge of the counter-ions 16. Biological recognition molecules 42 bind to a portion of the affinophores 22 and prevent them from entering the membrane 14, thereby allowing more chromionophore (or fluorionophore)s 18 to enter the membrane 14. The portion of affinophores 22 bound to the biological recognition molecules 42 is inversely proportional to the amount or concentration of analyte 40 occurring within the solution or medium 30. The result of this is that the color of the membrane-covered matrix changes in a manner related to the concentration of the analyte. One application of this apparatus is a strip test for prediction of ovulation.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition for the prevention and treatment of diaper dermatitis which includes an effective amount of an anti-lipase agent and/or an anti-protease agent in a suitable vehicle. The composition is designed to maintain an effective amount of the lipase and/or protease inhibitors and to be applied to tissues susceptible to fecal enzyme insult. The invention also discloses a composition for the prevention and treatment of diaper dermatitis which includes an effective amount of a sacrificial lipase substrate and/or a sacrificial protease substrate in a suitable vehicle. The composition is designed to maintain an effective amount of the substrates and to be applied to tissues susceptible to fecal enzyme insult. The present invention also discloses a combination or mixtures of an effective amount of an anti-lipase agent and/or an anti-protease agent in a suitable vehicle and an effective amount of a sacrificial lipase substrate and/or a sacrificial protease substrate in a suitable vehicle.

Abstract: Compounds are of the formula: and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of formula 1 are potent antibacterial agents that can be used to treat various bacterial infections and disorders related to such infections. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds of formula 1 and to methods of treating bacterial infections by administering the compounds of formula 1. The invention also relates to methods of preparing the compounds of formula 1 and to intermediates useful in such preparation.

Abstract: A lock unimolecular micelle includes at least one engineered acceptor specifically binding a ligand (or specifically a “key” unimolecular micelle) thereto. A key unimolecular micelle comprises a core molecule and a plurality of branches extending therefrom, at least one of the branches including a shank portion extending therefrom having a terminal moiety at an end thereof for binding to a complimentary acceptor of a lock unimolecular micelle. Together, the lock and key micelles form a unit, either irreversibly or reversibly bound wherein the lock micelles is a soluble receptor engineered to specifically bind to the specifically engineered key micelle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conditioning device (1) for grinding wheels (2) for machining the edge areas of plate-shaped objects, such as, for example, glass panes or the like, for which the grinding wheels (2), in a conditioned state, have at least one circumferential groove (3) each, which, at least in a partial section, tapers off towards the grinding wheel center. To provide such a conditioning device with which the conditioning of such grinding wheels is possible in an easy way and at any time and any place, the conditioning device has to have a cross section adapted to the cross section of the groove to be achieved, wherein the width of the conditioning device basically corresponds to the width of the groove(s) and the length orientation from one lateral end to the other lateral end of the conditioning device is configured in accordance with the depth orientation from one side edge to the other side edge of the groove(s) with growing length at increasing depth to be achieved.

Abstract: A secondary panel (12) is arranged such that it is in a non-operational position when the vehicle to which it is fitted is moving or operating normally, and may be moved into a security position adjacent window (11) when the vehicle is empty and locked to provide much greater resistance to unauthorized entry.