Abstract: A dual action antifungal nail coat composition and method of use for ameliorating or preventing fungal infection of the nails, and onychomycosis, in particular, is disclosed. Composition embodiments in the form of one-coat type and two-coat type suitable for daily fungicidal regimens are disclosed. A preferred antifungal nail coat composition comprises an effective fungicidal amount of antifungal agent, a permeation enhancing amount of a substantially non-volatile, permeation enhancer, a film-forming amount of a hydrophilic polymer, and a pharmaceutically acceptable, volatile carrier. The composition provides a substantially water-soluble fungicidal coating on contacting a fungally susceptible or infected nail.

Abstract: The invention is an attachment means for a ground drilling or cutting tool (10) that enables cutting elements (11) to be removably secured to the tool (10). The attachment means include a first surface (13) on the cutting element (11), a second surface (14) on the tool (10) upon which the first surface (11) locates, dowel holes (15) in each of the first and second surfaces, dowels (16) that locate in aligned dowel holes between said surfaces, engagement surfaces (17, 18) on the cutting element and tool that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool and engage to resist side loads applied to the cutting elements (11) and fastening means (19) that secures the cutting elements (11) to the tool (10). The invention provides a means of easily removing the cutting elements (11) from the tool (10) for either replacement or maintenance work.

Abstract: The invention concerns human interferon alpha and in particular modified forms of interferon alpha 2 with improved properties. The improved proteins contain amino acid substitutions at specific positions that confer increased relative activity in biological assays. The invention provides also modified interferon alpha with improved biological activity concomitant with reduced immunogenic potential in the protein. The improved proteins are intended for therapeutic use in the treatment of diseases in humans.

Abstract: An electrically and ionically conductive porous material including a thermoplastic binder and one or more of anion exchange moieties or cation exchange moieties or mixtures thereof and/or one or more of a protein capture resin and an electrically conductive material. The thermoplastic binder immobilizes the moieties with respect to each other but does not substantially coat the moieties and forms the electrically conductive porous material. A wafer of the material and a method of making the material and wafer are disclosed.

Abstract: A high concentration, aqueous liquid surfactant composition is disclosed, comprising at least one amphoteric and/or anionic surfactant and a liquid-stabilizing amount of at least one liquid-stabilizing agent. The liquid-stabilizing agent is a succinic acid derivative, glutaric acid derivative or a combination thereof. The composition is pourable and pumpable at ambient room temperature.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.

Abstract: A web tensioning device utilizes a dancer arm which can be positioned by a controlled servo motor. In a preferred embodiment, the controller for the servo motor receives an input signal based on the acceleration (positive or negative) of the dancer arm and implements a torque component necessary to maintain predetermined web tension, for example, an applied torque component that changes the position of the dancer arm. The controller may also receive additional input signals indicative of the acceleration of the web itself.

Abstract: A sealant for an oil or geothermal well capable of setting within about 3 to about 6 hours at temperatures less than about 250° F. for shallow wells less than about 10,000 feet and deep wells greater than about 10,000 feet having MgO present in the range of from about 9.9 to about 14.5%, KH2PO4 present in the range of from about 29.7 to about 27.2%, class C fly ash present in the range of from about 19.8 to about 36.3%, class F fly ash present in the range of from about 19.8 to about 0%, boric acid or borax present in the range of from about 0.39 to about 1.45%, and water present in the range of from about 20.3 to about 21.86% by weight of the sealant. A method of sealing wells is disclosed as are compositions for very high temperature wells is disclosed as is a composition for treating oil field wastes.

Abstract: A method of producing a non-metal element or a metal or an alloy thereof from a halide or mixtures thereof. The halide or mixtures thereof are contacted with a stream of liquid alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof in sufficient quantity to convert the halide to the non-metal or the metal or alloy and to maintain the temperature of the reactants at a temperature lower than the lesser of the boiling point of the alkali or alkaline earth metal at atmospheric pressure or the sintering temperature of the produced non-metal or metal or alloy. A continuous method is disclosed, particularly applicable to titanium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell or battery, and to an electrochemical cell or battery; the invention relates more specifically to a positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell or battery when the electrode is used therein. The positive electrode includes a composite metal oxide containing AgV3O8 as one component and one or more other components consisting of LiV3O8, Ag2V4O11, MnO2, CFx, AgF or Ag2O to increase the energy density of the cell, optionally in the presence of silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrode and to improve the power capability of the cell or battery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel approach for identification of T-cell epitopes, that give rise to an immune reaction in a living host. By means of this novel method biological compounds can be generated which have a no or at least a reduced immunogenicity when exposed to the immune system of a given species and compared with the relevant non-modified entity. Thus the invention relates also to novel biological molecules, especially proteins and antibodies, obtained by the method according to the invention.

Abstract: Modified forms of hirudin having improved properties are disclosed. The modified hirudin compounds are hirudin variants comprising amino acid substitutions in the sequence of hirudin. Peptide molecules consisting of the amino acid residue sequence CILGSDGEKNQCVTGEGTPKPESHNDGDFE (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a sequence consisting of at least 9 consecutive amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 1 having a potential MHC class II binding activity are disclosed. The peptide has a stimulation index of >1.8 in a biological assay of cellular proliferation, in which the index is defined as the value of cellular proliferation scored following stimulation by the peptide and divided by the value of cellular proliferation scored in control cells that have not been exposed to the peptide.

Abstract: A delivery vehicle for a silver ion source such as silver nitrate and the like, suitable for use in the treatment of menorrhagia, comprises a plurality of physiologically inert beads bearing a tissue cauterizing amount of a silver ion source. Preferably the beads are made of a physiologically inert polymer, ceramic or stainless steel. The silver ion source preferably is silver nitrate and can be substantially pure silver nitrate, or can comprise silver nitrate in combination with a physiologically tolerable binder or a diluent. Suitable binders include physiologically tolerable synthetic polymeric binders, polysaccharide binders, and the like. Diluents can include other salt materials such as potassium nitrate. The beads are useful in treating menorrhagia of a mammalian uterus. The beads can be delivered to the uterus via a catheter, and are distributed throughout the uterine cavity by uterine massage or like expedient. Silver ions are delivered to the endometrium and cause necrosis of the endometrial tissue.

Abstract: An isolated peptide useful as a selective antagonist of mammalian R-cadherin comprises 3 to 30 amino acid residues, three contiguous residues of the peptide having the amino acid sequence Ile-Xaa-Ser; wherein Xaa is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of Asp, Asn, Glu, and Gln. Preferably Xaa is Asp or Asn. In one preferred embodiment the peptide is a cyclic peptide having 3 to 10 amino acid residues arranged in a ring. The selective R-cadherin antagonist peptides of the invention are useful for inhibiting the targeting of stem cells, such as endothelial precursor cells, to developing vasculature, for inhibiting R-cadherin mediated cellular adhesion, and for inhibiting retinal angiogenesis.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a water-soluble polypeptide fragment of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, which is useful for the inhibition of angiogenesis. The nucleic acid comprises a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 6, a polynucleotide hybridizable to SEQ ID NO: 6, a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 7, a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 12, a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO: 7, or a polynucleotide that is hybridizable to a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO: 7. Vectors and recombinant cells comprising the nucleic acid are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides for a novel human checkpoint kinase gene, hCDS1, comprising the nucleic acid sequence of residues 66-1694 of SEQ ID NO: 1, a protein expressed from the gene, fragments and functional equivalents of the protein. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising a hCDS1 protein, and methods utilizing the protein.

Abstract: A method of electrochemically reducing a metal oxide to the metal in an electrochemical cell is disclosed along with the cell. Each of the anode and cathode operate at their respective maximum reaction rates. An electrolyte and an anode at which oxygen can be evolved, and a cathode including a metal oxide to be reduced are included as is a third electrode with independent power supplies connecting the anode and the third electrode and the cathode and the third electrode.

Abstract: A structural material of a polystyrene base and the reaction product of the polystyrene base and a solid phosphate ceramic is applied as a slurry which includes one or more of a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide with a source of phosphate to produce a phosphate ceramic and a poly (acrylic acid or acrylate) or combinations or salts thereof and polystyrene or MgO applied to the polystyrene base and allowed to cure so that the dried aqueous slurry chemically bonds to the polystyrene base. A method is also disclosed of applying the slurry to the polystyrene base.