Abstract: A soluble polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte immunoadjuvant is disclosed. In one embodiment, the polymeric adjuvant is poly[di(carboxylatrophenoxy)phosphazene] which is in the form of a microsphere and which is adsorbed with antigen after formation of the microsphere. The immunoadjuvant can be administered intranasally.

Abstract: A process for assaying for cancer of the prostate, comprising assaying a sample derived from a human for prostate specific antigen having a linked oligosaccharide which is at least triantennary. The assay may employ a binding molecule which binds to oligosaccharides that are at least triantennary, but does not bind to oligosaccharides that are monoantennary or diantennary. Such binding molecule may be a lectin such as PHA-L or an antibody to an oligosaccharide that is at least triantennary.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide wherein at least one nucleotide unit of the oligonucleotide is conjugated with a moiety selected from the group consisting of: (a) amino acids; (b) dipeptide mimics; (c) sugars; (d) sugar phosphates; (e) neurotransmitters; (f) poly-hydroxypropylmethacrylamide; (g) dextrans; (h) polymaleic anhydride; (i) cyclodextrins; (j) starches; and (k) polyethyleneimine. The oligonucleotides may be employed for binding to an RNA, and DNA, a protein, or a peptide to inhibit or prevent gene transcription or gene expression, to inhibit or stimulate the activities of target molecules, or the oligonucleotides may be employed as diagnostic probes for determining the presence of specific DNA or RNA sequences or proteins.

Abstract: A method for generating adenoviral vectors from polynucleotides such as plasmids wherein there occurs recombinase-mediated transfer of an adenoviral ITR and terminal proteins bound to the ITR to a plasmid, thus enabling the plasmid to replicate as an adenoviral vector. Such method enables the rapid generation of adenoviral vectors at high titers from plasmids without the use of selectable markers and screening procedures. Such method enables the rapid generation of adenoviral vectors devoid of adenovirus backbone genes. The method also may be employed to generate hybrid adenoviral-retroviral vectors that convert transduced cells into producer cells that produce retroviral vectors to effect high level, permanent genetic modification of cells in vivo.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mesenchymal stem cell and/or cell of the adipocyte lineage that (i) has been modified to have at least one exogenous antigen bound to at least one primary surface molecule of said cell such that said at least one antigen can initiate an immune response and (ii) also expresses at least one co-stimulatory molecule. The antigen is preferably a protein, polypeptide, lipid or glycolipid. The primary surface molecule is MHC I, MHC II or CD1. Also disclosed is a method for stimulating presentation of at least one exogenous antigen fragment on a mesenchymal stem cell primary surface molecule by contacting a mesenchymal stem cell that is capable of expressing at least one co-stimulatory molecule with (i) an exogenous antigen or (ii) genetic material that codes for the exogenous antigen which the mesenchymal stem cell processes into it least one antigen fragment. The method can further include contacting the mesenchymal stem cell with interferon-.gamma..

Abstract: In a vehicle seat having a backrest portion and a head support carried on the backrest portion by a connecting member, to reduce whiplash risk by forward displacement of the head support into a more effective head-supporting position, a displacement member is movably carried on the backrest portion of the seat. The displacement member has a sliding guide arrangement on which the head support connecting member is so guided that displacement of the displacement member in the transverse direction of the seat causes displacement of the head support forwardly of the seat. The displacement member is connected for displacement thereof to a resilient, mechanically stressable drive element activatable by a vehicle-specific acceleration sensor, for release and relief of the drive element to displace the head support.

Abstract: An osmotic drug delivery system, preferably in tablet form, which dispenses a therapeutic agent having limited water solubility in solubilized form. The delivery system comprises a core that is free of swellable polymers and comprises nonswelling solubilizing agents and wicking agents. The solubilized therapeutic agent is delivered through a passageway in the semipermeable coating of the tablet.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated human mesenchymal stem cells, a method for isolating, purifying, and culturally expanding human mesenchymal stem cells (i e. mesenchymal stem cells or "MSCs"), and characterization of (including by cytokine expression profiling) and uses, particularly research reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic uses for such cells. The stem cells can be culture expanded without differentiating. Further disclosed are monoclonal antibodies specific for human mesenchymal stem cells and the monoclonal hybridoma cell lines (ATCC nos. 10743-10745) that synthesize and secrete these monospecific antibodies, and uses of the monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A wind power prime mover in which a windmill assembly (1) comprising semicylindrical wind receiving members (16) vertically erected on a plurality of equally spaced points on the circumference centering on a vertical rotary shaft (3) in such manner that semicylindrical open parts of said wind receiving members are directed to the same circumferential directions with respect to individual tangents to said circumference is of knock-down assembly construction with the major parts thereof joined to or disjoined from each other with bolts; and the top and bottom of said rotary shaft (3) are supported by bearings (10), (11) in a supporting framework composed of a support pillar (2), central support frame (8), upper frame (6), and lower frame (9), whereby a wind power prime mover hardly affected by instantaneous variation of wind velocity, comparatively free in selection of installation site, and manufacture, transport, assembly, and maintenance can be provided easily.

Abstract: A device comprising a housing, at least one optical component, such as, for example, a polarizer, contained in the housing, and a base. At least two fixing means are attached to the housing and at least one fixing means is attached to the base. The at least one optical component is fixed at a predetermined position upon mating of at least one of the at least two fixing means attached to the housing with at least one fixing means attached to the base. Such device provides for more precise optical measurements than devices which include optical components that are rotatable through a continuum of angles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from a tissue specimen, such as marrow cells, and to the method of co-culturing isolated mesenchymal stem cells and/or mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipocytes with hematopoietic progenitor cells such that the hematopoietic stem cells retain their phenotype.

Abstract: A container which comprises a bottle portion and a tube portion. The bottle portion includes a recess adjacent the top opening of the bottle, whereby one can access small amounts of liquid easily with a dropper. The dropper is stored within the tube, which protects the dropper from contamination by microbes and/or viruses, as well as other contaminants.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat having a backrest portion and a head support carried on the backrest portion by a connecting device, to reduce whiplash risk by forward displacement of the head support into a more effective head-supporting position, a displacement device is linearly movably carried on the backrest portion of the seat. The displacement device has a sliding guide arrangement on which the head support connecting device is so guided that displacement of the displacement device in the transverse direction of the seat causes displacement of the head support forwardly of the seat. The displacement device is connected for displacement thereof to a pyrotechnic drive element on the backrest portion, with the drive element being activated by a vehicle-specific acceleration sensor.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide wherein at least one nucleotide unit includes a phosphonate moiety having the following structural formula: ##STR1## , wherein X is a zwitterionic moiety. Such oligonucleotides have improved cellular uptake capabilities and improved resistance against nuclease activity.

Abstract: A polyphosphazene polyelectrolyte immunoadjuvant having improved water solubility, a vaccine composition of the immunoadjuvant and an antigen or immunogen and methods of their use in producing or enhancing an immunoprotective response in a host are disclosed.