Abstract: A method of clearing a polysaccharide ester membrane employing a clearing solvent comprising a first moiety selected from a group consisting of alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, and mixtures thereof and a second moiety comprising a solvent selected from a group consisting of 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, acetol, and mixtures thereof, the first moiety having a boiling point lower than the second moiety.The solvents employed as the second moiety of the instant invention's clearing solvent are much less toxic than solvents employed as the second moiety of prior art clearing solvents.

Abstract: Novel tripeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX-Y-Z-E-Gwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and Z are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; E is selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptohan, and phenylalanine; and G is a C-terminal functional group selected froma group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX--Y--Z--E--G--J--Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine, Z and E are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; J is selected from a group consisting of natural amino acids and the D-configuration thereof; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX-Y-Z-E-G-J-Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y is selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, D-tyrosine, tryptophan, D-tryptophan, phenylalanine, and D-phenylalanine; Z and E are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; G is selected from a group consisting of lysine and arginine; J is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, threonine, cysteine, and methionine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX--Y--Z--E--G--J--Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine; Z is selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; E is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, methionine, and isoleucine; J is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, D-alanine, valine, D-valine, leucine, D-leucine, isoleucine, D-isoleucine, proline, D-proline, hydroxyproline, D-hydroxyproline, serine, D-serine, threonine, D-threonine, cysteine, D-cysteine, methionine, and D-methionine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX-Y-Z-E-G-J-Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, trytophan, and phenlalanine; Z and J are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, an D-phenylalanine; E is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine, and histidine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX-Y-Z-E-G-J-Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and E are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; Z and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine; J is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, and lysine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX--Y--Z--E--G--J--Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y is selected from a group consisting of D-lysine and D-arginine; Z and J are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine; E and G are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel pentapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX--Y--Z--E--G--J--Lwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; wherein Y and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine; Z is selected from a group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, threonine, cysteine, and methionine; E and J are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; and L is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: Novel tetrapeptides having the following amino acid sequenceX--Y--Z--E--G--Jwherein X is selected from a group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.3, and --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; Y and G are independently selected from a group consisting of tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine; Z and E are independently selected from a group consisting of D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-phenylalanine; and J is a C-terminal functional group selected from a group consisting of amide, amide lower alkyl, amide di(lower alkyl), lower alkoxy, hydroxy, and carboxy and the lower ester derivatives thereof; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These peptides act directly on the pituitary to release growth hormone therefrom.

Abstract: An enzymatic reagent is provided for use in the kinetic measurement of the concentration of an enzyme substrate present in a sample and possessing the Michaelis-Menten relationship between reaction rate and substrate concentration. The reagent includes an enzyme such as glucose oxidase, uricase or urease for reacting with corresponding enzyme substrates such as glucose, uric acid or urea. In addition, the reagent includes a nonreacting competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. The inhibitor is present in an amount sufficient to improve the linearity of the reaction rate-concentration relationship associated with the enzyme substrate reaction at concentrations which are low relative to the Michaelis-Menten constant, Km, for the particular enzyme substrate reaction. The improved linearity, in turn, improves the accuracy of the kinetic measurements of substrate concentration made by linear output analyzers especially in an upper portion of the predetermined range where the relationship is particularly nonlinear.

Abstract: A sample holder and shutter assembly for photometers is disclosed in which a stationary sample chamber body is mounted in close proximity to a photosensitive device. A light path is provided from the sample chamber to the photosensitive device and shutter means is provided for selectively interrupting and opening the light path between the photosensitive device and the sample chamber without moving the sample chamber. Heat exchange means including a heat pump and a heat reservoir are provided for maintaining a desired temperature in the sample chamber. The sample chamber body is thermally connected to said heat pump and is preferably thermally isolated from the means mounting it. In one embodiment, the heat pump and heat reservoir are flexibly connected.

Abstract: A synthetic pentapeptide of opiate agonist activity having the formula H-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-NH.sub.2 formed in a solid-state method.

Abstract: Ambient or low-temperature curable solutions or aqueous dispersions of (1) a polymer containing units polymerized from a monomer mixture of (a) from about 0.25% to about 30% by weight of a polymerizable aldehyde, and (b) at least one copolymerizable mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, with (2) a curing agent selected from the group of dicarboxylic acid bis-hydrazides, dicarboxylic acid bis-hydrazones, and acrylic oligomers and low molecular weight acrylic solution polymers containing a plurality of pendant hydrazide or hydrazone groups. The solutions or dispersions are useful as general industrial coatings, maintenance coatings, furniture and appliance coatings, heavy transportation coatings, automobile refinishes and plastics coatings.

Abstract: A reagent, of the type comprising a precipitator capable of precipitating low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, and other non-high density lipoproteins, is improved by the addition thereto of a non-interfering suitable agent capable of enhancing the flocculation of a precipitant formed by the precipitator and the various non-high density lipoprotein fractions in highly lipemic serum.

Abstract: Fluorescent displays are comprised of a means for cooperatively aligning a liquid crystal material and a fluorescent medium disposed therein. The fluorescent medium is comprised of a nematic liquid crystal host which is effectively transparent to radiation of both near ultraviolet and visible wavelengths and a fluorescent guest whose visible fluorescent intensity varies with the phase or orientation of the liquid crystal host.

Abstract: Powder compositions useful for making conductors, e.g. microcircuit conductors, end terminations for capacitors, electrodes for gas discharge display devices, etc. The compositions comprise inorganic powders dispersed in an inert vehicle and are printed and fired in the conventional manner on dielectric substrates. The inorganic powders comprise aluminum, silicon, and glass.

Abstract: A method for isolating D and L amino acids from a racemic mixture of the formula(DL)--H.sub.2 N--CHX--COOY,and salts thereof, wherein X denotes an amino acid side chain and derivatives thereof and Y denotes a suitable alkyl group. The racemic mixture is contacted with water to form an aqueous solution. This aqueous solution is then contacted with an esterase to thereby obtain a solution comprising the resolved amino acids(L)--H.sub.2 N--CHX--COOH and(D)--H.sub.2 N--CHX--COOY.The N-terminus of the resolved (L) and (D) amino acids present in this solution are protected with an N-protecting group R to thereby obtain a solution comprising(L)--R--NH--CHX--COOH and(D)--R--NH--CHX--COOY.The isolation of (L)--R--NH--CHX--COOH from (D)--R--NH--CHX--COOY is achieved in high yields by an acid-base extraction.

Abstract: A stable blood serum bilirubin reference composition characterized in that said composition either (1) possesses a pH of from about 8.3 to about 9.5 or (2) further comprises a sulfhydryl compound in an amount sufficient to enhance the stability of the bilirubin or (3) both possesses a pH of from about 8.3 to about 9.5 and further comprises a sulfhydryl compound in an amount to further enhance the stability of the bilirubin.

Abstract: An improved method of storing and shipping a blood serum reference composition comprising in its non-biological component from about 40 to about 85 weight percent water, from about 15 to about 60 weight percent of at least one alkylene polyol having from 2-5 carbon atoms, the remainder being chiefly at least one natural biological material selected from a group consisting of blood serum, enzyme, metabolites, electrolytes, and hormones. The improvement comprises storing and/or shipping the composition at a temperature below the freezing point thereof.