Abstract: A item separating or debris eliminating system includes a tank and a pump for circulating water from one end of the tank around through a duct and back into the opposite end of the tank. A medium density object collector is located within the tank, and a light debris collector is located within the tank. A conveyor filter is included through which substantially all of the water in the tank is circulated. The debris eliminating system preferably also includes a high density object collector within the tank. The system can be used to separate a variety of objects having different densities and terminal velocities in a fluid. Most preferably, the system is utilized for separating debris from potatoes and the like produce.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the Multiple Tumor Suppressor (MTS) genes in mice, their expression products, and their homology to the human MTS genes. The human MTS genes are involved in human cancers. The invention is further related to the use of the MTS genes in the therapy, diagnosis and prognosis of human cancer. The invention further relates to mutations in the MTS gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to melanoma, leukemia, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, lymphoma, glioma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, CLL, and cancers of the pancreas, breast, thyroid, ovary, uterus, testis, kidney, stomach and rectum. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the MTS gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics. Finally, the invention relates to the screening of drugs for cancer therapy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of conantokin peptides, conantokin peptide derivatives and conantokin peptide chimeras, referred to collectively as conantokins, having 10-30 amino acids, including preferably two or more &ggr;-carboxyglutamic acid residues, for the treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, such as anticonvulsant agents, neuroprotective agents or analgesic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of human genetics. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and materials used to isolate and detect a human breast and ovarian cancer predisposing gene (BRCA1), some mutant alleles of which cause susceptibility to cancer, in particular breast and ovarian cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. The present invention further relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in human breast and ovarian cancer and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, the invention relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA1 gene in other human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancers. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics.

Abstract: The association of the molecular variant A-20C of the angiotensinogen gene with the prognosis of human hypertension as determined by the G-6A molecular variant is disclosed. The determination of this association enables the screening of persons to identify the severity of hypertension or the severity of the risk of a predisposition to high blood pressure.

Abstract: A mould for casting a base for a dental model when reconstructing teeth for dentures or parts thereof and including a base plate along the edge of which a mould cavity is placed, the mould cavity including a bottom with fixating structures for the dental model or parts thereof, and walls provided with ribs extending from the bottom, the mould cavity having the shape of at least a part of a jaw. With a view to creating a stable mould, in which the model cast on the base may be remounted and positioned without rocking, the mould is designed in such a way that the fixation structures are at least substantially cylindrical pins which can be inserted in corresponding holes in the bottom of the mould cavity and which each include a portion suited for being cast in the base of the dental model.

Abstract: A method for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of human genetics. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and materials used to isolate and detect a human breast cancer predisposing gene (BRCA2), some mutant alleles of which cause susceptibility to cancer, in particular breast cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to germline mutations in the BRCA2 gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to breast cancer. The present invention further relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA2 gene in human breast cancer and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human breast cancer. Additionally, the invention relates to somatic mutations in the BRCA2 gene in other human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancers. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the BRCA2 gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics.

Abstract: A bone graft insert for graft in a patient includes a dowel formed of cortical bone and being substantially free of extraneous cancellous bone material not from the patient. The dowel has a body portion, the body portion having a sidewall portion and a front end with an end face having a surface which is chamfered with respect to the body portion. The body portion has a transverse cavity extending therethrough between opposite sides of the sidewall portion for receiving allograft or the patient's autogenous tissue.

Abstract: Peptidic molecules suitable for three dimensional NMR structure determination are provided which have been substituted with .sup.13 C and/or .sup.15 N in the backbone and/or at the .alpha.-carbon with .sup.2 H but not otherwise in the sidechains of the amino acid residues. One or more amino acids, amino acid species or substantially all of the amino acid residues of the molecule may be so substituted. A method of making the substituted peptidic molecules substituted in this manner is provided.

Abstract: Novel compounds and compositions for modulating NMDA receptor function comprising Conantokin-G and derivatives thereof; methods for modulating NMDA receptor function and methods for treating neuropsychopharmacological disorders, using the novel compounds and compositions of the invention; and a method for screening compounds capable of binding to a novel allosteric modulatory site, are described.

Abstract: A method for producing a dental prosthesis to be fitted to a fitting member including the steps of: determining the three-dimensional contours of the fitting member; producing a three-dimensional form of the dental prosthesis; producing a working stump and/or a working pack; placing the working stump in the form and/or packing the working pack around the outside of the form to completely cover the form; sintering the form with the working stump and/or the working pack; and separating the working stump and/or the working pack from the dental prosthesis after sintering. The working stump and working pack are produced such that they are enlarged by a predetermined enlargement factor.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting sealed packages of product includes a conveyor belt for receiving the packages. An inspection belt contacts the packages and moves away from the conveyor belt a particular distance depending on whether the packages are properly sealed. When engaged by a package with a good seal, the inspection belt is moved a first distance which causes an indicator carried thereon to send a signal which prevents removal of the good package from the conveyor belt. However, when a leaky bag contacts the inspection belt, the inspection belt is moved a second distance which is insufficient to cause the indicator to send a signal. Consequently, the improperly sealed package is removed from the conveyor belt. The inspection belt may be mounted for linear or pivotal movement upon being contacted by the packages carried by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to somatic mutations in the Multiple Tumor Suppressor (MTS) gene in human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancer. The invention further relates to germ line mutations in the MTS gene and their use in the diagnosis of predisposition to melanoma, leukemia, astrocytoma, glioblastoma, lymphoma, glioma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, CLL, and cancers of the pancreas, breast, thyroid, ovary, uterus, testis, kidney, stomach and rectum. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the MTS gene, including gene therapy, protein replacement therapy and protein mimetics. Finally, the invention relates to the screening of drugs for cancer therapy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring patterns in an at least partially heat conducting surface. The method includes the steps of bringing a plurality of surface sensor elements into thermal contact with a substantial part of a surface to be examined, heating the plurality of surface sensor elements with a supplied heat, measuring a temperature or a change in temperature of each surface sensor element one or more times, or continuously, comparing the measured temperature or the change in temperature in each surface sensor element to the supplied heat to provide a measure of a loss of heat from each surface sensor element to the surface to be examined, and collocating the loss of heat at each surface sensor element to provide a segmented picture of the surface to be examined based upon a variation in the loss of heat from the plurality of surface sensor elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in medicine, e.g. as infusion or surgical rinse solutions, and to processes for their preparation. The compositions of the invention comprise an aqueous solution of physiologically inert PVP having a weight average molecular weight in the range of from 3,000 to 14,000 daltons.