Abstract: Processing methods and compositions of matter are disclosed for lipid fractions of sea cucumber intestinal mass and body wall tissue suitable for the healthfood industry and aquaculture feed pigment industry. A process and composition of matter description for obtaining a high protein de-lipidized, de-odorized meal is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a prepro-neuropeptide Y (PreproNPY) where the leucine amino acid in position 7 of the signal peptide part of said preproNPY has been replaced by proline. The invention concerns further the mutant signal peptide as such or associated with any other cleavage product of preproNPY, methods for the determination, in a biological sample, of said DNA sequence or said peptide. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for diagnosing a predisposition for increased serum cholesterol or LDL cholesterol level in a human subject, and to methods for treating a human subject diagnosed for predisposition for increased serum cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. Transgenic animals carrying either the mutant sequence or the normal sequence are also within the scope of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pyrotechnical, aerosol-forming composition for the purpose of extinguishing fires in confined spaces, containing potassium nitrate in a quantity of 67-72% by mass, phenolformaldehyde resin in a quantity of 8-12% by mass and dicyandiamide as the balance, wherein the particles of the potassium nitrate comprise a maximum average diameter of 25 .mu.m, the particles of the phenolformaldehyde resin comprise a maximum average diameter of 100 .mu.m and the particles of the dicyandiamide comprise a maximum average diameter of 15 .mu.m.A further object of the invention is a method for the preparation of the composition, which can be manufactured in conventional installations, by preparing a phenolformaldehyde solution using a mixture of ethyl alcohol with acetone in a ratio of 30-50:70-50 and by mixing and subsequently granulating during the drying process at 20-70.degree. C. The drying process is preferably performed at 40.degree. C. by means of circulating air.

Abstract: A paper sizing agent is a rosin stabilized with a rosin-stabilizing amount of a cationic polyamidoamine-ethyleneimine-epichlorohydrin polymer resin, which is mixed with an aqueous dispersion containing paper pulp in a method for the production of paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic electric generator including an anode and cathode having pyrotechnic charges with an excess of fuel-anode and an excess of oxidation agent cathode, the anode and cathode being separated by of a separator, cherrin the anode, cathode and separator contain asbestos as a binding agent and are formed with a ratio of maximum dimension to thickness of 20 to 130, wherein the fuel in the anode and in the cathode is zirconium and the separator is formed from lithium fluoride, alkaline earth fluoride or their mixture.

Abstract: The invention is an assembly for positioning an implant that has an axis and at least one axial tubular region having an inside diameter. More specifically, the assembly positions the implant into an internal passageway in a body, such as a blood vessel. The assembly has two removable elements, both having a predetermined cross-section. At the distal end of the first element of the assembly is a lateral protuberance having a radial length. The assembly is further characterized in that the cumulative cross-section dimension of the two elements away from their distal ends and the radial length of the lateral protuberance are both smaller than the inside diameter of the axial tubular region of the implant.

Abstract: A writing instrument comprises a barrel provided with a tip element at the front thereof, a writing mechanism provided longitudinally movably within the barrel, a resilient element for biasing the writing mechanism backward, a knock member detachably mounted on the rear end of the writing mechanism, and a rattle-preventive means provided between a knock member and the barrel. The rattle of the knock member can be completely eliminated despite the presence of a clearance between parts such as between the knock member and the barrel or the tail crown.

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 vascular prosthesis to be implanted by the percutaneous endoluminal route is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The vascular prosthesis includes a flexible sleeve to channel blood therein, and a tubular armature (or stent) to which the sleeve is connected essentially coaxially, the armature being capable of having a first diameter or a second diameter larger than the first, so that the prosthesis is in the form of a single tube or bifurcated tube assuming a radially constricted state for its percutaneous vascular implantation, or a radially opened out state, once it is vascularly implanted, additionally including a vascularly anastomosable terminal portion of sleeve which extends, or is added onto, the flexible sleeve, beyond the armature, this portion being therefore suitable to be anastomosed, in particular by suture, to at least one vessel or vessel substitute.

Abstract: A peat bale for use in a peat water filtration system, wherein the peat bale has a permeable wrapping to maintain the bale of peat at a predetermined density and which allows for the inflow and outflow of water through the bale.

Abstract: It concerns butt-welding of parts made of plastics material(s). For this purpose, the invention proposes correcting, according to an ambient temperature which is measured in the environment of the parts at the moment of welding, at least one of the following parameters: pressure(s) for contact and/or welding of the parts, electrical energy to be supplied to means for displacement of the said parts, stroke(s) of relative displacement of the parts, time for obtaining beads at the end of the parts during the phase of heating the latter.

Abstract: A self-adhesive label comprising a multilaminar label portion, a self-adhesive laminar material extending over, and adhered by its self-adhesive surface to, the multilaminar label portion thereby to form two self-adhesive edge portions thereof on opposed sides of the multilaminar label portion, a backing of release material to which one of the edge portions is releasably adhered and an unadhesive portion which is located on the rear surface of the said one edge portion.

Abstract: A first tension adjustor for adjusting the tension of a liner and a pitch measuring device for measuring the corrugation pitch of a first core board of a single-faced corrugated board are used. A first tension controller operates so that the tension acting on the liner is adjusted on the basis of the corrugation pitch of the first core board of the single-faced corrugated board. Further, a second tension adjustor for adjusting the tension of the single-faced corrugated board and a phase shift measuring device for measuring a phase shift between the corrugations of the first core board of the single-faced corrugated board and the corrugations of a second core board to be laminated to the first core board are used. A second tension controller operates so that the tension acting on the single-faced corrugated board is adjusted on the basis of the phase shift measured by the phase shift measuring device.

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: An inexpensive, compact digital radio receiver corrects IQ imbalance, non-orthogonal I and Q phases, and DC offset by a DSP. The digital radio receiver is equipped with an antenna, an RF/IF converter for converting a radio frequency into an intermediate frequency, an IQ separator for separating I and Q, a filter for eliminating a noise such as a radio frequency, a multiplying sampler for sampling the output of the filter, and a digital signal processing unit mainly comprised of the DSP which implements an algorithm for estimating and correcting an IQ distortion and also performs quadrature phase demodulation. The IQ distortion can be removed inexpensively by making use of a part of a standard radio operation, hardly requiring the use of hardware for adjustment.

Abstract: Recent evidence indicates that the carboxy-terminal region of the tumor suppressor protein BRCA1 is a functionally significant domain. Using the yeast two-hybrid assay and an in vitro biochemical assay, it is here shown that a protein, B112, interacts specifically with the carboxy-terminal segment of human BRCA1 from residue 1602 to 1863. A germ line truncation mutation, 1853ter, that removes the last 11 amino acids from the carboxy-terminus of BRCA1 abolishes not only the transcription activation function, but also binding to B112. The B112 protein is apparently the same as an uncharacterized protein known as CtIP, the sequence of which was previously deposited in GenBank. Screenings of a panel of 92 tumor cell lines for mutations in the B112/CtIP sequence have identified a number of missense variants, including a non-conserved lysine to glutamic acid change at codon 337 in the pancreatic cancer line, BxPC3.

Abstract: Provided are antisense oligonucleotides directed against the raf-1 gene, Ha-ras gene and HER-2 gene, components of a signal transduction pathway involving oncogenes and their normal counterparts and leading to the phenotype of cellular radioresistance. Administration of these antisense oligonucleotides is shown to reverse the radioresistance phenotype in cells overexpressing HER-2 or a mutant form of Ha-ras. Methods and compositions for reversing radiation resistance among other conditions involving these genes are disclosed.

Abstract: A solid phase peptide synthesis reactor system and method of operating the reactor are provided. The reactor system includes a basket rotatable about an axis within a housing and a receiver which delivers fluid to, and collects fluid from, the housing. The basket has a perforate side wall against which a resin cake for the peptide synthesis is formed. The reactor and receiver form a loop or circuit through which solutions are circulated. The circulation of the solutions prevents the reactor from flooding so that the basket will not be submerged in solution and allows for the use of less liquid. Thus greater amino acid concentrations may be used. The method includes forming a resin cake of uniform depth on the wall of the spinning basket and spraying the solutions against the resin cake while spinning the basket. The solutions will pass through the resin cake and drain to the receiver to be circulated or recycled through the system or discharged from the system.