Abstract: A harness for securing a hand to a ski-pole grip, the harness including a thumb hole, a protector element extending from an area between a thumb and a forefinger of the hand to a wrist area, surrounding at least partially a thumb-side outer edge of the hand, and at least one wrist-encircling tightening strap, wherein the protector is provided with at least one adjustment strap, extending in a substantially wrist-encircling direction and fitted with a fastening buckle which is intended for cooperation with the tightening strap and whose position along the adjustment strap is adjustable longitudinally of the adjustment strap according to a size of the hand.

Abstract: A carboxy terminal protein sequencing process is disclosed which utilizes diphenyl phosphoroisothiocyanatidate and a heterocyclic amine to produce a thiohydantoin derivative of the C-terminal amino acid. The derivative is readily cleaved. The method is useful to sequence through all of the 20 naturally occuring amino acids.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser and control system includes a base member having an intake cavity with an axis for orientation in an upward direction, the intake cavity being sealingly mateable with a mouth opening of a replaceable liquid container which, when mated with the intake cavity, is in an inverted position for draining liquid through the mouth opening into the intake cavity. The intake cavity includes a sump into which liquid from the container can drain by gravity. The vent tube assembly has an intake end connectable to atmosphere or a source of gas, the vent tube assembly extending from the base member through the intake cavity, and has a venting end for positioning inside the container. A passageway extends through a portion of the base member, the passageway having an entry end and an exit end, the entry end connected to the sump, through which liquid from the sump can drain into the passageway.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

Abstract: A method of executing a tennis stroke includes covering a knee of a tennis player with a knee pad during tennis play. The covered knee of the player is placed on a tennis court surface with the knee pad positioned between the knee and the surface. The tennis racket is swung toward a tennis ball so as to hit the tennis ball with the racket either while the covered knee is on the tennis court surface, or just prior to the knee contacting the tennis court surface.

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: The effects of suppressing c-fos oncogene expression on drug or radiation resistant mammalian cells are described. A2780S human ovarian carcinoma cells with resistance to actinomycin D were isolated and the resultant A2780AD cells exhibited the MDR phenotype. A hammerhead ribozyme designed to cleave fos RNA cloned into the pMAMneo plasmid was transfected into A2780AD cells. Induction of the ribozyme resulted in decreased expression of c-fos, followed by that of mdr-1, c-jun, and p53. Reversal of the MDR phenotype by the anti-mdr ribozyme occurred one-fourth as rapidly as that induced by the anti-fos ribozyme. These studies demonstrate the primacy of the c-fos oncogene in maintaining the resistant phenotype in human cancer cells. Thus, down regulation of fos/jun will make resistant cancer cells more sensitive to conventional treatment, i.e., cancer chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to conotoxin peptides having 25-35 amino acids, six cysteines which form three disulfide bonds between the first and fourth, second and fifth, and third and sixth cysteines, respectively. The invention is directed to .delta.-conotoxin GmVIA having the formula Val-Lys-Pro-Cys-Arg-Lys-Glu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Cys-Asp-Pro-Ile-Phe-Gln-Asn-Cys-Cy s-Arg-Gly-Trp-Asn-Cys-Val-Leu-Phe-Cys-Val (SEQ ID NO:1). This peptide activates sodium channels. The invention is further directed to .mu.O-conotoxin peptides of the generic formula Ala-Cys-Xaa.sub.1 -Lys-Lys-Trp-Glu-Tyr-Cys-Ile-Val-Pro-Ile-Xaa.sub.2 -Gly-Phe-Xaa.sub.3 -Tyr-Cys-Cys-Pro-Gly-Leu-Ile-Cys-Gly-Pro-Phe-Val-Cys-Val, wherein Xaa.sub.1 is Arg or Ser, Xaa.sub.2 is Ile or Leu and Xaa.sub.3 is Ile or Val (SEQ ID NO:2). These peptides block sodium channels. Examples of .mu.

Abstract: A system for securing a ski pole to a hand of a skier, wherein a ski glove or a hand-wrapping harness strap includes a wedge-shaped or triangular locking piece, with the locking piece being attached to the harness strap or attached to the ski glove by a flexible lip located within a web area between a thumb and an index finger of the glove, the locking piece being releasably claspable to a handgrip of the ski pole, with the handgrip being provided with a mating-shaped cavity for receiving the locking piece with a fit reminiscent of a dove-tail joint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutations in the MKK4 gene in human cancers and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancer. Specific mutations in the MKK4 gene which are associated with breast, pancreatic, colorectal and testicular cancers have been identified. The invention also relates to the therapy of human cancers which have a mutation in the MKK4 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 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 recording apparatus is provided with a housing for blocking off external light, a supporting base placed in the housing, and a plurality of heating elements, which are arranged on the supporting base in a direction of width of recording paper, for performing the color development of recording paper. The recording apparatus is further provided with a light emitting device, which is placed on the supporting base in such a way as to extent in a direction of width of recording paper, for coming near to recording paper and for fixing an image thereon, and a paper feeding mechanism, which is placed in the housing, for conveying recording paper onto the heating elements and the light emitting device. Thus, the recording apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, the reliability of the recording apparatus can be enhanced. Consequently, the maintenance of the recording apparatus can easily be maintained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for detecting the presence or absence of any specific target nucleic acid sequence contained in a sample. The target sequence can be present in the sample in a relatively pure form or as a component of a member of a mixture of different nucleic acids. The method of the invention utilizes a novel primer design. The sequence of the novel primer is composed of two portions, the 3' portion is a primer specific for the desired nucleic acid sequence and the 5' portion is complementary to preselected nucleic acid sequence. Extension of the 3' portion of the primer with a labeled deoxynucleosides triphosphate yields a labeled extension product if, but only if, the template includes the target sequence. The labeled extension product is detected by hybridization of the 5' portion to the preselected sequence. The preselected sequence is preferably bound to a solid support as one member of a grid having a group of sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for preventing or reducing the effects of ischemia. The ischemia may be associated with injury or reperfusion injury, such as occurs as a result of infarctions, thermal injury (bums), surgical trauma, accidental trauma, hemorrhagic shock and the like. The invention is also related to methods for preventing, or reducing bacterial translocation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, adherence of blood cells and platelets to endothelial cells and pulmonary hypertension. In accordance with the present invention, these conditions are prevented or reduced by administering a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blanket for use with forced air convection systems, wherein the blanket includes multiple inlet ports. By providing a blanket with multiple inlets, the user has the choice of positioning the air supply or blower unit and the supply hose on either side of the patient. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the inlet ports are resealable, thus allowing the user to switch inlets during use.

Abstract: The distraction system for long bones includes a guide socket (42) and an intramedullary pin (10). It will make possible, in addition to elongation, also a segmental dislocation, as well as a segmental dislocation in combination with an elongation without repeated surgical intervention, while assuring a sufficient pressure on the bone contact surfaces of the docking site. Intramedullary pin (10) is thus provided on its outside wall with a projection (41) which engages in a longitudinal hole (43) in guide socket (42), whereby intramedullary pin (10) is secured against rotation by means of guide socket (42) attached in the long bone, but can be displaced axially.

Abstract: In known portable analog communication devices, even when a data signal is dealt with, the signal is always passed through a band-pass filter designed for filtering a voice signal and thus the data signal encounters an error due to group delay distortion. A portable analog communication device includes: an RF demodulator for demodulating a received RF signal; a first filter for filtering the output signal of the RF demodulator; a second filter having a low group delay; filter connection means for selecting the second filter when the RF signal is a data signal; and device selection means for selecting a device the output signal of the signal processing circuit is provided to depending on whether the RF signal is a voice signal or a data signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunoassay for trypsinogen-2 wherein an amount of analyte in a sample is measured, said analyte being either trypsin-2 complexed with alpha-1-antitrypsin (trypsin-2-AAT) in serum, or trypsinogen-2 in urine. According to a preferred embodiment, the trypsin-2-AAT complex or free trypsinogen-2 are measured by non-competitive methods employing at least two different antibodies. The methods are useful for the diagnosis of patients with pancreatic disease, especially pancreatitis.

Abstract: A self-adhesive label comprising a self-adhesive base carried on a backing of release material, a multilaminar portion disposed on a first portion of the base, a layer of adhesive on a second portion of the base adjacent to the first portion, and a printed cover sheet having a first edge portion which is adhered to the base by the layer of adhesive, a central portion which extends over the multilaminar label, and a second edge portion opposite to the first edge portion which is arranged to be held against the backing of release material thereby to retain the self-adhesive label in a closed configuration.