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 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: A Brassica sp. genomic clone containing a polygalacturonase gene promoter was isolated. This promoter directs high levels of transcription in the pollen. When the promoter was fused with the GUS gene and introduced into B. napus by Agrobacterium mediated transformation, this promoter controlled GUS expression in microspores and pollen in transgenic B. napus plants. Expression occurred between the late uninucleate microspore stage and the mature pollen grain stage. GUS activity was also identified in tapetal tissue at the binucleate microspore stage. There was no GUS expression in other tissues such as root, stem, leaf, sepal, petal or pistil. This promoter will be useful for the temporal and spatial control of endogenous gene expression in plants.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preventing or reducing ischemia following injury, such as reperfusion injury following ischemia, cellular damage associated with ischemic episodes, such as infarctions or traumatic injuries, and thus to prevent or reduce the consequent progressive necrosis of tissue associated with such ischemia. This effect is achieved by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient as soon as possible after the injury. The present invention is further directed to methods for preventing or reducing bacterial translocation or adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient. Similarly, bacterial translocation and adult respiratory distress syndrome are prevented or reduced by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for rapidly analyzing whether known genetic markers which are found in various lengths in the population, e.g., those containing (CA).sub.n repeats, are associated with a disease of interest. The method involves using polymerase chain reactions to amplify the DNA in the marker regions and comparing the amplified DNA lengths seen in the normal population with those seen in an affected population of persons. The method involves a pooling of DNA samples from normal patients to average out the normal marker genotype found in the population and also involves a pooling of DNA from affected individuals to give a summing effect to give a stronger signal. The amplified DNA fragments are labeled with two distinguishable markers such as two different colored fluorescent markers, one used to label the amplified DNA from the normal population and the other to label the amplified DNA from the affected population.

Abstract: A novel inbred corn line, designated LH177, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH177, to the plants of inbred corn line LH177 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH177 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH177 with another corn line.

Abstract: A method for optically switching a signal in a two-way communication system using only one satellite includes the steps of receiving a first set of N beams, forming a first set of N optical channels from respective ones of the N beams, spreading each of the N optical channels in one dimension to irradiate a first N.times.M array, switching a signal existing at one position of the first N.times.M array to any position of a second N.times.M array, unspreading the signals from the second N.times.M array to form a second set of N optical channels, forming a second set of N beams from the second set of N optical channels; and thereafter transmitting the second set of N beams which service M customers simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention relates to substances for the inhibition of symmetric proteins, in particular enzymes, in particular the inhibition of HIV protease, in the form of structurally symmetric or near symmetric enzyme inhibitors, chazacterized by the same symmetry, or approximate or piecewise (yet sufficient for inhibition) symmetry, as the enzyme molecule to be inhibited.

Abstract: A new peptide, .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA, is disclosed. This peptide is found naturally in the cone snail Conus purpurascens and has the amino acid sequence Cys-Arg-Ile-Xaa-Asn-Gln-Lys-Cys-Phe-Gln-His-Leu-Asp-Asp-Cys-Cys-Ser-Arg-Ly s-Cys-Asn-Arg-Phe-Asn-Lys-Cys-Val (SEQ ID NO:1) where Xaa represents 4-trans-hydroxyproline hydroxyproline or proline. This peptide together with a previously disclosed peptide, .delta.-conotoxin PVIA, act synergistically to rapidly immobilize fish which are injected with the two peptides. Injection of .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA alone results in different symptoms with an injected fish becoming hyperactive and then contracting and suddenly extending all major fins. This "fin-popping" occurs repeatedly resulting in a series of jerky movements, but injection of only .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA does not immobilize or kill the fish.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a new .mu.-conotoxin named GIIIA. .mu.-Conotoxin PIIIA consists of 22 amino residues and is found in the Eastern Pacific fish-hunting species Conus purpurascens. This conotoxin is a new Na.sup.+ channel blocker and can be used to resolve tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channels into three categories: 1) sensitive to .mu.-PIIIA and .mu.-conotoxin GIIIA; 2) sensitive to .mu.-PIIIA but not to .mu.-GIIIA; and 3) sensitive to neither of these two .mu.-conotoxins. In rat brain, binding competition studies between the two .mu.-conotoxins and saxitoxin suggest at least three pharmacologically distinguishable binding sites. Thus, .mu.-conotoxin PIIIA should be a key tool for distinguishing among different sodium channel subtypes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making sponge iron briquettes from fine ore with a maximum grain size of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, wherein hot fine ore is fed to a roller press comprising two press rolls and is briquetted by opposite briquette pockets of the press rolls in the nip to form sponge iron briquettes. The direct pressing of fine ore into sponge iron briquettes has largely been unknown in the prior art. The invention proposes that one of the press rolls be operated as a loose roll which is substantially movable in a direction transverse to the roller axis, the nip adapting to the amount of material supplied to the press rolls and the nip substantially having such a mean width that a briquette strip is produced. In comparison with a former method, the method of the invention achieves a markedly increased service life of the molding bodies which are provided with press pockets.

Abstract: An ink jet printer or a pen has a nozzle or valve (4) formed by an orifice in an elastic material (1), and the orifice comprising a slit or hole (9) in the elastic material deformable to cause the slit or hole to open or close to eject ink (2) under pressure. The printer preferably has plural, closely spaced nozzles and actuators in the form of a piezoelectric unimorph (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of the molecular basis of supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) and Williams syndrome. More specifically, the invention has identified that elastin causes or is involved in the pathogenesis of SVAS and Williams syndrome. Molecular variants of the elastin gene contribute to SVAS and Williams syndrome. The analysis of the elastin gene will provide an early diagnosis of subjects with SVAS and Williams syndrome. The diagnostic method comprises analyzing the DNA sequence of the elastin gene of an individual to be tested and comparing it with the DNA sequence of the native, non-variant elastin gene. In a second embodiment, the elastin gene of an individual to be tested is screened for mutations associated with SVAS or Williams syndrome. Presymptomatic diagnosis of SVAS and Williams syndrome will enable practitioners to prevent vascular obstruction using existing medical therapies like beta adrenergic blocking agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preventing or reducing ischemia following injury, such as reperfusion injury following ischemia, cellular damage associated with ischemic episodes, such as infarctions or traumatic injuries, and thus to prevent or reduce the consequent progressive necrosis of tissue associated with such ischemia. This effect is achieved by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient as soon as possible after the injury. The present invention is further directed to methods for preventing or reducing bacterial translocation or adult respiratory distress syndrome in a patient. Similarly, bacterial translocation and adult respiratory distress syndrome are prevented or reduced by administering DHEA, DHEA derivatives or DHEA congeners to a patient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to A-lineage conotoxin peptides, which are conotoxin peptides that have strong homology in the signal sequence and the 3'-untranslated region of the genes coding for these peptides to the sequences in the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides. The A-lineage conotoxin peptides include the .alpha.-conotoxin peptides, the .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides and the .kappa.-conotoxin peptides, described further below. The .alpha.-conotoxin-peptides generally share a "core" sequence motif. This core sequence is termed the .alpha.3/5 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa- Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:1). The .alpha.-conotoxin-like peptides generally share a core sequence termed the .alpha.4/7 core and is represented as Cys-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys-Xaa- Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2). The .kappa.-conotoxin peptides generally have a core sequence termed the .kappa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making sponge iron briquettes from fine ore with a maximum grain size of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, wherein hot fine ore is fed to a roller press and is briquetted by the roller press to form sponge iron briquettes. Apart from briquettes, fine ore which is compacted in the spaces of briquette pockets of the roller press, as well as fines in dust form are produced during briquetting. These components are designated as returns and separated from the sponge iron briquettes. The returns are then fed to the fine ferrous ore prior to briquetting. The processing of fine ore has so far entailed great problems in the technical field. The invention suggests that the returns be directly fed to a conveyor system after having been separated from the sponge iron briquettes and that the returns which are still hot be fed by the conveyor system substantially evenly and continuously to the hot fine ore to be still briquetted.

Abstract: A transfer molding machine for encapsulation of semiconductor devices with a resin comprises a clamping mechanism with an electrically actuated toggle mechanism, a pair of upper and lower sections of a transfer mold, and at least one compensation unit including upper and lower plates and a plurality of elastic members held between said upper and lower plates. The compensation unit is arranged either between the upper stationary platen and the upper mold section or between the moving platen and the lower mold section to compensate the dimensional errors in the mold sections and clamping mechanism.

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.