Abstract: An apparatus and a method apply lateral force to the joints of a leg of a person. The apparatus includes a generally inelastic interconnecting medium having a first end and a second end. A cuff is attached to the first end of the interconnecting medium. The cuff is sized to receive a portion of a foot of the leg to which the lateral force is to be applied. An engager is connected at the second end of the interconnecting medium to attach the interconnecting medium to a substantially stationary object. When the person pulls on the foot in the cuff in a direction away from the substantially stationary object, the foot remains substantially in one location, and a bending moment or a lateral force is applied to the joints of the leg to provide therapeutic relief to the leg joints without requiring the assistance of another person.

Abstract: Apparatus for clamping a wheel of a wheeled vehicle to prevent or deter theft of the vehicle comprises (a) a first arm and a second arm, each of the arms having a middle portion, a clamping end portion and a locking end portion, the arms being rotatably connected to each other at their respective middle portions; (b) a cross bar having a free end portion and a connecting end portion, the connecting end portion being rotatably connected to the locking end portion of the first arm; (c) a first flange member extending from the locking end portion of the second arm and defining and including a first notch for receiving the free end portion of the cross bar; and (d) a second flange member detachably attachable to the free end portion of the cross bar. The clamping end portions are brought into proximity with one another when the locking end portions are brought into proximity with one another to thereby enable clamping of the wheel.

Abstract: This invention includes methods for increasing the efficiency of transduction of cells, including non-dividing cells, by recombinant AAV vectors. The methods utilize agents that alter certain aspects of DNA metabolism, more specifically, that affect DNA synthesis and/or affect repair, that impact on maintenance of chromosomal integrity, and/or that cause damage to the cellular DNA. Agents and vectors can now also be preselected and screened for transducing ability and/or transducing agents for their effect on DNA metabolism. These agents include tritiated nucleotides such as thymidine, gamma irradiation, UV irradiation, cis-platinum, etoposide, hydroxyurea and aphidicolin.

Abstract: A substantially pure epinectin covalently linked glycoprotein complex is disclosed having a ligand portion binding at least to the .alpha..sub.3 .beta..sub.1 integrin receptor for use in modifying cellular adhesion to a substratum. Also disclosed are specific binding partners for epinectin, as exemplified by monoclonal antibody, and .alpha..sub.3 .beta..sub.1 and .alpha..sub.6 .beta..sub.4 integrin receptor peptides for use as inhibitors, antagonists, and agonists of receptor binding to epinectin ligand.

Abstract: Methods for establishing continuous SCF dependent lympho-hematopoietic progenitor cell lines capable of differentiating into erythroid, myeloid, and B lymphocytic lineages, and GM-CSF dependent neutrophil progenitor cell lines capable of differentiating into neutrophils but not into monocytes, mast cells, or basophils, by introducing into bone marrow, fetal spleen, fetal liver, or other hematopoietic myeloid cells nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative suppressor of a retinoic acid receptor-alpha and a selectable marker, and culturing the recombinant cells in culture medium containing SCF or GM-CSF, agents allowing for selective growth of the recombinant cells, and a level of retinoic acid of less than about 10.sup.-8 M to about 10.sup.-9 M in the case of establishing neutrophilic progenitor cell lines. Addition of a retinol compound induces the latter cell line to differentiate into neutrophils.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid expansion method (termed "REM"), for quickly generating large numbers of T lymphocytes, including cytolytic and helper T lymphocytes. REM involves culturing the T cells in association with a disproportionately large concentration of nondividing feeder cells, preferably .gamma.-irradiated peripheral blood mononuclear cells ("PBMC") present at an excess of at least 40-fold (relative to the number of target T cells), more preferably at an excess of at least about 200-fold. Cultures grown under REM exhibit dramatically enhanced expansion rates that can be even further elevated by the use of appropriate concentrations of an additional feeder cell, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and IL-2, as described herein. Clonal expansions in the range of 500-fold to 3000-fold can be achieved within a single stimulation cycle of about 10-13 days, which is more than 100-fold more efficient than currently employed methods of culturing human T cell clones.

Abstract: A therapeutic method of modulating the immune response, by administering to a patient an amount of IL-4 effective to promote peripheral blood lymphocyte adhesion to microvascular endothelial cells in lymphoid organs. The IL-4 is preferably coadministered with IL-1.beta..An improved method of screening a cell line for the production of a binding partner that binds with a cell adhesion molecule, by contacting the binding partner with IL4-activated and nonactivated microvascular endothelial cells, and selecting binding partners that bind to the IL4-activated microvascular endothelial cells but not to the nonactivated microvascular endothelial cells. The selected binding partners may thereafter be tested for the ability to block lymphocyte binding to cytokine-activated endothelial cells. The binding partners are preferably also characterized by binding to human VCAM-1 and to IL4- or TNF.alpha.-activated bone marrow stromal cells. A representative embodiment is mAb 6G10 produced by hybridoma ATTC No. HB 10519.

Abstract: The current invention is a non-restrictive wrist break feedback apparatus for producing feedback concerning wrist joint position. The invention is useful in monitoring wrist motion for any sport but particularly useful for monitoring the "breaking" motion of the wrist during the play of golf. The device provides feedback in the form of an audible signal when the position of the hand in relation to the position of the forearm deviates from a desirable range, in respect to the forearm. The wrist break feedback apparatus of the current invention includes a frame with a first member, that generally aligns with the back of the hand, and a second member, that is pivotally connected to the first member. Feedback is produced when the first member deviates from the second member by more than a predetermined amount in a transverse direction relative to the forearm due to dorsiflexion.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence residing between positions 1 and 1185 of the human cyclin E cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 2. Polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, and immunologic binding partners directed to such polypeptides.

Abstract: A lymphoid cell line cDNA that encodes an adhesion receptor for high endothelial venules (HEV).

Abstract: Provided are methods of classifying and prognosticating human neuroectodermal tumors by analyzing a sample of the tumor to determine whether various bHLH proteins are detectably expressed in the sample. In the methods disclosed herein, expression of the bHLH genes is assessed by measuring transcripts or proteins expressed from the genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic transaction security system for executing an electronic transaction between a transaction or having an individualized transaction identification code and a transactionee. A transaction initiation request is inputted into a transactionor computer associated with the transactionor. The transaction initiation request requests the electronic transaction and includes the transaction identification code. The transaction request is transmitted electronically from the transactionor computer to a transactionee computer associated with the transactionee. In response thereto, the transactionee computer transmits electronically a verification request requesting validation of the transaction initiation request to the transactionor computer. The transactionor computer receives the verification request and transmits electronically a verification response indicating one of a valid transaction and an invalid transaction to the transactionee computer.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence residing between positions 1 and 1185 of the human cyclin E cDNA sequence shown in FIG. 2. Polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, and immunologic binding partners directed to such polypeptides.

Abstract: A lymphoid cell line cDNA that encodes an adhesion receptor for high endothelial venules (HEV).

Abstract: Retroviral packaging cells produce replication-defective retroviral vector particles capable of binding to Glvr-1 or Ram-1 retroviral receptors on target cells and are useful in gene therapy. The packaging cell employs a vector encoding a 10A1 retroviral env protein and produces the retroviral particles at high titer.

Abstract: Allogeneic cells are removed from an individual predisposed to or suffering from scleroderma or related diseases, thereby treating the disease and inhibiting or preventing its recurrence. Allogeneic cells are identified in the individual and treatment tailored to remove such cells, in vivo or ex vivo, from the individual by cell separation or cytotoxic agents.

Abstract: A circuit for actuating a door chime has a dc power source in series with a resistor and in shunt with a capacitor. A remote push button transmits a radio signal to the circuit, to connect a solenoid in series with the power source and the resistor and in shunt with the capacitor, which causes a relatively large pulse of current from the instantaneous combination of the power source current and the current from the charge of the capacitor to be applied to the solenoid which is arranged to strike a tone bar. The resistor in series with the capacitor has a time constant that charges the capacitor adequately between cycles of the operation of the push button and the resistance of the resistor limits the current flow from the power source.

Abstract: Recombinant polynucleotides are provided that encode chimeric cytokine receptors. The chimeric receptor is comprised of an extracellular domain derived from cytokine receptor A-R that binds cytokine A, used to a transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain derived from cytokine receptor B-R that binds cytokine B. When the chimeric receptor is expressed in a lymphocyte it lessens the growth dependency of the lymphocyte on cytokine B in the presence of cytokine A.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the use of ribosomal RNA as a vehicle for heterologous sequences.