Abstract: Sigma binding site agents having the formula ##STR1## which are useful to inhibit sigma binding site-induced activity, pharmaceutical compositions including these agents, and methods of using these agents to inhibit sigma binding site-induced activity in mammals. Also disclosed are novel intermediates useful in preparing the presently invented agents.

Abstract: Cloning and expression of the gene encoding human phosphlipase inhibitory protein (hPIP) permits production of an anti-inflammatory protein in practical quantities using recombinant techniques.

Abstract: Methods, compounds and compositions are provided for inducing natriuresis, diuresis and vasodilatation in mammalian hosts by administering atrial natriuretic/vasodilator peptides to said host. Also provided are methods for producing such peptide compounds.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the isolation and purification of recombinant lung surfactant protein. The methods involve a multistep procedure including extraction with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aliphatic alcohol and chromatographic purification steps which employ a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aliphatic alcohol as eluant. Purified proteins obtained using the disclosed isolation and purification steps are provided as well.

Abstract: An unexpectedly more potent isomer of 2-amino-4,5-(1,2-cyclohexyl)-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid, a known excitatory amino acid antagonist, pharmaceutical compositions including this isomer and methods of using this isomer to antagonize excitatory amino acid receptors.

Abstract: 5,6,7,8,9,10-Hexahydro-7,10-iminocyclohept[b]indole, 6,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-7,11-imino-5H-cyclooct[b]indole and substituted derivatives are effective in the treatment of psychoses with limited liability to produce concomitant adverse extrapyramidal symptoms. These compounds are also useful for treating other central nervous system and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: DNA sequences encoding .beta.-amyloid-related proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease are disclosed. Also provided herein is a DNA sequence encoding a novel protease inhibitor. These sequences are used in producing or constructing recombinant .beta.-amyloid core protein, .beta.-amyloid-related proteins and recombinant or synthetic immunogenic peptides. Antibodies generated against the recombinant proteins or immunogenic peptides derived therefrom can be used for cerebral fluid or serum protein diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro tissue culture-based assay for amyloid deposition specific for Alzheimer's disease which is suitable for routine drug screening analysis. Immunological diagnostic reagents for Alzheimer's disease are also provided.

Abstract: DNA sequences encoding the beta-amyloid core protein, and beta-amyloid-related proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease are disclosed. These sequences are used in producing or constructing recombinant beta-amyloid core protein, beta-amyloid-related proteins and recombinant or synthetic immunogenic peptides. These sequences are also used to identify genomic mutations and/or restriction site alterations which are associated with a predisposition to Alzheimer's disease, for purposes of genetic screening. Antibodies generated against the recombinant proteins or immunogenic peptides derived therefrom can be used for cerebral fluid or serum protein diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Isolated DNA sequences, expression vectors and transformant cells are provided which allow for the large scale production of vascular endothelial cell growth factor. The vascular endothelial cell growth factor is useful in the treatment of wounds in which neovascularization or reendothelialization is required for healing.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical formulations and a method for their preparation are provided. These formulations provide a stabilized basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) which is less susceptible to oxidation or metal-induced aggregation by including an amount of a chelating agent effective to stabilize the bFGF.

Abstract: Methods, compounds and compositions are provided for inducing natriuresis, diuresis and vasodilatation in mammalian hosts by administering atrial natriuretic/vasodilator peptides to said host. Also provided are methods for producing such peptide compounds.

Abstract: An improved method for expressing peptides as fusion proteins, uses a carrier for a heterologous peptide to provide a fusion protein having a high pI. The high isoelectric point facilitates separation of the fusion protein from all other host cell proteins, and separation of the carrier from the peptide after cleavage.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing a 57 amino acid protease inhibitor and uses for those compositions are taught. The protease inhibitor is referred to as A4i which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. In addition to the A4i protease, other analogs are taught as are pharmaceutical compositions containing such analogs and their uses in treating a variety of abnormalities associated with Kunitz-type basic protease inhibitors. For example, it has been found that pharmaceutical compositions containing A4i protease and analogs thereof inhibit plasmin and tryptase, and also inhibit pancreatic trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, tissue kallikrein and serum kallikrein. In that certain diseases are associated with a general release of proteases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase into the circulatory system pharmaceutical compositions containing A4i and analogs thereof can be used in the management of such diseases.

Abstract: A number of data storage cassettes are held in a removeable magazine that forms part of a tape drive by which the magnetic tapes are recorded or played. The magazine holds two parallel vertically-displaced decks of cassettes that are moved under positive driving force along a rectangular pathway formed by the two decks. From a pick-up position in the magazine, a cassette is automatically extracted by a robotic arm and placed in the tape platform for reading or writing by a conventional tape drive mechanism. When the use of the cassette is finished and it is ejected by the tape drive, a sensor activates the robotic arm to return the cassette to the pick-up position. Each deck has one unoccupied cassette space. If during the sequence of operations, the cassettes on the lower deck are moved by the width of one cassette in one direction, the cassettes on the upper deck are moved the same distance in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for replacing railway panels, including switches by providing a pair of cars adapted to carry a temporary track, the replacement panel and gantries, the car carrying the gantries being located over the panel required to be replaced and the gantries located in position; the old panel is raised by the gantries, the temporary track is located in the vacant space and the car carrying the new panel is rolled on to the temporary track and the new panel raised by the gantries, the temporary track removed and the new panel dropped into position.

Abstract: A thin-film electroluminescent panel which has a light sink layer deposited immediately behind the phosphor layer thereof is modified to have a light emission enhancing dielectric layer deposited between the phosphor layer and the light sink layer. The light emission enhancing dielectricphosphor interface provides for injecting hot electrons for impact-exciting the luminescent centers in the phosphor to enable the panel to generate light when the front electrode of the panel is positive in potential. Moreover, the light emission enhancing dielectric layer is formed of a material having the same index of refraction as the phosphor layer so that it will pass the incident ambient light and the rearwardly directed light generated in the phosphor layer without reflection into the light sink layer wherein it is trapped by internal reflection and absorbed.

Abstract: A thin-film electroluminescent (EL) panel operating as a matrix-addressed display is provided with a light sink layer immediately behind the phosphor layer thereof to enhance the legibility of the display under high ambient light conditions. The light sink layer is formed of a p-type semiconductor compound material comprised of 20% lead telluride and 80% cadmium telluride doped with indium. The addition of the indium into the material introduces free electrons which compensate for the hole carriers therein and thereby increases the specific resistivity of the material. The addition of lead into the semiconductor compound material forms the lead telluride which in combination with the cadmium telluride reduces the energy band gap of the material to effectively absorb the ambient light in the visible range which is the source of the bad legibility. Moreover, the lead serves to reduce the mobility of the free charge carriers in the material and thereby further increases the specific resistivity of the material.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel is provided for displaying a simulation of a speedometer for a vehicle. The simulation includes a rotating needle for indicating the speed of the vehicle and a drum type odometer for keeping track of the total mileage of travel of the vehicle. The electroluminescent panel has a microcomputer and a video ram associated therewith. On successive (Direct Memory Access) DMA periods of a millisecond operating cycle, the microcomputer is programmed to read columns of data out of the video ram to be displayed as corresponding columns of pixels on the electroluminescent panel. Between the successive Direct Memory Access periods of the millisecond operating cycle, the microcomputer is programmed to execute needle control and odometer control routines to update the data in the video ram in response to an input fed to the microcomputer indicative of the speed of the vehicle upon which the electroluminescent panel is mounted.

Abstract: A plurality of memory sections is provided each storing binary data to be employed for refreshing picture elements of a thin-film EL matrix display panel on successive frame time periods constituting an integration time period. The number of frame time periods in an integration time period corresponds to the number of different shades to be displayed on the panel. The binary data stored in each of the memory sections differs. Thus, when the binary data in the memory sections are read out on successive frame time periods, some of the picture elements on the panel are refreshed more than others during the integration time period. Accordingly, the eye of the viewer receives more light from some picture elements than others during each integration time period which results in the relative brightness levels and, therefore, the shades of the picture elements to vary.