Abstract: This invention is directed to a [di(ether or thioether)heteroaryl or fluoro substituted aryl] compound or an N-oxide thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful for inhibiting the production or physiological effects of TNF in the treatment of a patient suffering from a disease state associated with a physiologically detrimental excess of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Compounds within the scope of the present invention also inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, and are useful in treating a disease state associated with pathological conditions that are modulated by inhibiting cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, such disease states including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, in particular type IV cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The present invention is therefore directed to their pharmacological use for inhibiting TNF and/or cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, pharmacological compositions comprising the compounds and methods for their preparation.

Abstract: Linoleic acid is converted into ?-linolenic acid by the enzyme ?6-desaturase. The present invention is directed to isolated nucleic acids comprising the ?6-desaturase gene. More particularly, the isolated nucleic acid comprises the promoter, coding region and termination regions of the ?6-desaturase gene. The present invention provides recombinant constructions comprising the ?6-desaturase coding region in functional combination with heterologous regulatory sequences. The nucleic acids and recombinant constructions of the instant invention are useful in the production of GLA in transgenic organisms.

Abstract: Linoleic acid is converted into ?-linolenic acid by the enzyme ?6-desaturase. The present invention is directed to isolated nucleic acids comprising the ?6-desaturase gene. More particularly, the isolated nucleic acid comprises the promoter, coding region and termination regions of the ?6-desaturase gene. The present invention provides recombinant constructions comprising the ?6-desaturase coding region in functional combination with heterologous regulatory sequences. The nucleic acids and recombinant constructions of the instant invention are useful in the production of GLA in transgenic organisms.

Abstract: A method of controlling parasites in or on an animal comprising orally administering to the animal a parasiticidally effective, substantially non-emetic 1-arylpyrazole.

Abstract: Utilization of albumin as a stable plasma transporter with a therapeutic function that is derived from a membrane receptor. The present invention is exemplified by the description of new therapeutic agents that can be used in the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: hybrid macromolecules composed of albumin derivatives coupled to derivatives of the CD4 receptor having a normal or a higher affinity for the HIV-1 virus.

Abstract: Aqueous emulsions of oils, gums or preferably masked (poly)isocyanate resins are prepared by kneading a mixture containing (1) a preferably masked (poly)isocyanate phase (A) with a viscosity of at least 3 Pa.s or a consistency of at least 200, and (2) an aqueous phase including water, at least one surfactant (B) and optionally at least one water-soluble thickening polymer (C). The relative amounts of water (B) and optionally (C) being such that the aqueous phase has a viscosity or consistency preferably no lower than that of the preferably masked (poly)isocyanate phase (A). The kneading is performed for a sufficient time and with sufficient shear to give an oil-in-water emulsion with a particle size of 0.1-5 &mgr;m, and optionally diluting the medium with water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for the preparation of hydroxymethylthiobutyric acid by sulphuric hydrolysis of hydroxymethylthiobutyronitrile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for drying a gaseous or liquid mixture by passing the said mixture into an adsorber, characterized in that the water adsorption equilibrium zone of the adsorber comprises an upstream alumina zone and a downstream molecular sieve zone.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of the formula comprising reacting a compound of the formula wherein R3 is nitro or halo, or a salt thereof, with a compound of the formula R1SX (III) wherein X is hydrogen or alkali metal.

Abstract: Fluorocarbon compounds are synthesized by reacting a substrate hydrocarbyl compound containing at least one sp3-hybridized halophoric carbon atom bearing at least two halogen atom substituents, at least one of which is a halogen atom having an atomic number greater than that of fluorine and the at least one halophoric carbon atom being bonded to at least one chalcogen, with at least one reactant which comprises a complex of a Bronstedt base with a defined amount n of hydrofluoric acid, n being at least 3 and not greater than 20.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous suspension of precipitated silica, characterized in that its solids content is between 10 and 40% by weight, its viscosity is lower than 4×10−2 Pa.s at a shear rate of 50 s−1 and the quantity of silica present in the supernatant obtained after centrifuging the said suspension at 7500 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes represents more than 50% of the weight of the silica present in the suspension. The particle size distribution of the agglomerates in suspension is such that their median diameter D50 is smaller than 5 &mgr;m and the deagglomeration factor FD is greater than 3 ml. This suspension can be employed for the production of anticorrosion coatings and for the preparation of concretes, of paper or of inorganic adhesives.

Abstract: The method for abstracting high levels of &bgr;-glucan from a grain product such as oat or barley grain to produce a &bgr;-glucan product containing at least about 18% by weight &bgr;-glucan is provided. The &bgr;-glucan product can be produced as an agglomerated food additive having at least about 18% by weight &bgr;-glucan. Methods are provided for enriching a food product with the &bgr;-glucan agglomerated food additive to produce an enriched resulting food product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA sequence, a 5′ regulatory element allowing the expression of a heterologous gene in a plant cell from a monocotyledonous plant, characterized in that it comprises, in the direction of transcription, a first DNA sequence, which is a functional fragment of the sequence of the maize H3C4 promoter, and a second DNA sequence, which is a functional fragment of the sequence of the first intron of rice actin. The invention also relates to a chimeric gene comprising the said DNA sequence and the plants transformed with the said gene.

Abstract: Use, for thickening oily media, of silicone waxes which have aliphatic fatty alcohol or acid ester functional groups of formula —(CH2)n—A-R, in which formula n is equal to at least 2, A an —OCO— or —COO—group and R a C21-C30 aliphatic group, more particularly those which have behenate functional groups —(CH2)3—O—CO—(CH2)20—CH3, bonded directly to silicon atoms of the polyorganosiloxane chain.

Abstract: This invention relates to the control of weeds using (a) a urea herbicide and (b) a 4-benzoylisoxazole or a 2-cyano-1,3-dione herbicide.

Abstract: A process for preparing compounds of the formula: wherein R2 is lower alkyl; or phenyl optionally substituted by from one to five groups, the same or different, which are lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, halogen or —SR4; R3 is halogen, lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkoxy, —S-alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms in the ring, alkenyl or alkynyl having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or —(CR5R6)—SR2 wherein q is one or two; R4 is lower alkyl; R5 and R6 independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower haloalkyl; and n is zero or an integer from one to three; intermediate compounds of the formula: and processes for preparing them.

Abstract: Linoleic acid is converted into &ggr;-linolenic acid by the enzyme &Dgr;6-desaturase. The present invention is directed to isolated nucleic acids comprising the &Dgr;6-desaturase gene. More particularly, the isolated nucleic acid comprises the promoter, coding region and termination regions of the &Dgr;6-desaturase gene. The present invention provides recombinant constructions comprising the &Dgr;6-desaturase coding region in functional combination with heterologous regulatory sequences. The nucleic acids and recombinant constructions of the instant invention are useful in the production of GLA in transgenic organisms.

Abstract: New optically active bis[1-phospha-2,3-diphenyl-4,5-dimethylnorbornadiene] diphosphines and new optically active transition metal complexes with said phosphines are described. The complexes are useful as catalysts to promote hydrogenation of substrates.

Abstract: The invention concerns human neural progenitor cells containing introduced genetic material encoding a product of interest, and their use for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of cobalamines and/or cobamides, in particular coenzyme B12, genetic material responsible for expressing these polypeptides, and a method for preparing them, are described. A method for amplifying the production of cobalamines, and particularly coenzyme B12, using recombinant DNA techniques, are also described.