Abstract: Methods for the borylation of aromatic compounds using cobalt catalysts are provided.

Abstract: A surface-modified lipoprotein-like oil-in-water emulsion useful as a blood-pool selective delivery vehicle for lipophilic imaging agents or lipophilic derivatives of water-soluble imaging agents. The blood-pool selective delivery vehicle remains in the blood for several hours, shows very little early hepatic sequestration, and is cleared from the blood within 24 hours. The mean diameter of the oil phase is less than 150 nm which minimizes sequestration by the reticuloendothelial system. The surface of the oil phase is modified with a polyethyl glycol-modified phospholipid to prevent normal interactions with the receptor sites of the hepatocytes.

Abstract: A surface-modified lipoprotein-like oil-in-water emulsion useful as a blood-pool selective delivery vehicle for lipophilic imaging agents or lipophilic derivatives of water-soluble imaging agents. The blood-pool selective delivery vehicle remains in the blood for several hours, shows very little early hepatic sequestration, and is cleared from the blood within 24 hours. The mean diameter of the oil phase is less than 150 nm which minimizes sequestration by the reticuloendothelial system. The surface of the oil phase is modified with a polyethyl glycol-modified phospholipid to prevent normal interactions with the receptor sites of the hepatocytes.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions of and methods for obtaining and using a polypeptide other than BCL-2 that affects programmed vertebrate cell death. The invention relates as well to polynucleotides encoding those polypeptides, recombinant vectors carrying those sequences, the recombinant host cells including either the sequences or vectors, and recombinant polypeptides. The invention further provides methods for using the isolated, recombinant polypeptides in assays designed to select and improve substances capable of altering programmed cell death for use in diagnostic, drug design and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Less toxic agents for reversal of heparin or low molecular weight heparin anticoagulation which are synthetic protamine-like polycationic peptides having a total cationic charge which is less than that of n-protamine. In preferred embodiments, arginine residues of n-protamine are replaced with lysine residues for ease of manufacture. Selective positively charged arginine residues have been replaced with an uncharged amino acid residue or its analog, such as glycine or glutamine, in order to reduce the total cationic charge on the polycationic peptide to the range of about ?+14! to ?+18!, preferably ?+16! to ?+18!. In specific embodiments, there are sequences of 29 and 32 amino acid residues wherein 4 to 5 clusters of 2 to 4 positively charged amino acids are separated by 2 to 6 neutral amino acids. The C-terminus and the N-terminus can be modified to mitigate against in vivo degradation by carboxypeptidases and aminopeptidases. Another modification, specifically use of .alpha.

Abstract: A heat and shelf-stable oil-in-water emulsion useful as a tissue or cell-selective delivery vehicle. Radioactive or stable, synthetic or semi-synthetic polyhalogenated triglycerides, such as 2-oleoylglycerol-1,3-bis?7-(3-amino-2,4,6-triiodophenyl)heptanoate! or 2-oleoylglycerol-1,3-bis?.omega.-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl)heptanoate! or phenyl acetate, can be incorporated into the lipophilic core of a lipoprotein-like emulsion particle. The lipophilic core is surrounded by a phospholipid membrane comprising cholesterol and apolipoproteins. For hepatocyte-selective delivery, the emulsion is chylomicron remnant-like by being in a size range of 50 to 200 nm as measured by number weighting analysis with a narrow size distribution (<2% greater than 300 nm) and having a composition simulating naturally-occurring chylomicron remnants. Use of cholesterol in the emulsion formula facilitates association of apolipoproteins, especially Apo E which are recognized by liver cells and necessary for binding and uptake.

Abstract: Novel radioiodinated analogues of naturally-occurring phospholipid ethers are tumor-specific and have a triglycerol backbone structure which, in certain embodiments, is substituted at the 3-position with an alkyl phosphocholine and include a monoiodinated benzoyl side chain substituted at the 2-position in accordance with the general formula: ##STR1## where n=1-15 ##STR2## M=0-15; Z=.sup.123 I, .sup.125 I, and .sup.131 I; Y=NH.sub.2, NR.sub.2, and NR.sub.3, and R=alkyl, aralkyl.

Abstract: Bioprosthetic materials, either natural or synthetic, are treated with trivalent iron cations, or salts, to prevent in vivo calcification. Such bioprosthetic materials include porcine aortic valve leaflets, bovine pericardium, aortic homografts, biocompatible elastomers, and the like which are intended for invasive, or in-dwelling use in a human or animal body. Simple incubation of the natural bioprosthetic materials in an iron ion-containing solution, such as aqueous FeCl.sub.3, particularly with the addition of an anticalcification agent, such as a diphosphonate, prior to implantation has been found to inhibit calcification of the biomaterial over a prolonged period, and to do so without adverse side effects. Incorporation of an iron-containing compound, with or without an additional anticalcification agent, into the formulation for polymers, such as polyurethane, has also been found to inhibit calcification with no adverse side effects.

Abstract: Naturally-derived bioprosthetic materials are treated with epoxide crosslinking agents. In some embodiments, the tissue is crosslinked with low molecular weight epoxides in aqueous solutions at high pH levels. In other embodiments, the tissue is crosslinked at physiologic pH levels with epoxide crosslinking agents catalyzed with tertiary or quaternary amines, such as Tris or imidazole. In an advantageous embodiment, bioprosthetic tissue is crosslinked and derivatized with an anticalcification agent, such as a polyphosphonate anticalcification agent, using a polyphosphonate:polyepoxide monoadduct.

Abstract: Screen printing technology is employed in the batch fabrication of the contacts and polymeric membranes of solid-state ion-selective sensors. The process achieves high yield with very reproducible results. Moreover, membrane thickness can easily be predetermined, as it is directly related to the thickness of the screen or stencil. The process of the present invention is compatible with many integrated circuit manufacturing technologies, including CMOS fabrication. Advantageous polymeric membrane paste compositions include a polyurethane/hydroxylated poly(vinyl chloride) compound and a silicone-based compound in appropriate solvent systems to provide screen-printable pastes of the appropriate viscosity and thixotropy.

Abstract: Digital data is stored using optical means exclusively in a storage media which is characterized with a soft-phonon mode. Electric dipole domains in the storage medium are caused to reverse in polarity in response to the impinging thereon of an optical pulse. The optical pulse, which may be formed of a plurality of colliding optical pulses, must have sufficient energy to cause the reversal of the polarization of the electric dipole domain, or the reorientation thereof, without providing sufficient energy whereby the dipole reverts to its initial condition. Any material which exhibits structural phase transitions associated with soft-phonons which can couple directly or by non-linear processes to incident irradiation are candidates for optical domain-switching.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom vehicle employs a compliant linkage to accommodate the need for a variation in the distance between drive wheels or drive systems which are independently steerable and drivable. The subject vehicle is provided with rotary encodes to provide signals representative of the orientation of the steering pivot associated with each such drive wheel or system, and a linear encoder which issues a signal representative of the fluctuations in the distance between the drive elements. The wheels of the vehicle are steered and driven in response to the linear encoder signal, there being provided a controller system for minimizing the fluctuations in the distance. The controller system is a software implementation of a plurality of controllers, operating at the chassis level and at the vehicle level. A trajectory interpolator receives x-displacement, y-displacement, and .theta.

Abstract: An anion exchange membrane for ionic macromolecules, specifically heparin, which is formed of a polymeric matrix material and an anion exchange material suitable for heparin detection can be employed in an electrochemical sensor arrangement to directly measure the concentration of heparin ions in blood or blood fluid. Potentiometric response to heparin has been observed with membranes comprising 30-70 wt. % polymeric matrix material, such as polyvinyl chloride, 0.1-12 wt. % quaternary ammonium salt, such as tridodecyl methyl ammonium chloride, and 30-70 wt. % of a plasticizer, such as dioctyl sebacate. Moreover, a solid state sensor employs tridodecyl methyl ammonium chloride (TDMAC) dissolved in a polymeric compound, such as silicone rubber, to form a membrane which is responsive to heparin concentration.

Abstract: Novel difucntionalized cyclobutabenzene monomers of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Z can be hydrogens or a cyclobutane ring; and X and Y are carboxyl, amino, alcohol, isocyanate, acid halide, or bis-acyl fluoride groups. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cyclobutabenzene derivative is 1,2-dihydrocyclobutabenzene-3,6-carboxylic acid. The difunctionalized cyclobutabenzene monomer can form part of a polymer backbone chain, but has an additional functionality, the butane ring, which can be easily opened to produce strong, covalent bond crosslinking between polymer chains. The crosslinking can be induced simply by heating the polymer to a temperature in excess of 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A polyimide matrix is employed to form a substance-sensitive membrane which is particularly suited for installation on a solid state sensor. Polyimide, dissolved in a solvent, such as N,N-dimethylformamide, or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (polyimide encapsulant), is combined with an ionophore, plasticizer, and a lipophilic additive. The ionophore may be a calcium ionophore, an ammonium ionophore, or any other ionophore. The membrane may also incorporate, or may be covered by, a bioactive agent, such as an enzyme, an immunochemical, bacteria, antibody, virus, or antigen. The plasticizer is one or both of dimethyl phthalate and diethylene glycol dibenzoate. The lipophilic additive may be potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate. The resulting substance-sensitive membrane has electrochemical properties which compare favorably to those of conventional PVC membranes, and exhibit significantly greater adhesion to glasses and semiconductor substrate materials.

Abstract: A balancer arrangement for a rotating machine element employs a peristaltic pump which pumps a balancing fluid to respective balancing chambers via flexible tubing. In an arrangement which employs four balancing chambers, two peristaltic pumps may be employed to control the flow of balancing fluid between respective pairs of the chambers. The radial positioning of the peristaltic pumps is not fixed, but may be selected in response to specific characteristics of the application. In addition, the pump motors may be configured to drive the peristaltic pump rollers by operation of the rotation of the motor shaft, or the motor housing. The tubing along which the balancing fluid is conducted need not have a circular cross-section, and may be installed in a groove or cavity of the balancing arrangement so as to secure against centrifugal forces and prevent ballooning effects.

Abstract: Novel radioiodinated analogues of naturally-occurring phospholipid ethers are tumor-specific and have a triglycerol backbone structure which, in certain embodiments, is substituted at the 3-position with an alkyl phosphocholine and include a monoiodinated benzoyl side chain substituted at the 2-position in accordance with the general formula: ##STR1## where n= 1-15 ##STR2## m= 0-15; Z=.sup.123 I, .sup.125 I, and .sup.131 I; Y=NH.sub.2, NR.sub.2, and NR.sub.3, and R=alkyl, aralkyl.

Abstract: An improved electric field dependent fluid and method of preparing the same for use at temperatures in excess of 100.degree. C. (typically 120.degree. C.) without releasing water comprising: a nonconductive liquid phase; and a dispersed particulate crystalline zeolite phase (e.g., M.sub.(x/n) [AlO.sub.2).sub.x (SiO.sub.2).sub.y ] wH.sub.2 O where M is a metal cation or mixture of metal cations of average valence charge n, x and y are integers and the ratio of y to x is from about 1 to about 5, and w is a variable). Such field dependent fluids are particularly useful in automotive and/or other high temperatures applications.

Abstract: This invention provides a means of measuring tissue pressure in muscle compartments and other regions in humans and other animals. An appropriate length, for example, 6 to 12 inches of thin plastic tubing, typically less than 3 mm outside diameters, is prepared as a working part of the tissue pressure transducer. A portion of the plastic tubing including the thin wall section such as a bubble is inserted into the muscle tissue for which pressure measurement is desired to be made. A fluid is circulated through the tubing at a constant flow rate. When the internal pressure of the tubing is greater than the external pressure, the bubble expands and there is no increase in the flow resistance of the system. When the pressure on the outside exceeds the normal system operating pressure, the thin wall section or bubble contacts, resistance to flow increases, and the system pressure increases. This increase in system pressure is directly proportional to tissue pressure.

Abstract: Processes and new genetic materials are provided for cloning specific DNA fragments by using a unique conjugative transposon designated Tn916. The transposon is used to first target specific genes by insertional inactivation. A restriction fragment containing the inserted transposon is then inserted into a plasmid vector and transformed into Escherichia coli or other suitable host by selection for the transposon encoded tetracycline (Tc) resistance. The transformants so produced are then grown in the absence of tetracycline conditions under which Tn916 excises from the chimeric plasmid thus restoring the integrity of the DNA into which the transposon was originally inserted. This process provides a new and useful way of producing new life forms that are useful for making desired products having established utility.