Abstract: Decorin, a small collagen-binding dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, is widely distributed as a component of extracellular matrices. Using a solid phase binding assay, the inventors demonstrated that decorin bound C1q at physiologic pH and ionic strength. The interaction did not require divalent cations and was time and temperature dependent reaching equilibrium in 4 hours at 37.degree. C. Binding was specific and saturable with an apparent dissociation constant of 7.6.times.10.sup.-9 M. Decorin was shown to bind pepsin-derived fragments containing the collagenous domain of C1q and collagenase-derived fragments containing the globular domain of C1q. Since these fragments share a short sequence of amino acids, this finding suggests that decorin binds to a region of C1q located near the junction of the two domains.

Abstract: The deposition of high quality diamond films at high linear growth rates and substrate temperatures for microwave-plasma chemical vapor deposition is disclosed. The linear growth rate achieved for this process is generally greater than 50 .mu.m/hr for high quality films, as compared to rates of less than 5 .mu.m/hr generally reported for MPCVD processes.

Abstract: A novel retroviral nucleotide sequence comprising a constitutive transport enhancer which functions to transport mRNA transcripts from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell, wherein the mRNA transcript is either differentially spliced, alternatively spliced, incompletely spliced, or unspliced. Also disclosed is a recombinant attenuated HIV containing only structural proteins gag, pol, and env, wherein the expression of the structural proteins is rev-independent and facilitated by the constitutive transport enhancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of killing replicating or non-replicating, transfected or transduced mammalian cells and bystander cells, comprising the following steps: (a) transfecting or transducing mammalian cells with a nucleic acid encoding a non-human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP); and (b) contacting the transfected or transduced cells with an amount of a substrate for the purine nucleoside phosphorylase sufficient to produce a toxic purine base-analog thereby killing the transfected or transduced cells and bystander cells. In the present method of killing cells, the non-human purine nucleoside phosphorylase can be an E. coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase. The method of the invention described above can utilize a substrate that is a purine nucleoside analog. For instance, in the method provided in the Examples, the substrate is 9-(.beta.-D-2-deoxyerythropentofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (MeP-dR).

Abstract: An infant supporting and positioning system for retaining and supporting an infant in a selected position. The supporting and positioning system includes a generally horizontally oriented base which has a primary surface in which is formed a plurality of bores. The system includes a plurality of infant positioning modules each of which have a body portion and at least one post projecting from the body portion. The posts are sized and dimensioned for cooperative engagement with a corresponding one of the plurality of the bores in the base. The posts interfit with the bores with sufficient interference to maintain the modules in the selected position relative to the base. The interference between the posts and bores allow for removal of a post from a bore to change the position of the corresponding module as necessary to configure the system to achieve desired infant support and positioning.

Abstract: Mammalian pituitary discovered anti-proliferation factor that inhibits in vitro cellular proliferation of lymphoid, neuroendocrine and neural cells but not of fibroblast or endothelial cells. The present invention is directed to this antiproliferation factor which has been named suppressin and is a protein of Mr 63,000, sensitive to reduction and has a pI of 8.1. Suppressin is provided as a cell free preparation or in homogeneous form. The invention provides methods to purify suppressin, antibodies against suppressin and their use recombinant DNA molecules encoding suppressin, and pharmaceutical compositions for inducing regression or inhibiting growth of tumor or cancel cells and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Calixarene derivatives, their synthesis and use as chloride channel blockers are described. Preferred calixarene derivatives are of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an acidic group or salt thereof, such as SO.sub.3 X or R.sup.1 SO.sub.3 X where X is H or Na, and R.sup.1 is ##STR2## where m=1-2, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 the same or different is each H or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, or a nitrogen-containing group of the formula ##STR3## or A, wherein R.sup.5 is a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, R.sup.6 is a C.sub.1-4 alkyl and A is ##STR4## where R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, the same or different each is H or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10, the same or different, each is H or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl; R' is H or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and n is an integer of 4-8, preferably 4, 6 or 8.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein A, B, and C are hydrogen, halogen, or azido; D is hydrogen, halogen, azido, or OH; A and B or C and D can be replaced with a double bond; R is an aldohexose, aldohexosamine, or N-acetyl aldohexosamine, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or alkyl groups of from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 ; W is oxygen or sulfur; X is oxygen, sulfur, or CH.sub.2 ; Y is a purine or pyrimidine base, and Z is carbon, sulfur, or oxygen. Y can be any purine or pyrimidine base, natural or synthetic, which combines with a sugar to form a biologically active nucleoside. In combination with an appropriate pharmaceutical carrier, the compositions have enhanced activity or increased intracellular absorbment over the parent nucleoside as a function of the 5'-O-diphosphosugar.

Abstract: A mechanochemical engine cpaable of desalinating sea water or brackish water by the conversion of mechanical work to chemical work, which comprises: a) a housing containing an elastomeric material capable of being stretched, to thereby allow salt-diminished water to move into the elastomeric material, while substantially repelling solvated salt ions from entry thereto, b) means for stretching and relaxing said elastomeric material in said housing, in connection with said elastomeric material; and c) means for uptake of said sea water or brackish water into said housing, means for draining concentrated salt water from said housing, and means for draining desalinated water from said housing.

Abstract: A bioelastomer containing repeating units comprising elastomeric tetrapeptide or pentapeptide units or a mixture thereof, wherein said repeating units comprise amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino acid residues and glycine residues, wherein said repeating units exist in a .beta.-turn which comprises a polypentapeptide unit of the formula:--.alpha.P.rho..OMEGA.G--.sub.nwherein P is a peptide-forming residue of L-proline; G is a peptide-forming residue of glycine; .alpha. is a peptide-forming residue of L-valine or an ionizable peptide-forming residue selected from the group consisting of residues of L-Glu, L-Asp, L-His, L-Lys and L-Tyr; .rho. is a peptide-forming residue of glycine or a peptide-forming residue of D-Glu, D-Asp, D-His, D-Lys and D-Tyr; and .OMEGA.