Abstract: Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitory Protein is isolated and substantially purified. It has the ability to inhibit: (a) the binding of TNF to its receptors, and (b) the cytotoxic effect of TNF. TNF Inhibitory Protein and salts, functional derivatives and active fractions thereof can be used to antagonize the deleterious effects of TNF by eliminating TNF from the body, and to reduce the cytotoxic activity of TNF by binding to TNF and thereby to inhibit the binding of TNF to its receptors.

Abstract: A method and a measuring device for determining the spatial distribution of a magnetic field vector. At least a pair of sensor elements is provided. Each sensor element measures a component of the magnetic field vector. The sensor elements are aligned in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship along an axis parallel to the measured components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to strains of E coli adapted to produce bovine growth hormone, being the result of extraction of RNA from bovine pituitaries, transcription of DNA on such RNA templates, splicing of DNA into plasmids, insertion of spliced plasmid into microorganisms, and further subjecting the microorganisms to selection and isolating the colonies producing the desired fused or modified growth hormone and to modified bovine growth hormone obtained by the cultivation of such modified E. coli strains and recovery of the desired product.

Abstract: The present invention describes the isolation and nucleic acid sequence of genes associated with cyptokine induced cell death. As long as these genes function normally, cytokines induce cell death; once the expression of these genes is inhibited, cytokine induced cell death is inhibited One aspect of the invention comprises expressing or the use of expression vectors to promote cell death in abnormal, pathological, cell growth such as cancer and psoriasis and another aspect of the invention is the protection of cells from programmed cell death in abnormal conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The invention can also be used as a screening device for predisportion to cancer or other uncontrolled cell growth diseases.

Abstract: A central solar receiver comprising a tubular housing with a central axis, a radiation admitting aperture and an absorber chamber having an outer wall, two oppositely located ends, an inner-wall-forming substantially tubular transparent window co-axial with the tubular housing. The solar receiver further comprises injection means near a first of the oppositely located ends and at least one egress opening means near a second of the oppositely located ends. The injection means are capable of injecting into the absorber chamber a multicomponent fluid mixture comprising at least one radiation absorbing component and are so designed that the fluid mixture is injected into the absorber chamber adjacent and essentially tangentially to the outer wall, whereby contact between the mixture and the window is reduced. The egress opening enables the egress of the fluid mixture from the absorber chamber.

Abstract: A transparent windows (4) for a solar radiation receiver assembly and a solar receiver assembly using the same, which assembly comprising a housing (2) having an aperture (3) and holding a volumetric solar absorber (5), the transparent window (4) mounted in the aperture (3) for the admission of incident concentrated solar radiation, shielding the volumetric solar absorber so as to form a sealed absorber chamber capable of holding a fluid medium, and means for the ingress and egress of the fluid medium. The transparent window (4) consists of a plurality of discrete transparent window segments (11,12) set in a common matrix (10) and is capable of withstanding high temperature.

Abstract: Control of a heliostat field (1) in a solar energy plant is provided with a system (6) which controls the alignment of heliostat mirrors (2) in a controlled area of the heliostat field (1) with respect to a selected zone in a target plane (P). The control system (6) comprises a detection device (7) removed from the target plane (P) in the direction of propagation of radiation (R') directed by the heliostat mirrors towards the target plane (P). The detection device (7) has a detection surface (8) facing the radiation (R').

Abstract: The invention relates to analogs of thymic humoral factor .gamma.2 (THF-.gamma.2) having at least 4 amino acid residues and corresponding to the sequence of THF-.gamma.2 of the formula I:Leu-Glu-Asp-Gly-Pro-Lys-Phe-Leu Ibut differing therefrom by addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, or by cyclization, or by linkage of two or more sequences (I) or modified sequences (I) either directly or through a peptidic or non-peptidic chain.The THF-.gamma.2 analogs of the invention and the functional derivatives and salts thereof are for use as immunomodulatory in pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A method for screening or detection of a non-enzyme catalytic polypeptide or protein for the conversion of a substrate S to a product P is provided, in which a preparation containing the potential catalyst is contacted with the substrate S immobilized to a support and the immobilized product P obtained is detected, preferably by immunoassay. The method is preferably used for the screening of hybridoma supernatants for catalytic monoclonal antibodies that catalyze acyl transfer reactions, e.g., hydrolysis or aminolysis, condensation reactions and resolution of enantiomers.

Abstract: The invention concerns heterogeneous ion exchange membranes used in electrodialysis which have anti-polarization and anti-fouling properties.The heterogeneous membranes of the invention comprise, in addition to ion-exchange particles embedded in the matrix, a layer of at least one hydrophilic cross-linked polymer bearing fixed electric charges. Alternatively, the heterogeneous membranes of the invention have a matrix which is itself made of at least one hydrophilic cross-linked polymer.

Abstract: The use of interleukin-6 and/or salts, functional derivatives, muteins or active fractions thereof, in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B-cell lymphomas, as well as such use together with the soluble interleukin-6 receptor, to pharmaceutical compositions and to a method of treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia or B-cell lymphomas.

Abstract: Water softening by a combination of electrodialysis and calcium carbonate precipitation. The hard feed water or alternatively recycled soft water is rendered alkaline and is then subjected to a treatment by which precipitation of calcium carbonate is induced. One way of bringing about such precipitation consists in passing the alkaline water across a cake of calcium carbonate crystals having a size not exceeding 100 microns, deposited on a filter and being in an at least fifty fold excess over the amount of calcium carbonate to be precipitated.

Abstract: The invention relates to packing material for use in the cultivation of anchorage-dependent cells, which require a solid surface for proliferation. The packing material of the invention is provided in the form of units of curved sheet material, which individual units generally have a thickness of about 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm, the other dimensions being of the order of one to a few millimeter maximum dimensions. Various shapes can be used, such as twisted rectangles, segments of cylinders, convulated ribbons, twisted shapes, ring shape and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to antiviral compositions of matter containing as active ingredient hypericin or pseudohypericin. The novel compositions are of special use in the treatment of, and alleviation of symptons of various diseases caused by viruses such as vesicular stomatitis, influenza, herpes simplex, HSV-1 and HSV-2. The mode of activity seems to be by inhibition of RNA synthesis and interfering with virus replication. The pharmaceutical compositions can be applied by a variety of routes. Topical applications have proved to be effective against a variety of viral afflictions.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical formulations comprising aromatic polycyclic dione compounds useful for treating mammals suffering from diseases caused by retroviruses are disclosed herein. A method for treating mammals suffering from retrovirus infections is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to antiviral compositions of matter containing as active ingredient hypericin or pseudohypericin. The novel compositions are of special use in the treatment of, and alleviation of symptoms of various diseases caused by viruses such as vesicular stomatitis, influenza, herpes simplex, HSV-1 and HSV-2. The mode of activity seems to be by inhibition of RNA synthesis and interfering with virus replication. The pharmaceutical compositions can be applied by a variety of routes. Topical applications have proved to be effective against a variety of viral afflictions.

Abstract: There are provided magnetic and non-magnetic agarose and agar polyaldehyde beads with diameters ranging from 40 microns up to 1 cm, and processes for the synthesis of such beads. The polyaldehyde compounds e.g. polyacrolein, polymethacrolein or polyglutaraldehyde, were used as microspheres or as powders. The agarose-polyaldehyde beads are capable of covalently binding in a single step, through their aldehyde groups, compounds containing primary amino groups or thiol groups, such as proteins, antibodies, enzymes and drugs. The beads are useful for various biological applications e.g. affinity chromatography, hemoperfusion, ion exchange resins, cell labeling, diagnostic purposes and cell separation.

Abstract: A virus having a lipid-containing capsid, such as AIDS virus, is inactivated by contacting the virus with an inactivating amount of phosphatidyl choline. Such a virus can be inactivated in fluids such as virus-contaminated body fluids or derivatives, e.g., blood or blood derivatives. The phosphatidyl choline can be present in an Active Lipid (AL) composition further comprising neutral lipids and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Phosphatidyl choline, and an AL composition containing same, is useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in mammals.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the selective anomeric deacetylation of sugar derivatives, which may be substituted by substituents such as acetoxy, chloracetoxy, alkoxy, azido, etc., by means of tin compounds R.sub.3 SnOR' or R.sub.2 SnO where R is lower alkyl resulting either directly in the desired anomeric compound or in an intermediate which is converted to the desired compound by silica or by acid hydrolysis.

Abstract: Suspension polymerization of acrolein type compounds in the presence of appropriate surfactants results in the formation of microspheres in size ranging from 0.03 to 80 microns. Fluorescent and magnetic microspheres are obtained by carrying out the same polymerization in the presence of appropriate fluorochromic or ferrofluidic compounds, respectively. Hybrido-polyacrolein microspheres are obtained by grafting one type of such microspheres on another type. Immunomicrospheres were formed by binding covalently at physiological pH appropriate proteins to the microspheres. The immunomicrospheres can be used for various biological applications, such as specific markers for labeling cell surface receptors, for cell separation, for diagnostic purposes, etc.