Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.

Abstract: Methods for treating or preventing gastritis or gastric injury are disclosed, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an amylin or an amylin agonist. Methods are also disclosed for the treatment of pain, fever, inflammation, arthritis, hypercoagulability, or other conditions for which a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug would be indicated, comprising administering an amylin or amylin agonist in conjunction with administering a therapeutically effective amount of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising an amylin or amylin agonist and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of a cationic agrochemically active compound with an anionic polymer having negatively charged functional groups, with formation of electrostatic interactions for the controlled release of this active compound. This combination permits the suppression of antagonistic interactions of various active compounds with one another, and also better crop selectivity.

Abstract: A method of modifying the growth of plant roots is provided in which the roots are grown in proximity to a membrane from which water is released during the growth of the roots, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane. The method may also be used to collect materials exuded from plant roots by growing the plant roots in a growing medium that is surrounded by a membrane such that moisture is released into the growing medium from the membrane whilst materials exuded from the plant roots are retained within the growing medium by the membrane, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane.

Abstract: A flexible entry boot assembly provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot assembly comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region. A securing plate, disposed within the containment region, is releasably mounted to the seal member. A hollow support sleeve, integral with the seal member, extends axially into the containment region. The support sleeve has an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, and further has a degree of flexibility sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment. The flexible boot assembly further comprises a mechanism for releasably attaching the hollow support sleeve to the conduit. A flexible, corrosion resistant sealing ring member is disposed outside the containment region.

Abstract: A double booted flexible entry boot provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. An inner seal member is disposed within the containment region, the inner seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral first hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially into the containment region. A mechanism is provided for rigidifying the seal portion of the inner seal member. A mechanism releasably attaches the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit. An outer seal member is disposed outside of the containment region, the outer seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral second hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially away from the containment region. A mechanism is provided for rigidifying the seal portion of the outer seal member.

Abstract: Methods for treating conditions associated with elevated, inappropriate or undesired post-prandial blood glucose levels are disclosed which comprise administration of an effective amount of an amylin agonist alone or in conjunction with other anti-gastric emptying agents. Methods for reducing gastric motility and delaying gastric emptying for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes are also described.

Abstract: A double booted flexible entry boot provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. An inner seal member is disposed within the containment region, and a first securing plate is disposed within the containment region and mounted to the inner seal member. A first flexibly rigid, hollow support sleeve extends outwardly from the inner seal member, and a mechanism releasably attaches the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit. An outer seal member is disposed outside of the containment region, and a second securing plate is disposed outside of the containment region and mounted to the outer seal member.

Abstract: A flexible entry boot assembly provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot assembly comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region. A securing plate, disposed within the containment region, is releasably mounted to the seal member. A hollow support sleeve, integral with the seal member, extends axially into the containment region. The support sleeve has an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, and further has a degree of flexibility sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment. The flexible boot assembly further comprises a mechanism for releasably attaching the hollow support sleeve to the conduit. A flexible, corrosion resistant sealing ring member is disposed outside the containment region.

Abstract: Novel methods for use in identifying or assaying compounds which can simulate the ability of amylin to cause hyperlactemia and hyperglycemia in in vivo biological models, or for use in evaluating the potency of compounds known or suspected to simulate these actions of amylin, which involve introducing test samples into in vivo test systems and determining the presence or amount of a rise in lactate, or determining the presence or amount of a rise in lactate and a rise in glucose, following test sample administration.

Abstract: A tank sump has a one-piece body comprising a hollow base member for collecting fluids leaking from a piping system, the base member having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a hollow riser section having an upper portion and a lower portion, the riser lower portion extending upwardly from the base member upper portion, the riser section having sidewalls with alternately adjacent vertically extending wall portions and outwardly extending, U-shaped grip portions. An integrally formed cover is defined on top of the riser section upper portion. The cover may be cut off from the riser section of the body. A gasket may extend between the cover outer periphery and the outwardly extending grip portion of the riser section, and a mechanism removably secures the cover to the outwardly extending grip portion with the gasket therebetween, in a substantially water resistant sealing manner. The cover may alternately be cut away from the body and discarded.

Abstract: A flexible entry boot assembly provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot assembly comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region. The seal member has a substantially planar seal portion and an integral hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially into the containment region. The support sleeve has an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment. The flexible entry boot assembly further comprises a mechanism for rigidifying the seal portion of the seal member. A mechanism is provided for releasably attaching the hollow support sleeve to the conduit.

Abstract: A system for providing loans to owners of life insurance policies who are terminally ill or aged. The system comprises a statistical module, medical module and a financial module which together operate on a preselected group of inputs to yield a line of credit offered to the policyholder. The system provides a line of credit line of credit to those insured under an insurance policy without transfer of ownership of the policy. The system determines eligibility and the line of credit for the insured. The system has an entering device for entering an insured's application data, including the insured's date of birth and the medical diagnosis of the insured, and for generating an output therefrom.

Abstract: A system for housing secondarily contained flexible piping comprises a flexible conduit resistant to mechanical stresses, the conduit adapted to surround the secondarily contained flexible piping. The conduit comprises a metallic core and a thermoplastic jacket. The secondarily contained flexible piping comprises an inner supply pipe, wherein the inner pipe is comprised of a first, inner layer fabricated from nylon, a second, intermediate layer comprising a nylon reinforced wrap, and a third, outer layer comprising a polyethylene material, the nylon inner material, the nylon wrap and the polyethylene outer layer being extruded simultaneously to form the inner pipe.

Abstract: A tank sump has a one-piece body comprising a hollow base member for collecting fluids leaking from a piping system, the base member having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a hollow riser section having an upper portion and a lower portion, the riser lower portion extending upwardly from the base member upper portion, the riser section having sidewalls with alternately adjacent vertically extending wall portions and outwardly extending, U-shaped grip portions. An integrally formed cover is defined on top of the riser section upper portion. The cover may be cut off from the riser section of the body. A gasket may extend between the cover outer periphery and the outwardly extending grip portion of the riser section, and a mechanism removably secures the cover to the outwardly extending grip portion with the gasket therebetween, in a substantially water resistant sealing manner. The cover may alternately be cut away from the body and discarded.

Abstract: Method and compositions for treating a mammal by administering to that mammal an insulin (having the in vitro activity of stimulating glucose incorporation into glycogen in rat soleus muscle) and an amylin (having the in vitro activity of suppressing glucose incorporation into glycogen in rat soleus muscle) using specific molar ratios of an insulin to an amylin.

Abstract: An integrally formed flexible entry boot provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region and a screw securing plate mounted to the seal member. A cylindrical hollow support sleeve has a degree of flexibility sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles less than or equal to an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment, the hollow sleeve having a first open portion integrally attached to the seal member, the first open portion having a central throughbore in fluid communication with the cylindrical hollow support sleeve, the hollow sleeve having a second open portion opposed to, and integrally attached to the first open portion, the first open portion adapted to flexibly receive the conduit, and the second open portion adapted to releasably hold the conduit in place.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing food intake, suppressing appetite and controlling body weight are provided. Such compositions may include an amylin agonist and a CCK agonist or a hybrid peptide.

Abstract: A sand trap practice device includes a one piece, integral trough including a substantially rectangular base and a pair of side rails extending upwardly from the base and extending along opposed longitudinal sides of the base. A flexible tee is attached to the base along the center line of the base extending upwardly from the base substantially the same as the height as the side rails. Visual indicia is positioned on top surfaces of the side rails behind the tee indicative of proper club positioning. Additionally, sand is supported on the base between the rails extending to the top surface of the tee and the side rails. In operation, a golf ball is placed on the flexible tee, a golfer addresses the ball and swings away making sure the club does not hit the ball but instead enters the sand indicated by the visual indicia. The base will not permit the club to dig into the sand to excessive amounts such that the ball will come out of the bunker each time.

Abstract: The secondarily contained piping system having two spaced access chambers that are interconnected by a secondary containment pipe to provide a sealed arrangement for a flexible fluid supply pipe, the ends of which are disposed within the access chambers. The outer flexible pipe is sized to permit the insertion and/or removal of the primary flexible pipe during installation and testing of the same and after backfilling of the trench within which the pipe is disposed, the outer flexible tubing partially collapses to engage and prevent relative movement between the two pipes while providing a flow path thereinbetween.