Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure concern systems, methods, and compositions for both in vitro and in vivo models of metastases, such as bone metastases. In specific embodiments, there is a system comprising a source of bone cells, such as osteoblasts, and a source of cancer cells, wherein the bone cells and cancer cells are configured in a chamber or on a chick chorioallantoic membrane such that interaction between the cells is determined. In specific embodiments, the bone cells are comprised in an organoid comprising both mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts (although a naturally derived bone scaffold may be employed), and the cancer cells are comprised in an organoid comprising mesenchymal stem cells and the cancer cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting viral infection of a mammalian cell, said method comprising reducing or inhibiting ps20 polypeptide expressed by said cell. Suitably ps20 is inhibited by contacting said cell with an antibody capable of binding to ps20 polypeptide. Suitably said antibody is ps20 neutralising antibody. The invention also provides antibody capable of binding ps20 polypeptide, siRNA targeted to a transcript encoding ps20 polypeptide, or antisense ps20 polynucleotide for use as a medicament for viral infection. The invention also provides a method of identifying an agent for inhibiting a viral infection, comprising determining level of ps20 expression in first and second samples, the first contacted with test agent; and comparing the level of ps20 expression in said first and second samples; wherein lower level of ps20 expression in said first sample relative to said second sample identifies test agent as an agent for inhibiting a viral infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of aiding the diagnosis of a human immunodeficiency virus infection in a subject, said method comprising (i) providing a sample from the subject (ii) determining the level of ps20 in said sample (iii) comparing the level of ps20 of (ii) with the level of ps20 in an uninfected reference sample, wherein a higher level of ps20 in the sample from the subject compared to the uninfected reference sample indicates an increased likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus infection in said subject. The invention also relates to methods for assessing susceptibility of a subject to human immunodeficiency virus infection. Most suitably the ps20 level is determined via binding by an anti-ps20 antibody such as the 107 antibody. The invention also relates to kits for use in said methods.

Abstract: Urogenital sinus derived growth inhibitory factor is a protein having growth-inhibitory and antiprotease properties. The present invention relates to amino acid and nucleotide sequences for urogenital sinus derived growth inhibitory factor.

Abstract: Urogenital sinus derived growth inhibitory factor is a protein having growth-inhibitory and antiprotease properties. The present invention relates to amino acid and nucleotide sequences for urogenital sinus derived growth inhibitory factor.

Abstract: A system selectively completes a horn circuit through which electrical power is provided to a horn in an automobile. A relay is connected to a power supply and completes the horn circuit when a current signal passing through the relay has at least a threshold magnitude. A relay driver is selectively activated by processing circuitry. When it is activated, the relay driver is in a conductive state, and when it is not activated, the relay driver is in a high impendance state. When the relay driver is in the conductive state, it places the relay in series with a low potential conductor thereby establishing the current signal at at least the threshold magnitude. The processing circuitry is electrically connected to a manually actuated sensor, which may be a flexible potentiometer. The processing circuitry activates the relay driver when the manually actuated sensor is actuated.

Abstract: A control console for exercise machines such as treadmills having a microprocessor to generate signals to control the exercise. The console is operable to control an exercise program comprising a series of time segments for which the difficulty levels are individually specified, and to provide a display of the program time segments. The console is further operable to display and store user-designed programs of the type described. Optionally, the console is operable to control two difficulty parameters of an exercise machine. The console may also include preset programs selectable by a user. The preset programs may include a fitness test comprising a series of exercise time segments of increasing difficulty, in which a user's fitness level is based on the user's inability to continue exercising beyond a particular time segment.

Abstract: A process is provided for purifying Urogenital Sinus Derived Growth Inhibitory Factor (UGIF) from embryonic tissue which comprises chromatographing medium from cultures or culture-derived spheroids of embryonic tissue derived from the urogenital sinus by gel filtration chromatography. Further purification by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography is also demonstrated. The UGIF is obtained in 70-fold to 8000-fold purification over the conditioned medium. A UGIF composition of matter is also provided, as is a method for treating neoplasia with UGIF.

Abstract: A process is provided for purifying Urogenital Sinus Derived Growth Inhibitory Factor (UGIF) from embryonic tissue which comprises chromatographing medium from cultures of embryonic tissue derived from the urogenital sinus by gel filtration chromotography. Further purification by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromotography is also demonstrated. The UGIF is obtained in 70-fold to 8000-fold purification over the conditioned medium. A UGIF composition of matter is also provided.