Abstract: Our results thus identify two sets of necessary and sufficient criteria for observing long-wavelength emission from acridinium compounds:

Abstract: This application relates to long-wavelength acridinium compounds having electron-donating groups, which may either be: (a) Part of an extended conjugation system attached by appropriate functional groups to the acridinium nucleus, with coplanarity of the attached functional group and the acridone moiety during light emission (geometry requirement), said functional group consisting of at least one aromatic ring and one electron-donating atom or group with an extra pair of electrons which can readily delocalize into the extended &pgr; system to which the heteroatom is directly attached or built into, and establish stable extended resonance with the electron-withdrawing carbonyl moiety of the light emitting acridone.

Abstract: A new class of chemiluminescent acridinium or benzacridinium compounds is disclosed by virtue of forming an intramolecular energy transfer conjugate (ETC) between the acridinium or benzacridinium compound and a luminophore. A method of extending the emission wavelengths of acridinium or benzacridinium esters in order to further reduce or eliminate the emission spectral overlap between the parent polysubstituted aryl Acridinium Esters (DMAE) and Benzacridinium Esters (LEAE) is disclosed. The ETC's retain the unique desired properties of acridinium or benzacridinium compounds including complete light emission in very short period of time, monophasic emission spectrum, simplicity of triggering mechanism, ability of labeling the biological molecules of interest to form a tracer, and good stability. Additionally, the range of the emission spectrum of an acridinium or benzacridinium compound can now be shifted at will and at longer leap through the choice of a luminophore as the integral part of an ETC molecule.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel phospholipase A.sub.2 enzyme, polynucleotides encoding such enzyme and methods for screening unknown compounds for anti-inflammatory activity mediated by the arachidonic acid cascade.

Abstract: The present invention is a walking assist device which comprises a shaft having a hand grip at one end and having an end piece at the other. A retractable member is positioned within the end piece and has a point at one end. The retractable member may be positioned in a first position such that the point protrudes from the end piece. The retractable member has a second position in which the point is retracted within the end piece. In an alternate embodiment, a locking mechanism is connected between the shaft and the retractable member to provide an alternately locked position in either the retracted or protruding position of the point.

Abstract: A carton comprises opposite normally flat side panels, a normally flat transverse panel joined to the side panels along one edge of each of the side panels, an upper spout edge which is closed along a line cut across the transverse panel and angled downwardly in the side panels to first opposed flexure points in the side panels, a lower spout edge scored across the transverse panel, below the upper spout edge and angled upwardly in the side panels to the first flexure points, the lower spout edge intersecting each said edge of the side panels at said flexure points, and a score line extending from each of the first flexure points angularly downwardly to third flexure points at each said edge of the side panels below the second flexure points, the transverse panel thus providing, between the third flexure points and the lower spout edge, a trigger surface that can be pressed to swing inwardly of the carton about the third flexure points, forcing the lower spout edge and the second flexure points inwardly, and