Abstract: A process for the recombinant preparation of a calcitonin fragment and the use of the fragment in the preparation of calcitonin and related analogs is provided. The process includes recombinantly forming a fusion protein which includes the calcitonin fragment linked to a carbonic anhydrase. The recombinantly formed fusion protein is subsequently cleaved to produce a polypeptide which includes the calcitonin fragment. A method for producing a calcitonin carba analog which includes condensing a desaminononapeptide with the recombinantly formed calcitonin fragment is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase proteins; to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease and/or aminopeptidase activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: A sprayable, solvent-borne, primer composition for use as a first coat on light-sensitive, automotive plastic parts. The primer serves as a barrier to block ultraviolet light penetration to the underlying substrate and to prevent migration of substrate degradation and by-products up into the topcoat finishes. The primer is a solvent blend of a film-forming crosslinkable polymer resin, a crosslinker for the resin, a catalyst, carbon black pigments surface modified with a polymer dispersant and an organic pigment derivative co-dispersant, crosslinked polymer microgel particles, and U.V. absorbers and optional antioxidants. The surface modification on the carbon black pigments results in higher pigment loadings, which, in turn, imparts U.V. light protection at exceptionally low dry film builds.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing liquid crystal on silicon devices uses asymmetric placement of scribes on silicon and glass substrate layers to maximize the yield of processed active matrix silicon wafers. Asymmetrical scribing minimizes a dimension from a gasket seal between the substrates to a lower bond pad edge. An opposite glass overhang provides an interconnect redundancy for an ITO plate or a repair site for electrical contact to the ITO plate. Methods of device separation employing partial sawing are also employed.

Abstract: Described are non-phytopathogenic Pythium oligandrum isolates having activity to control phytopathogenic Pythium spp. or control damping-off of a plant, by applying an effective amount of the non-phytopathogenic isolates to a plant or its situs. The isolates can be applicable crops utilizing transplant systems. Also described are methods of using the isolates and genetic sequences identified from the isolates which can be useful in identification procedures.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly which attaches at the upper end opening of the snorkel. The adaptor assembly comprising an upper housing, snaps into the end of the snorkel tube. The snorkel tube follows the contour of the snorkeler's head. The upper housing has a flange to seal against the snorkel tube. The upper housing has a gentle bend at the end that is approximately 90 degrees. A float pivots on pins at a lower area of the upper housing. The float has a suitable lightweight material (low specific gravity) such as closed cell foam held in the lower area and a sealing valve at the upper area. A cover surrounds the upper housing/float housing assembly. The cover that surrounds the upper housing/float housing assembly serves to both protect the moving components and to be a splash guard to keep water from splashing into the opening. When the upper portion of the snorkel is submerged, the float tilts and causes the sealing valve to shut off the opening of the upper housing.

Abstract: In order to make it possible, in a surgical instrument comprising a tubular shaft with two tools pivotable towards one another at its distal end, these tools being pivotable relative to one another by means of a grip section at the proximal end of the tubular shaft via a transfer member arranged in the tubular shaft, to use the tools in a region arranged laterally of the instrument even with a simple construction it is suggested that the pivot axis of the tools extend concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft, that one tool be securely connected to the tubular shaft and the other securely connected to the transfer member, that the transfer member be a core mounted in the tubular shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and that the grip section comprise two grip elements pivotable towards one another, one of these elements being connected to the tubular shaft and the other to the transfer member.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a stable aqueous detergent composition is provided which comprises a homogeneous mixture of:a) pine oil;b) surfactant;c) at least one aliphatic alcohol containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms;d) at least one water soluble glycol mono C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl ether solvent having a solubility in water at 25.degree. C. in excess of 10 g/100 g. water; ande) water;the relative proportions of said alcohol and said glycol being in the weight ratio of about 1:2 to 2:1 and the combined amount of said alcohol and said glycol present in said composition being in the range of from about 1 to less than about 7 wt. %.In the more preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition further contains an insect repelling amount of at least one insect repellent selected from the group consisting of alkyl or alkaryl amides having from about 5 to 16 carbon atoms.The compositions of the invention provide clear, stable pine oil dispersions at pine oil concentrations of up to about 25 wt.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system uses video conferencing between a nurse station and a patient station to deliver medical care. The patient station is programmed to contain customized instructions concerning medications, procedures, or visitations that were placed there by the nurse. The customized audio, video and text information transforms the patient station into a highly personalized information source which can be reviewed by the patient when the unit is off line. Medical procedures and medications are also programmed into the patient station by the nurse to remind the patient of all scheduled events, including visitations. A record of medical compliance is stored in the patient station, which record is uploaded to the nurse station and compared to the original event schedule. In such manner, the patient station is an intelligent personal medical assistant, programmed by the nurse to provide customized reminders and information necessary for the efficient management of the patient's illness.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method a method of making a material for thermal cores and the material so made. In particular, the present invention disclose a method including the steps of applying thermally conductive particles over at least a portion of a fiber layer, providing another fiber layer upon the fiber layer, and repeating the above steps as desired. In another aspect of the present invention is disclosed a method of making a thermally conductive material including applying thermally conductive particles upon at least a portion of a fiber prepreg layer, providing another fiber prepreg layer upon the fiber layer, repeating the above steps as desired, and bonding the fiber prepreg layers, including the thermally conductive particles, together. The material in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of layers made of thermally conductive fibers bonded by a resin, and a plurality of interposed layers of resin having a high concentration of high conductivity particles therein.

Abstract: NCO-terminated prepolymers are made by reacting a polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) and a polyol having a functionality of from about 1.8 to about 4.0 and a molecular weight of from about 400 to about 2,000. The PMDI and polyol are reacted in amounts such that the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups to hydroxyl groups is from about 15:1 to about 160:1. These prepolymers are useful in the production of polyurethane foams, particularly laminated foams.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve holder includes a valve holder selectively attachable with a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle end, a flexible, medial segment, and a coupling member. The valve holder includes a valve coupling member and a handle receiving member. The valve coupling member may include a leaflet bias member, leaflet guards, or both. The handle receiving member includes locking tabs and receiving windows for receiving the handle coupling member. The handle receiving member also includes anti-rotation stays which serve to transfer rotational forces from the handle assembly to the valve holder. Also, alignment stays serve to properly align the handle receiving member with the coupling member so that the handle assembly and valve holder are properly coupled. The handle assembly is made from resterilizable materials so that the handle assembly may be reused. The valve holder is disposable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the disposal of solid particulate material in subterranean formations penetrated by a borehole are disclosed. The invention includes, but is not limited to, the disposal of oil field waste and therefore provides means and methods for the disposal of virtually any type of waste slurry stream. A slurry is formed at the surface of the earth by mixing the solid waste in particulate form with liquid and preferably a viscosifier thereby forming a slurry. A borehole is drilled into a selected injection formation and the slurry is pumped or flowed "on vacuum" from the surface through the borehole and into the injection formation. Some surface pretreating of the slurry may be required including sizing of the particulate solids, adding weighting material, removing excessive amounts of oil and grease and diluting to reduce the level of radioactivity.

Abstract: A performance monitor implementing a plurality of counters counts several events to provide an instruction fetch bandwidth analysis, a cycles per instruction (CPI) infinite and finite analysis, an operand fetch bandwidth analysis, an instruction parallelism analysis, and a trailing edge analysis. Such analyses are performed on the performance of a data processing system in order that the designer may develop an improved processor architecture.

Abstract: In a method for regulating the headlight range of a vehicle as a function of the load, the vehicle speed is also taken into account to increase or decrease the headlight range at high or low speed. With the vehicle at rest, the headlight range can be further reduced by contrast with a vehicle operating at a lower speed. The same applies to driving on a highway with a rough surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing consumer transactions and recording them on a consumer's magnetic stripe card is disclosed, having a magnetic stripe reader, a magnetic stripe encoder, a printer and an account processing station. In one arrangement, a plurality of such apparatus are operatively connected to a master accounting station through an automatic communication system. A method for processing consumer transactions and a method for producing a promotional game are also disclosed.