Abstract: A sling bar assembly allows variable positioning of a sling on the sling bar assembly. Some sling bar assemblies include opposing sling bar members that are movable with respect to one another in a lateral direction. Some opposing sling bar members are repositionable between a locked position, in which movement of the sling members with respect to one another is restricted, and an unlocked position. Some sling bar assemblies include multiple sling hooks positioned on a sling bar member. Some sling bar assemblies include a biasing member that permits movement of a sling hook with respect to the sling bar assembly in the lateral direction.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases or disorders in a subject (e.g., a mammal, such as a human) including, e.g., diseases or disorders caused by biological agents, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The compositions include a delivery vector (e.g., a viral vector, such as an Ad5 vector) encoding an interferon (e.g., IFN-?), and are provided to the subject by, e.g., intranasal or pulmonary administration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhanced protein production that comprises the step of expressing a recombinant gene encoding the protein in eukaryotic cells under conditions in which cleavage of the pro-domain of the protein is inhibited or eliminated. Generally the method of the present invention includes the step of inhibiting or altering the cleavage of a pro-domain of a recombinant protein of interest in order to increase the amount of recombinant protein secreted from a eukaryotic cell. Recombinant proteins that can be prepared using the method of this invention include members of the transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) superfamily, such as bone morphogenetic proteins. Also provided are genetically engineered cells and polynucleotides for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases or disorders in a subject (e.g., a mammal, such as a human) including, e.g., diseases or disorders caused by biological agents, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The compositions include a delivery vector (e.g., a viral vector, such as an Ad5 vector) encoding an interferon (e.g., IFN-?), and are provided to the subject by, e.g., intranasal or pulmonary administration.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases or disorders in a subject (e.g., a mammal, such as a human) including, e.g., diseases or disorders caused by biological agents, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The compositions include a delivery vector (e.g., a viral vector, such as an Ad5 vector) encoding an interferon (e.g., IFN-?), and are provided to the subject by, e.g., intranasal or pulmonary administration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enhanced protein production that comprises the step of expressing a recombinant gene encoding the protein in eukaryotic cells under conditions in which cleavage of the pro-domain of the protein is inhibited or eliminated. Generally the method of the present invention includes the step of inhibiting or altering the cleavage of a pro-domain of a recombinant protein of interest in order to increase the amount of recombinant protein secreted from a eukaryotic cell. Recombinant proteins that can be prepared using the method of this invention include members of the transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) superfamily, such as bone morphogenetic proteins. Also provided are genetically engineered cells and polynucleotides for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the recombinant production of biofilaments, such as spider silk or insect fibroins, using transgenic animals which secrete the biofilaments in their milk and/or urine, and transgenic cells which secrete the biofilaments into culture media. Such a method is useful for producing large quantities of biofilament material. Also disclosed is a nucleic acid molecule for generating such transgenic animals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the recombinant production of biofilaments, such as spider silk or insect fibroins, using transgenic animals which secrete the biofilaments in their milk and/or urine, and transgenic cells which secrete the biofilaments into culture media. Such a method is useful for producing large quantities of biofilament material. Also disclosed is a nucleic acid molecule for generating such transgenic animals.

Abstract: The invention features a method which includes the following steps: (a) introducing a transgene into a zygote of a dwarf goat, (b) transplanting the zygote into a pseudopregnant non-dwarf goat, and (c) allowing the zygote to develop to term. In another aspect the invention features a method which includes the following steps: (a) introducing a transgene into an embryo of a dwarf goat, (b) transplanting the embryo into a pseudopregnant non-dwarf goat, and (c) allowing the embryo to develop to term.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ruminant immortalized mammary epithelial cell line which has normal physiological responses in that it produces milk constituents which comprises .alpha. and .beta.-casein and lactose. There is provided, using the cell line of the present invention a method in vitro studying lactation. There is provided a method of in vitro screening for gene expression of DNA constructs for transgenic ruminant animals. The cell line can be further used in a method for expressing foreign genes. One cell line of the present invention has been deposited at the ATCC under the accession number CRL10274.

Abstract: A calibration standard for calibrating machines which count the somatic cells in a milk sample, comprises an aqueous dispersion of microbeads bearing a fluorescent dye, a suspending agent, and an electrolyte; the dye has an excitation wavelength below 580 nm and a fluorescence emission wavelength in the range of 550 to 660 nm, with the excitation wavelength being at least 10 nm below the emission wavelength; the microbeads are present in a predetermined number per unit volume of dispersion; typically the standard contains 1.times.10.sup.5 to 9.times.10.sup.5 beads/ml.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bovine immortalized mammary epithelial cell line which has normal physiological responses in that it produces milk constituents which comprises .alpha.- and .beta.-casein and lactose. There is provided, using the cell line of the present invention a method of `in vitro` studying lactation. There is provided a method of `in vitro` screening for gene expression of DNA constructs for transgenic cows, since the cell line of the present invention is a bovine one. The cell line can be further used in a method for indefinitely expressing foreign genes. The cell line of the present invention has been deposited at the ATCC under the accession number CRL 10274.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for improving cheese production by utilizing plasmin-regulating agents to maintain milk plasmin concentration in milk used to make cheese at that found at early lactation or at less than 0.2 mg/l milk.