Abstract: Herein provided are a model and method for a transgenic a bovidae having an TGF-?1 gene inserted into the bovidae genome and capable of expressing higher than normal levels of TGF-?1 in cardiac muscle.

Abstract: Herein provided are a model and method for a transgenic a bovidae having an TGF-?1 gene inserted into the bovidae genome and capable of expressing higher than normal levels of TGF-?1 in cardiac muscle.

Abstract: Identified herein are sperm ligand proteins located in the membrane of sperm, which proteins interact with the membrane of oocytes. Methods of using these proteins, or fragments or derivatives or analogs thereof, are also described. These include methods of increasing (or reducing) successful fertilization, for instance through improved sperm-oocyte binding, fusion or activation (or the blocking thereof); methods of preventing fertilization of an oocyte, for instance by inducing an immune response to at least one sperm ligand that promotes sperm-oocyte binding, sperm-oocyte fusion or oocyte activation; and methods for enhancing assisted reproductive technologies, for instance through stimulation of activation with nuclear transfer, stimulation of inactive or weak sperm, and so forth.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of generating a recipient cytoplast for nuclear cloning with improved developmental capacity. These methods involve the in vitro maturation of an oocyte from a non-human mammal to the pre-MII stage and treatment of the oocyte with a microtubule-inhibiting agent prior to enucleation. The oocyte used to generate the recipient cytoplast can be obtained from a pre-adult or adult non-human mammal. The methods further provide for utilizing the generated recipient cytoplast for nuclear transfer, such as deriving a nuclear transfer embryo or offspring.

Abstract: Identified herein are sperm ligand proteins located in the membrane of sperm, which proteins interact with the membrane of oocytes. Methods of using these proteins, or fragments or derivatives or analogs thereof, are also described. These include methods of increasing (or reducing) successful fertilization, for instance through improved sperm-oocyte binding, fusion or activation (or the blocking thereof); methods of preventing fertilization of an oocyte, for instance by inducing an immune response to at least one sperm ligand that promotes sperm-oocyte binding, sperm-oocyte fusion or oocyte activation; and methods for enhancing assisted reproductive technologies, for instance through stimulation of activation with nuclear transfer, stimulation of inactive or weak sperm, and so forth.

Abstract: A sealant for sealing around electrical conductors and/or conduits extending through an opening in a pad into a transformer housing. The sealant includes an insecticide dispersed throughout the sealant to kill the ants or insects attempting to enter the transformer housing through the pad opening.

Abstract: A sealant for sealing around electrical conductors and/or conduits extending through an opening in a pad into a transformer housing. The sealant includes an insecticide dispersed throughout the sealant to kill the ants or insects attempting to enter the transformer housing through the pad opening.

Abstract: Inhibition of eucaryotic pathogens and neoplasms and stimulation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts with lytic peptides such as cecropins and sarcotoxins. Eucaryotic cells are contacted with cecropin or sarcotoxin, or a synergistic combination of cecropins or sarcotoxin with lysozyme, in an amount effective to lyse or inhibit the cells. Target cells include eucaryotic microorganisms such as protozoa, e.g. T. cruzi and P. falciparum, mammalian lymphomas and leukemias, and cells infected with intracellular pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Also disclosed is a method for stimulating proliferation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts by contacting such cells with an effective amount of cecropin or sarcotoxin. The methods may be in vitro or in vivo.

Abstract: A sealant for sealing around electrical conductors and/or conduits extending through an opening in a pad into a transformer housing. The sealant includes an insecticide dispersed throughout the sealant to kill the ants or insects attempting to enter the transformer housing through the pad opening.

Abstract: A novel class of antimicrobial agents for animal species including cecropins, attacins, lysozymes, phage derived polypeptides, such as those transcribed from gene 13 of phage 22, an S protein from lambda phage, and an E protein from phage PhiXl74, as well as, synthetically derived polypeptides of similar nature. The antimicrobial agents can be used to treat microbial infections and as components of medicinal compositions. The genes encoding for such antimicrobial agents can be used to transform animal cells, especially embryonic cells. The transformed animals including such antimicrobial cells are also included.

Abstract: A sealant for sealing around electrical conductors and/or conduits extending through an opening in a pad into a transformer housing. The sealant includes an insecticide dispersed throughout the sealant to kill the ants or insects attempting to enter the transformer housing through the pad opening.

Abstract: Inhibition of eucaryotic pathogens and neoplasms and stimulation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts with lytic peptides such as cecropins and sarcotoxins. Eucaryotic cells are contacted with cecropin or sarcotoxin, or a synergistic combination of cecropins or sarcotoxin with lysozyme, in an amount effective to lyse or inhibit the cells. Target cells include eucaryotic microorganisms such as protozoa, e.g. T. cruzi and P. falciparum, mammalian lymphomas and leukemias, and cells infected with intracellular pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Also disclosed is a method for stimulating proliferation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts by contacting such cells with an effective amount of cecropin or sarcotoxin. The methods may be in vitro or in vivo.

Abstract: Expression cassettes for expression of amphipathic (lytic) peptides in mammalian unicellular (e.g., cultured cells) and multicellular organisms are described, as well as transgenic unicellular and multicellular mammalian organisms having such a cassette stably integrated in their genetic material. In one embodiment, the expression cassette comprises a milk-specific promoter, which for example may be the beta casein promoter, linked in reading frame to control the expression of an amphipathic peptide encoding gene. This expression cassette is useful for production of amphipathic peptides in milk-producing cells and tissues. In another embodiment, the expression cassette comprises an interleukin regulatory sequence adjacently linked to control the expression of an amphipathic peptide encoding gene. The interleukin-regulated cassette is useful to produce disease-resistant animals.

Abstract: A DNA cassette containing sequences encoding a lytic peptide under the transcriptional control of an immune system regulating sequence is disclosed. The control sequences normally permit expression only when a defined indicator(s) reflective of a disease state is present, and tightly inhibit expression when such indicator(s) is absent. The invention further extends to transgenic unicellular and multicellular organisms having the cassette stably integrated in their genetic material. A preferred embodiment of the cassette has the Shiva-1 lytic peptide under the control of IL-2 (interleukin-2) regulating sequences. In a preferred embodiment of multicellular organisms, the cassette is incorporated into the genomes of the germ cells and the organisms are capable of transmitting it to their offspring.

Abstract: The alignment of nut and bolt tightening wrenches relative to the nut or bolt is resolved in the instant invention by the placement of a protrusion or protrusions on one face of the wrench head. The protrusion, in the preferred embodiment, extends along an axis 90.degree. of the wrench handle to allow for pivoting of the wrench relative to the plane of the nut or bolt head while in use.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating waste materials to produce aggregates wherein pellets comprised of a mixture of solids, liquid wastes and clay are dried by hot air in a dryer. The pellets are then fed to the pyrolysis zone of a rotary kiln wherein they are heated by hot gas from an oxidation zone of the kiln to drive off most of the volatile gases. Remaining volatile gases and the fixed carbon in the waste are oxidized in the oxidation zone, and the silicates in the clay are vitrified in a vitrification zone of the kiln to produce aggregates which are crushed and screened. Volatile gases given off from the pyrolysis zone are mixed with exhaust gases from the dryer to feed the burner for the vitrification zone and to supply oxygen to the oxidation zone.

Abstract: A silo which is impeded by a mass of cohering particles is cleaned by the disclosed apparatus by extending at least one flexible tube connected to a mace into the silo to near the coherent mass and flowing gas through the tube and mace at a rate and pressure causing swinging and writhing movements by the mace and tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating waste materials to produce aggregates wherein pellets comprised of a mixture of solids, liquid wastes and clay are dried by hot air in a dryer. The pellets are then fed to the pyrolysis zone of a rotary kiln wherein they are heated by hot gas from an oxidation zone of the kiln to drive off most of the volatile gases. Remaining volatile gases and the fixed carbon in the waste are oxidized in the oxidation zone, and the silicates in the clay are vitrified in a vitrification zone of the kiln to produce aggregates which are crushed and screened. Volatile gases given off from the pyrolysis zone are mixed with exhaust gases from the dryer to feed the burner for the vitrification zone and to supply oxygen to the oxidation zone.

Abstract: A silo which is impeded by a mass of cohering particles is cleaned by extending at least one flexible tube connected to a mace into the silo to near the coherent mass and flowing gas through the tube and mace at a rate and pressure causing swinging and writhing movements by the mace and tube.