Abstract: The present invention provides a photothermographic material, having a support and an image-forming layer containing a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, and a reducer for the organic silver salt on at least one surface of the support, wherein the image-forming layer contains a hydrophilic polymer which has a vinyl monomer unit containing a quaternary nitrogen atom-containing group or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group.

Abstract: Processes for preparing controlled samples of particles, including microorganisms and cells are described. A sample of particles is provided and separated into a predetermined number of desired particles by particle separation means. The predetermined number of particles is dispensed into a receptacle or onto a surface in accordance with a sorting instruction, with the receptacle or surface being positioned by collecting means so as to receive the dispensed particles. A sorting instruction from the particle dispensing means activates the collecting means such that when a sorting instruction has been actuated, so as to deliver a predetermined number of particles into a receptacle or onto a surface which is positioned accurately for sufficient time to collect all sorted particles, the collecting means advances and positions a subsequent surface or receptacle for receipt of particles, the collector means thereafter signaling the particle separation means to commence the next sorting instruction.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating the activation of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) are provided. The compositions comprise one or more agents that modulate ubiquitination of phosphorylated I?B? and/or I?B?. Such compositions may be used for treating diseases associated with NF-?B activation. Modulating agents include human E3 ubiquitin ligases, antibodies thereto and variants thereof, as well as related proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides cell lines which are useful for the rapid detection of enteroviruses. In particular, the invention provides transgenic African green monkey kidney cell lines and buffalo green monkey kidney cell lines. The invention provides cell lines which have increased sensitivity to infection by enteroviruses in single-cell type and mixed-cell type cultures compared to other cell types which are currently used for enterovirus detection. The cells of the invention also are permissive to infection by a larger number of enteroviruses as compared to the cell type from which they were derived.

Abstract: An expression system useful for the detection and isolation of a polypeptide capable of regulating a transduction pathway is provided. When expressed in a cell, the expression system provides a level of expression of a reporter molecule in cell which is indicative of regulation of the transduction pathway by a specific polypeptide of a plurality of polypeptides expressed by the cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to antiviral drug susceptibility and resistance tests to be used in identifying effective drug regimens for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), particularly treatment regimens including a protease inhibitor. The invention further relates to the means and methods of monitoring the clinical progression of HIV infection and its response to antiretroviral therapy using phenotypic or genotypic susceptibility assays.

Abstract: The present invention describes an in situ reverse transcriptase PCR method in which the background fluorescence is greatly reduced as compared to traditional in situ PCR.

Abstract: Use of helper probes in dipstick assays is described. In a dipstick assay to test for the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample solution, the sample solution is connected with the contact end of the dipstick to cause the sample solution is contacted with the contact end of the dipstick to cause the sample solution to move by capillary action to a capture zone of the dipstick at which target nucleic acid is captured. The target nucleic acid may be captured at the capture zone by a capture probe capable of hybridising to the target nucleic acid. A labelled detection probe capable of hybridising to the target nucleic acid may be used to detect the target nucleic acid at the capture zone. A helper probe may be used to enhance the binding of the capture and/or detection probe to the target nucleic acid, thereby improving the sensitivity of target nucleic acid detection. Dipsticks and kits are also described.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the detection of susceptibility to cancer and non-cancerous pathologies in a mammal. Diagnostic kits are also provided.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a uniformity of spots on a DNA microarray having a plurality of spots, these spots undergoing specific emissions as a result of the hybridization of target DNA and tagged probe DNA, by examining whether patterns having periodicity are manifested in a sequence BG comprising background data obtained.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oxidase gene useful for the diagnosis of RA and the screening of a substance for the treatment of RA and/or a substance for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Also, an inspection method useful as a diagnosis method for RA is disclosed. Additionally, there is disclosed a method for screening a substance for the treatment of RA and/or a substance for the treatment of osteoarthritis, using the aforementioned novel oxidase gene. Also disclosed is a method for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of RA and/or the treatment of osteoarthritis which comprises an inhibitor of the aforementioned oxidase, which is obtainable by the aforementioned screening method, as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for determining the methylation profile of individuals and using the profiles to identify clones with desired traits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for monitoring differential expression of a plurality of genes in a first filamentous fungal cell relative to expression of the same genes in one or more second filamentous fungal cells using microarrays containing filamentous fungal expressed sequenced tags. The present invention also relates to filamentous fungal expressed sequenced tags and to computer readable media and substrates containing such expressed sequenced tags for monitoring expression of a plurality of genes in filamentous fungal cells.

Abstract: A new gene—MN—and proteins/polypeptides encoded therefrom are disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acid molecules for expressing MN proteins/polypeptides and recombinant proteins are provided. Expression of the MN gene is disclosed as being associated with tumorigenicity, and the invention concerns methods and compositions for detecting and/or quantitating MN antigen and/or MN-specific antibodies in vertebrate samples that are diagnostic/prognostic for neoplastic and pre-neoplastic disease. Test kits embodying the immunoassays of this invention are provided. MN-specific antibodies are disclosed that can be used diagnostically/prognostically, therapeutically, for imaging, and/or for affinity purification of MN proteins/polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid probes for the MN gene as well as test kits comprising said probes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of alpha (2) macroglobulin (“?2M”) receptor as a heat shock protein receptor, cells that express the ?2M receptor bound to an HSP, and antibodies and other molecules that bind the ?2M receptor-HSP complex. The invention also relates to screening assays to identify compounds that modulate the interaction of an HSP with the ?2M receptor, and methods for using compositions comprising ?2M-receptor sequences for the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders, proliferative disorders, and infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting specific lysis of a cell by a lytic agent. The methods generally involve contacting a labeled target cell with a lytic agent; and detecting fluorescence in the target cell. The target cells are labeled with two fluorescent labels: a first fluorescent label that labels the plasma membrane; and a second fluorescent label that labels the cytosol. Release of the cytosolic label from the target cell indicates that the target cell has been lysed. The invention further provides methods of detecting the presence in a sample of a cell that specifically lyses a target cell. The invention further provides methods of detecting the presence in a sample of an antibody that specifically lyses a target cell. The methods are useful in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and a method for monitoring breast cancer treatment.

Abstract: New derivatives of FK 506 are disclosed. These new derivatives and other derivatives that are useful for determining the levels of FK 506 in a sample are also provided as are assay procedures and kits for use in determining the levels of FK 506 or other macrophilin binding substances in blood, particularly un-extracted blood in the presence of specific binding proteins for FK 506.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting intracellular cholesterol. The method provides contacting a permeabilized cell with labeled C? complex. Methods of using this detection method to identify agents which modulate cholesterol accumulation in a cell are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate and method for the assay of ribonuclease H activity. The substrate comprises a DNA/RNA heteroduplex molecule having fluorophore and quencher molecules in close proximity, which emit a background level of fluorescence in the absence of ribonuclease H activity due to quenching of the fluorophore as a result of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Ribonuclease H cleavage of the heteroduplex results in an increase in fluorescence emission due to the destabilization and separation of the DNA and RNA molecules and their associated fluorophore and quencher molecules. The assay method of the present invention is suitable for use in screening (e.g. high throughput screening) for modulators, e.g. inhibitors, of the ribonuclease H activity associated with, for example, reverse transcriptase and ribonuclease H enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention provides brain cells, such as normal brain cells, apolipoprotein E deficient brain cells, or apoE4 containing brain cells, that are treated with a compound which can modulate integrins and/or integrin receptors to produce increased sequestration of and/or accumulation of and/or uptake of A?, and/or changes in cathepsin D content and/or lysosomal dysfunction, and/or microglia activation in the brain cells. The present invention also provides methods for producing such cells and methods for using the cells for screening an agent or substance that modulates the sequestration of and/or accumulation of and/or uptake of A?, and/or lysosomal dysfunction, and/or changes in cathepsin D content and/or microglia activation in the brain cells. The method further provides a new therapeutic target, antagonism of glutamate receptors, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases which are characterized by inter alia, abnormal amyloid uptake and/or accumulation.

Abstract: A method for treating a biological sample with a Papanicolaou staining process is provided. The method comprises incorporating a detergent treatment into the staining process at any of various steps. The method has been found to advantageously reduce the number of artifacts produced during Papanicolaou staining. Also provided is a sample stained by such a process.

Abstract: A method for the production of aryl-carotenoids is provided through bioconversion of cyclic carotenoids having at least one ?-ionone ring. Expression of a heterologous gene encoding a carotene desaturase (crtU) enzyme in a host cell that produces a suitable cyclic carotenoid substrate effect the production of aryl carotenoids.

Abstract: The inventive method allows peptides or polypeptides to be exposed on the surface of gram-negative host bacteria using specific intimin-based anchor modules. Intimins with shortened carboxy terminals have been found to be particularly suitable anchor modules for passenger domains in the exterior E. coli cell membrane. According to the method, host bacteria are transformed using vectors, on which are located a fused nucleic acid sequence consisting of a sequence segment which codes for an intimin with a shortened carboxy terminal and a nucleic acid sequence segment which codes for the passenger peptide that is to be exposed. The invention permits a particularly large number of passenger domains to be exposed on the cell surface of the bacteria, without adversely affecting the viability of the bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for RNA and/or protein synthesis using in vitro or in vivo expression systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for RNA and/or protein synthesis characterized in that the concentration of alpha subunit of RNA polymerase, but not of other subunits, is increased in the cellular or cell-free system, comparing to its natural concentration existing in the cellular or cell-free system.

Abstract: The DNA sequences encoding analogs of human acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) can be recombinantly expressed to obtain practical amounts of proteins useful in effecting both pathologies related to persistent angiogenesis and wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid sequences and expression vectors encoding the Goodpasture antigen binding protein (GPBP), substantially purified GPBP, antibodies against GPBP, and methods for detecting GPBP.

Abstract: A method for producing a physiologically active polypeptide, comprising contacting a precursor polypeptide with an activating enzyme, or co-expressing the polypeptide with an activating protease.

Abstract: The invention relates to human cells which are capable, on the basis of an activation of the endogenous human EPO gene, of producing EPO in a sufficient amount and purity to make possible a cost-effective production of human EPO as a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of such human EPO-producing cells, DNA constructs for the activation of the endogenous EPO in human cells, and a method for the large technical production of EPO in human cells.

Abstract: A stress-phosphorylated endoplasmic reticulum protein, Nogo B, is provided. The protein is hyperphosphorylated as a result of exposure of cells to stress. Two transcripts of Nogo B are identified in human tissues, and the longer transcript is predominant in human brain tumor samples.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing L-threonine using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia wherein the bacterium has been modified to enhance an activity of aspartate-?-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a process for producing D-serine wherein a microbial cell which is modified to have a higher L-serine deaminase activity than Escherichia coli DH5? strain, a culture of said cell, or a processed product thereof is brought into contact with DL-serine in a DL-serine-containing medium to decompose L-serine, and the remaining D-serine is recovered from the medium; and a microorganism used for this production process. D-serine is a useful compound as a synthetic intermediate for useful medicaments such as D-cycloserine.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an enzyme-containing granulate is disclosed where an aqueous enzyme-containing liquid is mixed with a solid carrier and optionally additive ingredients and is mechanically processed into granules, dried and subsequently coated with polyethylene glycol. The solid carrier preferably essentially consists of an edible carbohydrate polymer. Additive ingredients that could be further incorporated in the formulation of the granules are a gel-forming or slow dissolving compound such as polyvinyl alcohol, water soluble inorganic salts comprising divalent cations and trehalose. This enzyme granulate is suitable for the manufacture of animal feed compositions by mixing feed ingredients with the granulate, treating with steam and pelleting. The compositions show improved enzyme stability during the pelleting process and during storage. At the same time, the dissolution time of the granule is very short so that the bioavailability of the enzyme to the animal is improved.

Abstract: The cDNA sequence of the human 9-cis-retinol dehydrogenase enzyme is disclosed.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: A novel gene having the consensus sequence of a serine-threonine kinase active site has been isolated by the suppression subtractive hybridization method which comprised of preparing a library of genes expressed specifically in fetal livers and isolating clones from this library at random. This gene presumably participates in cell growth control because it is highly expressed, especially in actively growing cells, and exhibits a significant homology with a vaccinia virus B1R kinase gene. Thus, it can be utilized as a target for developing cell growth inhibitors or antitumor agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of two novel human GAK-related gene variants. The invention also relates to the process for producing the polypeptides of the variants. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of the gene variants in diagnosing diseases associated with the deficiency of GAK gene, in particular, iron homeostasis impairment-related diseases or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), e.g. large cell lung cancer.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel type II restriction endonuclease, obtainable from Corynebacterium striatum M82B, hereinafter referred to as “CstMI”, which endonuclease: (1) recognizes the nucleotide sequence 5?-AAGGAG-3? in a double-stranded DNA molecule as shown below, 5?-AAGGAGN20?-3? 3?-TTCCTCN18?-5? (wherein G represents guanine, C represents cytosine, A represents adenine, T represents thymine and N represents either G, C, A, or T); (2) cleaves said sequence at the phosphodiester bonds between the 20th and the 21th nucleotides 3? to the recognition sequence in the 5?-AAGGAG-3 strand of the DNA, and between the 18th and 19th nucleotides 5? to the recognition sequence in the complement stand, 5?-CTCCTT-3?, to produce a 2 base 3?extension; and (3) possesses a second enzymatic activity that recognizes the same DNA sequence, 5?-AAGGAG-3?, but modifies this sequence by the addition of a methyl group to prevent cleavage by the CstMI endon

Abstract: The invention provides methods for efficient recombinant expression, refolding, and purification of Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE) polypeptides. In various aspects, the method includes the steps of expressing a recombinant construct in bacteria, dissolving inclusion bodies with a denaturant at high pH in the presence of a reducing agent, diluting the solubilized BACE polypeptide in an aqueous solution at a temperature of about 1° C. to 15° C., and incubating the diluted sample at a temperature of about 4° C. to 15° C. until the recombinant BACE polypeptide folds into an active enzyme.

Abstract: A completely novel glutaminase is provided: (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids, and possessing glutaminase activity. This protein is a novel glutaminase possessing excellent thermostability and the like.

Abstract: Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of extracting virus, particularly reovirus, from a culture of cells. Infectious virus can be extracted from the culture with a detergent at a convenient temperature such as 25° C. or 37° C. to produce high virus titers. Both ionic and non-ionic detergents can be used in the present invention.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treating a vaccine containing infectious particles which may be viral, bacterial, and/or cellular in nature. Preferred methods include the steps of adding an effective, non-toxic amount of an endogenous photosensitizer to the fluid and exposing the fluid to photoradiation sufficient to inactivate the infectious particles but not enough to damage the antigenic characteristics of the infectious particles.

Abstract: Agents for promoting fattening of animals which contain as the active ingredient(s) at least one member selected from among acids originating in hexoses, non-toxic salts thereof and intramolecular esterification products thereof; and a method of promoting fattening by using these agents.

Abstract: A strain of Lactobacillus salivarius isolated from resected and washed human gastrointestinal tract inhibits a broad range of Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms and secretes a product having antimicrobial activity into a cell-free supernatant. The activity is produced only by, growing cells and is destroyed by proteinase K and pronase E, the inhibitory properties of the strain and its secretory products being maintained in the presence of physiological concentrations of human bile and human gastric juice. The strain exhibits a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria including Listeria, Staphylococcus, including methocillin resistant St. aureus (MRSA), and Bacillus, but does not inhibit many closely related lactobacilli. An antimicrobial agent is obtained from the strain which has bacteriocin-like properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkaline protease using a fungal culture of the order entomophthorales and to the use of the said protease in the pretanning processes of leather manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrofusion microelectrode used in the alignment, manipulation, fusion, or electroporation of cells. This device is particularly useful for transplantation of cells and cellular components.

Abstract: A cell co-culture tool includes a body, an outer wall surrounding the body, and more than one vessel within the perimeter of the outer wall. Each vessel has a top edge below a rim of the outer wall. A method of interacting a substance with more than one type of cell material in a culture dish having a plurality of wells includes depositing a different type of the cell material in separate wells of the culture dish, interconnecting the wells with a fluid medium, and adding the substance to the fluid medium.

Abstract: A container for shipping items in an aircraft includes a shipping compartment and an expandable chamber for receiving gas from the shipping compartment. At least one conduit connects the expandable chamber to the shipping department so as to permit the flow of gas therebetween. A method for shipping items in an aircraft is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encompassing a neocentromere or a functional derivative thereof or a latent, synthetic or hybrid form thereof and its use inter alia in developing a range of eukaryotic artificial chromosomes including mammalian (e.g. human) and non-mammalian an artificial chromosomes. Such artificial chromosomes are useful in a range of genetic therapies.