Abstract:
A device (10) and process for sampling tissue and fluid from bodily cavities comprises an aspirating curette (11) with a notch (27) at its distal end (23). The curette (11) is slidably mounted in and encased by a protective sleeve (17) that has a plug (20) at its outer end. The sleeve (17) is shorter than the curette (11) and a removable stop member (19) is provided to initially limit the movement of the sleeve (17) toward the base of the curette. When the sleeve (17) and curette (11) have been inserted into the bodily cavity the stop (19) is removed, permitting the curette (11) to be moved outwardly through the sleeve (17), dislodging the plug (20) and exposing the notch (27). Fluids may be drawn into the curette which is then rotated to scrape the cavity wall, and drawn back into the sleeve (17). The apparatus is then removed from the bodily cavity as a unit with the curette (11) and collected specimen protected from contamination and from oxygen.
Abstract:
A method for the early diagnosis of Bordetella diseases based on the detection of Bordetella adenylate cyclase and the ability of this enzyme to catalyze the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). A sample secretion is taken from a suspected victim of a Bordetella disease (the most common of which in humans is whooping cough) and incubated under conditions to promote the formation of cAMP, which may then be measured as evidence of the presence of the disease. A sample of nasopharyngeal secretions is maintained in a nutrient medium pending assay. An adenylate cyclase assay is made by incubating the sample with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the calcium binding protein calmodulin to generate cAMP. The cAMP is measured by any of several known available methods. To facilitate diagnosis, a kit is provided containing the materials necessary for collection of secretion specimens, for storage of specimens pending assay, and transport of specimens to the assay laboratory, and for performing the assay and determining the result.
Abstract:
An FET logic gate structure (10) includes two semiconductor layers (18, 32) separated by an insulator (16). An enhancement mode switching FET (12) is formed in the top semiconductor layer (18), and a load element (14) is formed in the bottom semiconductor layer (32). The insulator layer (16) separates and capacitively couples the switching element (12) and the load element (14) so that the switching element (12) acts as a gate for the load element (14) and the load element (14) acts as a second gate of the switching element (12). An input (44) is connected to the gate (26) of the switching element (12). The drain (30) of the switching element (12), the source (40) of the load element (14), and the output (46) of the folded logic gate (10) are connected together. The logic gate structure (10) exhibits very low power consumption in stable states, high speed and large output voltage swings.
Abstract:
This invention is directed to mutant SPE-A toxins or fragments thereof, vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the vaccine and pharmaceutical compositions. The preferred SPE-A toxin has at least one amino acid change and is substantially non-lethal compared with the wild type SPE-A toxin. The mutant SPE-A toxins can form vaccine compositions useful to protect animals against the biological activities of wild type SPE-A toxin.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for preparing herbicide tolerant corn plants. Also provided are herbicide tolerant corn plants, as well as seeds and progeny derived from these plants.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the introduction of p53 under the control of the metallothionein promoter into primary cells to produce immortalized cell lines. The cells are useful as substrates for viral propagation, as contaminant-free sources for recombinant protein production, for recombinant virus production and as cell substrates to support primary cells and improve virus yield during virus propagation.
Abstract:
A method to prepare fertile transgenic oat plants by transforming cells derived from mature embryos is provided, as well as plants prepared by said method.
Abstract:
A bleach and oxidation catalyst is provided comprising a catalytically active iron complex which can activate hydrogen peroxide or peroxy acids, for example.
Abstract:
A method for the selective engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells is provided for increasing the efficiency of hematopoietic stem cell engraftment in vivo, comprising: (a) administering to a mammal a population of stem cells, comprising transgenic stem cells, the genome of which has been augmented by a first preselected DNA segment, which encodes resistance to an agent, and which said first preselected DNA segment is operably linked to a promoter functional in stem cells, wherein the expression of the first preselected DNA segment in the transgenic stem cells is sufficient to impart resistance or tolerance to said transgenic cells to an amount of the agent which is toxic to nontransgenic stem cells, the genome of which has not been augmented by the first preselected DNA segment; and (b) administering said agent to said mammal in an amount and for a time so as to increase the engraftment of transgenic stem cells relative to the engraftment of nontransgenic stem cells.
Abstract:
A process for the production of a mono-olefin from a gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon having at least two carbon atoms or mixtures thereof comprising reacting said hydrocarbons and molecular oxygen in the presence of a platinum catalyst. The catalyst consists essentially of platinum modified with Sn or Cu and supported on a ceramic monolith.