Abstract: A dome for applying a vacuum to a patient's skin surface is comprised of a generally rigid dome capable of withstanding a pressure differential, with a rim cushion underlying the rim of the dome for supporting a rim from the patient's skin surface. The rim may be generally wider than the dome in order to distribute the attendant forces across a greater surface and avoid tissue damage. A sticky sole underlies the rim cushion and seals the rim cushion to the patient's skin to thereby preserve the vacuum within the dome. The sticky sole may be comprised of any adhesive material or even be achieved through the use of an appropriate material for the rim cushion itself.

Abstract: A vaccine for protecting birds against infection by avian pathogenic gram negative microbes is disclosed. The vaccine is a recombinant Salmonella strain expressing O-antigen of an avian pathogenic gram negative microbe such as an E. coli strain that is pathogenic in poultry. The recombinant Salmonella strain also does not express Salmonella O-antigen. Methods of using the vaccine to immunize birds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the determination of an authentic HCV genome RNA sequences, to construction of infectious HCV DNA clones, and to use of the clones, or their derivatives, in therapeutic, vaccines, and diagnostic applications. The invention is also directed to HCV vectors, e.g., for gene therapy of gene vaccines.

Abstract: A stud for a modular building system. The stud comprises two elongate channel members secured together, with each of the channel members have a generally hat-shaped cross section. The channel members each have a bottom web, and a first and second side web. the side webs extend perpendicularly and upward from opposite sides of the bottom web. The channel members further comprise a first and second flange that extend laterally from the first and second side webs respectively. In one aspect of the invention, each flange comprises a first segment extending generally laterally outward from the upper edge of its respective side web and a second segment folded back upon the first segment and extending back toward the side web. In another aspect of the invention, the second segment overlaps and overlies the underside of the first segment, and the fold or crease between the first and second segments, has a rounded profile and forms a bead at the edge of each flange.

Abstract: The construction of an electromagnetic device, such as an electric motor, has a segmented stator with a plurality of stator teeth held in a circular pattern solely by a shell of the motor that has been hot dropped over the stator teeth.

Abstract: A furnace includes a main blower housed in an inlet plenum that circulates temperature controlled air through the furnace and an inducer fan that circulates combustion gases through the furnace. The inducer fan is driven by an inducer fan motor with a housing that defines a hollow interior and surrounds the motor. The inducer fan motor housing is in communication with the inlet plenum and operation of the main blower draws cooling air through the interior of the motor housing to cool the motor.

Abstract: A plant support for supporting plants that can be inserted into the soil without deforming. The support comprises a plurality of vertical members with opposite top and bottom ends. The bottom ends are adapted to engage with and penetrate into the earth to anchor the plant support to the earth. There are at least two horizontal members having differing vertical cross-sectional diameters. The horizontal members are vertically spaced apart and attached to the vertical members along the length of the vertical members. The horizontal member attached to the vertical members closest to the bottom ends is a bottom horizontal member and has a vertical cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the other horizontal members. The horizontal members have a central opening dimensioned to allow a plant to grow through the central opening and be supported by the horizontal members.

Abstract: A magnetic display comprises a message sheet made of a magnetic sheet material having first and second opposite faces. The message sheet has a message section and a frame section each having first and second opposite faces. The first face of the message section has a plurality of discrete regions. Each discrete region has a printed message therein. The frame section is separable from the message section and includes a frame member. The frame member comprises a peripheral region having an outer edge and an inner edge. The inner edge defines a window through the frame section. The frame member has first and second opposite faces. The frame member and the message section are magnetically attracted to one another in a manner so that the frame member magnetically bonds to the message section when the second face of the frame member is placed against the first face of the message section.

Abstract: A camera includes a flexible shell having at least one opening therein and a rigid camera body inside the shell, the camera body having an imaging opening aligned with the at least one opening in the shell.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a diverter positioned between an upstream conveyor and a pair of downstream conveyors and splits or switches a procession of objects conveyed by the upstream conveyor to one of the two downstream conveyors where both downstream conveyors are provided with a plurality of sensors along their lengths that detect the presence or absence of objects on the downstream conveyors at different positions along their lengths, subsequently supplying signals to diverter to control the diverter to switch between the two downstream conveyors to direct the objects conveyed by the upstream conveyor to the one of the two downstream conveyors having fewer objects being conveyed by the conveyor and also controls the speed of the upstream conveyor.

Abstract: A camera having a manually operated zoom lens system, in which the magnification of the lens system is adjusted by manual rotation of a part of the lens systems. The camera includes a lens system having at least first and second optical elements, the first optical element being movable relative to the second optical element, a mechanism for moving the first optical element relative to the second optical element, and a rotatable element for operating the mechanism to change the magnification of the lens system. The camera further includes a view finder with adjustable magnification for providing a view representative of the image captured by the lens systems. The view finder includes first and second optical elements, the first element being moveable relative to the second element to change the magnification of the view finder and a mechanism for moving the first optical element relative to the second element.

Abstract: A silo type storage tank includes a clean-in-place system comprising a flush opening located at about four and one half inches below the weld seam joining the tank top to the sidewall and fed by an upwardly angled channel in the tank sidewall arranged at approximately 17 degrees from the interior surface of the tank sidewall, and a generally vertically extending overflow tube that has its opening aligned with the lower lip of the tank sidewall opening so that cleaning fluid flowing through the tank sidewall opening and the overflow tube washes the entire interior surfaces of the tank.

Abstract: A piece of baggage is provided with a retractable pocket that is configured to support a beverage container on the exterior of the piece of baggage. The pocket is constructed of a mesh material and has an elastic strap along an upper edge that allows the pocket to expand to support various size containers, such as bottled water. When not in use, the pocket can be held collapsed against or inside the piece of baggage by a closure mechanism such as a zipper. This conceals the pocket to improve the aesthetic appearance of the piece of baggage and reduces the risk of snagging the mesh pocket as the piece of baggage is transported.

Abstract: A novel p15 BID polypeptide having cell death agonist activity is disclosed. The p15 BID polypeptide is produced by caspase-cleavage of BID in cells undergoing cell death mediated by TNF or FAS receptors. The p15 BID is useful in methods for modulating death of a target cell which comprise treating the cell with p15 BID. Methods for inhibiting cell death are also described which involve treating a target cell with a mutant p15 BID lacking cell death agonist activity.

Abstract: A ladder mounting mechanism is configured for mounting a ladder to a truck trailer. The truck trailer has at least one keeper member fixedly connected thereto. The ladder mounting mechanism includes a frame and at least one moveable locking member moveably connected to the frame. The frame is adapted to be fixedly connected to the ladder. The moveable locking member is adapted for movement relative to the frame between a ladder-secured position and a ladder-unsecured position. In the ladder-secured position, the locking member engages the keeper member in a manner for securing the ladder to the truck trailer. In the ladder-unsecured position, the locking member is disengaged from the keeper member.