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: 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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A braking system is provided along one of a pair of guide rails of an air conveyor that transports plastic bottles along a pathway between the pair of guide rails. The braking system is selectively actuated to move into the pathway defined by the guide rails decreasing its width and positioning a stop of the braking system in the pathway where it will engage with bottles conveyed by the air conveyor slowing and eventually stopping the bottles.

Abstract: A bat has a grip portion and an elongate, rotationally symmetric playing surface. The playing surface continuously increases in diameter towards its outer end, and the outer end is the widest part of the bat. The surface can be covered with a friction-enhancing material. The bat can be used, together with a conventional soccer ball, as a soccer practice aid.

Abstract: An apparatus that is one part of a conveying system for transferring objects, such as bottles, removes layers of the objects from a pallet on which the layers have been stacked or, in reverse operation, arranges the objects in layers stacked on one another on a pallet. The apparatus may be employed to depalletize objects or to palletize objects, wherein in the depalletizing mode of operation the apparatus has a slipsheet retainer that holds a slipsheet below a layer of objects being depalletized from the stacked layers of objects on the pallet and prevents the slipsheet from moving with the layer of objects as the layer of objects is depalletized.

Abstract: A composite mattress is comprised of a rectangular intermediate base with four upper sidewalls extending vertically above the base adjacent the edges of the base forming an upper cavity, four lower sidewalls extending vertically below the base adjacent the edges of the base forming a lower cavity, a spring mattress comprised of a plurality of coil springs individually encased within material pockets positioned in the lower cavity below the base, an air mattress comprised of a plurality of adjustable air cell units formed with independent air cells positioned in the upper cavity above the base, and a cover encasing the entire composite mattress.

Abstract: A roof beam for constructing a conservatory roof comprises a glazing bar (10) and upper and lower capping (12, 14/50) thereon. The glazing bar has a cross bar (16) having trough formations (26) at each end, whereby there is a recess under the cross bar. The cross bar can, therefore, accommodate both a lower capping (14) for a transom roof beam and a lower capping (50) for a hipped conservatory roof end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube in a heat exchanger for an ice making machine includes a bimetallic heat exchanger tube to improve capacity and wear characteristics of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tube has an outer portion with a first material composition and an inner portion with a second material composition where the first material composition is different from the second material composition. The first material composition is compatible with the refrigerants used in the heat exchanger unit of the ice making machine. The second material composition is compatible with the feed solution being chilled in the heat exchanger tube.

Abstract: A blower for a furnace is provided where the blower has an impeller that is configured to create a primary air flow of combustion air into the blower housing and a secondary air flow of cooling air through the blower motor. The primary air flow of combustion air into the furnace generates hot exhaust gases for a heat exchanger in the furnace. The secondary air flow cools the blower motor. The secondary air flow is mixed with the hot exhaust gases in the blower housing and cools the exhaust gases before being discharged from the blower housing.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an outdoor cooker or barbeque that cooks food by providing direct or indirect heat from a heat source of the cooker to the food. The outdoor cooker has a gas or charcoal heat source that provides direct and indirect heat to foods supported on a cooking surface of the grill by operation of a plurality of parallel louvers between the heat source and grill that are moved between first, upright positions of the louvers that provide direct heating of the food and second, angled relative positions of the louvers that provide indirect heating of the food.