Abstract: A liquid polishing composition of the invention suitable for polishing an automobile and the like comprises about 0.01 to about 3 percent by weight of at least one silicone-based wax, about 0.20 to about 10 percent by weight of poly(alpha olefin) compounds including about 0.1 to about 5 percent by weight of at least one hyperbranched poly(alpha olefin), about 6 to about 60 percent by weight of at least one polydimethylsiloxane silicone fluid, about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of at least one volatile cyclic silicone, about 0.25 to about 3 percent by weight of at least one amino-functional silicone, about 0.01 to about 5 percent by weight of at least one UV absorber, and a petroleum-based carrier therefor. The liquid polishing composition can be packaged together with a microfiber polishing cloth in the form of a polishing kit.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a TNF alpha-binding polypeptide composition comprising at least one of a modified heavy chain variable region polypeptide or a modified light chain variable region polypeptide that is capable of specifically binding to human TNF alpha. The modified heavy and light chain variable region polypeptides of the TNF alpha binding polypeptide are modified by at least one amino acid residue substitution, deletion or addition and are homologous to the heavy and light chain variable regions, respectively, of a non-human monoclonal antibody that specifically binds human TNF alpha. The polypeptide compositions of the invention comprising modified heavy and light chain variable region polypeptides are less immunogenic in a human than are the homologous heavy and light chain variable region polypeptides from a non-human animal.

Abstract: A tool for power cutting and treating a tube or the like, and having a power source and an open end for receiving the tube for cutting. There are a tube cutter and rollers for rotation around the tube during cutting. A tool housing encloses the cutter and rollers and also two gear trains which can rotate at different speeds. One of the trains creates tool rotation drive and the other of the trains creates tube cutting. The rotation drive can be reversed for setting the cutter and rollers in starting positions, along with setting and presenting the open end to the next tube to be cut. The rotating gears also drive two power-take-offs for treating the tube.

Abstract: In the field of protection from ionising alpha particle radiation there is a need for a low cost, reliable, maintenance free, and self-contained detector that can monitor continuously over a plurality of time periods the levels of airborne alpha particle radiation. The detector operates by measuring the charge created by alpha particle decay between electrodes in an enclosure. Detectors may be linked together to monitor several parts of a building or a large area for applications such as civil emergencies and earthquake warning.

Abstract: A container seal having a releasable, integral promotional token attached thereto comprises a sealing sheet bound to a promotional token by a releasable adhesive. The sealant sheet has a tacking surface and a sealing surface. The promotional token has a tacking surface and an obverse surface. At least one surface of the promotional token has promotional indicia visible thereon. The tacking surface of the promotional token is bound to the tacking surface of the sealant sheet by a releasable adhesive, so that the promotional token is peelably removable from the sealant sheet when the sealant sheet is bound to the finish of a container. In a preferred embodiment, the obverse surface of the promotional token is bound to a compressible liner by a second layer of releasable adhesive, the liner being separable from the promotional token without separating the promotional token from the sealing sheet.

Abstract: A hydrogen permeable membrane, which includes a polymer stable at temperatures of about 200 C having clay impregnated with Pt or Au or Ru or Pd particles or mixtures thereof with average diameters of less than about 10 nanometers (nms) is disclosed. The membranes are useful in fuel cells or any device which requires hydrogen to be separated from carbon monoxide.

Abstract: An uncycled preconditioned electrode for a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell including a lithium metal oxide having the formula xLi2?yHyO.xM?O2.(1?x)Li1?zHzMO2 in which 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0<z<1, M is anon-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more of the first row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M? is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first and second row transition metal elements and Sn. The xLi2?yHy.xM?O2.(1?x)Li1?zHzMO2 material is prepared by preconditioning a precursor lithium metal oxide (i.e., xLi2M?O3.(1?x)LiMO2) with a proton-containing medium with a pH<7.0 containing an inorganic acid. Methods of preparing the electrodes are disclosed, as are electrochemical cells and batteries containing the electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to retroviral vectors (known as lentiviral vectors), which are used to transfer genes into cells that are at cell cycle stage G0, to methods for their production and to the use thereof for transferring genes into mammalian cells. Said vectors are derived from SIVsmmPBj14 (simian immunodeficiency virus) of the sooty mangabey monkey, strain PBj 14.

Abstract: A heat-sealable container seal having a integral, heat-releasable promotional token attached thereto comprises a promotional token bound to a sealant sheet by a layer of wax. At least one of the surfaces of the promotional token and the sealant sheet that contacts the layer of wax is capable of absorbing liquid wax when the layer of wax is melted. At least one surface of the promotional token has promotional indicia visible thereon. The sealant sheet has a heat-sealable container contacting surface. Preferably, at least one of the promotional token and the sealant sheet includes a layer of metal foil. In use, the container seal provides a seal over the access opening of a container and also provides a promotional token, such as a redeemable coupon, within the container closure, loosely disposed over the seal.

Abstract: A layered device including a substrate; an adhering layer thereon. An electrical conducting layer such as copper is deposited on the adhering layer and then a barrier layer of an amorphous oxide of TiAl followed by a high dielectric layer are deposited to form one or more of an electrical device such as a capacitor or a transistor or MEMS and/or a magnetic device.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic fishing device includes a plate that changes attitude as the plate passes through a body of water. A plate positioning controller is pivotally mounted to the plate and is indexable relative to the plate by direct application of manual force so as to assume a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions. The adjustment positions establish different paths of travel of the plate as the plate passes through a body of water.

Abstract: A financial activity network includes a central managing system connected to a plurality of participant terminals. Rules governing operation of the financial activity are stored for future reference. A participant provides investment information such as a map location for the predicted strike by the natural event and, optionally, one or more secondary parameters relating to the natural event, such as the time interval between the time of investment and the time of an event strike and/or the severity of the event strike according to an established scale. In one example, an external objective independent information source is consulted, with the external objective independent information source providing monitoring, interpretation and derived determination of parameters pertaining to the natural event. Methods and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sign stand assembly includes a support base with a plate portion defining a locking recess, an upright mast joined to the support base, and at least one leg having a wall defining a hollow interior of the leg. The leg is pivotally attached to the plate portion, and a locking pin carried on the leg, is provided for movement toward and away from the locking recess defined by the plate portion of the support base. An actuator is movable between lock and unlock positions and has a first end portion engaging the locking pin, and an opposed second end portion with a hollow bail member defining a hollow interior for receiving the leg. A fulcrum portion is located adjacent the first end portion and engages the leg, whereby, upon pressing the bail member, the locking pin is retracted to the unlock position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sock, in particular to be used of sporting activities, comprising cushioning in the vicinity of the Achilles tendon. Said cushioning is formed by at least two spacer cushion pads (24,25), placed on either side of the Achilles tendon and running alongside the latter.

Abstract: A hand-held ground-supported display device for warning passersby is disclosed. Included is a self-supporting sign panel and a plurality of at least three mast sections telescopically interfittable, one within the other. A coupler is attached to the sign panel, with a socket for releasably engaging the top mast section. The mast sections have progressively smaller internal diameters and progressively shorter lengths, with the outermost mast section having the largest internal diameter and the longest length. Middle mast upper and middle mast lower stop members are attached to upper and lower ends of the middle mast section, respectively. In one example, the middle mast upper stop member has an end wall with first and second sidewalls extending downwardly therefrom with lower free ends for interfering with stop members associated with the top and the bottom mast sections. A kit including the display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.