Abstract: An isolated protein sequence or peptide from the E2, E6 or E7 early coding region of human papillomavirus (HPV) that is soluble in an aqueous medium, and characterized by a relative paucity of tryptophan, methionine and cysteine residues, and a relative abundance of glycine and asparagine residues. Also disclosed are isolated protein sequences or peptides from the E2, E6 or E7 early coding regions of HPV 16 and 18 and methodologies for detecting or diagnosing cancer or cellular abnormalities. Detection or diagnosis of Cancer or cellular abnormalities may include detecting or diagnosing pre-cancerous or pre-malignant conditions, cervical dysplasia, cervical carcinoma, koilocytosis, hyperkeratosis, intraepithelial lesions, and other cancers.

Abstract: A method of removably anchoring well tubing in a well bore may include selecting a well having a bore diameter and an anchor positioned therein. The anchor may have a housing defining an anchor diameter and extension members extending therefrom toward the bore diameter. The bore diameter and anchor diameter may be spaced apart a distance defining an annulus therebetween and extending along the well. A tool sized to cut substantially exclusively within the annulus may be selected. The tool may be positioned within the annulus, rotated, and advanced to drive past the housing to remove the extension members between the housing and the bore diameter to free the anchor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improvement of computer-related products by an independent developer may solve problems in hardware or software inadvertently, negligently, or intentionally left in products marketed by a vendor. An independent developer may procure access to a product, develop a testing regimen for functionality of the product, and perform evaluations to identify sources of any operational defects found. Accordingly, the developer may then provide a generalized testing regimen to test instances of product provided by a vendor, identify those containing the flaw, and may optionally provide a solution to the flaw, where practicable. The independent developer may obtain intellectual property rights in the testing, solution or both for the product. Thus, by notifying a vendor, an independent developer may become a supplier of testing or solution systems, motivating a supplier by one of several mechanisms.

Abstract: Programmatic detection of time-gap defects in computer system hardware where data is corrupted without detection by the computer system. A detection module initiates data transfers between devices in a computer system. An interrupt service routine interrupts the process by inserting a delay into the data transfer. The detection module then checks for time-gap defects by determining if data was corrupted which went undetected by the computer system. The detection module may repeat the data transfer and insert successively longer delays until a time-gap defect is detected or until a maximum delay value is reached. The results of any time-gap defects found may be output to a user.

Abstract: A nitric oxide gas generator which includes a body having a dilution inlet chamber, a chemical mixing chamber, and a dilution outlet chamber. A dilution inlet for diluent gases is provided into the dilution inlet chamber. An inlet is provided to permit entry of the diluent gases into the chemical mixing chamber. An outlet is provided to permit the exit of diluted nitric oxide gas from the chemical mixing chamber to the dilution outlet chamber. A dilution outlet is provided for removal of diluted nitric oxide gas from the dilution outlet chamber. Supports are provided for supporting chemicals to be reacted to produce nitric oxide gas. A heat source is provided to heat the chemical mixing chamber in which chemicals are mixed to initiate a chemical reaction that produces nitric oxide gas.

Abstract: A data extraction tool is provided for cataloging information in an information source for searching by a user. The tool mines information from the information source and organizes the information, or the locations of that information, within a database. A user may then query the tool for a desired type of information. The tool filters the database to provide a set of pinpoint site locations with information of the type requested in the query. These pinpoint site locations are presented to a user and indexed for future reference. The index of site locations may be updated automatically by the tool. A context system is provided for manually or automatically determining the proper context for a user's query. Thus, the data extraction tool provides information with a high probability of relevance to the user. The user obtains the information without expending much effort to refine the search.

Abstract: A system and method for designing an HVAC system using a database to manage values of properties corresponding to design elements. Elements include substantially all physical components and connections available for creating an HVAC system design. A user interface represents design elements arbitrarily selectable by a user and connectable to one another in a schematic to establish the HVAC system design. The system may provide, automatically, default values corresponding to the properties corresponding to the design elements. A user may select arbitrarily, from the design elements, an arbitrary number of selected design elements to be interconnected in the HVAC system design. A user may place and interconnect each arbitrary design element, while the system calculates, automatically, values of properties characterizing the arbitrary design elements; validating correctness of the interconnections and properties, calculating performance parameters, and providing drawings.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deterministically classifying and indexing objects that are perceived arbitrarily and subjectively, such as digital media and file representations of photographs, in a database. A user establishes various personalized descriptive category sets to organize media, such as digital photographs, video, and audio. The descriptive category sets include categories to describe some aspect or attribute of the objects of the user. Each category may be arbitrarily definable and contain a finite number of descriptors, constituting values within the category. Objects are entered into collections by filtering the objects according to the descriptors of the descriptive category set. A user may thus arbitrarily define a schema of classification according to perceptions, links, experiences, and the like, according to the subjective memory, vocabulary, and mental connections of a user.

Abstract: A water treatment system for treating coal-bed-methane (CBM) water. The CBM water treatment system includes a pump system for pumping CBM water from one or many CBM wells into a common reservoir and a solid-based sulfurous generator that produces aqueous sulfurous acid to treat the CBM water and an injection system that increases the amount of calcium contained in CBM water. In one embodiment, the injection system is a gypsum injector that injects soluble gypsum into the CBM water. Moreover, in one embodiment, the solid-based sulfurous generator includes a hydraulic air inlet shut off valve safety system for automatically reducing the combustion air to the sulfurous generator when water is not delivered to the solid-based sulfurous generator.

Abstract: A water treatment system for treating water. The water treatment system includes a primary water treatment station and a solid-based sulfurous generator downstream from the primary water treatment station for producing aqueous sulfurous acid for further treatment of the water. In one embodiment, the solid-based sulfurous generator includes a hydraulic air inlet shut off valve safety system for automatically reducing the combustion air to the sulfurous generator when water is not delivered to the solid-based sulfurous generator. Also, in one embodiment, the water treatment system includes a control system that monitors the pH of the treated water to control the water flow rate through the solid-based sulfurous generator to achieve the desired concentration of sulfurous acid in the water being treated.

Abstract: A CPU life-extension apparatus and method makes a processor appear to be an upgraded CPU to substantially all software applications accessed thereby, thereby reducing the need and expense of upgrading a selected processor. A CPU life-extension module translates new instructions, intended for a CPU upgrade, into instructions recognized by the processor. In addition, the CPU life-extension module is programmed to monitor reads from and writes to a processor's flags register to modify the flags to emulate those of an upgraded CPU. The CPU life-extension module is configured to respond to interrupts generated by the processor in order to perform its various tasks.

Abstract: A hold-down system used to secure a building structure to the foundation, thereby enabling the building to better withstand forces like high winds and earthquakes because these forces may then be distributed to the foundation. The hold-down system is characterized as being continuous and having stackable, individual take-up units. A continuous hold-down system allows the system to compensate for shrinkage or crushing of the building's frame throughout each level of the building because the anchor of the system is always in communication with the foundation of the building. The individual take-up units are stackable allowing each level of the system to compensate for shrinkage or crushing on that level as well as adjacent levels.

Abstract: A connection box system comprising an anchor configured to be removably secured to a fixture for delivery of a signal to a consuming device. The anchor may have a first engagement mechanism. A connection box may be configured to house lines proceeding from a signal source and terminating in the connection box for connection to the fixture. A receiver may be configured in association with the connection box to receive and retain the anchor. The receiver may have a second engagement mechanism to engage the first engagement mechanism of the anchor when the anchor is inserted therein without the aid of tools.

Abstract: A trailer unloading system anchors one or more trailers to a deck, with, or without tractor attached. The sides of the trailers are free to pivot from a top, longitudinal, pivot axis once unlatched from the edge of the trailer floor. The deck tilts the trailers sideways, the doors swing free, and the load discharges. The deck returns to level, the sides latch to support the floor and the trailers are ready to be reloaded.

Abstract: A geosynthetic reinforcement comprising a container formed of semipermeable material mutually conformed with a portion of earthen material contained therein. A structural member such as a geogrid may engage (e.g. frictional) the container and extend therefrom to engage and support a structure such as a retaining wall, earthen slope, etc. Accordingly, the container may function as an anchor to the structure. Due to the containment provided by the container, the physical characteristics of the earthen material therewithin become less important. Thus, low quality fills such as fine-grained fill or fill with a high moisture content may be used in structural applications. If desired, more than one container and structural member may be incorporated. Containers may be stacked, positioned side-by-side, positioned end-to-end, etc. Structural members may be incorporated as needed to adequate support the structure. Drain layers may be incorporated to control moisture.

Abstract: A connection box assembly includes an electrical connection box with one end shaped to receive a fastener for securing the connection box to a stud or other structural member. The other end is secured to a slide. A spacer is inserted within the slide to register the connection box with respect to any sheathing, sheetrock, or paneling material applied to a back side of the stud or other structural member. The slide engages the spacer with a uni-directional ratchet controlling the extension of the spacer from the connection box.

Abstract: A retaining wall structure built of wall-building units such as sand/soil bags or hardenable building units such as clay bricks has interconnecting members placed between adjacent courses of units to attach the adjacent courses to one another. The interconnecting members are plates having projections on both sides which protrude into the wall-building units of the adjacent courses. Sheets of geogrid preferably extend from between some of the courses of wall-building units into the fill retained by the wall-building units. Projections on the interconnecting members protrude through holes in the geogrid sheet, anchoring the wall face to the reinforced soil structure.

Abstract: A heater comprising a conduit made of corundum (e.g. synthetic sapphire) and having a wall forming a closed cross-section with an interior surface, and an exterior surface. At least one of the interior and exterior surfaces may have a roughened portion comprising inclusions and corresponding protrusions formed substantially continuously therethroughout. An electrically resistive coating may extend substantially continuously over, in, and around the inclusions and protrusions of at least a part of the roughened portion to form a conformal cross-section having a thickness selected to promote bending thereof to accommodate annular expansion and contraction occurring in response to a differential in the coefficients of expansion between the electrically resistive coating and the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mastopexy surgeries correcting a ptosis condition caused by tissue stretching, in the breast as a result of pregnancy, time, aging, and the effects of gravity and athletic activity provide an implant having homogeneously formed connectors extending from inside an implant wall for anchoring to the chest wall or chest muscles of a patient. Embedded reinforcements and anchoring tabs or sutures may be readily oriented along a rib or other defining physiological location in order to provide immediate, permanent, and symmetric installation of implants in a mastopexy reconstruction.

Abstract: An electrical fixture comprising a body, first flange, and second flange. The body may have a terminal for securing a transmission line. The first flange may secure to the body to extend away therefrom toward a first end. The second flange may secure to the body to extend toward a second end. The first and second flanges may each include a pair of ears, the first and second pairs of ears being located proximate the first and second ends, respectively. The ears of the first and second pairs of ears may be spaced apart in a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions. The ears may be formed to have an extended portion, most distant from the body, and a recessed portion, spaced away from the extended portion toward the body and presenting an edge extending in the third direction.