Abstract: A support for surveying equipment and the like has telescoping legs and a locking system including a clamp for locking the legs in a selected position of extension. The two telescoping leg members making up each leg have wedge formations which engage over a wide surface when clamped together to facilitate locking. The clamp is formed to actively release from locking the leg members which the clamp is unlocked. The leg members are particularly constructed to permit surveying tools or other objects to be permanently or replaceably mounted on the legs. A hinge connection of the legs permits them to pivot together in a collapsed position is formed in a unitary fashion with one of the leg members for additional strength. The hinge also holds the leg member to facilitate interlocking the leg members at a selected position of extension.

Abstract: A portable wall section for incorporation in a mine stopping or for use as a mine permanent stopping or seal form, comprising vertically extensible panels secured in side-by-side relation, a stopping installed in a mine, a stopping system utilizing one or more of said sections, and methods of installing the stopping and form.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for treating hepatitis virus infections in mammals, especially humans. The methods comprise (1) administering N-substituted-1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-D-glucitol compounds in combination with nucleoside antiviral agents, nucleotide antiviral agents, mixtures thereof, or immunomodulating/immunostimulating agents, or (2) administering N-substituted-1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-D-glucitol compounds in combination with nucleoside antivirals agents, nucleotide antiviral agents, or mixtures thereof, and immunomodulating/immunostimulating agents.

Abstract: A stable, liquid concentrate herbicidal microemulsion composition is provided. The composition comprises N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or a salt thereof in a continuous aqueous phase and carfentrazone-ethyl in a discontinuous oil phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for growing a single crystal silicon ingot which contains an axially symmetric region which is substantially free of agglomerated intrinsic point defects. The process comprises (i) forming a region within the constant diameter portion in which vacancies are the predominant intrinsic point defect; (ii) heating the lateral surface of the ingot to cause a thermally induced inward flux of silicon self interstitial atoms into the region from the heated surface which reduces the concentration of vacancies in the region; and (iii) maintaining the temperature of the region in excess of the temperature, TA, at which agglomeration of vacancy point defects into agglomerated defects occurs during the period of time between the formation of the region and the reduction of the concentration of vacancies in the region.

Abstract: A process for heat-treating a single crystal silicon wafer to dissolve agglomerated vacancy defects and to influence the precipitation behavior of oxygen in the wafer in a subsequent thermal processing step. The process includes subjecting the wafer to a heat treatment to dissolve agglomerated vacancy defects, rapid thermally annealing the heat-treated wafer to cause the formation of crystal lattice vacancies throughout the wafer and controlling the cooling rate of the annealed wafer to allow some, but not all, of the crystal lattice vacancies to diffuse to the front surface to produce a wafer having a nonuniform vacancy concentration with the concentration of vacancies in the bulk of the wafer being greater than the concentration in the surface layer.

Abstract: A method for producing electricity using a fuel cell that utilizes a ternary alloy composition as a fuel cell catalyst, the ternary alloy composition containing platinum, ruthenium and palladium. The alloy shows increased activity as compared to well-known catalysts.

Abstract: A process for preparing N-acyl, N-sulfonyl and N-phosphoryl substituted isoserine esters in which a metal alkoxide is reacted with a &bgr;-lactam.

Abstract: A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a lower tier of elongate panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation from a floor of the passageway. Each panel of the lower tier has a lower end adjacent the floor and an upper end spaced from a roof of the passageway. An upper tier of elongate panels extends generally vertically in side-by-side relation from the lower tier of panels to the roof. An upper end of each upper tier panel is adjacent the roof and a lower end of each upper tier panel abuts the upper end of respective lower tier panels. An elongate brace is connected to at least one of the lower and upper tiers for reinforcing the stopping against deflection and for inhibiting lateral movement of the lower tier panels relative to the upper tier panels. A method of installing a multiple tier stopping is also disclosed.

Abstract: The Apa I restriction fragment of the human erythropoietin gene, for producing high titers of biologically active hormone from stably transfected cell lines.

Abstract: A package including at least one absorbent article and packaging. The packaging includes a flexible pocket having a hollow interior, an opening extending into the hollow interior, and a flap for covering the opening. At least one of the flap and the pocket includes a visual indicator for distinguishing an edge of the flap from the pocket to improve visual identification of the edge of the flap.

Abstract: Non-absorbent substrates for use in inhibiting the production of exoproteins from Gram positive bacteria, such as harmful proteins produced by Staphylococcus species, are provided. The substrates are particularly useful for inhibiting the production of TSST-1, alpha-toxin and/or enterotoxins A, B and C from S. aureus bacteria. The substrates include an alkyl polyglycoside incorporated in or on at least a portion of the substrate. The alkyl polyglycoside typically has an HLB of about 10 to 15 and/or an average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of about 8 to about 12.

Abstract: A system for use in imaging a subject and determining a position relative to a body of a patient. A base is fixed in relation to the subject. An imaging probe is configured to scan the subject and provide scan images of the subject. An array of receivers is in communication with the base and the imaging probe. A first plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the base and in communication with the array. A second plurality of reference points is fixed in relation to the imaging probe and in communication with the array. A processor in communication with the imaging probe and the array calculates the position in the scan images corresponding to the position of the imaging probe relative to the subject.

Abstract: A modular cooling system adapter for coupling to an orifice and applying pressure from a source of pressurized gas. The adapter includes a universal cooling orifice fitting for attaching the device to cooling system orifices of various sizes and configurations. The universal fitting preferably includes a plurality of steps having outer axially extending surfaces disposed at a slight negative angle to a plane parallel to the axial direction. The adapter may include a pressure adapter for coupling to a source of pressurized gas, such that the pressure adapter can be interchanged with other diagnostic tools including a valve assembly, a valve assembly incorporating a temperature probe and gauge and/or a pressure gauge. Additionally, the cooling system adapter is fully modular in that it allows quick disassembly for replacement of components and interchangeability of diagnostic tools.

Abstract: The present invention describes immobilized haloenamine reagents, immobilized tertiary amides, methods for their preparation, and methods of use.

Abstract: Footwear including a sole for supporting a foot and an upper attached to the sole for covering the foot. The sole and upper define an interior of the footwear sized and shaped for receiving the foot. The upper has an inner surface adapted for engaging the foot when it is received in the interior of the footwear and an outer surface forming an exterior of the footwear. The upper also includes compressible cushioning permitting the upper to conform to the foot when it is received in the interior of the footwear to improve the fit of the footwear. The compressible cushioning is sized, shaped and positioned in the upper to at least partially surround a protrusion extending from the foot and is at least partially omitted from an area of the upper corresponding to the protrusion. Thus, a recess is formed in the upper for accommodating the protrusion to relieve pressure applied to the foot by the upper at the protrusion.

Abstract: An implantable bone distractor is created which grips both sides of a cut bone by the use of screws and plates, then applies an expansion force between the cut bone edges. This force is applied in order to encourage bone growth in the gap formed between the cut bone edges as they are distracted apart. This force is applied with hydraulic jacks, which are actuated using tubes passing through the skin, allowing the controlled application of force between the cut bone edges from external to the body. The distraction may occur in three-dimensions, with each bone segment being distracted within its own plane. The distraction may be further improved by providing substantially continuous distraction of the bone segments over time, allowing for substantially continuous bone growth.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a foldable, self-floating cover system for a body of water. This invention is also directed to a method of using this cover on a body of water, and particularly on a sewage lagoon to reduce the emission of offensive odors and/or gases.

Abstract: Taxanes having a heterosubstituted acetate substituent at C(7), a hydroxy substituent at C(10), and a range of C(2), C(9), C(14), and side chain substituents.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods are described for, first, characterizing a specific category of information content—pornography, for example—and then accurately identifying instances of that category of content within a real-time media stream, such as a web page, e-mail or other digital dataset. This content-recognition technology enables a new class of highly scalable applications to manage such content, including filtering, classifying, prioritizing, tracking etc. An illustrative application of the invention is a software product for use in conjunction with web-browser client software for screening access to web pages that contain pornography or other potentially harmful or offensive content.