Abstract: A telescoping and rolling cover assembly for a barge includes a plurality of cover sections that travel along a track or tracks provided on the barge coaming. The cover sections may be provided with anti-derailment clamps that engage a vertical lip of the barge coaming to prevent the covers from being pulled off the track. The clamps may further be provided with wind latch extensions that secure the cover sections when in a stacked position. The cover sections may be provided with a stacking shelf that provides a surface on which an overlying stacked cover may rest. The cover sections may travel along one or more tracks provided on the sides of the barge coaming. A portion of some cover sections may travel along tracks attached to underlying cover sections. The cover assembly may be made of fiber reinforced plastic.

Abstract: A method of improving sleep in a mammal having a sleep disorder is disclosed. The method includes identifying the mammal having a sleep disorder and then administering Lactobacillus acidophilus CNCM I-2274, Lactobacillus acidophilus CNCM I-2132, Lactobacillus helveticus CNCM I-2275, Streptococcus thermophilus CNCM I-1520, Streptococcus thermophilus CNCM I-2272 or mixtures thereof. The method increases the length of the non rapid eye movement sleep phase and decreases the length of the rapid eye movement sleep phase. The bacteria can be administered in an orally consumable food product or a dietary supplement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holistic sustainable wastewater treatment system that utilizes a bast medium as the attached growth medium. The wastewater treatment system of the present invention (Bast Medium Biological Reactor Treatment System) reduces odors and in-house ammonia levels and increases the overall water quality of organic waste streams. It uses naturally occurring microorganisms to process wastewater and remove odor without chemical augmentation. The Bast Medium Biological Reactor Treatment System is simple, with few moving parts and low maintenance requirements. The invention also relates to a method for treating wastewater using the wastewater treatment system according to the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention describes an inexpensive as well as efficient smart antenna processor for a code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless communications system, such as a 3rd generation (3G) CDMA2000 or W-CDMA system. Separate channel estimation is not required in the present invention, in contrast to a CDMA system with a conventional smart antenna. In addition, the phase distortions due to the different radio frequency (RF) mixers can be automatically compensated in the present invention. Thus, separate phase calibration is not necessary for a smart antenna processor according to the present invention, if the reverse link demodulation is concerned. Furthermore, bit error rate (BER) performance of a CDMA system with the adaptive algorithm in the present invention can be smaller than that of a conventional algorithm, for fading and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) environments.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses assays to identify compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of MIF which catalyzes the tautomerization of MIF-substrates, such as D-dopachrome to DHICA. In general, the assay is conducted in vitro by adding, mixing or combining MIF and a suitable substrate in the presence or absence of a test compound, and measuring the tautomerization of the substrate. The test compounds that inhibit tautomerization in the assay are identified as MIF inhibitors.

Abstract: Compounds having the formula: wherein T is a polycycloalkylidene group (e.g., adamant-2-ylidene); R is a C1-20 alkyl, aralkyl or cycloalkyl group; and Y is a fluorescent chromophore (e.g., m-phenylene), produced by reacting a compound having the formula: with an R-ylating agent (e.g., R2 SO4) in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide in a polar aprotic solvent. Also, compounds having the formula: are produced by reacting a compound having the formula: with wherein X is an electronegative leaving group (e.g., a halogen anion such as chloride ion) in the presence of a Lewis base (e.g., a trialkyl-amine) dissolved in an aprotic organic solvent (e.g., benzene or toluene). Also, compounds having the formula are produced by reacting a compound of the formula with a tetra-O-acylated-O-hexopyranoside halide, then hydrolyzing off the protective acyl groups.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cancer malignancy diagnostic assay comprising obtaining a sample of a body fluid or tissue, performing a sequence identity assay to look for the presence of PFK-2 specific sequences; an anticancer pharmaceutical composition comprising a specific antisense oligonucleotide to the inventive isolated PFK-2 sequence and a pharmaceutically acceptable oligonucleotide carrier; and a method for finding therapeutically active anti-cancer compounds comprising screening compounds for activity to inhibit PFK-2 but not PFK.

Abstract: Devices and methods for fabricating wholly silicon carbide heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) using germanium base doping to produce suitable emitter/base heterojunctions. In one variation, all device layers are are grown epitaxially and the heterojunction is created by introducing a pseudoalloying material, such as germanium, to form a graded implant. In other variations, the device epitaxial layers are 1) grown directly onto a semi-insulating substrate, 2) the semi-insulating epitaxial layer is grown onto a conducting substrate; 3) the subcollector is grown on a lightly doped p-type epitaxial layer grown on a conducting substrate; and 4) the subcollector is grown directly on a conducting substrate. Another variation comprises a multi-finger HBT with bridging conductor connections among emitter fingers. Yet another variation includes growth of layers using dopants other than nitrogent or aluminum.

Abstract: A pseudonise (PN) code acquisition scheme employs all elements of a smart antenna array and an adaptive threshold. The basic structure is the combination of a conventional PN correlation searcher, an adaptive beamformer, and an adaptive threshold setting circuit. During each observation interval, the adaptive beamformer adaptively updates the weight vector for the smart antenna elements using the accumulated received signal despread with trial PN code phase error as input, preferably at the chip rate. A spatially correlated signal is then formed by weighting an accumulated value of the signal received by each antenna in the array over the observation period with the corresponding final weight of smart antenna weight vector as calculated by the adaptive beamformer. This spatially correlated signal is then compared to a threshold to determine whether PN code acquisition has occurred.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation sensitive resin composition which comprises (A) a resin represented by a copolymer comprising recurring units represented by the general formulae (1) or (2) as shown below, and (B) a radiation sensitive acid-generator. The radiation sensitive resin composition has an excellent storage stability and the resist produced from the composition is a chemically amplifiable type sensitive to radiations represented by fartificial ultraviolet rays.

Abstract: A triple-walled underground storage tank is provided with primary, secondary and tertiary walls. Between each two adjacent walls, an annular space is provided. The annular space is continuous throughout, and permits the flow of liquid therein. Monitors may provided separately for each annulus, to detect the formation of leaks, or a lack of containment, in either wall defining the annular space. In one embodiment, the tertiary wall is a smooth cylinder formed about the circumferential ribs of the secondary wall. In the alternative embodiment, the rib-bearing wall is the tertiary wall, and the walls and annular materials of the tank are formed within a female mold. In either case, a tank prepared from integral ribs, with superior robustness and strength, is provided with triple containment.

Abstract: An online monitoring search engine. The invention is a system, method and computer program product that allows an organization, company, or the like to monitor the Internet (or any computer network) for violations of their intellectual property (e.g., patent, trademark or copyright infringement), or monitor how persons on the Internet view their business, products and/or services. The system includes a Web server for receiving search requests and criteria from users on a Web client and a server for searching the Internet for URL's that contain contents matching the search criteria, thereby compiling a list of offending URL's. The system also includes a file system for storing contents from each of the offending URL's and a relational database for allowing the server to perform queries of the content in order to produce a report. The method involves receiving search criteria from a user, searching the Internet, downloading offending contents, and then archiving and scoring the contents.

Abstract: A method for modeling the behavior of an underground structure such as an underground storage tank under seismic loads includes the steps of constructing separate finite element models for the ribs, tank and fill material. The fill material model comprises a plurality of three-dimensional solid “brick” elements. The tank model comprises a plurality of three dimensional plate/shell elements. The rib model comprises a plurality of beam elements. The nodal points for the beam elements correspond to nodes defining one edge of the tank shell. The tank/rib model is preferably joined to the soil model through a plurality of radial link elements between the brick and shell elements. Spring elements may also be added for stability. A dynamic vertical or horizontal forcing function from an earth quake is then applied to the model. Stress and/or displacement results from horizontal and vertical forcing functions may then be combined if desired.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of storing gas using gas hydrates comprising forming gas hydrates in the presence of a water-surfactant solution that comprises water and surfactant. The addition of minor amounts of surfactant increases the gas hydrate formation rate, increases packing density of the solid hydrate mass and simplifies the formation-storage-decomposition process of gas hydrates. The minor amounts of surfactant also enhance the potential of gas hydrates for industrial storage applications.

Abstract: This invention provides a immobilized receptors on supports in liquid chromatographic systems. The method of the invention provides means of evaluating the attachment of agents to receptors comprising the steps of: (a) immobilizing receptors on artificial membrane supports in a column, (b) exposing the supports with the receptors to test agents at varying concentrations in a liquid chromatographic system, (c) eluting the test agent from the column, and (d) evaluating the elution profile of the test materials from the column. Using this method, it is possible to evaluate the interaction of the test agent with the receptor. Following elution, it is possible to directly determine molecular structure by passing the elute through other testing devices such as a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of crystallizing tetrabromobisphenol A is described, which comprises continuously and simultaneously feeding a methanolic tetrabromobisphenol A solution and water separately to a first crystallizer to obtain a slurry in which a part of the tetrabromobisphenol A is crystallized and continuously and simultaneously feeding said slurry and water separately to a second crystallizer to crystallize substantially the whole amount of the tetrabromophisphenol A.

Abstract: There is disclosed a means for standardizing a kit that provides a means for measuring the formation of advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs). The present invention further provides a novel isolate AGE that is antigenic and useful for forming antibodies having utility in diagnostic assays and for standardizing diagnostic assays.

Abstract: A soil- and grass seed-less sod precursor containing a non-woven bio-cellulosic fiber mat and grass sprigs. The sod precursor can be used to produce a soil-free sod which is useful for manufacturing athletic fields, golf courses and lawns.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain phenylheterocyclic compounds, herbicidal compositions thereof and a method for their use as general and selective preemergent or postemergent herbicides or plant growth regulants.

Abstract: Chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetane compounds capable of producing light energy when decomposed, substantially stable at room temperature, represented by the formulas I or II: