Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a wheeled platform and an insulated container. The wheeled platform includes a base and a plurality of wheels mounted to the base for rolling movement of the platform. The insulated container includes an inflatable wall and a valve for inflating of the wall. The insulated container is disposed on the base in fixed disposition relative to the base for safe transportation of the insulated container on the wheeled platform.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a wheeled platform and an insulated container configured to be selectively coupled to, and uncoupled from, the wheeled platform. The wheeled platform includes a base, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base for rolling movement of the platform and a first coupling component fixedly disposed on the base. The insulated container includes a second coupling component fixedly disposed on the container. The first and second coupling components are disengaged from one another when the insulated container is uncoupled from the wheeled platform. The first and second coupling components are disposed in interlocking engagement when the insulated container is coupled to the wheeled platform, whereby the insulated container is securely coupled to the wheeled platform in fixed disposition relative thereto for safe transportation on the wheeled platform.

Abstract: An embossing seal includes a frame, a die exposed at an underside of the frame, and a handle connected to the frame, the handle being movable between an extended position and a depressed position. The embossing seal includes an impact element movable from a first position in contact with the die to a second position spaced from the die, and a spring coupled with the impact element for normally urging the impact element into the first position, the spring being deflectable for storing energy. The embossing seal also has a lever linking the handle to the impact element. In operation, movement of the handle from the extended position toward the depressed position causes the lever to move the impact element from the first position to the second position for deflecting and storing energy in the spring.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a base, an insulated container having an interior, insulated space for receiving and preserving perishable food items, and an air pump. A lid of the insulated container and, specifically, an exterior surface of the lid of the insulated container defines an air pump receiving area for receiving and retaining the air pump.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a base, a handle attached to the base at a first location, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base for rolling movement of the base by the handle, and an insulated container having sidewalls supported by the base and defining an interior, insulated space for receiving and preserving perishable food items. The handle is removably attached to the base such that the handle is detachable and removable from the base. The base is configured to receive and retain the handle at a second location when the handle is detached from the base at the first location. The handle generally extends upwardly from the base when attached to the base at the first location and generally extends horizontally relative to the base when attached at the second location.

Abstract: Current specifications/proposals use client provisioning or device management for provisioning bearer-specific configuration and application-specific configuration of communication devices. A proxy management object (MO) can, for example, set up tunnels according to particular protocols between application MOs and a generic connectivity MO. A communication device's application configuration can then refer to such a proxy MO, and the proxy MO can refer to the connectivity MO. This enables addition of functionality like virtual private network and wireless local area network functionality without affecting the connectivity MO or the different application MOs.

Abstract: A stacked arrangement of travel coolers including a plurality of travel coolers arranged in a series of stacking pairs and a method of stacking the travel coolers. Each travel cooler includes a base with a bottom surface, a pair of wheels mounted to the base, an insulated container, a front end of the base and a rear end of the base. Each stacking pair includes an upper travel cooler disposed on top of a lower travel cooler. The bottom surface of the base of the upper travel cooler rests upon the bottom surface of the base of the lower travel cooler. Alternatively, a surface of a lid of the upper travel cooler rests upon a surface of a lid of the lower travel cooler. The front end of the upper travel cooler is disposed over and generally aligned with the rear end of the lower travel cooler.

Abstract: A travel cooler includes a base, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base for rolling movement of the base and an insulated container having sidewalls supported by the base and defining an interior, insulated space for receiving and preserving perishable food items. The base includes a portion that extends beyond at least one of the sidewalls to define a cargo receiving area for receiving items for transport. Additionally, or alternatively, an arm member is mounted to the base and configured to move between a retracted position to define a cargo receiving area and a protracted position substantially eliminating the cargo receiving area. Alternatively, a travel cooler includes a bracket removably mounted to an insulated container. The bracket defines the cargo receiving area for receiving items for transport exterior to the insulated container.

Abstract: A process for purifying glycerin recovered as a byproduct of biodiesel production comprises heating a glycerin effluent stream containing a low molecular weight alcohol, water and fatty acid esters of the low molecular weight alcohol to cause transesterification of the fatty acid esters to glycerides and additional low molecular weight alcohol. The reaction mixture is sparged with nitrogen to help remove water and low molecular weight alcohol, which drives the transesterification reaction towards glyceride formation. A wash water stream may also be added to the recovered glycerin stream from biodiesel production. Either before or following the transesterification reaction, an oil layer can be separated from the recovered glycerin stream by reducing the pH of the stream to below 7. Following separation of the oil layer and transesterification the glycerin stream is flash distilled to separate glycerin from water, salts, and glycerides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in-process handling of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide (“CHP”) in a process for the production of phenol and acetone by the decomposition of CHP. The method of the present invention makes use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger as a vessel to accumulate a working volume of concentrated CHP from a distillation unit. Concentrated CHP is then fed to a decomposer unit from the accumulated working volume. Use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger improves safety over designs that make use of an unmodified tank or drum.

Abstract: Increasing performance of planar inductors used in broadband applications is described. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a high Quality factor (Q) value spiral planar inductor etched directly into a printed circuit board. A ferrite structure is attached to the printed circuit board and located in proximity to the high Q value spiral planar inductor. The ferrite structure increases the Q of spiral planar inductors, but without the inconvenience and expense of a wire wound terroidal inductors. Various shaped ferrite structures may be used in conjuction with the spiral planar inductors. Additionally, in certain implementations, the ferrite structures are configured to rotate about axis permitting the inductors to be tuned, even after components have been installed on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A link assembly forming a 6 bar linkage is integrally combined with a spring having a laterally coiled strand to form a hinge that is particularly well adapted to be installed in a small footprint. Such a unit is well adapted for installation within a peripheral channel of a vehicle body opening and to prop the closure in its open position. The present invention also provides a method for reducing packaging footprint of a vehicle closure hinge by integrating the 6 bar linkage with the laterally coiled strand, and selecting a strand shaping to reduce radial dimension of the coil and the coil cross-section while maximizing the radial dimension of material in the strand.

Abstract: A method of increasing the thermal stability of an aqueous wellbore fluid that includes a viscosifying agent, involves formulating the wellbore fluid so as to include an effective amount of a thermal stability compound selected from the group of gallic acid, gallow tannins, esters of gallic acid, salts of gallic acid and combinations of these compounds. The inclusion of the thermal stability agent surprisingly enhances the ability of the wellbore fluid to maintain viscosity and fluid loss properties upon exposure to high temperatures. Preferably the thermal stability agent is gallic acid or substantially pure 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid. The concentration of the thermal stability compound is from about 0.1% by weight to about 10% by weight of the wellbore fluid. The wellbore fluid is formulated to include a viscosifying agent such as starch, schleroglucans, guar gums, polyacrylates, xanthan gum, and combinations of these and similar compounds.

Abstract: A radio base station does not broadcast service information without a request from a mobile radio terminal. When a mobile radio enters or approaches a coverage area of the base station, it transmits a service information request in or near the radio coverage area. The service information is associated with the radio coverage area. When the base station receives the request for service information from the mobile radio, the base station then selectively transmits the service information to the mobile radio, either immediately or after some exchange between the mobile radio and the base station. The service information allows the mobile radio to determine whether the mobile terminal is permitted to obtain service from the radio base station. The base station does not usually broadcast service information in the radio coverage area independently of a request from a mobile radio thereby conserving resources and reducing interference.

Abstract: One or more radio characteristics are considered to determine selection of one or more of the following: interleaving scheme, channel coding scheme, modulation scheme, and/or transmission scheme. Accounting for these factors and interdependencies improves performance in a mobile radio communications system. One example performance measure is throughput over the radio interface.

Abstract: System for measuring a parameter within a closed surrounding, which system includes an apparatus containing a sensor for sensing the parameter and for delivering a sensor signal related to the parameter; an electronic circuit for processing the sensor signal into a measurement value; a transponder, connected to the electronic circuit, which transponder after reception of an external activation signal activates the electronic circuit and the sensor and thereafter transmits the measurement value supplied by the measuring circuit, the system including furthermore a scanning unit for generating and transmitting the activation signal and for receiving the transmitted measurement value whereby the apparatus furthermore contains a housing in which the sensor, the electronic circuit and the transponder are installed, the housing having normalised connecting part for connecting the housing to the closed surrounding and for enabling the sensor to sense the parameter, the housing being otherwise hermetically closed such

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the characterization and use of novel peptide from Brevibacillus sp., and peptides related thereto, including an isolated and purified, heat stable, amino terminus-methylated, carboxy-terminus reduced peptide that have two or more D-amino acids used as, e.g., an antimicrobial or even a feed additive.

Abstract: A vehicle closure hinge includes a mount having a pivot axis flange, a pivot link, a pivot coupling the pivot link to the pivot axis flange and a spring formed by a laterally coiled strand extending from a first coil end to a second coil end in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of displacement about the pivot axis. The coil size, the strand size and the number of coils can be varied as desired to vary the spring biasing force exerted against the vehicle closure without varying other components of the hinge. The hinge parts may be designed with various configurations including simple pivoting links or a four bar linkage. A strand end of the coil spring extends along the direction of the coil to a position at a first coil end to maintain biasing force near the plane of displacement about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A method of arranging microspheres with liquid, a microsphere arranging device, and a semiconductor device are provided. The method comprising the steps of placing the semiconductor device with a large number of pads with holes, on a loading table with a variable tilt angle, and pouring microspheres together with conductive liquid held in a holding container onto the semiconductor device. The microspheres are storably placed in the holes on the pads of the semiconductor device. The non-stored microspheres and conductive liquid are accumulated in a receiving tank, and the conductive liquid including the accumulated microspheres are transferred to the holding container by a pump.