Abstract: A retractable under-guard, for example for dual-purpose trucks that travel on-road and off-road, provides impact protection to other vehicles colliding with the truck, but is raised for off-road travel to avoid obstacles. The under-guard connects by a frame wrap to horizontal frame beam(s) of many different trucks and does not hang down in its retracted position to an extent that it interferes with off-road travel. For entering the road, the guard frame pivots downward to the desired position at or near the outer perimeter of the truck, and typically about half way between the truck frame and the ground in the space into which a lower vehicle would enter in a collision. Hook and pin systems, and/or impact plates, maintain the under-guard in proper position upon an impact. The under-guard system may automatically deploy above a predetermined truck speed, to ensure deployment when the truck re-enters the roads.

Abstract: Devices and methods provide for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure. Embodiments include a clamp having an upper frame arm, a lower frame arm and a clamp assembly, and further include a clamp with a knob assembly and a pressure monitor assembly. Differently sized bushing adapters can be interchangeably employed with a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped.

Abstract: A cementitious clumping material is provided and in particular to an animal litter formed therefrom. The cementitious clumping material includes a mixture of particulate, cement, and a cellulosic material. The cementitious clumping material in some embodiments contains a dust control agent, a polyol, or combinations thereof. The cementitious clumping material is pourable into a litter box and agglomerates into a clump upon contact with urine or other liquid forming a clump having a percentage of maximal strength greater than 95% upon clump formation, and having a clump strength of greater than greater than 250 kg/cm2. The clump is further capable of removal with a perforated scoop after as little as one minute of formation.

Abstract: In the use of devices and methods for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure, a clamp is provided with arms, an optional external spring, an optional internal spring and a torque knob for applying constant and measurable pressure to the article. Embodiments of the clamp include a spring rod engaged with the torque knob for assisting in applying and retaining desired pressure. Spike elements and a bushing insert are secured to the ends of the arms for retaining the article in place during use. The elements are advantageously assembled and disassembled to facilitate thorough and quick cleaning.

Abstract: In the use of devices and methods for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure, differently sized and configured clamp bushing adapters can be interchangeably employed with, and removably secured to, a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped. Embodiments of an installation cap can also be provided to assist with proper setup and operation by, for example, removably covering spike elements associated with a working surface of embodiments of the device.

Abstract: A liquid fertilizer adjuvant composition is provided that includes a fertilizer, a pH buffering agent, a surfactant, and one or more color indicator that produce a first color change that indicates when an pre-selected first level of field treatment has been achieved. The composition is provided as a single solution. A second color change occurs when a pre-selected second, higher level of field treatment is required. The color change indicative of a pre-selected pH, water hardness, or a combination of both. The composition is particular well suited for inclusion of a urea fertilizer.

Abstract: A pig loader device can include a breech assembly having a chamber body, a ramrod compartment, a breech, and a neck. A ramrod having a push plate, a rod, and a breech plate may be disposed within the ramrod compartment and configured to slideably traverse the ramrod compartment and the breech. In use, the device can be connected to an ancillary pipe via the neck, and a pig may be placed within the breech and aligned be to be slid within the breech and neck upon engagement with the ramrod to facilitate pigging operations of a pipeline. The ramrod may then be forced forward to an extended position, thereby urging the pig through the neck to be seated within the pipe. The device may then be detached from the pipe to enable continued pigging operations.

Abstract: Methods for interpretation of mass spectrometric tests for clinical biomarkers in which the amounts of internal standards are set to equal clinical evaluation thresholds, and preparations for adding stable isotope labeled peptide species to sample digests while minimizing losses and alterations in peptide stoichiometry.

Abstract: A liquid dosing device for use with a liquid dispenser that includes a container for holding liquid in communication with a dispenser base, an outlet port for dispensing the liquid. The liquid dosing device includes a valve housing, a reservoir and a dosing cup. The valve housing is mounted to the dispenser base and includes an open top, an outlet port and a blocking region. The reservoir is mounted within the valve housing and includes at least one inlet port in communication with the dispenser base outlet port and at least one outlet port. The dosing cup is movably mounted within the valve housing in fluid communication with the reservoir and includes at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir outlet port, a blocking region, at least one outlet port and mechanism for moving the dosing cup between a fill position and a dose position to prevent spillage of the liquid being dispensed, or to dispense the liquid in defined quantities.

Abstract: A clamping structure configured to be secured about at least two pipes to securely hold the pipes adjacent each other during a pipeline assembly operation is disclosed. The device can be further used to adjust the relative positions of the two pipes and maintain the relative positions while the pipes are caused to be permanently affixed to each other. Some embodiments can include a clamping structure with a plurality of hingedly engaged clamp members and at least one spatial adjustment mechanism extending therefrom, the configurations of which may provide weld-access points that are conducive to the pipeline assembly operation.

Abstract: A granularized sulfonated humate powder material is provided that includes a sulfonated cationic humate composed of at least one of humic acid, fulvic acid, or a combination thereof in the form of granules of from 0.1 to 6 millimeters in size. The humate powder material is water soluble with limited dusting and the ability to form a concentrated solution for application. A process of formulating the sulfonated potassium humate powder in granular form includes a lignin or lignosulfonate being metered into a powder of sulfonated potassium humate to allow for granulation without a solubilizing the powder by matching a lignin particle size to a particle sizing of said powder. The lignin or lignosulfonate and the powder are mixed into the granular form with a granule size of 0.1 to 6 millimeters.

Abstract: A control method of a machine tool includes the steps of: determining a raised height, and determining a maneuvering height; causing the tool to move horizontally to a machining position; causing the tool to move vertically to a machining height to machine the workpiece; causing the tool to move vertically to the raised height, and when the tool is at the maneuvering height, causing the tool to move horizontally to a next machining position while the tool is moving vertically; causing the tool to move vertically to the maneuvering height while the tool is moving horizontally to the next machining position; and causing the tool to move vertically to the machining height to machine the workpiece.

Abstract: A granularized sulfonated humate powder material is provided that includes a sulfonated cationic humate composed of at least one of humic acid, fulvic acid, or a combination thereof in the form of granules of from 0.1 to 6 millimeters in size. The humate powder material is water soluble with limited dusting and the ability to form a concentrated solution for application. A process of formulating the sulfonated potassium humate powder in granular form includes a lignin or lignosulfonate being metered into a powder of sulfonated potassium humate to allow for granulation without a solubilizing the powder by matching a lignin particle size to a particle sizing of said powder. The lignin or lignosulfonate and the powder are mixed into the granular form with a granule size of 0.1 to 6 millimeters.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an economical flow-through method for determining amount of target proteins in a sample. An antibody preparation (whether polyclonal or monoclonal, or any equivalent specific binding agent) is used to capture and thus enrich a specific monitor peptide (a specific peptide fragment of a protein to be quantitated in a proteolytic digest of a complex protein sample) and an internal standard peptide (the same chemical structure but including stable isotope labels). Upon elution into a suitable mass spectrometer, the natural (sample derived) and internal standard (isotope labeled) peptides are quantitated, and their measured abundance ratio used to calculate the abundance of the monitor peptide, and its parent protein, in the initial sample.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus may include a conductive planar structure having a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of cutout portions. The plurality of cutout portions may define a combiner circuit including an output interface and including a combiner circuit coupled between each of the plurality of antenna elements and the output interface.

Abstract: A water soluble liquid fertilizer concentrate is provided that includes a bio-available phosphorus source, said phosphorus source consisting essentially of a phosphite salt. At least one of a bio-available nitrogen source and a bio-available potassium source are also provided. At least one micronutrient of calcium, magnesium, cobalt, iron, manganese, copper, boron, zinc, or molybdenum is present in the concentrate as an aqueous solute or soluble chelates. In some embodiments, the at least one phosphite salt is present at between 30 to 57 total weight percent dissolved in water and optionally contains a phosphate salt. A process of fertilizing a crop includes diluting the fertilizer concentrate with water to obtain a liquid fertilizer solution. The liquid fertilizer solution is then applied to the crop and after by allowing sufficient time, the fertilizer solution promotes growth of the crop.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration ratio in a sample of a target peptide to a reference peptide that is chemically identical with the target peptide, but labeled by isotopes, acquires mass spectra of the target and reference peptides. One of a plurality of families of superimposed bell-shaped curves which is a best fit to ion current peak groups of the target and reference peptides in the mass spectra is determined by varying parameters of the families. In each family, each bell-shaped curve has a predetermined height, the curves have fixed distances from each other and the relative curve heights and curve distances in the families are individually calculated from an elemental composition of the peptides and an isotope abundance distribution of elements composing the peptides, taking into account purity of the isotopes. The concentration ratio is then determined from the parameters of the best fit.

Abstract: A water-dispersible particle is provided that has a crystalline matrix formed of a potassium salt, a phosphate salt, of a combination thereof. Embedded in the matrix are at least 100 insoluble granules of at least one macronutrient or micronutrient. The granules, and the matrix present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces in a time period of up to 1 hour. A process of forming a fertilizer particle includes the granulation of a quantity of insoluble material to a size where the majority by weight is between 0.02 and 3 millimeters to from granules. The granules are agglomerated into the fertilizer particle containing at least 100 of the granules with a solution of a potassium salt, a phosphate salt, of a combination thereof through solvent removal to form the crystalline matrix in which the granules are embedded.

Abstract: In the use of devices and methods for measuring applied pressure on an article, such as a patella construct during a surgical procedure, differently sized and configured clamp bushing adapters can be interchangeably employed with, and removably secured to, a clamp stem to adapt to the relative sizes of objects being clamped. Embodiments of an installation cap can also be provided to assist with proper setup and operation by, for example, removably covering spike elements associated with a working surface of embodiments of the device.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an economical flow-through method for determining amount of target proteins in a sample. An antibody preparation (whether polyclonal or monoclonal, or any equivalent specific binding agent) is used to capture and thus enrich a specific monitor peptide (a specific peptide fragment of a protein to be quantitated in a proteolytic digest of a complex protein sample) and an internal standard peptide (the same chemical structure but including stable isotope labels). Upon elution into a suitable mass spectrometer, the natural (sample derived) and internal standard (isotope labeled) peptides are quantitated, and their measured abundance ratio used to calculate the abundance of the monitor peptide, and its parent protein, in the initial sample.