Abstract: Methods for treating a host suffering from a chronic immune disease, e.g., MS or CFS, are provided. In practicing the subject methods, an effective amount of an elastase inhibitory agent, e.g., a ?-lactam containing compound, is administered to the host. Also provided are compositions for use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to fuel tanks including features for capturing vapors displaced during a filling process. In an embodiment, the invention includes a fuel tank including a housing defining an interior volume; an inflow conduit providing fluid communication between the outside of the housing and the interior volume; a check-valve coupled to the inflow conduit, the check-valve configured to allow fuel to flow through the check-valve into the interior volume but prevent the flow of gases from the interior volume to the outside of the housing; an expansion member configured to reversibly change in volume; and a vent conduit providing fluid communication between the expansion member and the interior volume of the housing. Other embodiments are also described herein.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular weight Actin protein fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity and/or characterize disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial disease involving abnormal levels of cellular apoptosis diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: An article of manufacture (there is no known previous technology) for use in marketing, advertising, and promotion, known as the “Fan-Express” for displaying a driver's support and/or affiliation with a sports team, university, private club, business, religious institution, political party or candidate, or displaying any message on electronic toll collection devices that are mounted on the windshields of motor vehicles that is uniquely designed so that it requires no glue, adhesive, or similar substance to afix to the electronic toll collection device.

Abstract: Method for processing seismic data to correct for errors caused by variation in water conditions.

Abstract: Method for processing seismic data to correct for errors caused by variation in water conditions.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Method for processing seismic data to correct for errors caused by variation in water conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and kits for the diagnosis and confirmation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) by measuring elastase activity in a patient sample, preferably a PBMC sample. The assays of the invention can also be used to characterize CFS, to determine the disease stage, the disease progression, the efficiency of a therapeutic regime and/or to predict the recurrence of possible attacks. The assays of the invention advantageously allow CFS to be distinguished from other CICIDs like MS or RA.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for use in the diagnosis and treatment of a host suffering from a chronic immune disease. In the diagnostic methods of the subject invention, a host derived sample, typically PBMC or a derivative thereof is assayed for the presence of low molecular weight fragments of RNase L, typically in conjunction with an evaluation of caspase activity. The results of this assay are then employed to diagnose and/or characterize a chronic immune disease in the host. In the treatment methods of the subject invention, an effective amount of agent capable of enhancing RNase L homodimer activity in the host, e.g., in host PBMC, is administered to the host. Also provided are methods for identifying agents having RNase L cleavage-inhibitory activity or RNase L fragment antagonist activity.

Abstract: Structural assembly of part of an aircraft and aircraft, particularly a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising such a structural assembly. The structural assembly comprises an outer structure (3) equipped with a floor (4), a cladding assembly (5) comprising cladding panels (6) forming a self-supporting envelope (7) which is arranged inside (9) the outer structure (3) and mounted on the floor (4), and a connecting system (10) for connecting the self-supporting envelope (7) to the outer structure (3). The connecting system (10) comprises a number of connecting means (11) which, by rigid and permanent connections, fix the self-supporting envelope (7) to the outer structure (3) and perform this rigid and permanent fixing only between the floor (4) of the outer structure (3) and ends (12) of cladding panels (6) of the self-supporting envelope (7).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for transforming image data from a present format to a requested format. A request for the image data is received wherein the request includes a requested format, the requested format includes a first plurality of parameters. A present format for the image data is determined in response to receiving a request for the image data, wherein the present format includes a second plurality of parameters describing the image data. The first plurality of parameters within the requested format is compared to the second plurality of parameters within the present format describing the image data, wherein each parameter within the first plurality of parameters corresponds to a parameter within the second plurality of parameters. Parameters from the first and second plurality of parameters are identified, wherein a match between a parameter within the first plurality of parameters and a corresponding parameter within the second plurality of parameters is absent.

Abstract: A first tube (1) is axially slitted (2) in order to be elastically compressible. The end portion of the first tube (1) has exterior convexly curved engagement formations (3) on the tube tubs formed by the slit (2). The tube tubs (11) can be elastically compressed in order to be introduced through a fitting mantle opening (8) in a second tube element (7). The opening (8) has a width, which is less than the inner diameter of the second tube element (7), and thereby defines internal engagement formations which cooperate with the external engagement formations (3) on the first tube element (1). The tube elements (1, 7) can simply be connected and detached by elastic compression of the tube tubs (11) and axial displacement of the first tube element (1).

Abstract: Structural assembly of part of an aircraft and aircraft, particularly a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising such a structural assembly.

Abstract: A power cut-off device comprises first and second electronic switching devices (FETs T2 and T1) which are cross-coupled so that when one switching device is on the other is off and vice versa, and a load (11) to be protected is connectable in series with the first switching device (FET T2). If the current through the first switching device (FET T2) exceeds a certain value, caused for example by a short circuit at the load, the second switching device (FET T1) is turned on to turn the first switching device off.

Abstract: A traffic control device has a base (14) and a sign (16) rotatably carried by the base. The sign has at least two sides, one of which bears a "GO" indication and the other a "STOP" indication. A radio control means (11) causes a motor in the base to position the sign with the "GO" and "STOP" sides alternately in substantially the same angular position relative to the base.

Abstract: The invention pertains to granules which incorporate citric acid monohydrate as an exotherm control agent within a peracid containing core. The granules have improved dissolution rates of the peracid in a dishwashing cycle. Compositions containing the granules are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making uniformly-sized and predictably-spaced droplets or solid microspheres from high-temperature or other liquids. Liquid droplet generators having electromechanical driving elements are coupled to a power supply to apply pulsed excitation forces through a wall of a delivery tube to a liquid, e.g., a liquid metal, epoxy, or polymer. The excitation forces generated by the driver induce capillary vibrations in the liquid within the delivery tube, which breaks the stream into substantially uniformly-sized liquid droplets shortly after leaving the orifice. Droplets may be produced in a uniformly-spaced series, or individually on demand in response to a single burst of force from the driving element. If solid microspheres are desired, the trajectory of the emitted droplets is determined to permit the solidification prior to catching or collecting the microspheres.

Abstract: Nitrocellulose of reduced molecular weight produced from stabilized nitrocellulose in presence of a damping agent, e.g., water, by means of an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation in the range of about 1.0 to 50 megarads at ambient temperature.