Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting device and related methods. The lifting device features a housing with at least two arms that each have engagement cams. The lifting device is placed over a tubular object and then the arms are pulled upwards until the engagement cams are in contact with the tubular object. Once in contact with the tubular object, the force from the arms creates a secure hold between the engagement cams and the object, whereby a user can lift the object and move it from one point to another safely and efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting device and related methods. The lifting device features a housing with at least two arms that each have engagement cams. The lifting device is placed over a tubular object and then the arms are pulled upwards until the engagement cams are in contact with the tubular object. Once in contact with the tubular object, the force from the arms creates a secure hold between the engagement cams and the object, whereby a user can lift the object and move it from one point to another safely and efficiently.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to distinguish among different protein conformers of the same protein such as proteins which form amyloid deposits. Using the methods of the invention, one or more protein conformers in a sample can be detected, differentiated, and quantitated. An example of a protein which is known to exist in at least two conformations is the normal prion protein (PrPC) and its infectious isoform (PrPSc). The invention provides means to distinguish PrPC from PrPSc and allows quantitation of each individually, even when the conformers are present together in a mixture. Thus, the methods of the invention can provide important tools for human and animal health.

Abstract: A communications system reduces downconverter inaccuracies in time-domain measurements or samples of received microwave communications I and Q complex signals by converting received signal to baseband taking measurements or samples of the I and Q waveforms at differing phase shifts of a demodulating carrier signal for a local oscillator or carrier tracking loop used during downconversion so that I and Q imbalances may be detected and removed by lowpass equivalent averaging for improved characterization of downconverters or for improved signal reception. In the preferred form, the phase shifts are 0 and ?/2 for a conventional measurement, and then at ?, and ?+?/2, with ?=?/4+m?/2 for an integer m for the second measurement where I and Q imbalances and baseband nonlinearities are indicated by differences between the two measured or sampled signals, where ? provides for optimum error detection for reducing the errors by averaging the measurements.