Abstract: A sealing system for a covered tank, particularly a fixed gas-sealing tank in a wastewater treatment system, includes a thrust ring positioned just inside the tank rim, secured to a series of radial beams for the cover. Preferably supported on corbels anchored to the interior tank wall, the thrust ring has an outwardly extending generally horizontal flange that overlies the edge of the tank rim. To this flange and to the top of the tank rim is secured a flexible membrane seal, around the periphery of the tank. The membrane seal is easily installed, reliable as a seal, and can be efficiently replaced when needed.

Abstract: A sealing system for a covered tank, particularly a fixed gas-sealing tank in a wastewater treatment system, includes a thrust ring positioned just inside the tank rim, secured to a series of radial beams for the cover. Preferably supported on corbels anchored to the interior tank wall, the thrust ring has an outwardly extending generally horizontal flange that overlies the edge of the tank rim. To this flange and to the top of the tank rim is secured a flexible membrane seal, around the periphery of the tank. The membrane seal is easily installed, reliable as a seal, and can be efficiently replaced when needed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable storage media relate to generating one or more consensus sequences. The methods may include determining a group of one or more reads with each main position without diversity from a group of one or more aligned reads based on diversity status of each main position, each group including sequence data disposed at a plurality of main positions and a plurality of secondary position regions disposed adjacent to the main positions. The methods may also include determining legitimate sequence data from each second position region having one or more nucleotides for each group of one or more reads without diversity; and generating a consensus sequence including sequence data disposed at each main position without diversity and legitimate sequence data disposed at each secondary position region for each group of one or more reads with each main position without diversity.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable storage media relate to generating one or more consensus sequences. The methods may include determining a group of one or more reads with each main position without diversity from a group of one or more aligned reads based on diversity status of each main position, each group including sequence data disposed at a plurality of main positions and a plurality of secondary position regions disposed adjacent to the main positions. The methods may also include determining legitimate sequence data from each second position region having one or more nucleotides for each group of one or more reads without diversity; and generating a consensus sequence including sequence data disposed at each main position without diversity and legitimate sequence data disposed at each secondary position region for each group of one or more reads with each main position without diversity.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel and advantageous methods for identifying amino acid sequences in random peptide libraries that can bind to Gag polypeptides. The subject invention also establishes a novel in vitro system that can be used to test competitive inhibitors of retroviral capsid assembly. Also provided are peptides, and compositions containing these peptides, which are inhibitors of the retrovirus Gag protein(s) function. Chimeric Gag polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel and advantageous methods for identifying amino acid sequences in random peptide libraries that can bind to Gag polypeptides. The subject invention also establishes a novel in vitro system that can be used to test competitive inhibitors of retrovrial capsid assembly. Also provided are peptides, and compositions containing these peptides, which are inhibitors of the retrovirus Gag protein(s) function. Chimeric Gag polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel and advantageous methods for identifying amino acid sequences in random peptide libraries that can bind to Gag polypeptides. The subject invention also establishes a novel in vitro system that can be used to test competitive inhibitors of retrovrial capsid assembly. Also provided are peptides, and compositions containing these peptides, which are inhibitors of the retrovirus Gag protein(s) function. Chimeric Gag polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Novel vectors are capable of producing MPMV (Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus) proteins but not of packaging MPMV RNA, and the information about the packaging signal in MPMV and HIV can be used to create MPMV and HIV vectors that are capable of transferring foreign genes, e.g. for use in gene therapy.

Abstract: A novel retroviral nucleotide sequence comprising a constitutive transport enhancer which functions to transport mRNA transcripts from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell, wherein the mRNA transcript is either differentially spliced, alternatively spliced, incompletely spliced, or unspliced. Additionally disclosed are methods of using the constitutive transport enhancer to screen agents for antiviral activity against rev-dependent HIV proteins by expressing the proteins in a rev-negative subgenomic construct containing the enhancer either in the presence of absence of the agent.

Abstract: Novel vectors are capable of producing MPMV (Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus) proteins but not of packaging MPMV RNA, and the information about the packaging signal in MPMV and HIV can be used to create MPMV and HIV vectors that are capable of transferring foreign genes, e.g. for use in gene therapy.

Abstract: A novel retroviral nucleotide sequence comprising a constitutive transport enhancer which functions to transport mRNA transcripts from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell, wherein the mRNA transcript is either differentially spliced, alternatively spliced, incompletely spliced, or unspliced. Also disclosed is a recombinant attenuated HIV containing only structural proteins gag, pol, and env, wherein the expression of the structural proteins is rev-independent and facilitated by the constitutive transport enhancer.

Abstract: A pond for the storage of hazardous materials, such as irradiated nuclear fuel elements, under water. Upper (8) and lower (6) impervious membranes extend without interruption beneath the floor (1) of the pond and the edges of the membranes lead into a trench (9) surrounding the pond. Any leakage through the floor is directed normally by the upper membrane (8) into the trench (9). The lower membrane (6) provides an additional impervious barrier in the event of a leak in the upper membrane (8) and again directs the leakage into the trench thereby avoiding contamination of the ground beneath the pond.

Abstract: In the extrusion of a material, which can be a metal feedstock, through a die means by maintaining frictional engagement of the material with passageway defining surfaces of a member which is moved towards the die means such that frictional drag of the passageway defining surfaces urges the material through the die means, the improvement of enhancing the resultant available extrusion force by either increasing said frictional drag or reducing the frictional resistance to movement of said material relative to non-moving parts of said passageway, or a combination of both.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing extrusion has a rotatable wheel member with an endless groove in its periphery, a second member fixed relative to the wheel member and co-operating therewith to define a passageway therebetween, an abutment member fixed relative to the wheel member and projecting into said groove to block it, die orifice means associated positionally with said abutment member and leading from said passageway, and means for prestressing the material constituting at least the walls of the endless groove for avoiding any fatigue failure problems of the wheel member.