Abstract: An electrical insulator for use with a rail fastening clip comprises a contact member providing on one side a substantially flat rail contact surface for contacting a foot of a rail and on the opposing side a clip contact surface for contacting a rail bearing surface of a bearing portion of the clip, the insulator also having retaining means for retaining the insulator on the clip in such a way as to allow rotation of the insulator about a longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip. The insulator has stop portions for limiting such rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip to a desired extent. The clip contact surface of the insulator is convex, in a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip, such that, when the insulator is attached to a clip having a flat rail bearing surface, a contact region between the flat rail bearing surface of the clip and the clip contact surface of the insulator is linear.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for effecting gene silencing (e.g., post transcriptional gene silencing) in an organism by targeting 15-20 nucleotides of mRNA.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of methods for achieving enhanced expression from a target nucleotide sequence in a plant e.g. comprising the step of transiently introducing into a tissue of a plant (e.g. a leaf) a first nucleic acid comprising the target nucleotide sequence and a second nucleic acid encoding a Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) suppressor protein (preferably of viral or plant origin), wherein the first and second nucleic acids are comprised within a single binary vector, construct, or the first and second nucleic acid sequences are comprised within a first binary vector and a second binary vector construct respectively. The plant tissue may then be harvested for the protein. Such methods can give much higher levels of gene expression than are obtainable using stable transgenes, or certain replicating vectors.

Abstract: A navigation and location system including an inertial navigation unit, a global positioning system, a control system, and a machine readable recording medium storing a plurality of non-transitory machine readable instructions adapted to determine a desired orientation of a sensor at a desired point with respect to the Earth based on determination of orientation of a reference axis of a sensor with respect to locations of multiple points and relationships between the multiple points with a significant degree of accuracy using non-magnetic directional sensing, orientation sensing comprising position determinations via the GPS, orientation data acquired from said inertial navigation unit, and a sequence of measurements along a displaced path including said position determinations and said orientation data. An additional embodiment can include a remote sensing system for remote sensing of an object of interest.

Abstract: A hard weld overlay which is resistant to cracking when re-heated, and a method for designing such alloys, is disclosed. The alloys are able to resist re-heat cracking through prevention of the precipitation and/or growth of embrittling carbide, borides, or borocarbides at elevated temperatures. In one embodiment, the thermodynamics of the alloy system possess only primary carbides and secondary ferrite carbides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are iron-based alloys having a microstructure comprising a fine-grained ferritic matrix and having a 60+ Rockwell C surface, wherein the ferritic matrix comprises <10 ?m carbide precipitates. Also disclosed are methods of welding comprising forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay coating with such an iron-based alloy. Also disclosed are families of alloys capable of forming crack-free weld overlays after multiple welding passes.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for screening for the occurrence of gene silencing (e.g., post transcriptional gene silencing) in an organism. Also provided are methods for isolating silencing agents so identified.

Abstract: Cells that have been exogenously supplied with short RNA molecules to effect posttranscriptional gene silencing are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are iron-based alloys having a microstructure comprising a fine-grained ferritic matrix and having a 60+ Rockwell C surface, wherein the ferritic matrix comprises <10 ?m Nb and W carbide precipitates. Also disclosed are methods of welding comprising forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay coating with such an iron-based alloy. Also disclosed are methods of designing an alloy capable of forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay, the methods comprising the steps of determining an amorphous forming epicenter composition, determining a variant composition having a predetermined change in constituent elements from the amorphous forming epicenter composition, and forming and analyzing an alloy having the variant composition.

Abstract: A tooth separator apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a tong having two resilient arms that are biased in an open position and having a wedge at each end of each arm. A drive shaft moves a compression member to overcome the resiliency of the arms and move them and the wedges in a closing direction for separating the teeth. The drive shaft can also move the compression member in the opposite direction to release the closing force on the arms and thereby permit their resiliency to allow them and the wedges to move to an open position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a macromolecule having a controlled terminal group stoichiometry, the macromolecule including a surface layer, at least one subsurface layer and at least two terminal groups including: a first terminal group which is a residue of a pharmaceutically active agent, a derivative thereof or precursor therefor; and a second terminal group selected to modify the pharmacokinetics of the pharmaceutically active agent and/or macromolecule, wherein terminal group stoichiometry refers to the number and type of terminal groups.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-magnetic metal alloy compositions and applications that relate to non-magnetic metal alloys with excellent wear properties for use in dynamic three-body tribological wear environments where an absence of magnetic interference is required. In one aspect, the disclosure can relate to a drilling component for use in directional drilling applications capable of withstanding service abrasion. In a second aspect, a hardbanding for protecting a drilling component for use in directional drilling can be provided. In a third aspect, a method for prolonging service life of a drilling component for use in directional drilling can be provided.

Abstract: A communication and speech enhancement system featuring a first transducer designed to be temporarily affixed to a human such as a hospital patient to convert the audible vibrations of human speech into an electrical signal. The transducer provides this electrical signal to one or more electronic modules which modify and enhance the signal. The enhanced signal may then be amplified and converted back into audible sound by means of a second transducer. A user of the system controls the electronic modules through a user interface. In an embodiment, one or both of the user interface and second transducer feature smooth surfaces amenable to cleaning and sterilizing with liquid agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are iron-based alloys having a microstructure comprising a fine-grained ferritic matrix and having a 60+ Rockwell C surface, wherein the ferritic matrix comprises <20 ?m Nb and W carbide precipitates. Also disclosed are methods of welding comprising forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay coating with such an iron-based alloy. Also disclosed are methods of designing an alloy capable of forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay, the methods comprising the steps of determining an amorphous forming epicenter composition, determining a variant composition having a predetermined change in constituent elements from the amorphous forming epicenter composition, and forming and analyzing an alloy having the variant composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are iron-based alloys having a microstructure comprising a fine-grained ferritic matrix and having a 60+ Rockwell C surface, wherein the ferritic matrix comprises <10 ?m carbide precipitates. Also disclosed are methods of welding comprising forming a crack free hardbanding weld overlay coating with such an iron-based alloy. Also disclosed are families of alloys capable of forming crack-free weld overlays after multiple welding passes.

Abstract: A tooth separator apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a tong having two arms constructed of a resilient material and having a wedge disposed at each end. An expander member is coupled to the two arms, and a drive shaft is coupled to the expander member. When a user moves or rotates the drive shaft, the expander member is moved into a position which causes the two arms and wedges to separate by a distance sufficient to permit the wedges to be inserted in a patient's mouth and positioned adjacent to two teeth that are to be separated. When the user rotates the drive shaft in the reverse direction, the expander member returns to its original position thereby releasing the separating force on the resilient arms and permitting them and the wedges to move in a closing direction with sufficient force to separate the adjacent teeth.

Abstract: The following invention is directed to macromolecules having controlled stoichiometry and topology, processes for their production, and applications for their use. The macromolecules have a controlled functional moiety stoichiometry and include at least one dendritic motif having a surface layer formed from at least one surface building unit and at least one subsurface layer formed from at least one building unit, the surface building unit and building units having a hydrocarbon backbone bearing a carbonyl group and at least one amine group; and at least two different functional moieties on the building unit and/or surface building unit; where functional moiety stoichiometry refers to the number and type of functional moieties.

Abstract: A two-piece piston is formed by friction welding an upper member to a lower member, wherein the upper and lower members are precision cast to net final dimensions such that no post-casting machining is required prior to the friction-welding process. The upper member includes a substantially flat crown and combustion surface extending radially inward from the crown. The lower member includes a pair of opposing skirts, each having a bore formed therethrough for receiving a connecting rod pin. The upper member and lower member each include at least two corresponding connecting surfaces that form a welded joint therebetween when the upper and lower members are friction welded together. The finished piston includes an integral cooling oil reservoir adjacent to the combustion surface.