Abstract: The present invention demonstrates the biological function of a newly identified osteoclast-secreted protein. This protein, mim-1, has sequence homology with but is distinct from a previously identified neutrophil chemokine protein. Mim-1 may be a key signaling protein secreted by osteoclasts that regulates recruitment and/or differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast precursor cells. This protein may also serve to maintain osteoclasts in a relatively inactive state prior to secretion. This mechanism is essential for regulating the mass and structural integrity of bone. This protein or an analog and/or antagonists of this protein will have potential therapeutic potential in the treatment of a variety of pathological bone diseases including osteoporosis and metastatic bone diseases.

Abstract: A container adhered partition and method of its assembly, includes a container blank, having a dimensioned partition in its collapsed form applied and adhered to its interior walls, so that when the container is fabricated into the tubular form, both the container and its partition will be self-erecting, into the usable configuration. The method of assembly includes the layout of the blank container upon machinery, the precise positioning of the collapsed partition thereon, folding select walls in sequence of the container, into the tubular form, to provide a collapsed partitioned container for shipment or storage, and subsequent erecting for reception of other packaged goods within the integral partition cells.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates the biological function of a newly identified osteoclast-secreted protein. This protein, mim-1, has sequence homology with but is distinct from a previously identified neutrophil chemokine protein. Mim-1 may be a key signaling protein secreted by osteoclasts that regulates recruitment and/or differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast precursor cells. This protein may also serve to maintain osteoclasts in a relatively inactive state prior to secretion. This mechanism is essential for regulating the mass and structural integrity of bone. This protein or an analog and/or antagonists of this protein will have potential therapeutic potential in the treatment of a variety of pathological bone diseases including osteoporosis and metastatic bone diseases.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates the biological function of a newly identified osteoclast-secreted protein. This protein, mim-1, has sequence homology with but is distinct from a previously identified neutrophil chemokine protein. Mim-1 may b e a key signaling protein secreted by osteoclasts that regulates recruitment and/or differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast precursor cells. This protein may also serve to maintain osteoclasts in a relatively inactive state prior to secretion. This mechanism is essential for regulating the mass and structural integrity of bone. This protein or an analog and/or antagonists of this protein will have potential therapeutic potential in the treatment of a variety of pathological bone diseases including osteoporosis and metastatic bone diseases.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates the biological function of a newly identified osteoclast-secreted protein. This protein, mim-1, has sequence homology with but is distinct from a previously identified neutrophil chemokine protein. Mim-1 may be a key signaling protein secreted by osteoclasts that regulates recruitment and/or differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast precursor cells. This protein may also serve to maintain osteoclasts in a relatively inactive state prior to secretion. This mechanism is essential for regulating the mass and structural integrity of bone. This protein or an analog and/or antagonists of this protein will have potential therapeutic potential in the treatment of a variety of pathological bone diseases including osteoporosis and metastatic bone diseases.

Abstract: A deck drain apparatus is provided that allows builders to inexpensively configure deck drainage systems from standard AASHTO M180 highway guardrail. The apparatus includes a number of deck drain sections, butted together to form a drain channel. Each of the drain sections consists of a pan section and an inverted W-beam section. The pan section has a longitudinally elongated and flat conducting surface and two perforated sides. The two perforated sides project upwardly along opposite lateral edges of the conducting surface. The inverted W-beam section has a first perforated wall, a first upper surface, a lower surface, a second upper surface, and a second perforated wall. The perforated walls are longitudinally elongated and formed along opposite lateral edges of the inverted W-beam section. The first upper surface is formed between the first perforated wall and the lower surface. The second upper surface is formed between the lower surface and the second perforated wall.

Abstract: An improved gripping sleeve for enhancing a hand grip of a shank portion of an object, which provides a tube member having interior and exterior wall surfaces in which the interior wall surface is for engaging the shank portion of the object and an abrasive surface disposed on the interior wall surface of said tube member; including a method for gripping a shank portion of an object having the steps of providing a gripping sleeve (10) comprising a tube member having interior and exterior wall surfaces and having an abrasive surface disposed on said interior wall surface, engaging the interior wall surface of said tube member to the shank portion of the object and gripping the exterior wall surface (20) of the tube member to exert a force (F) onto the shank portion of the object through the interior wall surface of the tube member.

Abstract: A unitary, removable, transportation ring for retaining the lid or cover on a cylindrical container, such as a metal paint can, which operatively fits over the outer margin of the container's friction-fit cover and upper rim flange; such ring being molded of rigid plastic material to form a unitary annular member of generally inverted U-shape cross section defining an annular body having a raised planar platform forming a stacking ring on the upper side of its body and two parallel annular limbs depending from the underside of the body; the radially outer annular limb having a continuous radially inwardly projecting locking bead or finger adapted to underengage the upper rim flange of the container whereby to secure and retain the transportation ring in operating position while the inner annular limb is relatively longer and thinner than the outer limb and is designed to depend freely into an underlying annular recess formed near the outer edge of the container's lid or cover to frictionally fit into a corres

Abstract: A constant voltage power supply that includes an enclosure and a transformer positioned within the enclosure. The transformer has a primary winding and first and second sets of secondary windings mounted and magnetically coupled to each other all on a single magnetic core structure. The primary winding is connected by primary circuitry to a source of electrical power. First secondary circuitry is connected to the first secondary winding set for supplying electrical power at regulated constant voltage. Second secondary circuitry is connected to the second secondary winding set for supplying auxiliary power at unregulated voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating a tube/sleeve end fitting for brazing comprises an opposed pair of electrodes having arcuate electrode surfaces contoured for external peripheral engagement with a tube/sleeve end fitting, with one part of the electrode surface in engagement with the fitting sleeve and the other part of electrode surface in engagement with the tube closely adjacent to but spaced from the sleeve. A power transformer has a primary winding connected for selective application of current thereto, and a secondary winding consisting of the electrodes for selective application of heating current to an end fitting clamped between the electrodes for electrical resistance heating thereof. Timers control application of heating current to the end fitting for one or more operator-selectable predetermined timed durations.

Abstract: An electromechanical key safe includes a housing with a region defined therein. The region can be closed by means of a pivoted door attached to the housing. The door carries an electronic control system as well as a manually operable keypad. In response to entry of a sequence of characters through the keypad, the control system compares the entered sequence to a predetermined sequence of valid combinations. If a match is detected, the matched combination is checked to determine whether or not it is enabled. In the event that a matched combination is enabled, the lock system can be unlocked or actuated. In the event that a predetermined and matched combination is not enabled, the lock system cannot be unlocked.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making camshafts of steel by hardening the lobes after they have been rough and finish machined and the final contour and finish of the cam surface formed on each lobe while the steel is soft. Each lobe with the finished cam surface thereon is disposed in an induction coil to which an alternating current is applied for not more than about five seconds to rapidly heat the peripheral portion of the lobe which is then quenched by spraying an aqueous liquid on the lobe preferably while still in the coil. This heating and quenching hardens the peripheral portion of the lobe by a martensite transformation thereof without any significant warping or distortion of the cam surface. To prevent a previously hardened lobe from being annealed by induction heating of an immediately adjacent lobe, preferably a cooling or quenching liquid is also sprayed on the camshaft between these lobes and immediately adjacent the heated lobe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for structurally bonding together overlapped portions of sheet metal with a two-stage plastic resin between them. The resin is heated in the first stage to tack together the sheet metal portions by applying alternating current for not more than 15 seconds to an induction coil disposed adjacent one of the sheet portions to heat it to a maximum temperature in the range of 200.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. Preferably, after being tacked together, the sheet metal assembly is painted. In the second stage, the resin is fully cured to structurally bond together the sheet metal portions preferably by heating the entire assembly to a maximum temperature in the range of about 200.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. for a period of 45 to 15 minutes. Alternately, in the second stage the resin can be heated to cure and structurally bond together the sheet metal portions by at least one induction coil to which an alternating current is applied for not more than 15 seconds.

Abstract: Securing a ribbon of an expandable resin containing a heat activated blowing agent to a metal body, such as a sheet metal bow for the roof of a vehicle body, by bonding a portion of the ribbon to the body. The portion of the metal body immediately adjacent the ribbon is induction heated to transfer sufficient heat to the ribbon to bond it to the metal body without heating the bulk of the ribbon sufficiently to activate the blowing agent to expand the bulk of the ribbon into a foam resin. Subsequently, the metal body with the ribbon secured thereto is assembled with a panel and then heated to activate the blowing agent to produce a resin foam disposed between the metal body and panel.

Abstract: A plastic resin between two portions of a sheet metal assembly is heated to a curing temperature to adhere the sheet metal portions together by induction heating of only portions of the sheet metal immediately adjacent the resin. The sheet metal assembly is received between a pair of fixtures with the portions to be heated disposed between a pair of generally opposed induction coils through which an alternating current having a frequency of at least about 5,000 Hz and preferably at least 50,000 Hz is passed for less than fifteen seconds. The fixtures do not rigidly clamp the sheet metal assembly and may be opened and closed to facilitate the insertion and removal of sheet metal assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for applying heat to a portion of a pipeline, particularly a pipeline carrying natural gas, for the purpose of curing a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve used to repair leaks in the pipeline wall. The apparatus comprises an elongate manifold 1 for mounting on the pipeline and having an inlet 5 to receive hot gas from a forced draught gas burner 6 and an outlet 8 to discharge the hot gas along the portion of the pipeline. The apparatus also comprises a flexible blanket 2 of a heat insulated material such as illuminated glass wool and having one edge 71 for securing to the manifold 1 so that the blanket 2 can be wrapped around the portion of the pipeline to form therearound a heat shroud having openings 75 and 76 respectively to receive hot gas from the manifold outlet 8 and to discharge the gas after circulation around the wall of the pipeline 26.

Abstract: The device for sorting and counting a plurality of cans comprises a circular table having a rotatable circular floor and a fixed side wall. Attached around the periphery of the side wall are a plurality of counting tubes, each of which includes a photo-electric cell therein for sensing the number of cans which pass through the tube. Each photo-electric cell is connected to a counter on a display device which records and displays the number of cans passing through each tube. One counter totals all of the cans passing through all of the tubes.