Abstract: The present invention concerns an isolated siRNA of from about 5 to about 20 nucleotides that mediates RNA interference. Also disclosed are methods of reducing expression of a target gene in a cell comprising obtaining at least one siRNA of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 basepairs in length; and delivering the siRNA into the cell. The siRNAs can be chemically synthesized RNA or an analog of a naturally occurring RNA.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a low cost method of producing peptides, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), by using microbes. The subject methods enable greatly improved yields of the peptide/AMP as compared to those heretofore known in the art. The subject methods also surprisingly enable the use of Pseudomonas fluorescens to produce AMPs and other peptides. There are several components of the subject invention, which can be used alone or in combination. The subject invention provides for the production of peptides/AMPs in concatemeric precursors. The subject invention also provides novel methods of assembling monomers into multimers, and of cleaving the multimers to yield active monomers. The subject invention also relates to the use of these multimers fused to carrier peptides to produce fusion proteins. Preferably, both the multimers and the fusion proteins (multimers with the carrier polypeptides) lack charge balancing.

Abstract: The reusable roof anchor presents a novel approach for attaching a safety line to prevent the injury of workers while working on a roof. None of the devices in the prior art combine a reusable structure that can be adapted to any pitch of roof while providing maximum range of motion. The unique structure that joins a mounting platform with an attachment device by a pivoting joint enables this device to achieve this unique combination of benefits. Also unique to this design is the combination of the above attributes with an easy method of installation and removal. This design recognizes and addresses the four most important aspects that such a device must provide: safety, ease of installation and removal, adaptability, and range of motion. While other devices in the prior art address these concerns individually or partially, none address all four. Thus the reusable roof anchor for safety lines provides a major improvement in the safety of workers in the roofing industry.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly includes a main housing) having an inlet, a recess and an outlet disposed within the recess. A water bath filter is coupled to the main housing and disclosed between the inlet and the single outlet. The water bath filter is for filtering the air prior to exhausting the air outwardly through the outlet. A second filter is removably disposed adjacent said main housing single outlet within the main housing recess.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly (10) comprising a main housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16). A motor (17a) is disposed within the main housing (12) between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) for providing motive force to a cooling fan (17b), a blower (17c), and a separator (22). The cooling fan (17b) is mounted within the main housing (12) above the motor (17a) to circulate cooling air around the motor (17a). The blower (17c) is mounted within the main housing (12) below the motor (17a) for drawing air into the inlet (14) and exhausting air outwardly through the outlet (16). The separator (22) is mounted below the blower (17c) for circulating the air and water bath (20) within a water bath pan (36) and providing, in combination with the water bath (20), a primary filter for filtering the air prior to exhausting the air outwardly through the outlet (16).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly (10) is disclosed that includes a main housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16). A motor (17a) is disposed within the main housing (12) between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) for providing motive force to a cooling fan (17b), a blower (17c), and a separator (22). The cooling fan (17b) is mounted within the main housing (12) above the motor (17a) to circulate cooling air around the motor (17a). The blower (17c) is mounted within the main housing (12) below the motor (17a) for drawing air into the inlet (14) and exhausting air outwardly through the outlet (16). The separator (22) is mounted below the blower (17c) for circulating the air and water bath (20) within a water bath pan (36) and providing, in combination with the water bath (20), a primary filter for filtering the air prior to exhausting the air outwardly through the outlet (16).

Abstract: A cleaning tool having a height adjustment mechanism which may be overridden to prevent damage to the cleaning tool in the event an excessively high force is applied to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool. The height adjustment mechanism forms an overrideable clutch having a manually adjustable thumbwheel, a biasing member and a clutch member. The height adjustment assembly is operably associated with a roller assembly which supports the cleaning tool on a work surface at a desired height above the work surface. The application of a predetermined excessive force to an exterior surface of the cleaning tool causes the height adjustment assembly to be de-clutched to allow the lower surface of the cleaning tool to come in contact with the work surface, thereby preventing damage to the various internal components of the cleaning tool.

Abstract: A cleat for attachment to a device having a power cord. The cleat includes a center support attached to the device for selectively retaining the power cord adjacent to the device. A pair of cord retaining arms extend from the center support in opposite directions. The pair of cord retaining arms are supported by the center support for rectilinear movement between an extended position forming a cord wrapping pocket between each of the arms and the device for retaining the power cord about the center support and in the pockets and a retracted position closing the arms for releasing the power cord from the center support. In a preferred embodiment, the cleat further includes an intercoupling mechanism interconnecting the pair of arms for synchronous movement of one of the arms in response to the rectilinear movement of the other arm. The synchronous movement is movement in a direction opposite and through the same distance as the other arm.