Abstract: A guard rail system that is assembled from a kit of components that includes bottom rails, top rails and balusters and U-shaped top rail inserts that fit into the underside of the top rails. The tops of the balusters are inserted through the spaced apart holes in the base of the insert. The top rail has a body and a pair of spaced apart legs extending downward from the body. After the system has been assembled the legs engage the uprights of the top rail insert to create a compression fit between the top rail insert and the tops of the balusters.

Abstract: A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, and related compositions for identifying a putative essential gene which serves as an antibiotic target in a bacterium, the method, in some embodiments, comprising (a) generating an antibiotic resistant mutant of the bacterium by a method comprising the step of selecting for growth in the presence of an antibiotic to produce an antibiotic resistant mutant clone (AbR mutant); (b) transforming the AbR mutant with one or more essential genes of the bacterium and a transposon which insertionally inactivates bacterial DNA to produce a pool of transposon mutants which are merodiploid for the one or more essential genes; (c) growing bacteria from the merodiploid pool in the presence of different amounts of the antibiotic to produce two or more test cultures; and (d) comparing the distribution of transposon insertions between the test cultures to identify a putative essential gene serving as a target of the antibiotic in the bacterium.

Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.

Abstract: Described is a process for producing a mutant bacterium which exhibits improved survival and/or growth under a selected growth condition, the process comprising the steps of: (a) generating a pool of mutant bacteria by transposon mutagenesis with an activating transposon (TnA), wherein the TnA comprises a promoter capable of increasing transcription of a gene at or near its insertion site; (b) growing bacteria from the mutant pool under the selected growth condition and under one or more reference conditions to produce two or more test cultures; and (c) comparing the distribution of TnA insertions between test cultures to identify a first class of genes which are disadvantageous for growth and/or survival under the selected growth condition and a second class of genes which are advantageous for growth and/or survival under the selected growth condition.

Abstract: A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.

Abstract: A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.

Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.

Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.

Abstract: A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying an essential gene which serves as an antibiotic target in a bacterium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a pool of mutant bacteria by transposon mutagenesis with an activating transposon (TnA), wherein the TnA comprises a promoter such that transposon insertion into bacterial DNA increases the transcription of a gene at or near the insertion site; (b) growing bacteria from the mutant pool in the presence of different amounts of said antibiotic to produce two or more test cultures; and (c) comparing the distribution of TnA insertions between test cultures to identify a putative essential gene serving as a target of said antibiotic in said bacterium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying an essential gene which serves as an antibiotic target in a bacterium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating an antibiotic resistant mutant of said bacterium by a method comprising the step of selecting for growth in the presence of said antibiotic to produce an antibiotic resistant mutant clone (AbR mutant); (b) transforming the AbR mutant with: (i) one or more essential genes of said bacterium; and (ii) a transposon which insertionally inactivates bacterial DNA, to produce a pool of transposon mutants which are merodiploid for said one or more essential genes; (c) growing bacteria from the merodiploid pool in the presence of different amounts of said antibiotic to produce two or more test cultures; and (d) comparing the distribution of transposon insertions between test cultures to identify a putative essential gene serving as a target of said antibiotic in said bacterium.

Abstract: A cryoprobe for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising a rigid outer tube, an inner coolant inlet tube. a short rigid penetrating segment extending distally from the distal end of the outer tube and a helical-shaped baffle having a heating element disposed about the outer surface of the inlet tube. The baffle is adapted to produce turbulent fluid flow improving heat transfer and is able to warm target tissue during rapid freezing and thawing cycles.

Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention provides strains of bacteria, especially enterotoxigenic E. coli, attenuated by mutations in the genes encoding enterotoxins (LT, ST, EAST1) and optionally further attenuated by deletion of additional chromosomal genes. In addition the invention provides strains of attenuated bacteria expressing immunogenic but non-toxic variants of one or more of these enterotoxins. These bacteria are useful as a vaccine against diarrhoeal disease.

Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A bacterial cell which expresses three or more coli surface (CS) antigens and methods of making such a cell. The cell is useful in making vaccines against diarrhea.

Abstract: The invention provides strains of bacteria, especially enterotoxigenic E. coli, attenuated by mutations in the genes encoding enterotoxins (LT, ST, EAST1) and optionally further attenuated by deletion of additional chromosomal genes. In addition the invention provides strains of attenuated bacteria expressing immunogenic but non-toxic variants of one or more of these enterotoxins. These bacteria are useful as a vaccine against diarrhoeal disease.

Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.

Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.