Abstract: Aggregating proteins such as IgG, are bound selectively in the presence of the non-aggregated protein using a polyionic binding agent such as dextran sulphate or pentosan (anionic), or polyamine compounds such as pDADMAC (cationic) under selective binding conditions including the use of n-lauroylsarcosine at mildly alkaline pH, and may then be assayed.

Abstract: A syringe assembly including: (1) a syringe barrel defining a chamber; (2) a plunger mounted in the chamber and moveable with respect to the barrel; and (3) a cap assembly containing a cap and an absorbent material is removably attached to the plunger.

Abstract: A method for expanding a tubular in a borehole, the tubular having upper and lower ends, the system comprises a) applying a compressive load to the upper end of the tubular and b) expanding the tubular by moving an expansion device relative to the tubular while maintaining the compressive load. Step a) may include resting a weight on the upper end of the tubular or applying hydraulic pressure to the upper end of the tubular. The lower end of the tubular may engage the formation before step b) or as a result of step b).

Abstract: A method for investigating a volume of material at an investigation location for radioactive material includes: detecting signals from a first detector caused by the interaction of one or more types of emission from the radioactive material with the first detector; detecting signals from a second detector caused by the interaction of cosmic rays and/or one or more types of particle generated by cosmic rays with the second detector; processing the signals from the first detector to provide information on the amount of radioactive material associated with the volume of material; processing the signals from the second detector to provide information on the amount of cosmic rays and/or one or more types of particle generated by cosmic rays incident on the investigation location; and correcting the information on the amount of radioactive material associated with the volume of material using the amount of cosmic rays and/or one or more types of particle generated by cosmic rays incident on the investigation locati

Abstract: A soot sensor includes a soot sensor including a sensor element and heater element disposed on a first surface of the soot sensor. A soot sensing system may include a soot sensor and circuitry electrically coupled to the sensor and heater elements of the soot sensor. The circuitry is configured to determine an amount of soot accumulated on the soot sensor and to control heating of the heater element in response to the soot accumulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling odor within a refrigeration appliance is provided. The apparatus includes a frame removably positioned within an airflow path configured to supply cooled air to a food storage compartment of the refrigeration appliance. The frame defines a chamber. A filter medium is positioned within the chamber. The filter medium is configured to filter air channeled therethrough and remove odorous molecules.

Abstract: A method is provided that comprises: providing a rules storage that provides one or more rules to determine authorized wireless device usage at a site; using a wireless communications sensor system to determine use of a wireless device at the at the site; and using the one or more rules to determine whether the determined use of wireless device use is authorized.

Abstract: A dual evaporator refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment with an enclosed pan. A freezer evaporator with a freezer fan is in the freezer compartment for cooling the freezer compartment and a refrigeration evaporator with a first refrigeration fan is in the refrigeration compartment for cooling the refrigeration compartment. A compressor provides refrigerant flow to the freezer and the refrigeration evaporators. A second refrigeration fan moves air from the refrigeration evaporator to the enclosed pan.

Abstract: A system for measuring a voltage differential in a current-carrying pipe using a propulsion vehicle for conveying the system inside the pipe, the system including a first contact for maintaining electrical contact with the pipe as the vehicle moves through the pipe; a second contact positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the first contact for maintaining electrical contact with the pipe as the vehicle moves through the pipe; and an AC voltage reading device connected to the first contact and the second contact for measuring the AC voltage between the first contact and the second contact as the vehicle moves through the pipe.

Abstract: Tubular ends are heated to a predetermined temperature above 1200 degrees Celsius and surrounded by a shield gas when the tubular ends are pressed together to form forge welded tubular ends. The forge welded tubular ends are then cooled down rapidly from said temperature above 1200 to at most 600 degrees Celsius within 3 minutes after the forge welding operation.

Abstract: A sprinkler head shut off device, comprising of a handle with at least one jaw, a lever, a stopper arm, and a means for reciprocating the stopper arm as the lever is rotated, in order to bring a portion of the stopper arm in contact with the orifice of the sprinkler and stop water flow. The device further comprises a locking means to lock the lever in position. The locking means comprises a member attached to the lever which locks its rotary motion in one direction at a particular position by engaging with a portion of the means for reciprocating the stopper arm.

Abstract: A method for the capture from a sample of micro-organisms having a hydrophobic surface, which method includes contacting the micro-organisms with a capture reagent, which capture reagent has both a hydrophobic character whereby the capture reagent binds the micro-organisms by hydrophobic interaction therewith and a polar character, the capture reagent either being present on a surface and capturing the micro-organisms thereto, or being present in solution, the method then further including capturing the micro-organisms to a surface by binding the capture reagent to the surface by polar interaction between the surface and the capture reagent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a separation device or container that can be used in the separation, isolation or pelleting of microorganisms from a test samples known to contain or suspected of containing said microorganisms. Subsequently, the separated, isolated or pelleted microorganism sample can undergo one or more interrogation steps to provide measurements useful for the characterization and/or identification of microorganism. In one aspect of the present invention, the interrogation steps can occur in situ in the separation device or container described herein.

Abstract: Medical images are automatically segmented by customizing the morphological segmentation of features identified in the image based upon statistical analysis of the features within each region to be analyzed. The statistical description of the features, as reported through a feature vector, informs the system as to which input variables to select for further segmentation analysis for features residing within the region of the image analyzed. By customizing the automatic segmentation analysis to produce an enhanced image, features within the image are characterized more efficiently and precisely. False positive identification of lesions are minimized without sacrifice of true positive identifications.

Abstract: A method of treatment for the prevention or therapy of a protein aggregation disease includes the administration in combination of a first active medicament and a second active medicament, wherein the first active medicament is active to impede aggregation of amyloid protein and the second active medicament is active to disaggregate previously formed aggregates of amyloid protein.

Abstract: A dual evaporator refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment with an enclosed pan. A freezer evaporator with a freezer fan is in the freezer compartment for cooling the freezer compartment and a refrigeration evaporator with a first refrigeration fan is in the refrigeration compartment for cooling the refrigeration compartment. A compressor provides refrigerant flow to the freezer and the refrigeration evaporators. A second refrigeration fan moves air from the refrigeration evaporator to the enclosed pan.

Abstract: A method for inline bus data compression and decompression is disclosed. In one embodiment, data is selected for transfer via a data bus, the data is divided into byte sized divisions of the bus width, and each byte is compressed by an individual compression engine. The data is then properly sequenced, aligned and recombined and further transmitted in its compressed state. When required to be decompressed, the compressed data is again divided into bytes of compressed data, each byte being decompressed individually, and then restored to the bus in its uncompressed form, in essence, in the reverse order of the compression process.

Abstract: A syringe assembly including: (1) a syringe barrel defining a chamber; (2) a plunger mounted in the chamber and moveable with respect to the barrel; and (3) a cap assembly containing a cap and an absorbent material is removably attached to the plunger.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a single, universally available, potentially unlimited web-based storage space by the use of RAID technology over multiple, heterogeneous web-based accounts. Such a solution has the following advantages: the storage capacity of the virtual data space can be dynamically sized by adding additional accounts; unauthorized access to one account will not result in access to the entire data set; the use of multiple servers provides the potential for faster access to data than via a single server e.g. when access to one service is slow; and the use of multiple servers provides better resilience for data access, e.g. when one account is unavailable. Redundant storage of data lowers the chance of the loss of access to one account leading to the loss of the entire data set.