Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polypeptides and variants thereof comprising a polypeptide sequence having substantial identity to ricin A chain (RTA) that lack detectable N-glycosidase-rRNA activity or exhibit reduced N-glycosidase-rRNA activity as compared to controls and methods of making and using thereof. The polypeptides and variants have a greater solubility in aqueous solutions of physiological pH and ionic strength than RTA and also retain the integrity of the neutralizing immunological epitope of wild type RTA. Also disclosed are immunogenic compositions that may be used to immunize a subject against ricin intoxication. Methods of immunizing against, treating, and preventing ricin intoxication are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for laying down, abandoning and/or recovering a pipe on the sea floor. During lay-down and abandonment, the pipe is lowered by a high capacity winch to an intermediate depth, at which the loading exerted by the pipe has dropped to within the rated capacity of a low capacity winch, to which the loading is then transferred. The high capacity winch line is then recovered to the attendant vessel and the pipe lowered to the sea floor using the low capacity winch. Pipe recovery is essentially a reversal of the above procedure. In this way, the length of the line of the high capacity winch is considerably reduced, which reduces the winch size and hence cost.

Abstract: A snowboard has elongate runners integrally formed with the bottom surface of the snowboard to increase the downhill speed characteristics of the snowboard. The runners define a longitudinally extending channel thereinbetween. The cross-sectional thickness of the snowboard is thicker at the runners and becomes thinner along the channel to increase the stiffness of the snowboard without significantly increasing the weight of the snowboard.

Abstract: Buoys are used for mooring purposes and as navigational marks. An embodiment of the invention is be explained in relation to catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoys. Conventional CALM buoys generally have a hull constructed of steel plate by traditional ship building techniques requiring plate benders. Webs, beams and girders are welded inside the hull which is divided into several tanks. The buoy has a central moonpool and a steel turntable. Bending plate, in effect, doubles its cost. A method of constructing a buoy is disclosed, comprising: constructing a framework and affixing flat steel plate to it.

Abstract: A snowboard has elongate runners integrally formed with the bottom surface of the snowboard to increase the downhill speed characteristics of the snowboard. The runners define a longitudinally extending channel thereinbetween. The cross-sectional thickness of the snowboard is thicker at the runners and becomes thinner along the channel to increase the stiffness of the snowboard without significantly increasing the weight of the snowboard.

Abstract: A system for on-site collection of evaluation data at a vehicle repair site installation is disclosed. Generally the system includes a mobile computing tool wirelessly connected to a database, a workflow operations guiding module that runs on the mobile computing tool, an evaluation module, a comparison module, a data-mining module, a certification module, a legal compliance module, and a repair procedure compliance module. As a vehicle is repaired, the workflow operations guiding module prompts a coach with questions. The evaluation module performs a quantitative analysis of the answers provided by the coach and the comparison module compares the result of the quantitative analysis against aggregated or averaged information. The certification module compares information from the comparison module against predetermined certification criteria and the data mining module identifies correlations, trends or patterns in collected data by the system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polypeptides and variants thereof comprising a polypeptide sequence having substantial identity to ricin A chain (RTA) that lack detectable N-glycosidase-rRNA activity or exhibit reduced N-glycosidase-rRNA activity as compared to controls and methods of making and using thereof. The polypeptides and variants have a greater solubility in aqueous solutions of physiological pH and ionic strength than RTA and also retain the integrity of the neutralizing immunological epitope of wild type RTA. Also disclosed are immunogenic compositions that may be used to immunize a subject against ricin intoxication. Methods of immunizing against, treating, and preventing ricin intoxication are disclosed.

Abstract: An Electro-mechanical device utilizing a fiber optic based sensor (Fiber Optic strand) for the purpose of detecting and extinguishing a fire momentarily after ignition. A light signal transmitted through the sensor (Fiber Optic strand) is used as a means to urge a spring loaded valve (Firing Valve) against its established position, thus blocking the dispersal of fire suppressing agents. This condition will persist until the sensor (Fiber Optic strand) is damaged by the presence of open flame in close proximity.

Abstract: The invention includes an ear or nose plug and a method of forming such an ear or nose plugs. The method may include providing silicone rubber base and catalyst materials and mixing about equal parts of the silicone rubber base and catalyst materials to form a homogeneous putty. The method may further include forming a bullet shaped and sized module of the homogeneous putty. The method may further include inserting the module within an ear or nose cavity using enough gentle pressure to allow the module to conform to the ear or nose cavity and leaving enough of the module outside of the cavity to grasp for removal. The method may further include waiting a predetermined amount of time to cure and removing a custom shaped ear or nose plug. Embodiments of an ear or nose plug formed by the above method are also disclosed. The ear or nose plugs are formed in situ and quickly cure according to the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: An air bag assembly (20) including air bag (30) having at least a first inflatable region (32) having a plurality of restrictions peripherally located about the inflatable region and configured to restrict the degree of inflation of the air bag proximate the restrictions and configured to permit the first inflatable region of the air bag to achieve its maximum inflation in a region interior to the plurality of restrictions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball panel for use in a load handling system such as aircraft cargo hold. The ball panel comprises a top skin having at least one raised support. The ball panel also comprises a corrugation and a bottom skin. The top skin is supported by the corrugation, which has a plurality of side walls, flanges and folded ends. The raised support can be an annular ring, having a ramp between the top skin and a ball transfer unit.

Abstract: Buoys are used for mooring purposes and as navigational marks. An embodiment of the invention is explained in relation to catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) buoys. Conventional CALM buoys generally have a hull constructed of steel plate by traditional ship building techniques requiring plate benders. Webs, beams and girders are welded inside the hull which is divided into several tanks. The buoy has a central moonpool and a steel turntable. Bending plate, in effect, doubles its cost. A method of constructing a buoy is disclosed comprising constructing a framework and affixing steel plates to it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polypeptides and variants thereof comprising a polypeptide sequence having substantial identity to ricin A chain (RTA) that lack detectable N-glycosidase-rRNA activity or exhibit reduced N-glycosidase-rRNA activity as compared to controls and methods of making and using thereof. The polypeptides and variants have a greater solubility in aqueous solutions of physiological pH and ionic strength than RTA and also retain the integrity of the neutralizing immunological epitope of wild type RTA. Also disclosed are immunogenic compositions that may be used to immunize a subject against ricin intoxication. Methods of immunizing against, treating, and preventing ricin intoxication are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polypeptides and variants thereof comprising a polypeptide sequence having substantial identity to ricin A chain (RTA) that lack detectable N-glycosidase-rRNA activity or exhibit reduced N-glycosidase-rRNA activity as compared to controls and methods of making and using thereof. The polypeptides and variants have a greater solubility in aqueous solutions of physiological pH and ionic strength than RTA and also retain the integrity of the neutralizing immunological epitope of wild type RTA. Also disclosed are immunogenic compositions that may be used to immunize a subject against ricin intoxication. Methods of immunizing against, treating, and preventing ricin intoxication are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for stabilizing proteins, preventing protein aggregation, renaturation of previously-denatured proteins, reactivating a protein that has been inactivated by denaturation, preserving enzyme activities under conditions of elevated temperatures, inducing thermotolerance in bacteria, increasing the temperature optimum for the activity of an enzyme, and preventing formation of inclusion bodies by bacterially-expressed recombinant proteins.