Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods, and kits for controlling and monitoring environmental conditions of a semen sample during transport. The technologies disclosed herein allow for at-home male fertility sample collection and subsequent transport to a laboratory to undergo fertility testing. One or more environmental conditions can be tracked during transport which provide the data used to determine whether a sample needs to be resubmitted or if the conditions during transport were such that a false test result is unlikely.

Abstract: A welding system including a power supply, a torch electrically connected to said power supply, a wire feeder that provides a welding consumable to the torch, a controller that communicates with a motor associated the wire feeder and the power supply. The controller obtains a wire feed speed of said motor as it accelerates from a run-in speed to a pre-set speed and controls the power supplied to the torch based on this wire feed speed to reduce stubbing or spattering during arc initiation.

Abstract: Sheet material lifts including an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, a foot extending transverse the longitudinal axis from the second end of the elongate body, a support element disposed on the foot distal the elongate body, a base defining a fulcrum coupled to the foot, and an arm extending transverse the longitudinal axis from the elongate body at a position intermediate the first end and the second end. In some examples, the arm includes a sleeve, and a shaft slidingly mounted within the sleeve, the shaft being configured to slide along a path between a retracted position proximate the elongate body and an extended position distal the elongate body.

Abstract: A welding system including a power supply, a torch electrically connected to said power supply, a wire feeder that provides a welding consumable to the torch, a controller that communicates with a motor associated the wire feeder and the power supply. The controller obtains a wire feed speed of said motor as it accelerates from a run-in speed to a pre-set speed and controls the power supplied to the torch based on this wire feed speed to reduce stubbing or spattering during arc initiation.

Abstract: A construction panel support tool includes a suspension frame having a mounting member to mount the tool to a ceiling joist adjacent a construction panel installation site and a guide member coupled thereto. An elongate support member movably supported on the guide member is movable relative thereto between a deployed position in which a distal portion of the support member extends beneath the panel installation site, and a standby position. The tool may include a locking member selectively engageable to retain the support member in a desired position, such as a deployed position, and may optionally include a biasing member selectively engageable to bias the distal portion of the support member toward the panel installation site.

Abstract: A construction panel positioning tool includes a ramp member having a support platform to support a panel edge, and a downwardly inclined ramp section configured to slidingly engage and guide a panel edge placed thereon toward the support platform. A stabilizing member coupled to the ramp member engages a structural building component to support the ramp member in position. A construction panel support tool includes a suspension frame having guides that slidably engage a ceiling joist, and a support member cantilevered thereto, which has a top surface spaced from the bottom of a ceiling joist to provide clearance for a construction panel. A system includes one or more of each tool. The positioning tool(s) is/are installed to position and support a first panel edge. The opposite panel edge is then lifted against the ceiling and then supported by the support member of a support tool that is moved into place.

Abstract: sheet material lifts including an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, a foot extending transverse the longitudinal axis from the second end of the elongate body, a support element disposed on the foot distal the elongate body, a base defining a fulcrum coupled to the foot, and an arm extending transverse the longitudinal axis from the elongate body at a position intermediate the first end and the second end. In some examples, the arm includes a sleeve, and a shaft slidingly mounted within the sleeve, the shaft being configured to slide along a path between a retracted position proximate the elongate body and an extended position distal the elongate body.

Abstract: Methods for identifying antibodies that decrease body weight, fat depot weight or food intake in an obese animal are provided, as well as antibodies. Preferred antibodies bind to a reactor having a WSX motif and the extracellular domain sequence within SEQ ID NO:2.

Abstract: A contact tip for a welding gun having a central passage for a welding wire moving in a given direction toward a workpiece and receiving a welding signal by contact of the wire with the tip. The passage has an innermost end, an outermost exit end and a length of at least 1.5 inches and an opening in the contact tip intersects the passage so a pressure block slidably mounted in the opening is biased toward the wire by a spring around the contact tip urging the block against the wire. This tip is dimensioned and constructed to perform pulse welding by a relatively ductile aluminum wire.

Abstract: A contact tip for a welding gun having a central passage for a welding wire moving in a given direction toward a workpiece and receiving a welding signal by contact of the wire with the tip. The passage has an innermost end, an outermost exit end and a length of at least 1.5 inches and an opening in the contact tip intersects the passage so a pressure block slidably mounted in the opening is biased toward the wire by a spring around the contact tip urging the block against the wire. This tip is dimensioned and constructed to perform pulse welding by a relatively ductile aluminum wire.

Abstract: A portable wire feeder for providing welding wire and welding current to a welding operation includes an input electrically connected to a power source. An output is electrically connected to the input to receive welding current delivered to the input from the power source and to provide the welding current and welding wire to the welding operation through a guide hose. A motorized wire feeding system includes a motor and a feed roll driven by the motor to direct the wire from a wire supply to the output for provision of the welding wire to the welding operation through the guide hose. Power for the motorized wire feeding system is drawn from the welding current passed from the input to the output. A grounding assembly nonattachably contacts a work piece of the welding operation to electrically ground the power drawn from the welding current directly to the work piece.

Abstract: A process for increasing a granular particle density of a polymeric product using at least one particle density promoting agent is described. The process includes passing a gaseous stream comprising at least one monomer through a fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a polymeric product having a first granular particle density of less than or equal to about 850 kg/m3, contacting the polymeric product with at least one particle density promoting agent to increase the granular particle density of the polymeric product by at least 2%, withdrawing the polymeric product having an increased granular particle density and a recycle stream comprised of unreacted monomers, and cooling and reintroducing the recycle stream into the fluidized bed reactor with sufficient additional monomer to replace the monomer polymerized and withdrawn as the polymeric product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising mutations in a GPCR5-1 gene. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions.

Abstract: Methods for identifying antibodies that decrease body weight, fat depot weight or food intake in an obese animal are provided, as well as antibodies. Preferred antibodies bind to a reactor having a WSX motif and the extracellular domain sequence within SEQ ID NO:2.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating an arc welding process between an electrode and a workpiece where the welder comprises a preregulator having a first DC signal as an input and a regulated second DC signal as an output, an unregulated isolation inverter to convert the regulated second DC signal into a DC power signal and a weld control stage for converting the DC power signal into a welding signal. A controller causes the weld control stage to conform the welding signal into a waveform to provide welding process between the electrode and the workpiece, which controller has an output control signal regulated to produce a selected waveform or waveforms and the polarity of the waveform or waveforms. A device selects one of several stored welding processes as a program and a corresponding polarity for outputting by the controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising disruptions in melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor genes. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising mutations in an ACTHR gene. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions.

Abstract: Uses for WSX ligands in hematopoiesis are disclosed. In particular, in vitro and in vivo methods for stimulating hematopoiesis (e.g., myelopoiesis, erythropoiesis and especially, lymphopoiesis) using a WSX ligand (e.g., anti-WSX receptor agonist antibodies or OB protein), and optionally another cytokine, are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising mutations in an OGR1 gene. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising mutations in an anaphylatoxin C3a receptor gene. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions.