Grooves are formed in cellular thermoplastic insulation boards using an apparatus having a pair of rotatable knives to first form two continuous slits in the board, and further having a heated tool of specific design which is caused to remove material from between the slits in the form of a continuous strip.

The invention includes, in one embodiment, a method for determining the presence or absence of a corrosion-inhibitory level of carboxylate anion in used engine coolant which includes: obtaining a known quantity of the engine coolant as a representative sample thereof, the sample containing a level of carboxylate anion to be determined; adding a fixed quantity of an aluminum containing color indicator to the sample, where the color of the aluminum color indicator is different from the original co...

The present invention describes peptides and recombinant proteins containing Hepatitis C virus core protein sequence in which one or more of the amino acids have been modified or deleted to remove the ability of these proteins to bind to specific anti-HCV murine monoclonal antibodies. The deletions and modifications are designed as to maintain the ability of this protein to be used in immunoassays used for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies in individuals infected with HCV.

Compositions derived from a novel viral isolate designated feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus (FTLV) include the whole virus; proteins, polypeptides and, polynucleotide sequences derived from the virus; and antibodies to antigenic sites on the virus. These compositions are useful in a variety of techniques for the detection of and vaccination against FTLV. Detection methods disclosed include immunoassays for both the virus and antibodies to the virus, and the use of polynucleotide probes to detect...

The present invention relates to the detection of the likely presence of a virus in the environment. The detection is accomplished in a relatively rapid fashion that permits countermeasures to be taken to reduce the debilitating or deadly effects of the virus upon the target population. In one embodiment, the detection is accomplished by looking for the mass spectral signature or biomarker for a lipid, which is present in the cell cultures used to produce the virus. One biomarker that is conside...

A method and metal test pattern for monitoring metal corrosion susceptibility for integrated circuit wafers. Test patterns having an array of metal circles to simulate contact regions, an array of metal strips to simulate electrode regions, and a blanket metal layer to simulate bulk metal regions are formed. A first number of defects per unit area for the test patterns is measured, using a defect scan system. The test pattern wafers are then subjected to environmental stress conditions for a fir...

Described herein is an ELISA based assay for the detection of HCV infection. This new assay can detect HCV infection earlier than the currently used assays for the screening of blood for HCV infection by using a combination of HCV antigens and anti-core antibodies to capture HCV.

Assay methodology of the invention allows for: (1) determining if a sample contains a conformation of a protein which is associated with disease and the concentration and amount of such if present; (2) determining the amount of protease resistant disease related protein in a sample and by subtracting that amount from the total amount of disease related protein present determining the amount of protease sensitive disease protein in the sample; and (3) determining the strain and incubation time of...

This invention relates to a pillow so designed as to allow a person to sleep comfortably in a prone position. The pillow is shaped to relieve pressure on the sleeper's eyes, nose, throat, shoulders and blood vessels and glands of the neck. Several of the most common causes of snoring are eliminated, so a person sleeps more soundly and quietly.

A three component, self adjustable pillow is provided to support and align a user's head, and shoulders. The pillow comprises a head support base containing a soft fill such as polyester, nylon, chip foam, etc., and shaped as a round or elliptical, solid cylinder. A cloth attachment piece is connected along one of its sides to the pillow by sewing along the pillow length. A circular-shaped, cylindrical neck support is sewn onto the cloth attachment along its remaining free side, and this enables...