Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of flexible strips of material integrally interconnected to one another along one end thereof so as to form a unitary mass and so that the strips of material are intertwineable with one another to form a resilient tuft. The strips of material interconnected via a border have a bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the packaging material to a container.

Abstract: Prosthetic valves for regulating fluid flow are provided. The valves have at least one leaflet that includes a plurality of pores that allow a quantity of retrograde flow to pass through the leaflet when the valve is in a closed configuration.

Abstract: An integrated optical mode transformer provides a low loss interconnection between an optical fiber and an integrated optic waveguide having a spot size different from that of the fiber. The mode transformer is comprised of two waveguide layers, an upper layer and a lower layer, with the upper layer being contiguous to the lower layer. The lower layer is the integrated optic waveguide layer forming the optical circuit. The input dimensions of the composite two-waveguide structure supports a fundamental mode that accepts all of the light present on the optical fiber. The upper waveguide layer is tapered down from an input width to an output width and then terminates in such a way that at the termination substantially all of the input optical power resides in the lower waveguide layer. The two-waveguide layer structure is fabricated by deposition and planarization techniques.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined path. In one embodiment, the sensor system has at least one transmitter block having a plurality of transmitters capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals and at least one receiver block having a plurality of receivers capable of generating receiver output signals in response to the receivers receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver block is spaced a distance from the transmitter block so as to define a sensor field of view therebetween whereby at least a portion of the at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path interferes with at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block.

Abstract: A portal is provided with a detector for detecting trace amounts of substances of interest that may be retained on the surface or interior of a vehicular subject. The portal relies upon the continuous process by which microscopic flakes of dust, dirt, pollen, and other surface and interior contaminants as well as adsorbed analyte media and analyte vapors continuously separate from the surface of vehicular subjects and escape from the interior of vehicular subjects. The portal further leverages the existence of a vehicular thermal plume consisting of a layer of warm air adjacent to the vehicular subject. The warm air rises in the cooler surrounding air and transports the microscopic flakes of surface contaminants, desorbed analyte, and analyte vapors upwardly. The portal capitalizes on this phenomenon by providing at least a partial enclosure with a funnel-shaped collector above the vehicular subject.

Abstract: An auto darkening eye protection device including a shutter assembly, a light sensing circuit, a control circuit and a power source. The shutter assembly is adjustable to a plurality of shade levels. The phototransistor of the light sensing circuit senses light from a welding arc and provides an output of the light sensing circuit indicative of the shade level at which the shutter assembly should be operated. The phototransistor is configured for surface mount and has an external base connection connected to the base of the phototransistor. The control circuit is configured to receive the output from the light sensing circuit and provide a drive signal to the shutter assembly responsive to said output, drives the shutter assembly to one of said plurality of shade levels.

Abstract: A catalyst composition and method of use of the catalyst composition for producing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The catalyst is cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) on a silica support. The Mo occurs primarily as dispersed Mo oxide clusters on the support while the Co is primarily in an octahedral configuration in a CoMoO4-like phase disposed on the Mo oxide clusters. In the method, the catalyst is used and the process conditions manipulated in such a manner as to enable the diameters of the SWNTs to be substantially controlled.

Abstract: A catalyst composition and method of use of the catalyst composition for producing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The catalyst is cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) on a silica support. The Mo occurs primarily as dispersed Mo oxide clusters on the support while the Co is primarily in an octahedral configuration in a CoMoO4-like phase disposed on the Mo oxide clusters. In the method, the catalyst is used and the process conditions manipulated in such a manner as to enable the diameters of the SWNTs to be substantially controlled.

Abstract: A method for treating ocular conditions such as bacterial keratitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers and wounds, endophthalmitis, and blebitis in mammals, by using a native, synthetic, or recombinant CAP37, or effective peptide portions thereof including CAP37 peptides 20-44, 23-42, 102-122, and 120-146 and monocysteine derivatives of peptides 20-44 and 23-42. The CAP37, peptides, and peptide derivatives can also be used to store, clean, sterilize, or coat contact lenses, and may be used in media for storing mammalian corneal transplants.

Abstract: An integrated optical device is disclosed comprising a substrate, optical waveguide, and compound optical resonator having a temperature sensor, at least two coupled optical resonators, and a heater localized to each optical resonator. An optical input signal is coupled to one of the resonators making up the compound resonator to form an optical output signal. The center wavelength and shape of the output signal is optimized with a feedback loop using the temperature sensor to control the power dissipated in at least one of the localized heaters. The power dissipated in the remaining resonator heaters is set according to a predetermined function having as an input variable the power dissipated in the resonant heater under control of the said feedback loop.

Abstract: A method for separating the orthogonal polarization components of an incident optical signal into two spatially separated output ports is described. The method comprises a Mach-Zehnder interferometer where one of the two branches has a section of waveguide that exhibits form-birefringence. This integrated optic Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS) is broadband, has high extinction ratio, and has characteristics that are tunable.

Abstract: Methods of preventing sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia following myocardial ischemia, decreasing infarct size and/or decreasing the incidence and/or maximum intrinsic rate of very rapid ventricular triplets following myocardial ischemia is disclosed. The methods involve administering an effective amount of a composition that inhibits substantial loss of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (?-ARK) activity and/or ?-ARK expression.

Abstract: A system and method for affecting the function of a mammalian ear. The system and method uses an oscillating magnetic field to move nanospheres comprised of single-domain nanoparticles. In a preferred embodiment a receiving assembly detects sound waves and transmits the sound waves to a processor. The processor drives an electromagnetic coil in response to the detected sound waves. The electromagnetic coil transmits a signal that causes vibration of the nanoparticles and the tissues within which the nanoparticles are implanted.

Abstract: A method for providing a urinary tract tissue graft composition includes providing a segment of small intestinal submucosa and positioning the segment of small intestinal submucosa in a tissue culture frame such that the segment of small intestinal submucosa is suspended and held in a taut position by the tissue culture frame. At least one multipotent cell type is isolated from a tissue specimen of a subject and cultured, and then seeded upon a surface of the segment of small intestinal submucosa, thereby forming a urinary tract tissue graft. Methods for repairing a damaged urinary tract tissue of a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: A subsurface drainage assembly for directing fluid drainage from a surface. The subsurface drainage assembly includes a plurality of drain structure panels linked together in a manner that permits movement of one drain structure panel relative to the adjacent drain structure panel. The drain structure panels have a laterally extensive backing grid and a plurality of spaced apart support members projecting therefrom. The support members have at least one fluid flow opening formed through a sidewall so as to intersect a lower end of the support members at two rounded corners. The support members are spaced so that the support members are nestable between the support members of an identical drain structure panel when the drain structure panels are arranged in an inverted relationship with respect to one another. The drain structure panel may be placed on an impermeable liner having an upper surface with a plurality of ridges defining troughs therebetween.

Abstract: Methods of identifying a compound that inhibit, enhance and/or misdirect assembly of a viral capsid include providing fluorescently-labeled capsid polypeptides labeled with a fluorescent dye that changes fluorescence at high concentration, wherein assembly of the capsid polypeptides into the viral capsid results in juxtaposition of at least one of the N-terminus and C-terminus of the capsid polypeptides. In vitro assembly reactions are performed utilizing the labeled capsid polypeptide in the presence of the at least one test compound, and an amount of fluorescence is detected at at least one time point following induction of assembly, wherein the induction of assembly is detected as a change in the fluorescence of the sample.

Abstract: A method for releasing a drill string stuck against a wall of a well bore due to pressure differential between the hydrostatic pressure of a fluid in the well bore and the pressure of a formation at the point where the drill string is stuck. The method includes injecting a first fluid into the annulus via the drill string and simultaneously injecting a second fluid into the annulus at an upper end of the annulus. The first fluid and the second fluid are injected into the annulus at a volume and rate sufficient to cause at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid to penetrate the formation and increase the pressure of the formation adjacent the well bore so that the pressure of the formation adjacent the well bore is substantially equalized with the pressure of the well bore. A jarring force is simultaneously exerted to the drill string to cause the drill string to release.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the optical spectrum of an optical input signal. The system includes a tunable optical filter having a microresonator that is tunable across a plurality of states and a processor. The input signal is coupled into the microresonator, which is continuously tuned across a spectral range that is narrow relative to the targeted detection range. Signal information such as center wavelength, power distribution, and power strength are extracted from the measured output intensities resulting from the interaction of the unknown input signal with the tunable resonator at various tuned states. The processor includes a transfer function database with the resonant spectra of the tunable optical filter at predefined states. The processor applies an iterative non-linear deconvolution algorithm, and preferably an accelerated Richardson-Lucy algorithm, to calculate the spectrum of the input signal using the transfer function information and the intensity measurements.

Abstract: A shade assembly including reflective shade panels suspended above a roof or along an exterior wall of a building. The assembly also includes a shade box, such as one including an assembly of upright support posts and attached cables to which dark or reflective water-absorbent shade panels are attached. The shade box covers a rooftop fixture. The shade box can also include a water distribution system which dispenses water substantially onto the dark shade panels when they are included in the shade box. The shade assembly may also be used in a method for cooling the exterior surface of a building. The shade assembly may be used in a method of obtaining government economic incentives for energy efficiency such as emission reduction credits. A shade assembly including reflective shade panels suspended above a structure on or near the ground, such as a parking lot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting spent water-based drilling mud into fertile indigenous top soil at a well site or location. The fertile indigenous top soil is produced by the steps of: admixing, at a well site, effective amounts of spent water-based drilling mud, mature compost, organic fertilizer, and top soil from the well site to provide a mixture containing spent water-based drilling mud, from about 30 to about 150 volume percent mature compost, from about 5 to 20 volume percent organic fertilizer, and from about 5 to 20 volume percent top soil from the well site wherein each of the volume percents is based on the volume of the spent water-based drilling mud present in the mixture; stirring the mixture for a period of time effective to form a substantially homogenous mixture; and drying the substantially homogenous mixture so as to provide fertile indigenous top soil possessing similar microbial and enzyme characteristics as the top soil at the well site.