Abstract: The present invention is a method of removing the illumination and background spectral components thus isolating spectra from multi-spectral and hyper-spectral data cubes. The invention accomplishes this by first balancing a reference and sample data cubes for each spectra associated with each location, or pixel/voxel, in the spatial image. The set of residual spectra produced in the balancing step is used to obtain and correct a new set of reference spectra that is used to remove the illumination and background components in a sample data cube.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of removing the illumination and background spectral components thus isolating spectra from multi-spectral and hyper-spectral data cubes. The invention accomplishes this by first balancing a reference and sample data cubes for each spectra associated with each location, or pixel/voxel, in the spatial image. The set of residual spectra produced in the balancing step is used to obtain and correct a new set of reference spectra that is used to remove the illumination and background components in a sample data cube.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of obtaining and isolating sample spectra from a wide wavelength illumination source without the use of filters. The method obtains the combined sample and illumination spectra of a sample and removes the illumination spectrum from the combined spectrum. This is accomplished by obtaining both the combined sample/illumination spectrum and the illumination spectrum separately at the same time and under the same environmental and instrument conditions. The illumination spectrum is then subtracted, wavelength by wavelength from the combined sample/illumination spectrum, leaving the pure sample spectrum which may a single spectrum or combination of two or more spectra from different types and/or compounds in the sample.

Abstract: A method of producing microbead populations that mimics the fluorescence intensity profile distribution of fluorescent biological cells so that they may be used a standard for flow cytometry.

Abstract: A system for concentrating solar energy comprising a collector consisting of a number of reflective panels, a receiver which absorbs reflected energy, a working fluid which absorbs the energy, a highly transmissive cover and internal colorings or coatings to collect indirect radiation, and a solar tracking system to maintain reflector orientation. Optional photo-voltaic panels could also be used for providing electrical energy and are kept at near ambient temperatures. Under normal conditions, solar energy is concentrated by reflectors on the receiver, which transfers the energy to a working fluid which is then used for either hot water heating, desiccant drying for a solar air conditioner, or as a power source. Additional energy is collected from indirect sources using the greenhouse effect.

Abstract: A method of producing microbead populations that mimics the fluorescence intensity profile distribution of fluorescent biological cells so that they may be used a standard for flow cytometry.

Abstract: A device containing one or more aqueous solutions comprising a fluorochrome in varying concentrations is used to quantitatively measure the fluorescence data collected from one or more tissues. Examples for making and using such a device during angiography to quantitatively measure the fluorescence data collected from a patient's eye is provided.

Abstract: A heat transfer system including mechanical and electrical components for use with a mechanical air conditioning system to enable the system to efficiently reject heat to a water source, such as a pool or spa while simultaneously cooling an interior space. The air conditioning system incorporates three primary heat transfer coils in a mechanical refrigeration cycle to provide comfort cooling to an interior space while rejecting heat to either the atmosphere or a water source, such as a swimming pool. In an alternate heat pump embodiment, the system is capable of operating in an additional mode to absorb heat from the atmosphere and reject heat to the interior space.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope and for quantitating binding proteins, such as antibodies. Populations of microbeads are provided which are in equilibrium with a saturating amount of fluorescently-labeled protein. The microbeads may have an incorporated fluorescent dye which has a strong signal in a selected channel of a flow cytometer, but no signal in other channels.

Abstract: A coded hidden identification is provided for a selected printable item by providing a coded printing composition based on adding to and substantially uniformly mixing a selected number of populations of microparticles with a printing composition, said microparticles being normally invisible to the human eye and each such population having a group of microparticles of similar size, shape or color to form a combination of highly uniform and unique properties, the printing composition adapted for use in a printing machine, such as a photocopy or laser printing machine cartridge, and printing items with the coded printing composition so as to transfer the microparticles to the item. The microparticles may be characterized by a number of detectable properties, or a combination thereof, which are not detectable by the human eye to provide the coded hidden identification.

Abstract: A system for rapid microbead calibration of a flow cytometer including a suspension of quantitative fluorescent microbead standards and analytical software. The software is used to take information on the microbead suspension from a flow cytometer and analyze data, smooth curves, calculate new parameters and notify of expiration of the system.

Abstract: A method of setting up a flow cytometer using microbeads fluorescing at a plurality of wavelengths, control cells for each of said wavelengths, certified blank microbeads. The blank microbeads are run and the PMT voltages are adjusted so that the blank microbeads are on scale on the flow cytometer. The control cells are run and the photomultiplier tube voltages are adjusted so that the single population falls in selected channels. The fluorescent microbeads are run on the flow cytometer and the Target Channels for the flow cytometer are determined.

Abstract: A kit of highly uniform size microbead standards for flow cytometer alignment, compensation, and/or calibration, comprising a blank microbead population and/or an auto-fluorescent microbead population, together with two or more series of calibrated microbead populations labeled with fluorescent dye(s) which (i) prior to fluorescent dye(s) labeling, match the fluorescence spectra and fluorescence intensity of the blank and/or autofluorescent microbead population, and (ii) after fluorescent dye(s) labeling, match the fluorescence spectra and fluorescence intensity of fluorescently labeled samples to be measured on the flow cytometer. Also disclosed is a corresponding method to align, compensate, and/or calibrate a flow cytometer so as to make measurements on samples comparable and independent of the specific instrument and instrument settings.

Abstract: A qualitative and quantitative method of determining the fluorescence threshold of an instrument and of determining whether the instrument is sensitive enough to measure the autofluorescence of a sample. The method utilizes non-fluorescent particles such a microbeads which are run on a flow cytometer. The peak channel position of the microbeads is used as the fluorescence threshold.

Abstract: The use of a combination of calibrated microbead populations with one or more calibrated biological cell populations to correct calibration of a flow cytometer for size and fluorescence intensity determinations of biological cell samples. The use of calibrated biological cells permits correction for factors related to the instrument and calibration microbeads so long as the excitation and emission spectra of the calibration microbeads, the calibration cells and the cell samples are all the same, respectively.

Abstract: Highly uniform microbeads containing a single fluorescence dye or a mixture of fluorescence dyes, which can be excited over a wide range of the spectrum extending from the ultraviolet to the infrared, and which can be used to align a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope.

Abstract: A flow cytometer reference standard containing a highly uniform microbead population, wherein each microbead has the same multiple fluorescent labels as the other microbeads and as the samples to be measured. Target conditions are set for the sample after alignment of the flow cytometer. The microbead reference standard is used to determine peak channels (target channels) for each parameter. The target conditions may be reestablished for later uses of the flow cytometer with the same type of samples by using the microbead reference standard to adjust the flow cytometer so that the microbead peak channels fall in the originally determined target channels.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope in terms of number of binding antibodies as a function of fluorescence intensity value measured on the flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope, and subsequent measuring of a sample to which the antibodies are bindable. Also disclosed is a microbead calibration kit for carrying out the calibration method of the invention. The disclosed calibration methodology provides a direct relationship between instrument response and numbers of binding antibodies, independent of the fluorochrome employed to label the samples being measured. The method has utility in monitoring the status of an antigenic cellular condition in which the number of antibodies binding to successively obtained cellular samples is determined, to establish the progressionary character of the antigenic cellular condition, in a host from which the cellular samples are taken.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescent microscope is based on a set of highly uniform microbeads associated with a fluorescent dye in such a way that the microbeads have the same excitation and emission spectral properties as the samples which are to be measured. The calibration values of the microbeads are plotted against the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel or intensity reading for each microbead in the set. From this calibration plot, the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel or intensity reading of the sample is translated into equivalent soluble fluorescent dye molecules per sample particle. The calibration values of the standard microbeads are determined against solutions of the dyes.

Abstract: A kit of highly uniform microbead standards for flow cytometer alignment, compensation, and calibration, comprising a blank and/or auto-fluorescent microbead population, together with two or more series of calibrated microbead populations which match the fluorescence spectra of labeled samples to be measured on the flow cytometer. Also disclosed is a corresponding method to align, compensate, and calibrate a flow cytometer so as to make measurements on corresponding samples comparable and independent of the specific instrument and instrument settings.