Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying butyrylcholinesterase from various biological fluids. Biological fluids include, e.g., blood, blood fractions, plasma, and bioreactor broths, and other such mixtures containing butyrylcholinesterase. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the production of purified, virally inactivated butyrylcholinesterase by contacting a biological fluid containing butyrylcholinesterase with a cationic exchange chromatography material, with an affinity chromatography material, and treating the fluid with solvent detergent. The resulting purified butyrylcholinesterase can also be subjected to a pasteurization step, and formulated in a sodium chloride/sodium phosphate solution for storage or lyophilization.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a system and method for evaluating system architectures that can include a system architecture design device that creates a system architecture having at least one system architecture variant, a simulation system that performs multiple warfighting simulations using the system architecture in a same scenario while varying the at least one system architecture variant, and a post processor that evaluates warfighting outcomes of the multiple simulations that correspond to different system architecture variants. Further, the system architecture design component can create the system architecture to include at least one of an intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike architecture, as well as a characteristic of sensors and interceptors that can include at least one of an aerial, space based, sea borne, land based and subterranean device.

Abstract: A structure having an optical element thereon has a portion of the structure extending beyond a region having the optical element in at least one direction. The structure may include an active optical element, with the different dimensions of the substrates forming the structure allowing access for the electrical interconnections for the active optical elements. Different dicing techniques may be used to realize the uneven structures.

Abstract: An optical chassis includes a mount substrate an optoelectronic device on the mount substrate, a spacer substrate, and a sealer substrate. The mount substrate, the spacer substrate and the sealer substrate are vertically stacked and hermetically sealing the optoelectronic device. An external electrical contact for the optoelectronic device is provided outside the sealing. At least part of the optical chassis may be made on a wafer level. A passive optical element may be provided on the sealer substrate or on another substrate stacked and secured thereto.

Abstract: A wavelength locker for use at more than one wavelength includes filters with different characteristics for a corresponding detector. The filters may be etalons having different free spectral ranges, e.g., having different apparent or real thicknesses. If more than three such filters are used outputting offset periodic signals, a reference detector may be eliminated and continuous operation over a wavelength range may be realized.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor comprising a first electrode containing mineral microtubules, a second electrode containing mineral microtubules, an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a separator disposed in the electrolyte to provide electrical insulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, while allowing ion flow within the electrolyte. The electrodes may be formed from a paste containing mineral microtubules, or may consist essentially of a conductive polymer containing mineral microtubules, or an aerogel containing the mineral microtubules. The mineral microtubules may be filled with carbon, a pseudocapacitance material, or a magnetoresistive material. The mineral microtubules may also be coated with a photoconductive material.

Abstract: A processes for the separation and purification of microtubules of halloysite clay by separating an inlet stream of a liquid slurry of suspended clay particles flowing into a cross-flow filter into a decantate stream and a filtrate stream, the filtrate stream having a higher concentration of microtubular particles than the inlet stream. Also disclosed are subsequent preparations of novel structures and compositions of matter that include microtubules of halloysite clay.

Abstract: An instrument and method for suturing wound closures is provided having a handle, shaft and suture engagement mechanism. The instrument provides for multiple placements or “bites” of suture in tissues to enable a wide variety of suturing techniques, including the ability to “run” a suture. The instrument further facilitates suture knot tying. The method of this instrument provides for rapid and effective remote suture placement and knot tying.

Abstract: An instrument and method for suturing wound closures is provided having a handle, shaft and suture engagement mechanism. The instrument provides for multiple placements or “bites” of suture in tissues to enable a wide variety of suturing techniques, including the ability to “run” a suture. The instrument further facilitates suture knot tying. The method of this instrument provides for rapid and effective remote suture placement and knot tying.

Abstract: A structure having an optical element thereon has a portion of the structure extending beyond a region having the optical element in at least one direction. The structure may include an active optical element, with the different dimensions of the substrates forming the structure allowing access for the electrical interconnections for the active optical elements. Different dicing techniques may be used to realize the uneven structures.

Abstract: Location information available from a navigational system, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to transition a mobile client, such as a handset, between a Wide Area Network (WAN), such as a cellular telephone network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as a system conforming to the 802.11 standard, (and vice versa), under user control and initiation, and may also be used to transition between two or more WLANs, for example, WLANs with different ranges and data rates. The transition is of a ‘break-before-make’ type, i.e. the mobile client is authenticated to the ‘new’ network via the ‘old’ network, disconnects from the ‘old’ network, and turns off the associated circuitry, turns on the circuitry needed to connect to the ‘new’ network, and then connects to it, overcoming problems such as mutual interference and receiver desensitization by transmitting only on one frequency band at any given time.

Abstract: An inhaler for dispensing a plurality of doses of particulate material has means for receiving and retaining a container (20) having a plurality of compartments, each for holding a respective dose (or part thereof). The container is moved by an indexing mechanism so as to bring successive compartments into registry with an airway to enable the contents of each compartment to be dispensed through the airway (50). The indexing mechanism is operated by a control member (6) which is movable through a series of alternating advance and return strokes (preferably rotational movements), the inhaler including a non-return mechanism (112, 114, 116 and 104) for preventing movement of the member in the direction of each return stroke before the completion of the respective preceding advance stroke, thereby to help to ensure that the indexing mechanism is properly operated.

Abstract: A no hands toilet lid and seat opening and closing mechanism designed to be disposed on a typical existing toilet having a seat and/or lid and seat. A saddle-like mounting bracket having left and right brackets is positioned on the top rear quadrant of the toilet bowl, and is clamped in place between the hinge assembly and toilet bowl. Two pivot arms support foot levers that control the lid and seat, and are pivotally coupled to the mounting brackets. A lid coiled spring and a seat coiled spring are each disposed around a pivot arm. U-shaped lid and seat brackets are adapted to be bonded to the existing toilet lid and seat, and are functionally connected to the lid and seat pedals, such that foot pressure forcing downward on a chosen pedal will raise and open the lid and/or seat.

Abstract: A no hands toilet lid and seat opening and closing mechanism consisting of a saddle like mounting bracket having pivot arms, secured by existing lid and seat hinge bolts through rearward holes at end of typical existing toilet bowl rim having a seat or lid and seat. Two ends at the rear of the foot levers are pivotally coupled to the pivot arms, one on each side of mounting bracket, this allows the lid foot lever and the seat foot lever to swing downward, pulling on four connecting rods, two on each side, with two ends, the bottom end of the rods fastens to the two foot levers, the top end of the rods fastens to the lid and seat brackets. The downward movement of the rods fastened at the rear of the lid and seat brackets which are bonded rearward to underside of existing toilet lid and seat in front of and parallel to lid/seat hinge assembly, to pivot on existing toilet lid and seat hinges thus raising lid and seat together by pushing the seat foot lever or separate by pushing the lid foot lever.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for purifying butyrylcholinesterase from various biological fluids. Biological fluids include, e.g., blood, blood fractions, plasma, and bioreactor broths, and other such mixtures containing butyrylcholinesterase. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the production of purified, virally inactivated butyrylcholinesterase by contacting a biological fluid containing butyrylcholinesterase with a cationic exchange chromatography material, with an affinity chromatography material, and treating the fluid with solvent detergent. The resulting purified butyrylcholinesterase can also be subjected to a pasteurization step, and formulated in a sodium chloride/sodium phosphate solution for storage or lyophilization.

Abstract: A tubular container 1 comprises a tubular body 1 having an inner sleeve 4, an outer strip 6 spirally wound about, and bonded to, the sleeve 4, a top cap 8 and a bottom cap 10. The inner sleeve 4 is made from a spirally wound strip of transparent PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and the outer strip 6 is made from a board material, for example paperboard or cardboard. The inner sleeve 4 is exposed between the turns of the outer strip 6, which means that the container contents, for example a bottle 12, can be seen through a spiral window 14 defined between the turns of the strip 6.

Abstract: Methods, recombinant host cells and kits are disclosed-for the production of members of specific binding pairs (sbp), e.g. antibodies, using display on the surface of secreted replicable genetic display packages (rgdps), e.g. filamentous phage. To produce a library of great diversity recombination occurs between first and second vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding first and second polypeptide chains of sbp members respectively, thereby producing recombinant vectors each encoding both a first and a second polypeptide chain component of a sbp member. The recombination may take place in vitro or intracellularly and may be site-specific, e.g. involving use of the loxP sequence and mutants thereof. Recombination may take place after prior screening or selecting for rgdps displaying sbp members which bind complementary sbp member of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel housing for an optical instrument such as a microscope. The housing is provided with a number of channel means which are positioned having regard to the optical axis of the instrument and adapted to accommodate a plurality of optical components so as to facilitate the alignment of same.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for producing specific binding pairs (sbp) members. Populations of polypeptide chain components of sbp members are combined to form libraries of sbps displayed by secreted replicable genetic display packages (rgdp). At least one of the polypeptide chains is expressed as a fusion with a component of an rgdp which thereby displays that polypeptide chain at the surface of rgdp. At least one population of polypeptide chains is expressed from nucleic acid which is capable of being packaged using a component of an rgdp, whereby the genetic material of rgdps produced encodes a polypeptide chain. The methods enable production of libraries of multimeric sbp members from a very large number of possible combinations. In one embodiment of the invention a method employs “chain shuffling” in the production of sbp members of desired specificity for a counterpart sbp member. Selection procedures are also described.

Abstract: Methods, recombinant host cells and kits are disclosed for the production of members of specific binding pairs (sbp), e.g. antibodies, using display on the surface of secreted replicable genetic display packages (rgdps), e.g. filamentous phage. To produce a library of great diversity, recombination occurs between first and second vectors comprising nucleic acid encoding first and second polypeptide chains of sbp members respectively, thereby producing recombinant vectors each encoding both a fist and a second polypeptide chain component of an sbp member. The recombination may take place in vitro or intracellularly and may be site-specific, e.g. involving use of the loxP sequence and mutants thereof. Recombination may take place after prior screening or selecting for rgdps displaying sbp members which bind complementary sbp member of interest.