Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive and sensitive device and method for detecting and quantifying analytes present in a medium. The device comprises a metalized film upon which is printed a specific, predetermined pattern of analyte-specific receptors. Upon attachment of a target analyte to select areas of the plastic film upon which the receptor is printed, diffraction of transmitted and/or reflected light occurs via the physical dimensions and defined, precise placement of the analyte. A diffraction image is produced which can be easily seen with the eye or, optionally, with a sensing device.

Abstract: An end effector assembly is provided which allows for transport of test fixtures between storage locations and testing locations. The end effector assembly includes a pivotable frame, a pair of loading arms which can be separated or drawn together, and a pair of gripping members which provide a wristlike action. Operation of the apparatus is provided by manipulating the apparatus into the vicinity of a first location, manipulating the elongate arms such that they engage the opposing handles, lifting the test fixture from a first position, manipulating the apparatus into the vicinity of a second location; and lowering the test fixture into the second position.

Abstract: Processing electronic messages by applying a rule representing a combination of additions, actions, or exceptions. A conditions window is displayed to present conditions upon which a rule for processing electronic messages cause an action to be taken. A condition can be selected in response to an input signal. In turn, an actions window is displayed to present actions that may be taken in response to the selected condition. An action is selected in response to receipt of an input signal. The actions window is updated to display the current state of the rule in a natural language format presented as a contiguous string of appended clauses corresponding to both the selected condition and the selected action. To create a rule including an exception, an exceptions window is displayed to present a list of exceptions associated with the selected condition. In response to receiving an input signal, an exception corresponding to the input signal is selected.

Abstract: A system and method for customizing a composite toolbar via direct on-screen manipulation by resizing the composite toolbar and by rearranging sections within a composite toolbar. A composite toolbar is displayed in an initial configuration state having a resizing area and a plurality of sections displayed on a number n rows. When the resizing area has been dragged in a first direction, the size of the composite toolbar is increased by changing to a larger configuration state having n+1 rows. When the resizing area has been dragged in a second direction, the size of the composite toolbar is decreased by changing to a smaller configuration state having n-1 rows. In another aspect of the present invention, when the one of the sections has been dragged in a first direction, the dragged section is expanded so that it overlaps an adjacent section. When one of the sections has been dragged in a second direction, the dragged section is collapsed so that it reveals an adjacent section.

Abstract: Manipulating an object that is dependent upon one or more cells in a spreadsheet is facilitated by manipulating indicators that bound the relevant cells. The object can be a spreadsheet cell formula that contains a reference to one or more cells. The object can also be a graph object that is dependent upon one or more cells. In response to the selection of one of the objects, an indicator is displayed proximate to the cell or cells that the object is dependent upon. If the selected object is dependent upon multiple ranges of cells, then multiple indicators are displayed. Each indicator is displayed proximate to a cell or range of cells for the purpose of highlighting or identifying that the object is dependent upon that cell or range of cells. The highlighting or identifying is acceptably achieved with on-screen indicators that are color-coded. Each indicator can border a cell or a range of cells that the object is dependent upon.

Abstract: Applications of photoerasable colorant composition include photoerasable price markings for pricing goods, documents such as gaming tickets for securely communicating concealed information, photoerasable paint for temporary markings on terrain and structures such as signs, roadways, trees, and buildings, marking instruments such as pens, and wick or felt markers, ultraviolet light exposure indicators, and dry printing. The photoerasable or mutable colorant composition comprises a mutable colorant and an ultraviolet radiation transorber which, upon irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, interacts with the colorant to irreversibly mutate the colorant and thereby render the colorant substantially colorless. The mutable colorant composition may also include a molecular includant.

Abstract: Highly infectious rubella virus cDNA clones that are chimeric constructs of an infectious cDNA clone having a low specific infectivity and nucleic acid molecule fragments from a second rubella virus genome, wherein portions of the nucleotide sequence of the infectious cDNA clone having low specific infectivity have been replaced with the corresponding cDNA fragments derived from the second rubella virus genome.

Abstract: An amorphous alloy catalyst containing nickel and phosphorus comprising a porous carrier, a Ni--P amorphous alloy supported on the carrier, and a pre-supported catalytic component for inducing and catalyzing the formation of the Ni--P amorphous alloy onto the carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst contains 0.15-30 wt % of Ni, based on the total weight of the catalyst, 0.03-10 wt % of P, based on the total weight of the catalyst, 0.01-3.5 wt % of B, based on the total weight of the catalyst. The nickel exists in the form of Ni--P or Ni--B amorphous alloy, the atomic ration Ni/P in the Ni--P amorphous alloy is in range of 0.5-10, the atomic ratio Ni/B in the Ni--B amorphous alloy is in range of 0.5-10. The catalyst may further comprise from 0.01 to 20 wt % of a metal additive (M), based on the total weight of the catalyst. The metal additive (M) refers to one or more metal elements, except Ni, which can be reduced from the corresponding salt into its elemental form.

Abstract: Provided are metal-air cells for connecting to one another to form a battery stack. Two or more of the cells are joined by heat or chemical fusing to create the battery stack. Each of the metal-air cells have a case with an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a chamber that contains an anode and an air cathode. The case defines air openings that extend between the exterior surface and the interior surface for supplying air from the environment exterior to the case to the air cathodes within the chamber. In one embodiment, each metal-air cell includes a plurality of protruding connector members and a plurality of protruding mechanical stops. Two cells are joined by fusing connector members of one cell to connector members of the other cell. During the fusing of the connector members, the mechanical stops of the cells being joined abut one another to arrest movement of the cells toward one another. The arresting causes a plenum to be uniformly defined between the cells.

Abstract: mRNA was extracted at the stage for cotton plant fibrous cells to accumulate cellulose, and cDNA's complementary thereto were synthesized to construct a cDNA library. Clones of a number of 750 were arbitrarily selected from the library, and they were randomly subjected to sequencing. Those having homology to an amino acid sequence deduced from a gene of cellulose 4-.beta.-glucosyltransferase (bcsA) of cellulose synthase operon of acetic acid bacterium were selected from obtained nucleotide sequences of the respective clones. Thus, DNA coding for cellulose synthase was obtained.

Abstract: A non-contact infrared thermometer measures target temperatures remotely without requiring the ratio of the target size to the target distance to the thermometer. A collection means collects and focusses target IR radiation on an IR detector. The detector measures thermal energy of the target over a spectrum using micromechanical sensors. A processor means calculates the collected thermal energy in at least two different spectral regions using a first algorithm in program form and further calculates the ratio of the thermal energy in the at least two different spectral regions to obtain the target temperature independent of the target size, distance to the target and emissivity using a second algorithm in program form.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of contact printing of patterned, self-assembling monolayers of alkanethiolates, carboxylic acids, hydroxamic acids, and phosphonic acids on metallized thermoplastic films, the compositions produced thereby, and the use of these compositions. Patterned self-assembling monolayers allow for the controlled placement of fluids thereon which contain a chemically reactive, indicator functionality. The optical sensing devices produced thereby when the film is exposed to an analyte and light, can produce optical diffraction patterns which differ depending on the reaction of the self-assembling monolayer with the analyte of interest. The light can be in the visible spectrum, and be either reflected from the film, or transmitted through it, and the analyte can be any compound reacting with the fluid on the self-assembling monolayer. The present invention also provides a flexible support for a self-assembling monolayer on gold or another suitable metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery system, a device, and a method to allow multiple batteries with varying capacities and power capabilities to drive a common load. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for adjusting the output current of one or more of the batteries driving a common load to maximize the operational time of the load. The level of the current being supplied by the battery unit is monitored and compared to a desired current level. Upon detecting a change in the level of the current, the output voltage of one or more of the battery systems is modified to return the level of the battery current to the desired current level. This is accomplished by detecting the battery current (31) with a detector (66) and transforming the change in the battery current into an error signal (76) by comparing a voltage, representative of the battery current (31) with a reference value (72). The error signal (76) is then converted into an output adjust signal (62) by an adjuster (78).

Abstract: Detecting an encoding system used to encode computer readable text or data across a wide variety of encoding systems. When a user attempts to download and use text or data on his or her computer, encoded data is passed from the desired text or data file to a series of code readers. Each code reader is programmed to read encoded data according to the rules of a given encoding system. When a given code reader is unable to validate a byte of data according to the encoding system rules associated with that reader, that reader is deactivated. This process of elimination leads to a single reader and a single encoding system. If the list of readers is not eliminated to a single reader, ambiguity resolution is performed to narrow the list of readers to a single reader. Once the list of active readers is narrowed to one, the encoding system associated with that reader is returned as the encoding system with which the data is encoded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of P. aeruginosa in a fluid sample. The method uses PCR to amplify the expression of a segment of the exotoxin A gene sequence. The method includes treating strands of nucleotide fragments with a first oligonucleotide primer and a second oligonucleotide primer. The primers are sufficiently complementary to the fragment to hybridize a region having from about 400 to 1200 base pairs. Desirably, the first oligonucleotide primer includes the sequence 5'-ACA ACG CCC TCA GCA TCA CCA-3' and the second oligonucleotide primer includes the sequence 5'-CGG GTC GAG CAG GCA CAA C-3'.

Abstract: An integrated cogeneration system comprising a combustion engine electric power generator, a combustion powered water boiler, a carbon dioxide recovery unit for receiving exhaust from the combustion engine electric power generator and water boiler and recovering carbon dioxide from the exhaust, and a compressor for receiving recovered carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide recovery unit and liquefying the recovered carbon dioxide. The cogeneration system can also include a heating or cooling system powered by the combustion engine electric power generator. The integrated cogeneration system is desirably modular for transportation in discrete modules and assembly at a remote location. The integrated cogeneration system is useful in supporting manufacture of beverages in sealed containers.

Abstract: A disposable liquid containing and dispensing package. The package has a flexible bag with an upper and a lower bag wall. The upper and lower bag walls have a periphery and a middle portion. The upper bag wall has a spout positioned within the middle portion of the wall. The spout has a first side and a second side. A dip strip is attached to the upper bag wall on the first side of and spaced apart from the spout and attached to the middle portion of the upper bag wall on the second side of and spaced apart from the spout.