Abstract: A modular building system is provided which includes modular wall sections. Each wall section has a concrete support column reinforced within by metal rods and at least two wall panels which are formed of concrete. Spline panels are attached to the wall panels at one or both ends of each wall section to connect the wall section to an adjacent wall section. The spline panels are formed of concrete and have a width less than half a width of any of the wall panels. The spline panels are positioned so that a portion thereof extends further in a longitudinal direction of the wall section than the respective wall panels to which the spline panels are joined, so that the spline panels cover joints between wall panels of adjacent wall sections when the adjacent wall sections are connected.

Abstract: A modular building system is provided which includes modular wall sections. Each wall section has a concrete support column reinforced within by metal rods and at least two wall panels which are formed of concrete. Spline panels are attached to the wall panels at one or both ends of each wall section to connect the wall section to an adjacent wall section. The spline panels are formed of concrete and have a width less than half a width of any of the wall panels. The spline panels are positioned so that a portion thereof extends further in a longitudinal direction of the wall section than the respective wall panels to which the spline panels are joined, so that the spline panels cover joints between wall panels of adjacent wall sections when the adjacent wall sections are connected.

Abstract: A modular building system for constructing a multi-story building includes prefabricated modular units. Each modular unit includes a horizontal slab for forming a floor/ceiling of the building, a joist extending horizontally along a first edge of the slab, the joist extending below the slab and extending horizontally beyond the first edge of the slab to form a receiving lip, columns positioned on top of the slab along the first edge, and connectors installed in cavities formed in the unit. A floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the slab of a first modular unit is positioned on the receiving lip of a second modular unit. An additional floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the joist portion of an upper modular unit is positioned on the columns of a lower modular unit.

Abstract: A modular building system for constructing a multi-story building includes prefabricated modular units. Each modular unit includes a horizontal slab for forming a floor/ceiling of the building, a joist extending horizontally along a first edge of the slab, the joist extending below the slab and extending horizontally beyond the first edge of the slab to form a receiving lip, columns positioned on top of the slab along the first edge, and connectors installed in cavities formed in the unit. A floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the slab of a first modular unit is positioned on the receiving lip of a second modular unit. An additional floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the joist portion of an upper modular unit is positioned on the columns of a lower modular unit.

Abstract: A modular building system for constructing a multi-story building includes pre-fabricated modular units. Each modular unit includes a horizontal slab for forming a floor/ceiling of the building, a joist extending horizontally along a first edge of the slab, the joist extending below the slab and extending horizontally beyond the first edge of the slab to form a receiving lip, columns positioned on top of the slab along the first edge, and connectors installed in cavities formed in the unit. A floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the slab of a first modular unit is positioned on the receiving lip of a second modular unit. An additional floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the joist portion of an upper modular unit is positioned on the columns of a lower modular unit.

Abstract: Presented are methods of assembling and disassembling a modular unit so that the modular unit. The modular unit includes at least a concrete column with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port, and a concrete joist/slab with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port. The methods include inserting a first end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the joist/slab and a second end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the column to form the modular unit. The first and second ends of the rigid member are releasably coupled to the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The first and second ends of the rigid member are then decoupled from the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The joist/slab, column, and rigid member are separated so that at least joist/slab and column can be reused and/or recycled.

Abstract: Presented are methods of assembling and disassembling a modular unit so that the modular unit. The modular unit includes at least a concrete column with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port, and a concrete joist/slab with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port. The methods include inserting a first end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the joist/slab and a second end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the column to form the modular unit. The first and second ends of the rigid member are releasably coupled to the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The first and second ends of the rigid member are then decoupled from the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The joist/slab, column, and rigid member are separated so that at least joist/slab and column can be reused and/or recycled.

Abstract: Presented are methods of assembling and disassembling a modular unit so that the modular unit. The modular unit includes at least a concrete column with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port, and a concrete joist/slab with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port. The methods include inserting a first end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the joist/slab and a second end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the column to form the modular unit. The first and second ends of the rigid member are releasably coupled to the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The first and second ends of the rigid member are then decoupled from the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The joist/slab, column, and rigid member are separated so that at least joist/slab and column can be reused and/or recycled.

Abstract: Presented is a modular building unit that includes a top end with a top surface, a bottom end with a bottom surface; a first plate assembly embedded in the top end, and a second plate assembly embedded in the bottom end. The first plate assembly includes a first plate with a threaded hole, a plurality of anchoring rods coupled to the first plate and embedded in the top end, and a threaded rod mated with the threaded hole. One end of the threaded rod is embedded in the top end and the other end extends out of the top end. The second plate assembly includes a second plate with an unthreaded hole, and a plurality of anchoring rods coupled to the second plate and embedded in the bottom end.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a brine composition for freezing an item is in a desired balance, the brine composition having an effective amount of dye. The method includes cooling the dye composition to a pre-determined temperature, and comparing the color of the brine composition to a pre-established correlation of color and brine composition at the pre-determined temperature, thereby determining whether the brine composition is in the desired balance.

Abstract: A modular building system for constructing a multi-story building includes pre-fabricated modular units. Each modular unit includes a horizontal slab for forming a floor/ceiling of the building, a joist extending horizontally along a first edge of the slab, the joist extending below the slab and extending horizontally beyond the first edge of the slab to form a receiving lip, columns positioned on top of the slab along the first edge, and connectors installed in cavities formed in the unit. A floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the slab of a first modular unit is positioned on the receiving lip of a second modular unit. An additional floor of the multi-story building is formed by arranging the modular units so that the joist portion of an upper modular unit is positioned on the columns of a lower modular unit.

Abstract: Improved brine solutions and uses thereof for uncontaminatedly and/or efficiently freezing items such as foods, and biological samples. In accordance with one embodiment, a brine solution containing a sufficient amount of dye in conferring the solution a distinctive color is used in the freezing process. In accordance with another embodiment, a brine solution containing deionized water is used for improving the freezing efficiency and/or freezing capacity.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a brine composition for freezing an item is in a desired balance, the brine composition having an effective amount of dye. The method includes cooling the dye composition to a pre-determined temperature, and comparing the color of the brine composition to a pre-established correlation of color and brine composition at the pre-determined temperature, thereby determining whether the brine composition is in the desired balance.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a brine composition for freezing an item is in a desired balance. The method includes: adding an effective amount of dye into the brine composition, cooling the dye composition to a pre-determined temperature, and comparing the color of the brine composition to a pre-established correlation of color and brine composition at the pre-determined temperature, thereby determining whether the brine composition is in the desired balance.

Abstract: Presented is a modular building unit that includes a top end with a top surface, a bottom end with a bottom surface; a first plate assembly embedded in the top end, and a second plate assembly embedded in the bottom end. The first plate assembly includes a first plate with a threaded hole, a plurality of anchoring rods coupled to the first plate and embedded in the top end, and a threaded rod mated with the threaded hole. One end of the threaded rod is embedded in the top end and the other end extends out of the top end. The second plate assembly includes a second plate with an unthreaded hole, and a plurality of anchoring rods coupled to the second plate and embedded in the bottom end.

Abstract: Improved brine solutions and uses thereof for uncontaminatedly and/or efficiently freezing items such as foods, and biological samples. In accordance with one embodiment, a brine solution containing a sufficient amount of dye in conferring the solution a distinctive color is used in the freezing process. In accordance with another embodiment, a brine solution containing deionized water is used for improving the freezing efficiency and/or freezing capacity.

Abstract: A method of freezing meat in a marinade includes coating a piece of meat in a marinade, placing the coated meat in a bag which can be vacuum sealed, vacuum sealing the meat and the marinade in the bag, and freezing the meat by immersing the sealed bag in a brine solution containing between 0.05% and 1.0% by weight of cruciferous oil, the brine solution being at a temperature between ?22 and ?43.6° F. The meat is preferably sealed and frozen without allowing any substantial time for marination, whereby the meat can be thawed and marinated according to the time for a piece of fresh meat placed in the marinade.

Abstract: Delivery items ordered over the Internet by a particular time in the early evening may be delivered by the next morning to a location within a 5-6 hour delivery radius of a warehouse, according to one specific aspect of the present invention. The order for the delivery items is filled at the warehouse, where the items are placed in a tote for delivery. The filled tote is placed on a movable rack, which is transferred to a vehicle. At the delivery destination, the driver removes the tote and secures it via a system of one or more chains and/or cables which are contained in a delivery box which is secured outside the delivery destination. Later, the customer can unlock the chains from the tote in order to bring the tote inside and/or to remove the delivery items from the tote.

Abstract: Presented are methods of assembling and disassembling a modular unit so that the modular unit. The modular unit includes at least a concrete column with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port, and a concrete joist/slab with an embedded steel receptacle and an access port. The methods include inserting a first end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the joist/slab and a second end of the rigid member into the steel receptacle of the column to form the modular unit. The first and second ends of the rigid member are releasably coupled to the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The first and second ends of the rigid member are then decoupled from the steel receptacles of the joist/slab and column, respectively. The joist/slab, column, and rigid member are separated so that at least joist/slab and column can be reused and/or recycled.

Abstract: Presented is a method of freezing ice cream. The method includes mixing a plurality of ingredients to produce soft ice cream, cooling the soft ice cream to a preliminary temperature between 19°-24° F. using a brine solution, pumping the cooled soft ice cream into a tube and then sealing the tube, disposing the sealed tube in a freezing sleeve and then sealing the freezing sleeve, and partially immersing the freezing sleeve in a brine solution until the ice cream is completely frozen.