Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for deterring animals from entering or remaining in an area, comprising a motor which twists a twistable member, causing a noise generating member to generate noise by contacting the surface of a container, or a number of objects in the container. A method is also provided for deterring animals by generating randomly varying noises at randomly varying and aperiodic intervals. The method may further be implemented by causing an accumulation of torque in a twistable member, which at aperiodic or randomly varying intervals causes a noise generating member to move against a surface or against objects to produce randomly varying noises.

Abstract: Methods and devices for determining the concentration of a constituent in a physiological sample are provided. The blood sample is introduced into a test strip with portions of the blood sample being directed to both a first capillary and a second capillary. The first capillary configured to electrochemically determine a concentration of a first analyte in a blood sample by measuring a signal across a set of electrodes. The second capillary is configured to determine a hematocrit value of the blood sample by measuring a signal across a second set of electrodes.

Abstract: A drive apparatus having an axle and drive gear for the axle mounted within a housing, the drive gear capable of being drivingly coupled to a worm gear formed on an input shaft. An actuator extending into the housing and cooperating with the input shaft, where the actuator may rotate the input shaft about a point along the longitudinal axis of the input shaft between the first and second ends thereof to move the worm gear from a first position where it is engaged to and drives the drive gear and a second position where the worm gear does not contact the drive gear.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: An improved multi-layered diagnostic sanitary test strip for receiving a heterogenous fluid, such as whole blood, to test for presence and/or amount of a suspected analyte in the fluid by facilitating a color change in the strip corresponding to the amount of the analyte in the fluid, wherein the test strip includes fluid volume control dams to prevent spillage of the fluid from the strip and a chemical reagent solution that facilitates end-point testing.

Abstract: A cylinder containing electrolyte is rotated at a very high speed, which facilitates dissociation of the electrolyte, producing oxygen and hydrogen as well as generating an increased potential difference between an insulated, central cathode and grounded, peripheral, multiple, moving anodes. When the anodes are close to the cathode, there is an easier rupture of the hydrated dipoles and separation into the component gases. As a central shell of hydrogen grows bigger around the cathode, the anodes, controlled by an electromagnetic device or mechanical gears move away from the cathode to the periphery of the cylinder, continually providing a short distance of migration of the described ions. As the molecules dissociate, the temperature drops. This collateral energy could also be used, adding to the efficiency of the apparatus.

Abstract: The A pile-driving apparatus includes a pile, a shoe tip coupled to a toe of the pile, and a drill string disposed within the pile. The drill string includes a gripping device coupling the drill string to the pile and a hammer deployed into the pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to the shoe tip. A method, includes positioning a hammer in a pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to a shoe tip; positioning, in the pile, a portion of drill pipe having a gripping device to engage the pile; and deploying the pile beneath the surface of a body of water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biosensors for measuring analyte concentration in a bodily fluid comprising at least one electrode comprising semiconducting, conducting, or thin film carbon material, and an electron mediator comprising a ruthenium containing electron mediator, or a ferricyanide material or ferrocene carboxylic acid. Methods of measuring analyte concentration in a bodily fluid using such biosensors are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved multi-layered diagnostic sanitary test strip for receiving a heterogenous fluid, such as whole blood, to test for presence and/or amount of a suspected analyte in the fluid by facilitating a color change in the strip corresponding to the amount of the analyte in the fluid, wherein the test strip includes fluid volume control dams to prevent spillage of the fluid from the strip and a chemical reagent solution that facilitates end-point testing.

Abstract: A system for measuring a glucose level in a blood sample includes a test strip and a meter. The test strip includes a sample chamber, a working electrode, a counter electrode, fill-detect electrodes, and an auto-on conductor. A reagent layer is disposed in the sample chamber. The auto-on conductor causes the meter to wake up and perform a test strip sequence when the test strip is inserted in the meter. The meter uses the working and counter electrodes to initially detect the blood sample in the sample chamber and uses the fill-detect electrodes to check that the blood sample has mixed with the reagent layer. The meter applies an assay voltage between the working and counter electrodes and measures the resulting current. The meter calculates the glucose level based on the measured current and calibration data saved in memory from a removable data storage device associated with the test strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a pile are disclosed. The pile-driving apparatus comprises a pile, a shoe tip coupled to a toe of the pile, and a drill string disposed within the pile. The drill string comprises a gripping device coupling the drill string to the pile and a hammer deployed into the pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to the shoe tip. The method, comprises positioning a hammer in a pile such that the hammer is capable of transmitting a force to a shoe tip; positioning, in the pile, a portion of drill pipe having a gripping device to engage the pile; and deploying the pile beneath the surface of a body of water.

Abstract: A method of generating a synthetic pressure altitude is disclosed. The method includes providing a static air temperature to a data processing device. The method also includes providing a geometric altitude to the data processing device. Further, the method includes performing a numerical integration based on the static air temperature and the geometric altitude.

Abstract: Gas pressure in a chamber is determined by injecting alpha particles. The alpha particles ionize the gas. By determining a number of gas ions which are ionized, the pressure of the gas in the chamber can be determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributed fuel system, wherein a plurality of fuel tanks used for storing fuel are distributed in different locations.The fuel tanks are connected to each other via a manifold which permits fuel to flow therein. The distributed fuel system includes a plurality of control components interposed at predetermined points of the manifold to permit or restrict the flow of the fuel contained in the manifold in response to control signals. A method for distributing the fuel between the fuel tanks to achieve predetermined levels in each of the fuel tanks comprises the steps of determining the status and condition of the fuel system. The functions to be performed are then selected. Based on the system status and the functions to be performed, the configuration of the control elements is selected to perform the functions to be performed.

Abstract: A method for preparing chromogenic .alpha.-amylase substrate compounds at substantially high preparative yields in a relatively short period of time by the transglucosylation of a chromogenic glucoside compound to a maltooligosaccharide chain. The concentration of the maltooligosaccharide compound is greater than about 3 times the concentration of the chromogenic glucoside compound to result in at least about 50% of the chromogenic glucoside compound being converted to the desired chromogenic .alpha.-amylase substrate compound.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for interacting carriers with a structure of matter employ an electrode for emitting said carriers at a distance from a surface of that structure, and cause such carriers to travel along ballistic trajectories inside that structure by providing along the mentioned distance a gap for performance of a process selected from the group of carrier tunneling and field emission and injecting carriers emitted by the mentioned electrode and that process ballistically into the structure through the gap and the mentioned surface. The carriers are collected or analyzed after their travel along ballistic trajectories in the structure of matter. Pertinent information on the inside of the structure is obtained by conducting inside that structure what conventionally would have been considered external ballistics, while performing the carrier-propelling internal ballistics conversely outside that structure.