Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying and serotyping Salmonella spp. serovars. Primer pairs and nucleic acid probes complementary to signature determinants in specific serovars are utilized for PCR amplification and hybridization for differentiation among specific Salmonella spp. serovars in a single sample.

Abstract: Robotic systems and methods for collecting trash are provided. The robotic system includes a vehicle, a camera, a trash collection unit, an actuator, and a controller. The vehicle includes a drive. The camera moves with the vehicle to capture images of the trash while the vehicle moves along ground. The trash collection unit is carried by the vehicle to collect the trash. The trash collection unit includes a vacuum pump and a collection conduit. The actuator is operatively coupled to the collection conduit to adjust a position of the collection conduit relative to the vehicle to position the collection conduit adjacent to the trash to collect the trash. The controller is coupled to the drive, the camera, the trash collection unit, and the actuator to coordinate movement of the vehicle, positioning of the collection conduit, and operation of the vacuum pump to collect the trash.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable system for real-time population-scale HLA genotyping and/or allelotyping in a field environment and methods of such population-scale HLA genotyping. The individual components of the system are portable to and operable within a field environment thereby providing high throughput with real-time geno- or allelotyping. Also provided are HLA gene-specific primers and HLA allele-specific or single nucleotide polymorphism-specific hybridization probes. In addition the present invention provides a microarray comprising the hybridization probes. Further provided is a kit comprising the HLA gene-specific primers and the microarray.

Abstract: A smoke detector that includes at least one image-forming reflective surface, at least one light source and at least one light sensor. In operation, at least one light source emits light from a first area thereon and the reflective surface focuses the light onto a second area that includes at least one light sensor, wherein the first area is smaller than the second area.

Abstract: A security system senses intrusions into a shipping container through the opening of doors, cutting an opening, or removing the doors from their hinges. Intrusion information is transmitted to a remote receiver without interrogation, thereby reducing power consumption. Sensing is accomplished by employing a range-gated micro-impulse radar (“RGR”) that generates microwave pulses that bounce around the interior of the container. The RGR includes a range gate that enables measuring reflected signals during the time gate period that is set for the time it takes a pulse to propagate a maximum distance within the container and reflect back. A direct current signal level is produced that represents the average reflected signal level within the container, and a Doppler shift measurement is made that represents motion inside the container. The signals are conveyed to the transmitter for conveyance to the remote receiver.

Abstract: An intrusion detector test circuit automatically disables a detected-event indicator from receiving sensing signals. A sensor generates a sensing signal in response to a detection of an installer testing the intrusion detector. An indictor means receives the sensing signals and generates detected-event indications in response to the sensing signals. A switch interposed between the sensor and the indicator receives the sensing signals. In a first state, the switch supplies the sensing signals to the indicator; in a second state, the switch means does not supply the sensing signals to the indicator. A first state setter sets the switch to the first state, and a second state setter automatically sets the switch to the second state after a lapse of a predetermined time period.