Abstract: Systems and methods for providing contextual information about a place within a range of a wireless signal beacon are provided. A reference database of wireless beacons stores attributes associated with wireless beacons. Wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems receive information identifying wireless beacons in range of the wireless-enabled devices and determine a received signal strength indication of the wireless beacons. The wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems then retrieve from the reference database extended attributes that are associated with the wireless beacons and determine at least one associated contextual attribute about the place within range of the wireless beacons.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing contextual information about a place within a range of a wireless signal beacon are provided. A reference database of wireless beacons stores attributes associated with wireless beacons. Wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems receive information identifying wireless beacons in range of the wireless-enabled devices and determine a received signal strength indication of the wireless beacons. The wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems then retrieve from the reference database extended attributes that are associated with the wireless beacons and determine at least one associated contextual attribute about the place within range of the wireless beacons.

Abstract: An assay is provided for detecting the activity of a reporter kinase comprising (i) adding said reporter kinase to an assay mixture wherein said reporter kinase is contacted with bioluminescent reagent no more than 5 minutes after being contacted with ADP, and wherein, prior to contacting the reporter kinase with ADP, the assay mixture is substantially free from kinase other than reporter kinase; and (ii) detecting light output from the assay mixture. Methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample and methods for validating a treatment process using the above assay are also provided. Further provided are devices for conducting these assays and methods.

Abstract: A method of and system for estimating at least one of a human development level and a human activity level. A method of estimating at least one of a human development level and a human activity level includes estimating positions of radio broadcast beacons. The positions of the radio broadcast beacons are stored in an electronically readable catalog. Each of the positions is grouped into sets of positions. Each set of positions includes positions of one or more geographically-related radio broadcast beacons. For each of the sets, at least one of a human development level and a human activity level is estimated for an area encompassing the positions of the set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing contextual information about a place within a range of a wireless signal beacon are provided. A reference database of wireless beacons stores attributes associated with wireless beacons. Wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems receive information identifying wireless beacons in range of the wireless-enabled devices and determine a received signal strength indication of the wireless beacons. The wireless-enabled devices and/or server systems then retrieve from the reference database extended attributes that are associated with the wireless beacons and determine at least one associated contextual attribute about the place within range of the wireless beacons.

Abstract: An assay is provided for detecting the activity of a reporter kinase comprising (i) adding said reporter kinase to an assay mixture wherein said reporter kinase is contacted with bioluminescent reagent no more than minutes after being contacted with ADP, and wherein, prior to contacting the reporter kinase with ADP, the assay mixture is substantially free from kinase other than reporter kinase; and (ii) detecting light output from the assay mixture. Methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample and methods for validating a treatment process using the above assay are also provided. Further provided are devices for conducting these assays and methods.

Abstract: User access to a help system is provided in an anonymous manner. A provider organization distributes unique pre-generated unique user access codes to potential users. The user access codes include a general information portion and a random portion. When accessing the system for the first time, the user enters their unique user access code, a username, and password. The system associates the username with the password and with the user access code. Subsequent, the user logs into the system using the username and password. Data may be compiled and stored in association with the user access code for later retrieval and analysis to calculate statistics for provider organizations.

Abstract: An assay is provided for detecting the activity of a reporter kinase comprising (i) adding said reporter kinase to an assay mixture wherein said reporter kinase is contacted with bioluminescent reagent no more than minutes after being contacted with ADP, and wherein, prior to contacting the reporter kinase with ADP, the assay mixture is substantially free from kinase other than reporter kinase; and (ii) detecting light output from the assay mixture. Methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample and methods for validating a treatment process using the above assay are also provided. Further provided are devices for conducting these assays and methods.

Abstract: The Plant Growing System “PGS” is a convenient and easy way to grow a high yield plant/vegetable/herb garden in a limited space within a self-contained watering and fertilization system. The PLANT, VEGETABLE AND HERB GROWING SYSTEM design allows plants to receive essential and critical nutrients through a self-contained irrigation and natural (worm) cultivating root system. With the PLANT, VEGETABLE AND HERB GROWING SYSTEM you can grow plants, herbs or vegetables indoor with UV lamps or outdoor in direct sunlight using either soil based growing methods or hydroponic growing methods. The PLANT, VEGETABLE AND HERB GROWING SYSTEM has built in pest deterrence techniques to keep unwanted animals from attacking the plants, herbs and vegetables. The PLANT, VEGETABLE AND HERB GROWING SYSTEM can be restricted to confined areas and used on apartment patios, small backyards, basements or small area with a yield of greater than 10 times of that of traditional gardening methods.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate the management of an electronic supplier catalog within an entity, wherein authorized entity employees purchase products and services relating to the operation of the entity. The system provides a product approval utility for receiving electronic catalog feeds, processing the feeds, identifying feed suppliers, identifying catalog items and comparing the items to an existing database of matching items. Matching items are compared for price, description, payment terms and the like in order to identify variances which are later provided to a commodity manager for review. The commodity manager interacts with the system to approve or reject catalog items based on identified variances.

Abstract: Various implementations are disclosed for self-contained, non-intrusive data collection in ammunition. In some implementations, a gun is loaded with a non-explosive, non-firing round of ammunition containing a data acquisition system. Such a data-collecting round of ammunition may be loaded into the gun according to the same procedures as live rounds of ammunition, and, in particular, may be loaded into a firing position immediately after a preceding live round has been fired. In this way, the data-collecting round of ammunition is able to experience temperature or other conditions that are experienced essentially identically by live rounds. After collecting related data while in the firing position, the data-collecting round may be removed from the gun, for analysis of the data for, for example, development of hot gun misfire safety procedures.

Abstract: A single polypeptide is provided which comprises first and second domains. The first domain enables the polypeptide to cleave one or more vesicle or plasma-membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis, and the second domain enables the polypeptide to be translocated into a target cell or increases the solubility of the polypeptide, or both. The polypeptide thus combines useful properties of a clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum or tetanus toxin, without the toxicity associated with the natural molecule. The polypeptide can also contain a third domain that targets it to a specific cell, rendering the polypeptide useful in inhibition of exocytosis in target cells. Fusion proteins comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and methods of making the polypeptide are also provided. Controlled activation of the polypeptide is possible and the polypeptide can be incorporated into vaccines and toxin assays.

Abstract: A single polypeptide is provided which comprises first and second domains. The first domain enables the polypeptide to cleave one or more vesicle or plasma-membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis, and the second domain enables the polypeptide to be translocated into a target cell or increases the solubility of the polypeptide, or both. The polypeptide thus combines useful properties of a clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum or tetanus toxin, without the toxicity associated with the natural molecule. The polypeptide can also contain a third domain that targets it to a specific cell, rendering the polypeptide useful in inhibition of exocytosis in target cells. Fusion proteins comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and methods of making the polypeptide are also provided. Controlled activation of the polypeptide is possible and the polypeptide can be incorporated into vaccines and toxin assays.

Abstract: Antigenic compositions are provided comprising a single chain polypeptide comprising first and second domains, wherein said first domain is a clostridial neurotoxin light chain or a fragment or a variant thereof and is capable of cleaving one or more vesicle or plasma membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis; and said second domain is a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain HN portion or a fragment or a variant thereof, wherein said second domain is capable of (i) translocating the polypeptide into a cell or (ii) increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own or (iii) both translocating the polypeptide into a cell and increasing the solubility of the polypeptide compared to the solubility of the first domain on its own; and wherein the second domain lacks a functional C-terminal part of a clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain designated HC thereby rendering the polypeptide incapable of binding to cell surface receptors that are the natural cell sur

Abstract: In an assay, an analyte in a sample is contacted with a thermostable reporter adenylate kinase coupled to a binding agent specific for the analyte, wherein a complex is formed. ADP is added, and then formation of ATP is monitored. Prior to the addition of ADP, endogenous kinase and uncomplexed thermostable reporter adenylate kinase is substantially removed by washing and residual-endogenous kinase is inactivated by heating. Prior to contacting the analyte with the thermostable reporter adenylate kinase, the sample has a background activity of at least 300,000 Relative Light Units per mg protein per ml sample when measured in the presence of luciferin/luciferase by a luminometer.

Abstract: A garment hanger includes a hook member and at least one clamp member coupled to a top crossbar member. At least one gripping finger is provided having a portion that is resiliently biased in a close spatial arrangement with a surface (preferably the top surface) of a bottom crossbar member. An end of the gripping finger is angled upward from the surface of the bottom crossbar member to facilitate insertion of the garment therebetween. The clamp member is used to engage and support a garment, such as a pair of pants. The gripping finger(s) and the bottom crossbar member are used to grasp and hold the garment therebetween. Together, these elements can be used to reduce the vertical dimension of the garment held by the garment hanger.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode communications network comprising a first communications platform, a second communications platform and an emission control communications link coupling the first and second communications platforms. The network is adapted to provide multicast connections between the first platform and the second platform when the network is in an emission control (EMCON) state.

Abstract: A garment hanger includes a hook member and at least one clamp member coupled to a top crossbar member. At least one gripping finger is provided having a portion that is resiliently biased in a close spatial arrangement with a surface (preferably the top surface) of a bottom crossbar member. An end of the gripping finger is angled upward from the surface of the bottom crossbar member to facilitate insertion of the garment therebetween. The clamp member is used to engage and support a garment, such as a pair of pants. The gripping finger(s) and the bottom crossbar member are used to grasp and hold the garment therebetween. Together, these elements can be used to reduce the vertical dimension of the garment held by the garment hanger.