Abstract: A method of joining panels of foam materials such that edges are compressed into panel surfaces to provide a secured and effectively sealed structure is disclosed. Panels in an orthogonal relationship to each other, which are made of foam (or other materials not intended to be load bearing) can be joined by compressing the outer side of one of the panels into the edge surface of an adjoining panel. This is done using two plates, one resting on the outer side of the first panel, and one inserted into the side of the second panel, where the plates are connected by a bolt, screw or wire under tension.

Abstract: Insulated containers which conform relatively closely in size to the payload size, which contain a payload and phase change material and/or a refrigerated gel are all placed in a larger insulated shipping container, which may house additional phase change material and/or refrigerant. The combined insulating effect of the inner and outer containers allows minimizing the use of phase change material inside the inner container for the payload itself, and the presence of the phase material, together with the use of frozen gels inside the outer container, provides for only a small difference in temperature between the interior of the inner container and the interior of the outer container. The inner containers can be less insulated and lower cost, and the outer containers can be recycled.

Abstract: Controlling humidity at the surface of a solution containing analyte and ligand, e.g., for an assay, is disclosed, wherein the control of the humidity induces evaporative stirring in the solution to bring analyte and ligand into contact more quickly than when using diffusion. An oven which blows air in a controlled stream across slides, with wells containing reagent and analyte, is disclosed. Also disclosed is optical tape which can replace a conventional glass coverslip used for viewing of the reaction results.

Abstract: Insulated containers which conform relatively closely in size to the payload size, which contain a payload and phase change material and/or a refrigerated gel are all placed in a larger insulated shipping container, which may house additional phase change material and/or refrigerant. The combined insulating effect of the inner and outer containers allows minimizing the use of phase change material inside the inner container for the payload itself, and the presence of the phase material, together with the use of frozen gels inside the outer container, provides for only a small difference in temperature between the interior of the inner container and the interior of the outer container. The inner containers can be less insulated and lower cost, and the outer containers can be recycled.

Abstract: A method of joining panels of foam material such that edges are compressed into panel surfaces to provide a secured and effectively sealed structure is disclosed. Panels in an orthogonal relationship to each other, which are made of foam (or other materials not intended to be load bearing) can be joined by compressing the outer side of one of the panels into the edge surface of an adjoining panel. This is done using two plates, one resting on the outer side of the first panel, and one inserted into the side of the second panel, where the plates are connected by a bolt, screw or wire under tension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sealed container formed from six rectangular foam insulating panels. The edges of two of the panels forming opposing sides are positioned to face the inner sides of the panels forming the two other opposing sides. The upper side of the bottom panel of the container is positioned to face the lower edges of all the sides. The sides are then strapped together under tension (one or more straps around the outer side of the sides; and, one strap around the edges of each of the two of the opposing sides and the lower surface of the bottom panel, to hold the bottom panel in place). The compressibility of the foam allows the panel edges to compress into the area of the panel sides contacted, thereby bonding the structure firmly together. The cargo is placed inside the container, atop the panel forming the bottom. Alternatively, the bottom panel is not strapped, but the container is placed inside a box, and sealing the box holds the bottom (and top) panels in place.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shipping container suitable for use for pharmaceuticals, biological materials, blood or tissues, or food products, having a double-walled multiple-chamber structure, wherein a first phase change material, with a phase change temperature between 2° to 8° C. (and in a preferred embodiment, 5°C.) in a payload chamber, and wherein the container includes one or more first chambers surrounding and sharing a wall with the payload chamber, and housing ice (or ice gel packs). A lid fits over (or is hinged to) the upper edges of the walls to seal the container and the payload.

Abstract: Controlling humidity at the surface of a solution containing analyte and ligand, e.g., for an assay, is disclosed, wherein the control of the humidity induces evaporative stirring in the solution to bring analyte and ligand into contact more quickly than when using diffusion. An oven which blows air in a controlled stream across slides, with wells containing reagent and analyte, is disclosed. Also disclosed is optical tape which can replace a conventional glass coverslip used for viewing of the reaction results.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the simultaneous measurement of rheological and thermal characteristics of a test specimen subjects the test specimen to stress for rheological measurements, while at the same time subjecting the same test specimen to controlled temperature changes for the measurement of temperature differentials indicative of thermal characteristics of the test specimen while the test specimen is being stressed for the rheological measurements, and a measuring cell for measuring the thermal characteristics of a specimen.

Abstract: A variable voltage, the magnitude of which corresponds to the controlled gain of a circuit through which stitch parameter controlling signals are passed is generated at the wiper arm of a potentiometer connected across a voltage source. The voltage thus obtained from the potentiometer is applied to a decoding circuit that has a plurality of output terminals to supply current to individual semiconductor devices that change their visible condition in response to such current. The decoder causes specific ones of the semiconductor devices to respond in that way so as to produce a pattern directly related to the gain of the circuit through which the stitch information passes. The decoder may be arranged to generate a bar graph representation of the gain or the change may be limited to the semiconductor device that represents the most extreme such device that would be affected by the voltage from the potentiometer for a given setting.