Abstract: A unified solution system for organ and/or tissue preservation and/or hypothermic blood substitution can be used to prepare multiple solutions for use in various stages of organ procurement, preservation and transplantation and bloodless surgery procedures.

Abstract: A unified solution system for organ and/or tissue preservation and/or hypothermic blood substitution can be used to prepare multiple solutions for use in various stages of organ procurement, preservation and transplantation and bloodless surgery procedures.

Abstract: A face-up document scanning apparatus stitches views from multiple video cameras together to form a composite image. The document scanning apparatus includes an image acquisition system and a frame merger module. The image acquisition, which is mounted over the surface of a desk on which a hardcopy document is placed, has two video cameras for simultaneously recording two overlapping images of different portions of the hardcopy document. By overlapping a portion of the recorded images, the document scanning apparatus can accommodate hardcopy documents of varying thickness. Once the overlapping images are recorded by the image acquisition system, the frame merger module assembles a composite image by identifying the region of overlap between the overlapping images. The composite image is subsequently transmitted for display on a standalone device or as part of a video conferencing system.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding a bovine tumor necrosis factor receptor-I (TNF-RI). Also within the invention is a soluble bovine TNF-RI, which is a potent inhibitor of bovine tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;). The invention demonstrates that soluble bovine TNF-RI has therapeutic value as an inhibitor of TNF in cattle suffering from coliform mastitis or other inflammatory disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding a bovine tumor necrosis factor receptor-I (TNF-RI). Also within the invention is a soluble bovine TNF-RI, which is a potent inhibitor of bovine tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;). The invention demonstrates that soluble bovine TNF-RI has therapeutic value as an inhibitor of TNF in cattle suffering from coliform mastitis or other inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A method of cryopreserving cells includes bringing the cells into contact with a cryopreservation composition containing at least one cyclohexanediol compound, and subsequently reducing the temperature of the cells to a cryopreservation temperature. The at least one cyclohexanediol compound is preferably the cis or trans forms of 1,3-cyclohexanediol or 1,4-cyclohexanediol, and racemic mixtures thereof. A preferred cryopreservation composition includes the at least one cyclohexanediol compound and at least one additional cryoprotectant compound.

Abstract: A serum-free method of cryopreserving cells or tissues that includes bringing the cells or tissues into contact with a cryopreservation composition containing propanediol and a vehicle solution such as EuroCollins solution, and subsequently reducing the temperature of the cells to a cryopreservation temperature, for example of at least −80° C.

Abstract: A two stage method of thawing cells from a cryopreserved state includes first warming the cells from a cryopreservation temperature to a transition temperature of at least −30° C. in a first, slow-warming stage by exposing the cells to an atmosphere having a temperature of less than 30° C., and once the cells have obtained the transition temperature, subsequently further warming the cells from the transition temperature by exposing the cells to a temperature of at least 32° C. in a second, rapid-warming stage. After the cells obtain the transition temperature in the first stage, the cells may be equilibrated at the transition temperature for a period of time prior to conducting the second stage warming. The method is particularly useful in warming cryopreserved cells attached to a fixed substrate. A thermal conduction device in association with the cryopreserved cells may also be used to further assist in the warming procedure.

Abstract: A method carried out in an image processing system in which images of documents are captured by an image capture device, such as a video camera, comprising: (a) displaying successive images captured by the video camera, each image being defined by grayscale image data and containing text matter, (b) receiving a first user input (mouse button click) defining the start of a selection and a first position within the displayed image, (c) in response to the first user input, freezing the displayed image, (d) determining the skew angle of text matter with respect to the field of view of the video camera, (e) receiving at least one further user input (further button click; drag of cursor), including a final user input (mouse button release), defining the end of a selection, and for the or each further user input, (f) determining, using the skew angle determined in step (d), the position, shape and dimensions of a selection element in dependence upon at least the first position, and (g) displaying the selection eleme

Abstract: A functional beach towel for unmarried people is described. The towel is divided into two sections, each section having one or more inscriptions printed thereon which encourage unmarried people to sit and converse. The inscriptions may include, but are not limited to, phrases such as "room for one more", or "I'm single", and so on.

Abstract: An image processing method and system for generating enhanced binary image data from greyscale input image data. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving first image data, the first image data being greyscale image data defining an input image, (b) performing a high frequency boost operation on the first image data to produce second image data, (c) performing a linear interpolation operation on the second image data to produce third image data, the third image data having a resolution higher than the resolution of the second image data, (d) performing a contrast enhancement operation on the third image data to produce fourth image data, and (e) thresholding the fourth image data to produce fifth image data, the fifth image data being binary image data defining an output image. The techniques find application, for example, in over-the-desk scanning of documents, and in video-conferencing.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a reflective stretched membrane mirror for use in the collection and focusing of solar energy includes a tensioning fixture to which a plurality of air-actuated cylinders are attached. The piston arm of each cylinder is in turn connected to an air-actuated clamp which is designed to hold a portion of the peripheral edge of the reflective film which is to be stretched. Depending upon the properties of the film and its tensioning characteristics, cylinders which need the same air pressure are connected in common to a single regulator. The regulators are then connected to an air compressor and the sheet of reflective film is tensioned to a desired level at which point it is adhesively bonded to a circular frame. Once a first reflective film is bonded to a top side of the frame, the process is repeated with a second reflective film bonded to the back or opposite side of the frame.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a reflective stretched membrane mirror for use in the collection and focusing of solar energy includes a tensioning fixture to which a plurality of air-actuated cylinders are attached. The piston arm of each cylinder is in turn connected to an air-actuated clamp which is designed to hold a portion of the peripheral edge of the reflective film which is to be stretched. Depending upon the properties of the film and its tensioning characteristics, cylinders which need the same air pressure are connected in common to a single regulator. The regulators are then connected to an air compressor and the sheet of reflective film is tensioned to a desired level at which point it is adhesively bonded to a circular frame. Once a first reflective film is bonded to a top side of the frame, the process is repeated with a second reflective film bonded to tile back or opposite side of the frame.

Abstract: A retractable adjustable shelf apparatus for holding items thereupon comprising a hollow first shelf formed of a top and a bottom wall and a periphery interconnecting the walls; a pair of brace mechanisms with each brace mechanism including a strut having a first end and a second end with the first end pivotally couplable to a separate external second shelf; and a pair of level adjustment mechanisms disposed within the first shelf, each level adjustment mechanism further comprising an elongated longitudinally slidable geared upper track slidably coupled to the top wall, an elongated geared lower track coupled to the bottom wall, a gear disposed between and in mesh with the tracks and with the gear coupled to the second end of the strut, and a spring-loaded bolt extended from one end of the upper track and through the front wall to terminate at a turnable knob for allowing the first track to be slid to a desired position for permitting the levelness of the first shelf to be adjusted when pivoted with respect t

Abstract: A solution suitable as a hypothermic blood substitute for replacing blood in euthermic subjects during surgery are provided. The blood substitute contains a purge solution and a maintenance solution, the latter of which is useful for organ preservation. The purge solution contains an aqueous solution of electrolytes at physiological concentrations, a macromolecular oncotic agent, a biological pH buffer effective under physiological and hypothermic conditions, a simple sugar, and a substrate for the regeneration of ATP. The maintenance solution contains a second aqueous solution of electrolytes containing potassium ions at a concentration range of from 35 to 45 mM, sodium ions at a concentration range of from 80 to 120 mM, magnesium ions at a concentration range of from 2 to 10 mM, chloride ions at a concentration range of from 15 to 20 mM, and calcium ions at a concentration range of from 0.01 to 0.

Abstract: A mass airflow sensor is provided with a system of conduits and ports which connect the mass airflow sensor to a main fluid flow channel. Pairs of ports connect the plurality of fluid interconnection conduits with the main fluid flow conduit being monitored. The mass airflow sensing apparatus is adapted to receive a mass airflow sensor in fluid communication with its system of conduits. First and second pairs of ports are disposed upstream from a third and fourth pair of ports. The first and second pairs of ports are connected to each other in a way which provides an average flow from each of the pairs to an inlet of the mass airflow sensor. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outlet of the mass airflow sensor is connected to an arrangement of conduits and ports that is a mirror image of the upstream arrangement of conduits and ports.

Abstract: A flexible circuit is presented having a flexing (cyclic bending) section of lower stiffness than adjacent parts of the circuit. The lower stiffness in the flexing section is achieved by reducing the thickness of the flexing section, either by omitting or removing some or all of the dielectric material of the flexible circuit in the flexing section, or by replacing conventional dielectric material in the flexing section with a polymer of lower modulus of elasticity.

Abstract: A pulling system for pulling or moving a large object, such as pulling components of an offshore oil/gas production platform onto an adjacent barge that is subsequently transported to the installation site. This pulling system incorporates a single elongated rod that is connected between the object to be moved and a puller unit that pulls the object along a track. During operation, the puller unit causes a gripping unit to grip the rod so that the puller unit can move the object. Afterwards, the gripping unit releases its engagement of the rod, repositions itself with respect to the rod, and regrips the rod so that movement of the object may again be initiated by the puller unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is specific to determining and is capable of enumerating Escherichia coli (E. coli) in a sample water or sewage specimen. The method comprises adding to a cultured specimen a chromogenic reagent which when subjected to in situ E. coli .beta.-glucuronidase activity produces clearly defined vivid colorization of any individual colonies derived from E. coli cells in the test specimen.

Abstract: A novel method of assembling miniaturized bus bars is presented wherein capacitor ribbons are formed having discrete capacitive elements retained within an insulating layer. These capacitor ribbons are positioned between a pair of bus bar conductor plates with the capacitive elements placed in electrical contact with the plates. The ribbon and bus bar conductor plates are retained together by any conventional technique.