Abstract: A volumetric builder machine for enhanced fabrication of sand-casting molds, cores and/or 3-dimensional shapes in printed layers within a build box. A bi-directional layer builder assembly passes back-and-forth over the build box, and with each pass deposits an even layer of loose sand while printing a water-based binder agent according to a pattern representing the mold and/or core to be formed. Heater banks carried on the traveling layer builder assembly accelerate the binder drying module process. The build box has a build plate that is incrementally lowered by a lift unit to accommodate each new sand layer. A strategic heating system preheats the sand, heats the build plate, and directs heat to the sand layer after it has been printed with binder. A ventilation system removes vapors driven from the binder. A sand filling station periodically refills the layer builder assembly. A cleaning station removes binder residue from the printheads.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and compositions for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence using a dual-hapten probe. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a dual-hapten probe to detect a target nucleic acid sequence. In some cases, the detection is on lateral flow strips.

Abstract: A brush accessory for fitting over the bristles and head of a brush, such as a hairbrush used for pets or humans. The accessory generally includes a stretchable band surrounding a stretchable mesh web which fits between the bristles of the brush. Optional pull tabs and brush handle loops can be connected to the stretchable band for easy removal and secure attachment to the brush handle, respectively.

Abstract: A brush accessory for fitting over the bristles and head of a brush, such as a hairbrush used for pets or humans. The accessory generally includes a stretchable band surrounding a stretchable mesh web which fits between the bristles of the brush. Optional pull tabs and brush handle loops can be connected to the stretchable band for easy removal and secure attachment to the brush handle, respectively.

Abstract: A brush accessory for fitting over the bristles and head of a brush, such as a hairbrush used for pets or humans. The accessory generally includes a stretchable band surrounding a stretchable mesh web which fits between the bristles of the brush. Optional pull tabs and brush handle loops can be connected to the stretchable band for easy removal and secure attachment to the brush handle, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method provides dynamic and static type support for multiple definitions of individual types in a distributed object environment. Fully scoped object names incorporating prefixes are used to distinguish objects. The fully scoped names are used for both dynamic type determination through an interface repository and for statically compiled types in client and server stub routines. In the interface repository, a prefix naming context is provided for each root interface definition language context, allowing multiple definitions for objects with the same interface definition language object name, where each such definition resides in a separate prefix naming context. In one embodiment, the prefix naming contexts are defined by prefix interface definition objects. In another embodiment, the fully scoped object names are embedded by an interface definition language compiler in stub and skeleton code routines. RRS.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus in an object oriented programming environment for invocation of objects with interface inheritance. An object reference using mtables contains two parts, more specifically, a pointer to the data for an object and a pointer to the methods on the object. The methods on the object are represented by a collection of mtables. An mtable for a given interface consists of pointers to mtables for inherited interfaces and pointers to functions implementing the operations declared in the interface. An mtable pointer in an object reference points to an mtable for an apparent interface of the object reference. Mtables for any inherited interfaces are reached by indirection from the mtables for the apparent interface.

Abstract: A variety of methods, apparatus and data structures for managing collections of objects are described. In one aspect of the invention, an object that is intended for use in a distributed object operating environment has a structure including a group designation, a co-activation designation and a co-process designation. The group designation is arranged to identify a group to which the object belongs. The group is defined as a collection of objects which share a common persistent state. The co-activation designation is arranged to identify a co-activation set to which the object belongs. The co-activation set is a collection of objects which are to be activated at the same time. The co-process designation is arranged to identify a co-process set to which the object belongs. The co-process set is a collection of objects which are to be activated within a single process.

Abstract: A method of checking the type of an object located on a remote computer in a distributed object environment computing system is disclosed. Initially, a type checking method to determine whether a remotely located object is of a specified type is invoked. In the invocation, a target interface identifier is included as an argument. A determination is then made as to whether the target interface identifier is equal to or a base for an apparent interface identifier held by a proxy object located on the first computer. If the target interface identifier is determined to be equal to or a base for the apparent interface identifier, an affirmative indication to that effect is returned to the client process. If not, then the target interface identifier is then compared to a real interface identifier. In many embodiments, a call to the server host will have to be made in order to determine the real interface identifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elegant and simple way to provide mechanisms for invocation of objects by client applications and for argument passing between client applications and object implementations, without the client application or the operating system knowing the details of how these mechanisms work. Moreover, these mechanisms functions in a distributed computer environment with similar ease and efficiency, where client applications may be on one computer node and object implementations on another. The invention includes a new type of object, termed a "spring object," which includes a method table, a subcontract mechanism and a data structure which represents the subcontract's local private state.

Abstract: An extensible set of auxiliary services for objects in an object-oriented system. Every object in an object-oriented system is implemented by an associated object manager. Each object manager in the present invention has an associated object manager identifier that identifies the object manager. Each object manager in the system can optionally provide various auxiliary services for objects that the object manager implements. These auxiliary services are objects implemented by the object manager itself, or by another object manager. For a particular type of auxiliary service, different object managers may provide different auxiliary services. For example, two object managers may provide two different freeze-melt services. For each type of auxiliary service type, there is a well-known context in which auxiliary services of that type are associated with names. For each type of auxiliary service, there is also a well-known function that transforms an object manager identifier into a name.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elegant and simple way to provide mechanisms for invocation of objects by client applications and for argument passing between client applications and object implementations, without the client application or the operating system knowing the details of how these mechanisms work. Moreover, these mechanisms functions in a distributed computer environment with similar ease and efficiency, where client applications may be on one computer node and object implementations on another.The invention includes a new type of object, termed a "spring object," which includes a method table, a subcontract mechanism and a data structure which represents the subcontract's local private state.

Abstract: In a network of object oriented distributed systems, a plurality of program code managers, each having access to a plurality of program code segment objects, a plurality of address space managers, each having access to a plurality of address space objects having linked program segment and symbol address information, and a plurality of trusted third party authentication managers are provided, thereby allowing a client process executing in non-supervisor mode to be able to dynamically link a program segment to either another program segment in another address space or a process in either another address space or the client's address space, without compromising the security of the systems.

Abstract: In an object oriented distributed system based on the client-server model, the client domains, the server domains and the objects are implemented in an improved manner such that a client domain determines whether a first and a second object implemented by a first and a second server domain are equivalent by requesting the first object to nominate a third object to make the determination, the second object to concur to the nomination, and the nominated third object to make the determination, thereby allowing the determination to be made without comprising the first and second objects and the first and second server domains' security.