Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: Fungal crosslinked structures, fungal crosslinking systems, and methods for crosslinking a fungal material. The crosslinked fungal material described herein comprises a variety of crosslinkers, crosslinking sites, and various combinations of crosslinks, each forming unique structures. The crosslinked fungal material comprises at least one crosslinking compound attached to a bonding site. The fungal crosslinking system includes a preparation unit, an impregnating unit, a crosslinking unit and a rinsing unit. The preparation unit may partially deacetylate chitin within the fungal material and within chitin nanowhiskers. The impregnating unit impregnates the fungal material with chitin nanowhiskers. The crosslinking unit is configured to crosslink the fungal material and chitin nanowhiskers via genipin to create a composite material. The rinsing unit rinses and removes unreacted genipin material thereby rendering a crosslinked composite material.

Abstract: In one example, a watercraft includes a buoyant body in the form of a single piece structure sized and configured to support the weight of one or more users. The watercraft also includes a retractable fin connected to a pin that resides in a fixed location relative to the body, the pin including a side surface that is in contact with the body. The retractable fin is rotatable about the pin between an extended position and a retracted position, and the retractable fin includes an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

Abstract: In one example, a watercraft includes a buoyant body in the form of a single piece structure sized and configured to support the weight of one or more users. The watercraft also includes a retractable fin connected to a pin that resides in a fixed location relative to the body, the pin including a side surface that is in contact with the body. The retractable fin is rotatable about the pin between an extended position and a retracted position, and the retractable fin includes an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

Abstract: In one example, a board includes a body having a single piece structure, the body including an upper surface that defines a deck, and a lower surface. The board also includes first and second retractable fins, where the first retractable fin is rotatably connected directly to the body at a first fixed location on the body such that the first retractable fin is rotatable about the first fixed location between an extended position and a retracted position, and the first retractable fin including an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The first retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the first retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

Abstract: In one example, a board includes a body having a single piece structure, the body including an upper surface that defines a deck, and a lower surface. The board also includes first and second retractable fins, where the first retractable fin is rotatably connected directly to the body at a first fixed location on the body such that the first retractable fin is rotatable about the first fixed location between an extended position and a retracted position, and the first retractable fin including an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The first retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the first retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

Abstract: In one example, a board suitable for use in water sports includes a body that includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The board also includes a retractable fin connected to the body and configured to assume extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, a substantial portion of the retractable fin extends below the lower surface of the body, and in the retracted position, a substantial portion of the retractable fin resides within a recess at least partly defined by the body.

Abstract: In one example, a board suitable for use in water sports includes a body that includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The board also includes a retractable fin connected to the body and configured to assume extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, a substantial portion of the retractable fin extends below the lower surface of the body, and in the retracted position, a substantial portion of the retractable fin resides within a recess at least partly defined by the body.

Abstract: A plastic injection machine nozzle heater housing and heater. The heater housing includes a heater body having an axial thru-bore for receiving a plastic injection machine nozzle of interest. Bores may extend into the heater body from a rear face thereof for receiving corresponding cartridge heater(s) and a thermocouple. A wire receiving groove may be provided to hold the cartridge heater and thermocouple wires. A wire passage aperture may be provided to permit the cartridge heater and thermocouple wires to extend from the heater body for appropriate connection to a heater controller or other appropriate device. Cartridge heater(s) and a thermocouple are inserted into the corresponding bores and a cover plate of the heater housing is then secured to the end of the heater body so as to cover the heater(s), the thermocouple, and the portion of the associated wires residing in the wire receiving groove.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of computer software, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for generating a value-bearing instrument.

Abstract: A computer implemented system provides secure distribution of value-bearing instruments, such as coupons, tickets, gift certificates, money orders and traveler's checks. The distribution system involves three parties which are the consumer of the instrument, the supplier of the instrument and a security party which is referred to as a secure transaction service. The consumer registers with the secure transaction service for identity verification either before or after a transaction is initiated with the supplier of products or services. Verification of the consumer's identity can be established at any required level. In one aspect of the system, the supplier provides the consumer with a confirmation token which the consumer must then provide to the secure transaction service together with identification information of the consumer, so that only the valid consumer can complete the transaction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system provides secure distribution of value-bearing instruments, such as coupons, tickets, gift certificates, money orders and traveler's checks. The distribution system involves three parties which are the consumer of the instrument, the supplier of the instrument and a security party which is referred to as a secure transaction service. The consumer registers with the secure transaction service for identity verification either before or after a transaction is initiated with the supplier products or services. Verification of the consumer's identity can be established at any required level. In one aspect of the system, the supplier provides the consumer with a confirmation token which the consumer must then provide to the secure transaction service together with identification information of the consumer, so that only the valid consumer can complete the transaction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system provides secure distribution of value-bearing instruments, such as coupons, tickets, gift certificates, money orders and traveler's checks. The distribution system involves three parties which are the consumer of the instrument, the supplier of the instrument and a security party which is referred to as a secure transaction service. The consumer registers with the secure transaction service for identity verification either before or after a transaction is initiated with the supplier of products or services. Verification of the consumer's identity can be established at any required level. In one aspect of the system, the supplier provides the consumer with a confirmation token which the consumer must then provide to the secure transaction service together with identification information of the consumer, so that only the valid consumer can complete the transaction.