Abstract: Disclosed herein include methods, devices, kits, and systems for nucleic acid sequencing, for example, to determine cell-cell interaction using a dielectrophoresis microfluidic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein include methods, systems, compositions and kits for determining cell-cell interaction, for example, using nucleic acid sequencing. The method can match a cell barcode sequence associated with a cell of a plurality of cells with a cell barcode sequence associated with a partition of a plurality of partitions to identify the partition the cell has originated from in the plurality of partitions. In some embodiments, a pair of interacting cells within a partition are attached with a common cell barcode. The nucleic acid sequences of the pair of interacting cells having the common cell barcode can be tracked to the partition the pair of interacting cells has originated from, where phenotypic observables of the interacting cells can be obtained, for example, using optical imaging, thereby linking cell nucleic acid sequences such as expression profiles to cell functionality and the nature of the cell-cell interaction.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a large set of taint labels for tracking a flow of data through a program is provided, including identifying at least a first data and a second data, associated with a first taint storage element and a second taint storage element, respectively; joining the first taint storage element and the second taint storage element to generate at least one joined taint storage element commonly associated with the first data and the second data; processing the first data and the second data associated with the at least one joined taint storage element through the program from the entry point to an egress point; and defining a condition based on the joined taint storage element at the egress point.

Abstract: A building element suitable for use in supporting model building sets. The building element is configured to be removably secured to a plurality of like or similar building elements to form a modular substructure for supporting model building sets. To that end, the building element may include a plurality of connector fitting arrangements disposed on the surfaces of the building element. In one embodiment, the building element is configured to be separable into half-sections and quarter-sections.

Abstract: A building element suitable for use in supporting model building sets. The building element is configured to be removably secured to a plurality of like or similar building elements to form a modular substructure for supporting model building sets. To that end, the building element may include a plurality of connector fitting arrangements disposed on the surfaces of the building element. In one embodiment, the building element is configured to be separable into half-sections and quarter-sections.

Abstract: An air rescue assembly (20) having a balloon (110) adaptable to be filled with a gas to suspend an object (138) in the atmosphere for a predetermined amount of time is disclosed. The air rescue apparatus includes a shroud (120) substantially enclosing the balloon, a harness (136) selectively attachable to the object, and an attachment assembly (130) extending between the shroud and the harness.

Abstract: A diagonal toy piece for a modular toy building set including an underlying support structure for supporting the diagonal toy piece and other toy pieces. The diagonal toy piece is a generally planar member having a top side and a bottom side, two outside edges having respective outer ends spaced from one another, and a diagonal edge joining the outer ends of the outside edges. For mounting the diagonal toy piece on the underlying support structure, the bottom side of the toy piece has an attachment fitting removably attachable to the support structure. The attachment fitting is preferably spaced from the diagonal edge of the toy piece. The diagonal toy piece can be joined with another, complementary diagonal toy piece via a connector on its diagonal edge which is releasably connectable to a cooperating connector on the complementary diagonal toy piece.

Abstract: The present invention is a guidance apparatus for movable toy vehicles that includes a track, or roadway, on which the toy vehicles move. The truck has an intersection. The intersection has a magnetic guidance mechanism for steering the toy vehicles in alternate directions through the intersection. An intersection magnetic sensing mechanism, i.e., electromagnets at the intersection and magnets in the vehicles, stops the vehicles prior to entering the intersection. Additionally, the vehicles stopped at the intersection can be actuated by a timing mechanism after passage of a predetermined time period. Furthermore, the vehicles stopped at the intersection can be actuated only after a mechanism for sensing vehicle presence in the intersection senses no vehicles in the intersection.

Abstract: The modular base for a playing structure, such as a toy building set, includes a first planar member, or tile base, having attachment fittings on its bottom for removable attachment to a substructure, such as a lattice. The top of the first planar member has attachment fittings thereon. Preferably, each of the attachment fittings on the top of the first planar member are aligned with one of the attachment fittings on the bottom to form a common opening through the first planar member. The modular base also includes a second planar member, or tile, having attachment fittings on its bottom. The attachment fittings are preferably protrusions that are most preferably clover leaf in shape and have an interference fit with the attachment fittings on the top of the first planar member that are most preferably square openings.

Abstract: The present invention is a guidance apparatus for movable toy vehicles that includes a track, or roadway, on which the toy vehicles move. The track has an intersection. The intersection has a guidance mechanism for steering the toy vehicles in alternate directions through the intersection. A sensing mechanism, i.e., infrared emitters at the intersection and phototransistors in the vehicles, stops the vehicles prior to entering the intersection. The vehicles stopped at the intersection are then actuated after the mechanism for guiding the toy vehicles through the intersection has been actuated. Additionally, the vehicles stopped at the intersection can be actuated by a timing mechanism after passage of a predetermined time period. Furthermore, the vehicles stopped at the intersection can be actuated only after a mechanism for sensing vehicle presence in the intersection senses no vehicles in the intersection.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for control of toys. Preferably, the present invention is a remote control apparatus for guiding toy vehicles on a roadway. Most preferably, a remote control hand unit is employed that is most preferably optoelectric. The hand unit includes a plurality of direction keys that transmit signals from the hand unit based on their electronic interconnection with a directional light transmitter in the hand unit. The hand unit transmits directional commands to control movement of a toy vehicle through the intersection of a roadway. These control commands are directionally transmitted via a modulated signal that is received by a sensor adjacent the roadway.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for guiding toy vehicles on a roadway. Preferably, a remote control hand unit is employed that is most preferably optoelectric. The hand unit includes a plurality of direction keys that transmit signals from the hand unit based on their electronic interconnection with an infrared LED and a laser transmitter in the hand unit. The hand unit transmits directional commands to control movement of a toy vehicle through the intersection of a roadway. These control commands are transmitted via a modulated infrared signal that is received by an infrared sensor adjacent the roadway. Additionally, the hand unit transmits a location laser signal to one of many reception points, i.e., laser detectors, located adjacent each road at an intersection.

Abstract: A modular building for a toy building set includes a planar member, or foundation, having raised ribs on its top and a wall member having a wall portion and a base portion. The wall portion of the wall member is substantially orthogonal to the base portion of the wall member. The base portion of the wall member has a cleft therein sized to receive one of the ribs of the foundation to removably attach the wall member to the foundations. A substantially planar coupler connects at least two or more of the foundation. The coupler has at least two clefts therein. The clefts are sized to receive the ribs on each of the two foundations for removable attachment of the foundation to the coupler.

Abstract: The modular lattice substructure for a playing structure, such as a toy building set, includes a planar frame having a plurality of exterior corners and a column having a height greater than the height of the frame. The column includes a lower portion and one of the lower portion of the column and a corner of the frame have a receptive connector thereon for removable attachment to a protrusion connector on the other of the lower portion of the column and a corner of the frame. In this manner, a single frame can be attached to a plurality of columns, and a single column can be attached to a plurality of frames in order to form a modular lattice substructure for a playing structure.

Abstract: The modular lattice substructure for a playing structure, such as a toy building set, includes elongate beams, elongate joists, and columns having a height greater than the height of the elongate beams and joists. The sides of the columns have a protrusion connector removably attachable to a slot connector in the ends of the elongate beams and the ends of the elongate joists.

Abstract: The modular terrain for a playing structure, such as a toy building set, includes a plurality of terrain pieces. Some of the terrain pieces have a flat exterior edge. The flat exterior edge is only matable with a flat exterior edge on another of the terrain pieces. The flat exterior edge has spaced longitudinal end points. The flat exterior edge has no change in height between the spaced longitudinal end points. The distance between the spaced longitudinal end points of the flat exterior edge is one of Y, .sqroot.2Y and 2.sqroot.2Y. Some of the terrain pieces have a hill exterior edge. The hill exterior edge is only matable with a hill exterior edge on another of the terrain pieces. The hill exterior edge has spaced longitudinal end points. The hill exterior edge has a change in height between the spaced longitudinal end points of X. The distance between the spaced longitudinal end points of the hill exterior edge is Y. Some of the terrain pieces have a slope exterior edge.

Abstract: A toy vehicular drive apparatus includes a first roadway having an electrically conductive underside and a second roadway having an electrically conductive top and being under the first roadway. A subsurface powered vehicle is movable on the second roadway and has electrically conductive elements in contact with the electrically conductive underside of the first roadway and in contact with the electrically conductive top of the second roadway. A power source connected to the first roadway and the second roadway electrically energizes the first roadway and the second roadway to provide power to the powered subsurface vehicle. The toy vehicular drive apparatus also includes a surface vehicle movable on the top of the first roadway. A magnet on the surface vehicle and a magnet on the powered subsurface vehicle provide interconnection of the surface vehicle and the powered subsurface vehicle to cause movement of the surface vehicle in response to movement of the powered subsurface vehicle.