Abstract: The present invention is directed to materials and reactor systems having humidity and/or gas control. The material may have high oxygen permeability and/or low water vapor permeability. In some cases, the material may have sufficient permeance and/or permeability to allow cell culture to occur in a chip or other reactor system using the material. In certain embodiments, the material may be positioned adjacent to or abut a reaction site within a chip or reactor; in other embodiments, the material may be positioned such that it is in fluidic communication with the reaction site. The material may also be porous and/or transparent in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the material include a polymer that is branched, and/or contains bulky side groups that allow the polymer to have a more open structure. In some cases, the material may include two or more layers.

Abstract: A device for loading a paintbrush with two colors of paint without mixing the colors together until the artist is ready to blend the colors during the brush strokes. The device includes a base having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and a release liner on the adhesive. When the release liner is removed, the center portion of the base is folded together and the remaining portion of the device is applied to a substrate such as a palette or dish. A different color paint is placed on each side of the divider and a paintbrush is loaded with the two paints simultaneously.

Abstract: A device for loading a paintbrush with two colors of paint without mixing the colors together until the artist is ready to blend the colors during the brush strokes. The device includes a base having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and a release liner on the adhesive. When the release liner is removed, the center portion of the base is folded together and the remaining portion of the device is applied to a substrate such as a palette or dish. A different color paint is placed on each side of the divider and a paintbrush is loaded with the two paints simultaneously.

Abstract: A device for detachably connecting a flashlight to a retractable leash. The device includes a flexible elongated base member having a top and a bottom side. An elastic member attached to the top side of the elongate member- creates an aperture there between for removably inserting a flashlight. Two straps are attached to the bottom of the based member for detachably connecting the elongated base member to a handle of the retractable leash.

Abstract: A device for detachably connecting a flashlight to a retractable leash. The device includes a flexible elongated base member having a top and a bottom side. An elastic member attached to the top side of the elongate member creates an aperture there between for removably inserting a flashlight. Two straps are attached to the bottom of the based member for detachably connecting the elongated base member to a handle of the retractable leash.

Abstract: An acoustic signature recognition and identification system receives signals from a sensor placed on a designated piece of equipment. The acoustic data is digitized and processed, via a Fast Fourier Transform routine, to create a spectrogram image of frequency versus time. The spectrogram image is then normalized to permit acoustic pattern recognition regardless of the surrounding environment or magnitude of the acoustic signal. A feature extractor then detects, tracks and characterizes the lines which form the spectrogram. Specifically, the lines are detected via a KY process that is applied to each pixel in the line. A blob coloring process then groups spatially connected pixels into a single signal object. The harmonic content of the lines is then determined and compared with stored templates of known acoustic signatures to ascertain the type of machinery. An alert is then generated in response to the recognized and identified machinery.

Abstract: A system for automatically classification of human fingerprints. An unidentified fingerprint is processed to produce a direction map. The direction map is processed to generate a course direction map. The coarse direction map is input to a locally connected, highly constrained feed-forward neural network. The neural network has a highly structured architecture well-suited to exploit the rotational symmetries and asymmetries of human fingerprints. The neural network classifies the unidentified fingerprint into one of five classifications: Whorl, Double Loop, Left Loop, Right Arch and Arch.

Abstract: A self-tapping and/or self-carving stud having two or more right angle elongate grooves of alternate length in the tapered thread or projecting helical ribs. The right angled grooves enable tapping debris to accumulate in the grooves to help lock the threads for fastening the stud, particularly in irregular holes. The alternate length of the grooves helps make this stud design unbreakable, thus unbeatable for special situations especially in exhaust manifold applications.