Abstract: This disclosure provides a device and a method for combining a lumbar puncture needle and an ultrasonic density detection circuitry to provide an inexpensive and accurate lumbar puncture locator device. The disclosed device senses different tissue densities with different frequency tones and colored light indicators before needle insertion in the patient's lumbar vertebrae region. This invention allows a doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant to safely do a lumbar puncture in an office environment without the scheduling of the use of the radiology department. This device will allow a timelier diagnosis of infections (such as Lyme disease, bacterial and viral meningitis, herpes, West Nile virus, syphilis), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's dementia, tumors, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and others.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, test units, systems, assays and kits for qualitative and/or quantitative detection of microorganisms or microbes. Some aspects of the invention utilize a test strip comprising a test area and a self-calibrating control area that permits quantitative measurements to be obtained rapidly at the test site. The test strip is ready-to-use and does not require any preparation. The present systems and methods provide valuable tools for sensitive early detection of microbial contamination.

Abstract: A method of insuring military draftees for the reduction of income due to involuntary active military duty includes collecting payments on behalf of a draftee, amounts of the payments being based upon civilian income of the draftee and desired compensatory income during times of active military duty, and providing the desired compensatory income for the draftee during at least a portion of a first time period of active military duty of the draftee in response to receiving a request for compensatory income on behalf of the draftee.

Abstract: A method of insuring military reserve component personnel for reduction of income due to active military duty includes collecting payments on behalf of a reservist, amounts of the payments being based upon civilian income of the reservist and desired compensatory income during times of active military duty, and providing the desired compensatory income for the reservist during at least a portion of a first time period of active military duty of the reservist in response to receiving a request for compensatory income on behalf of the reservist.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting microorganisms in air, water, or deposited on surfaces. The sensor includes a source of light, a waveguide receptive to the source of light, a fluorochrome coating on the waveguide, and a detector which detects the Stokes shift of light passing through the waveguide in response to microorganisms fluorescing as they come into contact with the fluorochrome coating on the waveguide.

Abstract: Wood is impregnated with a solution of tannic acid followed by impregnation with a solution of a metal in the form of a salt. The metal selected is one that will complex with both the impregnated tannic acid and the wood.

Abstract: A magnetic separation method for recovering single cell protein from single cell organisms including dispersing magnetic seed in a fluid medium containing single cell organisms, to allow the attachment of the seed to the single cell organisms in the mixture to occur; submitting the resulting mixture to a magnetic separator to attract and hold by magnetic forces the seed and attached single cell organisms to concentrate the single cell organisms in the magnetic separator; lysing the entrapped single cell organisms to break the cell walls of the single cell organisms and release protein from the single cell organisms into the fluid medium; and recovering the released protein by discharging the fluid medium from the magnetic separator while the seed and remaining portions of the cells attached to the magnetic seed are held by the magnetic forces.