Abstract: An adjustable foot brace and optional shock absorbing system for decked kayaks that employs a heel and arch of the foot contact, and in which the adjustment arms are selectively securely affixed to a base plate located in the center of the kayak from the forward most portion of the seat or central structural support member forward. This base plate is then securely affixed to the forward most portion of the seat of the kayak, or to the forward most portion of a central structural support member in boats utilizing this device. The bulkhead configuration for this foot brace system employs a full or near full foot contact and the adjustment arm is attached directly to a guide located in the forward most portion of the seat or central structural support member for boats using this device. Either of these foot brace systems may also be attached in a “floating” configuration to an optional shock absorbing mechanism.

Abstract: A knee brace for a kayak includes a structural backbone constructed of a rigid plate bent at an angle, the inside surface of the plate's curved form is lined with a resilient foam pad. The crease where the plate is bent divides it roughly into first and second portions, the first portion having a series of apertures for mounting the brace to the underside of the rearward portion of the foredeck, the second portion of the plate depending generally perpendicularly when mounted and being adapted to receive force from the inner face of the knee and lower thigh portions of a kayaker' leg. The series of apertures in the first portion of the plate is linearly arranged, but offset from the crease by 20 degrees, or so. A channel is cut out in the foam beneath the series of apertures.

Abstract: Methods are described for detecting protein-protein interactions, among two populations of proteins, each having a complexity of at least 1,000. For example, proteins are fused either to the DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional activator or to the activation domain of a transcriptional activator. Two yeast strains, of the opposite mating type and carrying one type each of the fusion proteins are mated together. Productive interactions between the two halves due to protein-protein interactions lead to the reconstitution of the transcriptional activator, which in turn leads to the activation of a reporter gene containing a binding site for the DNA-binding domain. This analysis can be carried out for two or more populations of proteins.

Abstract: Particles that move at low Reynolds numbers are separated from a filter material on which they are adsorbed by subjecting the filter material, in a liquid medium, to agitation of sufficient magnitude to create turbulence and shear forces acting on the filter material such that the particles become desorbed from the filter material and become suspended in the liquid medium. The method may be used to recover biological particles, such as leucocytes and blood platelets, from filter materials on which they are retained by adsorption. The recovered particles may then be used in diagnostic testing and analytical techniques.