Abstract: A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

Abstract: A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

Abstract: A method of processing O-rings in an automated mass production system includes: (a) advancing an O-ring retainer toward a loading position in alignment with an output end of a feed device; (b) discharging a leading O-ring from the output end in electronic synchronization with advancement of the O-ring retainer to the loading position to initiate loading of the O-ring into the retainer prior to the retainer arriving at the loading position; (c) after loading the O-ring into the retainer, advancing the retainer away from the loading position toward an unloading position; and (d) moving an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of the retainer to the unloading position to synchronize arrival of the retainer at the unloading position with arrival of the end effector at a pick-up position in alignment with the O-ring at the unloading position for pick up of the O-ring by the end effector.

Abstract: Apparatus include divergence optics removably coupled to receive a probe beam in a first imaging mode to cause the probe beam to diverge before impinging on a first area of a target surface, and to not receive the probe beam in a second imaging mode to cause the probe beam to impinge on a second area of the target surface smaller than the first area, collection optics configured to receive, in response to the probe beam, luminescence light emitted from the first area and spectral light emitted from the second area, and an optical detector coupled to the collection optics, wherein the optical detector includes a luminescence imaging detector portion and a spectral imaging detector portion adjacent to the luminescence imaging detector portion, wherein the luminescence imaging detector portion is configured to receive the luminescence light emitted from the first area and the spectral imaging detector portion is configured to receive the spectral light from the second area.

Abstract: An ambulatory cutting device is provided. The ambulatory cutting device provides a blade mounted, by way of a blade holding assembly, to a wheeled frame. The wheeled frame has handles for a user to push the wheeled frame along a surface supporting a roofing membrane or other cuttable membrane, wherein the blade holding assembly maintains the mounted blade at an elevation just below the supporting surface so that the membrane is cut as a user pushes the wheeled frame.

Abstract: An ambulatory cutting device is provided. The ambulatory cutting device provides a blade mounted, by way of a blade holding assembly, to a wheeled frame. The wheeled frame has handles for a user to push the wheeled frame along a surface supporting a roofing membrane or other cuttable membrane, wherein the blade holding assembly maintains the mounted blade at an elevation just below the supporting surface so that the membrane is cut as a user pushes the wheeled frame.

Abstract: A method of inducing transposition in a transgenic embryo, sperm and egg is described, comprising the steps of (a) generating a first adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a transposon; (b) generating a second adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon and/or a sequence capable of regulating expression of the gene encoding the transposase; (c) crossing the first adult transgenic organism with the second transgenic adult organism to provide a progeny which comprises, in the genome of one or more of its cells, both (i) one or more copies of the transposon and (ii) a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon, wherein the gene encoding the transposase is under the control of one or more inducible regulatory sequences which permit expression of the transposase, and (d) expressing the gene encoding the transposase in the embryo, sperm or egg to cause mobilization of the tran

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a protein of interest comprising transforming a target insect with a non-viral expression system that expresses the protein in the insect larvae, breeding the insect to produce larvae, culturing the larvae and isolating the protein from the larvae.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for monitoring enzymatic activity as a function of the interaction of modification dependant binding partner polypeptides. Association or dissociation of the binding partner polypeptides is dependant upon the addition or removal of a moiety to or from one or both of the binding partner polypeptides or upon proteolytic digestion of one or both of the binding partner polypeptides by a modifying enzyme.

Abstract: A surface pool skimmer includes a body, a propulsion member attached to the body for propelling the body along a water surface, a skimmer attached to the body for collecting debris from the water surface, a remote control transmitter structured to transmit control signals, and a remote control receiver attached to the body and structured to receive the control signals for controlling operation of the propulsion member. A method of cleaning a pool of water includes providing an untethered surface pool skimmer having a propulsion member for propelling the surface pool skimmer along the surface of the water, and controlling the propulsion member via remote control.

Abstract: A method of inducing transposition in a transgenic embryo, sperm and egg is described, comprising the steps of (a) generating a first adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a transposon; (b) generating a second adult transgenic organism comprising within its genome one or more copies of a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon and/or a sequence capable of regulating expression of the gene encoding the transposase; (c) crossing the first adult transgenic organism with the second transgenic adult organism to provide a progeny which comprises, in the genome of one or more of its cells, both (i) one or more copies of the transposon and (ii) a gene encoding a transposase cognate for the transposon, wherein the gene encoding the transposase is under the control of one or more inducible regulatory sequences which permit expression of the transposase, and (d) expressing the gene encoding the transposase in the embryo, sperm or egg to cause mobilisation of the tran

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selectively releasing an agent loaded into a red blood cell, comprising electrosensitizing the red blood cell by application of an electric field and subsequently disrupting the cell selectively using ultrasound.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method, system and program storage device for maintaining an active root filesystem in a storage subsystem comprising a plurality of storage devices. The method, system and program storage device comprise searching root partitions of the plurality of storage devices for a valid root filesystem, the root filesystem including mount points associated with the plurality of storage devices; mounting a root filesystem that is found first as the active root filesystem and mounting root partitions of the plurality of storage devices to the associated mount points within the active root filesystem; and replicating the active root filesystem across the plurality of storage devices in the storage subsystem, wherein the storage subsystem is bootable from any storage device of the plurality of storage devices that includes a replica of the active root filesystem.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a population of target pests, comprising: a) providing gene comprising a coding sequence encoding one constituent of an enzyme/pro-pesticide system and a promoter capable of driving the coding sequence in the target plants or vertebrate host; b) transforming the target plant or vertebrate with the gene; and c) administering to the transformed population of target plant or vertebrates the remaining constituents of the enzyme/pro-pesticide system such that inactive pro-pesticide is converted to active pesticide on or within the transformed plant or vertebrate host leading to the death of any invading population of target pests.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method, system and program storage device for maintaining an active root filesystem in a storage subsystem comprising a plurality of storage devices. The method, system and program storage device comprise searching root partitions of the plurality of storage devices for a valid root filesystem, the root filesystem including mount points associated with the plurality of storage devices; mounting a root filesystem that is found first as the active root filesystem and mounting root partitions of the plurality of storage devices to the associated mount points within the active root filesystem; and replicating the active root filesystem across the plurality of storage devices in the storage subsystem, wherein the storage subsystem is bootable from any storage device of the plurality of storage devices that includes a replica of the active root filesystem.

Abstract: The intention relates to a method for producing a protein of interest, comprising transforming an insect with a non-viral expression system capable of expressing the protein of interest in the larvae of the insect; breeding the insect to produce larvae; culturing the larvae; and isolating the protein of interest from the larvae. The transformation is advantageously performed by means of a transposon vector.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for monitoring enzymatic activity as a function of the interaction of modification dependant binding partner polypeptides. Association or dissociation of the binding partner polypeptides is dependant upon the addition or removal of a moiety to or from one or both of the binding partner polypeptides or upon proteolytic digestion of one or both of the binding partner polypeptides by a modifying enzyme.

Abstract: A method for controlling a population of target insects comprising providing a gene comprising a coding sequence encoding one constituent of an enzyme/pro-pesticide system and a regulatory region operatively linked to said coding sequence. The regulatory region of the present invention regulates expression of said coding sequence in a target insect of said population of target insects in a sex specific manner. The method of the present invention further comprises transforming a plurality of said target insects with said gene, and allowing said gene to spread within the target insect population. The method further comprises administering to said population of target insects the remaining constituent(s) of said enzyme/pro-pesticide system wherein said enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the pro-pesticide to a pesticide.

Abstract: The invention provides delivery vehicles for the intracellular delivery of a therapeutic agent to a target site. The delivery vehicles comprise cells loaded with an agent conjugated to an MTS sequence. Selective release of the agent-MTS conjugate at a target site, facilitates the uptake of the agent by cells at the target site. Method for producing the cells and using the cells are also provided, as are kits to facilitate performing the methods.

Abstract: We describe a method of producing a red blood cell suitable for delivery of an agent to a vertebrate, the method comprising: (a) providing a red blood cell; (b) pre-sensitising the red blood cell; and (c) loading the red blood cell with an agent. Use of an electric field and/or ultrasound to increase the efficiency of loading of an agent into a red blood cell is also described.