Abstract: Described herein are environmentally isolated tissue culture devices that may be used for cell culture, as well as systems including these devices and methods for using them. These devices may include control features for regulating the micro-environment within a well or wells of the device. For example, on-board features may regulate the temperature, humidity, pH, media level, media composition, CO2/O2/N2 levels, drug concentration, cell density, byproduct (or product) production, and mixing of materials within the chamber. Material may be added to or withdrawn from the wells of the device without opening the device. Also described herein are controllers for analyzing and controlling the micro- environment within the well. Thus, the plates described herein may be used without requiring a separate incubator, allowing cells to be analyzed (e.g., imaged) continuously, allowing real-time reactions while monitoring under a microscope for hours, days or even weeks.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system for receiving a delivery estimated time of arrival (ETA) of an expected vehicle at a customer location is provided. The system comprises at least one customer system for receiving the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location from at least one tracking tool. The at least one tracking tool is configured to receive historical vehicle order average information which corresponds to known ETAs of one or more delivered vehicles over a predetermined time frame. The at least one tracking tool is further configured to generate at least one linear regression model in response to the historical vehicle order average information to determine the ETA of the expected vehicle at the customer location.

Abstract: Sub-aquatic sediment is covered with capping material by a capping system comprising a template barge and a spreader barge. While the spreader barge is distributing capping material, the template barge guides the spreader barge as it systematically moves over a pre-defined sediment capping region. The spreader barge comprises a spreader pool in which a broadcast spreader accurately and evenly distributes capping material within the pool, which then sinks to the sediment. The capping material is distributed with minimal disturbance to the sediment.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods for transferring nano-quantities of fluid samples using a high throughput or ultra high throughput dispenser. Such samples may be transferred from a first location and reformatted for being transferred to a second location. The invention may transfer a predetermined volume of sample quickly and accurately.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for providing increased health insurance benefits to employees of business entities for an insurance premium charge. A third party collects health plan requirements and critical health information from the employees. The third party then proposes health plans from health insurance companies to the business entities. Each employee of the business entities chooses a health plan. The third party combines the employees into groups based on the chosen health plans and geographic location of the business entities. The third party negotiates with the health insurance companies regarding health insurance benefits and insurance premium charges offered for the combined employee groups. Authorized personnel may be provided access to the critical health information of the employees.

Abstract: Contaminated fine sediment is removed from surfaces beneath a body of water by a shrouded, self-cleaning, wheel-guided, open suction attachment for a swinging ladder suction dredge with articulating capabilities. The attachment comprises a wheel-guided, suction assembly in which the slurry is contained in a shroud. The shroud is attached to a head plate, and is designed to both enclose the solid particles suspended as a result of the removal operation, and to direct the suspended material to the mouth of the suction pipe. Inside the area surrounded by the shroud is a gatling plate rotated by a hydraulic motor mounted just above the shroud and head plate.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, chips, and methods of performing a large number of simultaneous chemical reactions are provided herein. The chips of the invention comprise addressable units that can be addressed according to the temperature of the reaction to be run. The subject apparatus, systems, and chips are particularly suited for performing polymerase chain reactions on thousands of nucleic acid sequences, up to and including sequences of an entire genome of an organism of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides miniaturized instruments for conducting chemical reactions where control of the reaction temperature is desired or required. Specifically, this invention provides chips and optical systems for performing and monitoring temperature-dependent chemical reactions. The apparatus and methods embodied in the present invention are particularly useful for high-throughput and low-cost amplification of nucleic acids.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a droplet plate for the printhead of an ink-jet printer, which process provides design flexibility, precise dimension control, as well as material robustness. Also provided is a droplet plate fabricated in accord with the process.

Abstract: A method is provided of automated rail loading of automotive vehicles. The method includes the steps of attaching tags to the automotive vehicles and performing an automated railcar identification. The method also includes the step of generating an automated load makeup based on the identified railcar and the automotive vehicles. The method includes the step of locating the automotive vehicles and loading the automotive vehicles on a railcar specified in the automated load makeup. The method further includes the step of shipping the automotive vehicles via the railcar to a final destination specified in the automated load makeup.

Abstract: The optical switch of the present invention advantageously comprises a three dimensional architecture capable of taking input optical signals launched in a first direction, deflecting the signals in a second direction and again in a third direction, preferably orthogonal to the first direction, with no moving parts. The signals are collected at an elevated level without passing through additional nodes. Preferably, incoming beams migrating in an x-direction along a bottom layer are steered in a z-direction to an elevated layer comprising sloped stepped mirror surfaces or a parabolic mirror surface. In an alternate embodiment, a wave guide based optical switch advantageously steers input optical signals from a bottom wave guide layer to an elevated wave guide layer via vertical coupling. The beams are then merged into a collection channel and directly coupled into output fibers without passing through additional transition or cross nodes.

Abstract: A method of inventory control at a service area site for transportation vehicles having an active RF transmitter connected to a service bus, whereby the service area site has a server in communication with the transmitter on the vehicle. The server automatically collects information from the vehicles relative to inventory management without the need for manual intervention. In another embodiment the inventory management method is expanded to include service management at a fleet or rental vehicle site.