Abstract: A current sensing device includes a housing with a head adapted for releasably holding a wire of an electrical circuit without breaking the electrical circuit. The head has one or more current sensors configured to sense direct current in the wire without breaking the electrical circuit. The housing includes an alarm to indicate if the current sensing device senses a current in the electrical wire above a predefined threshold current. The head has a clip base and clip member that form an internal channel to closely receive the electrical wire and to releasably hold the electrical wire for testing. In some embodiments, the head has an internal channel that intersects the outer surface of the head and forms a longitudinal opening to allow insertion of the wire into the internal channel. The current sensing device has a processor programed to calibrate the current sensing device to compensate for electrical noise.

Abstract: A trailer lighting activation system includes a vehicle light sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a microcontroller. The vehicle light sensor is removably attached to a towing vehicle light to detect a light output of the towing vehicle light, and to provide a vehicle light sensor output signal in response to the light output of the towing vehicle light. The ambient light sensor can detect an ambient light level and provide an output signal in response to the ambient light level. The microcontroller is coupled to the vehicle light sensor output and to the ambient light sensor and has an output for energizing a trailer light in response to the ambient light sensor output signal and the vehicle light sensor output signal. An overcurrent monitor is coupled to the trailer light and to monitor current drawn by the trailer lighting activation system.

Abstract: A current sensing device includes a housing with a head adapted for releasably holding a wire of an electrical circuit without breaking the electrical circuit. The head has one or more current sensors configured to sense direct current in the wire without breaking the electrical circuit. The housing includes an alarm to indicate if the current sensing device senses a current in the electrical wire above a predefined threshold current. The head has a clip base and clip member that form an internal channel to closely receive the electrical wire and to releasably hold the electrical wire for testing. In some embodiments, the head has an internal channel that intersects the outer surface of the head and forms a longitudinal opening to allow insertion of the wire into the internal channel. The current sensing device has a processor programed to calibrate the current sensing device to compensate for electrical noise.

Abstract: A trailer lighting activation system includes a vehicle light sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a microcontroller. The vehicle light sensor is removably attached to a towing vehicle light to detect a light output of the towing vehicle light, and to provide a vehicle light sensor output signal in response to the light output of the towing vehicle light. The ambient light sensor can detect an ambient light level and provide an output signal in response to the ambient light level. The microcontroller is coupled to the vehicle light sensor output and to the ambient light sensor and has an output for energizing a trailer light in response to the ambient light sensor output signal and the vehicle light sensor output signal. An overcurrent monitor is coupled to the trailer light and to monitor current drawn by the trailer lighting activation system.

Abstract: A tape measure has a housing and a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing. The blade may have a profile with a sinusoidal shape. A reinforcement member may be attached to the blade over a length of the blade. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for a predetermined distance. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member may be provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.

Abstract: A locking pliers has a first jaw and a second jaw movable with respect to one another. A locking mechanism locks the first jaw and the second jaw in position relative to one another. At least one of the jaws is provided with an attachment structure that allows a variety of work holders to be removably or permanently attached to the jaw. At least one of the jaws may be provided with a receiving surface that allows a surface of a variety of different types of work holders to be attached to the jaw such as by welding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Abstract: A method for providing toxin information and recommendations includes receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient. The toxin content data may include the type and amount for toxins found in the ingredient. The ingredient is classified based on the toxin content data and a predetermined allowable toxin amount for the ingredient. Based on the classification of the ingredient, ingredient storage information is displayed. In addition, ingredient use information may be displayed based on the toxin content data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a redundant braking system for a vehicle. A controller may monitor a status of a hydraulic braking system, and during vehicle travel, automatically switch to a modulated electric braking system which is separate from the hydraulic braking system when the hydraulic braking system fails. The modulated electric braking system may utilize a brake acting on a drive shaft of the vehicle, and an operator-actuated switch may set a mode of the modulated electric braking system to a non-modulated parking brake mode.

Abstract: System and method of aerosolized agent detection. Multi-part collection tape is employed for capturing particles of interest for immediate analysis and optional forensic preservation and recording information related to capture and subsequent real-time analysis. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopic processing is employed and spectra attributable to known collection tape materials is subtracted to derive particle spectra for comparison to known hazardous agent spectra.

Abstract: A network of radiation detection instruments, each having a small solid state radiation sensor module integrated into a cellular phone for providing radiation detection data and analysis directly to a user. The sensor module includes a solid-state crystal bonded to an ASIC readout providing a low cost, low power, light weight compact instrument to detect and measure radiation energies in the local ambient radiation field. In particular, the photon energy, time of event, and location of the detection instrument at the time of detection is recorded for real time transmission to a central data collection/analysis system. The collected data from the entire network of radiation detection instruments are combined by intelligent correlation/analysis algorithms which map the background radiation and detect, identify and track radiation anomalies in the region.

Abstract: A network of radiation detection instruments, each having a small solid state radiation sensor module integrated into a cellular phone for providing radiation detection data and analysis directly to a user. The sensor module includes a solid-state crystal bonded to an ASIC readout providing a low cost, low power, light weight compact instrument to detect and measure radiation energies in the local ambient radiation field. In particular, the photon energy, time of event, and location of the detection instrument at the time of detection is recorded for real time transmission to a central data collection/analysis system. The collected data from the entire network of radiation detection instruments are combined by intelligent correlation/analysis algorithms which map the background radiation and detect, identify and track radiation anomalies in the region.

Abstract: A method for allocating dairy end product pricing risk in a dairy production system is described. The method includes providing a fixed price for a future period for a dairy end product to a retailer of the dairy end product, determining a cost of production for the dairy end product, the cost of production including costs associated with each dairy production entity in the dairy production process, and allocating the difference between the fixed price and the cost of production among each dairy production entity based on the sale of the dairy end product at the fixed price.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling potential biohazard particles in an air flow tests for biological particles in the air flow; collects a sample of particulate matter from a specific portion of the air flow in response to an indication in the step of sensing of the presence of biological particles in the specific portion of the air flow, and delays particle movement between the steps of sensing and collecting to coordinate the steps of sensing and collecting to the specific portion of the air flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably detecting bio-warfare agents in the mail stream that may be released from posted items. The agents are detected as the mail pieces are being processed using typical postal automation machines equipped with image scanning capabilities. The detection problem is solved combining two technologies. The first technology is an aerosol trigger that can be based on a variety of different existing approaches. One such approach detects particulates of a specific size range and examines the spectral characteristics of the particles when illuminated with an ultra violet (UV) or other light source. Other approaches may include: mass spectrometry, ion mobility, IR spectrometry and the like. The second technology involves scanning and analyzing images of suspect mail pieces and correlating aerosol trigger events with mail piece image risk factors.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying hazardous material in a mail stream in which hazardous particulates or material in or on mail pieces in a mail stream are detected and the mail piece bearing the hazardous material is identified. A bar code applicator applies a unique bar code to the wrapper of each mail piece identified as potentially containing hazardous material. The bar code applicator is an ink jet which applies the bar code on-the-fly. The bar code applied is encoded with specific information about the detection parameters at the time of the event in addition to specific information about the date, time of day, machine identification, temperature and humidity conditions, etc. present at the time of the event.

Abstract: A water control gate assembled from hollow core boards of extruded rigid plastic material with soft plastic material gaskets chemically bonded thereto by molecular cross-linking. Side channel members that receive end portions of the boards are extruded of rigid plastic material with soft plastic gaskets chemically bonded thereto by molecular cross-linking. The gaskets seal against the outer surfaces of the board end portions. The gaskets are molecularly cross-linked with the board or side channel plastic material so that they will not separate therefrom. Cross-linking is achieved by way of coextrusion or by locally reheating surfaces of the board or channel member downstream from their extrusion die to a temperature that promotes molecular cross-linking with a gasket material as the gasket is extruded onto the reheated area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor comprising contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises a cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein. The protein is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, and more specifically to active fragments of decorin or its functional equivalents to bind TGF.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating diseases associated with elevated levels of interleukin 1 (IL-1) including inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, skin hypersensitivity and endotoxemia. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the treatment of such diseases in warm-blooded animals, such as humans, which comprises the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an aromatic diamidine, sufficient to inhibit IL-1 release from IL-1 producing cells. The aromatic diamidine can also be used to block interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor from cells producing these cytokines.