Abstract: A tool for clearing debris out of gaps between wooden or composite boards in a deck is provided, including a slanted blade, an optional horizontal guide plate, and an attachment point for coupling with a handle, vacuum cleaner tube, or leaf blower tube. In preferred operation, the tool is pushed along a deck gap, with the blade protruding ahead and dislodging the debris from the deck gap, up onto the deck to be removed. Other features in certain embodiments might include a detachable blade, a brush attachment, or a nozzle attachment.

Abstract: Chimeric nonhuman mammals useful as inducible spontaneous cancer models are disclosed. The nonhuman mammals are obtained by introducing one or more genetically modified embryonic stem (ES) cells into an early stage embryo, and then implanting the manipulated embryo into a surrogate mother. The ES cells contain a recombinant oncogene, and also may contain a genetic mutation that deletes or inactivates a tumor suppressor gene. Models of different types of cancer are produced by introducing different combinations of genetic mutations into the ES cells that are introduced into the early stage embryo.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved directed complementation method for generating a conditionally tumorigenic mouse cell. In a directed complementation method, the tumorigenicity of a conditionally tumorigenic mouse cell depends on either the expression of an inducible recombinant oncogene or the expression of a recombinant gene of interest that functionally complements an uninduced recombinant oncogene. The invention provides a method of producing a tumorigenic mouse cell containing an uninduced oncogene, a recombinant gene of interest that functionally complements the uninduced oncogene, and a Cre-ER system capable of excising the recombinant gene of interest. When the Cre-ER system is activated, the recombinant gene of interest is excised. From the effect on the mouse cell it is possible to determine whether the recombinant gene of interest is a tumor maintenance gene.

Abstract: Chimeric nonhuman mammals useful as inducible spontaneous cancer models are disclosed. The nonhuman mammals are obtained by introducing one or more genetically modified embryonic stem (ES) cells into an early stage embryo, and then implanting the manipulated embryo into a surrogate mother. The ES cells contain a recombinant oncogene, and also may contain a genetic mutation that deletes or inactivates a tumor suppressor gene. Models of different types of cancer are produced by introducing different combinations of genetic mutations into the ES cells that are introduced into the early stage embryo.

Abstract: A method of correcting of treating a genetic disorder by combining therapeutic cloning and gene therapy.

Abstract: A system for measuring the frequency response of an electrooptic device, such as an optical detector, includes an optical amplifier for generating an optical white noise spectrum that is delivered to the detector. In a first embodiment, an optical amplifier or a luminescent fiber amplifier generates a white noise signal due to spontaneous-spontaneous beat noise emission, while a second embodiment utilizes the signal-spontaneous and spontaneous-spontaneous beat noise emissions generated by an optical amplifier driven by a laser source. The frequency response of the detector is determined from a measurement of the detected noise signal wherein any roll-off in the response must be due to the detector since the originally generated noise spectrum is flat.