Other

Kairos-scientific Inc.

Hercules Corporation

William Joseph Coleman

Edward J Bylina

Douglas C Youvan

Michael Robert Dilworth

Mary M Yang

Christopher M Silva

Steven J Robles

Jay Dare Logue

Dennis Murphy

Robert David Castagno

Simon Delagrave

Anthony M Maffia, Iii

Mary Mei-Iing Yang

Michael A Tanner

Dougalas C Youvan

Marilyn Lee Coleman

Jennifer L Rittenhouse Pruss

A flood protection system comprises a plurality of stackable planks which mount at their ends to a building wall with a water tight seal. The wall mount includes a flat gasket portion directly affixed to the building and outwardly extending protrusions having a substantially T-shaped configuration located thereon such that a uniquely shaped gasket connected to a plank engages the substantially T-shaped outer portion of the protrusions to permit rapid stacking and disassembly of planks. The extruded aluminum planks include internal ribbing to provide added strength while eliminating the excessive weight of conventional planks. Unique anchor means may also be provided to stabilize the planks where long spans are involved.

Flood wall protection system

A flash suppressing and recoil compensating muzzle device for use with a firearm provides a muzzle device that reduces recoil and inhibits muzzle flash while preventing audible harmonic resonant ringing after the firearm is discharged. The present invention accomplishes this through the use of an open ended muzzle device that redirects a portion of the high velocity gasses exiting the terminal end of the weapon through asymmetrically placed narrowing exhaust openings. The asymmetrically placed narrowing exhaust openings gradually direct exiting gases to the rear and to the sides of the muzzle in order to reduce recoil and reducing light emissions. The narrowing exhaust openings are formed by the radially positioned prongs of a distinct weight and width, which widen from the proximal to distal end of the muzzle device. The weight and mass disparity between prongs prevents audible ringing by reducing resonant vibrations between neighboring prongs.

Flash suppressing and recoil compensating muzzle device

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for efficiently and effectively manipulating spreadable materials. Such apparatus and methods may be incorporated for uses such as applying spreadable materials such as hair color, relaxers, and the like to a surface such as the surface of strands of hair for the purpose of highlighting or otherwise processing hair. A variety of applicators including varying edges, surfaces, tapers, and dimensions are disclosed, wherein each applicator configuration creates a different effect when used for hair processing. Furthermore, a hair stylist may select one or more of the disclosed applicators based upon ease of use for the particular hair stylist, personal preference, and/or the type of hair to be processed. The applicators disclosed herein retain their rigidity during use, are fast-drying, create less waste, and are easy to clean. In one embodiment, a user may tailor the applicator's head design to meet his or her personal needs.

Apparatus and methods for manipulating hair processing materials

Disclosed are systems and methods for manufacturing sleeves, a sleeve dispenser, and a method of manufacturing inexpensive, throwaway sleeves that may be used to protect temples from chemicals, germs, bacteria, and the like. Sleeves may be inexpensively manufactured using a single inexpensive raw material as well as an inexpensive manufacturing process in which no waste material is produced. Furthermore, sleeves may be produced as a compact roll of sleeves to accommodate unobtrusive placement in areas with limited space, thereby facilitating distribution in space-limited facilities such as hair salons, spas, optometrist or ophthalmologist offices, sunglass shops, and the like. In some embodiments, the sleeves include latitudinal and longitudinal perforations that facilitate removal of pairs of sleeves from the sleeve roll and removal of each of the pair of sleeves from each other. After separation, a sleeve aperture is passed over the temple until it is fully covered and protected.

Protective temple covering

Complex multidimensional datasets generated by digital imaging spectroscopy can be organized and analyzed by applying software and computer-based methods comprising sorting algorithms. Combinations of these algorithms to images and graphical data, allow pixels or features to be rapidly and efficiently classified into meaningful groups according to defined criteria. Multiple rounds of pixel or feature selection may be performed based on independent sorting criteria. In one embodiment sorting by spectral criteria (e.g., intensity at a given wavelength) is combined with sorting by temporal criteria (e.g., absorbance at a given time) to identify microcolonies of recombinant organisms harboring mutated genes encoding enzymes having desirable kinetic attributes and substrate specificity. Restriction of the set of pixels analyzed in a subsequent sort based on criteria applied in an earlier sort ('sort and lock' analyses) minimize computational and storage resources. User-defined criteria can also be incorporated into the sorting process by means of a graphical user interface that comprises a visualization tools including a contour plot, a sorting bar and a grouping bar, an image window, and a plot window that allow run-time interactive identification of pixels or features meeting one or more criteria, and display of their associated spectral or kinetic data. These methods are useful for extracting information from imaging data in applications ranging from biology and medicine to remote sensing.

Visualization and processing of multidimensional data using prefiltered and sorting criteria

Complex multidimensional datasets generated by digital imaging spectroscopy can be organized and analyzed by applying software and computer-based methods comprising sorting algorithms. Combinations of these algorithms to images and graphical data, allow pixels or features to be rapidly and efficiently classified into meaningful groups according to defined criteria. Multiple rounds of pixel or feature selection may be performed based on independent sorting criteria. In one embodiment sorting by spectral criteria (e.g., intensity at a given wavelength) is combined with sorting by temporal criteria (e.g., absorbance at a given time) to identify microcolonies of recombinant organisms harboring mutated genes encoding enzymes having desirable kinetic attributes and substrate specificity. Restriction of the set of pixels analyzed in a subsequent sort based on criteria applied in an earlier sort (&ldquo;sort and lock&rdquo; analyses) minimize computational and storage resources. User-defined criteria can also be incorporated into the sorting process by means of a graphical user interface that comprises a visualization tools including a contour plot, a sorting bar and a grouping bar, an image window, and a plot window that allow run-time interactive identification of pixels or features meeting one or more criteria, and display of their associated spectral or kinetic data. These methods are useful for extracting information from imaging data in applications ranging from biology and medicine to remote sensing.

Visualization and processing of multidimensional data using prefiltering and sorting criteria

The present invention provides an instrument and methods for a multispectral optical technique that can simultaneously classify individual biological cells within mixed populations. This invention, known as Multispectral Taxonomic Identification (MTID), shows that microscopy can be combined with a software analysis program to measure and categorize the fluorescence and other spectroscopically identifiable signals from complex populations of cells in situ, without cultivation. The invention thus enables high-throughput screening of cells for taxonomic classification.

Multispectral taxonomic identification

Imaging hardware, software, calibrants, and methods are provided to visualize and quantitate the amount of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) occurring between donor and acceptor molecules in epifluorescence microscopy. The MicroFRET system compensates for overlap among donor, acceptor, and FRET spectra using well characterized fluorescent beads as standards in conjunction with radiometrically calibrated image processing techniques. The MicroFRET system also provides precisely machined epifluorescence cubes to maintain proper image registration as the sample is illuminated at the donor and acceptor excitation wavelengths. Algorithms are described that pseudocolor the image to display pixels exhibiting radiometrically-corrected fluorescence emission from the donor (blue), the acceptor (green) and FRET (red). The method is demonstrated on samples exhibiting FRET between genetically engineered derivatives of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) bound to the surface of Ni chelating beads by histidine-tags.

Calibration of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in microscopy

The present invention provides mutant genes encoding variant galactose oxidase enzymes, termed vGOs; constructs and recombinant host cells incorporating the genes; the vGO polypeptides encoded by the genes; antibodies to the polypeptides; and methods of making and using all of the foregoing.

Variant galactose oxidase, nucleic acid encoding same, and methods of using same

Improvements in calorimetric assays, surfaces for arraying microcolonies and instrument hardware for screening mutagenized enzymes and proteins in a solid phase format are presented. These improvements permit new enzyme activities to be screened. New filter membrane materials and formats for arraying the microcolonies provide higher throughput, better solvent resistance and ease of handling. Modifications to the instrument heating and illumination systems provide improved temperature control and a more compact, folded light path.

Solid phase enzyme kinetics screening in microcolonies

A MicroColonyImager instrument and solid phase methods to screen cells expressing mutagenized enzymes for enhanced activity. The MicroColonyImager instrument and methods permit high throughput screening of enzyme libraries by time course analyses of single-pixels, using either absorption, fluorescence or FRET. This high throughput assay can detect small differences in enzyme rates within microcolonies grown at a nearly confluent density on an assay disk. Each microcolony is analyzed simultaneously at single-pixel resolution, requiring less than 100 ml substrate/measurement. By simultaneously assaying different substrates tagged with spectrally distinct chromogenic or fluorogenic reporters, the substrate specificity of an enzyme can be changed.

A connector strip is disclosed for assembling a building wall of glass blocks. The strip includes a longitudinal center section having a pair of oppositely disposed and longitudinally extending grooves dimensioned to receive a centrally located ridge extending peripherally around the outer edge surfaces of a molded building block to which the strip is to be mounted. U-shaped channels extend along the center groove for receiving wiring such as fiber optics for illuminating the glass block wall. Peripheral members and secondary walls serve to strengthen the connector strip, engage marginal edge surfaces of glass blocks and facilitate cement bonding between the connector strip and the adjacent blocks. A fastener member also is provided for coupling together adjacently positioned connector strips to form a rigid framework for assembling successive rows of blocks into a wall assembly.

Glass block connector strip

A connector strip is disclosed for assembling a building wall of glass blocks. The strip includes a longitudinal center section having a pair of oppositely disposed and longitudinally extending grooves dimensioned to receive a centrally located ridge extending peripherally around the outer edge surfaces of a molded building block to which the strip is to be mounted. A flange projects laterally outwardly from each longitudinal edge of the center section. The flanges have outwardly profecting walls and a plurality of laterally extending ribs which project outwardly from the walls. The flanges, walls and ribs define a plurality of open compartments on opposite sides of the flanges. Resiliently compressible material is mounted to the center section which engages with the outer edge surface of the building block to which the strip is to be mounted. A fastener member also is provided for coupling together adjacently positioned connector strips to form a rigid framework for assembling successive rows of blocks into a wall assembly.

Building block wall connector strip and method of assembling a block

An improved pipe railing system is disclosed which employs a pair of basic structural parts which may be joined by means of a unique, integral fastening mechanism to form uniform horizontal pipe railings and vertical pipe posts which may be mechanically joined without the need for welding or industrial adhesives. The improved pipe railing structure is a pair of half-cylindrical hollow body members which each have first and second terminal edges with longitudinal fasteners for joining the two halves. A unique fastener anchorage member is disposed along the inner surface of each body member, having a longitudinal recess therein, for receiving and anchoring a fastener in the axial direction. In this manner, the lower body member of a top horizontal railing may be fastened to a vertical post made up of two such body members by means of simple screw fasteners, followed by mechanically snapping an upper cylindrical body member to the lower cylindrical body member thereby completing the top horizontal railing. The resulting pipe railing system provides an aesthetically pleasing, structurally rigid barrier which is inexpensive to produce and easy to install.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

William Joseph Coleman