Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving administration of drugs through the use of heat and other physical means. The present invention relates to the use of heat and other physical means in conjunction with specially designed dermal drug delivery systems, conventional commercial dermal drug delivery systems, or drugs delivered into a sub-skin depot site via injection and other methods to alter, mainly increase, the drug release rate from the dermal drug delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for directly linking a harvest environment using precision farming techniques to the marketplace. It is a feature of this invention that properties of crops are evaluated “on-the-move,” during the harvest thereof, and are made known to users in the harvest environment to enable the real-time transaction for the sale of these crops. In a preferred embodiment, crops are harvested from an agricultural field in the harvest environment with a combine having an auger section thereon. A plurality of properties of the crops are evaluated on-the-move by flowing the harvested crops through the auger section and over an optical device. The optical device utilizes light reflected from the crops to determine the properties. Thereafter, the marketplace is searched with a computing configuration aboard the combine for a market seeking the crop properties.

Abstract: A method and system for computerizing authoring, learning, and evaluation is provided. The computerized system comprises a central processing unit and related memory and storage capacity to operate an authoring, learning, and evaluation system stored in a computer program. The authoring, learning, and evaluation system comprises an authoring portion and a presentation portion. Through the use of intuitive interface elements, the authoring portion allows an author to quickly and easily construct a lesson from a pool of relevant data. Data can be organized into objects or concepts that are related to one another in a reasoned fashion so that coherent testing of the data, as presented to a user, may be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a multiple-component projectile which remains intact after leaving the barrel of a gun. The projectile comprises a core which includes a leading tip and a cylindrical shaft section which extends aft of the tip. A sabot sleeve surrounds the cylindrical shaft section and has a sufficient diameter to engage the rifling on the interior of a gun barrel. A rear cap connects to the aft end of the shaft section and secures the sabot sleeve to the shaft and tip. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise an annular lip and slot on the leading tip configured to receive the leading edge of the sabot sleeve and prevent it from separating from the core while traveling through the gun barrel and thereafter. The rear cap may also comprise an annular lip and slot configured to receive the trailing edge of the sabot sleeve and further lock the sleeve to the core thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the core.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving administration of drugs through the use of heat and other physical means. The present invention relates to the use of heat and other physical means in conjunction with specially designed dermal drug delivery systems, conventional commercial dermal drug delivery systems, or drugs delivered into a sub-skin depot site via injection and other methods to alter, mainly increase, the drug release rate from the dermal drug delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving administration of drugs through the use of heat and other physical means. The present invention relates to the use of heat and other physical means in conjunction with specially designed dermal drug delivery systems, conventional commercial dermal drug delivery systems, or drugs delivered into a sub-skin depot site via injection and other methods to alter, mainly increase, the drug release rate from the dermal drug delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.

Abstract: A method and computer product for facilitating automatic testing during the development and other life cycle phases of a software application comprised of transactions. A transaction tester evaluates the integrity of a transaction by generating test data from the definition of the transaction under test. Typical values for fields may be included within the transaction definition and reused as typical test values. Test results are generated and compared against known-good values or, alternatively, against expected test results also generated from the transaction definition. Other software components may also be tested including menu structures. A definition of the menu structure is rigorously traversed such that each entry of each menu is thoroughly tested and reported. Results are automatically compared and verified against known good results or test results are automatically reviewed. Both transaction testing and menu testing may be incorporated into regression testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a removable and/or retractable extension for an electronic apparatus which is electrically connected to the apparatus through electrically conductive surfaces which are formed on the edge of a PCB. Some preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise PCB edge conductors which are formed by preparation of the edge surface followed by typical plating methods while other preferred embodiments comprise PCB edge conductors formed by exposing surfaces of conductors formed by filling vias with conductive material. The extensions of some embodiments of the present invention comprise antennas, physical/electrical media connectors and similar electrical and electronic devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for the reusable interim storage of partially consumed medicated oral dosage forms and methods for employing such an apparatus in order to use medicated oral dosage forms in the safest possible manner. The apparatus of the present invention in its broadest terms comprises (1) a container sized to hold a medicated oral dosage form, (2) means for allowing a medicated oral dosage form easy access into the container but substantially preventing the medicated oral dosage form from passing out of the container, and (3) a child resistant means for allowing an adult to remove a medicated oral dosage form from within the container despite the one-way access means. The preferred embodiment comprises an opaque container having one opening, a child resistant closure with an aperture there through that extends over said opening, and a plastic slitted membrane covering said aperture.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving administration of analgesics through the use of heat. The present invention relates to the use of heat in conjunction with specially designed transdermal analgesic delivery systems and conventional commercial transdermal analgesic delivery systems to alter, mainly increase, the analgesic release rate from the transdermal analgesic delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting combination electronic apparatus, which comprise a plurality of internal electronic devices, to networks or other devices. The connector of the present invention comprises a novel switching mechanism which selects between the plurality of internal electronic devices based on the attributes of the mating connector received by the connector. Device selection may be controlled by the physical characteristics of the mating connector, the electrical characteristics of the device or network attached to the mating connector or some other distinct attribute.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the teaching, evaluating, verifying, and reporting of an instructional segment to a given user accessing the instructional segment via a computer system are disclosed. The system for managing the instructional segment and providing the verification, evaluation, teaching, and reporting of the user's activity with the instructional segment is implemented within a computer system, typically a network connected system that has access to the Internet. The managing system includes means for streaming or broadcasting the instructional segment to the user for review by the user, means for evaluating the user's comprehension of the instructional segment, means for verifying whether the user has completed or accessed the instructional segment, and means for reporting the user's evaluation results of the instructional segment to an administrator or administrators.

Abstract: The present invention is a steelworker's layout tool for use in laying out the bolt and weld patterns used to connect steel structural members and in fitting up these members. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise parallel arms which are spaced apart at distances which correspond to standard bolt spacing distances and which can be used to measure around the protruding flanges on steel members with channel shapes, I shapes or other cross-sectional variations.

Abstract: An extension ladder comprised of a pair of base rails interlocked in a tongue and groove relationship with a pair of slide rails is disclosed. The rails may be manufactured in a variety of shapes including “I” beams, rectangles, boxes, or even ovals or circular shapes. Some embodiments of the ladder include a pulley assembly which is fastened to a fly rail rung and a rope is passed through the pulley to form a continuous loop around the rungs of the base set of rail rungs and the fly fail rungs. In addition, some embodiments include means for attaching tools to the fly rail.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward formulation and method for oral transmucosal delivery of a pharmaceutical. The invention provides a drug formulation comprising a solid pharmaceutical agent in solid solution with a dissolution agent. The formulation is administered into a patient's oral cavity, delivering the pharmaceutical agent by absorption through a patient's oral mucosal tissue. The formulation and method provide for improved oral mucosal delivery of the pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and pressurized apparatus for removing anions and cations of transition and post-transition metals from aqueous solutions comprising a continuous flow electrolytic cell. Also a method for determining the amount of arsenic in each of its states present in a solution and a method of creating iron III hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and manganese dioxide for use as filter or adsorption media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transdermal drug delivery system comprising a dermal drug delivery patch and a heating element compartment securable to the dermal drug delivery patch. A freely transferrable heating element is securable within the heating element compartment. A drug can be administered transdermally using the present invention by placing the dermal drug delivery patch upon a patient's skin at an administration site. A heating element compartment is secured to the dermal drug delivery patch and a freely transferrable heating element is placed within the heating element compartment. The heating element provides controlled heat to the dermal drug patch and the patient's skin aid thereby improves dermal drug administration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact antenna for use with small, wireless, electronic devices. The antenna is particularly suited for adaptation to thin profile expansion cards such as the PC Card standard card as well as other thin form factor devices. This antenna comprises a ground plane element from which a radiator element protrudes. When the ground plane element occupies a substantially horizontal plane, the radiator element extends upwardly from a centralized location on the ground plane element and bends away from the device in which the antenna is used. The radiator may then bend back to a more vertical orientation in some embodiments. The shape of the radiator element allows the antenna to be retracted into a host device while minimizing the amount of space required to house the antenna in the device.

Abstract: A dietary fiber product obtained from the Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia) plant and the process of extracting and purifying the fiber is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the Indian mulberry pulp is washed and separated from the juice by filtration. The wet pulp is pasteurized. The wet pulp can be further processed by drying. A high fiber products can be prepared by mixing the pulp with ingredients, such as supplemental dietary fiber, water, sweeteners, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and nutritional ingredients.