Abstract: Fitness Triage.RTM. is a system and method for prioritizing delivery of personalized exercise and injury prevention information based on identification and analysis of user-specific health and fitness indicators. By providing answers to questions concerning key health risk factors, conditions, and habits, exercise information is delivered to the user based on the level of potential risk and other considerations associated with his/her participation in an exercise program. Based on the Fitness Triage.RTM. analysis of user data, the delivery of information is identified and prioritized according to one of three levels of potential risk. The user is thus informed of the level of risk associated with his/her participation in exercise, and the recommended precautions based on his/her individual health profile. The Fitness Triage.RTM.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding encrypted monetary values onto transfer vehicles include one or more payment, encoder, and encrypter devices, and, associated with each designated receiving device such as a wireless telephone, a reader, decoder, and decrypter device for deciphering the data from the transfer vehicles, and, under appropriate conditions, for transferring the monetary values encoded and encrypted on the transfer vehicle into memory associated with the designated receiving device. Once such monetary values are transferred to the receiving device, the transfer vehicle cannot be used to transfer the same monetary value again even though the transfer vehicle is not modified during the transfer process.

Abstract: A scanned-stylus atomic force microscope (AFM) employing the optical lever technique, and method of operating the same. The AFM of the invention includes a light source and a scanned optical assembly which guides light emitted from the light source onto point on a cantilever during scanning thereof. A moving light beam is thus created which will automatically track the movement of the cantilever during scanning. The invention also allows the light beam to be used to measure, calibrate or correct the motion of the scanning mechanism, and further allows viewing of the sample and cantilever using an optical microscope.

Abstract: A broadcast receiving system for use with an FM radio transmitter in a vehicle includes an adapter unit and an antenna unit. The adapter unit includes a connector to a vehicle's existing power system, e.g., cigarette lighter receptacle. The adapter unit receives audio program signals from the antenna unit, and retransmits them to a vacant FM channel or to an intermediate frequency channel of the vehicle's FM radio receiver. The antenna unit receives radio broadcast signals having frequencies in the range of about 300 MHZ to about 4000 MHz from satellites and terrestrial repeaters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for vacuum cooling field harvested produce such as lettuce includes a vacuum chamber, a partial vacuum-forming mechanism in the chamber, a water discharging mechanism in the chamber for spraying water onto the produce to cool the produce, and a mechanism in the chamber for detecting and adjusting the temperature and pressure, dynamically, to minimize undesired removal of water from the surface and interstitial tissues of the produce.

Abstract: One-piece, root-form, endosseous dental implants include, in a single implant, a body portion for insertion into an opening in the jawbone of a patient, a neck portion above the body portion, and an abutment portion above the neck portion. The abutment portion includes a peripheral shoulder and an opening into an internally-threaded shaft. The implant may also include internal or external wrench-engaging surfaces.

Abstract: A method for washing a cored head of lettuce includes placing the head in a position such that the cored hole faces downwardly, spraying an aqueous solution upwardly into the cored hole for a time and at a pressure sufficient to wash the hole, and then propelling the cored washed lettuce head upwardly from the washing position onto a conveyor for the lettuce head with minimal damage to that head.

Abstract: A wireless communication processor system includes a wireless data/control commands transmission/reception unit, buffer memory for storing wirelessly received data and control commands, buffer memory for storing data and control commands for wireless transmission, buffer memory for receiving and storing data and control commands from host units such as computers and printers, buffer memory for storing data and control commands to be transmitted from the processor to a host unit, and a system for establishing a link with other wireless communication processors for transmitting data and control commands to, or for receiving data and control commands from, the other processors.

Abstract: Endosseous dental implants having generally cylindrical-shaped or tapering bodies and, in some cases, external threads or ribs over a substantial portion of their external surface, may include internal or external wrench-engaging surfaces at the proximal end portion and include, below a relatively smooth proximal end or neck portion, an external transition zone with a rougher surface, and a body portion having greater surface roughness than the transition zone, or, on the body portion, an HA or TPS coating, to promote attachment of the implant to bone tissue when the implant is placed in a passage formed in bone tissue to receive the implant.

Abstract: An atomic force microscope that has an electrically-conductive probe and tip includes a feedback control circuit for generating a substantially constant, desired Fowler-Nordheim current between the probe tip and the surface of an electrically-conductive sample having a thin dielectric or insulating film thereon. The feedback circuit maintains the desired Fowler-Nordheim current flow between the probe tip and the sample by adjusting the bias voltage applied to the probe tip, and by tracking and using the changes in the applied bias voltage to provide a measure of the thickness, electrical conductivity or other electrical property of the film.

Abstract: A digital radio broadcasting system using spread spectrum modulation transmitted from both geosynchronous satellites and terrestrial repeater stations provides multi-program audio services to mobile and fixed user receivers over a large geographical area in an ubiquitous manner.

Abstract: A method for making a packet mailer includes the steps of applying wet glue patterns to a sheet, then folding that sheet and perforating the sheet to form a packet mailer that includes an outer enclosure with at least two open ends and at least one inner closure.

Abstract: An extendible, retractable, dual belt assembly for linking two skaters to one another and for use by such skaters simultaneously includes, at each end, a belt assembly for attachment around the waist or mid-section of a skater with the belts joined to one another by expandable/contractible sections and by relatively inextendible tubular sections.

Abstract: A multicarrier satellite communications system includes one or more satellites and one or more transmitters at generally terrestrial locations that transmit a plurality of signal carriers to the satellites which contain non-linear signal repeaters that produce inter-modulation noise or signal compression in the signal carriers. The noise is minimized/cancelled by adding to the signal carriers, at the generally terrestrial locations where the transmitters are located, noise-cancelling or signal compression-correcting signals.

Abstract: A laser beam pattern modulator includes a light-transmissive, light-refractive element for rotating and/or linearly displacing the beam such that the refracted beam remains parallel to the incident beam and has the capacity: (a) to minimize a substantial quantity of irregularities in the treatment pattern from hot spots and cold spots in the laser beam; (b) to enlarge and blend the edges of the treatment patterns formed by the beam; and (c) to form an enlarged, multi-zone, aspheric, myopic, hyperopic or astigmatic treatment patterns. A method for treating corneal tissue with laser light, particularly excimer laser light, includes directing a beam of excimer laser light such as a broad beam with variable spot size through a beam modulator such as an anglable, rotatable quartz flat.

Abstract: A container closure includes a cover portion and a rim portion at the edge of, and upstanding from the cover portion; the rim includes a flat, solid, annular ring member surrounding a raised, solid, round-shouldered, circular center area; the rim portion surrounds the cover portion and includes an upstanding, annular wall with an outwardly-projecting annular flange for engaging the inner surface of a container at its opening and, at the top edge of the annular wall, a planar flange parallel to the cover portion for seating on the rim of a container opening.

Abstract: A heat-radiating cover for food dishes includes an outer shell joined at its periphery to the periphery of an inner shell having a shape complentary to and fitting within the outer shell and, mounted atop the outer shell and in the space between the outer and inner shells, a heat sink for absorbing radiating heat through the inner shell to the space beneath it, with the balance of the space between the inner and outer shells filled with insulation.

Abstract: A hollow dish with a discrete, meltable core such as a wax core includes top and bottom members welded to one another at their periphery, and a meltable, preferably wax core confined within an oxygen-free, water-free cavity between the top and bottom members. A method for making a hollow dish with such a core includes liquifying a meltable substance such as wax in an oxygen-free, water-free, inert atmosphere; cooling and solidifying the meltable substance to form a meltable core; placing the meltable wax core in the cavity inside a hollow dish; removing all oxygen and water from the core-containing cavity inside the hollow dish; and sealing the hollow dish to preclude escape of the wax core from the cavity and to preclude oxygen and water from entering the cavity.

Abstract: A method for removing ash, sulfur and inertinite from crushed coal includes float/sink treatment in aqueous solutions of monosaccharides, disaccharides, hydrogenated monosaccharides, hydrogenated disaccharides and mixtures thereof. Such solutions also improve the performance of such heavy media physical cleaning equipment as cyclones, heavy media baths, tables, spirals, hydroclones, flotation cells, jigs and solid-bowl centrifuges.

Abstract: Oxidized carbonaceous materials suitable for reinforcing such diene rubbers as styrene-butadiene rubber and natural rubber include carbon, oxidized iron dispersed in, intimately associated with and at least partially bonded to the carbon, and hydrogen.