Abstract: A system and method for a payee to initiate at a point of sale an electronic funds transfer from an account of a payor to the account of the payee, comprising the steps of: obtaining from the payor the duplicate part of a completed two-part draft instrument comprising an original and a duplicate and having account identifying information printed thereon in machine-readable form, the original being configured for use as a conventional draft instrument, and the duplicate being configured for selective use as either a duplicate of the original, or as the originating document for an electronic funds transfer, said duplicate part of the draft instrument being completed by the payor to authorize the payee to present the check electronically so as to initiate an electronic funds transfer for the face amount of the instrument; scanning the instrument to electronically read the account identifying information; presenting the instrument electronically through an electronic clearing house network so as to initiate at th

Abstract: A fluid delivery device for delivering fluid from a fluid reservoir to a patient. The device includes an inlet channel in communication with a fluid reservoir and a dosing chamber, and an outlet channel disposed in communication with the dosing chamber. A reciprocating dosing actuator is moveable in a reciprocating motion between first and second positions for alternately (i) transporting a dose of fluid conveyed by the inlet channel into the intermediate dosing chamber, and (ii) ejecting the dose from the dosing chamber through the outlet channel to the patient, respectively.

Abstract: A cereal grain kernel coated with a metal amino acid chelate, a method for mineral or metal fortification of cereal grain kernels and a coating composition is disclosed. Unlike other metal or mineral fortificants, cereal grain kernels may be coated with iron, calcium, zinc and/or other metals in the form of an amino acid chelate without pulverizing individual kernels. Further, the coated kernels are stable, palatable and contain highly bioavailable metals.

Abstract: An improved piston-type vacuum pump comprises a reciprocating piston disposed within a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end, an inlet port formed in the side of the cylinder near the proximal end, and a spring-biased outlet valve, such as a poppet valve or a rocker valve, disposed at the distal end of the cylinder. The piston stroke is configured to provide zero or negative clearance between the piston head and the face of the outlet valve at the end of the compression stroke. The piston reciprocates within the cylinder from a first position wherein the surface of the piston head is proximal of the inlet port, to a second position wherein the surface of the piston head is beyond the distal end of the cylinder, so as to contact the face of the outlet valve in its open position.