Abstract: A surgical drape includes a sheet with a shoulder portion, a body portion and a pull tab. The shoulder portion is folded longitudinally in half to form a container such that the transverse edges of the container are sealed and the body portion is folded transversely in half and rolled into a tight drape roll which is disposed and removably secured within the container. In use, the container is removably attached to a surface of an operating table such that a portion of a patient can be placed upon the container. The tight drape roll and the pull tab are configured such that when a patient is placed upon the container, the tight drape roll can be easily unfurled by pulling on the pull tab to form a relatively flat drape surface. In another embodiment, a waste bag is removably disposed on the container. In yet another embodiment, a fluid collection and drainage pouch is removably disposed on and integrated into the body portion.

Abstract: A durable medical task status indicator comprises a panel having a front face and a rear face, at least an indicium disposed on one or more lines on the panel, at least one two-status indicator disposed to the left or right of the at least one indicium which corresponds to the indicator, the indicator comprises a first elongated slot formed in the front face of the panel, a second elongated slot formed in the rear face of the panel, two status labels, an elongated tab having a centrally disposed finger hold, an elongated backing plate is configured to slide within the second elongated slot, wherein the elongated backing plate is fixedly attached to the elongated tab such that the movement of the elongated backing plate is coordinated with the movement of the elongated tab and the elongated tab substantially covers the first elongated slot to avoid dirt collection and facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for controlling a plurality of fluidly and operably connected water heaters to meet a hot water demand such that overall efficiency is maximized and usage disparity between water heaters is minimized. There is further disclosed a method for detecting a small system demand in said network by adjusting the setting of each flow limiting valve of each water heater. There is still further disclosed a method for enabling seamless addition or removal of a heater in service and heating load distribution to water heaters.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a measurement of the extent of telangectasia in an area of skin is disclosed. Initially (S3-1) an image of an area of skin (2) to be analyzed is obtained. The obtained image is then processed (S3-2-S3-3) to determine blood distribution data indicative of the distribution of blood in an imaged area of skin. This blood distribution data is then converted (S3-5) using a Discrete Fourier Transform and the converted blood distribution data is then processed to obtain a measurement of the extent features in a determined distribution of blood correspond to structures of a predetermined size. The obtained measurement of the extent of telangectasia can then be combined (s3-6) with other measurements of the effects of photo-damage such as measurements of melanin disorder and collagen degradation to obtain a measurement of the extent of photo-damage.

Abstract: Single copy sequences suitable for use as DNA probes can be defined by computational analysis of genomic sequences. The present invention provides an ab initio method for identification of single copy sequences for use as probes which obviates the need to compare genomic sequences with existing catalogs of repetitive sequences. By dividing a target reference sequence into a series of shorter contiguous sequence windows and comparing these sequences with the reference genome sequence, one can identify single copy sequences in a genome. Probes can then be designed and produced from these single copy intervals.

Abstract: A smoking device configured for controlling smoke/ambient air ratio for use by a user, the smoking device comprising a cigarette holder having a first passage, wherein the first passage includes a receiver portion and an exit portion. The smoking device further comprises a mouthpiece having a second passage and a third passage, wherein the first passage is fluidly connected to the second passage at the exit portion of the first passage. The third passage is normally unenclosed when not in use and becomes enclosed as a result of cooperation between the mouthpiece and a user's mouth and smoke generated from said cigarette is configured to be drawn through the first and second passages at a first flowrate and ambient air is configured to be drawn through the third passage at a second flowrate, into the user's mouth.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for controlling a plurality of fluidly and operably connected water heaters to meet a hot water demand such that overall efficiency is maximized and usage disparity between water heaters is minimized. There is further disclosed a method for detecting a small system demand in said network by adjusting the setting of each flow limiting valve of each water heater. There is still further disclosed a method for enabling seamless addition or removal of a heater in service and heating load distribution to water heaters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a memory architecture comprising at least one memory bit cell and at least one read bit line whose voltage is controlled and changed by a current from a current controller. Each memory bit cell has a storage mechanism, a controlled current source, and a read switch. The controlled current source in each memory bit cell is electrically connected to the read bit line through the read switch. The current from the current controller that controls and changes the read bit line voltage flows through the controlled current source in the memory bit cell. The value of this current is determined by a function of a difference between the voltage on the storage mechanism in the memory bit cell and a reference voltage from a reference voltage input to the current controller. In some versions an indicator is provided for indicating when to stop the current in the controlled current source that controls a voltage change on one of the read bit lines.

Abstract: There is disclosed a variable strength magnetic window cleaning device having a master and slave unit utilizing magnetic force to simultaneously clean both the inside and outside panes of a window. When a user moves the master unit from inside, the slave unit follows the master unit along the outside window, thus cleaning both sides of the window panes simultaneously. A replaceable cleaning surface such as premoistened disposable wipe is secured across the engagement surface area and contacts the window surface to effect the cleaning.

Abstract: This invention discloses a novel process for manufacturing very thin freestanding polymeric films with the steps of supplying a molten film layer stream and a molten assist layer stream by a first extruder and second extruder; intimately contacting the film layer stream and the assist layer stream in coplanar fashion; extruding the film layer stream and the assist layer stream through a planar coextrusion die lip; stretching the multilayer melt curtain; cooling the multilayer film; delaminating the assist layer or layers from the film layer; and transporting the film layer to downstream processing operations. This process allows manufacturing of very thin freestanding films made from amorphous polymers, highly filled films made from amorphous, semi crystalline, or crystalline polymers, chemically cross linked films, and films with diffused addenda that would normally cause undesirable reactions in an extrusion environment.

Abstract: Method of analysing at least one parameter of a body component is provided. The method includes illuminating the component or body with light of at least a first and second waveband, receiving light of at least said first and second wavebands remitted by the component at a photoreceptor or photoreceptors, and analysing the light received at the photoreceptor(s) to provide a ratio between the amount of light remitted of the first waveband and the amount of light remitted of the second waveband, and from this calculating the component parameter.

Abstract: An improved method for rapid identification of microorganisms is disclosed, along with sequences of PCR primers optimized for this purpose. The primers are designed based on information analysis of sequences from a large number of organism to amplify certain segments of genomic DNA whose sequences are unique among different organisms. The PCR products are compared with a DNA sequence database to obtain the identity of the microorganisms. This approach provides an accurate and fast identification and taxonomic assignment of microbial species.

Abstract: A manually operated device or tool for manipulating or working the earth or soil. A preferred embodiment possesses an elongated digging rod having an adjustable handle assembly configured to quickly locate and fasten to a plurality of predetermined set points located on the elongated digging rod. The apparatus compensates for the incremental deepening of a hole as the digging activity progresses so to enable a user to better maintain a preferred, upright, working posture. This is accomplished by adjusting the elongated digging rod, given a substantially constant handle assembly height, to consecutively lower settings corresponding to the increasing hole depth.

Abstract: A mailbox tray mountable to a standard mailbox, the mailbox tray having a bracket arm and a substantially thin generally rectangular slideable tray. The tray has a mail-facing surface disposed substantially parallel to the top surface of the bottom panel of the mailbox. The slideable tray portion has a depression to facilitate mail gripping and removal. A mail-facing surface has one or more drain holes and at least one ridge. The first end of the bracket arm is pivotably connected to the front door and the second end of the bracket arm is pivotably connected to the slideable tray such that when the front door is opened, at least a portion of the slideable tray is extended outside of the cavity and when said front door is closed, the slideable tray is returned in its entirety inside of the cavity. In a second embodiment, the slideable tray further comprises a first segment and a second segment which are pivotably connected.

Abstract: A panel assembly includes a plurality of open faced cells fluidly interconnected for retaining a growing medium and live vegetation in a vertical orientation of the panel assembly. The fluid interconnection of the cells provides for gravitationally induced water transfer from the growing medium of a first cell to the growing medium of a second cell, as well as root growth between the cells.